Chapter 940: Chapter 939: Human-level Killing Move (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all book friends!)_1
"Get out here now!"
An elder from the Misty Rain Alliance shouted loudly, his presence commanding.
The Lake Sea Alliance lacks a tightly-knit organizational structure. To put it politely, it’s formed by a motley crew of Martial World eccentrics. To put it bluntly, it’s really just a temporary force united for self-interest.
In Yuwen Yong’s eyes, the person who barged into the study uninvited must be from the Lake Sea Alliance.
"Come out!"
"If you dare to break the rules, no one will spare you today!"
Not only the Misty Rain Alliance but also masters from the Lake Sea Alliance were shouting, yet many of them had flickering eyes, their thoughts unknown.
Amidst the clamor, the masters standing outside the room gradually stepped back. They had already clearly seen the appearance of the person in the room, and it was for this exact reason that they were exceedingly wary.
In the glow of firelight and stars, a middle-aged man with a sickly pale complexion and a sword hanging at his waist walked out unhurriedly, ignoring the scrutinizing gazes cast upon him, completely at ease.
"Not from either alliance?"
The faces of many changed greatly.
On the second layer of Mist Rain Town, besides the Misty Rain Alliance and the Lake Sea Alliance, there existed a third type of free agents. They were not subject to the control of either alliance and often acted alone, making them particularly difficult to deal with.
However, it is for this reason that they never truly made an impact.
In a place where everyone is a heroic figure, how can the strength of one person compare to the combined strength of a group?
But this pale middle-aged man before them, who had managed to sneak into the back courtyard study under such strict guard undetected, if not for some unforeseen occurrence, no one would have even noticed—an alarming level of skill indeed!
"It’s you!"
"Le Yan!"
While others remained silent, some disciples from the Longevity Sect couldn’t help but shout.
Tao Bo was first shocked, then overjoyed. Helian Duba’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze deep. Yu Yourong’s pretty face lost color, her mouth open but at a loss for words.
Another man and woman, clearly Longevity Sect elders, were also visibly shaken, seemingly unable to believe that they would encounter Shi Xiaole here.
"Martial Brother Six, Junior Sister Seven, you know him?"
Yuwen Yong, seeing the expressions on the two, couldn’t help but inquire.
Martial Brother Six recounted honestly the events that had taken place at the inn, and when it was revealed that the madness of their Third Martial Brother was Shi Xiaole’s doing, Yuwen Yong’s pupils constricted, his eyes now carrying a hint of chill.
"Sir, this place belongs to both the Misty Rain Alliance and the Lake Sea Alliance. You have come uninvited and created chaos by night. Are you disregarding us?"
Although angry, Yuwen Yong hadn’t lost his reason.
A person capable of incapacitating his Third Martial Brother with a simple gesture and sneakily infiltrating this place must be very strong—certainly, he had no confidence in facing the individual. Fortunately, with so many present, including the two mighty Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors, there was no need to fear the intruder.
"Put down what you’ve stolen!"
"Surrender quietly!"
"I advise you not to make a mistake!"
The crowd started shouting, a wave of overwhelmingly powerful presences filling the area. In Shi Xiaole’s senses, the weakest among them were of the Eighth Tier Earth Immortal level, with the majority being Ninth Tier.
It seems that for this place, the top forces of the Daxia Martial World really have invested heavily. However, this made Shi Xiaole all the more curious.
"This is not your turf, so what theft are you speaking of? The esteemed sects and heroes of the Martial World, when did you become like bandits that claim land as their own? Everyone, just leave. I don’t want to take action, but that doesn’t mean I won’t."
Shi Xiaole’s gaze swept over the faces, his tone calm.
"You scoundrel, how dare you say such things! Who gave you the courage!"
A muscular man with a fiery temper suddenly swung the colossal axe in his hand, chopping down towards Shi Xiaole’s head with an aurora-like blade that whistled like thunder.
The people recognized that the one taking action was the second-in-command of the Lake Sea Alliance in this place, ’Thunder Axe King’ Mo Kaitai.
Despite ’King’ being part of his title, Mo Kaitai actually stepped into the half-step Void Origin Realm over twenty years ago, his strength profound and unfathomable.
The crowd expected that with Mo Kaitai’s move, at the very least, they would be able to gauge Shi Xiaole’s strength.
However, just as the axe blade was about to reach three feet above his head, it was unexpectedly blocked by a layer of exceptionally sharp Sword Qi. It then exploded chaotically like countless green fireworks, appearing from nothing.
Boom boom bang...
"Get out of my way!"
Mo Kaitai, straining under the force, nearly let go of his massive axe. Covering the shock in his heart, he swiftly unleashed a killing move, but this only incited an even more intense Sword Qi backlash.
Thud!
Amidst the sound of bones shattering in his arm, Mo Kaitai screamed as he was sent flying backward. People behind tried to catch him, but were knocked back by the powerful air carried by his body, smashing into the wall and only stopping upon collision.
Spitting out blood, the entire wall turned to dust.
"That strong?!"
Cries of astonishment erupted.
"Are you a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor?"
Someone asked from the shadows.
"No."
Shi Xiaole shook his head.
Many in their hearts snorted in disbelief, clearly not convinced.
"Spit out whatever you’ve swallowed. You have no right to touch anything here. Not to mention the heroes present who will not agree, I, Helian Duba, will not allow it either."
Amidst the noisy voices, Helian Duba, with his purple hair, strode forward, his gaze bold and confident.
"Le by surname, last time at the inn, you first insulted my junior brother for no reason, then used tricks to ambush my martial uncle, and subsequently took advantage of my unpreparedness to flee. Now that you’ve walked right into the net, I, Helian Duba, cannot but seek justice for them."
His words were filled with a heroic spirit, instantly attracting various gazes from the audience.
Even experts from sects that were at odds with the Longevity Sect had to admit that Helian Duba was one of the most prominent young figures in the Martial World of Daxia in recent years.
A late bloomer who amazed everyone with a single feat, this individual was not only a hundred-year-old Martial Emperor barely holding onto his position, but within less than a year of his promotion, he had also created human-grade moves. His strength was exceedingly powerful and possibly approached the level of an Earth Immortal.
Let alone the Martial World of Daxia, even if one looked across the Flying Horse, Bei Liang, or even the hundred nations of the Western Region, how many could compare with him?
Many young women’s eyes shimmered with admiration.
Seeing this, Helian Duba felt even more triumphant in his heart.
He never underestimated Le Yan, even being 80% sure that the person was a Martial Emperor who had broken through to the Void Origin Realm after many years. Precisely because of this, if he lost, it was expected, but if he won, he would rise to fame in the Martial World once again and further cement his position in the Longevity Sect.
Such a wager was something only a fool would not take.
As for whether he would fall at the hands of Le Yan, Helian Duba hadn’t considered it; even if he could not prevail, he believed he could still ensure his own safety.
"Brother Shi..."
Yu Yourong looked around, her pretty face even paler under the starlight. Due to worry, her fingers had dug into her palms without her realizing.
On one hand, she was thrilled at Shi Xiaole’s strength, but on the other, the knowledge that there were three Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors present made her feel uneasy. She just hoped that Shi Xiaole would avoid a prolonged fight and find a way to escape.
"You really are shameless. Just because I spared you once at the inn doesn’t mean I’ll spare you a second time."
Shi Xiaole stared straight at Helian Duba.
"What a joke. Who do you think I, Helian Duba, am to need your mercy?"
Boom!
A bright beam of Sword Qi slashed through the night. If Mo Kaitai’s axe was thunder, then the Sword Qi at this moment was like a long river from the heavens, endlessly powerful, capable of splitting mountains and parting seas.
Shi Xiaole paid close attention. Helian Duba’s sword was six inches wide and two inches thick, its surface flickering with a layer of bright mysterious light—clearly a top-tier medium-grade Spiritual Weapon. Under his vigorous swings, the Sword Qi nearly twisted in form, indicative of the terrifying power it contained.
But to Shi Xiaole, this was far from enough.
When the Spring Fury Sword was drawn, Shi Xiaole casually swung it, meeting blade with blade.
Clang!
The domineering sword momentum paused abruptly.
Shi Xiaole did not stop, and the power that was boundless a moment ago became next, like a quick-touching spirit snake, slid along the blade of the other’s sword, growing larger in Helian Duba’s eyes, the speed making everything seem to slow down.
"Lingbao Liefang!"
With a loud shout, Helian Duba, having no time to attack, plunged both hands down, propelling his abdomen and sweeping his right leg across, in a move even more astonishing than the sword in his hands.
Even two other Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors hidden in the shadows showed surprise at this.
But to Shi Xiaole, it was as if he had anticipated this, not even looking as he twisted his wrist, and his long sword intercepted in midair, smashing the technique completely.
At the same time, he slightly raised his left hand, and from Shi Xiaole as the origin point, a beam of Sword Qi pierced through heaven and earth, suddenly flying out with endless illusions, instantly pulling Helian Duba into a state of trance.
Helian Duba’s actions were a fraction slow, and immediately, he was struck by a series of Sword Qi, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his face a mixture of shock and shame.
Helian Duba had considered the outcome, but the process was something he couldn’t accept at all. As he stumbled backward, his expression twisted with rage, and he shouted, "Heavenly Earth Xuanwu!"
His momentum surged, streams of Vigorous Air flowed from every part of his body, eventually culminating in a sword strike that seemed to split heaven and earth. Within the Sword Qi, an aching but soul-stirring roar could be faintly heard.
"Is this a human-grade killing move?"
Undeniably, this move did exert pressure on Shi Xiaole. There were not many Martial Emperors in the world at the Void Origin Realm, and even fewer could perform human-grade moves.
Back then, in the battle at Wuyuan Palace against the Yellow Jade Sword Emperor and the Asura Martial Emperor, due to realm limitations, neither could use human-grade moves. Otherwise, Shi Xiaole’s chance of victory would have been much slimmer.
But times have changed, and Helian Duba was neither the Yellow Jade Sword Emperor nor the Asura Martial Emperor.
The Illusion Martial Way was brought to the brink of perfection, and the void flickered like a kaleidoscope, casting a dreamlike and hazy brilliance. Merely watching caused one to feel dizzy and lose their will to resist.
A fleeting sword light flashed by.
Petals bloomed and withered.
Pfft!
Helian Duba’s bold and robust sword move had just been unleashed when it was suddenly throttled, and the remaining half ended weakly.
Helian Duba could no longer resist. He screamed as a gentle yet cutting Sword Qi created hundreds of cuts on his body, each deep enough to see bone, with Vigorous Air burrowing inside and relentlessly ravaging his bones and meridians. By the time he fell to the ground, he was covered in blood.
"The charm of this move doesn’t fit your martial path, which suggests you had quite the fortune to learn this technique elsewhere," came the words that reached the wounded Helian Duba, who was so enraged that he spat out several mouthfuls of pure blood.
