Chapter 926: 925 Chapter Task Completed_1
"Mixed Element, Heaven-Dominating Palm!"
A yellow circular cymbal, two inches thick and twenty feet in diameter, suddenly descended from above. Shi Xiaole quickly discovered that the vigorous air within the cymbal was extremely explosive, barely maintaining a balance point. Once that balance was broken, it would unleash a terrifyingly lethal force.
At the same time, an Array System master hidden in the shadows received the Grand Elder’s telepathic message, rallying the power of the array to bombard Shi Xiaole from all sides.
"How does high aptitude help you now? Today, you won’t escape this place, and I will make sure you die without a grave!"
The Grand Elder’s face twisted, his voice almost a crazed roar.
Under the dual threats, Shi Xiaole’s face showed not a trace of panic. With a wave of his right hand, his long sword, reflecting the sunlight, conjured up shadows that influenced the distant surroundings, giving birth to a rootless flower.
Another illusionary sword technique, Life as Summer Flowers.
His left hand also gently lifted, flicking his fingers in succession.
Pop, pop, a few times.
The offensive of the Array System was like a plastic bag filled with water that had been punctured, its strength spilling out halfway, not a drop landing on Shi Xiaole.
A cry of alarm arose from the shadows, but it was immediately drowned out by the clash of Sword Qi and palm strikes.
The two figures ascended to an altitude of ten thousand meters, where blue and yellow vigorous air continuously collided, blasting apart clouds and seemingly shredding sunlight. The residual waves turned into vigorous winds, carving deep marks into the void.
"Soul Sound Passage, kill!"
After dozens of exchanges, seizing the moment when they drew nearer to each other, the Grand Elder’s glabella swelled as he unleashed a series of invisible sound waves, assaulting Shi Xiaole’s consciousness.
This was a first-rate, superior spiritual martial skill of the Divine Sect, most suitable for close combat sneak attacks. The Grand Elder believed that even Zhuo Wansheng would suffer if unprepared for this move.
But to his horror, as soon as the sound waves entered Shi Xiaole’s consciousness, they disappeared like a stone sinking into the sea, failing to harm the opponent, without even an echo in return.
The next moment.
A vortex-like force grabbed hold of the Grand Elder’s consciousness and forcibly dragged it out of his mind.
"Not good!"
Spurt!
A massive spray of blood burst forth.
The Grand Elder hastily retreated tens of thousands of meters, veins on his forehead throbbing violently while a bone-chilling coldness spread across his back.
Previously, Shi Xiaole had effortlessly broken through the Array System, alerting him to his opponent’s astonishing spiritual power. However, he still hadn’t realized that it was to such an extent. Compared with Shi Xiaole’s spiritual power, his own was as negligible as a molehill to a mountain range.
"Old fool, you stubbornly refuse to repent, disregarding the ancestral maxims, repeatedly scheming against me. Today, you shall be executed on the spot."
Shi Xiaole whistled. The Grand Elder’s spiritual power was much stronger than that of the Divine Eagle; Shi Xiaole alone could not kill him.
Whoosh!
The Divine Eagle soared into the sky, furiously flapping its wings, its sharp beak like a lethal sword, ferociously attacking the Grand Elder. Having previously experienced its power, the Grand Elder was terrified and hastily tried to flee, while continuously swinging his palms to prevent the Divine Eagle from getting close.
However, this caused the Grand Elder’s speed to inevitably slow down. The Divine Eagle, following its master’s command, barely dodged and quickly caught up with him, entangling in a struggle.
The Divine Eagle tore off chunks of the Grand Elder’s flesh while it was sent reeling from the attacks, but it fought more fiercely as the battle progressed. In contrast, the Grand Elder, disheveled, his aura fading, began to reveal more and more openings on his body.
"Heart Thunder Sword!"
Just then, as thunder suddenly sounded, the Spring Fury Sword shot out like a pale white bolt of lightning, piercing fiercely.
"Ah..."
The Grand Elder screamed, looking at his pierced right chest. If he hadn’t dodged in time, he would have almost lost his life to Shi Xiaole’s sword. "You ruthless brat, but you can’t kill me, With my body transformed into a demon, I escape to the ends of the earth with Blood Escape!"
Despite his unwillingness, the Grand Elder knew he was defeated. Faced with the combined forces of the Divine Eagle and Shi Xiaole, he stood no chance. His priority was to escape and possibly seek revenge in the future.
A cluster of blood strands emerged from the Grand Elder’s pores, fizzing as they instantly enveloped him into a blood cocoon, escaping at high speed.
Bang!
Shi Xiaole launched another Heart Thunder Sword, but it failed to break the blood cocoon, instead accelerating it as it disappeared in the blink of an eye on the horizon.
Only a sinister, resentful voice echoed in the distance for a long time, "I will return!"
Shi Xiaole appeared not to hear it, merely pondering the process of this battle.
Although he made it look easy, during his exchange with the Grand Elder, he too suffered internal injuries. In other words, Shi Xiaole’s current strength should be on par with the Grand Elder’s, ranking him among the weakest Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm.
If combined with close-combat spiritual martial arts, he might be able to trouble Martial Emperors a tier higher in the Void Origin Realm. As for the actual effect, it remains to be tested.
In summary, at thirty-six years old, although Shi Xiaole had not become an emperor, he was essentially one!
Turning his head, the plaza was deathly silent.
The followers of the Heavenly Will Sect knelt down, bowed their heads; some who were standing trembled involuntarily at Shi Xiaole’s gaze, their knees buckling as they too knelt.
"Hall Master Le, Hall Master Le’s divine power is unparalleled, invincible under the heavens..."
Mu Sheng was close to crying from fear.
Before, he had been putting on airs, and in the blink of an eye, his greatest support was beaten into fleeing through a secret technique, which was laughably pitiful. Everything that had happened today turned his entire worldview on its head.
Mu Sheng longed to leave, but with his skill, he had no confidence in escaping without alerting Shi Xiaole and possibly drawing his killing intent instead.
Shaking his head, Shi Xiaole ended Mu Sheng’s life with a sword, giving him no chance whatsoever to argue or to swear allegiance.
This scene terrified everyone around into silence, with those from the Grand Elder’s faction already feeling guilty. Now, even their anuses were contracting in fear.
"I don’t like killing," Shi Xiaole said. "Now I give you two choices; swear fealty to the Divine Sect, or die. Make your choice."
Shi Xiaole stated flatly while his sword energy covered the entire square, ready to trigger if anyone contemplated resistance.
"Hall Master Xiaole, the Heavenly Will Sect was originally a branch of the Divine Sect. In the past, we were fortunate to have the protection of an elder from the Divine Sect, which allowed us to continue our lineage. We are willing to return..."
"I am a man of the Divine Sect!"
"Once Divine Sect, forever unregretful!"
Under the threat of life and death, how could anyone hesitate? They swore oaths urgently, fearing they would be too late compared to others.
On one hand, they were truly terrified, and on the other, they weren’t Grand Elders; they still valued the Heavenly Will Sect’s teachings, so there wasn’t much resistance in their hearts to begin with.
After a series of oaths, Shi Xiaole finally secured the situation completely. The Array System grandmaster also shakily came out from hiding, continually kneeling and begging for mercy. It was only when he saw Shi Xiaole had no intention of taking action that he sighed deeply, his body drenched in sweat.
"Your Sect Leader has been poisoned?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Xiaole immediately ordered someone to lead the way to Zhuo Wansheng’s room.
Zhuo Wansheng lay quietly on the bed, his face pale and his lips colorless, breathing weakly. He appeared as if he had just weathered a severe illness.
"It must be the Grand Elder’s doing. Please, Hall Master Xiaole, save our Sect Leader! Previously, when the Heaven’s Intent Secret Realm was not opened, the Sect Leader had an argument with the Grand Elder about it. Afterward, he collapsed."
The Third Elder of the Heavenly Will Sect pleaded with a wailing voice. He was a firm advocate of returning to the Divine Sect and thus very close to Shi Xiaole.
After observing for a moment, Shi Xiaole suddenly reached out and gently patted Zhuo Wansheng a few times. Soon, the unconscious Zhuo Wansheng slowly opened his eyes.
"Sect Leader, have you awakened?"
The Third Elder was both startled and overjoyed, looking at Shi Xiaole in disbelief.
"Thank you, Divine Wind Hall Master, for saving my life," Zhuo Wansheng said in a low voice, filled with gratitude.
"There’s no need for thanks. Your cultivation is profound, and the poison the Grand Elder used on you has been dissolving due to your own Vigorous Air. Without me, you could have awakened in at most a month," Shi Xiaole replied.
"Without the Divine Wind Hall Master, the Grand Elder would never have given Zhuo the chance to recover. We are brothers of the same sect; why would he do this?" Zhuo Wansheng’s tone was filled with sadness, and tears streamed down his face. Upon hearing the complete account from the Third Elder and learning that the Grand Elder had been defeated and fled, he suddenly became so angry that his chest heaved, "He, he even dared to secretly learn the Blood Emperor’s martial arts."
The Blood Emperor?
The nearby Third Elder inhaled sharply, "Sect Leader, are you referring to the same Blood Emperor who killed the first Sect Leader of the Divine Sect, the one reputed to be unmatched under the heavens, the Blood Emperor? And that escaping technique of blood, was that the Blood Emperor’s martial art?"
Zhuo Wansheng nodded faintly, the action taking a great deal of effort, causing him to gasp for breath. The Third Elder hurriedly approached to ease his discomfort.
Shi Xiaole asked curiously about the origins of the Blood Emperor.
"The Blood Emperor, no one knows where he came from, but as soon as he came into the world, he was invincible. The strongest of men couldn’t withstand seven of his moves; hence he called himself ’unmatched under the heavens.’ The first Sect Leader of the Divine Sect was an extraordinary talent with martial arts ranked among the top five in the world, yet after battling with the Blood Emperor, he was gravely wounded and passed away three years later from those injuries," Zhuo Wansheng said excitedly. "I never imagined the Grand Elder would be so audacious as to betray our ancestors." Another fit of violent coughing ensued, and blood spilled from his mouth. Regardless of how much Vigorous Air the Third Elder channeled into him, it was futile.
Shi Xiaole hastily approached, placing a hand on him.
It was at this moment.
Zhuo Wansheng, who seemed frail and ailing, suddenly flashed a fierce and intense gleam in his eyes. His aura burst forth like a raging flood. Vigorous Air surged through Shi Xiaole’s palm into his body, overwhelming him with a crushing force.
Even more startling was Zhuo Wansheng’s hands, which transformed as if by magic, each fingertip becoming another palm, relentlessly striking at Shi Xiaole, giving him no chance to defend.
Zhuo Wansheng laughed.
Like a mantis catching a cicada, with an oriole behind, no matter how powerful Shi Xiaole was, he had fallen into his own hands.
"Sect Leader Zhuo, you truly disappoint me."
As the Vigorous Air completed a circuit and returned to Zhuo Wansheng’s body, he was astonished to find that Shi Xiaole remained in his original spot, with even the Third Elder looking at him incredulously.
Everything before seemed like a dream.
"How is this possible... I see now, an illusion; when did you cast it on me?"
Zhuo Wansheng’s face drained of color.
"When I entered the room," Shi Xiaole said.
"Did you suspect me from the very start? Where did I reveal a flaw?"
"When I first entered the Heavenly Will Sect, I was attacked by the Grand Elder. Later, you said it was to test my identity. Laughable. Is there a necessary relation between a person’s identity and their strength? A Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm attacking a Terrestrial Immortal, and you didn’t intervene."
"Once I arrived at the Heaven’s Intent Secret Realm, you conveniently fell ill. Too coincidental. Moreover, during my intense battle with the Grand Elder, I clearly felt a spirit force secretly observing, and that was you."
Shi Xiaole said admiringly, "Looking back, the Grand Elder and the entire Heavenly Will Sect have been deceived and used by your hypocritical mask. Sect Leader Zhuo, your brilliance is commendable!"
