Chapter 985: Chapter 984: Participating in the Blood Sacrifice Ceremony_1
"What is Young Master Shi saying?"
Pan Eunuch showed a puzzled look.
Shi Xiaole said, "Stop pretending, Han Yanfa, Protector Han, I know it’s you!"
Pan Eunuch burst into hearty laughter as if he had heard a ridiculous joke. But gradually, under Shi Xiaole’s piercing gaze, he could no longer keep laughing, his shoulders slumped, and his voice became sonorous, "It doesn’t make sense, old Han’s Hundred Changes Divine Skill, not only can change one’s shape but even the Qi can be altered, most of the Heaven Realm Martial Emperors would find it hard to discern, could it be that you, lad, have a third eye?"
With sounds like popping beans, Pan Eunuch’s stature continued to grow and broaden, his face changing too – who else could it be if not Han Yanfa, one of the four great Protectors of the Divine Sect?
Initially, Shi Xiaole had not detected anything unusual.
Regrettably, the other party’s Qi had given away his secrets. With Shi Xiaole’s spiritual power, it was no exaggeration to say that any Qi he had come in contact with, no matter how subtle, could be distinguished.
Since Pan Eunuch was Han Yanfa, reasoning backwards, the person who saved him must also be a Divine Sect master. Shi Xiaole asked, "What has become of the Purple Wood Sword Emperor, after all?"
Han Yanfa shrugged, "He’s not dead, but not alive either. Old Han has locked down his life force. But this method can only delay his death, at most two more years and that old man will never wake again."
Shi Xiaole’s mind was somewhat appeased.
As long as he is not dead it’s good, others might not have a way, but he was born with the martial art of life and death, capable of turning death into life, maybe there would still be a slim chance then.
"Old Han, are you planning on capturing me?"
"Alas, I originally only needed to deny everything, and you wouldn’t have been able to do anything to me, but I know, once you are set on something, you never change. Hall Master Shi, Xia Youying is as beautiful as a flower, still a virgin, and old Han guarantees that your identity will not be known by the Ancestral Temple. Are you willing to be with her?"
"There are no impenetrable walls in this world, how many eyes from the Ancestral Temple are inside this princess’ mansion? Old Han, don’t harm me. You better put all your efforts into getting the princess out of here."
That one sentence rendered Han Yanfa speechless.
How could he not think of this, but the problem was, both the interior and exterior of the princess’ mansion were manned by the Ancestral Temple’s people. Even with his strength, it would be impossible to take Xia Youying away. As for training the Hundred Changes Divine Skill, the capacity to even cultivate it had been destroyed, simply impossible to do.
After pondering for a moment, Han Yanfa suddenly said, "Last time on Nine Profound Mountain, you said you would repay me for saving you from Sky City, does that still stand?"
Shi Xiaole was startled and stared intently at him, "Old Han, are you sure?"
Han Yanfa knew that as long as he insisted, Shi Xiaole would not refuse, but by doing so, their friendship would also come to an end.
His heart trembled, and facing Shi Xiaole’s astonished look, he persisted, "Hall Master Shi, I ask for your repayment now!"
Shi Xiaole looked into Han Yanfa’s eyes, and Han Yanfa also gazed back directly. In the end, he averted his gaze and said bitterly, "Pan Eunuch and I come from the same place, we have been deeply attached since childhood. In earlier years, he sustained an incurable serious injury trying to save me. He has recently passed away, and I promised him to protect Xia Youying well."
Shi Xiaole said irritably, "Is having a child also protection?"
Han Yanfa chuckled, "Xiaole, old Han suddenly changed his mind, you don’t need to do that. How about this, you represent the royals and attend the blood sacrifice ceremony?"
"Old Han, you truly are my good friend. Are you trying to see me dead even quicker?"
Not to mention whether he had the qualifications to participate in the blood sacrifice ceremony, once he did so, it would be akin to directly standing against the Ancestral Temple.
Han Yanfa spoke gravely, "Xiaole, you are really smart, even smarter than I imagined! Actually, you are well aware that if you must get involved in this matter, then participating in the blood sacrifice ceremony is your only path to survival, hence you didn’t get angry at my words."
Compared to having a child in secrecy, participating in the blood sacrifice ceremony was undoubtedly a more honourable and effective approach, but the difficulty was as different as heaven and earth.
It is said that once the "Wizard Scroll" is cultivated to the seventh layer, one is qualified to become a Witch Heavenly Guard and receive the patronage of the Witch Queen’s temple, thereby not fearing the Ancestral Temple’s covetousness.
Correspondingly, if he became a Witch Heavenly Guard, then as long as he agrees to speak up for Xia Youying, the Ancestral Temple would not dare to force her into marriage. At first glance, it seems like an ideal solution.
However.
As far as Shi Xiaole knew, each increase in the layer of the "Wizard Scroll" meant the difficulty of cultivation doubled. According to Xia Xiaonine’s previous statements, since the founding of the Daxia Dynasty, the number of people who have achieved the seventh layer could be counted on one’s fingers.
The Ancestral Temple’s top talent, Min Tianliang, began practicing martial arts at seven, became a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor at sixty-nine, and is eighty-two this year, but he has only cultivated the "Wizard Scroll" to the sixth layer.
Although Shi Xiaole was confident in his talent, he did not think that with only three months left before the blood sacrifice ceremony, he could make such progress.
Therefore, participating in the blood sacrifice ceremony, other than drawing animosity, basically had no other benefits.
Han Yanfa smiled and said, "There’s no need to reach the seventh layer, it’s enough just to show the Witch Heavenly Guard your talent. In the history of Daxia, there have been cases where individuals with high potential were exceptionally recruited by the Witch Heavenly Guard. I believe people like you will not be ignored by any powers in the current world."
"Old Han, are you planning to gamble with my life?"
Shi Xiaole said indifferently.
Han Yanfa’s eyes trembled, and he forced a smile, "Old Han swears that even if I have to give up my own life, I will not let anything happen to you, Xiaole!"
"With my identity, there’s no way I can participate in the blood sacrifice ceremony."
"Master, I will arrange your identity."
Just then, Xia Xiaonine walked in but did not dare to look at Shi Xiaole. Her usually commanding gaze seemed to have no place to rest.
The room was silent, and the breathing of the three could be heard by each other. Han Yanfa felt his scalp tingle; even though his strength was far superior to Shi Xiaole’s, at that moment, those seemingly tangible gazes that swept past him still gave him immense and heavy pressure.
In his heart, Han Yanfa did not want it this way, but he was deeply aware that Shi Xiaole might be the only chance to save Xia Youying. This intuition had no basis, yet he firmly believed in it.
The silence lasted for a long time.
"Fine."
Shi Xiaole gently uttered a word.
Forcing him to make this decision was not only because he was no match for Han Yanfa, but also because the other party demanded repayment of a favor.
Good, after this is over, let it all be written off!
This soft word should have been what Xia Xiaonine yearned for in his dreams, but at this moment, he felt a tightness in his chest, as if he was about to lose something.
But did he have any other choice? For the sake of the Xia clan’s legacy, he had to give his all.
I’m sorry, Master!
Shi Xiaole didn’t explicitly express his intention to participate in the Blood Ceremony, he planned to first attempt cultivating the "Wizard Scroll" after obtaining it. If he found something amiss, he would simply choose to unite with Xia Youying and then depart under the protection of Han Yanfa.
In this way, even if the Ancestral Temple learned of the news and discovered his identity, it would be a matter for the distant future.
Just two days had passed.
Shi Xiaole was secretly taken to an underground chamber.
In the chamber, sixteen elders of various shapes sat, each emitting a powerful presence. According to Shi Xiaole’s estimation, even the weakest among them was a Human Realm Martial Emperor. Among them, three sat with their eyes closed, their aura as surging as the ocean, certainly not inferior to Han Yanfa.
Xia Xiaonine sat in the center and said, "Master, these are the predecessors of my Xia lineage. If you wish to be eligible to participate in the Blood Ceremony, you must gain their approval."
Shua shua shua.
Gaze after gaze turned to Shi Xiaole, filled with amazement and doubt, but not a single one was indifferent.
The name of the Kirin shook the world, and this was not just talk. Now, within the Martial World of the Flying Horse Dynasty, how many were there who did not know Shi Xiaole in the Void Origin Realm circle?
Under the watch of sixteen Void Origin Realm Martial Emperors, Shi Xiaole stood at ease, a long sword hanging at his waist, his stature as refined as a lanxi jade tree, causing the onlookers to nod in approval. Even without mentioning anything else, this temperament alone was rare in the world.
"I heard that when His Majesty was in peril years ago, it was you who saved him?"
One elder with a goat beard spoke up first.
Seeing Shi Xiaole nod, another beardless elder asked, "When Princess Youying traveled to the Flying Horse Dynasty years ago, she met Young Master Shi and bore secret affections?"
Shi Xiaole, of course, knew this was just a pretext, to make his own actions seem logical, so he smoothly went along with it, "Her Highness the Princess is gentle and generous, understanding and kind-hearted, few would not like her."
Upon hearing this, everyone present could not help but twitch their lips, and the beardless elder nearly choked, thinking: Could it be that they really took a liking to each other?
Quickly moving past this embarrassing topic, one of the three elders with the strongest aura smiled and said, "With the stature of the Kirin, you wish to serve our royal family and vie for the position of Witch Heavenly Guard, we naturally welcome you. However, before that, we would like to personally assess you and hope you don’t mind."
"Of course."
Shi Xiaole nodded his head. There were many rumors about him, it was inevitable that some people could not fully believe them.
The sixteen elders exchanged glances, and finally, an elder with a horse-like face stood up, his tone gruff, "The test is simple, as long as you can withstand fifty moves from me, you’ll pass."
The stone chamber was a hundred zhang in length and width, surrounded by layers of rich Array System aura, there was no worry about it being destroyed.
In the center, Shi Xiaole and the horse-faced elder stood ten zhang apart.
"Old Six isn’t very strong among the Earthly Realm Martial Emperors, but he is still superior to the Xuanyuan Martial Emperors, especially since he has cultivated the ’Great Sorrow Hand’ to a high level of proficiency. It may not be easy for the Kirin to withstand fifty moves."
"We have no other choice; if he is just a man of empty title, I think it’s better not to have him."
The fifteen elders communicated quietly amongst themselves.
They had their considerations. According to the rumors, Shi Xiaole was able to fight a Xuanyuan Martial Emperor for thousands of moves, only slightly less proficient. With such strength, it should be simple for him to withstand the fifty moves from the horse-faced elder.
However, when three people say there is a tiger, rumors inevitably get exaggerated, so the fifteen elders thought; no matter what means Shi Xiaole used, as long as he could hold out for fifty moves, he would be considered to have passed.
Xia Xiaonine’s fists clenched in his sleeves, watching the young man in green robe with determination.
He, too, had never seen Shi Xiaole take action, and amidst his anxiety, he felt a certain complexity.
On one hand, he hoped his master would win, on the other, he hoped his master would fail—so he could simply grit his teeth, have Pan Eunuch knock his master unconscious, make him and his Imperial Sister a fact accomplished by boiling the raw rice, and after confirming offspring to ensure the Xia family would not be extinguished, he could send the master away to ensure his safety.
"Elder, please."
Shi Xiaole gestured with an open hand.
"What right do I have to bully the younger? You go first."
The horse-faced elder shook his head.
"Then please forgive my offense."
Unsure of the horse-faced elder’s actual strength, Shi Xiaole mustered eighty percent of his power after a moment’s thought, grasped the hilt of his sword with his right hand, and thrust out with his sword.
Clang!
Before the shadow of the sword dissipated, sparks were already flying in all directions.
The horse-faced elder staggered back a dozen steps, the palm of his hand sporting a circle imprint condensed from Vigorous Air, which was pierced with a concave hole by the sword tip. Sword Qi penetrated it, and with the force on his arm, his entire body leaned backwards, his old face suddenly changing color.
