Chapter 979: Chapter 978 Shameless_1
"Remember, this will be the stupidest decision you’ve ever made!"
The feelings of the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor at this moment were indescribable, shocked and humiliated, and even a bit of unspeakable regret and fear.
Yes, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor regretted it. If he had known Shi Xiaole was so difficult to deal with, with such formidable combat power, even with the four major forces offering him great benefits, he would not have accepted.
For temporary gains, to offend someone who might be an invincible prodigy was a loss no matter how one calculated it. But now, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor had no way out.
"Perhaps it’s your most foolish decision."
Shi Xiaole’s expression remained indifferent. Without waiting for the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor to attack first, he lunged forward, his sword tracing thirty-six arcs in the air, creating a vast sea of Sword Qi.
Boom...
The Xuanyuan Martial Emperor shattered it with a punch and stepped forward, his face dark as he threw a second fist. But at that moment, a subtle yet powerful psychic force assaulted the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor’s mind, drawing his consciousness into an endless cycle of reincarnation.
He was no longer the lofty Xuanyuan Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm but became a bodyguard, a beggar, a scholar... experiencing the vicissitudes of life, without end, without finality.
"How dare you scheme against me, get out of my way!"
At some point, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor sensed the crisis, sweating cold sweat in urgency. As he furiously clashed with his will, the images of reincarnation shattered.
But before the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor could breathe a sigh of relief, what came into view was a sword beam as if it could split heaven and earth, leaving no chance for evasion.
"Yuanwu Divine Shield!"
In the nick of time, a ten-zhang wide, white light shield with many patterns flowing on its surface, protected the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor.
When the sword light slashed on it, it was like a grinding machine cutting through steel. Amid the screeching sound, sparks in the shape of sickles spread out to ten thousand meters away. Each spark, reaching a thousand degrees high, scorched black traces into the void that long persisted.
In less than a fraction of a blink of an eye, the white light shield was split open, dissipating to both sides. The sword light, having exhausted eighty percent of its force, continued towards the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor who, unable to defend, only managed to forcefully twist his body.
Chillah—a piece of flesh was thrown into the air and was minced by the Sword Qi.
The Xuanyuan Martial Emperor’s face turned ashen. As he flew backward, he looked down at the depression in his chest.
The flesh there was sliced open, revealing white bone, tendons, and even blood vessels, with sharp Sword Qi trying to penetrate his body, destroying it from within. Only with the full force of his Vigorous Air could he struggle to erase it.
Raising his head, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor’s facial muscles spasmed, his blood rushing to his head out of extreme fury and murderous intent, masking any caution and driving him close to insanity.
A dignified Earthly Realm Martial Emperor, injured by a half-step Void Origin warrior—it would be a joke told throughout the whole world if word got out!
"Good grief, even his psychic strength is so powerful, nearly taking control of the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor!"
"I want to know if this kid actually has any weaknesses."
By now, the crowd was numb with shock, as though no matter how inconceivable Shi Xiaole’s actions were, they were just routine and nothing too serious for him.
In normal times, if someone said that a half-step Void Origin warrior could match, or even injure an Earthly Realm Martial Emperor, people would only take it as a joke.
"Is that all you’ve got?"
What outsiders didn’t know was that Shi Xiaole was filled with disappointment.
In that strike just now, he had combined his psychic strength with his physical power, and still, he had only injured the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor, not critically. It was easy to imagine that in the next encounter, once the other party was on guard, psychic attacks would definitely be ineffective.
One could only say that the level of the Heaven and Earth Changing Great Method was somewhat low, failing to take advantage of Shi Xiaole’s psychic strength. If he had a top-level psychic technique, he might have easily crushed his opponent.
Bang bang bang.
The two fought from the sky to the ground, and from the east to the west, leaving their silhouettes in the sky, with large swathes of mountains shattered and rivers cut through.
Unknowingly, the two had moved tens of thousands of meters away. Whether it was the experts in fierce combat or the onlookers, they all tacitly moved closer to the two, maintaining a certain distance.
Another clash.
Shi Xiaole spewed out a stream of blood and staggered back thousands of meters before he could finally stabilize his figure. Despite his myriad techniques, his strength was ultimately a level below, and after a prolonged fight, he suffered injuries from the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor.
At the other side of the plain, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor was also bleeding all over, not having gained much advantage. Disregarding his injuries, he laughed loudly, "If you’ve got the guts, don’t run away. Today, you will turn into a dead Kirin."
"Such a poor attempt at provocation. With you, you will never be able to kill me; at most, we can perish together."
Shi Xiaole’s plain narration and calm eyes truly frightened the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor deep down.
Just then, a blazing red cloud drifted to the other side of Shi Xiaole. Above the red cloud, Yan Jicheng stood tall and confident, his eyes shining like lamps, looking down from afar.
Shi Xiaole laughed.
Yan Jicheng said indifferently, "You needn’t panic. I’ve said before, your strength does not qualify me to take action. But as a member of the Yan Family, I cannot stand idly by. So long as you don’t flee, I won’t make a move against you."
Shi Xiaole’s smile deepened, not hiding the scorn it contained.
He didn’t believe that Yan Jicheng couldn’t see his strength. If he had fought at full strength against his peers in his prime, Shi Xiaole believed he would not be inferior to anyone in the world.
Yet, at that time, Yan Jicheng avoided the fight. Now, when Shi Xiaole was seriously injured, he initiated a conversation, blocking Shi Xiaole’s retreat, forcing him to continue engaging with the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor.
Was this an unintentional outcome, or a deliberate arrangement?
"Hahaha, what Yan Family’s Kirin child, turns out to be just a despicable and shameless villain, you’re a disgrace to the name of Kirin, unworthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the Young Emperor!"
While entangled with the enemy, Yan San laughed wildly, full of disdain. Yan Da and Yan Er also loudly cursed non-stop.
Watching Yan Yuchai leave, the three men were free from worries and immensely grateful to Shi Xiaole, fuming with anger at Yan Jicheng’s behavior.
The onlookers all had different expressions, none of them fools.
No matter how proud Yan Jicheng was, his reluctance to compete with the Kirin in the same rank was problematic, and his current demeanor even hinted at using someone else to kill his adversary.
"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous! What kind of person is our Young Master, to demean himself by competing with a Kirin, it’s practically an insult to himself."
"Our Young Master did not bully the lesser, even at such a moment he did not take advantage of someone’s plight, but merely fulfilled the duties of the Yan Family’s offspring, preventing the Kirin from escaping. What’s wrong with that?"
The Yan Family’s several experts loudly rebutted Yan San and the others, sneering continuously.
While the spectators had different thoughts, no one intervened.
Under such circumstances, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor laughed heartily as he charged towards Shi Xiaole. He had no way out, giving up now would make him hated by Shi Xiaole and the four major powers alike.
"Purple Wood Radiance!"
When the battle was in deadlock, a purple sword light suddenly cleaved towards the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor from afar, extending ten thousand meters as if a purple curtain, separating heaven and earth.
"Who dares?"
Enveloped in the purple Sword Qi, the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor’s hairs stood on end. Having just received Shi Xiaole’s sword, he had no strength left to block this one.
Boom!
A scorching blaze intercepted the purple Sword Qi, wildly shooting across the sky, eroding the purple Sword Qi in the blink of an eye.
"As expected of the Yan Family’s Young Master, such skill."
The Purple Wood Sword Emperor held a purple wooden sword, his aged, wrinkled face showing a touch of warmth in his smile.
Many in the crowd were surprised, as they knew the Purple Wood Sword Emperor well enough not to have anticipated this old fellow’s hidden depth.
No, if he possessed the pseudo Earthly Realm strength, why would he not vie for power in the 24th floor tower? Not even a fool would pass up such an opportunity.
"I will not allow anyone to interfere with this battle; back off, otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless."
Yan Jicheng spoke in a light tone but with an unquestionable authority.
"Haha, Shi Xiaole is a good friend of mine, how can I stand by and ignore him? I’ve long heard of the Yan Family’s Young Master’s fame; I might have to experience it myself."
With his long sword raised high, the Purple Wood Sword Emperor took the initiative to strike at Yan Jicheng, his firm attitude and fierce momentum utterly overturning the impression held by the Mysterious Ice Sword Emperor and others.
This old fellow, who used to be so cowardly and cunning, could he actually be this brave?
Facing the purple Sword Qi, Yan Jicheng did not even lift his eyes, raising his left hand, countless sparks burst forth, each one carrying a heat that could scorch heaven and earth, instantly dispersing the purple Sword Qi and wrapping around the Purple Wood Sword Emperor with an undiminished force.
Thud!
A half-dark figure flew backward violently, spraying a trail of blood mist before tumbling awkwardly to the ground, but struggling to stand on the first try with his purple wooden sword.
"The Yan Family’s Young Master truly lives up to his reputation."
The Purple Wood Sword Emperor was still smiling.
"I thought you were hiding your true strength, but it turns out you’re just keeping up appearances by burning your lifespan with a secret method. Step back, and perhaps you’ll live a few more years."
Yan Jicheng coldly said.
The most noticeable change in the Purple Wood Sword Emperor was the waning of his life energy, which was continually declining every moment, making it easy for people to guess the truth.
The Mysterious Ice Sword Emperor clenched his sword tightly.
"Purple Wood Sky-shaking Thunder!"
Just as Yan Jicheng finished speaking, the Purple Wood Sword Emperor put forth all his strength for one more strike towards his head. A trace of ridicule crossed Yan Jicheng’s eyes, and with a casual swat, countless sparks flew again.
Crackling.
The Purple Wood Sword Emperor suffered another heavy blow, bleeding from all seven orifices, and liver fragments sprayed out as if worthless, but at that moment, his sword momentum did not decrease but increased, "Kill within the Sword!"
The purple thunder Sword Qi, which should have dissipated, circumvented Yan Jicheng, forming behind him and heavily striking the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor. It was a trick within a trick; the Purple Wood Sword Emperor used himself as bait, enduring Yan Jicheng’s strike with his real target being the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor.
"No..."
The Xuanyuan Martial Emperor was horrified, retreating hastily while meeting the attack with a raised fist, but only blocking half of the Sword Qi. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Yan Jicheng showed the reflexes of an exceptional genius, casually seizing and incinerating the other half of the Sword Qi.
But.
They overlooked Shi Xiaole.
In terms of reflexes, who could be faster than Shi Xiaole? Just as the Xuanyuan Martial Emperor was heaving a sigh of relief, he suddenly felt a pain in his throat, and the next moment, his head soared into the sky.
