《Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi》


 Chapter 1 The Youth Xiao Yi

    "Tian''er, this is the top-quality tea the old Emperor sent over. Why don''t you try some?"


    "Tian''er, the Dingguo Duke is thinking of sending his young granddaughter to the Tianjian Sect to attend to your daily needs..."


    "Tian''er..."


    Xiao Yi looked up at Xiao Zhengde, who was on the main seat with a face full of ingratiating, even somewhat abject, obsequiousness. In his calm gaze, there was a touch of bitterness and helplessness. As his nce moved, it settled on the handsome and extraordinary young man sitting boldly in front of Xiao Zhengde.


    He was Xiao Yi''s own elder brother, Xiao Tianjiao!


    An exceptional genius destined for greatness from birth.


    When Xiao Tianjiao was born, a fire dragon descended from the sky and acknowledged him as its master.


    Not even three years old, he awakened the Supreme Overlord Holy Body, possessing divine power strong enough to lift a thousand-pound cauldron with one arm.


    By the age of five, he had broken through to the Tenth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, stepped into the Qi Gathering with Ten Layers at seven, sessfully struck the Shentong Realm at eight, bing the youngest Shentong Realm powerhouse in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty, and entered the Tianjian Sect, the first among the top ten sects of the Great Qin Dynasty, and became its direct disciple at ten years old.


    Now at just twenty, Xiao Tianjiao had sessfully stepped into the Tao Tribtion Realm and was hailed as the hope of the rise of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    The entire nation eagerly awaited his advance into the Longevity Secret Realm, bing the first evesting giant since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Because of Xiao Tianjiao''s existence, the Xiao Family, which used to be a minor household, became the hottest noble family in the Great Qian Dynasty overnight, receiving gifts from the Holy Emperor himself during the holidays.


    One could say that there was not a person in the Qingtian Realm who did not know the name Xiao Tianjiao.


    As for Xiao Yi...


    Under the dazzling light of his brother Xiao Tianjiao, he was without any presence at all. Everyone who saw him would only say how fortunate your life is, to have such an outstanding brother.


    In everyone''s eyes, Xiao Yi was truly lucky¡ªhis brother was the number one talent of the age, and also the Saint Heir of the number one sect of the Great Qian Dynasty. Just giving him a little bit of resources could make him a top-notch expert.


    But the reality was that when Xiao Yi turned ten, Xiao Tianjiao strictly forbade him from continuing his cultivation.


    Even the most basic body tempering was not allowed.


    ording to Xiao Tianjiao, having him as the one dragon in the Xiao Family was enough.


    He disliked the thought that when people mentioned him, they would remember he had a brother sharing the same blood, who was nothing more than an ordinary mortal with mediocre talent.


    That would tarnish his perfect image.


    If not for Xiao Yi''s mother, who protected him with her life, Xiao Tianjiao''s methods would have long since made him silently disappear from the world, forever eliminating any future trouble.


    Because of this...


    For the past eight years, he had been imprisoned in the most secluded courtyard in the depths of the Xiao Family. Even so, Xiao Tianjiao was still not at ease. To prevent Xiao Yi from escaping, he even arranged for two Shentong Realm powerhouses to watch over Xiao Yi, who was only at the Physical Body Realm, at all times.


    If it weren''t for his mother, who secretly sent him some books and passed him some news, he wouldn''t even know who the current emperor was.


    However.


    The mother who was the only one to cherish him also died suddenly three years ago. Since then, Xiao Yi had not taken a step out of the courtyard for three full years, as if the whole Xiao Family had forgotten about him.


    And today...


    Xiao Zhengde suddenly ordered for him to be called in.


    It had been two hours since he arrived at the great hall, yet Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Tianjiao acted as if they had never seen him.


    Looking at the two, high above and happily conversing, Xiao Yi''s heart turned cold as ice.


    Eighteen years.


    Living for eighteen years like the air, he was long ustomed to being ignored.


    There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart.


    Standing in the vast hall, facing what should be the closest rtives in this world, Xiao Yi was only left with loneliness and tranquility.


    After another half hour, it seemed Xiao Zhengde only then remembered Xiao Yi''s existence. As he turned around, the sycophantic and ingratiating smile on his face vanished, reced by cold indifference, disgust, and loathing. It seemed he was toozy to say more to Xiao Yi and said dismissively, "Go back and prepare. You will leave for Nanhuang City in the Tianqing Kingdom three days from now..."


    "The Tianqing Kingdom?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback. The Tianqing Kingdom was a small country subordinate to the Great Qian Dynasty, bordering the vast and barren wilderness, a forsaken ce where no bird wouldy its eggs. He frowned and asked, "What am I to do there?"


    Xiao Zhengde said impatiently, "Your brother..."


    "Hmph!"


    Xiao Tianjiao snorted coldly, his expression showing a bit of displeasure and disgust.


    In his eyes, being Xiao Yi''s brother was a great shame.


    "Oh my, I misspoke..."


    Xiao Zhengde hastily said a word of appeasement, and, seeing Xiao Tianjiao''s expression slightly mollify, he continued, "The fire dragon of Tian''er took a liking to the Silver Winged Sword Dragon kept by the Fang Family in Nanhuang as their n guardian beast. Yet the Fang Family absurdly thinks to climb up by this connection with our Xiao Family, stubbornly refusing to hand over the Silver Winged Sword Dragon. After discussing it, we decided unanimously to have you marry into the Fang Family to be their son-inw in exchange for that Silver Winged Sword Dragon!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Xiao Yi felt as if there were no sounds in the world except for his own heartbeat and the cold expressions of Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Tianjiao. His usually tranquil mind, like still ancient wells, was now churning with shockwaves.


    To be sold off like goods just because Xiao Tianjiao''s mount, the fire dragon, took a fancy to the Silver Winged Sword Dragon? To be sent to the Fang Family as a live-in son-inw?


    Xiao Yi''s head was spinning.


    Incredulous.


    Even though for over a dozen years Xiao Zhengde ignored him, and Xiao Tianjiao saw him as a stain and a disgrace, having imprisoned him for eight long years and prevented him from cultivating any cultivation techniques or martial skills, he had endured it all.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi''s face was full of bitterness, and with thest glimmer of hope in his eyes, he looked at the brother he once idolized and said in a deep voice, "Is this what you want?"


    Xiao Tianjiao nced at him indifferently, his face showing dispassion.


    It seemed even speaking to Xiao Yi was a disgrace to him.


    "This is the will of the entire n. Even though you''re useless, having stepped into the Physical Body Realm at eight years old and still remaining there after a full ten years, we have not mistreated you. You''ve nevercked for food or clothing. Now, it''s time for you to repay your debt..."


    Xiao Zhengde thought for a moment before continuing, "Today, I called you here to inform you, not to seek your opinion. You just need to follow our arrangements!"


    Just to inform me, huh?


    Indeed!


    Like my cultivation path, I don''t even have the right to choose!


    Xiao Yi looked up, his gaze intense, wanting to shout at the two of them that he was not useless, that he''d been stuck at the Physical Body Realm for ten years!


    It''s not that hecked talent for staying in the Physical Body Realm for ten years, but because the seal over something inside of his body had yet to be broken.


    But now...


    It doesn''t matter.


    There''s no need!


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath,pletely despairing of this family. His tense body gradually rxed, and the fists he had been clenching quietly uncurled. This family no longer held anything worth yearning for. Gritting his teeth, he replied each word with deliberate force, "Bing a son-inw of the Fang Family, right? I will go, but before I leave... I would like to pay respects to my mother!"


    His mother had suddenly passed away three years ago.


    Xiao Yi was confined to a small courtyard, unable to pay his respects to his mother, let alone hear of her death. It was only two monthster that he learned of her passing from the servants, and to this day he didn''t even know where her grave was.


    This was his only obsession with this family!


    However...


    Xiao Tianjiao looked at him with contempt, sneering, "There''s no need for you to pay respects to mother. I will do it myself."


    Xiao Yi''s eyes turned blood-red, his body shaking like chaff, and he growled through clenched teeth, "Xiao Tianjiao, she''s also my mother!"


    "No, from now on, she isn''t!"


    Xiao Tianjiao spoke calmly, "Your name has been struck from the family records. From this day forth, you will only be an idle son-inw in the Fang Family of Nanhuang and have no rtion to the Xiao Family."


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    A bolt from the blue!


    Upon hearing these words, Xiao Yi stumbled back three steps with his face turning deathly pale, and he bellowed hysterically, "Xiao Tianjiao, are those even human words you speak? Huh? Ashamed of me, you stripped away my right to cultivate, confined me like livestock for eight long years¡ªeight whole years! And now, do you even wish to strip away my right to pay respects to my mother?"


    "Shut up!"


    Xiao Tianjiao leaned forward slightly, proud and towering, looking down from on high at Xiao Yi, "I am a true dragon above the heavens, and you are nothing but a mudfish struggling in the mire. What right do you have to pay homage to my mother? We are people of two different worlds, and my world is far too high for you..."


    "Too high for me? Hahaha, what a ''too high for me''..."


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, his bloodshot eyes like two crimson moons, staring intently at Xiao Tianjiao and Xiao Zhengde, "Xiao Tianjiao, Xiao Zhengde, your bullying is too much... I swear, one day you will regret everything you have done today."


    "A vow, huh? An ant will always be an ant, and a vow is just a weakling''s futile struggle..."


    Xiao Tianjiao didn''t take Xiao Yi''s words to heart at all. He nced at Xiao Zhengde and said dispassionately, "Father, even with the Dragon Blood steeds running day and night, it would take five days to reach Nanhuang. The longer the night, the more dreams. Better for him to leave right now."


    "Right now? Fine," Xiao Zhengde agreed without the slightest hesitation.


    Xiao Tianjiao''s voice came again, "To prevent any mishaps along the way or his escape, it''s best to knock him unconscious and have someone deliver him directly to the Fang Family."


    Face filled with grief and anger, blood-red eyes brimming with towering rage, Xiao Yi red at Xiao Tianjiao, "Xiao Tianjiao, your tyranny is..."


    Bang!


    Before Xiao Yi could finish his words, he was struck by a palm from Xiao Tianjiao and sent flying. The violent wind filled his mouth, preventing him from uttering the rest of his words, and then he mmed into a pir with a thud.


    Everything went ck, and he fell into a deep faint.


    However...


    Nobody noticed that in the moment before Xiao Yi lost consciousness, his field of vision, which had turned pitch ck, was suddenly pierced by a dazzling light.


    It was as though invisible colossal hands ripped through the darkness,pletely engulfing his consciousness.


    In an instant.


    The darkness before Xiao Yi dispersed, and looking ahead, he found himself amidst a boundless expanse of starry sky. Countless stars spilled before his eyes, massive ones whizzing past, stirring ripples of space that stretched for billions of miles.


    Vast, majestic, endless, boundless.


    Not far in front of him in the starry sky, there floated a ck mausoleum, ancient and enormous, suspended right there, with four huge ck dragons, their bodies like ck iron, coiled around the tomb, their heads and tails linked.


    Inside that mausoleum, nine sky-supporting pirs stood tall between heaven and earth, as if piercing the entire cosmos. Eighty-one massive ck chains stretched from the top of the pirs into the boundless void, firmly locking onto eighty-one suns radiating intense and scorching light.


    The fierce mes emitted from each of the eighty-one suns could incinerate a whole realm, yet they were restrained by the ck chains, staunchly supporting the mysterious dark mausoleum.


    Xiao Yi couldn''t contain the shock in his heart as he looked toward the entrance of the mausoleum. Two azure pirs nked the gate, each inscribed with a line of blood-red characters, simr to a couplet.


    On the left: A thousand tribtions, a hundred hardships, through ancient times in the blink of an eye!


    On the right: An immortal body, an indestructible soul, who can rival throughout ancient and modern times?


    Connecting the two azure pirs was a ck que, inscribed with four earth-shaking characters...


    Eternal! Celestial! Tomb!


    PS: Xiao Tian has created a public ount. Just search for "Ye Tiandi" to find it. Xiao Tian will post some extras and the like there, I hope everyone will join!

 Chapter 2 The Eternal Celestial Tomb

    ```


    Gazing at the enormous ck mausoleum before him, Xiao Yi was overwhelmed with shock.


    Everything he saw was beyond hisprehension.


    To construct a mausoleum in the endless starry sky, using the legendary true dragon as walls, and firmly anchoring eighty-one proud suns, what kind of terrifying existence could possess such means?


    "The Eternal Celestial Tomb..."


    Xiao Yi hesitated before pushing open the great doors of the mausoleum.


    The doors seemed to have not been opened for a long time, emitting creaking noises.


    ng!


    The gates swung open.


    A surge of air burst forth, forming an enormous tornado that whisked past Xiao Yi, shooting out ten thousand miles away, extinguishing stars and dimming the sun and moon in its path.


    As everything dispersed, a series of chaotic tombs appeared before him.


    "The tomb of the Qingyun Sword Saint, this... Is this the number one swordsman of the Qingtian Realm from eighty thousand years ago, who was known to split heaven with a single sword? Wasn''t it said that he vanished after his battle with the Martial God Zhan Wuji? How could he be buried here?"


    As far as the eye could see, there were only tombs with names engraved on the steles that shocked Xiao Yi, prompting repeated exmations, "The tomb of the Grandmaster of Formation, the Double Star Taoist? The tomb of the Medicine Saint Feng Lei? The tomb of the Martial God Zhan Wuji? My God, what is going on? Weren''t all of these beings legends who dominated their time and ascended to the celestial realm? They... They are all dead? And buried here? What on earth is happening..."


    Whether it was the Qingyun Sword Saint, the Double Star Taoist, or the Martial God Zhan Wuji...


    Each of them was a super-powerful being well-known in the Qingtian Realm.


    The Qingyun Sword Saint, whose Green Lotus Sword Song dominated all three realms; the Double Star Taoist, who could trap immortals with a wave of his hand in his formations; the Medicine Saint Feng Lei, whose profound alchemical skills were revered; and Zhan Wuji, widely recognized as the Martial God, who withstood the ascension tribtion with his mortal body, dispelling thousands of miles of tribtion clouds with a single punch, capable of annihting millions of powerful beings.


    Besides them, there were many other names that Xiao Yi had never heard of, who, being buried alongside Zhan Wuji, must undoubtedly also be beings of the same caliber.


    Yet, such mighty beings...


    They had all died?


    And were buried in this mysterious mausoleum.


    Before this...


    He only knew that the reason he had always remained at the Physical Body Realm was due to a mysterious seal inside him that had not been unlocked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But when the seal was unlocked, what appeared before him was this strange and eerie mausoleum, leaving him uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow.


    "Exactly who built this mausoleum, burying so many powerful beings... And how did it end up within me?" Xiao Yi looked towards the depths of the graveyard. This was merely the outermost area, where the tombs were low and simple, where even the tomb of someone as strong as Zhan Wuji was just a few stones piled up.


    The tombs of mighty beings like the Qingyun Sword Saint were nothing more than a mound of yellow soil.


    Although the deeper parts of the mausoleum were shrouded in mist, one could still vaguely make out that the deeper into the mausoleum, the tombs became increasingly taller and more extravagant.


    Especially at the very center of the mausoleum, where one could faintly see nine pyramid-like golden tombs that stood between heaven and earth like piercing swords, with brilliant golden light radiating from those tombs. As his gaze reached the top of the pyramid, a tomb there infused his brow with an invincible aura that seemed to dere supremacy over all beneath heaven and earth.


    "The Divine Enthronement Stele finds its master, the Heaven-Subduing Divine General resumes its position! Subduing the heavens, sealing divinity, and extinguishing immortals!"


    At the same time, a voice containing supreme authority sounded within his mind, and a ck stele suddenly rose from the ground in front of him.


    As the voice fell, countless glyphs and information flooded into his mind, morphing into a scripture of cultivation.


    The "Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill".


    "One sand grain, one world; one grass, one universe. Using the body as a tomb, sealing divinity with the tomb, wielding power to subdue immortals, awakening the cells within the body, evolving the God Sealing Seed, absorbing the legacies of the powerful within the celestial tomb, suppressing immortals and sealing gods!"


    Boom!


    At that moment, Xiao Yi''s body shook violently.


    Countless natural energies from heaven and earth converged within his body. With a crisp pop, divine light burst forth from him. At this odd moment, Xiao Yi could see his entire body as though he had a God''s-eye view, with his body appearing transparent, and the eighty million God Sealing Seeds like stars in the night sky.


    At this moment.


    One of the stars shed its surfaceyer of murky film and shone with an iparably dazzling divine light.


    This God Sealing Seed was fully activated, and the surging energy feedback caused Xiao Yi''s cultivation to continuously break through.


    First Layer of the Physical Body Realm.


    Second Layer of the Physical Body Realm.


    Third Layer of the Physical Body Realm...


    He progressed all the way to the Fifth Layer of the Physical Body Realm before stopping.


    At the same time, an inconspicuous tomb in front of him was suppressed in an instant, and the legacy of its inhabitant was absorbed immediately, a cultivation technique named "Eight Extremes Fist," which he mastered on the spot.


    "Heaven-Subduing Divine General?"


    ```


    Looking at his continuously advancing body and the legacy that had unexpectedly appeared within, Xiao Yi''s eyes shed with a glint of puzzlement, for he could feel it, an earth-shattering change had taken ce in him at this moment, even his mind and nature had undergone a transformation.


    It seemed as if he himself were that Heaven Subduing Godly General! With the power to subdue the heavens, proudly looking down upon all existence.


    Even the Martial Saints and War Gods appeared so insignificant in his eyes!


    And what about his genius brother, Xiao Tianjiao? He was no more than an ant.


    This consciousness instantly etched itself deep into his bones!


    "Xiao Zhengde, Xiao Tianjiao, you treat me as rubbish, you shame me, you imprisoned me for eight long years. You forced me into an arranged marriage, and even took away my right to pay respects to my own mother... One day, I will return to the Xiao Family, and you will know who the real waste is!"


    With this thought, Xiao Yi suddenly felt a loud noise from outside, pulling his thoughts back to reality.


    His eyes opened, and he was in a simple bedroom.


    At this moment...


    The door had been violently smashed open, half of the broken door panel was lying on the ground, while the other half hung on the door frame creaking, a hulking figure was grabbing the wrist of a slender silhouette, pressing her down on a table, and sneered, "Heh heh, Fang Qingzhu, you pride yourself as the favoreddy of heaven and look down on me, huh? Today, I''ll force myself upon you right in front of your waste of a husband, and what can you do about it? Hahaha..."


    The woman being pressed down on the wooden table had a graceful figure, and although her face could not be seen, her voice was incredibly melodious, like that of an otherworldly fairy, "Fang Ao, my husband is a man of the Xiao Family, dare you touch me?"


    "The Xiao Family? If you married Xiao Tianjiao, I would pack my things and flee immediately, not even daring to nce at you. However..."


    Fang Ao, tall and burly, with a cultivation that had reached the Fifth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, looked at Fang Qingzhu''s stunning face with hot and greedy eyes, "What you married is nothing but the waste that the Xiao Family cast aside. Forget about him being unconscious now¡ªeven if he woke up, I would dare to force myself upon you right in front of him!"


    Despair and bitterness covered the beautiful face of Fang Qingzhu.


    She was the favored daughter of heaven from the Fang Family.


    When news spread that Xiao Tianjiao wanted to acquire the Silver Winged Sword Dragon, the Fang Family proposed an alliance through marriage, and everyone thought she would marry Xiao Tianjiao. Even being a lesser, unloved concubine would have elevated the Fang Family''s status, making them the number one n in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    For this reason, the Fang Family unanimously chose Fang Qingzhu as the sessor to the family head.


    However...


    Only three days prior, when the unconscious Xiao Yi was delivered to the Fang Family, did everyone realize they had been tricked.


    The two families indeed had a matrimonial alliance.


    But the bridegroom was not Xiao Tianjiao, but Xiao Yi, the waste expelled from the Xiao Family''s n records.


    What''s more...


    Xiao Tianjiao, worrying about a wife overpowering her husband, had Fang Qingzhu''s dantian destroyed, iming concern that Xiao Yi would be at a disadvantage in the Fang Family. Fang Qingzhu, a woman of heavenly favor and peak Qi Gathering Realm cultivator at eighteen, was reduced to a cripple on her wedding day.


    Together with Xiao Yi, they were truly a couple of wastes.


    The Fang Family not only lost the Silver Winged Sword Dragon but Fang Qingzhu, their favored daughter of heaven, was also reduced to a cripple because of Xiao Yi.


    In the end, they got nothing but a discarded waste of a son-inw from the Xiao Family, turning the affair into a colossal joke in Nanhuang.


    In a fit of rage, the head of the Fang Family threw Xiao Yi out to this small courtyard, left unattended.


    Only Fang Qingzhu was there to take care of him.


    Whenever Fang Ao thought about how he had schemed to pursue Fang Qingzhu, only to be repeatedly rejected, whilst she willingly took meticulous care of Xiao Yi, the one responsible for her dantian being destroyed, for three days and nights, he couldn''t help but feel enraged, gritting his teeth and asking, "Fang Qingzhu, what are you really after by doing this?"


    Lying on the bed, Xiao Yi heard the conversation between the two and his body involuntarily shook.


    He was very aware of the reason Xiao Tianjiao had destroyed Fang Qingzhu''s dantian. In Xiao Tianjiao''s eyes, Xiao Yi was a waste, and his woman could only be a waste too, regardless of Fang Qingzhu being innocent and uninvolved. He was adamant about ruining her.


    Because he would not allow Xiao Yi to have even the slightest chance of escaping the identity of a waste.


    What he didn''t expect, however...


    Was Fang Qingzhu''s decision.


    Far from resenting him, she actually took great care by his bedside for three days and nights.


    You have to understand.


    Fang Qingzhu had just had her dantian destroyed and was in a period of weakness herself.


    What was she really after by doing this?


    Not even Fang Ao understood, and Xiao Yi was full of doubts as well.


    Apparently realizing she could not break free, Fang Qingzhu stopped struggling. Tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes, and although her voice was soft, her stance was resolute, "To follow the husband like the hen follows the rooster, the dog follows the dog... Now that I have married Xiao Yi, we are husband and wife..."


    "What a fine saying¡ªto follow the husband... You''d rather suffer with this waste than be with me? Very well, I will, right in front of him, make you..."


    Fang Ao''s face contorted with fury as he roared.


    But before he could finish his words, he heard a cold voice from behind, "If you don''t want to die, I suggest you stop!"

 Chapter 3 Beating Up Fang Ao

    "Hmm?"


    Fang Ao and Fang Qingzhu were both startled.


    Fang Ao turned around to look, only to see Xiao Yi already walking down from the bed, looking at him with an indifferent face. Vaguely, Fang Ao felt as if he was facing a bloodthirsty tiger, the sharpness in his eyes causing him a pain as if being pricked by needles and sliced by knives.


    "You trash actually woke up?"


    Fang Ao was stunned, then immediately grabbed Fang Qingzhu''s hair, his face bearing a brilliant smile, "A piece of trash dares defy me, you''ve woken up just in time. Open your eyes wide and see how I take pleasure with your woman right before your eyes!"


    Xiao Yi patted the wrinkles on his clothes, his gaze calm as he looked at Fang Ao, "Make another move, and I''ll kill you!"


    Even though he had not a single shred of affection for Fang Qingzhu, the mere fact that she had taken care of him day and night for the past three days, not to mention hermitment to ''follow the man she married,'' had made it absolutely forbidden for Xiao Yi to allow anyone to harm her!


    Fang Ao was taken aback, sizing up Xiao Yi with a strangeugh, "You think you are Xiao Tianjiao? If it were Xiao Tianjiao saying this, I would immediately kneel down and crawl out of here. What are you worth? Be smart and just stand there and watch how I y with her. If you dare to spoil my fun again, I''ll make you regret ever being born!"


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes carried a sense of despair. If her cultivation was still intact, a mere Fang Ao wouldn''t even be worthy of consideration.


    But now...


    Her cultivation had been wasted, and she was no match for Fang Ao.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As for Xiao Yi?


    He was nothing more than an outcast of the Xiao Family, so what prowess could he have to protect her?


    Fang Qingzhu''s gaze toward Xiao Yi was filled with despairing indifference, "Don''t worry about me, you''re no match for him..."


    "You cheap woman, you are still defending him until now? I''ll do you right in front of him..."


    Fury burned in Fang Ao, his eyes filled with greed and fervor as he reached for Fang Qingzhu''s chest.


    Xiao Yi shook his head lightly, his face turning cold, "Clueless about death!"


    By the time he lifted his head again,


    his calm face showed a hint of indifference, and with a sudden stomp of his feet, there was a muffled bang.


    Xiao Yi, like an arrow released from its bow, shot out like a burst, carrying a violent gale of wind around him, with the sound of a sonic boom, he threw a punch at Fang Ao¡ªit was the Mountain Thrust from "Eight Extremes Fist."


    Powerful and forceful, with tremendous might and heavy force.


    "You trash, get out of my way!"


    Fang Ao didn''t take Xiao Yi seriously at all and turned around to throw a punch.


    His cultivation was also at the Fifth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, and a casual punch carried the impact of thousands of pounds, enough to shatter a tiger''s skull with a single blow.


    In Fang Ao''s view, he was at the Fifth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, while Xiao Yi was just a piece of trash discarded by the Xiao Family.


    There was no way he could block this punch.


    Even Fang Qingzhu closed her eyes in despair.


    Bang!


    The fists of the two collided mid-air like closebat, creating two gusts of wind in opposite directions that filled the simple bedroom.


    Rumble!


    The old table splintered into pieces, broken wood chips flying everywhere.


    Xiao Yi did not move an inch.


    As for Fang Ao, his face turned shades of pale and green, retreating seven steps and stopping only when his back hit the wall.


    Crack crack crack!


    Fang Ao discharged the remaining force of the impact onto the wall behind him, and cracks spread across the wall like a spider''s web.


    Wow!


    Fang Ao spat out a mouthful of blood, his legs went weak as he knelt on the ground, struggling to raise his head and look at Xiao Yi with disbelief, "How do you have such strong strength?"


    Xiao Yi rubbed his fist lightly, ncing down and said indifferently, "Trash."


    "You mongrel dare to call me trash, go to hell!" Fang Ao let out an enraged roar, his voice also turning cold,


    "Mountain Splitting Fist!"


    Fang Ao didn''t wait for Xiao Yi to speak and snorted coldly, his feet thudding on the ground.


    The punch came down like an axe splitting a mountain, heavy and powerful.


    In the Heavenly Yuan Realm, martial techniques are divided into ten grades, each with three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The "Mountain Splitting Fist" was a first-grade beginner-level martial technique.


    Fang Ao had been practicing this boxing technique since he was young, reaching the pinnacle of mastery with his fists zing with powerful intent.


    The terrifying fist wind howled towards him, with a force that could split mountains and shatter rocks effortlessly.


    "Be careful!"


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes split with anger as she cried out a warning, "The Mountain Splitting Fist has great momentum and heavy force, don''t meet it head-on, quick, dodge!"


    Fang Ao sneered, "It''s already toote!"


    Indeed, it was toote!


    His punch came like a sudden storm, leaving no room to avoid it.


    Facing such a fierce assault from Fang Ao, Xiao Yi remained expressionless, instead taking a deep breath that chilled his body.


    His eyes sharpened like never before, and all of a sudden, Xiao Yi took a step forward.


    "Seeking death!"


    Seeing Xiao Yi rushing towards him, Fang Ao''s face grew even more ferocious, his eyes blood-red, exuding a biting chill that seemed eager to devour.


    However...


    The Xiao Yi in front of him suddenly ducked, allowing Fang Ao''s punch to whiz past his shoulder. Following closely, Xiao Yi spun around, his back facing Fang Ao, and with bent legs, he thrust himself forward powerfully, like a bowstring snapping back, and his back collided with a boom against Fang Ao''s chest.


    In an instant, Fang Ao''splexion turned deathly pale, feeling a sharp pain in his chest as if several ribs were broken.


    Aow!


    Immediately afterwards, a terrible scream rang out from Fang Ao''s mouth.


    Shot out like an arrow, he flew more than ten meters before sliding another seven or eight meters across the courtyard and hitting the wall, onlying to a stop then. Cracks spread all around the wall, as if a breeze might topple it.


    Boom!


    The whole courtyard shook violently.


    Fang Ao leaned against the wall, his face ashen, blood spurting from his seven orifices, looking at Xiao Yi with horror, "You, you..."


    He was too shocked to finish his sentence.


    Fang Qingzhu''s pretty face was filled with astonishment. Everything had happened in the blink of an eye, leaving her momentarily disoriented.


    Xiao Yi walked up to Fang Ao, looking down at him from above, "The title of ''good-for-nothing'' suits you perfectly!"


    "Xiao, Xiao... wah..."


    Hatred filled Fang Ao''s eyes as he ground his teeth. Just as he started to speak, he spat out another mouthful of blood and gasped for breath before slowly regaining someposure. "You''re done for..." he hissed through his teeth. "Just wait, when my brotheres back, he will take your life... and when that timees, both you and that bitch Fang Qingzhu will die..."


    "By then, you won''t be able to see it!" Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly narrowed, a cold gleam flitted across his eyes as he raised his foot to stomp toward Fang Ao''s head.


    "Stop..."


    Fang Qingzhu''s voice suddenly came from inside the house.


    Xiao Yi paused, frowning as he looked towards her.


    Fang Qingzhu''s face was unable to hide the shock in her heart as she panted heavily and said, "Fang Ao''s younger brother Fang Jin is a master of the Tenth Layer of the Gather Qi Realm, and he is at the Royal Martial Arts Academy for assessment. Once he returns, it''s very likely he will be a Shentong Realm expert. If you kill Fang Ao, Fang Jin will definitely not let you go..."


    Xiao Yi''s brow furrowed slightly.


    Tenth Layer of the Gather Qi Realm?


    He, the Divine General of Zhentian, whomanded the Eternal Mausoleum of the Ages, how could he fear anything?


    Seeing Xiao Yi hesitate, Fang Ao mistook it for fear of Fang Jin and showed a triumphant look. Proudly he said, "So now you''re afraid? Kek, it''s toote... But, if you kneel in front of me now, beg for mercy, and personally bring Fang Qingzhu cleaned and delivered to my bed, I might consider asking my brother to spare you a dog''s life!"


    "I intended to kill you right now, but since you are so confident in Fang Jin, I shall spare your dog life and let you witness how he dies by my hand!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head gently, and under Fang Ao''s horrified gaze, he forcefully stomped down.


    Puh!


    The stompnded squarely on Fang Ao''s groin, a yellow fluid mixing with the blood flowing from beneath him.


    Fang Ao''s body stiffened utterly, his face turning a ghastly shade of green, veins on his forehead popping like angry dragons.


    Aowu...


    With a miserable howl, Fang Aopletely lost consciousness.


    Xiao Yi, with an expressionless face, grabbed the cor of the unconscious man and threw him out of the courtyard...

 Chapter 4 A Thousand Miles in One Day

    Only Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu were left in the courtyard.


    Gazing at the woman before him, Xiao Yi felt a twinge of guilt. If not for him, Fang Qingzhu would not have lost her cultivation. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I''m sorry, I''ve dragged you down!"


    "It has nothing to do with you. This must be my fate!" Fang Qingzhu forced a bitter smile and mocked herself.


    Seeing the self-mockery and unwillingness on Fang Qingzhu''s pale face, Xiao Yi frowned and said solemnly, "Don''t worry, I will take responsibility for you!"


    "Responsibility?"


    Fang Qingzhu looked at Xiao Yi oddly and shook her head with a cold sneer, unsure if she was mocking him or herself, "A dying person, and you still talk of responsibility? Fang Jin is very domineering and protective. Since you''ve crippled Fang Ao, he will definitely not let you off, and even I will face a lot of trouble..."


    Xiao Yi frowned and said, "If he dares to touch you, I will kill him!"


    "Xiao! Yi!"


    Fang Qingzhu''s phoenix eyes suddenly narrowed, and she called out his name coldly, pausing with each word, "Can''t you be a little more self-aware? What is your cultivation level? And what is Fang Jin''s strength? He is a powerful practitioner at the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, who could step into the Divine Passage Realm at any time. With what will you kill him? How will you protect me? Just because you belong to the Xiao Family? The Xiao Family does not acknowledge you, do you understand?"


    Xiao Yi fell silent.


    Depend on the Xiao Family?


    Ever since that day, he had long stopped considering himself a member of the Xiao Family.


    Seeing Xiao Yi''s silence, the frostiness on Fang Qingzhu''s face eased slightly, and she sighed, "Don''t worry. There are still three months before Fang Jin returns. I will try my best to dy him and strive to save your life. I''m a bit tired. You get some rest, and I will have someone send you food."


    "Fang Qingzhu..."


    Xiao Yi opened his mouth, but Fang Qingzhu didn''t turn back and walked straight toward the door.


    Looking at her thinning back, Xiao Yi clenched his fists and muttered to himself, "No matter what, you ended up like this because of me. I will change your fate!"


    The Eternal Tomb was filled with countless experts, including many specialists with strange abilities.


    People like Medicine Saint Feng Lei, Immortal Medicine King Xue Shengyi, and so on.


    As long as he could inherit the teachings of any one of them, there would certainly be a way to cure Fang Qingzhu, "Once this debt is settled, I will leave the Fang Family!"


    He had initially agreed to be a son-inw to the Fang Family to escape Xiao Tianjiao''s control. However, this incident forced him to stay within the Fang Family. At least, he needed to help Fang Qingzhu recover her Dantian so he could leave without any regrets.


    However...


    To earn the inheritance of Feng Lei or the Immortal Medicine King with his current strength was far from sufficient.


    The Physical Body Realm was just the basic stage of martial arts.


    Above it were the Qi Gathering Realm, the Divine Passage Realm, the Golden Core Realm, the Tao Tribtion Realm, and so on...


    He was currently at the Fifth Layer of the Physical Body Realm. Even though he had inherited Wu Zhong''s legacy and mastered the Eight Extremes Fist, which wasparable to a top-grade martial art, making hisbat power no weaker than an ordinary warrior at the Eighth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant for someone like Fang Jin at the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, let alone Xiao Tianjiao.


    "There are still three months before Fang Jin returns, three months is enough."


    If outsiders heard Xiao Yi''s words, they would likely think he was mad.


    Fang Jin was at the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, while he was merely at the Fifth Layer of the Physical Body Realm. Three months to surpass Fang Jin, break through to the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm?


    Even Xiao Tianjiao, hailed as the strongest genius in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty, took two full years to break through from the Physical Body Realm to the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.


    And Xiao Yi imed three months would suffice?


    That was pure fantasy!


    But that was just what the world thought.


    With the Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill and the control over the Eternal Tomb, these were not difficult feats for Xiao Yi.


    "One flower one world, one leaf one universe..."


    Xiao Yi focused entirely on his cultivation.


    The Physical Body Realm involved absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to refine the body, and the Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill''s absorption of this essence was far more rapid than ordinary techniques.


    The speed of his cultivation could be described as skyrocketing.


    Two dayster, Xiao Yi entered the Sixth Layer of the Physical Body Realm.


    In four days, the Seventh Layer of the Physical Body Realm, in six days the Eighth Layer, and by the tenth day, he had already reached the Ninth Layer of the Physical Body Realm.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi exhaled a long breath of turbid air and shook his head reluctantly, "After reaching the Ninth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, the pace has slowed. Indeed, the farther one goes in cultivation, the harder it gets¡­ I''m now at the Ninth Layer of the Physical Body Realm. I wonder how many God Sealing Seeds I can activate with the essence umted inside me?"


    He channeled his profound energy, directing the essence to surge wildly into the God Sealing Seeds.


    As flush after flush washed over them, the ck membrane on the surface of the God Sealing Seeds continued to shatter.


    Pop!


    One.


    Two.


    Three...


    When all the umted essence inside Xiao Yi was depleted, he had activated a total of four God Sealing Seeds. The surging power of the God Sealing Seeds burst forth from within, feeding back into his body.


    His body shuddered, and his cultivation improved further, stepping into the Tenth Layer of the Physical Body Realm!


    "Now that I hold five Divine Sealing Seeds, should I be able to suppress another formidable being?"


    Xiao Yi made a move and entered the Wan Gu Tian Tomb.


    A search ensued.


    His target settled on a small grave just one foot tall. Wu Zhong''s tombstone had only been two inches high, whereas the wooden tombstone before him stood a full ten feet tall, with the inscription: Jin Wuheng from the Heavenly Yuan Realm, known as the Death-dealing Schr!


    "The Death-dealing Schr, Jin Wuheng? Could it really be him?" Xiao Yi was visibly surprised.


    The Death-dealing Schr, one sword to chase the soul!


    This Jin Wuheng was a figure famous in the Great Qian Dynasty a hundred years ago, originally one of the four great talents of the Great Qian Dynasty, who had turned to the demonic path after being betrayed by his beloved. He had killed countless people in his life and once, with the Seventh Layer of the Divine Skills Realm, he had killed an expert of the Golden Core Realm before leaving without a trace, leaving behind a formidable reputation.


    His signature move, the Soul-chasing Life-taking Sword, was an advanced third-grade sword technique.


    "Death-dealing Schr, Jin Wuheng, you will be the second being I''ll suppress!" With a firm step, Xiao Yi''s body resonated with the sound of the Divine Seeds, erupting into a brilliant light all around him.


    Hum!


    A myriad of lights gathered into a giant palm that swept down towards the grave.


    Boom!


    The tomb shattered apart.


    A figure emerged as a streak of light.


    This man was dressed like a schr, holding a Green Peak Longsword, with a coldplexion, eyebrows sharp as swords, and eyes bright like the stars.


    With only a nce at Xiao Yi, devoid of joy or sorrow, a sword swept in from the west.


    Whoosh!


    The sword light soared to the sky, like a world-shaking rainbow.


    The sharp Sword Qi whistled in all directions, and in an instant, it appeared in front of Xiao Yi, pursuing him from every angle. These Sword Qi were so refined they were like meticulously crafted mysterious iron longswords. Before they drew near, they caused Xiao Yi''s body to feel waves of intense pain.


    "No matter how dazzling your former achievements were, now you must be suppressed by me!"


    With a single hand reaching into the void, he fully activated the Divine Seed. That giant palm reemerged in the air, and with a humming sound, it formed a massive ck cage that with a loud roar blocked the myriad of sword edges and descended from above, imprisoning Jin Wuheng within the cage with a bang.


    "Godly Suppression of Heaven, to suppress all under heaven..."


    The five Divine Seeds shone brilliantly, and bathed in divine light Xiao Yi roared, "Suppress!"


    Boom!


    The figure of the Death-dealing Schr dissipated into nothing, solidifying within the Divine Seeds into a statue of a schr holding a three-foot Green Edge Sword, sessfully suppressing the Death-dealing Schr, Jin Wuheng.


    Boom!


    At the same moment.


    A cool sensation spread throughout his body, and in the depths of Xiao Yi''s mind emerged the cultivation method for the Soul-chasing Life-taking Sword. Deeply embedded into the recesses of his mind, this sword technique that once forged Jin Wuheng''s formidable reputation, every move and every form, along with Jin Wuheng''s understanding of swordsmanship, all merged for Xiao Yi''s use.


    Without discussing Xiao Yi''s currentbat capabilities, just the theoretical grasp of swordsmanship alone was now no weaker than that of a swordsman who had devoted dozens of years to the pursuit.


    Beyond that.


    What surprised Xiao Yi was that even Jin Wuheng''s expertise in appraising antique calligraphy and paintings had been transferred to him.


    This Jin Wuheng too was an incredibly learned individual, renowned for his unique insights into antique calligraphy and painting, which turned out to be a fine acquisition.


    "Who would have thought that the Death-dealing Schr, infamous enough to strike fear upon being mentioned, aside from his exceptional talent in swordsmanship, also had such aplishments in painting and calligraphy!"


    Xiao Yi chuckled and shook his head, suddenly aware of someone entering the courtyard, he promptly left the Wan Gu Tian Tomb.


    Inside the courtyard.


    An elderly woman with a face full of wrinkles walked in. This was Mei Auntie, sent by Fang Qingzhu to bring food to Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi said with a smile, "Mei Auntie, what brings you here so early today?"


    Mei Auntie cast a cold nce at Xiao Yi, her eyes filled with disgust, and said indifferently, "If it weren''t for the Miss''s request, do you think this old woman would be willing to bring food to a scourge like you?"


    Xiao Yi managed a bitter smile; Mei Auntie had never shown a pleasant expression towards him in all these ten days.


    Bang!


    Mei Auntie threw the food on the ground, saying coldly, "The Miss asked me to tell you that in ten days, the family head will have his birthday feast. Here is one hundred silver coins; go and buy yourself a new set of clothes. She will prepare the birthday gift for you." Throwing a bag of Silver Coins at Xiao Yi, Mei Auntieined, "You wretch, you''ve not only ruined the Miss''s dantian, but now she might even lose her position as the heir. If you dare do anything to wrong her, I won''t let you off!"


    Xiao Yi was stunned, then frowned and asked, "What family heir?"


    "You don''t know?"


    Mei Auntie said coldly, "The Miss was originally the heir to the family head, but now that her cultivation is destroyed, and she''s married to someone who isn''t like Xiao Tianjiao, the family head has decided to pass the position to Fang Jin once he returns. A man who has discarded his dignity to be a live-in son-inw and can''t even protect his own wife; if I were you, I would simply hang myself with a rope..."


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath,pletely unaware of what Mei Auntie was talking about.


    "Mei Auntie, please tell Qingzhu that with me here, no one can touch her," Xiao Yi said seriously.


    "You? Forget it. You''ve already crippled Fang Ao, and I''ve heard that he has sworn that once Fang Jin returns, he''ll tear you to pieces. You can''t even protect yourself, yet you talk of protecting the Miss?"


    Mei Auntie rolled her eyes, then sighed and looked at Xiao Yi with a slightly softer expression, "But it''s good you have the intention; you don''t owe the Miss, who has been running around negotiating for you these days... I have other matters to attend to, so I must leave. Leave the food container by the door, and I''lle to fetch it. Remember to buy a set of clothes, and don''t embarrass the Miss any further!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With her hips swaying, Mei Auntie departed.


    Clenching the one hundred Silver Coins firmly in his hand, Xiao Yi''s gaze was sharp and determined, "Heir, you say? I dere it belongs to you, and no one can take it away..."

 Chapter 5 Goldlight Stone Spirit

    Nine days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Over these nine days, Xiao Yi''s cultivation had be increasingly stable, drawing ever closer to the Qi Gathering Realm.


    At noon, with the sun high in the sky,


    having risen early, Xiao Yi had already practiced the Eight Extremes Fist once and cultivated the Soul-chasing Life-taking Sword for two hours.


    "Xiao Yi, time to eat."


    Mei''s voice came from outside the door. After what happened that day, Mei treated Xiao Yi a bit more gently. Seeing him drenched in sweat, she frowned and said, "Tomorrow is the family head''s birthday feast. Miss asked me to check how your clothes preparations are going."


    "I''ll go in a bit!"


    "You better take this seriously! The family head''s birthday feast will bring all the notable figures of Nanhuang City, many of whom have pursued the Miss. You might notpare to those talents, but you should at least dress decently..."


    Mei nagged, "The hundred silver taels the Miss gave you are enough to buy a fine outfit at the Treasure Pavilion. Remember to go, don''t embarrass the Miss again!"


    ...


    Treasure Pavilion was situated in the south of Nanhuang City, divided into an outer and an inner cab.


    The outer cab mainly consisted of street stalls with a dazzling variety of goods on offer¡ªeverything under the sun, but with no guarantee of authenticity amidst a mix of the genuine and the fake.


    The inner cab, however, dealt in high-end merchandise, extremely expensive; a single piece of clothing could cost dozens of silver taels, enough for a typical family of five to live on for half a year. It was rare for ordinary people to shop at the inner cab.


    "Huh?"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes brightened as he passed a street stall.


    The stall owner was a thin old man with nothing but a ck iron dragon statue on his disy.


    "Goldlight Stone Spirit?"


    With the appraisal ability and experience in antiques and paintings he had acquired from the Life-taking Schrte, Xiao Yi could tell at a nce that there was something special about the statue; it was not an ordinary object.


    "How much for this statue?"


    The old man said, "Fifty silver taels!"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes shifted, he said, "I''ll take it!"


    The old man''s face brightened as he reached for the silver in Xiao Yi''s hand.


    But just then, azy voice came from the side, "I''ll take that statue, young master!"


    The neer was a brocade-d youth, lightly fanning himself, his face full of arrogance,pletely ignoring Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi''s expression turned slightly cold, "It seems I was the first to take interest in this statue, wasn''t I?"


    "So what if you saw it first? Ask the stall owner if he''ll sell to you," the youth scoffed, looking at the old man, "Old man, who do you n to sell this statue to?"


    The old man pretended to hesitate, "Indeed, this young brother was the first to show interest..."


    The youth casually said, "I''m offering a hundred taels!"


    The old man quickly looked to Xiao Yi.


    The youth taunted, "What''s the matter? Can''t afford a hundred taels?"


    "Quite a skilled performance,"


    Watching the youth and the old man, Xiao Yi sneered inwardly. Although they masked their intentions well, the small expressions they couldn''t keep in check didn''t escape his eyes.


    This little trick might fool others, but not the current him.


    "If you''re just shifting money from one hand to the other, then take it."


    After finishing his words, without another nce, Xiao Yi turned to leave. A statue containing a Goldlight Stone Spirit, although valuable, was of no great use to him¡ªhe was not about to waste his time ying childish tricks with this youth and the old man.


    "Huh?"


    Xiao Yi''s straightforward abandonment caught the old man and the youth off guard. They had used this tactic to provoke buyers many times before, and it was unexpected that this time it had failed.


    "Young brother, don''t leave. Although I love wealth, business is still about principles. You were the first to like this statue, so no matter how much others offer, I will sell it only to you for fifty taels, deal, and no going back!"


    Seeing the deal about to fall through, the youth immediately signaled the old man with his eyes. The old man hurriedly chased in front of Xiao Yi to deliver the statue, afraid that Xiao Yi would change his mind.


    "Deal!"


    Xiao Yi didn''t refuse, casually tossing the fifty silver taels to the old man, he prepared to leave.


    "Hahaha..."


    Once the transaction was settled, the youth suddenly burst intoughter, "Kid, I didn''t expect you actually had some insight, knowing I was maliciously bidding up the price and unwilling to spend more money. But what of it? This statue is just made from scrap iron, not even worth one silver tael. Fifty taels, I made a killing!"


    "What''s going on here?"


    "Didn''t he just try to outbid for the statue? Why is he suddenly saying it''s fake? Is he in cahoots with that old man?"


    The old man respectfully stepped forward, handing the fifty silver taels to the youth, and with a fawning expression said, "Lord Bao, brilliant!"


    "Damn, is this a scam?"


    "Lord Bao? Is he Lei Bao from the ck Tiger Gang?"


    Watching Xiao Yi get duped, the crowd felt no sympathy, only schadenfreude.


    Lei Bao flipped the fifty silver taels in his hand, "Kid, there''s no such thing as a free lunch. If it really were a priceless treasure, Lord Bao would have snatched it up long ago. Where would it be your turn? Hahaha..."


    "So full of himself, yet blind as a bat..."


    Xiao Yi nced once, and smiled coldly.


    Just at that moment...


    An elderly figure emerged from the crowd, heading straight for Xiao Yi, his eyes revealing interest, "Young man, I''m quite intrigued by this statue. May I take a look at it?"


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "Be my guest!"


    Elder Yan took the statue and scrutinized it carefully.


    The more he looked, the graver his expression became.


    Seeing this, Lei Bao showed a cold sneer, arrogantly saying, "Old man, you might as well not waste your time here. This is just scrap iron my master acquired for a silver tael, not anything valuable..."


    The old man simply turned to nce at Lei Bao, his tone indifferent, "I, Yan Mingli, have managed the Treasure Pavilion for thirty years. Do you think I can''t tell the difference between trash and treasure?"


    "What? Is he actually Yan Mingli?"


    "Holy shit, Elder Yan is the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, unrivaled in Nanhuang City for his ability to appraise treasures. And he''s actually interested in this statue? Could it be a rare treasure?"


    "A rare treasure?"


    Lei Bao waspletely dumbfounded.


    He had naturally heard the great name of Yan Mingli, the bigwig of Nanhuang City''s treasure appraisal scene. Swallowing his saliva with a gulp, Lei Bao tentatively said, "Elder Yan, you couldn''t possibly have misjudged, could you? This is really just a piece of scrap iron¡­"


    Smack!


    Elder Yan turned around and gave Lei Bao a p that saw stars in his eyes and snorted haughtily, "Even your father wouldn''t dare say I''ve misjudged." Gently caressing the statue with his palm, Elder Yan asked, "Young man, would you be willing to part with this statue?"


    Xiao Yi said, "If the price is right, naturally I''d sell!"


    Elder Yan tested the waters, "How about ten thousand silver taels?"


    Hiss!


    A collective gasp of shock went through the onlookers.


    Especially Lei Bao, whose eyes twitched and turned bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the statue in Elder Yan''s hands.


    Ten thousand silver taels!


    He had originally bought it for nothing more than a single tael, and now it was worth a ten-thousand-fold increase?


    He had just been smug about duping Xiao Yi out of fifty taels, thinking that Xiao Yi was a big-headed fool who didn''t know anything, and now in the blink of an eye, it was a treasure worth ten thousand taels?


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "That pricecks sincerity!"


    "What?"


    "You find ten thousand taels too low?"


    More and more people gathered around, their eyes popping in disbelief as they saw Xiao Yi reject Elder Yan''s offer.


    Burning with jealousy, Lei Bao felt malice rising at his gall and immediately shouted, "Brat, how dare you speak to Elder Yan like that? Elder Yan taking a liking to your item is your good fortune; you should be offering it to him as a gift¡­"


    "..."


    Elder Yan, however,pletely ignored Lei Bao and after contemting for a moment, nodded and said, "The young man is right, a statue made from aplete Goldlight Stone, ten thousand taels is indeed too stingy of me. How about this, I offer fifty thousand taels, what do you say?"


    Boom!


    Lei Bao swayed, almost tumbling over.


    Fifty thousand taels?


    I was satisfied with setting up a plot for a mere hundred taels, but I ended up gifting away a treasure worth fifty thousand taels?


    Fuck me...


    Lei Bao wished he could p himself hard.


    "Still too low," Xiao Yiughed.


    "Hmm?"


    Elder Yan''s brow furrowed, a touch of displeasure on his face.


    Fifty thousand was already a very fair price, and yet Xiao Yi was still not satisfied?


    Xiao Yi sighed, "I had hoped that someone capable of managing the Treasure Pavilion would not disappoint me in his appraisal skills, but it seems I was mistaken!"


    Elder Yan''s face darkened.


    Having managed the Treasure Pavilion for over thirty years, he had seen countless treasures and no one had ever dared to question his appraisal expertise. Now Xiao Yi had the audacity to belittle him as such? Even for someone as tempered as Elder Yan, his face couldn''t hide the growing anger.


    Seeing this, Lei Bao''s heart leaped with joy, and he vehemently reprimanded, "How insolent! Elder Yan has seen more treasures than meals you''ve eaten; who are you to question his appraisal skills?"


    Xiao Yipletely ignored Lei Bao, his clear eyes focusing on Elder Yan, "If it were a statue made from Goldlight Stone, fifty thousand taels would indeed be fair. But what if it were crafted from the Goldlight Stone Spirit?"


    Hum!


    Elder Yan''s body shuddered, and he began to breathe rapidly, "Goldlight Stone Spirit? You mean to say this statue is made from the Goldlight Stone Spirit?"


    Xiao Yi said, "You''ll know once you try!"


    Elder Yan flicked his finger and pure Qi surged into the statue.


    Hum!


    The pitch-ck statue suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, the dragon''s body swiftly turning to gold, and within it flowed a ripple-like gold liquid.


    "It really is the Goldlight Stone Spirit! Never in my life did I imagine, Yan Mingli, that I would encounter the Goldlight Stone Spirit, hahaha¡­"


    Elder Yan was so excited he was moved to tears, leaving the entire crowd including apletely dumbstruck Lei Bao.


    What kind of treasure was this?


    Even the high and mighty Elder Yan was so excited that he cried?


    Lei Bao swallowed hard and tentatively looked at Elder Yan, "Elder, this statue is really worth fifty thousand?"


    Elder Yan said, "Fifty thousand? Hmph, double that is more like it!"


    Hiss!


    Lei Bao was struck as if by lightning, frozen in ce.


    Elder Yan, with a newfound respect in his gaze towards Xiao Yi, acknowledged his appraisal skills, his voice solemn, "Young man, I am willing to pay one hundred thousand taels for this statue, what do you think?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "eptable!"


    Elder Yan nced around at the increasingly crowded scene and frowned, "There are too many prying eyes here; shall we discuss this in the Inner Cab?"


    The two left side by side.


    The crowd turned their mocking and pitying eyes towards Lei Bao, who stood there looking like a stunned chicken, "How awesome, the ck Tiger Gang has set up a lot of traps to harm people, but today, they couldn''t rob the chicken and have lost a handful of rice instead!"


    "A treasure worth one hundred thousand, and he plotted with all his might to hand it over as a gift¡­"


    "This is what they call karmic retribution!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lei Bao trembled all over, the surrounding voices like invisible ps to his face, hot and painful!


    "My, my money¡­"


    Lei Bao felt dizzy, the world spinning around him, his eyes shing with ferocity and madness as he stared at Xiao Yi''s receding figure, "You damned bastard, daring to snatch food from the tiger''s mouth. I will make sure you spit it all out with interest!"

 Chapter 6 Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll

    Treasure Pavilion, fifth floor of the Inner Cab.


    "This is where I usually live; feel free to take a seat!"


    Elder Yan led Xiao Yi into the room, and upon seeing Xiao Yi appraising the collected items around, a hint of pride appeared on his face, as he smiled and said, "Young brother, my collection has caught your eye, hasn''t it?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "These are indeed rare treasures!"


    "Of course, these are the results of the better half of my life''s work!"


    Elder Yan handed Xiao Yi ten silver notes with a face value of ten thousand each, "Here are one hundred thousand taels of silver, all issued by Tianqing Silver Bank. You can count them."


    Tianqing Silver Bank was a royal enterprise of Tianqing Kingdom and one could exchange the notes for cash or directly use them!


    Xiao Yi did not actually count the notes, simply putting them into his bosom.


    This satisfied expression spread across Elder Yan''s face, as he carefully ced the statue on the cab and asked, "Young brother, may I know your name?"


    "Xiao Yi!"


    "Xiao Yi? You are the useless son-inw of the Fang Family?"


    A look of surprise shed across Elder Yan''s face, as he quickly said, "I''m sorry..."


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "It doesn''t matter!"


    Elder Yan secretly marveled in his heart; rumors had it that Qingzhu from the Fang Family married a useless son-inw, causing her dantian to be discarded and almost losing her position as the family heir.


    However, facing the Xiao Yi in front of him, he just couldn''t connect the two together.


    But since Xiao Yi himself didn''t make much of it, Elder Yan wasn''t looking to embarrass himself and subtly changed the subject, "Xiao Yi, I have many peerless treasures here, would you be interested in taking a look?"


    "It would be an honor!" Xiao Yi replied.


    Elder Yan immediately began to show Xiao Yi his prized collection.


    One had to admit that Elder Yan''s collection was indeed bountiful, with many rare and unique treasures to behold.


    The value of these collections alone was probably no less than that of any of the four major families'' entire fortunes.


    "Xiao Yi,e over here!"


    Elder Yan pointed to the gold-framed scroll on the wall, with a mysteriously pleased smile on his face.


    Xiao Yi nced at it, recognizing an Autumn Frost and Rain Painting, "Strong and vigorous strokes, a very forceful style, the brushwork is smooth, a fine painting."


    Elder Yan''s opinion of Xiao Yi grew even more favorable, and he proudly said, "Young brother Xiao Yi has a keen eye. This painting is an original Tang Pu, and within my collection, it can easily rank within the top ten. A prince once offered eight hundred thousand taels of silver for it, but I couldn''t bear to part with it!"


    While Elder Yan was basking in his sense of aplishment, he noticed Xiao Yi''s eyebrows deeply furrowed, his gaze fixed on the painting as if he had discovered some issue.


    Elder Yan asked puzzledly, "What''s wrong? Does this painting have a problem?"


    Xiao Yi spoke gravely, "There''s something odd about the painting!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Odd?"


    Elder Yan stopped Xiao Yi and frowned, "Xiao Yi, are you saying that this painting is fake? That''s impossible. Several other old fellows and I have appraised it, and this is definitely an authentic Tang Pu!"


    "The painting is real, but I''m afraid the artist is someone else!" Xiao Yi said.


    "Where does this young nobody get off criticizing my teacher''s collection? I think you''re just showing off¡­"


    Just then, a cool voice came from behind.


    A stunningly beautiful woman appeared behind the two men, d in a fiery-red qipao, tall and graceful, with long ck hair cascading down her back. She bowed respectfully to Elder Yan and greeted, "Teacher, I saw the door open and came in on my own!"


    "No matter!"


    Elder Yan waved his hand and introduced, "Xiao Yi, this is my disciple, Lin Bingxin. Bingxin, this is Xiao Yi!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Hello."


    "I am not well!"


    Lin Bingxin looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of indifference, eyes brimming with disdain, "My teacher has studied Tang Pu''s paintings for decades. In the vast Tianqing Kingdom, if anyone is most familiar with Tang Pu''s works, he dares to im second ce because nobody has the courage to im first. I don''t know where you get the confidence to say that my teacher''s authentic Tang Pu has problems!"


    "Nonsense!"


    Elder Yan red harshly at Bingxin, then looked gravely at Xiao Yi, "Young brother Xiao Yi, this painting is one of my most cherished treasures. You just said that it''s not a Tang Pu? Do you have evidence?"


    Lin Bingxin, proud as a lofty swan, slightly tilted her chin upward, "Teacher is right. If you can provide a convincing exnation, I, Lin Bingxin, will acknowledge you!"


    Xiao Yi nced at her and said indifferently, "Whether you acknowledge me or not, what does it have to do with me?"


    "You..."


    Lin Bingxin''s expression froze.


    She was famous alongside Qingzhu of Nanhuang City, known as one of the four great beauties of Nanhuang City!


    Which man wouldn''t yield to her and strive for her favor?


    And yet Xiao Yi was so dismissive of her?


    Biting her lip, Lin Bingxin said firmly, "If this painting turns out to be fake, I''ll call you grandpa! If it''s real, you''ll kneel and apologize to my master!"


    "To be my granddaughter? You''re too old!" Xiao Yi looked Lin Bingxin up and down and said, "But to be my niece might just be more suitable!"


    Lin Bingxin''s teeth itched with rage as she clenched her jaw and dered, "Deal! Let''s agree on that!"


    Elder Yan hesitated for a moment then said in a deep voice, "Xiao Yi, if you can prove what''s wrong with this painting, you may choose any one of my treasures. Isn''t the head of the Fang Family hosting a birthday banquet tomorrow? You must be here at the Treasure Pavilion to find a birthday gift, right?"


    Lin Bingxin''splexion changed, as every treasure here was worth a fortune.


    "Since Elder Yan is so fond of Tang Pu, you should know that among the four great talents of the past, Tang Pu, known as the Calligraphy and Painting Noble, was in fact more skilled in painting rather than calligraphy."


    Xiao Yi, while letting Lin Bingxin take down the scroll, also asked for a dagger and spread the scroll out on the table. He continued, "Among the four great talents, the one who was best at calligraphy was none other than the Lifetaking Schr, Jin Wuheng. However, due to Jin Wuheng''s excessive killing, almost all of his calligraphic works were destroyed and few remain."


    Lin Bingxin radiated an icy ''keep out'' chill, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed into a tight knot, "Lifetaking Schr? What does that have to do with this painting?"


    "Just watch closely!"


    Xiao Yi''s hand plunged the dagger into the edge of the scroll with a ripping sound, slicing across the canvas.


    Lin Bingxin screamed in fright, "Are you trying to destroy this painting?"


    Elder Yan''s eyes twinkled with an inexplicable brilliance. Without a word, but with fists clenched white, it was clear his heart was also undergoing great turmoil.


    Whoosh!


    At that moment, Xiao Yi abruptly lifted his hand, peeling away the topyer revealing an image of a young man ying a tiger with a sword.


    To the left of the painting were four bold characters, flying dragons and dancing phoenixes¡ªSubduing Tiger Sword Scroll.


    In the upper right-hand corner was a verse written with the strength of dragons and snakes: "Sword in hand, jade pendant at the waist, feasting on the head of a beautiful chieftain, drinking enemy''s blood to quench thirst. Love of men and women, set aside for now, the ambition in my endless heart, now I decide. A man travels a thousand miles with sword in hand, and every step on that path is unsettled."


    The handwriting was strong and magnificent, like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, with boundless sword intent rising to the sky.


    The signature was none other than the three characters of Jin Wuheng!


    Hiss!


    "This?"


    "It''s really not an authentic work by Tang Pu, even the teacher was mistaken?"


    "And Xiao Yi, he saw through the mystery with just one nce?"


    Lin Bingxin sucked in a breath of cold air, dumbfounded.


    "A man travels a thousand miles with sword in hand, every step on that path unsettled! What a Lifetaking Schr, what an impressive Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll... It is said that Tang Pu and Jin Wuheng were close friends, and surely Tang Pu did not wish to see the fine works of Jin Wuheng lost to time, so he deliberately covered it with his own to preserve it. I thought I, Elder Yan, was the foremost among Nanhuang''s treasure appraisers, but I failed to notice such a ring w..."


    Elder Yan''s face was flushed with emotion as he turned to Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, I honor my bets. This Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll is yours to take!"


    "Thank you! Though the painting is mine, the sword technique still belongs to Elder Yan." Holding the scroll, Xiao Yi nced at the sword technique on it. He took the painting but did not want to owe any favors, saying, "Elder Yan, listen carefully!"


    "Sword! Break! sh! Annihte..."


    As Xiao Yi spoke, Elder Yan initially appeared puzzled, but as Xiao Yi continued to speak, Elder Yan waspletely shocked. His body''s spiritual energy suddenly stirred.


    Every word from Xiao Yi''s mouth seemed like a sacred chant, transforming into human figures before his eyes.


    This... He was imparting swordsmanship!


    This method was unheard of by him!


    But amid his shock, Elder Yan immediately refocused, watching those characters that turned into little figures performing various sword moves. His eyes burst with intense brilliance, fully immersing himself.


    Less than half an incense stick''s time.


    Sword intent suddenly burst from Elder Yan''s body. Then he took two steps backward and respectfully bowed to Xiao Yi, "Respected teacher above, please ept your disciple, Yan Mingli''s bow!"


    "Ah? Teacher, you..." Lin Bingxin gasped in surprise.


    "I have no intention of taking disciples. We should regard each other as equals. As for the sword technique, it''s rightfully yours," Xiao Yi looked at Elder Yan and said.


    "Absolutely not!"


    Elder Yan quickly shook his head. If the identification of the Goldlight Stone Spirit and the real nature of the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll were idents, now he waspletely in awe. Imparting teachings through sound to grasp an advanced third-grade sword technique in less than half an incense stick''s time was no ordinary feat!


    This genuflection was truly deserved by Xiao Yi!


    If he could be a disciple, he, Yan Mingli, would surely reach new heights!


    However, since Xiao Yi refused to take disciples, Elder Yan could only say, "If you don''t wish to take disciples, I can''t force you, but to consider ourselves peers is absolutely uneptable. How about this, in front of others, I''ll address you as Young Master Xiao, and in private, I''ll call you teacher, would that be eptable to you?"


    "Suit yourself!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively and said, "I have other matters to attend, so I''ll take my leave now!"


    "Teacher, take care!" Elder Yan said respectfully.


    Xiao Yi cornered his mouth into a smile as he walked past Lin Bingxin, "Good niece, your uncle is leaving now!"


    "You..."


    Lin Bingxin''s face flushed with anger, cheeks puffed out, looking aggrievedly at Elder Yan, "Teacher, you see how he''s taking advantage of me..."


    "Taking advantage? My dear disciple, I would be overjoyed to be his uncle!" Elder Yan joked with a wry smile.


    Lin Bingxin was startled, "Teacher, why do you hold him in such high regard? He''s just been lucky..."


    "Just lucky? Could luck alone allow him to spot the Goldlight Stone Spirit in one day? Could luck discern the mystery behind this Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll? Could luck enable me to master an advanced third-grade sword technique in less than half an incense stick''s time?"


    Elder Yan''s words left Lin Bingxin utterly stunned; upon hearing this, Xiao Yi seemed truly formidable!


    "Everyone says that Xiao Tianjiao, the eldest son of the Xiao Family, is the reincarnation of a true dragon. Although I have never seen Xiao Tianjiao, this second young master of the Xiao Family is no ordinary person. The world, oh how shortsighted it is!"


    Elder Yan took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting wise light as he turned to Lin Bingxin, "Bingxin, go prepare a congrattory gift. Tomorrow, I shall pay a visit to the Fang Family!"

 Chapter 7 Birthday Banquet

    "This trip has indeed yielded a rich harvest!"


    Walking home, Xiao Yi was very satisfied with the oues.


    Not only had he earned a hundred thousand taels of silver, but he also obtained the only surviving masterpiece of the Life-Chasing Schr, truly making the journey worthwhile.


    "The ''Subduing Tiger Sword Technique'' is Jin Wuheng''s simplification of the ''Life-Chasing Soul Sword.'' This man truly was a natural-born swordsman!"


    Xiao Yi nced at the scroll in his hand.


    Nanhuang City was just a remote small town.


    Even being one of the four great families, the Fang Family''s highest-level martial technique was only a third-grade intermediate.


    This ''Subduing Tiger Sword Technique'' couldpletely serve as a treasure to protect the n and, as a birthday gift for Fang Tianhao, it would definitely suffice, "This gift should indeed make Qingzhu proud!"


    Presenting such a precious martial technique as a congrattory gift wasn''t to curry favor with Fang Tianhao.


    It was merely to mitigate his own remorse towards Fang Qingzhu!


    ......


    The following evening.


    The setting sun burned the western sky red, as if ayer of Hongxia had been spread across it.


    Fang Qingzhu came to the courtyard to meet with Xiao Yi, and upon seeing his wrinkled clothes, her eyebrows knitted together, "Didn''t I give you a hundred taels of silver to buy clothes?"


    Xiao Yi touched his nose, "I''m sorry, I forgot."


    He had gone straight home after leaving Elder Yan yesterday,pletely putting the matter of buying clothes out of his mind.


    "You..."


    Fang Qingzhu opened her mouth but ultimately let out a powerless sigh, "Never mind, even if you dressed up, those people wouldn''t look at you any differently. Let''s just go! It''s gettingte, we should leave..."


    Xiao Yi asked, "Is it just the two of us?"


    He remembered that Fang Qingzhu''s parents were still alive, and she had a younger brother¡ªwhy were they nowhere to be seen?


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes dimmed, not wishing to borate, she merely said, "They''ve already gone ahead!"


    "Alright, just wait a moment!"


    Xiao Yi returned to the house and brought out the ''Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll.''


    Fang Qingzhu frowned, "What is this?"


    Xiao Yi replied, "A birthday gift!"


    Fang Qingzhu looked deeply at Xiao Yi, said nothing more, and softly remarked, "I already told you I''d prepare the gift... But since you''ve prepared one yourself, let''s use yours then!"


    The two took a carriage to Mr. Fang''s main house.


    The vast Fang Family home was brightly lit and decorated, buzzing with joy and the hustle and bustle of peopleing and going.


    The birthday feast was set in the Fang mansion''s banquet hall, with over thirty neatly arranged red tables, all seated with important figures from Nanhuang City.


    Chen Yong, the head of the Chen Family, Zhao Yu of the Zhao Family, and Zhang Yong, the head of the Zhang Family¡ªall important figures from the four great families¡ªwere seated in prominent positions.


    In addition, there were others like Lei Hu, the leader of the ck Tiger Gang, Nie Tianying, the head of the Flying Eagle Escort Agency, and so on, each bringing substantial gifts, reflecting the Fang Family''s status in Nanhuang City.


    Today''s birthday star was Fang Tianhao, the head of the Fang Family and also Fang Qingzhu''s grandfather.


    Fang Tianhao, donning a fiery red python robe, was beaming and enjoying a hearty conversation with the heads of the other three major families.


    Fang Qingzhu''s parents, Fang Zheng and Liu Yun, along with their son Fang Hao, were all smiles, warmly weing the guests arriving. Suddenly, a servant reported, "My lord, madam, Miss Qingzhu and the young master have arrived!"


    The smiling faces of Fang Zheng and his wife changed instantly, their smiles dissipating.


    It was as disgusting as stripping a beautiful woman only to discover she was a man.


    Fang Zheng scoffed, "So they''vee, but am I supposed to greet them personally?"


    Liu Yun''s face was full of disdain as she scolded, "Remember, that worthless man is not our son-inw. If you get it wrong again, you can leave the Fang Family!"


    The servant was terrified, "This servant understands the mistake."


    Fang Hao, dressed in a splendid robe and looking impatient, said, "Dad, Mom, stop arguing. I''ll go take a look."


    Fang Zheng''s face showed nothing but disgust as he nonchntly waved his hand, "Just find them a corner to sit in!"


    "Understood!"


    Fang Haozily made his way to the entrance and nced at Fang Qingzhu and Xiao Yi with a mocking tone, "Oh my, isn''t this my haughty sister and the worthless brother-inw? You two finally decided to show up. I''ve specially arranged seats for you,e with me!"


    Back then, Fang Qingzhu was the pampered darling of the heavens, the entire family treated her like she was the moon surrounded by a halo of stars.


    Fang Hao had often been disciplined by Fang Qingzhu.


    But now...


    With Fang Qingzhu having fallen to a cripple and bound to lose her status as the family heir once Fang Jin returned, he couldn''t be more delighted.


    Fang Hao directly led the two of them to the most secluded corner. While others had grand red tables full of dishes and wine, all they had were two tes of cold dishes, not even a set of utensils.


    Fang Hao said, "We''re a bit short on space up front due to the number of guests, and grandfather''s wish is for you to stay out of sight to avoid displeasing the other guests. You''ll just have to make do here!"


    "Is this grandfather''s idea, or did our parents ask you to do this?" Fang Qingzhu asked tremulously, her words heavy with intent.


    There were several empty seats at the tables in front of them, how could it be that there wasn''t enough space for guests?


    This was clearly a deliberate humiliation!


    Since when did one have to worry about causing guest displeasure by sitting in the front at a birthday celebration for one''s own grandfather? Could it really be that their own family members ranked lower than these so-called guests?


    In the face of Fang Qingzhu''s interrogation, Fang Hao feigned innocence, "Sister, you''re thinking too much! Today is grandfather''s birthday, his happiness is what matters most. It''s just a seat; where does it matter where you sit, right?"


    Xiao Yi gave him a sidelong nce, his eyebrows arching, a cold smirk on his face.


    Where does it matter where you sit?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Then why don''t you sit here? Why not arrange for the heads of the other three major families to sit here?


    But seeing Fang Qingzhu beside him, silent and speechless, Xiao Yi knew her heart was much heavier than his own. After all, it was her own younger brother who had arranged for her to be here. He understood all too well the feeling of being humiliated by one''s own flesh and blood.


    It was a destion that words could not describe, a powerlessness and heartache.


    It cut deep to the heart.


    "Sister, just stay here for now! I have to get busy," said Fang Hao with augh, striding away.


    Their situation was naturally witnessed by the guests, who whispered and gossiped among themselves, theirments too offensive to bear: "Is that the Fang Family''s useless son-inw? Well, he does look pretty handsome, but it''s a pity he''s useless..."


    "Not just useless, but a bringer of misfortune too! Fang Tianhao used to spoil Fang Qingzhu rotten, afraid she might fall and get hurt, or melt in his mouth, and now? Look at where they''ve been seated, in the furthest corner without even a decent dish..."


    At this moment, the banquet officially began.


    The guests toasted and made merry, the atmosphere lively.


    Only in the corner where Xiao Yi and hispanion were seated, the destion was emphasized by the two tes of cold dishes.


    After three rounds of wine and a multitude of dishes had been served,


    Fang Zheng, seated at the main table, gave a light cough, and seeing that everyone was looking at him, he began to speak, "Hao, haven''t you specially prepared a birthday gift? Isn''t it time to offer it to grandfather?"


    "Alrighty!"


    Fang Hao, his face flush with excitement¡ªhaving always been overshadowed by Fang Qingzhu at previous birthday feasts, it was now his turn to shine¡ªstepped forward cheerfully, "Grandfather, I have prepared for you a hundred-year-old ginseng, wishing you fortune as vast as the East Sea and a longevity greater than the southern mountains."


    A hundred-year-old ginseng was worth tens of thousands of silver, and Fang Tianhao''s smile was so wide he could barely close his mouth, "Good grandson, your gift is very much to grandpa''s liking!"


    Pleased with himself, Fang Hao maintained a facade of modesty, "As long as grandpa likes it, that''s all that matters!"


    "Family head, our younger brother couldn''t return from the capital to join in your birthday celebration. Before he left, he made me promise to deliver his gift personally!"


    Fang Ao hadrgely recovered after a month of recuperation, but his voice had taken on a colder, sharper edge. He presented a jade box to Fang Tianhao, "Our brother knows you enjoy studying sword manuals, so he prepared this ''Falling Leaves Sword Skill,'' a third-grade beginner-level sword technique. We hope you will find it to your liking!"


    Hisss!


    The crowd collectively gasped in astonishment, "That ''Falling Leaves Sword Skill'' must cost at least a hundred thousand silver!"


    "Even for the Fang Family, such a sword technique could be considered a treasure of the n!"


    Watching the envious expressions in everyone''s eyes, Fang Tianhao reveled in his pride, "Very good, very good, Fang Jin indeed is the most outstanding son of the Fang Family, this gift has truly won my heart!"


    "If the family head is pleased, our younger brother will be extremely happy!"


    Fang Ao''s pale face twisted into a venomous smirk as he looked in the direction of Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu and said mockingly, "Our younger brother, even from afar in the capital, remembered to prepare a birthday gift for the family head. Fang Qingzhu, you are the Fang Family''s heir apparent. What gift have you prepared for the family head?"


    At his words, all eyes turned toward the corner where Xiao Yi and hispanion were seated¡­

 Chapter 8 Utter Disappointment

    Everyone''s gaze fell upon Xiao Yi and the person beside him.


    Fang Qingzhu inwardly sighed, knowing that what was meant toe, would alwayse.


    She nced at Xiao Yi beside her and together they approached Fang Tianhao. With a clear voice, Fang Qingzhu said, "Qingzhu wishes Grandfather a long life of endless prosperity. Qingzhu knows Grandfather enjoys drinking tea, so I personally roasted this batch of pre-rain green tea, hoping Grandfather will like it!"


    In the past, even the mere presence of Fang Qingzhu before him would have delighted Fang Tianhao immensely.


    But now...


    Fang Tianhao merely responded with a dismissive tone, pointing to a side teatable without concealing the disdain on his face, "Put it there!"


    He didn''t even give it a nce.


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes dimmed, her pale face shing with a touch of disappointment and helplessness. This was the harsh reality, even her grandfather, who had adored her since childhood, had no more affection for her once he learned she had married Xiao Yi and lost her cultivation base.


    In Fang Ao''s resentful gaze gleamed a sense of vengeful pleasure. With feigned surprise, he said, "Xiao Yi, although you''re merely a live-in son-inw leeching off our Fang Family, today is the family head''s birthday. Surely you haven''te unprepared with a gift? This is after all the first time you''re attending the family head''s birthday feast since your marriage to Fang Qingzhu. It wouldn''t look good going empty-handed, would it? Wouldn''t that be a joke to outsiders?"


    The many guests in the hall looked at Xiao Yi with yet more scorn and contempt.


    "The Xiao Family is among the most reputable ns in the Great Qian Dynasty, how could they not understand the most basic social etiquette? This is simply outrageous!"


    "I heard he''s already been expelled from the Xiao Family, he can hardly be considered one of them!"


    The crowd''smentary was like millions of sharp spikes piercing Fang Qingzhu''s heart.


    She looked pleadingly towards Fang Zheng and Liu Yun.


    Hoping her parents would step in to resolve this awkward situation.


    However...


    Fang Zheng and his wife disyedplete indifference, adopting a cold demeanor as if the matter was none of their concern, sinking Fang Qingzhu''s heart even deeper.


    At that moment...


    Warmth spread from her palm; Xiao Yi had taken her hand. Under Fang Qingzhu''s astonished gaze, Xiao Yi calmly said, "I did prepare a gift."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Oh? Then let''s see it!" Fang Ao demanded.


    The crowd echoed, "Yes, let us see and learn what someone from the Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty would present as a birthday gift!"


    Xiao Yi produced the scroll and held it out to Fang Tianhao, "An ancient painting, wishing you longevity and health!"


    "An ancient painting?"


    "Even the cheapest ancient painting is worth thousands of silver pieces. If it''s a painting by Tang Pu, then any random scroll could be worth tens of thousands. I wonder whose masterpiece he has brought?"


    Fang Tianhao was also taken aback; if it truly was an ancient painting, then that would indeed be an eptable gift. He turned to Fang Hao, "Hao, open this scroll and let''s see, whose prized work could this be?"


    "Yes, Grandfather!"


    Fang Hao took the scroll and slowly unrolled it.


    The crowd stretched their necks with anticipation, "Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll? What a domineering name!"


    "The painting is well-crafted, and those inscriptions are indeed unique, but whose masterpiece could it be?"


    When the scroll was fully unfurled, the crowd saw the signature ''Jin Wuheng'' and exchanged puzzled looks.


    Fang Ao''s face exaggerated shock as he eximed, "Jin Wuheng? Who''s that? Never heard of him. Xiao Yi, don''t tell me you picked up some street stall trinket as a birthday present?"


    As Fang Tianhao heard these words, his expression darkened.


    He was the respected head of the Fang Family. If he truly epted a street-vendor good as a birthday gift, wouldn''t it be a loss of face for the entire household?


    Fang Tianhao looked towards Zhang Yong, "Pavilion Master Zhang, you are known as a great collector in Nanhuang City. Have you ever heard of a master named Jin Wuheng?"


    Zhang Yong touched his nose with a peculiar look on his face, "The name Jin Wuheng sounds unfamiliar, but everyone should have heard of his nickname ''Life-Stealing Schr.''"


    "The Life-Stealing Schr? The one who was as famous as Tang Pu, and also one of the Great Qian Dynasty''s Four Great Schrs of the past?"


    "Wasn''t it said that because the Life-Stealing Schrmitted too many killings, all his works were destroyed, leaving no existing pieces?"


    "Pavilion Master Zhang, is this painting real or fake?"


    Zhao Yu''s voice was somber, "Pavilion Master Zhang, Xiao Yi''s reputation is at stake. It''s better to carefully appraise it!"


    Zhang Yong waved his hand dismissively, "As everyone mentioned, the Life-Stealing Schr has no works that survived to this day. How can there be an authentic piece by him in the world? What else is there to appraise?"


    The crowd naturally grasped the implication of his words.


    If Jin Wuheng had no works that had been passed down, then this painting must be a fake!


    Fang Ao was inwardly delighted, but his face showed a look of disappointment akin to hating iron for not bing steel, "Xiao Yi, you truly brought a fake gift as a birthday present?"


    "Aiyowei, Xiao Yi, that''s too much! Yesterday, you received a Goldlight Spirit Stone Statue at the Treasure Pavilion worth more than a hundred thousand silver, and you didn''t use it as a gift, but how could you bring a fake painting to deceive people?" Lei Bao, who had recognized Xiao Yi early in the crowd, stepped forward and said aloud.


    Fang Ao''s eyes lit up as he stirred the pot from the side, "Xiao Yi, you''ve truly disappointed us. We could have understood if you had no money to prepare a gift, but you just got a treasure worth more than a hundred thousand yesterday. Not offering it as a gift to our head is one thing, but to use a fake painting to humiliate the head..."


    "Enough!"


    This statement was like pouring oil on a fire, thoroughly enraging Fang Tianhao.


    With a fierce p, he smashed the wooden table beside him to pieces, his face extremely ugly. He never liked Xiao Yi from the bottom of his heart and had never expected anything worthy as a gift.


    Just as Fang Hao said, Xiao Yi was humiliating him!


    Fang Tianhao''s face was so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it, and the disgust in his eyes grew stronger, "I, Fang Tianhao, have lived for so many years, but this is the first time someone has dared to insult me with a fake good. Out of respect for the Xiao Family, I won''t pursue this matter, but I want you to get out immediately and never set foot in the Fang Household ever again!"


    "No wonder even the Xiao Family is unwilling to acknowledge your status. It''s truly a disgrace!" Fang Ao shook his head in sighs, but the satisfaction of revenge was evident in his eyes.


    Lei Bao too shook his head, "Get going already, do you want to stay and lose more face?"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze, cold as it passed over everyone''s faces, softened as he felt warmth from the palm of his hand. Looking down at Fang Qingzhu, there was an inquiring look in his eyes.


    Fang Qingzhu smiled gently, "Since the people here don''t wee us, let''s go!"


    The murderous intent in Xiao Yi''s eyes disappeared, and he nodded with a smile, "Alright!"


    The two of them, hand in hand, turned and walked away.


    Fang Ao and Lei Bao exchanged nces, but were they about to let him off that easily?


    "Take your fake good and leave with it. Don''t leave it here to dirty the Fang Household!" Fang Ao crumpled the scroll and threw it outside the door.


    Just as the scroll was about to hit the ground, at that moment, an old palm steadily caught it.


    At the same time.


    From outside the door came the trembling voice of a servant, filled with excitement, "Pavilion Master Elder Yan from the Treasure Pavilion has arrived¡­"

 Chapter 9 Whats Your Seniority?

    "Elder Yan from Treasure Pavilion has arrived!"


    The servant at the doorway, with an excited flush across his face, stretched his neck and shouted at the top of his lungs.


    His voice overshadowed all the sounds in the great hall.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    One after another, the guests almost simultaneously stood up, shock apparent on each of their faces as they turned toward the direction of the main entrance.


    Fang Tianhao was so excited that he trembled, his face aglow with delight.


    The Zhang, Zhao, and Chen family patriarchs looked toward Fang Tianhao, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy.


    Chen Yong said with a wry smile, "Ever since Elder Yan came to Nanhuang City, I''ve invited him no fewer than ten times a year, but the old man has not epted an invitation even once!"


    Zhang Yong sighed and said with a sour tone, "It''s Mr. Fang who has the grand face, to actually have Elder Yane to personally celebrate his birthday!"


    Within Nanhuang City.


    Apart from the city lord''s mansion, the four great families reigned supreme.


    These four stood at the pinnacle of Nanhuang City''s power pyramid, and even the city lord''s mansion had to show them some courtesy. The only exception was Elder Yan from Treasure Pavilion, who never paid them much heed.


    Of course.


    The Treasure Pavilion, present throughout the entire Heavenly Yuan Realm, indeed had such strength and prestige.


    And because of this...


    Every family considered it an honor to be able to invite Elder Yan to their feast.


    However, Elder Yan had always abstained from these gatherings; even the city lord''s mansion could not persuade him!


    Today Elder Yan had actuallye to the Fang Family, naturally causing everyone else to be green with envy.


    Fang Tianhao beamed from ear to ear, his eyebrows lifting slightly in a gesture of pride as he feigned helplessness, "Ah, Elder Yan and I have been good friends for many years. I am just a man of low-profile who does not wish to unt our friendship. This year is my eightieth birthday, and he insisted oning to celebrate..."


    The surrounding guests, upon hearing this, felt their envy intensify.


    Any family that could establish a connection with Treasure Pavilion was like attaching itself to a hen thatid golden eggs. If not soaring high, at the very least the family''s power could multiply several times over a short period.


    Zhao Yu, the patriarch of the Zhao Family, said in a deep voice, "Mr. Fang, you must lend us your support in the future!"


    "Certainly, certainly!"


    Feeling the envious gazes of everyone around him, Fang Tianhao''s smile grew even more brilliant.


    Today was destined to be the most glorious moment in his life! The high and lofty Elder Yan personallying to celebrate his birthday was something he hadn''t even dared to dream of. Over the years, the Fang Family had sent no small number of invitations to Elder Yan, but he had never epted one.


    Fang Tianhao thought to himself, "He must have heard about Fang Jin''s imminent admission to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, bing a high and mighty royal disciple, so he specially came to curry favor with our Fang Family!"


    With that thought.


    Fang Tianhao stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the entrance with light steps.


    With five or six meters still separating him from Elder Yan, Fang Tianhao extended his right hand, with an excited face he said, "Hahaha, Elder Yan gracing us with his presence truly brings glory to my Fang Family!"


    All the envious guests around him thought, "When will we ever be like Mr. Fang, to have dealings with a personage like Elder Yan?"


    However...


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the expected scene of the two towering figures engaging in pleasant conversation did not ur.


    Elder Yan simply walked past Fang Tianhao and headed toward someone behind him.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Leaving a windblown Fang Tianhao behind, his hand outstretched and his face still wearing a beaming smile.


    Watching Elder Yan approach her direction, Fang Qingzhu''s heart tightened¡ªshe was very clear about the terrifying influence Elder Yan wielded in Nanhuang City.


    If she were to offend the person before her, it would definitely be a dead end!


    Fang Qingzhu quickly tugged at Xiao Yi, whispering urgently, "Quick, move aside¡ªthis is Elder Yan from the Treasure Pavilion; we mustn''t block his path!"


    But Xiao Yi remained motionless, with an odd expression, watching the approaching Elder Yan.


    "What on earth are you doing? This is Elder Yan; we can''t afford to provoke him..." Fang Qingzhu''s face was filled with anxiousness, as she was already thinking about how to seek Elder Yan''s forgiveness should Xiao Yi offend him.


    However, Elder Yan, who was like an uncrowned king in Nanhuang City, quickly stepped forward, stopping a meter away from Xiao Yi, with hands sped together in utmost respect, "Yan Mingli pays his respects to young master Xiao!"


    What?


    Everyone was simultaneously petrified.


    Their unblinking eyes were fixed on Xiao Yi and Elder Yan, and the word "bbergasted" was clearly written on everyone''s faces. The heads of the three great families looked at one another in confusion¡ªwhat was happening?


    Wasn''t it said that Elder Yan had been an acquaintance of Fang Tianhao for many years?


    Why was hepletely ignoring Fang Tianhao and instead enthusiastically approaching the good-for-nothing, son-inw of the Fang Family?


    The three of them stared fixedly at Fang Tianhao.


    Fang Tianhao''s face stiffened, feeling as though his cheeks were burning from the pain, as if he had been pped dozens of times. Recalling the words he had said before, he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself in it.


    Elder Yan gave him a sly wink, as if to say, "Master, this should make you proud, right?"


    Xiao Yi shook his head helplessly, turning towards the dumbfounded Fang Qingzhu beside him, "Qingzhu, this is Yan Mingli, Elder Yan. You should just call him Elder Yan like I do!"


    "Elder¡­ Elder Yan?!" Fang Qingzhu repeated subconsciously.


    "Hahaha, I have long heard that Madam Xiao is a heavenly beauty, and seeing you today, it is indeed true! This bottle of ''Gestation Elixir'' is a gift I''ve specially prepared for our meeting. I hope Madam Xiao won''t find it too modest!" Elder Yan took out a bottle of elixir and thrust it into Fang Qingzhu''s hands without any further exnation.


    Hiss!


    Around them, a series of astonished gasps rang out: "The Gestation Elixir? Isn''t that a third-grade medicinal pill, worth five thousand silvers each? With at least ten pills in the bottle, that''s fifty thousand silvers, right?"


    "What exactly is going on? Wasn''t it said that Elder Yan was here to celebrate Mr. Fang''s birthday? Why is hepletely ignoring him and instead seems to havee for Xiao Yi?"


    Fang Qingzhu looked panic-stricken, turning towards Xiao Yi with a helpless look.


    Xiao Yi patted the back of her hand, reassuring her with a smile, "Don''t worry, since it''s a gift from Elder Yan, just ept it with peace of mind!"


    Only then did Fang Qingzhu ept the elixir.


    Elder Yan also breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Is Elder Yan doing this just to curry favor with Xiao Yi?" Fang Qingzhu was shocked by her own thoughts. She saw how Elder Yan continually maintained a low profile in front of Xiao Yi, and was frightened by the spection in her mind.


    This was the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, whose status was incredibly exalted.


    Even when the four great families had sent him invitations several times, Elder Yan had been disdainful, yet now, he had brought a precious Gestation Elixir as a gift to please Xiao Yi?


    Was this really the same man who everyone despised as useless?


    Looking at Xiao Yi again, Fang Qingzhu felt as though there was ayer of mystifying fog surrounding him, one that was imprable to the eye, and the more she tried to investigate, the more she felt like she was sinking deeper, as if mired in the mud.


    "Excuse me for a moment..."


    Fang Tianhao, steeling himself, came over. He felt pins and needles all over, having just boasted proudly; if he couldn''t turn the situation around, it would be a huge embarrassment.


    With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, he tentatively asked, "Elder Yan, weren''t you here to celebrate my birthday? Why have you started chatting with this good-for-nothing?"


    "Good-for-nothing?"


    Elder Yan was momentarily taken aback before realizing Fang Tianhao was referring to Xiao Yi, and a glint of cold light shed deep in his eyes. With utter disdain, he countered, "And who do you think you are? Worthy of me celebrating your birthday?"

 Chapter 10 The Frog in the Well

    "Who do you think you are? Worthy of me celebrating your birthday?"


    Elder Yan''s merciless words made Fang Tianhao tremble all over, his face turning from white to red, from red to green, and finally into a bloodless pale.


    This change of face was faster than flipping a book, utterly spectacr.


    Invisibly.


    Everyone seemed to hear the crisp sound of pping echoing in the hall.


    Fang Tianhao''s chest heaved violently, feeling dizzy and almost fainting.


    Aplete and utter humiliation!


    He had just boasted that he was on such good terms with Elder Yan that Elder Yan hade specifically to celebrate his birthday. Yet, Elder Yan''s words publicly burst his lie.


    For a moment.


    The gazes of the guests in the hall shifted from initial envy and jealousy to one of schadenfreude and pity.


    Chen Yong curiously asked, "Elder Yan, aren''t you here for the birthday banquet?"


    "Attend his birthday banquet? Is he worthy?"


    Elder Yan''s face was thick with mockery, his gaze shifting to Xiao Yi as he indifferently said, "I am here today specifically to pay my respects to Xiao!"


    Hiss!


    Chen Yong and others sucked in a breath of cold air.


    To pay respects to Xiao Yi?


    The gazes everyone directed at Xiao Yi underwent a drastic change, and the figure of this son-inw of the Fang Family seemed to grow immensely in stature.


    "What merits and virtues does this waste have to warrant such respect from Elder Yan?"


    "Do you think Elder Yan is saying this just to give face to the Xiao Family?"


    "Impossible, Xiao Yi has already been expelled from the Xiao Family. Elder Yan couldn''t be unaware of that..."


    "Then how do we exin this?"


    "No matter what, this little son-inw has really shot up in the world. With this connection to Elder Yan, who would dare to look down on him in the future?"


    Among the crowd.


    Fang Ao''s face turned from green to white, resembling a venomous snake coiled in wait, radiating a light of cold malice.


    Clenching his fists tightly, the knuckles turned pale from the force.


    Ever since Xiao Yi had crippled his ''fifth limb,'' Fang Ao''s heart had been thoroughly twisted.


    He thought of revenge every waking moment.


    But with Fang Jin''s dyed return, he could only wait. Today, he finally seized an opportunity to make Xiao Yi lose face. Yet, with Elder Yan''s appearance, Xiao Yi instead soared high into the sky, bing Elder Yan''s cherished friend.


    Look at the way those people are staring at Xiao Yi. Their gazes were no longer filled with disdain and ridicule like before, but with fervent enthusiasm, almost wishing to transform into fawning dogs, eager to grovel at Xiao Yi''s feet.


    "Why does this waste deserve to have Fang Qingzhu, why does Elder Yan visit him? Why not me? I won''t ept this, I won''t..."


    Fang Ao took a deep breath, his eyes filled with insane hatred as he loudly said, "Elder Yan, please don''t be deceived by Xiao Yi, he is the scum of humanity, disloyal, unfilial, unrighteous, and unkind. Just before you arrived, Xiao Yi presented a fake painting as a birthday gift to our family head. When we exposed him, far from feeling any guilt, he walked away,pletely disregarding the family head."


    Lei Bao also added fuel to the fire, "Fang Ao is right, Xiao Yi is an animal. Elder Yan is not aware, but yesterday, I was the first to take interest in that statue. However, he snatched it from me, using me of setting him up..."


    Both were weeping profusely as they poured out their tale.


    A hint of amusement shed in Elder Yan''s eyes. Pretending to be serious, he asked, "Xiao, is what they''re saying true?"


    Xiao Yi touched his nose, "What do you think?"


    "I think..."


    Elder Yan pretended to ponder, then, amidst the expectant faces of Fang Ao and others, he suddenly red, his invisible yuan qi transforming into two cold palms that fiercely pped them to the ground. His cold voice sent chills down their spines, covering them with an icy dread, "They''re just talking nonsense!"


    Elder Yan unfurled the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll in his hands, his expression cold as he said, "This fake painting you mentioned, is it this one in my hands?"


    Fang Ao, covering his face, struggled to his feet and nodded, "Yes, that''s the fake painting. Zhang, the head of the Zhang Family, personally authenticated it as a fake!"


    "No, that''s correct!"


    Lei Bao spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with teeth, his face a picture of grievance.


    Elder Yan looked at Zhang Yong and said indifferently, "Zhang Yong, you say this painting is a fake? What is your evidence?"


    Ah?


    Zhang Yong was taken aback and dared not lie under Elder Yan''s sharp gaze, he reluctantly nodded and said, "Elder Yan should know that although Jin Wuheng, the Life-iming Schr, is one of the Four Great Talents alongside Tang Pu, he bore too much killing intent, and all his works were destroyed by enemies. There are no known surviving masterpieces of his. Moreover, this ''Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll'' has no mention in any historical records, which is why I concluded it was fake!"


    "See, Elder Yan, the Life-iming Schr left no works behind, how could this painting possibly be genuine? We deduced that Xiao Yi definitely bought this substandard forgery from some unscrupulous counterfeiter, presenting it as a gift for longevity..."


    Fang Ao, thinking he had found the truth, spoke more and more proudly, "But what he never imagined was that Master Zhang is a major collector with an extensive understanding of ancient paintings and saw through the forgery at a nce, exposing his hypocritical guise!"


    Watching Fang Ao who seemed to have grasped the truth, Xiao Yi touched his nose and looked at Elder Yan with a strange expression.


    An unscrupulous counterfeiter?


    Elder Yan''s face turned green, with a gloomy expression, he said, "Do you know where he got this painting from?"


    Fang Ao shook his head, "I haven''t inquired that... I heard Elder Yan loathes counterfeiters and swindlers the most. I believe that with some stern interrogation, Xiao Yi will surely confess and bring the fraudster to justice!"


    "There''s no need for coercion, I know who the counterfeiter you''re talking about is!" Elder Yan said with a dark face.


    "Ah?"


    Fang Ao was stunned, then quickly put on a ttering smile and said, "Elder Yan is wise and martial, able to guess who the fraudster is without even stepping outside!"


    Elder Yan said tly, "You know him too!"


    "I do?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Fang Ao looked confused.


    With a cold expression, Elder Yan enunciated deliberately, "This painting was taken from my study. The counterfeiter you''re talking about, if I''m not wrong, is me! Are you going to bring me to justice?"


    Thump!


    Fang Ao, terrified, copsed on the ground, his face turned deathly pale, and he looked at Elder Yan in disbelief, "This, this, this painting is yours?"


    At that moment, Fang Ao felt so regretful he could have died.


    Damn it!


    He had actually called Elder Yan a counterfeit swindler? Wasn''t this like an old birthday deity ingesting arsenic because he was tired of living?


    Fang Ao trembled all over with fear, repeatedly opening his mouth to argue, but so nervous he could hardly make a sound, nearly close to tears.


    The surrounding crowd was also stunned.


    Nobody had anticipated such a twist.


    Gurgle!


    Fang Tianhao was the first toe back to his senses, disbelievingly looking at the ''Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll'' in Elder Yan''s hand, he ventured, "Elder Yan, if this painting is genuine, then, then its value must be incredibly high, right?"


    Standing beside him, Zhang Yong also full of shock, swallowed and said with a trembling voice, "If this is genuine, then it''s the only remaining precious artifact of the Life-iming Schr Jin Wuheng in this world. Its value is immeasurable. At the very least, it''s worth millions of taels of silver."


    "What?"


    Everyone was astonished.


    Especially Fang Tianhao, who was shaking all over with tremors, wishing he could p Fang Ao to death. If it wasn''t for Fang Ao''s instigating remarks just now, he wouldn''t have thought to discard the painting!


    This was worth millions of taels of silver!


    Even for the Fang Family, several million taels of silver was not a small amount.


    Elder Yan sneered with scorn, "A bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well, treating such a treasure like trash. If it were to fall into your hands, that would truly be a pearl covered in dust!"


    Fang Tianhao''s face turned extremely ugly. Although the Fang Family was not as prominent as Treasure Pavilion, being repeatedly disregarded by Elder Yan, the head of the Fang Family, his anger rose, and he stubbornly said, "While a million taels of silver is not a small amount, my Fang Family can still afford it. What pearl covered in dust?"


    "Idiot!"


    Elder Yan looked at him with contempt, and said indifferently, "I believe the Fang Family cane up with a million taels of silver, but what about a third-grade high-level sword technique? Does your Fang Family have it?"

 Chapter 11 Regret Beyond Recall

    "What, what did you say?"


    "A high-level tier-3 sword technique?"


    Fang Tianhao was stunned, looking at Elder Yan with a bewildered face.


    Weren''t we talking about the painting?


    How did it get connected to a sword technique?


    To know...


    In Nanhuang City, the highest grade of martial arts was high-level tier-3, possessed only by the city lord''s manor and the big four families. Such a level of martial arts could easily cost tens of millions of silvers, and for any family, it was considered a treasured heirloom.


    Elder Yan scoffed and raised the scroll in his hand, saying, "The sword technique I''m talking about is inside this painting. It was Xiao who discovered the secret within this painting, yet he chose to give such a precious treasure to you as a birthday gift. And you? You treated it like trash? A frog in a well,cking vision!"


    Hum!


    Fang Tianhao was shaken to the core, his face turning pale in an instant.


    This scroll contains a high-level tier-3 sword technique?


    This should have belonged to him!


    And he had rejected it?


    Treated it like trash and threw it back?


    "This, this..."


    Fang Tianhao shook his head violently, still refusing to believe it was true. "Impossible, how could a painting hide a sword technique? You must be making up lies to elevate Xiao Yi, right?"


    Elder Yan shook his head and chuckled, "Fang Tianhao, who do you think you are? That I, Yan Mingli, would need to concoct lies to deceive you?"


    "So, it''s true then? This painting really contains a high-level tier-3 sword technique? Doesn''t that mean, this painting is worth millions of silvers?"


    Fang Tianhao finally epted reality.


    The painting that he had previously seen as trash, something Xiao Yi used to humiliate him, at that moment seemed to emit an endless divine light, a rare treasure of unmatched value.


    "I''ve always been unable to break through to the Golden Core Realm because the Fang Family''s treasure is a ded technique. If I could practice this swordsmanship, I would have hope of stepping into the Golden Elixir Realm!"


    Fang Tianhao thought to himself, "But after all, as head of the family, I''ve already returned this painting, so I cannot simply ask for it outright. However, I believe that if I hint just a little, Xiao Yi will surely give it back to me..."


    With this thought in mind,


    Fang Tianhao cleared his throat, putting on a calm demeanor, and smiled at Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, I am truly pleased that you would offer me such a treasure..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi looked at him coldly, how could he not understand Fang Tianhao''s intentions, and indifferently said, "What does your happiness have to do with me?"


    Uh...


    Fang Tianhao''s expression stiffened.


    Damn it!


    I''ve hinted so tantly, can''t you understand?


    Fang Tianhao was inwardly irate, but seeing that Xiao Yi showed no signs of offering the painting again, he had no choice but to steel himself and say, "Xiao Yi, since the ''Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll'' was prepared by you as a birthday gift for me, I can''t refuse your kindness..."


    Xiao Yi said, "This painting was originally meant for Qingzhu, but now it seems unnecessary."


    Fang Tianhao''s face darkened, and he extended his palmmandingly, "Xiao Yi, I order you to give the painting to me!"


    In his mind, having lowered his face, Xiao Yi surely wouldn''t dare to refuse again.


    Sure enough.


    Xiao Yi took the ''Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll'' from Elder Yan''s hands and turned to Fang Tianhao. Fang Tianhao''s heart surged with pleasure, proudly thinking: I refuse to believe I can''t handle a mere son-inw, in the end, won''t you obediently hand over the painting?


    However...


    Xiao Yi merely brushed past him, his voice faint as it reached Fang Tianhao''s ears, "This sword technique, you are unworthy of it."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    Fang Tianhao''s face stiffened as if relishing a delicious meal only to have inadvertently swallowed two flies¡ªutterly diforted.


    Xiao Yi walked straight up to Zhao Yu, "Do you want to learn the sword technique above?"


    Zhao Yu looked utterly baffled, "Huh?"


    Xiao Yi frowned, "You don''t want to learn?"


    "I..."


    Zhao Yu nodded vigorously and decisively said, "Want, of course I want!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand nonchntly and threw the scroll, "This painting is yours now."


    Zhao Yu, as if struck by lightning, ecstatically received the scroll, holding it close to his chest like a precious treasure. He stepped back three paces and, with hands sped before him, bowed deeply to Xiao Yi, "Zhao Yu thanks Young Master Xiao for the gift of the painting. Should you have any orders in the future, the Zhao Family shall spare no effort!"


    "It''s what you deserve!" Xiao Yi said, waving his hand dismissively.


    Earlier, when Zhang Yong had asserted that the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll was a fake, only Zhao Yu spoke up to remind him to examine it carefully. Although it was a small favor, Xiao Yi remembered it. As for the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll itself, had it not been for preparing a birthday gift for Qingzhu, it would have been just a nk sheet to him.


    Having said that, he looked at Elder Yan with a smile, "Elder Yan, I''ve yet to find a ce for dinner, would you be interested in joining me for a few hearty drinks?"


    "When Young Master Xiao asks, how could I refuse!"


    Elder Yanughed heartily, "I know of a tavern with excellent dishes and drinks!"


    Xiao Yi walked up to Fang Qingzhu, took her small hand, and said with a smile, "Qingzhu, Elder Yan is treating us, shall I take you for a big meal?"


    Fang Qingzhu was startled.


    Her dark eyes locked onto Xiao Yi''s and, after a brief moment, she nodded gently, "Mhm!"


    The trio set off.


    Along the way,


    No one dared to stop them.


    Zhao Yu turned to Fang Tianhao and cupped his hands in greeting, "Mr. Fang, I suddenly remembered there is something urgent at home, I shall take my leave first!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking, without waiting for Fang Tianhao to respond, Zhao Yu took the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll and departed.


    As the birthday banquet had not yet concluded, Zhao Yu''s early departure was tantamount to publicly pping the face of the Fang Family, especially since he left with what should have been their Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll. This left the Fang Family and their associates looking extremely displeased.


    Chen Yong and Zhang Yong exchanged nces, quickly discerning each other''s thoughts and stepped forward together.


    Fang Tianhao''s forehead throbbed with visible veins as he clenched his fists tightly on the armrests, grinding his teeth, "I suppose you two also have something urgent at home?"


    Zhang Yong gave an awkward smile, "There''s a soup brewing at home, I need to see to the fire. My apologies!"


    "Mr. Fang..."


    Chen Yong, being more forthright, struggled to think of an excuse and simply said, "I have a stomachache, I''m leaving first!"


    "You... you..."


    Fang Tianhao''s rage surged to his heart, making his head spin.


    The crowd looked at Fang Tianhao and his family with eyes filled with schadenfreude and pity.


    The Fang Family''s loss today was indeed severe!


    The Fang Family members were enveloped in an air of gloom.


    "The Fang Family is truly pitiable. A high-grade, third-tier sword scroll, just like that, benefiting the Zhao Family!"


    "What''s there to pity? Think about how they have treated Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu before! This is what you call reaping what you sow. Look at Zhao Yu, simply for one sentence, he got such an opportunity!"


    "When I get back, I definitely need to thoroughly educate the youngsters in our n not to follow the Fang Family''s example!"


    Hearing the murmurs and secretive whispers, Fang Tianhao''s face turned paler still. Looking at Zhao Yu in the banquet area, his body trembling and his heart bleeding, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood andy stiff on the ground.


    That vivid red blood, the Fang Family members in disarray, and the strikinglyrge birthday character in the background formed a stark contrast...

 Chapter 12 Elder Yans Request

    The Fang Family, Inner Courtyard.


    The Fang Family, once brimming with joy, was now shrouded in gloom.


    The banquet had ended in disarray.


    Fang Tianhao, who seemed to have aged a decade overnight,y on his bed, his eyes filled with regret and resentment as he clenched his fists tightly, "Damn Xiao Yi, he''s pushed me too far... *cough cough cough*..."


    Fang Zheng hurriedly patted Fang Tianhao''s back, "Father, please calm down! Care for your health!"


    "Care for my health? Do any of you even care about this old man''s well-being?"


    Fang Tianhao pped away Fang Zheng''s hand with a look of cold indifference, "Look at the wonderful daughter you''ve raised! She always takes the side of others instead of her family. It''s one thing not to help your kin during critical moments, but she even ran off with that bastard Xiao Yi, as if her goal is to see me dead!"


    "This..."


    Fang Zheng and his wife exchanged a nce, both seeing helplessness and bitterness in each other''s eyes.


    Once upon a time, Fang Qingzhu was the pearl in their palms.


    But ever since Fang Qingzhu married Xiao Yi and lost her cultivation, and there were even suggestions to strip her of the position of family heir, their attitude towards Fang Qingzhu had drastically changed.


    What they never expected was that the useless son-inw they thought little of would suddenly be the cherished friend of Elder Yan.


    Fang Tianhao''s heaving chest slowly calmed down as he said sternly, "I don''t care what methods you use, you must make Fang Qingzhu and Xiao Yi change their minds. Even if you have to kneel and apologize, you must do it, understand?"


    Fang Hao protested, "Grandfather, why should my parents humble themselves and beg that waste? Doesn''t the Fang Family still have me?"


    "You?"


    Disdain and contempt filled Fang Tianhao''s eyes. "If the Fang Family relied on you, I''m afraid our downfall wouldn''t be far off!"


    At seventeen, Fang Hao had also received a lot of resources by riding on the coattails of Fang Qingzhu''s status. Six months ago, he entered the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer ¡ª such talent wasn''t too bad.


    But to rely on him to revitalize the Fang Family?


    That was a fool''s dream!


    Fang Tianhao didn''t bother with him anymore and turned to Fang Zheng with a tone that brooked no argument, "As long as you can bring Xiao Yi back, with his rtionship with Yan Mingli, he will definitely help our Fang Family''s business to a new level. And when we get the news of Fang Jin joining the Royal Martial Arts Academy, the rise of the Fang Family will be unstoppable! You must bring Xiao Yi back, understand?"


    There''s power in wealth, and strength in writing.


    The rise of any family or individual is absolutely inseparable from resources.


    The Treasure Pavilion controlled more than seventy percent of Nanhuang City''s trade ¡ª it was a veritable money tree.


    Yet, thinking of how they must now beg the once-despised waste they''d reluctantly epted as a son-inw made his face burn with pain.


    Fang Zheng felt incredibly frustrated but dared not go against Fang Tianhao''s wishes, "Father, rest assured, I will bring them back!"


    Leaving Fang Tianhao''s separate residence.


    The reverence on the faces of the trio, Fang Zheng, Fang Hao, and Liu Yun, vanished once they were outside, Liu Yun said fiercely, "That old coot actually expects us to kneel and beg that waste to return? If we really did that, could you and I ever hold our heads high again?"


    "Rest assured!" Fang Zheng''s eyes glinted fiercely and menacingly, "If Xiao Yi obediently follows us back, so be it. But if he dares to resist, then he can''t me me for being ruthless!"


    ...


    On the wide street.


    A carriage moved smoothly along. Pedestrians cleared the way upon seeing the symbol of the Treasure Pavilion on the carriage, fearing to disturb the important person inside.


    Inside the carriage.


    Fang Qingzhu was somewhat silent.


    Today at the birthday banquet, the actions of Fang Zheng and his wife, along with Fang Hao, had deeply wounded Fang Qingzhu''s heart.


    Xiao Yi kept holding her hand, his warmthforting her.


    "Xiao, was dinner to your liking?" Elder Yan asked.


    Xiao Yi nodded and smiled, "Indeed, especially the Huadiao-steamed flying dragon. It was truly an extraordinary delicacy!"


    "That''s aged Huadiao Wine of over thirty years, and the dragon was just caught from the Southern Deste Mountain Range this morning; before cooking, they were all lively creatures!"


    Elder Yan took out a jade bottle from his bosom, his eyes beseeching as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Xiao, there are a few Qi Gathering Elixirs inside this bottle, you must ept them!"


    Qi Gathering Elixir.


    A second-grade, low-level elixir, one worth a hundred taels of silver.


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "Without merit, I cannot ept the reward; I cannot take these elixirs."


    "Don''t be so quick to decline, I have a favor to ask of you!" Elder Yan chuckled, having seemingly anticipated Xiao Yi''s refusal.


    Xiao Yi''s inquisitive gaze met his.


    "On the fifteenth of next month, the Treasure Pavilion''s treasure appraising event of the five cities of Nanhuang will be held in our Nanhuang City. At that time, Pavilion Masters from the other four cities of Nanhuang, as well as some significant figures, will attend. Elder Yan Mingli of Sky Moon City''s Treasure Pavilion and I are old rivals, and just a few days ago, he sent me a challenge letter, dering that the younger generation from both sides wouldpete."


    Nanhuang is boundless and vast, an incrediblyrge territory.


    Within the entire Nanhuang, there are five cities: Nanhuang City, Sky Moon City, Shouye City, Dinghai City, and Qingyang City. Each city has a branch of the Treasure Pavilion, and they constantly vie with each other, both openly and in secret.


    Elder Yan said gravely, "I''ve received word that he has recently taken on an exceptional disciple; although Bing Xin is quitepetent, she still falls short in experiencepared to Cheng Fu''s disciple. Therefore, I would like to ask for your help at the event, Xiao!"


    "I will go!"


    Xiao Yi agreed. To him, it was no more than lifting a finger.


    Elder Yan''s face broke into a thrilled smile, and without further ado, he stuffed the elixirs into Xiao Yi''s hand, "Now you can ept them with a clear conscience, right?"


    Xiao Yi could only smile helplessly and ept them.


    "Pavilion Master, we''ve arrived!" called the coachman from outside the carriage.


    The three stepped out of the carriage.


    Xiao Yi took Fang Qingzhu''s small hand, "Shall we go in and sit for a while?"


    Elder Yan nced at the dpidated courtyard in front of him, his eyebrows knitting slightly.


    This courtyard was truly too rundown.


    The walls were cracked, and the door was mostly broken, creaking in the wind.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Elder Yan averted his gaze and shook his head with a smile, "The Treasure Pavilion still has matters to deal with; I won''t disturb you and Madam Xiao''s rest today!"


    Fang Qingzhu bowed her head, her pretty face flushed.


    Xiao Yiughed heartily, unconcerned, "If that''s the case, I won''t keep you! I''ll remember the matter and will attend when you let me know!"


    "Then I''ll take my leave first!"


    Elder Yan gave a respectful bow to Fang Qingzhu, "Madam Xiao, do remember to visit the Treasure Pavilion when you have the time; let me have the honor of being a proper host!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded, "Take care, Elder Yan!"


    "You two go ahead inside; no need to see me out!"


    Elder Yan waved his hand and slipped back into the carriage.


    They watched Elder Yan leave.


    Xiao Yi looked at Fang Qingzhu before him, "Do you want to stay here, or go back?"


    Fang Qingzhu bit her lip, a hint of struggle appearing on her face.


    What Fang Zheng and his wife did today had indeed chilled her heart; for the moment, at least, she did not wish to see them again.


    She inconspicuously slipped her hand out of Xiao Yi''s grasp, and said softly, "I''d like to be alone for a while."


    "There are vacant rooms in the courtyard. We can each take one," Xiao Yi said, not really minding.


    But before they could step inside, they heard hurried footstepsing from behind, apanied by Fang Zheng''s voice.


    "Wait!"

 Chapter 13 Humiliation Visits!

    Xiao Yi''s steps halted, and he saw Fang Zheng and his wife, with a reluctant Fang Hao in tow, approaching quickly.


    He instinctively nced at Fang Qingzhu beside him.


    Fang Qingzhu hung her head low and shook it, "I don''t want to see them..."


    Having said that, she walked straight into the courtyard.


    Xiao Yi stood in front of the main gate, like a guardian deity, watching the three people approaching closely.


    Seeing Xiao Yi, Fang Zheng and the others cursed silently, but still put on a brilliant smile, "Xiao Yi, you''re finally back!"


    Liu Yun, who had never shown a good face to Xiao Yi, said affectionately, "Xiao Yi, you''ve been with our family for so long, and Qingzhu''s dad and I have been busy with n affairs and haven''t found the time to see you, you''re not upset with us, are you?"


    Xiao Yi did not respond, but said indifferently, "Qingzhu doesn''t want to see you, please leave."


    "Uh..."


    Fang Zheng and his wife exchanged a look, their smiles fading as their gazes darkened.


    In their view, they had lowered their stance enough, and Xiao Yi should be grateful and ttering them.


    But now, Xiao Yi waspletely disregarding them!


    A sh of anger went across Fang Zheng''s eyes, but remembering the task given by Fang Tianhao, he suppressed his fury and spoke softly, "Xiao Yi, even if my wife and I have done something wrong in the past, that''s all behind us now. We''re family, any misunderstanding can be cleared up if we just talk it out."


    With that, he aimed a kick at Fang Hao, who was scowling beside them, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and greet him!"


    Fang Hao reluctantly mumbled a greeting, "Brother-inw..."


    Obviously, he was extremely reluctant to call Xiao Yi his brother-inw!


    In his eyes, Xiao Yi being called brother-inw was a stroke of fortune unbeknownst for eight generations!


    But as soon as the words left his mouth, a disdainful snort from Xiao Yi came forth.


    "What are you, that you deem yourself worthy to call me brother-inw?"


    "You!"


    Fang Hao''s face fluctuated with varying shades.


    Reluctant toe and plead with Xiao Yi, the mockery from Xiao Yi made his anger rise uncontrobly.


    "I called you brother-inw as a courtesy, so don''t be ungrateful! Isn''t it just good luck that you got Elder Yan''s support? You really consider yourself something special?"


    Fang Hao''s face was full of mockery, his voiceden with sarcasm, "Elder Yan is merely using you as a tool, and when you''re no longer of value, see if he still bothers with you! Without Elder Yan, you''re just a worthless piece of trash!"


    "Shut your mouth, how dare you talk to your brother-inw like that?"


    Only after Fang Hao had finished speaking did Fang Zheng rebuke him with a feigned displeasure, smiling, "Xiao Yi, don''t stoop to Fang Hao''s level!"


    Xiao Yi''s expressionless face watched the three like they were a bunch of clowns.


    If he had really intended to stop Fang Hao, would he have waited for him to finish?


    Xiao Yi sneered, "If I really stooped to his level, he¡­ would already be dead!"


    "Xiao Yi, you''re going too far!"


    Fang Hao''s eyes widened as his vital energy surged, and his fists crackled with energy.


    A body full of vital energy, ready to burst!


    "Enough!"


    From inside the gate came Fang Qingzhu''s cold reprimand, her expression frosty as she stared at the three, her voice trembling slightly, "What are you doing here?"


    The actions of the three at the birthday banquet had already deeply wounded Fang Qingzhu.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Fang Zheng frowned, quite displeased with Fang Qingzhu''s attitude.


    Stepping forward, Liu Yun presented a beaming smile, "Qingzhu, your father and I havee to tell you great news! Your grandfather has agreed to let Xiao Yi enter the main residence. From now on, our family can live together again!"


    Fang Qingzhu frowned slightly, finding the smile she once thought was kind on Liu Yun''s face now disgustingly insincere.


    A glint of icy disdain shed in her eyes as Fang Qingzhu said lightly, "It was he who banished Xiao Yi from the main residence, and now it''s he who allows his return. Don''t you find thatughable? What exactly do you take Xiao Yi and me for? Tools at your beck and call?"


    "How dare you talk to your parents like that?"


    Liu Yun''s face stiffened.


    ustomed to Fang Qingzhu''s obedience, she had lost her patience,manding with a fierce face that left no room for refusal, "Help Xiao Yi pack up, and move back to the main residence with us!"


    In the past, although Fang Qingzhu was a pampereddy, favored by all, and esteemed, she was extremely filial, always obedient to her parents'' words.


    When Liu Yun spoke, Fang Qingzhu dared not refuse!


    But now, Fang Qingzhu shook her head, "We''re fine here, we won''t be going to the main residence."


    "You wretched girl, not even listening to your own mother?" Liu Yun''s face darkened as she raised her hand to p Fang Qingzhu''s face.


    p!


    The p came so unexpectedly that everyone was taken by surprise.


    Fang Qingzhu''s head was snapped to the side from the hit, a crimson handprint on her delicate cheek, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.


    Her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness!


    This was the first time in her life that Liu Yun had hit her!


    Fang Qingzhu looked incredulously at Liu Yun.


    "What''s with that look? I gave birth to you and raised you, not to mention hitting you, if I told you to die, you''d have to obey! Go pack your things this instant, ande back to the main residence with us!" Liu Yun said domineeringly, her face grim.


    Fang Qingzhu took a deep breath, her heart growing colder, but her expression was resolute, "I''m not going back!"


    "You wretch, you''re seeking death!" In a rage, Liu Yun raised her hand to deliver another p to Fang Qingzhu!


    But just at that moment...


    p!


    Xiao Yi moved swiftly, shielding Fang Qingzhu and grabbing Liu Yun''s wrist, returning a p across her face!


    With that p, Liu Yun saw stars before her eyes and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth!


    The voice of Xiao Yi, as thoughing from the depths of hell, also carried coldly through the air.


    "Get lost!"

 Chapter 14 Crazy beating this rude mother-in-law

    ```


    "You dare to hit my mother?" Fang Hao roared furiously, pouncing toward Xiao Yi like a tiger descending the mountain.


    Xiao Yi lifted his foot for a kick, even though he was only at the Tenth Layer of the Physical Body Realm, hisbat strength wasparable to a Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer powerhouse, and he sent Fang Hao, who was at the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer, flying with a single kick.


    "Hit my son? Are you trying to start a rebellion?" Liu Yun was burning with rage, her other hand shing toward Xiao Yi''s face.


    Smack!


    Just as she raised her hand, Xiao Yi backhanded her face again!


    "You..."


    Smack!


    Smack smack smack!


    With a volley of ps, he struck the domineering mother-inw''s face left and right, over a dozen times, then flung Liu Yun away, causing her to stagger backward!


    Xiao Yi''s icy gaze swept over the two of them, and he said, word by word, "If it wasn''t for Qingzhu calling you ''mother,'' you''d be dead by now!"


    The sharpness of Xiao Yi''s gaze was like a de, and as cold as ice and snow, it suppressed the overpowering Evil Qi brought by the Lifetaker Schr!


    At this moment, even a thickyer of makeup couldn''t hide the increasingly paleplexion of Liu Yun.


    The dozen or so ps had indeed dazed the arrogant mother-inw, and utterly frightened her!


    "Dare to hit my mother? I''ll fight you to the death!"


    Fang Hao, like a carp flipping back onto its feet, rebounded from the ground, and with a flick of his arm, he drew a Soft Sword from his waist.


    The Soft Sword shimmered with silver light, writhing in his hand like a serpent, and a continuous buzzing sound pierced the air as it thrust straight towards Xiao Yi''s heart.


    "Seeking death!"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes grew cold, and he reached out with a single hand.


    The flesh and blood palm made a grating ng as it met the Soft Sword, and Xiao Yi firmly grasped it in hand. Fang Hao''s face turned beet red with exertion, unable to free the Soft Sword from Xiao Yi''s grasp.


    At this moment, Fang Hao''s face was full of disbelief!


    "How can your physical body be so strong?"


    Xiao Yi scoffed disdainfully.


    "Scram!"


    The veins on his arm bulged as though the roar of the sky thundered faintly in the background.


    Eight Extremes Copse!


    Boom!


    Fang Hao screamed as he was sent flying backward, the Soft Sword in his hand dropping to the ground as he violently coughed up mouthfuls of blood!


    The mighty power of the Eight Extremes Copse had shattered five of his ribs!


    This scene made Liu Yun''s eyes nearly split with fury, wing towards Xiao Yi with a ferocious expression on her face!


    "You little bastard, you dare to hit my son? I''ll fight you..."


    "Noisy!"


    Xiao Yi let out a cold snort, flinging his arm as if he was tossing trash, and sent Liu Yun flying more than ten meters away.


    Whoosh!


    Finally, Fang Zheng made his move, darting forward to catch Liu Yun, his face dark as he looked at Xiao Yi with a serious gleam in his eyes, "Worthy of being from the Xiao Family, even if you''re just a despised waste, you still possess such strength."


    Fang Zheng told Liu Yun to step aside.


    His body faintly vibrated with Vital Energy, much stronger than Fang Hao.


    Fang Qingzhu''s expression changed drastically, and a hint of urgency surfaced in her lost gaze.


    "Xiao Yi, he is a Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Layer powerhouse..."


    "You slut, how dare you side with an outsider against me? I''ve always said, raising a daughter is worse than raising a dog, and it seems I was right!" Fang Zheng roared angrily, his eyes chillingly cold.


    Fang Qingzhu''s face turned deathly white, tears streaming down unstoppably.


    Worse than raising a dog?


    How deeply Fang Zheng''s words must have hurt her?


    They chilled to the bone!


    "Fang Zheng, you are disgraceful as a father!" Xiao Yi said with a face as still as water.


    "She''s my daughter. I gave birth to her, raised her, and she ought to repay me! When she was useful, of course, I treated her as the jewel of my palm, but now? She''s nothing more than waste that can''t even secure the position of Family Head. An outsider who loses me money, why should I be polite with her?"


    Fang Zheng sneered continuously, "If you obediently obey and follow me back to the main residence and serve my Fang Family, I will still acknowledge her as my daughter. Otherwise, you two can be a couple of wandering souls beneath the Yellow Springs!"


    Whizz!


    Fang Zheng suddenly shot an arrow from his fingertip, as fast as a startling reflex, breaking through the air.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank abruptly. Sidestepping the sudden cold arrow, he reached for the Soft Sword on the ground and sped towards Fang Zheng, the Longsword in his hand gleaming with sharp intent: "Chasing Stars, Pursuing the Moon!"


    Fang Zheng''s face darkened. The cultivation of Qi Gathering Realm Fourth Layer endowed him with much denser Vital Energy than Fang Hao''s, his palms pulsing with Vital Energy: "Coiling Snake Palm!"


    The sword shot out like a cold star streaking across the sky!


    The palm struck like a snake, coiling around its territory.


    In the blink of an eye, the palm and the sword''s edge collided heavily, the sword''s edge vibrating intensely and Xiao Yi was forced back several meters!


    ```


    Fang Zheng pursued relentlessly, his palm transforming into a w as he targeted Xiao Yi''s heart from behind, "If you can''t be of use to me, then go die!"


    ck Tiger Heart Dig!


    This was a deadly strike.


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes were filled with rage, and she moved instinctively, darting forward with her arms spread to shield Xiao Yi from the fatal blow from Fang Zheng.


    "They''re as good as dead!"


    "Dad, quickly kill these two ungrateful wretches!"


    Liu Yun and Fang Hao had ice in their gaze, brimming with intent to kill and void of any past affection!


    "Cheap wench, die!" Fang Zheng said coldly, without a hint ofpassion.


    Just as Fang Qingzhu was about to die at the hands of her father, Xiao Yi suddenly turned around, his left arm encircling Fang Qingzhu''s waist and in a swift motion, he spun her out of harm''s way.


    At the same time, in his right hand, the Soft Sword took flight!


    "Soul Chase, Life Seize!"


    Whoosh!


    The sharp brilliance of the sword was like a fireball streaking across the sky, a sword chasing the soul, a life-seizing sword!


    "Ah..."


    Fang Zheng let out a terrible scream!


    This sword had pierced directly through his palm, continuing through the base of the palm and along the entire length of his arm!


    Xiao Yi casually flicked his wrist, and Fang Zheng''s entire right arm was split into two halves!


    Xiao Yi moved forward in one smooth motion.


    "Eight Extremes Copse!"


    Bang!


    This blow struck Fang Zheng squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward with great force!


    Most of his bones shattered upon impact!


    Ugh!


    Fang Zheng spat out blood as he tumbled down in front of Liu Yun and Fang Hao.


    The family of three looked at Xiao Yi with horror-stricken faces, as if they were staring at a peerless God of ughter. Gone was their arrogance and mboyance, leaving only terror and fear.


    "No, don''t kill us, I, I am your mother-inw!"


    "Bro, bro-inw... no, Xiao, Xiao spare our lives, I''m still young... Sister, please beg Xiao for me! Beg him!" Fang Hao shook in terror, stinking of fear.


    Xiao Yi turned his head to look at Fang Qingzhu.


    Fang Qingzhu took a deep breath, "Let them go!"


    Taking the Soft Sword from Xiao Yi, Fang Qingzhu walked in front of the three, her voice cold as frost.


    "From today on, I, Fang Qingzhu, sever all ties with you!"


    Whoosh!


    The Soft Sword gleamed coldly as it severed her jet-ck hair, scattering it in the wind.


    The three stood there stunned, theirplexions ashen.


    They... were being discarded by Fang Qingzhu like worthless ribs!


    Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop!


    The sound of carriage wheels broke the deathly silence.


    Lin Bingxin looked on in astoundment at the scene before her, full of questions but not daring to ask any. She respectfully presented the deed to Xiao Yi, "Seeing that your residence was in ruins, my teacher purchased a vi next to the Treasure Pavilion and asked me to deliver the deed to you, please ept it!"


    "Much appreciated!"


    Xiao Yi received the deed with a light chuckle and then handed it to Fang Qingzhu. He looked at her earnestly, "Qingzhu, would you be willing to move there with me?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Fang Qingzhu stood there, dazed as she looked at Xiao Yi.


    She was now without a home, all alone.


    Seeing the sincerity in Xiao Yi''s eyes warmed her cold heart. A smile curled on her lips as she nodded emphatically, "I would be d to!"


    "Xiao, Miss Qingzhu, please board the carriage, and I will take you to the vi right away!"


    "No... this is impossible! How could such trash deserve such a ce?" Liu Yun couldn''t help but roar in anger!


    Now, with all ties severed and feelings betrayed, how could she ept such an oue?


    "Impossible! You don''t deserve it! You never will!" Fang Hao''s body was trembling.


    And Fang Zheng was grinding his teeth in anger, his face dark and gloomy.


    "You lowlifes are only fit to live here! Only fit to stay here!"


    Lin Bingxin''s eyes turned cold as she respectfully invited Xiao Yi and hispanion onto the carriage, then looked back at the trio with a touch of disdain in her eyes.


    "Even my teacher, who wanted to take Xiao as a master, was refused. With such a prodigious figure as your son-inw, you didn''t treat him well but instead pushed him away? And you call Xiao trash? Trulyughable!"


    "Not to mention, I wonder who truly is the trash!"

 Chapter 15 Strange Phenomena of Heaven and Earth

    Driven by the Treasure Pavilion, every inch ofnd around it was worth its weight in gold.


    In Nanhuang City, everyone aspired to own a house near the Treasure Pavilion. Anyone who could buy an over three-hundred-square-meter mansion nearby would be considered a true winner in life.


    One of the four major families, the Zhang Family, was situated right beside the Treasure Pavilion.


    Zhang Ze was the young master of the Zhang Family, the only son of the family head, Zhang Yong.


    Among the younger generation in Nanhuang City, his talent was also among the top ranks.


    At the age of neen, he had already reached the Fourth Layer Cultivation of the Qi Gathering Realm.


    "Er Gouzi, why has the que on the mansion next door been changed?" Zhang Ze rode atop a tall horse, nced at the mansion next to the Zhang residence with a brand new que, and asked.


    Leading the horse in front, Er Gouzi turned at the question, "Young Master, it seems that Elder Yan has bought this ce!"


    "Oh? Elder Yan? Could it be that he''s nning to be our neighbor?" Zhang Ze''s eyes narrowed into slits. Elder Yan was the most prestigious figure in Nanhuang City.


    Although his cultivation was not the first in Nanhuang City, if one were to talk about status and power, even the lord of Nanhuang City could notpare to him.


    After all.


    The Treasure Pavilion was spread throughout the entire Great Qian Dynasty!


    Countless young talents dreamt of apprenticing under Elder Yan, but within the vast Nanhuang City, no one could catch his eye, so everyone set their sights on Lin Bingxin.


    Zhang Ze was also among Lin Bingxin''s suitors.


    "Young Master, look, isn''t that Miss Lin?" Eximed Er Gouzi all of a sudden.


    "Hmm?"


    Zhang Ze was startled and looked eagerly ahead, only to see Lin Bingxin walking out from that residence. He was about to approach when he saw a handsome young man following close behind her.


    Seeing the young man conversing happily with Lin Bingxin, Zhang Ze''s expression instantly turned gloomy, "Who is that kid? He seems very familiar with Bingxin? Er Gouzi, bring the horse over!"


    "Yes, Young Master!"


    Er Gouzi quickened his pace.


    In front of the residence.


    Xiao Yi said with a smile, "Please give my regards to Elder Yan!"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll remember!"


    Lin Bingxin nodded faintly, the inherent coldness in her, as if a millennia-old ice, tough to melt, "Take good care of Qingzhu after you get back, she hasn''t had it easy!"


    "I will!"


    Xiao Yi responded, recalling the way Fang Qingzhu rested her head on his shoulder and fell asleep, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of heartache.


    Lin Bingxin suddenly saw Zhang Ze on his tall horse, rushing over quickly. Her face slightly changed as she quickly said, "I have something else to do, I need to leave first!"


    Before the words had even finished.


    She was already running away like a trail of smoke.


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    What did she see that made her run so fast?


    Xiao Yi looked in Zhang Ze''s direction.


    Seeing Lin Bingxin speed up her departure at the sight of him, Zhang Ze did not give chase. Instead, he rode his tall horse to a stop in front of Xiao Yi, intending to figure out the rtionship between this young man and Lin Bingxin!


    As their eyes met.


    Zhang Ze gently pped his palm with the riding crop in his hand, his eyes narrowed into slits, emitting a dangerous light, "You look quite unfamiliar, just arrived in Nanhuang City, haven''t you?"


    Xiao Yi responded indifferently, "Less than a month!"


    "Less than a month?"


    Zhang Ze nodded slightly, "Although Nanhuang City isn''t big, its waters run deep. One careless move and you could drown. There are certain things you shouldn''t do, and certain people you shouldn''t mess with. Do you understand?"


    Xiao Yi furrowed his brows, "If you have something to say, just say it!"


    Zhang Ze stopped ying with the riding crop, leaned forward slightly with his elbow propped on the saddle, "Lin Bingxin is the woman I''ve taken a liking to, you''d best stay away from her. I tend to lose measure when I get jealous, and it wouldn''t be out of the ordinary for me to beat someone to death over it..."


    "Uh..."


    Xiao Yi suddenly realized. So he was being mistaken for a rival in love?


    He didn''t bother to exin. Innocence speaks for itself, and sometimes the more you exin, the less clear things be. Giving Zhang Ze a smile that was not particrly polite, Xiao Yi turned and walked towards the interior of the residence.


    Zhang Ze looked intently at the vermilion gate, squinted his eyes, and said, "Er Gouzi, I''m about to break through to the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm. During this period, have someone keep an eye on this ce. If he has nothing to do with Bing Xin, then all is well. But if he dares to pursue Bing Xin, once Ie out of seclusion, I will tten this courtyard!"


    "Young Master, rest assured, I know what to do!" Er Gouzi said respectfully.


    ......


    Inside the courtyard.


    Xiao Yi returned to Fang Qingzhu''s bedroom and looked at the figure lying in deep sleep on the bed. Seeing the faint teardrops hanging on her long eyshes, Xiao Yi felt a twinge of heartache: "Qingzhu, with me here, I will absolutely not allow anyone to hurt you again!"


    Huff!


    He exhaled a long breath of turbid air.


    Xiao Yi returned to his own bedroom and sat cross-legged, taking out the bottle of medicinal pills Elder Yan had given him.


    Qi Gathering Elixir, a low-grade second-tier medicinal pill.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Each pill was worth a hundred taels of silver, and consuming this pill could double the speed of absorbing the world''s qi for three hours. There were ten pills in this bottle.


    That was enough for someone at the Tenth Layer of the Physical Body Realm to break through to the Qi Gathering Realm.


    The cultivation practice in the Qi Gathering Realm was entirely different from the Physical Body Realm. The Physical Body Realm involved guiding the qi of heaven and earth to cleanse the body, strengthen the Qi-Blood, and temper one''s foundational constitution, whereas the Qi Gathering Realm required locking the qi of heaven and earth within oneself.


    To form a qi vortex in the dantian, allowing the absorbed qi of heaven and earth to gather within the vortex. With each minor breakthrough, the vortex gains an additionalyer.


    Tenyers of qi vortexes stack together,plementing each other to form a loop, evolving into a Qi Sea.


    Once the Qi Sea is cultivated, the qi is abundant and concentrated, without dispersing.


    This allows one to wield various Divine Skills, which are beyond the Qi Gathering Realm, in the Shentong Realm.


    "Let''s break through to the Qi Gathering Realm in one go!"


    He threw the medicinal pill into his mouth, and a fresh stream flowed through his surroundings, his spirit unbelievably focused. His pores seemed to openpletely, and his sensitivity to the qi of heaven and earth became much sharper.


    With the Xuan Gong in operation, Xiao Yi instantly became a bottomless pit, voraciously absorbing the world''s qi around him.


    The beginning is always the hardest.


    Condensing the firstyer of qi vortex in the Qi Gathering Realm is the most difficult; usually, even strong practitioners take at least a year and a half to condense a qi vortex, transitioning from the Tenth Layer of the Physical Body Realm into the Qi Gathering Realm.


    Under the eleration of the Qi Gathering Elixir, it was not until the morning of the third day that Xiao Yi sessfully condensed a qi vortex, stepping into the cultivation of the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer.


    Only when the effects of the Qi Gathering Elixir wore off did Xiao Yi continue to channel qi into the God Sealing Seed within his qi vortex.


    Boom boom boom!


    One after another, the God Sealing Seeds were fully activated.


    One.


    Two.


    Three¡­


    Under the assault of all the qi contained within the First Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm, Xiao Yi managed to activate a total of fifteen God Sealing Seeds. Together with the original five, he now had twenty God Sealing Seeds within his body!


    The qi, transformed by the God Sealing Seeds into the power of god sealing, fed back into his body.


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation soared to a new level,pletely stabilizing his realm at the First Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm.


    Immersed in his cultivation, Xiao Yi didn''t know that.


    At the moment when he broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm and activated a total of twenty God Sealing Seeds, a magnificent nine-colored light suddenly appeared in the sky above the mansion. The light, like a bridge, covered a hundred meters in radius.


    Thousands of birds gathered around the nine-colored light and did not disperse for a long time.


    Basking in the nine-colored light, they looked just like numerous colorful phoenixes and divine luan birds.


    Suddenly there was a long howl from inside the mansion, "Hahaha, I have finally broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm!"


    Before long.


    A message spread throughout the entire Zhang residence: "The Young Master has broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm. The heavens have disyed a nine-colored light, and myriad birds gathered without dispersing. This is a heavenly phenomenon celebrating the Young Master''s breakthrough!"


    "The Young Master is mighty, he has actually attracted a heavenly phenomenon, it''s truly miraculous!"


    The Zhang Family rejoiced.


    The patriarch of the Zhang Family, Zhang Yong, was so excited that he set up an altar and prepared abundant offerings to worship the ancestors. He also sent out invitations to the major families and powers of Nanhuang City: "To celebrate my son''s attracting a heavenly phenomenon, we will hold a grand banquet tomorrow evening..."


    As for Xiao Yi, the cause of the heavenly phenomenon, he was currently sitting with Fang Qingzhu, enjoying simple congee and dishes, in perfect harmony.


    Both ears deaf to the world outside the window...

 Chapter 16 Call Uncle!

    "Qingzhu, have you gotten used to living here?"


    Xiao Yi looked at the tranquil girl across from him and asked.


    Fang Qingzhu revealed a gentle smile on her face and nodded, "These three days might be the most rxed andfortable time I''ve ever had in my life!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was startled.


    "When I was a child, I trained harder than anyone else just so my parents would pay more attention to me. Growing up, not wanting to lose their attention, I had topete. Xiao Yi, do you know why I agreed to this marriage?"


    Her slender fingers smoothed the hair in front of her forehead, the golden sunlight bathing her face with a sacred glow, Fang Qingzhu''s smile grew even more radiant, "Because Grandpa said, as long as I agree to this arranged marriage, he would hand over the position of family heir to me. I just thought that if I could ascend to the position of family head one day, they would look up to me, and I wouldn''t have to live under their shadow anymore¡­"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze became somewhat distant as he saw a reflection of himself in Fang Qingzhu.


    From his childhood, everyone''s focus was on Xiao Tianjiao.


    Xiao Tianjiao''s birthday was always a grand celebration, and his birthday, apart from his mother, no one even remembered. Even when his mother suggested holding a family banquet, it would be rejected.


    No matter how hard he worked, he could never get recognition.


    Until the year he was ten¡­


    Xiao Tianjiao imprisoned him and even stripped him of his right to cultivate.


    Their pasts were so simr.


    Whew!


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath and looked at Fang Qingzhu seriously, "Qingzhu, I will help you!"


    "Hmm?"


    Fang Qingzhu was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi said solemnly, "I will definitely find a way to heal your dantian, help you sit in the position of family head, and let your parents look up to you¡­"


    "Thank you, Xiao Yi, forforting me!"


    Fang Qingzhu gave a bitter smile, "My dantian cannot be repaired at all, and even if I could repair my dantian, I''m afraid I wouldn''t be able topete with Fang Jin¡­"


    Fang Jin was almost guaranteed to enter the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and by the time he returned from there, he might have already broken through to the Shentong Realm.


    Xiao Yi didn''t say much, but his eyes grew more resolute, "Qingzhu, I will definitely help you fulfill your wish!"


    In the following day.


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu spent their time within the residence, tending to nts, ying chess, and even catching fish in the water together, aside from the three meals a day. They even personally cultivated a small vegetable patch.


    This was the life Fang Qingzhu had never experienced but had always longed for.


    The two of them immersed themselves in this simple yet heartwarming joy.


    At night.


    Xiao Yi, sitting cross-legged on the bed, opened his eyes, and a sharp light swirled in his dark pupils, allowing him to appear within the Eternal Heavenly Tomb with a single thought.


    "Medicine Saint Feng Lei¡­"


    "Immortal Medical King Xue Shengyi¡­"


    Xiao Yi attempted one after another, but these tombs of great and renowned figures were utterly unapproachable. Having almost scoured the tombs within reach, Xiao Yi finally found his target.


    It was a grave two feet tall, with a wooden stele erected on it.


    The stele bore the information of the tomb''s upant: Bian He, Heavenly Yuan Realm, known as the Underworld Doctor Ancestor.


    This was the only tomb specializing in medical skills that Xiao Yi could currently ess: "Underworld Doctor Ancestor Bian He, I hope you won''t let me down!"


    Boom!


    The God Sealing Seed around him shone brilliantly, radiating splendidly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Break for me!"


    A cold,rge hand shattered the tomb before him, and an aged figure burst forth abruptly. This figure was hunched and slightly stooped, with a purple Lingzhi the size of a human head in his left hand, and a ginseng walking stick with roots coiling around it in his right.


    "God Sealing Seed, suppress and seal the gods!"


    Twenty God Sealing Seeds burst forth with brilliant light, forming a massive cage that trapped Bian He.


    Bian He''s purple Lingzhi and ginseng walking stick kept striking in all directions, causing the cage to thunder loudly, yet he couldn''t break free from its confines. He turned into a streak of spirit light and was suppressed within the God Sealing Seed by Xiao Yi.


    Inside the God Sealing Seed, a statue identical to him condensed.


    At the same time.


    Xiao Yi also received Bian He''s legacy, which included two items.


    One was the holy scroll of the Underworld Doctor lineage from the distant Southern Border, "Nether King Medical Canon," and the second was a Pupil Skill called "Blood Moon Underworld Pupil."


    The Underworld Doctors of the Southern Border emphasized diagnosis by inspection.


    Among them, "inspection" involved observing with the eyes to understand the patient''s physical condition, the root of the illness, and the nature of the symptoms, among other things.


    "Blood Moon Underworld Pupil" is divided into three realms: Star Pupil, Moon Pupil, and Nether Pupil.


    "The method to repair the dan tian..."


    Xiao Yi, who was quickly scanning through the "Nether King Medical Canon," trembled with excitement and a look of ecstasy crossed his face, "Grafting technique? Heaven really does not let down those who are determined, I''ve finally found it!"


    This ''grafting technique'' is a unique method of the Underworld Doctors, involving the recement of the dan tian with a specific demonic beast''s core.


    This approach has a huge w.


    That is, the limit of one''s cultivation will be determined by the grade of the demonic beast''s core.


    For instance, if you use a second-grade demonic beast''s core to rece the dan tian, the highest one can achieve is the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm; if it''s a third-grade demonic beast core, the highest cultivation limit is the peak of the Divine Ability Realm.


    And so on...


    "Fortunately, these demonic beast cores can be reced. As long as one bes strong enough in the future, it''s entirely possible to hunt higher-level demonic beasts to take their cores and rece them with her new dan tian!"


    Xiao Yi sighed with relief and returned to the bedroom, "I won''t tell Qingzhu for now, I''ll wait until everything is ready before giving her a surprise. When dawn breaks, I''ll go to the Treasure Pavilion to buy the medicinal herbs and beast cores needed for the grafting technique. Qingzhu, I once promised to help you take the position of family head, and I will certainly not go back on my word!"


    Seeing that there were still a few hours until dawn, Xiao Yi simply started to cultivate "Blood Moon Underworld Pupil."


    The first realm of cultivating the Star Pupil is to draw in starlight and condense it within one''s eyes.


    Xiao Yi stood on the rooftop, gazing up at the starry sky, circting the cultivation method.


    Vaguely...


    One could see specks of starlight falling from the myriad stars, merging into his eyes. His eyes became increasingly bright, and two hourster, Xiao Yi suddenly opened his eyes.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    His eyes shone like bright stars as he quirked the corners of his mouth and muttered to himself, "The Blood Moon Underworld Pupil isn''t that difficult to cultivate after all. Just two hours, and I have sessfully condensed the Star Pupil!"


    If the people from the Underworld Doctor lineage in the Southern Border heard this, they would probably be driven mad.


    Even Bian He, who was hailed as the strongest genius of the Underworld Doctors'' lineage, had spent a whole day and night to sessfully condense the Star Pupil!


    Of course.


    Xiao Yi was unaware of this.


    ......


    Treasure Pavilion, Inner Cab, first floor hall.


    The ce was bustling with people.


    Xiao Yi stood among the crowd, believing that news of his arrival would soon reach Elder Yan and the others, so he simply waited there.


    "Is this brother also waiting for Miss Lin?"


    "Brother, take a look at us, who isn''t bringing a gift? Coming empty-handed doesn''t seem very sincere, right?"


    Seven or eight handsome young men stood beside Xiao Yi.


    Each was holding a gift of some sort, ranging from famous paintings, antiques, to fragrant flowers, everything was present.


    So these are all pursuers of Lin Bingxin!


    That icy woman, surprisingly, had quite a few admirers!


    Xiao Yi''s eyes twinkled as he said solemnly, "My mere presence here is the best gift. Once Lin Bingxin sees my face, she wille to me without needing me to greet her. Besides, I can make her call me ''uncle.'' Do you believe it or not?"


    "Pah, you''re blowing your own trumpet a bit too loudly!"


    "Let alone you, even Zhang Ze wouldn''t be given a second nce by Miss Lin... and Zhang Ze is someone who caused a phenomenon between heaven and earth, do you think you canpare with him?"


    "If it''s really as you say, I''ll swallow this antique vase I have in my hand!"


    Just as everyone was collectively condemning Xiao Yi, the young man who had first greeted Xiao Yi suddenly said, "Look, Miss Bingxin ising out, hey hey hey... she''s, she''s heading this way..."


    "No, that''s not right, why is she, she walking towards this bragging king?"


    "Holy crap..."


    Amidst a session of exmations, Lin Bingxin walked straight up to Xiao Yi and said, "Xiao..."


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and nced sideways at the stunned crowd of young men, he said indifferently, "Call me uncle!"


    Hisss!


    The crowd inhaled sharply.


    Did he actually get Lin Bingxin to call him uncle?


    Was he asking to be beaten up?


    Lin Bingxin''s eye twitched, wishing she could p Xiao Yi to death, but she didn''t dare to!


    How frustrating!


    Lin Bingxin took a deep breath, grit her teeth, red fiercely at Xiao Yi, this bastard actually made her call him uncle in public?


    But when she remembered that the bet had been her own proposal, Lin Bingxin could only clench her teeth and call out the two words with sheer effort, "Uncle... Uncle..."

 Chapter 17 The Zhang Family Dinner

    "Teacher, what brings you to my ce?"


    Elder Yan stood respectfully in front of Xiao Yi, such demeanor if witnessed by outsiders would surely shock them to the core.


    Xiao Yi replied indifferently, "I need some medicinal herbs!"


    "No problem!"


    Elder Yan patted his chest and said, "Teacher, just give me a list, and I''ll have Bing Xin prepare it right away!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and handed the list he had prepared earlier to Elder Yan.


    Without even looking at it, Elder Yan handed the list to Lin Bingxin: "Go to the storeroom immediately and bring everything the teacher needs. If it''s not there, get it from other city branches as fast as possible!"


    Lin Bingxin shot Xiao Yi a resentful nce before taking the list and leaving.


    "Elder Yan, it''s time for your medicine!" A white-haired elder came in, carrying a steaming bowl of herbal soup in his hands.


    Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "Sick?"


    "An old illness, I''ve been taking medicine but it hasn''t improved."


    Elder Yan offered a wry smile, pointing to the old man and said, "This is Luo, the alchemist I hired for a hefty sum. He''s one of the top ten alchemists in Nanhuang City."


    Luo, the alchemist, nced at Xiao Yi and snorted coldly, slightly lifting his chin with an air of arrogance.


    Xiao Yi''s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he activated his Star Pupil to examine Elder Yan, then looked towards the bowl of soup, "What medicine are you giving him?"


    Luo spoke lightly, "Lung Cleansing Detox Soup. This is a divine medicine personally concocted by me. Can you, a wet-behind-the-ears kid, possibly understand?"


    "Elder Yan, Luo may be bad-tempered, but I beg you to calm your anger!" Elder Yan red at Luo fiercely and respectfully apologized to Xiao Yi.


    "Calm my anger? You''re about to be killed by this quack!"


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes in annoyance.


    "Ah?"


    Elder Yan was utterly bewildered.


    The color drained from Luo''s face as he bellowed, "Nonsense, when have I ever tried to harm Elder Yan? He has a fire toxin in his lungs; naturally, the Lung Cleansing Detox Soup is needed. You know nothing, you wild boy, spouting nonsense - be careful, or I''ll tear that mouth of yours!"


    Xiao Yi sneered, "Fire toxin? If it were a fire toxin in the lungs, it would indeed cause constant chest distress and coughing, and the pain should be the worst when the sun is at its zenith at noon. Yet his worst paines at midnight. How would you exin that?"


    "This, this..." Luo''s face turned from green to white, momentarily unable to respond.


    Xiao Yi pressed on, "Using the Lung Cleansing Detox Soup is correct if it were a fire toxin, but what if it were a cold toxin? Introducing cold from the soup would only add poison to poison; continuing with your medicine, he''d be undoubtedly dead within three months!"


    Thud!


    Luo copsed on the ground, frightened and frantic, "Spare me, Elder Yan, spare me! It was only a momentarypse in judgment, please forgive me..."


    Elder Yan could no longer be oblivious that Luo had been bought off.


    His face clouded over, and he waved his hand, "Take him away and interrogate him severely, find out who''s behind this!"


    "Yes!"


    Luo was dragged away by two Qi Gathering Realm strongmen.


    Even now...


    He still couldn''t believe how this young man, who looked immature, could see through everything at a nce. Recalling his earlier usations that Xiao Yi was ignorant and inexperienced, he felt his face burning with shame.


    Thud!


    Elder Yan knelt directly in front of Xiao Yi, "Teacher, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, please ept my humble bow!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, "There''s no need for such formalities between us. I''ll give you a prescription; follow it for a month, and the cold poison in your lungs will bepletely purged!"


    "Thank you, Teacher!" Elder Yan took the prescription with excitement.


    Looking at Xiao Yi with ever more admiration and fervor, Elder Yan couldn''t help but be astounded. Such a young person not only possessed extraordinary vision but also terrifying skills in swordsmanship, and now even boasted medical knowledge? Elder Yan marveled, "Teacher truly is a celestial being!"


    Before long.


    Lin Bingxin entered, holding an antique ck Storage Ring in both hands. Elder Yan received the ring and respectfully presented it to Xiao Yi, "Teacher, this is the Storage Ring I specially prepared for you. All the medicinal herbs you requested are inside!"


    Bing Xin looked on enviously at Xiao Yi.


    This was a Storage Ring!


    Only those above the Golden Core Realm could craft it. In the immense Nanhuang City, those who could wear a Storage Ring were few and far between!


    Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows and epted the ring, "I appreciate the gesture!"


    "It is my duty!"


    After a pause, Elder Yan continued, "Teacher, regarding that list you gave me earlier, we were unable to find the demon core of the Purple-Patterned Blood Python. However, I''ve had Bing Xin issue a reward for its whereabouts; we will notify you immediately if anyone locates it."


    "That''s fine, you handle it!" Xiao Yi nodded, about to stand up.


    Elder Yan respectfully said, "Teacher, yesterday, young Zhang Ze of the Zhang Family broke through to the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm and attracted a heavenly phenomenon. The Zhang Family is hosting a banquet to celebrate and inviting everyone from Nanhuang. Would you be interested in attending?"


    He seldom took part in the gatherings of Nanhuang City''s major families, but a peerless genius from the Zhang Family that caused a heavenly phenomenon was indeed worth his attention!


    "A heavenly phenomenon?"


    Xiao Yi was startled, his eyes showing surprise.


    Anyone who could attract a heavenly phenomenon was unquestionably a favored child of heaven, a prodigy without match.


    Just like Xiao Tianjiaao of the past, whose birth had attracted a heavenly phenomenon and even summoned a fire dragon to acknowledge him as its master.


    Such geniuses were rare even in the Great Qian Dynasty, let alone being born in the remote Nanhuang City.


    Xiao Yi was also somewhat curious about Zhang Ze, who could attract heavenly phenomena, and said, "I have nothing better to do, so it wouldn''t hurt to take a look!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ......


    Today, the Zhang family''s residence was brightly lit and bustling with activity.


    On the streets leading to the Zhang''s, one could see carriagesing and going, with all the influential figures of Nanhuang City making personal visits.


    "The Zhangs are truly impressive, having given birth to such a unicorn who calls forth heavenly phenomena. In just over a decade, no one in Nanhuang City may be able to contend with the Zhang family!"


    "That''s not necessarily the case. Fang Jin of the Fang Family is also a true dragon among men. It is said that he is currently undergoing assessments at the Royal Martial Arts Academy in the capital and stands a very good chance of gaining admission."


    "Fang Jin of the Fang Family and Zhang Ze of the Zhang Family, these are the two true dragons of our Nanhuang City!"


    Along the way, one could hear many powerful individuals discussing the phenomena.


    Clearly, the impact of these heaven and earth phenomena was quite significant.


    At the entrance of the Zhang family''s home.


    Zhang Yong and his son were weing guests.


    "Brother Zhang Ze, you must take good care of me in the future," Chen Tao, the son of Chen Yong, said to Zhang Ze, winking and somewhat ingratiating.


    Zhao Xian, the young master of the Zhao Family, nodded at Zhang Ze, neither servile nor overbearing, and then apologized to Zhang Yong, "My father had already entered closed-door cultivation before receiving the invitation and could note in person. I hope Uncle Zhang will forgive him!"


    Zhang Yongughed, "No worries, Brother Zhao getting that Sword technique and starting toprehend it immediately is only natural for a cultivator!"


    Until yesterday, he was quite envious that Zhao Yu had obtained the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll.


    As for now...


    He looked at his son, Zhang Ze, with a face full of pride and self-satisfaction.


    What of a third-grade high-level Sword technique?


    His son was a peerless genius who attracted heavenly phenomena!


    "Howe no one from the Fang Family has arrived yet?" Zhang Ze said with displeasure.


    Zhang Yong sneered, "The Fangs just lost face in such a big way a few days ago; they probably don''t have the nerve to send someone." While he was speaking, his expression suddenly changed, "Xiao Ze, look, isn''t that Elder Yan''s carriage?"


    "Father, it is indeed Elder Yan''s carriage!" Zhang Ze''s eyes lit up.


    The expressions of the guests at the door were all tinged with envy, "Even Elder Yan ising to the banquet? The Zhang family is truly impressive!"


    Zhang Ze and his father wore expressions of pride and hastened to wee the arrival.


    Elder Yan, supported by Lin Bingxin, stepped down from the carriage.


    Zhang Ze and his father said respectfully, "We wee Elder Yan''s grand presence!"


    "Haha, congrattions, Patriarch Zhang, with such a unicorn, the Zhang family''s future is boundless!" Elder Yan said cheerfully.


    Zhang Yong said with a smug expression, "It''s all thanks to Xiao Ze''s own hard efforts! Elder Yan, please doe in!"


    Zhang Ze looked at Lin Bingxin with eager eyes, "Bing Xin, pleasee in!"


    Elder Yan waved his hand, "No rush, I am waiting for someone!"


    "Hmm?"


    Zhang Yong and his son looked at each other in confusion, wondering who had such esteem that Elder Yan would personally wait for them. They didn''t feel it was appropriate to inquire, so Zhang Yong said, "Then please, Elder Yan, go ahead to the front where we have prepared tables and chairs."


    "Thank you very much!"


    Elder Yan smiled and, together with Lin Bingxin, sat down on the chairs ced in front of the residence.


    "Who else in Nanhuang City would Elder Yan personally wait for?"


    "I heard that the lord of the city was also invited, could it be that the city lord will attend?"


    "In the vast Nanhuang City, aside from the city lord, who else would be qualified to have Elder Yan wait in person?"


    Amid the murmurs of spection, the sound of horse hooves ttered from the front, a middle-aged man in a python robe with a figure as straight as a pine approached on horseback. This man exuded a formidable aura, appearing heroic and full of strength, his qi-blood vibrant as the roar of dragons and tigers together.


    He was the lord of Nanhuang City, the most powerful man in terms of martial prowess, existing at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm, Sikong Nan.


    "The city lord has arrived?"


    "Look, Elder Yan has stood up; it seems he really is here to wee Lord Sikong Nan of the city!"


    As everyone looked on, Elder Yan stood up and walked briskly towards Sikong Nan.


    Zhang Ze and the others followed closely behind.


    Sikong Nan dismounted, surprised to see Elder Yan personally weing him, his face breaking into a smile, "Elder Yan, you tter me too much!"


    However...


    Elder Yan just nodded slightly at him and then walked past, turning to a man and a woman not far behind Sikong Nan to respectfully bow, "Young Master Xiao, Madam Xiao, you have finally arrived!"


    What?


    Sikong Nan''s smile stiffened on his face.


    Zhang Ze and the others also stopped in their tracks.


    All around, everyone was dumbstruck: "..."


    Damn!


    Weing the city lord, my ass!


    They were clearly waiting for that young couple!

 Chapter 18 Sword Intent Seed

    "Is that Fang Qingzhu from the Fang Family? And the man beside her is their son-inw, Xiao Yi?"


    "Elder Yan was actually waiting for them?"


    Everyone felt their scalp tingle, finding it unbelievable.


    They had all thought Elder Yan was waiting for Sikong Nan, the lord of Nanhuang City. Even Sikong Nan himself believed so, as within Nanhuang City, the only one who could receive such warm enthusiasm from Elder Yan was none other than him.


    But now...


    Elder Yan had merely nodded at him.


    Instead, he showed such respect towards Xiao Yi.


    Sikong Nan stroked his chin, "The son-inw of the Fang Family, Xiao Yi? Interesting!"


    When Zhang Ze saw Xiao Yi, his expression turned somewhat unsightly.


    He was a peerless genius who had attracted heavenly phenomena, yet Elder Yan had only casuallyplimented him, while he showed such respect toward Xiao Yi. "He''s just an insignificant son-inw, what makes him worthy of such treatment?"


    Xiao Yi, unaware of their thoughts, looked helplessly at Elder Yan, "Didn''t I tell you to go in first?"


    He did not want to attract too much attention.


    Elder Yan chuckled and said in a low voice, "How could the disciple dare to take a seat before the teacher arrives?"


    "..."


    Xiao Yi helplessly shook his head.


    He had originallye with Elder Yan but couldn''t rest assured leaving Fang Qingzhu at home alone; he had made a special trip back to bring Fang Qingzhu with him.


    He had intended for Elder Yan to go in ahead of him, only to find that he was actually waiting here for him.


    "You walk in front!" Xiao Yi said.


    Given the level of respect Elder Yan had for him, he would surely not dare to walk ahead of him.


    But in doing so...


    The name of Xiao Yi would be famous throughout the vast Nanhuang City. Who else had the stature for Elder Yan to follow behind?


    Elder Yan also understood what Xiao Yi meant, and thus he led the way ahead,ing to Sikong Nan and Zhang Yong. He nodded toward Sikong Nan, then turned to look at Zhang Yong, "Zhang, it wouldn''t be a problem if I brought two extra people, would it?"


    "Of course not, it''s an honor for my Zhang family to have Xiaoe," Zhang Yong replied continuously.


    He could not afford to disregard Xiao Yi''s face, let alone Elder Yan''s.


    Xiao Yi sped his hands and said, "Congrattions, Zhang!"


    "Haha, pleasee inside, Xiao!" Zhang replied.


    Zhao Xian approached him, his demeanor respectful, "Xiao, my father is cultivating sword techniques in seclusion and cannot be present, so I am here to extend his regards to you."


    "Much appreciated!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and followed the crowd into the mansion.


    Sikong Nan watched the backs of Elder Yan and his group, stroking his chin.


    In the vast Nanhuang City, who didn''t tter him with a few words upon meeting him?


    But Xiao Yi had dismissed him as if he were the air.


    He could tell this was not a pretense; in Xiao Yi''s heart, there was truly no fear of him, the first martial force of Nanhuang City. He was curious as he asked Zhang Yong, "Zhang, what is the rtionship between that Xiao Yi and Elder Yan?"


    Zhang Yong replied, "That Xiao Yi has some talent for appraising treasures and helped Elder Yan identify a pair of heirlooms from a legendary schr who could snatch lives with his writings, so Elder Yan holds him in high esteem."


    Zhang Ze scoffed dismissively and said, "Is he not just currying favor with Elder Yan through some clever tricks? In this world, one''s own strength is the foundation..."


    Sikong Nan simply smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Zhang Ze, but his interest in Xiao Yi grew, "If Elder Yan values him so much, surely it''s not something that can be done merely through clever tricks! The son-inw of the Fang Family, Xiao Yi? Quite interesting indeed..."


    Zhang Yong said, "Lord of the city, the banquet is about to start, shall we also go in?"


    "Hmm!"


    ......


    The banquet hosted by the Zhang family was no small affair.


    Yesterday''s birthday banquet for Fang Tianhao had just over thirty tables, but here they hadid out a full sixty tables, all seats taken.


    As the guests took their seats,


    Zhang Yong said with a smile, "Thank you all for gracing tonight''s banquet with your presence. To celebrate Xiao Ze''s attracting the attention of heaven and earth with his anomaly, I have specially prepared a weapon-spirit integration ceremony to add some joy to the asion."


    A weapon-spirit integration ceremony?


    All present couldn''t help but suck in a breath of cold air, their faces full of shock.


    ```


    Elder Yan also raised his eyebrows, "An elemental weapon? Such boldness from Zhang!"


    Sikong Nan''s eyes shone brightly, "I didn''t expect that Zhang could obtain an elemental weapon. I wonder what grade it is?"


    Elemental weapons!


    Only by infusing them with elemental energy can these des be activated. They are categorized into nine grades, each invaluable.


    Even a ninth-grade elemental weapon is worth hundreds of thousands of silver, and that''s with a price yet without a market.


    Watching the envy and astonishment on everyone''s faces, Zhang Yong''s heart swelled with pride. He feigned modesty and said, "With limited capability, what Zhang has acquired is but a second-grade elemental weapon!"


    A second-grade elemental weapon.


    Only a warrior in the Shentong Realm could fully unleash its power.


    Its value surpasses one million silver!


    Even Sikong Nan, as the lord of Nanhuang City who oversees the fortress, has but a second-grade elemental weapon for his battle weapon.


    Zhang Yong having prepared a second-grade elemental weapon for Zhang Ze really is a bold move!


    Zhang Yong smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, I will bring the elemental weapon here!"


    A momentter...


    As he was conversing with Elder Yan, Xiao Yi''s form trembled slightly. His heartbeat suddenly elerated, and the thumping sound seemed to echo in his ears, as if something was drawing him in.


    His gaze instinctively followed.


    He saw Zhang Yong approaching with a ck wooden box in his hands, its surface carved with dragons and phoenixes, adorned with dazzling patterns. Seeing everyone''s attention turning towards himself, Zhang Yong revealed a smug smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, please behold, this is the second-grade elemental weapon, the zing Wind Pursuit Sword!"


    The wooden box''s lock snapped open and, as the lid was lifted, a longsword with a reddish body came into view of all present.


    The sharp de seemed capable of slicing through anything.


    On the crimson body of the sword, auspicious clouds swirled around it, densely covering it, and within them a blood dragon seemed to be faintly outlined.


    This further lent the sword an additional touch of bone-chilling evil aura.


    Buzz!


    The moment Xiao Yiid eyes on the longsword, his head buzzed, and the will that had merged with the entirety of the Sword Sage''s swordsmanship inheritance within him shook violently. In his mind, countless streams of sword light emerged, sword techniques shing before his eyes.


    Eventually, it coalesced into an orb of Sword Qi. Inside the orb, there hung a blood-red divine sword in suspension.


    When Xiao Yi opened his eyes, Elder Yan who stood by his side shuddered in disbelief, staring at Xiao Yi.


    In just that brief moment...


    Elder Yan noticed that Xiao Yi seemed to stand even more upright, with a sharper aura surrounding him, resembling an unparalleled divine sword. Taking a deep breath, his eyes filled with shock, he said, "Is this... Sword Intent? No, this is merely the embryonic form of Sword Intent. Has Xiao cultivated a seed of Sword Intent?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Sword Intent.


    It''s a kind of martial concept.


    This is an extremely powerful force. Typically, only those in the Golden Core Realm and beyond are capable ofprehending martial concepts, but some unparalleled geniuses are able to grasp a portion of the martial concept''s power even in the Shentong Realm.


    This is a conceptual seed!


    Xiao Yi is but at the First Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm in terms of cultivation level and yet he has alreadyprehended a seed of Sword Intent ¨C it''s simply unbelievable!


    The piercing Sword Intent emanating from Xiao Yi was but a fleeting moment before it retreated into his body.


    Just as the zing Wind Pursuit Sword was presented before everyone, the sharp Sword Qi emanating from the sword''s de overshadowed the trace of Sword Intenting from Xiao Yi, which went mostly unnoticed.


    "This feeling is fantastic!"


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath, not showing much surprise.


    He had already received the Sword Sage''s swordsmanship heritage; now, by consolidating a Sword Intent seed under the stimulus of the zing Wind Pursuit Sword''s Sword Qi, it was just a matter of due course.


    His strength was already not inferior to a practitioner at the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm, and with the addition of the Sword Intent seed...


    Even if he were to face off against an expert at the Sixth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm, he would be able to fight!


    "Coming to this banquet was indeed the right decision!"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze rested on the zing Wind Pursuit Sword, feeling a subtle connection forming between him and the sword, as if with a mere thought, it would fly into his hand.


    Elder Yan beside him retrieved his gaze, looking towards Zhang Yong and his son with a peculiar expression, "The Zhang father and son are going to cry..."


    Meanwhile.


    Zhang Yong announced loudly, "I invite everyone to witness, my son Zhang Ze bing the master of the elemental weapon!"


    ```

 Chapter 19 Swordsmanship Domination, the Elemental Weapon Acknowledges Its Master!

    Zhang Ze walked towards the zing Wind Pursuit Sword and stood before the longsword, taking a deep breath, his emotions surging.


    "I, Zhang Ze, am a peerless genius who has caused the heavens and the earth to manifest phenomena. Today, upon obtaining this zing Wind Pursuit Sword, I will surely make its name known throughout the world!"


    Hum!


    Zhang Ze bit his fingertip and flicked a droplet of blood, which shot out and fell upon the zing Wind Pursuit Sword.


    To im a primeval weapon, one must drip one''s blood onto the de.


    Fusing the primeval weapon with blood, then nurturing it with vital energy, is the only way to fully unleash the weapon''s might!


    However, the blood from Zhang Ze fell onto the edge of the sword and was not absorbed by the zing Wind Pursuit Sword¡ªit rolled off as if droplets of water on an oiled cloth, ''pit-a-pat'' falling to the ground, bursting open like a fresh red plum blossom.


    Zhang Ze''s expression stiffened, and the smile on Zhang Yong''s face disappeared!


    Failing to im ownership... failed?


    A drop of cold sweat fell from Zhang Ze''s forehead; he refused to believe this evil omen and squeezed out another droplet of blood, yet it still did not merge with the longsword before him.


    Looking at the two gorgeous bloodstains on the ground, Zhang Ze was overwhelmed with frustration!


    Sikong Nan said solemnly, "Family Head Zhang, are you sure this primeval weapon has no owner?"


    Zhang Yong''s face was as gloomy as if he were mourning, "It surely is ownerless!"


    Sikong Nan frowned and said, "This is strange. If it is ownerless, then logically it shouldn''t be possible for the iming to fail, unless..."


    "Unless what?" Zhang Ze hurriedly asked.


    Sikong Nan nced at Zhang Ze and hesitated to speak.


    Elder Yan looked at Xiao Yi and said indifferently, "Unless, this primeval weapon has discovered someone present with a greater talent than you, someone more suited to be its owner!"


    "Impossible!"


    Zhang Ze''s eyes instantly turned bright red, and, disregarding his reverence for Elder Yan, he hysterically dered, "Who present has greater talent than I do? I am the unrivaled genius who has brought about the visions of the heavens and the earth. Does it refuse to acknowledge me? Would it rather recognize Chen Tao? Zhao Xian? Or Fang Qingzhu, this trash whose dantian is destroyed?"


    As soon as these words were uttered, the faces of Zhao Xian, Chen Tao, and the others immediately turned extremely ugly.


    A shadow of despair shed in Fang Qingzhu''s eyes.


    Anybody present could possibly gain the recognition of the zing Wind Pursuit Sword, except her!


    Just as Zhang Ze said, she had lost her core, reduced to nothing but a cripple.


    How could the Crimson me Chasing Soul Sword possibly fancy her?


    But just at this moment...


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi abruptly stood up, his icy gazending on Zhang Ze, and his cold, hellish voice echoed out.


    "Apologize to Qingzhu!"


    "Apologize?"


    Zhang Ze was taken aback, the ferocity on his face not abating in the slightest, as he sneered, "Who do you think you are? You also dare tomand me?"


    "Xiao Yi..." Fang Qingzhu looked anxious.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi gave her a reassuring smile, then coldly stared at Zhang Ze, "Within three breaths, kneel and apologize to Qingzhu, and I''ll spare your life!"


    "Hahaha! Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, do you really think so highly of yourself? Spare my life?"


    Zhang Ze''s face twisted with thick mockery as he sneered repeatedly, "Did I say something wrong? Is Fang Qingzhu not a trash? I am the peerless genius who has brought about the phenomena of the heavens and the earth. If I call you all trash, then you are trash!"


    Zhao Xian''s face darkened, "Zhang Ze, even if you are a genius that can invoke the visions of the heavens and the earth, there''s no need to belittle us like this, right?"


    Chen Tao''s expression was also displeased, "Just because you can''t get the weapon to recognize you, do you have to step on us in the process?"


    "Hmph, If I can''t make the primeval weapon recognize me, you all are even less capable!"


    Zhang Ze''s contemptuous gaze swept over everyone, his face cold with mockery, "Don''t say I''m bullying you. If any of you can make this primeval weapon recognize you, I, Zhang Ze, will kneel and apologize in public. If not, then shut your mouths!"


    Chen Tao and the others exchanged looks, left speechless.


    Zhang Ze turned to Xiao Yi, his face full of disdain, "You want to stand up for Fang Qingzhu? Then you''d better have the ability to do so!"


    With that, Zhang Ze moved towards the zing Wind Pursuit Sword, his eyes filled with madness, "I refuse to believe that I can''t tame a mere primeval weapon!"


    Hum!


    Zhang Ze''s body trembled slightly, his vital energy surging with the intent to forcibly refine the zing Wind Pursuit Sword!


    However, just as his hand was about to touch the Crimson me Chasing Wind Sword, the blood-colored longsword suddenly burst forth with a piercing buzz of Sword Qi, shattering the wooden box with a ng!


    The zing Wind Pursuit Sword transformed into a streak of blood-red light and shot towards Xiao Yi!


    ng!


    The edge of the sword plunged into the ground, the sword hilt buzzing and trembling!


    "What... what''s happening?"


    "Why has the zing Wind Pursuit Sword run off to Xiao Yi?"


    Everyone was shocked!


    Elder Yan made a gulping sound, recalling Xiao Yi''s transformation from before, his face revealing a knowing look.


    Lord Sikong''s expression became contemtive, and after a moment his pupils suddenly narrowed, "Is the primeval weapon voluntarily recognizing its master? How is this possible? Only truly astounding and brilliant individuals can make a primeval weapon spontaneously acknowledge them. Xiao Yi, he..."


    "Could it be that Xiao Yi''s talent surpasses Zhang Ze''s?"


    "This is impossible! Zhang Ze is a genius capable of inciting visions in the heavens and earth!"


    Situ Kong''s words drove Zhang Ze toplete madness.


    His eyes were a blood-red, and he howled hysterically, "Impossible! I am the peerless genius who induces the visions of the heavens and the earth! If I can''t tame it, how could you, a worthless cur, manage it?"


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi shook his head gently and reached out towards the zing Wind Pursuit Sword in mid-air.


    Hum!


    The longsword turned into a blood rainbow, swooshing into Xiao Yi''s palm in a sh, his hand clutching the de as the sword thrummed, as if rejoicing.


    With the zing Wind Pursuit Sword in hand, the Sword Intent seed inside Xiao Yi''s body emitted blood-red light. The blood clouds on the sword edge blossomed as ifing alive, radiating dazzling red light.


    "It really recognized a master?"


    "Incredible! The elemental weapon actually abandoned an unparalleled genius and chose a worthless son-inw as its master?"


    Shock filled the faces of the crowd.


    With a slight upturn of his mouth, Xiao Yi''s eyes were cool as he stared at Zhang Ze, "Three breaths have passed, if you don''t kneel and apologize to Qingzhu, I''ll take your life!"


    "I''ll kneel to your grandfather!"


    Zhang Ze roared angrily, as he unleashed the full power of his Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm.


    Shua!


    Zhang Ze''s longsword flew from his waist, the silver de furiously stabbing towards Xiao Yi!


    With that sh, there were three swords! Three streams of silver Sword Qi howled forward!


    "Thunderous Triple Strike!"


    The sword was like a thunderbolt, one strike with the force of three!


    The keen Sword Qi skimmed the ground, cutting three vicious sword marks in it, sending sand and stones flying, showcasing its extraordinary power.


    Xiao Yi stood calmly, his sword in one hand, as he made a shing motion forward.


    "Sweeping a Thousand Troops!"


    Shua!


    A blood-colored Sword Qi fanned out in front of him.


    With the augmentation from the Sword Intent seed, the power of this sword increased by another thirty percent!


    ng ng ng!


    In the midst of the cacophonous shing of metal, the silver Sword Qi waspletely shattered, while the blood-colored Sword Qi went ''pfft'' as it struck Zhang Ze directly in the chest!


    Wa!


    A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out as Zhang Ze staggered to the ground, a bloody gash traversing his entire chest!


    Xiao Yi turned the tip of his sword, resting it on Zhang Ze''s throat!


    "Stop!"


    Zhang Yong hurriedly stepped forward, looking solemnly at Xiao Yi, "Xiao, let''s talk this over, please spare Zhang Ze!"


    After speaking, he quickly turned to Zhang Ze, "Apologize to Fang Qingzhu now!"


    A deep unwillingness emerged on Zhang Ze''s pale face, but under the threat of death, he had no choice!


    "Fang Qingzhu, I am sorry!"


    Those three words nearly made him bite his tongue in frustration!


    "Let him go," Fang Qingzhu sighed softly, speaking in a low voice.


    Xiao Yi nodded slightly, flung the zing Wind Pursuit Sword, its tip embedding in the ground, pulled up Fang Qingzhu, and turned to leave!


    Ching!


    The zing Wind Pursuit Sword freed itself from the ground and chased after Xiao Yi,nding in front of him.


    Xiao Yi frowned.


    With envy on his face, Sikong Nan said, "Xiao Yi, this sword has chosen you!"


    With an aching heart yet aware that the zing Wind Pursuit Sword could no longer be retained, Zhang Yong forced a smile, "Xiao, since this sword is fated to be with you, we shall gift it to you."


    Xiao Yi''s eyebrows were tightly knitted.


    Elder Yan stepped forward, tossing a stack of silver notes to Zhang Yong, "Here are one million taels in silver notes. From this day on, the zing Wind Pursuit Sword has nothing to do with your Zhang Family anymore!"


    "Thank you, Elder Yan!" Zhang Yong said repeatedly.


    Elder Yan stepped forward with a smile, respectfully saying, "Xiao, you can take the sword with you now!"


    "Fine, if you insist on following me, thene along!" Xiao Yi shook his head, the zing Wind Pursuit Sword buzzing as if cheering, leaping up andnding in Xiao Yi''s hand.


    The group drifted away.


    Sikong Nan squinted his eyes and took his leave from Zhang Yong, "Lord Zhang, I have other matters to attend to, I shall take my leave first!"


    "Lord Sikong, you previously mentioned taking Xiao Ze as a disciple¡­" Zhang Yong said eagerly.


    Sikong Nan nced at Zhang Ze and shook his head silently.


    "We''ll discuss this matter... another day!"


    Having said that, he followed after Xiao Yi.


    "It''s all over, we''repletely finished..."


    Zhang Yong and his son were utterly dejected.


    They had hoped to soar to the heavens with this opportunity, but instead, they were smashed down to the ground!


    The disparity between their expectations and reality was enough to drive one to despair!


    "Xiao Yi... Xiao Yi!" Zhang Ze''s eyes were bloodshot!


    In that moment, ragepletely overwhelmed his reason!


    Meanwhile.


    At the gate of the neighboringpound of the Zhang Family.


    Elder Yan said respectfully, "Xiao, if there''s any news about the Purple-Patterned Blood Python, I will inform you immediately!"


    "Much appreciated!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, taking Fang Qingzhu back to thepound.


    Elder Yan, apanied by Lin Bingxin, got into the carriage and drove off into the distance.


    They hadn''t noticed that Sikong Nan had observed all of this.


    His pupils contracted slightly as he looked at the two adjacentpounds, a terrifying spection forming in his mind.


    "Could it be that the one who caused the heavenly phenomenon wasn''t Zhang Ze, but the despised second young master of the Xiao Family... Xiao Yi?"

 Chapter 20 Entering Nanhuang for the First Time

    Sikong Nan was startled by his own guess.


    But upon further thought...


    He grew more convinced that he was right, "That Zhang Ze''s talent can only be considered ordinary, and Xiao Yi''s ability to defeat Zhang Ze, who was at the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm, while being only at the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer, and to bond with the Yuan weapon by initiating such a celestial phenomenon, makes it ny percent likely that he''s the true master!"


    With this thought in mind.


    Sikong Nan suddenly felt some sympathy for the Zhang family father and son.


    Not only had they lost face by hosting a banquet, but they had also lost a Yuan weapon.


    "No wonder Yan Mingli holds Xiao Yi in such high regard. If someone can cause a celestial phenomenon while just in the Qi Gathering Realm, such talent is definitely top-notch. This person must not be made an enemy; we have to befriend him!" Sikong Nan made up his mind.


    He had been stationed in Nanhuang City for over thirty years, but there had seldom been any battle achievements to speak of, which hindered his chances for promotion.


    If he could personally rmend a genius to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, that would be a great merit. Sikong Nan narrowed his eyes, "Fang Jin of the Fang Family wasn''t rmended by me; even if he joined the Royal Martial Arts Academy, I wouldn''t get any credit. I must find a way to rmend Xiao Yi to the academy. However, before that, I need to first strengthen the bond between us!"


    Meanwhile.


    The Zhang family estate was deserted.


    The father and son of the Zhang family gathered together, surrounded by chaos with dishes scattered, porcin vases shattered, and decorative furniture smashed.


    "Father, I swear I won''t rest until I''ve exacted revenge!" Zhang Ze''s eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth with hatred.


    Zhang Yong''s face was ferocious, but he still kept a trace of reason, "Revenge? Xiao Yi has a close rtionship with Elder Yan, and if he finds out we''re targeting Xiao Yi, how will you withstand Elder Yan''s wrath? Can our Zhang family withstand the retaliation from Treasure Pavilion?"


    Zhang Ze said coldly, "As long as we leave no evidence behind!"


    "What''s your n?" Zhang Yong furrowed his brow.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His hatred for Xiao Yi was just as intense as Zhang Ze''s!


    Not to mention that day at the Fang Family, Xiao Yi had embarrassed him, a renowned collector, with a set of the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll, and just today at the Zhang Family, Xiao Yi had given Zhang Ze a heavy p and walked away with the zing Wind Pursuit Sword he had painstakingly acquired.


    This was bound to set the stage for a life-and-death feud between the Zhang Family and Xiao Yi.


    Zhang Ze''s eyes narrowed into a slit, a cold light shing, "The enemy of my enemy is a friend... I''ve already sent someone to contact Fang Ao of the Fang Family and Lei Bao of the ck Tiger Gang. United, we can certainly dispose of Xiao Yi without anyone noticing!"


    "Make sure to leave no evidence!" Zhang Yong cautioned.


    Zhang Ze nodded decisively, his eyes filled with viciousness, "Xiao Yi, you care about Fang Qingzhu so much, don''t you? I won''t kill you right away; I''ll force myself on Fang Qingzhu right in front of you, then grind you both to dust. One''s ashes scattered into an abyss, the other thrown into raging rivers ¨C ensuring even in death you cannot be together, keke..."


    ......


    Inside the separate courtyard.


    Xiao Yi was practicing his cultivation. Two days had passed since the banquet at the Zhang family''s house.


    His cultivation had improved significantly, bringing him even closer to the Second Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm.


    "Brother Xiao Yi, Bing Xin is looking for you!" A gentle voice came from outside, belonging to Fang Qingzhu. Since that day at the Zhang family, their rtionship had progressed by leaps and bounds.


    Although they hadn''t yet broached a certain topic, there had been a dramatic change in the way they addressed each other.


    "Bing Xin is looking for me?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy, "Could it be that there''s news about the Purple-Patterned Blood Python?"


    The core of the Purple-Patterned Blood Python was the most suitable material to rece Fang Qingzhu''s dantian at the moment, and with Fang Jin''s return date approaching, Xiao Yi had no time to lose.


    "I''ll be right out!"


    Xiao Yi donned his clothes and, upon arriving in the hall and seeing Lin Bingxin, asked, "Has there been any news about the Purple-Patterned Blood Python?"


    Lin Bingxin nodded her head, "The teacher has issued a bounty. Someone just came to the Treasure Pavilion with a clue, iming to have spotted traces of the Purple-Patterned Blood Python in the Southern Deste Mountain Range. The teacher asked me to notify you immediately. He also told me to ry to you that he can deploy the Treasure Pavilion''s beast-hunting team to assist you!"


    "No need, I can handle this matter on my own."


    Xiao Yi shook his head in refusal. He didn''t like to be indebted to anyone. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "During my absence, I''ll need you to help me take care of Qingzhu!"


    "Don''t worry about that, I can move in and stay with Qingzhu right away!" Lin Bingxin said.


    She and Fang Qingzhu had long since been calling each other sisters and had be best friends.


    Fang Qingzhu, standing to the side, looked worried, "Brother Xiao Yi, what do you want with the Purple-Patterned Blood Python? That is a second-tier high-level mystical beast, withbat powerparable to the Peak of the Qi Gathering Realm. You..."


    Xiao Yi smiled and replied, "Don''t worry, I have my ways of dealing with that beast. Just wait obediently at home for me. When I return, I will give you a tremendous surprise!"


    Fang Qingzhu''s dantian had been destroyed, and only by using the technique of transnting a beast core in ce of her dantian could she resume her cultivation.


    Given Fang Qingzhu''s talent, once she could cultivate again, her strength would increase exponentially.


    This venture to the Southern Deste was a must!


    That very night.


    Xiao Yi left Nanhuang City on his own.


    He didn''t realize that after his departure, a shadowy figure vanished from a dark corner in front of his residence.


    ck Tiger Gang.


    "Xiao Yi has gone to the Southern Deste Mountain Range? Hahaha, truly, heaven is helping me. Send for Fang Ao, Fang Hao, and Zhang Ze right away... No, to avoid being discovered, have them meet at the Qingyan Tower!"


    Lei Bao, listening to the reports from his subordinates, showed an excited expression on his face as he looked at the person before him, "Inform Zhao Shi and the others to keep a close eye on Xiao Yi and report his movements at all times!"


    "Yes, Deputy Leader!"


    The shadowy figure disappeared from sight.


    Lei Bao''s face twisted with a grim expression, his fists tightened, and his eyes cold, "Xiao Yi, the Southern Deste Mountain Range will be your burial ground!"


    ...


    The Southern Deste Mountain Range is part of the vast primordial wilderness.


    It is named the Southern Deste Mountain Range, also known as the Hundred Thousand Mountains, for it lies near the southern part of the boundless wilderness.


    In this ce, mystical beasts are rampant, and the danger is unparalleled. It is known as a forbidden area for mankind. Yet, where there is misfortune, there may be blessings hiding, and amidst the perilous Southern Deste Mountains, countless opportunities and treasures are concealed.


    Take, for example, Sikong Nan, the lord of Nanhuang City. He was once just an ordinary soldier in the city''s defense force.


    It was precisely in the Southern Deste Mountain Range that he stumbled upon a Spirit Fruit. After consuming it, his cultivation advanced greatly, and now he has be the top master of Nanhuang City.


    For precisely this reason...


    Apart from the warriors of the five cities of Nanhuang, many strong individuals from various ces in the Tianqing Kingdom also enter the Southern Deste Mountain Range for trials and training.


    In a forest clearing, an orange-red bonfire zed fiercely. A thigh of a mystical beast was ced over the fire, roasting to a golden brown with sizzling droplets of fat, tempting one''s appetite. Sitting in front of the bonfire, Xiao Yi was cross-legged, attuning himself to nature.


    Suddenly.


    An arrow shot silently from the underbrush towards him...

 Chapter 21 You, Are Not Qualified!

    Whoosh!


    Under the cloak of night.


    A silvery streak of an arrow tore through the dark, hissing as it cut through the air, heading straight for Xiao Yi.


    "Not good!"


    Xiao Yi''splexion changed drastically as he instinctively tumbled and rolled to the side.


    Thud!


    The cold arrow struck precisely where he had been.


    The fletching at the end of the arrow vibrated with a buzzing sound.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze hardened as he turned towards the direction the arrow hade from, only to hear a voice tinged with regret, "He actually dodged? What a pity, such a good opportunity missed. Otherwise, I could have presented your head to the young gang leader before he even reached the Southern Deste Mountain Range!"


    "The young gang leader?"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze sharpened; the only person he knew who was called that was Lei Bao.


    Xiao Yi squinted at the figure emerging from the bushes, "Did Lei Bao send you?"


    The man approaching was burly like a bear, holding arge horn bow, eyes furious as if made of bronze bells, filled with a bloodthirsty glint.


    This was Zhao Shi of the ck Tiger Gang, known for his Lion Head Hammers slung on his back. He removed the hammers and nged them together, producing a dull thud. Zhao Shi sneered, "That''s right, the young gang leader ordered me to watch you. But the chance just now was too good to miss, I couldn''t help myself. Too bad you dodged it!"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly and advanced with his sword drawn, "Kill me? You''re not qualified!"


    "Qualified or not, my Lion Head Hammers will let you know!"


    As Zhao Shi sneered, his figure charged like a wild buffalo, making a thunderous noise as he stampeded forward.


    Xiao Yi leaped up.


    Had it been before, he might not have been a match for Zhao Shi, but now, having made another breakthrough in his cultivation, hisbat prowess was iparable to the past. With a flick of his wrist, the longswordnded in his palm as he thrust forward.


    With a tricky angle, he narrowly avoided Zhao Shi''s attack and, with two pff sounds, cut Zhao Shi''s tendons.


    Thud, thud!


    The two iron hammers fell to the ground with a crash as Zhao Shi howled in pain, looking at Xiao Yi in disbelief, "How can you be so powerful?"


    ording to the intelligence he had, Xiao Yi should have been no match for him!


    But now...


    He had no power to fight back in front of Xiao Yi.


    "Damn it, I must hurry back and tell the young gang leader that Xiao Yi is much more powerful than we imagined..."


    Zhao Shi''s eyes flickered with venomous intent, and he turned to sprint into the dense forest behind.


    "Since you''re here, don''t even think about leaving!" Xiao Yi pursued with sword in hand.


    However...


    He had just rushed into the forest when Zhao Shi''s venomous voice echoed, "Hahaha, you fell for it! Brothers, chop him to pieces for me!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Within the dense forest.


    Xiao Yi was about to catch up with Zhao Shi when four figures burst forth, one with a malevolent expression on his face. A palm strike that had been looming suddenly came down, its ferocious force not holding back in the slightest.


    Even though the attack hadn''t reached him yet, the palm wind caused Xiao Yi''s robes to flutter and his face to contort.


    "Scatter!"


    Xiao Yi swiftly raised his sword, slicing open a gash along Zhao Shi''s back, and turned Zhao Shi into a severely struggling heap. At the same time, his sword swept through the air and with a pfft, severed the palm of the ambusher.


    "Ow... my hand, big brother, he actually cut off my hand, quick, get revenge for me!"


    The ambusher clutched his severed palm, his face sheet white.


    He looked up just in time to see Xiao Yi''s foote crashing down, and with a bang, the man''s head was smashed into his chest cavity.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze turned to the remaining three men.


    Zhao Shi, struggling to his feet, red at Xiao Yi with resentful eyes and roared, "Zhao Jin, what are you standing there for? Kill him quickly..."


    "I have my own judgment¡­"


    Zhao Jin''s face was ice cold, his eyes gradually solidifying with killing intent. In a deep voice, he said, "Old Two, Old Three, let''s go together. Kill him!"


    Zhao Jin led the charge, with Zhao Mu and Zhao Shui close behind.


    All three men were formidable in their own right.


    Zhao Mu and Zhao Shui were both at the Third Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, while Zhao Jin was the strongest, reaching the peak of the Fourth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. Together, even a master at the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm would not be without the power to fight them.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, holding a blood-dripped twig, and took the initiative to meet the attack: "Sweeping a Thousand Troops!"


    The twig swept out.


    The blood smeared on the twig sprinkled forward, and with a ''plop,'' a drop of bloodnded on Zhao Mu''s eye, causing him to reflexively close it. When he opened his eyes again, Xiao Yi had already brushed past him.


    Zhao Mu turned around, only to find that his body could not move, while only his head plummeted towards the ground.


    Thud!


    As the head hit the ground.


    Xiao Yi pointed the twig forward with a crisp ''ng,'' deflecting the long spear swung by Zhao Shui. With a surge forward, the twig stabbed into Zhao Shui''s chest, piercing through his back.


    "Zhao Mu, Zhao Shui..."


    Zhao Jin''s eyes were about to split, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yi had in two men,pletely intimidating him.


    Seeing Xiao Yi''s icy gaze fixed on him, Zhao Jin felt an icy chill over his entire body, his face filled with panic, and he no longer dared to linger, running crazily behind him.


    Xiao Yi relentlessly pursued.


    "Damn it, how can this kid, a mere beginner of the Qi Gathering Realm, be so powerful? No good, I can''t escape..." Zhao Jin''splexion abruptly changed, realizing that Xiao Yi''s offensive was swiftly approaching him, he steeled his heart.


    He grabbed Zhao Huo next to him and threw him behind him.


    Thud!


    Zhao Huo''s body lined up with the twig in Xiao Yi''s hand, piercing through his body, adding one more cold corpse. Zhao Jin did not dare to linger any longer, pulled out a horn bow, and fired several arrows at Xiao Yi, then turned and fled.


    "Where do you think you''re running to?"


    Xiao Yi''s cold voice rang out behind him, sending chills all over Zhao Jin and making his scalp tingle.


    zing Wind Pursuit Sword!


    "Chasing Stars and Moons!"


    Xiao Yi held the arrow with one hand, his sword speed reaching its limits, each thrust breaking an arrow. He bloodily carved a path through the rain of arrows, a cold light flitted across his eyes: "Soul Chaser, Life Snatcher!"


    Whoosh!


    His figure left a trail of afterimages, and when they re-converged, he had already appeared in front of Zhao Jin.


    With a ''thrust,'' the sword pierced through Zhao Jin''s throat.


    With a flick.


    Zhao Jin''s head was split into two.


    In just a few breaths.


    Only Zhao Shi, barely clinging to life, remained. He was covered in blood, his legs gave out, and he knelt on the ground trembling.


    He never imagined that Xiao Yi would be so terrifying, ughtering his five-man team in the blink of an eye. His lips quivered, "Don''t, don''t kill me, I was only following orders, please..."


    Thud!


    Xiao Yi swung his longsword, severing his right hand.


    "Don''t kill me..."


    Zhao Shi, enduring the severe pain, shakily handed over a sheepskin map, "I, I have a map on me, which marks the location of an ancient tomb, as long as you let me go, I''m willing to give you the map..."


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Killing you, the map is still mine!"


    "No, you can''t kill me, I am from the ck Tiger Gang..."


    Zhao Tianbao''s face filled with terror, screaming hysterically, but Xiao Yi couldn''t be bothered to listen to him speak any longer, raising the zing Wind Pursuit Sword in the air.


    Thud!


    The bloodied de of the sword pierced Zhao Shi''s head, cleaving it in two.


    In an instant.


    All five experts from the ck Tiger Gang dispatched to surveil Xiao Yi were in.


    Xiao Yi picked the sheepskin map with his sword, then rummaged for spoils of war, amassing a total of fifty-three thousand taels of silver, most notably obtaining twenty Qi Gathering Elixirs from Zhao Shi.


    "So it''s the tomb of a Shentong Realm expert? It happens to be where the Purple-Patterned Blood Pythons roam, worth a look. But..."


    He looked down at the map in his hand, "ording to Zhao Shi, Lei Bao and the others are also on their way to the Southern Deste Mountain Range, I should leave this ce first. I''ll find a secluded area to refine these elixirs and enhance my cultivation. Once Lei Bao and the rest arrive, I''ll make sure they don''t leave!"

 Chapter 22 Breakthrough Again!

    Xiao Yi hadn''t been gone for long.


    In the dense woods, dozens of figures swiftly moved through, and shortly after, they settled at the site where Zhao Shi and his men met their end.


    "Young Master, Zhao Shi and his team have beenpletely annihted..."


    Observing the bodies strewn across the ground, the neer made a thorough inspection of the corpses and said in a grave voice, "Judging by their wounds, it looks very much like the work of the zing Wind Pursuit Sword..."


    "Zhang Xiong, are you certain it was the zing Wind Pursuit Sword?" Lei Bao narrowed his eyes and asked.


    The man before them, dressed in ck with a fierce scar on his face, was Zhang Xiong, the leader of the Zhang Family Hunting Team, at the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.


    And having battled demonic beasts in the Southern Deste Mountain Range for years, hisbat prowess wasparable to that of an ordinary Ninth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm fighter.


    Fang Ao''s eyes zed with a fierce light, "Zhang Ze''s zing Wind Pursuit Sword is in the hands of Xiao Yi; it seems that these men were all killed by him."


    Zhang Xiong nodded, focusing on the corpse of Zhao Shi, "Zhao Shi and Zhao Jin, the five of thembined were quite strong. Even I would have to expend some effort to deal with them. If Xiao Yi were able to kill them, and given the battle traces here, he was in absolute dominance over the five men, crushing them all the way through. Based on my estimate, his cultivation must be at least no weaker than the Sixth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm!"


    "What? The Sixth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm?" Fang Ao was utterly bewildered.


    Lei Bao''s face was also filled with shock, "The first time I saw him, he was only at the Tenth Layer of the Physical Body Realm. How much time has passed? And now he''s alreadyparable to the Sixth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm?"


    Everyone couldn''t help but gasp.


    Since Xiao Yi had arrived in Nanhuang City, only a month had passed, yet he had grown from beingpletely devoid of cultivation to a powerhouse on par with the Sixth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.


    Such a rate of cultivation was indeed terrifying.


    Lei Bao''s face was gloomy, "We absolutely cannot let this child remain; if we allow him to continue growing, I''m afraid we will all have to look up to him in the future!"


    "We must find him immediately..." Fang Ao said.


    Zhang Xiong uttered a grunt of agreement, his eyes cold and filled with ferocity and madness, "Rest assured, I''ve brought the best of the hunting team. They''ll soon find Xiao Yi''s whereabouts. However, this forest makes it easy to hide one''s presence; we must not fail. Shadow,e out..."


    A dark figure emerged from the crowd, "Captain, rest assured, I know what to do!"


    ...


    Atop a towering great tree with dense foliage.


    Xiao Yi sat cross-legged, with his palms facing upwards, his eyes tightly shut, the aura around his body undting and fluctuating.


    Streams of heaven and earth essence were absorbed into his body, and, with the rotation of his mysterious skill, amplified his own cultivation.


    Over these past two days...


    He had been refining the twenty Qi Gathering Elixirs he had plundered from Zhao Shi, and now, his cultivation had risen two levels, reaching the Third Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.


    With a whoosh!


    He exhaled a long breath of turbid air. Xiao Yi channeled the gathered essential aura into the God Sealing Seed within him, activating the God Sealing Seed continuously.


    The twenty Qi Gathering Elixirs and the essential aura of the Third Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm activated a total of forty God Sealing Seeds, bringing the total number of activated God Sealing Seeds he possessed up to eighty. With the feedback of power from the God Sealing Seeds, Xiao Yi was surrounded by a luminescent glow.


    With his current strength, paired with the Sword Intent seedling and the zing Wind Pursuit Sword, he was capable of defeating a fighter at the Eighth Layer Peak.


    Xiao Yi entered the Eternal Tomb immediately, but even after awakening eighty God Sealing Seeds, he was still unable to find a new target to seal.


    "It seems my strength is still not strong enough," Xiao Yi helplessly left the Eternal Tomb, "With my current strength, I can barely handle the Ninth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm, but that Purple-Patterned Blood Python isparable to the Peak of the Gathering Qi Realm. I should head to the tomb of the Shentong Realm expert that Zhao Shi mentioned!"


    Following the map, Xiao Yi continued on his way.


    Since entering the Southern Deste Mountain Range, three days and nights had passed.


    His cultivation had progressed from the Qi Gathering Realm First Layer to the Third Layer, and this was indeed key to the twenty Qi Gathering Elixirs contributed by Zhao Shi; otherwise, such rapid advancement would have been impossible.


    As he moved on, just as he was about to arrive at the ancient tomb indicated on the map, suddenly, a cry for help echoed from the bushes ahead, "Help, save me..."


    Xiao Yi was momentarily stunned.


    A disheveled and beautiful woman, looking desperate, was fleeing. Three fierce-looking young men were relentlessly chasing after her. The woman''s eyes lit up when she saw Xiao Yi, and she quickened her pace.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She ran up to Xiao Yi and hid behind him, looking pitiful, "Young Master, save me..."


    The three young men followed closely, growling viciously, "Kid, don''t meddle in other people''s business!"


    "If you know what''s good for you, get lost, or else we''ll deal with you too!"


    Xiao Yi frowned and looked at the three young men, "Scram!"


    "You''ve got a death wish, kid!" one of them bellowed.


    "Brothers, kill him!"


    As the three of them exuded killing intent, Xiao Yi snorted coldly and quickly stepped forward, "Eight Extremes Copse!"


    "Eight Extremes Lean!"


    "Eight Extremes Swing!"


    With a punch, a shove, and a swing, all three men were down on the ground, unable to move. The "Eight Extremes Fist" was a martial art known throughout the Blue Star Realm for its lethal potency.


    "Thank you, kind sir, for saving my life. I have nothing to return the favor, but here is a treasure for you," the woman said gratefully, standing in front of Xiao Yi. She bowed deeply, but as she rose, the gratitude and smile on her face were gone, reced by a sly, chilling smirk, "Die!"


    Swish!


    A white powder flew from her hands.


    As the white powdernded on Xiao Yi, his body trembled, rendered immobile. The womanughed heartily, "Xiao Yi, bet you didn''t see thising, did you? With my Muscle-locking Powder, you''ll be paralyzed for the next half hour,pletely at my mercy!"


    "Who are you? Why are you trying to harm me?" Xiao Yi''s brows knitted tightly.


    The woman sneered, "I''m a shadow from the Zhang Family Hunting Team, sent by the young gang leader to kill you!"


    "And us too!"


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, even you have met your doom?"


    Amidst the derangedughter, the figures of Zhang Xiong, Fang Ao, and Lei Bao appeared one after another. Both the Zhang Family Hunting Team and the ck Tiger Gang''s members, over thirty people in total, emerged and encircled himpletely.


    "So it was you¡­" Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Fang Ao and the others.


    "Didn''t expect that, huh? Thought you could rely on Elder Yan? If you''re so capable, call him now, hahaha..." Full of pride, Fang Ao was eager to step forward but still nced at Zhang Xiong, "He can''t move, right?"


    Zhang Xiong nodded, "He''s hit with Muscle-locking Powder. He won''t be able to move for half an hour!"


    "Hehe, half an hour, eh? That''s more than enough!"


    Fang Ao approached Xiao Yi with a vicious smile, "Xiao Yi, didn''t you look down on me? Weren''t you too disdainful to kill me, saying you''d wait for my brother toe back so I could watch how you''d kill him? Now tell me, who is killing whom?"


    He pulled out a dagger and waved it in front of Xiao Yi, "So, should I stab this knife into your heart or should I slice open your throat and watch your blood slowly drain? Oh right, weren''t you saying I shouldn''t touch Fang Qingzhu? How about I castrate you, take your head, and then ravish Fang Qingzhu right in front of you? How does that sound?"


    "Dare to touch a single hair on Qingzhu''s head, and I will decimate your entire n!" Xiao Yi red, his eyes narrowing.


    "Aiyo, you''re about to die and you still threaten me? Go reunite with Fang Qingzhu in hell!"


    With a viciousugh, Fang Ao swung his dagger toward Xiao Yi''s vitals...

 Chapter 23 Astonishing Sword

    ```


    Whoosh!


    The dagger, shing with a chilling cold light, shed toward Xiao Yi''s vitals.


    However...


    The dagger abruptly halted, unable to advance even half an inch further.


    A ferocious grimace froze on Fang Ao''s face, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief as he stared at his own wrist. It was being tightly gripped by a hand, and the terrifying force emanating from that hand hadpletely deformed his wrist.


    Agonizing pain shot through him instantly; the dagger fell from his grasp: "Aoooow... my hand..."


    Xiao Yi snatched up the dagger and, amidst Fang Ao''s screams, brought it down towards his groin.


    Splurt!


    A fountain of blood sprayed wildly, immediately turning the area beneath Fang Ao into a crimson swamp, as a piece the size of a pinky finger fell into the pool of blood. Fang Ao screamed in agony, while Xiao Yi remained expressionless, first slicing open his throat.


    Letting the fresh blood spurt freely.


    And then driving the dagger deep into Fang Ao''s heart.


    Thud! Thud!


    Fang Aoy twitching in the blood pool until he bled out and died. Until hisst moment, his eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief, unable toprehend how a poisoned Xiao Yi could still move.


    After killing Fang Ao, Xiao Yi''s gaze slightly lifted to rest on Lei Bao, Zhang Xiong, and others who all wore expressions of horror.


    Zhang Ying said in disbelief, "You were clearly poisoned by my Muscle-locking Powder, how could you..."


    "Muscle-locking Powder? Are you talking about this?"


    Xiao Yi cracked a smile and tossed his hand aside, scattering a cloud of white powder.


    "Damn, that''s Muscle-locking Powder..."


    "Get out of the way, don''t let it touch you..."


    Zhang Xiong''s face changed drastically as he pushed Lei Bao away and quickly retreated.


    But Xiao Yi was faster!


    As soon as the Muscle-locking Powder spread in the air, the zing Wind Pursuit Sword was already in his hand, striking down the hunting team members and ck Tiger Gang one by one with his sword. These formidable opponents, caught off guard and paralyzed by the Muscle-locking Powder, stood helpless like wooden targets for Xiao Yi to y.


    More than thirty people, in a blink of an eye, only six remained.


    Xiao Yi, wielding the zing Wind Pursuit Sword and bathed in blood, emanated evil Qi that pierced the heavens, while his Sword Intent seed turned even redder amidst the ughter. What heprehended was the ughter Sword Intent, a martial arts mentality focused on warfare and killing.


    Gurgle!


    Lei Bao shivered all over, his facepletely drained of color.


    Watching Xiao Yi drenched in blood, this image had be a nightmare for him. Unless he could kill Xiao Yi, he would never be able to step out of the shadow for the rest of his life.


    Zhang Xiong''s expression was grim, and his face twisted into a ferocious scowl.


    He had brought along eighteen of the best from the Zhang Family Hunting Team, almost more than half of their fighting force, and now there were only him, Zhang Ying, and three other Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer experts left. The rest were all dead.


    This was a colossal blow to the Zhang Family!


    Zhang Ying''s eyes were bloodshot: "Why? You were clearly hit by my Muscle-locking Powder, so why weren''t you affected at all?"


    Xiao Yi shrugged nonchntly and casually said, "I had suspected you were up to no good from the moment I saw you and was on guard against you. When you used the Muscle-locking Powder, I sealed off my senses and even collected some of the powder. I should thank you, otherwise, with so many of you, it wouldn''t have been so easy to deal with!"


    "You, you..."


    Zhang Ying was so furious that blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, her face turning even paler.


    Just a moment ago, she was gloating, thinking that she had trapped Xiao Yi.


    But...


    She had been yed by Xiao Yi all along.


    Zhang Xiong said coldly, "Xiao Yi, I must admit that we all underestimated you, no... it should be said that everyone has underestimated you. The Xiao Family''s true dragon isn''t just Xiao Tianjiaao; you too are a true dragon..."


    Xiao Yi calmly looked at him.


    Zhang Xiong continued, "However, it''s a pity that the biggest difference between you and Xiao Tianjiaao is that he is a true dragon soaring across the heavens, whereas you are still struggling in the mire, trying to cross the dragon gate. It''s just too bad that you will never have the chance to cross it in this lifetime because today, within this Southern Deste Mountain Range, you will meet your death!"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth.


    Zhang Xiong led the charge, with Lei Bao and the others close behind.


    All with faces full of savage ferocity.


    Zhang Xiong wielded a pair of gauntlets as his weapon: ck as night, forged from tungsten iron, and covered with spikes, they were high-grade primary weapons. ck light swirled around the gauntlets, seemingly capable of devouring all light, and when he threw a punch, it formed a ck canopy in the air.


    Lei Bao''s eyes brimmed with ferocity and hatred, holding a long spear like a venomous snake lying in wait, ready to strike at any moment.


    Zhang Ying and the other three hunters spread out to all sides, preventing Xiao Yi''s escape.


    They had absolute faith in Zhang Xiong''s strength, confident he could kill Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi faced the ck canopy head-on and swept the zing Wind Pursuit Sword in front of him: "Sweeping a Thousand Armies!"


    Tear!


    A sh of crimson sword light tore the ck boxing shadows into two halves.


    And within the splits of the shadowy fists, a ck iron fist tore through the air. Instinctively, Xiao Yi raised the zing Wind Pursuit Sword horizontally across his chest. The ck iron fist, with a roaring impact, struck the de and sent Xiao Yi flying.


    ```


    Lei Bao seized the opportunity, a trace of madness flicking across his eyes, "Die!"


    Whoosh!


    The long spear, like a venomous snake discovering its prey in ambush, thrust fiercely towards Xiao Yi''s back.


    "Idiot, get out of the way!" Zhang Xiong''s face changed dramatically as he bellowed.


    "Huh?"


    Lei Bao froze, the ferocity on his face disappearing.


    In midair, Xiao Yi grabbed the spearhead, rolled with momentum, and clung to the spear shaft, circling to Lei Bao''s back. As they brushed past each other, Xiao Yi''s sword edge swiftly shed across Lei Bao''s throat.


    The moment hended.


    Xiao Yi kicked out, sending Lei Bao''s body and head flying toward Zhang Xiong.


    Boom! Boom!


    Zhang Xiong threw two consecutive punches, shattering both the head and body, but when the blood mist cleared, he had lost sight of Xiao Yi. Suddenly, three screams came from behind him; Xiao Yi had somehow made his way to his back, directly ughtering the other three members of the hunting team.


    Of the thirty-strong group, only Zhang Xiong and Zhang Ying remained.


    "Zhang Ying, be careful!"


    Zhang Xiong''s eyes bulged with rage as he watched Zhang Ying, unable to dodge Xiao Yi''s cold sword edge, and bellowed furiously, "Xiao Yi, if you dare to hurt him, I will exterminate your entire n!"


    Thud!


    Xiao Yi''s cold sword edge pierced Zhang Ying''s chest. With a twist of his wrist, the sword spun like a drill, gruesomely boring a bloody, gaping hole straight through Zhang Ying''s torso.


    Xiao Yi turned to look at the enraged Zhang Xiong, his face smeared with blood, and cracked a smile, "The Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty is always ready for you to try and exterminate them!"


    "I..."


    Zhang Xiong''s face stiffened. The Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty? Exterminate them, my ass!


    Let alone him, even the entire Zhang Family wasn''t enough to fill the gaps between their teeth!


    Zhang Xiong, looking at the corpses strewn all over the ground, realized that this venture had been a disastrous loss. The only way to justify himself was to return with Xiao Yi''s head: "Xiao Yi, I will grind your bones to dust!"


    "Thousand Leaves Demon-Subduing Hand!"


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Zhang Xiong''s fists pounded like pounding garlic, each strike conjuring dozens of fist shadows that coalesced into thousands, forming a dark steel torrent that swept toward him.


    "Grind my bones to dust? You''re not worthy yet!"


    Xiao Yi sneered coldly, as all eighty of his God Sealing Seeds burst forth simultaneously, fully activating the power of the God Sealing Seed. The zing Wind Pursuit Sword in his hand hummed, and the power of the Sword Intent seed made the sword light more concentrated. With a low roar, "Life from Despair!"


    This was the fourth stance of the Soul-chasing Life-taking Sword, Life from Despair!


    It condensed all of his internal energy in the sword edge, producing the most powerful strike, three times stronger than normal.


    Moreover...


    The energy within Xiao Yi was the power of God Sealing, and with the boost of the Sword Intent seed, this strike was ten times more powerful than his peak!


    Boom!


    The sword light was astonishing.


    It was like a beam of light piercing the horizon, tearing through the thousands of fist shadows, as if it could split the heavens and the earth.


    Zhang Xiong''s face changed drastically, raising his fists to block in front of him: "Absolute Defense!"


    Thump!


    This strike smashed through his pair of top-grade elemental fist guards, sending Zhang Xiong flying out, spewing blood. His hands trembled, his eyes filled with fear, "I almost got killed, can this really be the strength of someone in the Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer? This person... must not be allowed to live..."


    His eyes bore into Xiao Yi with a ruthless gaze.


    Xiao Yi''s heart skipped a beat, "Damn, I didn''t kill him?"


    Using that most powerful strike had almost drained all the energy from his body.


    Seeing Zhang Xiong chasing with a vicious face, Xiao Yi gathered his spirits and fled at full speed.


    During the chase, they had covered dozens of kilometers.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Woooo...


    Amidst the howling cold wind, a dark cliff appeared ahead, thousands of meters high, its bottom invisible at a nce. A golden eagle soared through the canyon, the roaring wind whistling eerily.


    "Hahaha, keep running, will you? I want to see where else you can run to!" Zhang Xiongughed viciously, following closely.


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, retreating, inadvertently knocking a few pebbles down the cliff, unable to hear even the sound of their fall!


    Zhang Xiong said grimly, "Xiao Yi, you''ve got nowhere to run now, surrender quietly!"


    Xiao Yi''s expression was as still as water. In his current state, he stood no chance against Zhang Xiong. As for escaping? Ahead was an abyss thousands of feet deep, wait a minute...


    An image of a piece of parchment sprung to Xiao Yi''s mind, and suddenly, with a corner of his mouth lifted, he turned back with an expression of cold determination, "Once I return to Nanhuang, that will be the day your Zhang Family is annihted!"


    Whoosh!


    He leapt into the abyss.


    Zhang Xiong rushed forward, but Xiao Yi''s figure was already gone. Frowning and snorting coldly, he muttered, "This cliff has walls sharp as swords on both sides, thousands of meters deep; falling means certain death. Atst, the menace is gone..."

 Chapter 24 Iron Blade King

    The abyssal valley floor.


    A coldke with rippling turquoise wavesy before him, the water ice-cold, with a chilling mist rising from it.


    Ssh!


    Suddenly, the surface of the water exploded with white foam as a figure shot out, struggling to swim to the edge and lying down shivering and gasping for breath, spitting out mouthfuls of blood.


    Xiao Yi''s lips curled into a smile of relief at having narrowly escaped death, "Thank goodness Zhao Shi''s map didn''t lie to me, otherwise I would''ve been smashed to pieces this time!"


    Faced with Zhang Xiong''s relentless pressure, Xiao Yi had remembered that ancient tomb marked on Zhao Shi''s map was deep within the coldke at the base of the cliff!


    The coldke was vast, covering two-thirds of the base of the cliff, which was why he had decisively chosen to jump off.


    Of course, even with the coldke below, plummeting from a cliff thousands of meters high was a sure path to death.


    Before hitting the water, Xiao Yi had exerted all his strength to propel the Eight Extremes Fist, repeatedly striking downward to slow his fall with the resistance of the air currents.


    Still, his body now felt as if it had fallen apart.


    Whoosh!


    Whisk!


    Mustering his spirit to sit up, Xiao Yi started to run the Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill. Eighty God Sealing Seeds bloomed with dazzling light, their radiance enveloping his body, voraciously consuming the natural essence of heaven and earth around him.


    The foggy mist rising from the coldke was drawn towards him, enveloping his body.


    Mist swirled around him.


    In the distance, the valley was whipped by gusts of wind that howled incessantly.


    It took a whole day and night for the mist around Xiao Yi to dissipate, and hisplexion regained some of its color.


    "Thankfully, it was only some minor internal injuries that did not affect my core. Now that I have recovered seventy percent of my strength, I''m curious to see what treasures lie in the tomb of this Divine Skills Realm expert!"


    As Xiao Yi got up, his body cracked and popped, and he plunged back into the coldke.


    He followed the current down.


    At the bottom of the coldke was a dark passageway. After swimming through it for over a thousand meters, Xiao Yi burst forth from the underwater channel.


    The view ahead suddenly opened up!


    This was a cavern filled with signs of human workmanship, its smooth, even walls appearing as though they were carved by an extremely sharp instrument in a single stroke.


    "The entire cave seems like a natural formation without any signs of secondary excavation. Could it be that someone hollowed out the mountain belly in one go, creating such a massive cave?"


    Xiao Yi found his own thought somewhat crazy.


    This was a rocky mountain. To carve out such a huge cave in one go would require an incredibly powerful being.


    His gaze swept the interior of the cave, and in the very center, there was a stone house.


    The stones on the stone house were covered in signs of age, with dark webs of spider silk indicating it had long been abandoned.


    Creak!


    He pushed open the dust-covered door, stirring up the dust enough to make Xiao Yi frown.


    The house was pitch ck, yet Xiao Yi''s eyes were immediately drawn to a figure on the bed.


    It was a skeleton, dark yellow in color, sitting cross-legged on the bed.


    In its lower abdomen, a walnut-sized Golden Core floated serenely, radiating a brilliant golden glow.


    Xiao Yi inhaled sharply, "A Golden Core Realm expert?"


    Above Divine Skills is the Golden Core.


    Golden Core Realm experts are distinguished from ordinary flesh by not only their lifespan, which extends to two hundred years, but also because the bones of a Golden Core Realm expert turn to a bronze color, indestructible and eternal, hence the Golden Core Realm is also known as the Golden Body Realm.


    "I thought it was a Divine Skills Realm powerhouse, but it turned out to be from the Golden Core Realm..." Xiao Yi took a deep breath to calm his excitement.


    If it were merely the remains of a Golden Core Realm expert, it wouldn''t have made him lose hisposure like this.


    But there was aplete Golden Core!


    The life''s cultivation of a Golden Core Realm expert was all contained within the Golden Core, where infinite energy was nurtured.


    What was Xiao Yi''s "Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill" mostcking?


    It was energy!


    "This Golden Core, if I couldpletely refine it, it might not be enough to get me into the Golden Core Realm, but it would definitely be sufficient for breaking through to the Shentong Realm!"


    Xiao Yi was ecstatic as he walked up to the remains of the Golden Core Realm expert, knelt down, and bowed his head: "Senior, this junior has offended you!"


    Crack!


    The moment the Golden Core was retrieved, the golden skeleton copsed to the ground with a crash!


    From its finger bones, a dark red storage ring fell to the ground.


    A storage ring.


    Xiao Yi let his blood to im it as his master.


    Inside the ring, there were only a few tens of thousands of pieces of silver, aside from that was a secret tome named "Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill," a golden token, and a letter.


    "Lucky junior, by the time you read this letter, I may have already perished. In an effort to break through to the Golden Core Realm, I spent all my savings, but just as I was about to seed, I was betrayed by a close friend and, with grave injuries, hid here. The only thing I can''t stop worrying about is my daughter, still in swaddling clothes..."


    "I am Hu Yi, known as the Iron de King of Tianqing Kingdom; I only ask that you send my n Settling Skill ''Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill'' and the king''s token to the Iron de King''s estate for my daughter. Tell her that the person who killed me was none other than the Comrade King, Xu Shiheng. This Golden Core of mine shall serve as your reward... I am eternally grateful..."


    Xiao Yi was not from Tianqing Kingdom and had no idea who the Iron de King was.


    But to be bestowed a kingship in a kingdom and possess Golden Elixir Realm Cultivation, this Hu Yi was definitely no ordinary man!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi pocketed the storage ring and solemnly said, "Senior, rest assured, I will deliver your belongings to the Iron de King''s estate!"


    Having said that, Xiao Yi dug a grave for him in the cave the skeleton was in, buried the remains, and erected a gravestone.


    The tomb of Hu Yi, the Iron de King of Tianqing Kingdom!


    Afterpleting all this, Xiao Yi sat cross-legged inside the stone hut and began to refine the Golden Core on the spot.


    "With the energy of this Golden Core, just refining one-tenth of it would allow me to reach the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm. However, the Zhang Family has sent people to assassinate me, and I fear their next target will be Qingzhu. I must leave the Southern Deste Mountain Range within ten days!"


    Hum!


    The mysterious skill started operating, and the energy within the Golden Core was greedily devoured!


    ...


    Inside Nanhuang City.


    Zhang Xiong respectfully looked at the two people in front of him, Zhang Yong, and spoke in a grave voice, "Family head, young master, your subordinate haspleted the mission and killed Xiao Yi!"


    "Good! Zhang Xiong, you are indeed a pir of our Zhang Family!" Zhang Yongughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder forcefully.


    Zhang Ze spoke with a sinister tone, "Uncle Xiong, did you bring back Xiao Yi''s head?"


    Zhang Xiong sighed, "Young master, your subordinate is ipetent, Xiao Yi''s body fell into the gorge after his death, and his body was not recovered whole!"


    "Haha, it is already very good that you killed that little beast. If you couldn''t bring back the body, let it be!" Zhang Yong consoled him.


    "Although it''s a pity that we couldn''t bring his head back and let him watch me y with Fang Qingzhu, it doesn''t matter," Zhang Ze nodded and narrowed his eyes. The cold gleam within them flickered menacingly, "I''ve been keeping an eye on Fang Qingzhu this whole time. It''s just that Lin Bingxin has been inseparable from her, which makes it difficult to act. Uncle Xiong, leave this to you. From now on, you keep watch over Fang Qingzhu, and the moment she separates from Lin Bingxin, capture her immediately for me!"


    "Young master, rest assured!" Zhang Xiong patted his chest in assurance, then hesitated before saying, "Family head, what about Lei Bao and Fang Ao..."


    Zhang Yong waved his hand and said indifferently, "You don''t need to worry about this. Our Zhang Family has never sent anyone to assassinate Xiao Yi, this was all done by Lei Bao and Fang Ao. Do you understand?"


    Zhang Xiong''s eyes lit up, "Family head is brilliant!"

 Chapter 25 The Might of a Single Sword

    Within the Southern Deste Mountain Range.


    In the depths of a dense forest, gloomy and terrifying, the humid air was filled with a pungent smell of blood.


    The trees had been snapped in half, the grass had been ttened to the ground, and chaos reigned. Corpsesy scattered in pools of blood, each body grotesquely deformed, some even crushed to a pulp¡­


    Boom!


    With a thunderous crash, arge tree over sixty meters tall copsed, creating an empty space as it fell.


    A purple giant snake, over ten meters long, appeared from the woods, its tail coiling around the fallen tree and fiercely sending it flying with a flick.


    Whoosh!


    The tree blotted out the sky as it swept across, unstoppable.


    "Protect the youngdy!"


    "This beast has actually advanced to the third order, let''s fight it with all we''ve got..."


    A group of strong protectors roared as they charged towards the purple giant snake.


    But the purple giant snake, having just stepped into the lower tier of the third order, wasparable to a First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm powerhouse. Itsbat strength was incredibly terrifying, ughtering those who came to surround and attack it.


    Its bloodthirsty eyes fixed on what was ahead, the snake twisted its body and pursued.


    From its gaping maw blew a foul wind, causing the other monsters of the forest to flee from afar, not daring to provoke this ruler of the outskirts of the Southern Deste Mountain Range.


    Five ck-d strong protectors were evacuating with a young man and ady, watching as the purple giant snake came chasing after them. The five turned to the young man, "Qi, we''ll hold off this beast. Take the youngdy and leave quickly."


    "Rest assured, I will definitely bring Xue''er back to Nanhuang City safe and sound!" the young man replied continuously.


    He immediately picked up the girl, who was wearing a white dress and floated like a fairy, and ran at breakneck speed.


    The girl in the white dress was extremely pale, with a hint of bright red staining her long white dress at the chest. A look of despair filled her eyes, "Brother Tianying, just put me down and go on your own! I don''t want to drag you down..."


    "What nonsense are you talking? I will definitely take you back to Nanhuang City!" Qi Tianying said with a serious face.


    A nce over his shoulder caught sight of the fight.


    Those five who were blocking the purple giant snake had all been killed, and one of them was even swallowed whole in front of his eyes, causing Qi Tianying''s face to turn deathly pale as he saw the purple giant snake catching up.


    All of a sudden, Qi Tianying threw the girl he was carrying onto the road, ignoring her bewildered expression, and strode away, "Xue''er, stay here. I''ll go get help immediately!"


    The girl in the white dress, Xue''er, watched dumbfounded as Qi Tianying dashed into the dense forest, "&*()..."


    Go find your own reinforcements!


    He was clearly using her as a shield to dy the purple giant snake!


    "My life is over..."


    A fishy wind swept over her, and as the purple giant snake''s gaping maw was almost upon her, Xue''er closed her eyes in despair.


    But at that moment...


    A bloody sword light descended from the sky, punctuating a fierce wound on the purple giant snake''s body, causing it to scream incessantly. Its massive body swept across, bringing down arge part of the forest.


    p!


    Xiao Yi, in a green outfit, floated over gracefully. He leapt high off the ground, thrusting the zing Wind Pursuit Sword towards the purple giant snake, "Chasing Stars and Moons!"


    "Seizing Souls and Lives!"


    The edge of the sword radiated a bloody light, each strike effortlessly slicing through the body of the purple giant snake, causing it to wail continuously. Its resentful eyes red at Xiao Yi as it let out a low growl, intending to flee.


    "Do you think you can escape?"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly, leaped up high, holding the sword in both hands as surging qi converged at the tip of the sword.


    After ten days of cultivation...


    He had already refined one-twentieth of the Golden Core, stepping into the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. With a hundred and forty God Sealing Seeds within him, hisbat strength could now fully rival a First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm powerhouse.


    The might of a single sword struck terror into the world!


    Boom!


    The crimson sword edge brutally beheaded the giant serpent, and its enormous body struggled for dozens of seconds before itpletely lost its vitality.


    Xiao Yi expressionlessly sliced open the belly of the purple giant serpent and dug out a snake galldder and a beast core, "The snake galldder can replenish Qingzhu''s vital energy, but this beast core is an unexpected delight. A third-order beast core can certainly allow Qingzhu to step into the Spiritual Realm Cultivation!"


    This purple giant serpent was exactly the Purple-Patterned Blood Python he had been seeking.


    It had just advanced from a high-level second-order to a low-level third-order.


    Fortunately, it had just broken through; otherwise, with Xiao Yi''s current strength, he really wouldn''t have been able to handle it.


    "Thank you for saving my life, noble sir. May I ask how to address you?" A weak voice came from behind Xiao Yi.


    "I hunted this beast because I needed to kill it, not specifically to save you."


    Xiao Yi nced at her and frowned, "Your injuries are severe. Use this to stop the bleeding first!"


    "Thank you, noble sir!"


    Xue''er was taken aback, receiving the golden sore medicine Xiao Yi tossed to her. She was about to speak when she heard an overjoyed voice, "Hahaha, Xue''er, it''s so good that you''re safe! I saw that the Purple-Patterned Blood Python didn''t follow, and I was worried something happened to you, so I rushed back right away to rescue you!"


    The person who came was Qi Tianying.


    Discovering that the Purple-Patterned Blood Python had not followed and that a fierce fight had taken ce, he immediately rushed back.


    Seeing the Purple-Patterned Blood Python lying in a pool of blood, he then showed himself.


    Xue''er''s face darkened as her gaze towards Qi Tianying lost the earlier admiration and grew colder, "You went to find reinforcements, isn''t that so?"


    "Ah ha, it''s just that I couldn''t stop worrying about you!"


    Qi Tianyingughed it off, showing no guilt for having left Xue''er to flee alone. His eyes swept over the Purple-Patterned Blood Python behind Xiao Yi, and noticing its split-open belly, Qi Tianying furrowed his brow and said to Xiao Yi, "Young man, you''ve done a great deed by saving Xue''er. You can have the corpse of this Purple-Patterned Blood Python as a reward, but that snake galldder and beast core must be returned to me. Hand them over!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Xue''er''splexion turned ugly, "Qi Tianying, have you lost your mind? The Purple-Patterned Blood Python was killed by this gentleman, why should the snake galldder and beast core be given to you?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The most valuable parts of the Purple-Patterned Blood Python were indeed its galldder and beast core; as for the body, it wasn''t even worth one-tenth of the galldder!


    Qi Tianying frowned and said displeasedly, "What nonsense are you talking about, Xue''er? If it wasn''t for me leading everyone to encircle and weaken this Purple-Patterned Blood Python, how could this youngster have taken advantage of it?"


    "Shut your mouth!"


    Xue''er red furiously. What bullshit about leading everyone? As soon as Qi Tianying discovered that the Purple-Patterned Blood Python had broken through to the third order, he stayed far behind, and in the end, he abandoned her and ran away on his own. And now he had the nerve toe and demand the snake galldder and beast core?


    Xue''er looked at Xiao Yi with an apologetic expression, "I''m truly sorry, sir!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, ready to leave.


    But Qi Tianying abruptly stepped in front of him, his expression dark, "Young man, do you know who I am? I am the Qi Family''s great young master from Shouye City. If you don''t leave that beast core and snake galldder behind today, do you know what the consequences will be?"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you threatening me?"


    "Threatening? You can see it that way if you like," Qi Tianying said with arrogance, "My Qi Family..."


    Before he could finish speaking.


    A sword light shed before his eyes, severing his right arm at the shoulder, and Xiao Yi looked at Qi Tianying coldly, "I don''t like being threatened."


    "You''re doomed, my Qi Family will not let you off..."


    Qi Tianying clutched his severed arm, his pale face twisted with ferocity.


    Xiao Yi sighed lightly, "I already said I don''t like being threatened."


    Thud!


    A sword sealed his throat.


    Qi Tianying fell to the ground clutching his bleeding neck, convulsing wildly, his eyes filled with despair and regret.


    "Miss, are you alright?" came several voices from afar.


    Xiao Yi nced at the stunned Xue''er and spoke indifferently, "I''ll take my leave now!"


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi leaped gracefully, disappearing into the jungle and heading straight for Nanhuang City, "Zhang Family, I, Xiao Yi, have returned!"

 Chapter 26 Sorry, Im Late!

    Nanhuang City.


    Even though it had been over ten days since he left, nothing here had changed.


    On his way to the residence, Xiao Yi was covered in the smell of blood, causing people to steer clear of him.


    "Qingzhu, I''m back!"


    As soon as he entered the house, Xiao Yi called out, but there was no response. A sense of intense unease gripped his heart.


    When he reached Fang Qingzhu''s bedroom, he discovered it was inplete disarray, with no one to be found.


    "How could this be? Where is everyone?" Xiao Yi''s face turned pale.


    At that moment...


    Lin Bingxin''s voice came from outside, "Qingzhu, are you not home? Why is the main door open?" Lin Bingxin appeared in the bedroom and saw Xiao Yi with his back to her, her eyes lit up, "Xiao Yi, you''re back?"


    Xiao Yi looked as grim as still water, turning to face Lin Bingxin.


    His eyes were fierce like a wild animal''s, emitting a chilling light that seemed to threaten to devour someone.


    Lin Bingxin felt a bone-chilling cold, she swallowed hard, her voice trembling, "What, what''s wrong with you?"


    Xiao Yi said with a cold face, "I asked you to take care of Qingzhu, where is she? Where did she go?"


    "Qingzhu is missing?"


    Lin Bingxin was startled, only then noticing the mess in the bedroom. Her face changed dramatically, "Impossible, she was still here when I left this morning, how could this happen¡­"


    Xiao Yi''s face remained as grim as water, "You just left this morning?"


    "Yes!"


    Lin Bingxin quickly said, "I had to deal with some matters at the Treasure Pavilion, I left for just an hour¡­"


    "The Zhang Family? The Fang Family? Or is it the ck Tiger Gang?"


    Xiao Yi''s mind raced like a fierce tiger as he headed for the door, "You''d better not have hurt Qingzhu, if even a single hair on her head is harmed, I''ll annihte your entire n!"


    Watching Xiao Yi rush out the door...


    Lin Bingxin stood in a daze for a moment, then came to her senses, "This is bad, a major disaster is about to unfold, I must report to my master immediately¡­"


    ...¡­..


    The Zhang Family.


    Two guards at the Physical Body Realm stood watch at the front. They barely caught a glimpse of Xiao Yi''s figure appearing before the gate. They called out, "Who goes there? This is the Zhang residence, trespassers will be killed without mercy!"


    "Bring out Zhang Yong to see me!" Xiao Yi said coldly.


    "How audacious!"


    One of the guards became furiously enraged, "You dare to call the family head by name, it seems you''re here to make trouble. Die!"


    The two guards raised their swords and shed at Xiao Yi.


    Crash!


    Xiao Yi moved swiftly, kicking the Zhang family''s gate wide open, while the two guards still maintained their sword-swinging posture, but a red line grew across their throats, and their heads tumbled down.


    Themotion naturally drew the attention of the Zhang Family''s experts.


    Several strong figures appeared in front of Xiao Yi, with Zhang Xiong at the forefront, his face incredulous, "Xiao Yi? You, you''re actually alive?"


    Xiao Yi moved, his vital energy surging wildly, sending more than a dozen of the Zhang family''s experts flying away in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Zhang Xiong, who reacted with horror and threw a punch in defense.


    Xiao Yi used his finger as a sword, severing Zhang Xiong''s arms, then grabbed his throat with one hand and said coldly, "Where is she?"


    Zhang Xiong''s face grew paler, his expression ferocious, "Xiao, Xiao Yi, you''re indeed formidable. Not only did you survive the jump from that abyss, but your strength has also improved tremendously. But what of it? Aren''t you supposed to protect Fang Qingzhu? Right now, she''s probably already been ruined by our young master, hahaha¡­"


    "Seeking death!"


    Xiao Yi''s face was unspeakably ugly, his eyes blood red.


    "Seeking death? Hahaha, if I, Zhang Xiong, were afraid of dying, would I lead a team to ambush and kill you?" Zhang Xiongughed manically, "You just wait at home. Once the young master is tired of Fang Qingzhu, he will naturally send her back to you, hahaha¡­"


    "Not afraid of dying, are you? For every breath you don''t speak, I''ll kill ten of your Zhang Family. I will make your family apany her in death!"


    With a casual swing of the zing Wind Pursuit Sword.


    He decapitated a Tenth Layer Physical Body Realm expert.


    "You..." Zhang Xiong''s eyes were split with rage.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Two breaths!"


    Thud!


    Another person was beheaded.


    Thud!


    Three people!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Four people!


    Five people...


    Xiao Yi had already in more than thirty people, like a blood-colored god of death, the powerful members of the Zhang Family around him had lost their nerve early on and tried to flee. But as long as they dared to move a step, Xiao Yi''s sword would fall upon them.


    Looking at the corpses strewn across the ground, blood flowing into rivers, staining the entire front courtyard red.


    Despair filled Zhang Xiong''s eyes, "Devil, you are a devil..."


    "Devil? Even if I have be a demon, it was you who forced me!" Xiao Yi said coldly.


    "Brother Xiong, just tell him!"


    "We don''t want to die..."


    One after another, the strong members of the Zhang Family knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Zhang Xiong watched Xiao Yi raise his longsword again, despair mixed with intense reluctance and resignation, "I''ll tell you, I''ll tell you... The young master and the family head took Fang Qingzhu to the dungeon in the backyard, please stop killing..."


    "Take me there!"


    Xiao Yi grabbed Zhang Xiong with one hand, while the sword point rested on the neck of a Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer strongman, who slumped his head down and led the way.


    In the backyard, in front of a rockery.


    Zhang Xiong said, "The entrance to the dungeon is behind the rockery."


    Crack!


    Xiao Yi''s fingers clenched, snapping Zhang Xiong''s neck, tossing his corpse aside. As he retracted his longsword, the strongman from the Zhang Family also had his throat sealed by the sword.


    Xiao Yi followed the entrance behind the rockery into the underground passage.


    Inside the dungeon, the firelight flickered dimly, adding to the sinister atmosphere.


    Now and then, one could see rats scuttling in the darkness.


    In the deepest cell.


    Fang Qingzhu, bound tightly, was trapped on a torture rack, hair disheveled, her body covered in whip marks stained with blood. Beneath her feet, two hollow bamboo tubes were inserted into her veins, her blood dripping down, leaving stains on the ground.


    Fang Qingzhu''s lips were pale and cracked, her dark eyes fixated on Zhang Ze father and son in front of her, "Is this all you''re capable of? Dreaming of vengeance against Xiao Yi with such skills?"


    "This bitch sure has a tough mouth..." Zhang Yong threw the bloodied whip on the ground, sitting on the Taishi Chair, panting, "Xiao Ze, look at how you''ve whipped this bitch to a pulp, it''s not even fun to y with her anymore!"


    Zhang Ze had a vicious smile, "Doesn''t father think it''s gratifying to grab a handful of blood while toying with her, causing her to scream in pain?"


    "Hahaha, your father has never yed with a woman like this before!" Zhang Yongughed heartily.


    Fang Qingzhu felt increasingly weak, gritting her teeth, "Xiao Yi won''t let you off..."


    "Your Xiao Yi is already dead, buried in a deep abyss, unless he bes a ghost andes back, he can''t save you!" Zhang Ze said boastfully.


    "Impossible, Xiao Yi can''t be dead!" Fang Qingzhu roared.


    "Hehe, I sent Zhang Xiong and Lei Bao to raid and kill Xiao Yi, and Zhang Xiong is an Eighth Layer of Qi Gathering Realm strongman, do you think Xiao Yi stands a chance?" Zhang Ze said.


    "Xiao Yi is dead? How can that be..." Fang Qingzhu''s face was full of despair.


    Zhang Xiong was the leader of the Zhang Family Hunting Team, a master of the Eighth Layer of Qi Gathering Realm.


    If he really made a move, Xiao Yi''s chances of survival were virtually non-existent.


    Zhang Ze''s face was smeared with a lecherous smile, his greedy and fervent gaze focused on Fang Qingzhu. As he walked towards her, he said, "Fang Qingzhu, Xiao Yi really cares about you! It''s just too bad that he couldn''t see for himself, he''ll only get to reunite with you down below, then I''ll tell him how you were killed by me, hahaha..."


    Zhang Ze lunged at Fang Qingzhu.


    But just at that moment...


    An icy, bloody sword light suddenly appeared, and with a ''pfft'', it cut Zhang Ze down, amidst his shrill screams. A cold voice came from behind him simultaneously, "Sorry, I''mte!"

 Chapter 27 A Rage to Crown!

    "Xiao Yi, I knew you were alright..."


    Even when she was tortured by Zhang Ze and his son without shedding a tear, Fang Qingzhu''s eyes reddened the moment she saw Xiao Yi. Ever since her dantian was destroyed, the loving faces of her parents hadpletely changed.


    She hadpletely lost hope in the Fang Family.


    Plus, with Xiao Yi''spany day and night during those days, he had left an indelible mark in her heart.


    When she heard earlier that Zhang Ze had sent Zhang Xiong to assassinate Xiao Yi, she was nearly in despair.


    After all,


    Zhang Xiong was far stronger than Xiao Yi.


    Until now...


    Seeing Xiao Yi alive and well in front of her, Fang Qingzhu was finally able to let her hanging heart settle down.


    Xiao Yi looked at Fang Qingzhu bound on the torture rack with a touch of distress in his eyes. He lifted his sword to release the chains that bound her, pulled out the two hollow bamboo tubes from her feet, and carefully applied golden sore medicine to her wounds.


    Fang Qingzhu looked at Xiao Yi with eyes brimming with emotion, bright as stars.


    "Does it hurt?"


    As Xiao Yi''s fingertips traced over the scars on her face, Fang Qingzhu involuntarily flinched in pain, pursed her lips, and said with a lightugh, "It doesn''t hurt!"


    Whew!


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath and said, "Wait for me a moment!"


    "Mhm!"


    Fang Qingzhu obediently nodded her head.


    Xiao Yi then stood up and turned to look at Zhang Yong, who was trying to stop Zhang Ze''s bleeding, his gaze icy cold, "How do you want to die?"


    Zhang Yong''s face was ashen.


    Zhang Ze''s lifeblood had been severed entirely; his life waspletely ruined.


    Zhang Yong''s own lineage would end with him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    His face twisted with maliciousness, he unleashed the full strength of his Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. His eyes filled with ferocious killing intent, he roared, "You mongrel, I will grind your bones to dust!"


    Zhang Ze, covered in blood below the waist, his face deathly pale and twisted, his voice bing shrill and piercing, "Dad, cripple him for me. I want to personally carve him into a thousand pieces, eat his flesh, drink his blood..."


    Zhang Yong nodded and said, "Don''t worry. Since he made you no longer a man, I will make sure he can''t even be a ghost!"


    Boom!


    Zhang Yong''s figure didn''t move, only raised his right hand.


    Surging vital energy turned into thousands of fine threads, weaving in front of his palm, coalescing into an energy sphere. The sphere spun in the air and ignited a red me with a roar: "Fiery me Palm!"


    Practitioners in the Shentong Realm could externalize their vital energy.


    By drawing on vital energy to activate Divine Skills.


    Their power was several times stronger than that of ordinary martial arts!


    The fireball sent waves of heat skyward, its crimson light illuminating half the dungeon. The licking mes made a piercing whooshing sound as it shot towards Xiao Yi.


    Wherever the fireball passed, the bricks on the ground seemed as if they would melt.


    The wooden bars of the dungeon burst into mes.


    "Xiao Yi, be careful..." Fang Qingzhu shouted.


    Xiao Yi''s expression was solemn.


    His cultivation had reached the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, enough to defeat an ordinary practitioner of the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. However, Zhang Yong was at the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. The gap between them was huge, and Xiao Yi could not afford to be the slightest bit negligent: "This battle cannot be dyed, it must be quick and decisive!"


    Zhang Yong, confident in his superior strength, did not take him seriously.


    To win this battle, Xiao Yi needed to take unconventional moves, strike first, and crush Zhang Yong before he could react!


    "Sweeping Thousands of Troops!"


    "Pursuing Stars and Chasing the Moon!"


    "Seizing Souls and iming Lives!"


    The zing Wind Pursuit Sword emitted a blood-red radiance all around, as ifpletely fused with Xiao Yi''s arm, showing a hint of unity between man and sword.


    This unity between man and sword was a sign of trulyprehending Sword Intent.


    The seed of Sword Intent fully burst forth.


    Xiao Yi''s sword moves suddenly grew thirty percent more formidable, with an edge that seemed to tear open the heavens itself.


    Whoosh!


    The move ''Sweeping Through Thousands'' first halted the momentum of the fireball, and then the technique ''Chasing Stars and Moons'' focused on the weakest point of the fireball, causing it to burst with a loud boom.


    Xiao Yi then burst through the exploding fireball, tearing open the sky filled with sparks, his blood-red sword edge mixed with sparks, thrusting towards Zhang Yong''s throat.


    The sword edge tore through the air, rustling Zhang Yong''s clothes noisily.


    His face expressionless, he scoffed, "Acting recklessly, overestimating your own abilities!"


    Whoosh!


    Vast vital energy surged, bursting forth from his body.


    It condensed on his palm.


    As if donning a red gauntlet, with a chime, he grabbed the de and amidst a shower of sparks, the unstoppable momentum of the zing Wind Pursuit Sword came to an abrupt halt.


    Zhang Yong''s left hand then moved to his waist, and he suddenly thrust out a fist.


    Whoosh!


    Dazzling vital energy on his left hand solidified into a crimson de and lunged toward Xiao Yi''s abdomen.


    Vital energy turned into a weapon.


    A signature move of a Shentong Realm expert.


    Though this weapon made of vital energy was not as strong as elemental weapons, its power vastly exceeded ordinary metal weapons. If this de struck Xiao Yi, he would not die but be crippled for sure.


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, your death is certain," Zhang Ze hysterically screamed.


    His eyes were bloodshot, filled with intense excitement.


    But his joy was short-lived, as it tore open the wound in his crotch and blood gushed like a fountain¡­


    With his right hand trapped, Xiao Yi saw the attacking toward his abdomen, and a gleam shed in his eyes, "Eight Extremes Lean!"


    With a sudden force centered on his heel, he spun around on the spot.


    He narrowly dodged Zhang Yong''s left-handed attack but still sustained a gruesome wound on his waist, skin ripped and flesh burst, causing Xiao Yi to wince in pain. Despite the intense pain, Xiao Yi forcefully leaned back.


    Thud!


    His entire back mmed heavily against Zhang Yong''s chest.


    Xiao Yi''s strength had increased several-foldpared to before, andbined with the inherently powerful Eight Extremes Fist, this collision broke three of Zhang Yong''s ribs and caused internal injuries.


    Blood spurted from his mouth as his body was lifted from the spot and sent flying backward.


    Xiao Yi quickly turned around and chased after Zhang Yong, grabbing his ankle and smashing him down toward the ground with force.


    Thud!


    The entire dungeon vibrated.


    Zhang Yong''s back hit the ground, shattering floor tiles, and as dust and debris flew, Xiao Yi did not pause, "Kick them when they''re down!"


    Clutching Zhang Yong''s ankles, he smashed him down over and over again.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Zhang Yong, like a human-shaped sledgehammer, shattered the ground, crashed into walls, and broke tables and chairs... It all happened so fast that Zhang Yong, dazed with stars in his eyes and injury upon injury, could not react in time.


    With the strength of a Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he hadn''t even managed to disy half of his power before he was left spewing blood from all seven orifices, on the brink of death.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi spun in ce like a tornado, generating gusts of wind. Suddenly releasing his grip, he flung Zhang Yong out viciously.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    Zhang Yong smashed through the bars of five cells before hitting a stone wall with a bang, bing embedded in a huge human-shaped indent, unable to move.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi dove down, and the zing Wind Pursuit Sword showed no mercy, piercing through Zhang Yong''s brow with a whoosh, nailing him firmly to the rock face. Zhang Yong''s body jerked, blood dripping down from the wall, his mouth agape, only able to let out hoarse gasps.


    In his eyes, there was nothing but regret.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze then turned to a dumbstruck Zhang Ze, "Your turn!"

 Chapter 28 Payback Tenfold

    "It''s your turn now!"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze fell upon Zhang Ze, his icy eyes sharp like the edge of a knife, making it unbearable to meet his stare.


    Thump!


    Zhang Ze''s body trembled as he knelt to the ground, the arrogance and fierceness previously etched on his pale face reced by abjection and terror, "Mercy, Xiao, have mercy! This was all Fang Ao and Lei Bao''s doing, leading me astray... it has nothing to do with me..."


    Before this.


    Zhang Ze''s greatest support was the Zhang Family.


    But now...


    The strongest warrior of the Zhang Family, Zhang Yong, had been killed by Xiao Yi with the force of thunder, leaving him with no backbone. All he could hope for now was to save his own life, to survive and wait until he joined the Royal Martial Arts Academy, then find a way to seek revenge!


    However.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi remained unmoved, his gaze towards Zhang Ze devoid of sympathy, only coldness, "I just counted, there are three hundred seventy-five whip marks on Qingzhu''s body!"


    "Ah?"


    Zhang Ze was stunned, not understanding Xiao Yi''s meaning.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I once said, for whoever dares to harm even a single hair on her, I would repay it tenfold. Three hundred seventy-five whip marks, I''ll repay you with three thousand seven hundred fifty sword strikes, and the two bamboo tubes used to bleed her feet will count for a thousand strikes, making a total of five thousand seven hundred fifty strikes. You have no objections, right?"


    Thump!


    Zhang Ze''s body shook violently, copsing to the ground.


    Five thousand plus sword strikes to the body?


    Wasn''t this the same as being smashed to pieces?


    "No, don''t... Xiao, I realize my mistake, I truly do... I''m willing to be your ox and horse, please spare me, please show me mercy just this once..." Zhang Ze crawled and rolled, desperately clutching Xiao Yi''s legs, wailing bitterly.


    Forget five thousand strikes¡ªbeing poked with an embroidery needle five thousand times would leave one riddled with holes!


    "Show mercy?"


    Xiao Yi let out a coldugh, his deep voiceced with icy murderous intent, "When you sent men to kill me in the Southern Deste Mountain Range, why didn''t you show mercy? When you captured Qingzhu and tortured her so harshly, why didn''t you think to show mercy? And now you''re begging me to save you? Don''t you see this is pure delusion?"


    Ever since his mother''s death, Fang Qingzhu was the first person to give Xiao Yi a sense of home''s warmth.


    How could he tolerate her being persecuted in such a way?


    Seeing Xiao Yi''s ice-cold and resolute face, Zhang Ze''s face filled with despair. In the face of imminent death, he mustered his viciousness, a sh of savagery in his eyes, "If you won''t let me live, then you''ll die with me!"


    Whoosh!


    From within Zhang Ze''s sleeve, a ck dagger shot out, the de smeared with a deadly poison, aimed straight at Xiao Yi.


    "A dog can''t change its habit of eating shit!"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly as the zing Wind Pursuit Sword flicked upwards.


    Thwack! Thwack!


    Zhang Ze''s hands were chopped off at the wrists, the hand holding the dagger falling to the ground with a smack, pain distorting Zhang Ze''s entire face; "Ahh¡­ Xiao Yi, I won''t let you off even if I be a ghost..."


    "You can talk about that when you be a ghost!"


    Xiao Yi responded indifferently, lifting Zhang Ze by one hand and hanging him up on the rack.


    Snap!


    With a casual p, he dislocated Zhang Ze''s jaw, making it impossible for him to even bite his own tongue andmit suicide.


    Xiao Yi turned towards Fang Qingzhu, his fierce expression softening, "Qingzhu, turn your head away, don''t look!"


    "Okay!"


    Fang Qingzhu obediently turned away.


    Whoosh!


    The zing Wind Pursuit Sword in Xiao Yi''s hand turned into countless petals descending colorfully, each streak of the sword light removing a piece of flesh from Zhang Ze''s body. Amid the blood and flying flesh, unbearable pain engulfed him, but all the jawless Zhang Ze could manage were choked breathing sounds.


    Tears, mingled with sweat, fell ceaselessly.


    Regret and despair took over his entire face.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    The silver gleam of the sword flickered in the dungeon; with each appearance, flesh was sliced and sent flying.


    "One thousand and eighty!"


    "One thousand and eighty-one!"


    "One thousand and eighty-two..."


    Xiao Yi''s voice sounded like a demonic chant that reaped souls, both of Zhang Ze''s arms had been whittled down to bone, and he had fainted several times from the pain, only to be revived by Xiao Yi.


    It was a pain so intense that life itself seemed undesirable.


    Zhang Ze had never thought that he would one day yearn for death''s arrival.


    Bang!


    The dungeon''s door was suddenly blown open, causing Xiao Yi''s sword to pause slightly, as a group of powerful individuals rushed in from outside. Leading them was Elder Yan, the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, followed closely by Sikong Nan, the Nanhuang City Lord, and Zhao Yu, the head of the Zhao Family.


    "Quick, find Xiao!"


    "Zhang Yong, if you dare harm a hair on Xiao''s head, I will eradicate the Zhang Family!"


    However...


    When Elder Yan and the others saw the situation inside the dungeon, the words they had ready died on their lips.


    Hisss!


    A collective gasp of shock went through the crowd.


    Elder Yan spat out a mouthful of saliva, "Xiao, Xiao, are you alright?"


    Xiao Yi didn''t turn around, "You''re here? Wait a moment, four thousand more swords!"


    "Four thousand swords?"


    "What does that mean?"


    Everyone was momentarily stunned.


    Soon...


    They understood.


    "One thousand and eighty-three!"


    "One thousand and eighty-four..."


    With each sword stroke by Xiao Yi, a chilling number was uttered, and with each number, a piece of flesh was sliced from Zhang Ze.


    Hisss!


    The crowd gasped again.


    Watching Zhang Ze''s agonized face, unable to speak, with only the white of bone remaining in his two arms and legs, some of the weaker-strong individuals began to retch violently at the sight.


    "This, this is death by a thousand cuts! It''s too, too cruel..."


    "So, so terrifying... one must never cross Xiao Yi..."


    "Don''t talk... rgh..."


    Even Elder Yan and Sikong Nan, who were worldly and well-informed, looked at each other with pale faces at that moment.


    Sikong Nan murmured softly, "Even though I''ve been through hundreds of battles in the military, I''ve never seen someone execute a lingchi with such calm."


    Elder Yan nodded somberly, ncing deeply at Xiao Yi and gesturing towards Fang Qingzhu, "Look at her, and you won''t find Xiao cruel anymore!"


    Sikong Nan nced at Fang Qingzhu, and although she was covered by Xiao Yi''s coat, her body was still visibly battered and bruised.


    Whoosh!


    Sikong Nan exhaled a long breath, silently reminding himself, "This young man is someone to befriend, not to be made an enemy of!"


    If these words were to spread, they would certainly cause a huge stir.


    He was, after all, the Nanhuang City Lord, the top expert of Nanhuang, and yet he did not wish to make an enemy of Xiao Yi?


    The pungent odor of blood permeated the dungeon; those unable to withstand the shocking sight before them had long since retreated, but the memory Xiao Yi left them with was nightmare-like, and they would likely never be able to forget it for the rest of their lives.


    Within the crowd.


    Zhao Xian was pale as a ghost, he had just been one of the most frantic vomiters, and he looked up nkly at Zhao Yu beside him, "Father, father, I''m so d I heeded your advice and never crossed Xiao!"


    "Indeed!"


    Zhao Yu nodded gravely, "Once we return, immediately sever all ties with the Fang Family and the ck Tiger Gang, understand?"


    Zhao Xian hummed in agreement, puzzled, "Father, what about our coboration with the Zhang Family?"


    "The Zhang Family?"


    Zhao Yu''s expression turned strange as he looked at the vast Zhang family estate, "After today, will there even be a Zhang Family in Nanhuang City?"

 Chapter 29 Fame Shakes Nanhuang

    ```


    Three hourster.


    Xiao Yi walked out of the dungeon, carrying Fang Qingzhu in his arms, with only Elder Yan and Sikong Nan closely following behind him.


    The others had already escaped the dungeon long ago.


    Not everyone could withstand the spectacle of a lingering execution!


    Even with the fortitude of Elder Yan and Sikong Nan, they too were pale at this moment, and the sight of anything red caused their internal organs to churn violently, giving rise to a strong urge to vomit.


    "Xiao!"


    "Xiao, Xiao¡­"


    Zhao Yu, Zhao Xian, and others looked at Xiao Yi with faces full of reverence.


    Xiao Yi was spotless, and with a gesture for silence, he gestured that Fang Qingzhu sleeping in his arms, and in a lowered voice said, "I will take her back to rest first, the rest is up to you guys!"


    Zhao Yu nodded heavily, whispering, "Xiao, rest assured, leave it to us!"


    Elder Yan and Sikong Nan both nodded their heads.


    Xiao Yi nodded to the group and then left the Zhang residence.


    Once Xiao Yi was gone, Zhao Yu looked at the two with a wry smile, "City Lord, Elder Yan, what should we do?"


    Elder Yan squinted and said, "The Zhang family has no reason to exist anymore!"


    Sikong Nan said indifferently, "The Zhang family''s properties should all be transferred to Xiao''s name. As for those of the Zhang family¡­ If you don''t remove the roots when cutting the grass, the spring breeze will bring them back to life."


    "I understand!"


    Zhao Yu nodded in realization, his face showing a hint of intrigue as he mumbled, "If the Fang family knew about all this, that old man Fang Tianhao would probably regret until his intestines turned green, wouldn''t he?"


    "I reckon he would be so angry he''d vomit blood!"


    Sikong Nan couldn''t help butugh as well, "To think that an eighteen-year-old who could kill a Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm expert, with such talent, would be driven out of the Fang family as a useless son-inw, I don''t know whether to say Fang Tianhao''s standards are too high, or that he''s blind¡­"


    "Not only the Fang family is blind,"


    Elder Yan also sneered contemptuously, "The Xiao Family, in the far-off Great Qian Dynasty, only treasures Xiao Tianjiao while expelling such a real dragon as Xiao from their home, sending him to the Fang family as a door-to-door son-inw. Who knows what the reaction of the Xiao Family will be if one day Xiao outshines Xiao Tianjiao?"


    Although it must be said that Xiao Tianjiao, at merely ten years of age, had already stepped into the Divine Skills Realm, boasting an incredible talent.


    But what about Xiao Yi?


    When he first came to Nanhuang City, he hadn''t even reached the first level of the Physical Body Realm, but now he could kill experts in the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    And all of this in less than two months.


    So, who is the real dragon?


    Anyone with eyes can see!


    Sikong Nan and Zhao Yu both nodded in agreement, and the three of them couldn''t help feeling fortunate: "Good thing we chose to stand on Xiao''s side¡­"


    Afterward¡­


    The news of the Zhang family''s annihtion spread wildly, instantly causing an uproar throughout Nanhuang City.


    Meanwhile.


    Led by the Treasure Pavilion, with support from the Lord''s Mansion and the Zhao Family, a force began aprehensive crackdown on the Zhang family''s influence. In just half a day, all of the Zhang family''s assets were transferred to Xiao Yi''s name, and simultaneously, the Treasure Pavilion and the Zhao Family dered aplete halt to all business dealings with the Fang Family and the ck Tiger Gang.


    An edict of banishment!


    This plunged the Fang Family and the ck Tiger Gang into endless despair.


    Within Nanhuang City¡­


    Word gradually spread that the person who caused all thismotion was none other than Xiao Yi, once expelled from the Fang family as a useless son-inw.


    In no time, the name Xiao Yi was known throughout Nanhuang.


    It even became taboo!


    Within the ck Tiger Gang.


    The gang leader Lei Laohu was in a towering rage, smashing everything in the room, his face somber: "Xiao Yi, the Zhao Family, the Treasure Pavilion¡­ you''ve pushed us too far!"


    "Boss, what should we do? Our gambling houses have all been shut down, and if this continues, the gang won''t be able to sustain itself¡­" the deputy leader said with a morose face by the side.


    Lei Laohu''s chest heaved violently, and ultimately it turned into a helpless and unwilling sigh, he ground his teeth and said, "What else can we do? Who in Nanhuang City dares to provoke Xiao Yi now? Prepare a generous gift immediately; I will go and apologize in person!"


    An hourter.


    Bare-chested and carrying whips on his back, Lei Laohu personally dragged a cart full of apologies, kneeling in front of Xiao Yi''s courtyard gate.


    Yet the gate of the vi remained closed.


    Nheless.


    Lei Laohu was meticulous and dared not show any disrespect.


    At the same time¡­


    The Fang Family was inplete disarray.


    One piece of bad news after another arrived: "Patriarch, it''s terrible, our deals with the Zhao Family, Chen Family, and Zhang Family have all been cut off."


    "Patriarch, there''s been an incident, our Fang Family''s pharmacies have been smashed¡­"


    "Our cloth shops have been smashed too¡­"


    "Patriarch, word has spread throughout the city, saying our Fang Family is doomed. Some have even made up rhymes about it, singing that the Fang Family is amazing, forced a real dragon away, now as the real dragon soars through the skies, the Fang Family is bound to rise¡­"


    ```


    ```


    Pfft!


    Sitting at the head seat, Fang Tianhao trembled as he listened to one piece of bad news after another, his face turned pale, and with a ''wa'' sound, he spat out a mouthful of old blood. He aged dozens of years in an instant. Trembling, he pointed at Fang Zheng and his wife, barely containing his fury, "You, you two arepetent at nothing but failures. I told you to invite Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu back, and look what you''ve done?"


    Fang Zheng, left with only one arm, looked wronged, "Dad, how could I have known that waste would be so strong?"


    Liu Yun shamelessly said, "Dad, don''t be angry! We''ll be sincere this time, apologize in person. Qingzhu is softhearted, as long as we appease her with our suffering, she will definitely forgive us!"


    Fang Tianhao''s eyes lit up with a glint of hope, "Then what are you waiting for? Go and invite them back here!"


    ...¡­


    Outside the separate courtyard where Xiao Yi was residing.


    Fang Zheng''s family of three looked at Lei Laohu kneeling at the gate and exchanged nces. Fang Hao whispered, "Dad, isn''t that Lei Laohu? Why is he kneeling here too? Is Xiao Yi really that terrifying?"


    Shut up! Fang Zheng red at him fiercely and said in a low voice, "Still dare to call him waste? Remember this ¨C lower your stance when we meet. Things are not like before, we are here to ask them to return to the Fang family!"


    "I understand¡­" Fang Hao shrank his neck.


    The three approached the gate.


    At the entrance, Zhao Xian was on guard. Seeing the three, he frowned slightly, "This is a restricted area of Xiao''s residence, off-limits to outsiders!"


    Liu Yun, full of arrogance, pped Zhao Xian across the face and said, "Open your eyes and see who I am! I am Xiao Yi''s mother-inw. Hurry up and notify Xiao Yi, we are here to take them home!"


    Zhao Xian, holding his reddened face, looked astonished.


    Liu Yun, impatient, demanded, "What are you still dazed for? Go and report at once!"


    "No need!"


    Xiao Yi''s voice came from inside the gate. He had intended to meet Lei Laohu, but as he reached the entrance, he heard the p Fang Zheng delivered to Zhao Xian and immediately pushed the door open.


    "Young Master Xiao¡­" Zhao Xian respectfully stepped aside.


    Fang Zheng''s face broke into a smile, even tinged with sycophancy, "You are finally out, Xiao Yi."


    "What Xiao Yi? This is our precious son-inw!"


    Liu Yun nudged Fang Zheng aside, her face beaming with a radiant smile, "Son-inw, you and Qingzhu have suffered a lot these days staying outside. Actually, your dad and I did all that for your own good, because only through the bitterest hardships can one be superior. Look, with our help, you''ve now achieved such sess! We havee today because we feel that your trial is over and are inviting you both back home!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Their attitude hadpletely reversed from before, even showing a hint of subservience.


    This was the change brought about by power!


    Xiao Yi, however, didn''t even nce at them and instead said to Zhao Xian, "Where did he hit you? Hit him back exactly the same way!"


    "Ah?"


    Zhao Xian was taken aback.


    The smiles on the three members of the Fang family also froze, and Fang Zheng blinked, "Xian, Xian Yi, what are you, what are you talking about?"


    Xiao Yi repeated, "Hit back!"


    Zhao Xian, face alight with excitement, responded, "Alright!"


    p!


    He swung back his hand and pped Liu Yun, stunning her.


    "Xiao Yi, have you gone mad?"


    "We came to take you back to the Fang family..."


    The three members of the Fang family werepletely dumbfounded.


    "Too light!"


    Xiao Yi frowned at Zhao Xian, then turned his attention to Lei Laohu, "Aren''t you here to apologize? Leave them crippled, and then you can go back."


    "Yes, Young Master Xiao!"


    The once powerful leader of the ck Tiger Gang, now like a loyal enforcer, proceeded to brutally beat the three members of the Fang family.


    "Xiao Yi, you even beat your own mother-inw; you have lost all morals..."


    "You heartless wretch..."


    Lei Laohu burst out in a rage, "Dare to insult Young Master Xiao? You''re seeking death!"


    Bang bang bang!


    Lei Laohu''s blows grew even fiercer.


    "I dare not..."


    "I won''t dare again, please spare me..."


    After half an incense stick burned.


    The threey on the ground, barely alive. Xiao Yi looked down at them coldly, "If there''s a next time, there will be no mercy!"


    "Young Master Xiao, shall I, shall I take them back to the Fang family now?" Lei Laohu asked tentatively.


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Lei Laohu dragged the barely alive three back toward the Fang family.


    The Fang family residence.


    Seeing the pitiful state of the three, Fang Tianhao''s face contorted even more, his teeth clenched tightly, his expression ferocious, "What a Xiao Yi, thinking my Fang family would fear him? Someone, send a message to Fang Jin, I want him toe back and tear Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu to pieces..."


    ```

 Chapter 30 Transferring Flowers and Joining Trees, Xiao Yi Passes on His Power!

    Ever since the day Xiao Yi had Lei Laohu and Zhao Xian thoroughly thrash the three visitors from the Fang Family, led by Fang Zheng,


    the Fang Family had closed its doors to all visitors.


    All of their businesses were shut down.


    After all...


    Facing the suppression from the Zhao Family, Chen Family, and even the Treasure Pavilion, nobody was interested in the Fang Family''s businesses anymore.


    The once bustling Fang residence was now deste, with hardly a visitor in sight.


    On the contrary, Xiao Yi''s residence was frequently bustling with traffic, and a long queue of gift-givers formed at the door. However, aside from Elder Yan, Zhao Yu, and Sikong Nan, Xiao Yi declined to meet anyone else.


    In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.


    In these ten days, Xiao Yi, with the tremendous energy provided by the Golden Core, had advanced his cultivation level, reaching the Eighth Layer of Qi Gathering Realm.


    The number of God Sealing Seeds had reached one hundred fifty-five.


    Hisbat power had also improved significantly.


    Fang Qingzhu, after ten days of Xiao Yi''s meticulous care, had also recovered from her injuries.


    Inside the quiet room.


    Fang Qingzhu looked at Xiao Yi with confusion "Xiao Yi, what did you bring me here for?"


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Do you remember I told you I''d give you a surprise once your injuries healed?"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded, her voice tinged with a touch of mncholy "I''ve been asking you, and you wouldn''t tell me what kind of surprise..."


    "Now I can give you that surprise!"


    Xiao Yi smiled, and under Fang Qingzhu''s expectant gaze, he slowly said, "I can let you start cultivating again!"


    "Start... cultivating again?"


    Fang Qingzhu was stunned, suddenly standing up, she grabbed Xiao Yi''s shoulders and shook them, her voice filled with disbelief "Xiao Yi, are you, are you serious?"


    Xiao Yi chuckled "It''s true!"


    "How... how is that possible? My dantian is shattered, how could it possibly be repaired..." Fang Qingzhu murmured nkly.


    Xiao Yi said, "I have a technique called ''Transnting Spirit and Space'', which can rece your dantian with a beast core. However, doing so will limit your maximum cultivation level to the grade of the beast core..."


    He exined the methods and limitations of the Transnting Spirit and Space technique to Fang Qingzhu.


    Although the grade of the beast core would limit her maximum cultivation level, from another perspective, it also meant that Fang Qingzhu''s future was filled with more possibilities.


    Currently, Xiao Yi''s cultivation wasn''t strong enough; he could only hunt third rank magical beasts. But what about the future?


    If he could hunt ninth rank magical beasts, or even the legendary divine beasts...


    And rece Fang Qingzhu''s dantian with a divine beast''s core...


    Wouldn''t she have the potential to ascend to divinity?


    Xiao Yi earnestly said "Qingzhu, are you willing to ept this treatment?"


    Fang Qingzhu took a deep breath and said solemnly "I''m willing!"


    "Then let''s begin the Transnting Spirit and Space technique now!" Xiao Yi touched his nose, looking somewhat embarrassed, "However, performing this technique requires that you take off your clothes, you see..."


    "..."


    Fang Qingzhu''s face turned as red as a ripe apple, and she responded shyly with a sound of acknowledgment.


    She then began to disrobe.


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, his breathing became a bit more rapid, but after forcing himself to calm down, he began to perform the Transnting Spirit and Space technique.


    This technique was not simple!


    Otherwise, it would not be considered a forbidden art by the Underworld Doctor lineage. Since the ancestor of Underworld Doctors, no one in the Southern Border''s lineage of Underworld Doctors understood how to perform this technique. Fortunately, Xiao Yi had received the inheritance of the Underworld Doctor ancestor, which made it rtively easy for him to carry out.


    After ten hours.


    Xiao Yi exhaled a long breath of stale air, his face beaming with a brilliant smile "Qingzhu, congrattions, you can start cultivating anew!"


    Fang Qingzhu put her clothes back on, her face as red as a ripe persimmon, as she nodded with a voice as faint as a mosquito''s whimper. The fragrance of a maiden filled the room, a light, enchanting scent that made one unable to help but have one''s thoughts run wild.


    With a light cough, Xiao Yi shifted his gaze away from her graceful figure and said, "Qingzhu, I have a Cultivation Technique here that is quite suitable for you, called ''Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill.'' It''s a high-grade technique of the fourth rank, strong enough to cultivate to the peak of the Golden Core Realm. I''ll pass it on to you now..."


    The mention of the ''Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill'' made Fang Qingzhu''s eyes shine even brighter.


    Meanwhile, as Xiao Yi was transmitting the technique to Fang Qingzhu...


    In the distant Tianqing Kingdom''s capital, within the renowned Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    The vast grounds of the Royal Martial Arts Academy could amodate tens of thousands of people. The academy was divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Heaven-level students were fewest in number but the strongest in might, all being experts of the Golden Core Realm. Each one was a noble conferred by the royal family, enjoying noble rank.


    Next were the Earth-level students, all surpassing the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    Profound-level students were those above the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    The remaining students below the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm were Yellow-level students.


    Fang Jin had just passed the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s assessment and sessfully became a Yellow-level student. After training in the academy for two months, he had officially stepped into the Divine Ability Realm, standing out as one of the best among this new group of students.


    And because of this...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Fang Jin also made quite a few friends among the higher-year students of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, especially Jia Sichun, a Profound-level student of the Sixth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, with whom he had the best rtionship.


    Jia Sichun was from the capital''s Jia Family, his father being a second-rank official at court, with a prominent background.


    In particr, his elder brother, Jia Sidao, was among the top ten Earth-level students, at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, capable of advancing to the Golden Core Realm at any moment to be a Heaven-level student.


    With his own talent being strong and backed by a prominent family, plus having a powerful and protective elder brother,


    Jia Sichun may have only been a Profound-level student, but even average Earth-level students dared not provoke him, which led to his arrogant and overbearing nature. Given to lechery, Fang Jin ingratiated himself by pandering to Jia''s tastes, thus bing good friends.


    "Fang Jin, I''ll take you to the Myriad Flowers Pavilion!" said Jia Sichun, draping his arm over Fang Jin''s shoulder.


    But Fang Jin''s face was sullen as he replied, "Brother Jia, I''m afraid I won''t be able to apany you. Something came up at home, and I need to make a trip back!"


    Jia Sichun looked disappointed, "What kind of issue could that tiny Fang Family possibly have?"


    Fang Jin spread the letter in his hands, his face carrying a look of hatred, "My brother was killed, and the Fang Family is surrounded by enemies and in grave danger. I have to go back!"


    "Didn''t you say the patriarch of the Fang Family was a fourthyer expert of the Divine Ability Realm? Even though the Divine Skills experts from such a tiny and barren ce as Nanhuang can hardly wake up their Innate Divine Skills, all false Divine Skills... A fourthyer Divine Skill expert shouldn''t have many threats, right?" Jia Sichun frowned, puzzled.


    Nanhuang was nothing more than a tiny and impoverished ce.


    Even the Divine Ability Realm experts from there were not regarded highly by them.


    Fang Jin said fiercely, "But our opponent can kill thirdyer Divine Ability Realm experts, and with the backing of Treasure Pavilion, my Fang Family is no match for him."


    "Treasure Pavilion? Then your enemy does have some skills!" Jia Sichun nodded.


    Fang Jin felt a growing urgency in his heart.


    After learning of Xiao Yi''s strength, he knew it would be difficult to take revenge on his own and was intent on getting Jia Sichun''s help.


    Fang Jin''s eyes spun shrewdly, feigning a sigh, "It''s also my brother''s fault for not listening to me. Fang Qingzhu is as beautiful as a celestial being, the number one beauty of Nanhuang. I told him not to touch that woman. He wouldn''t listen, and in the end, he was killed by that good-for-nothing son-inw Fang Qingzhu brought home. Sigh..."


    "As beautiful as a celestial being? The number one beauty of Nanhuang?"


    Jia Sichun was taken aback, his eyes lighting up, "Is this Fang Qingzhu you speak of truly that beautiful?"


    Fang Jin''s heart leaped with joy as he quickly responded, "Of course! Fang Qingzhu''s beauty is well-known throughout Nanhuang!"


    "How does shepare to the Oiran of the Myriad Flowers Pavilion?"


    Fang Jin shook his head, "A thousand oirans couldn''tpare to her!"


    Hiss!


    Jia Sichun''s eyes swiveled greedily; avarice and heat shed through them as he licked his lips with a blood-red tongue, "Fang Jin, as brothers, your business is my business. I''ll apany you back to Nanhuang City this time. With me there, even the Treasure Pavilion should show me some face! But, well..."


    Fang Jin pped his chest, "Don''t worry, Brother Jia. I know what you mean! Once I''ve had my revenge, I''ll make sure to bring Fang Qingzhu to your bed..."


    "Hahahaha, good brother! You truly understand me!"


    Jia Sichunughed heartily.


    Fang Jin forced a smile alongside him, but his eyes were growing colder, "Xiao Yi? Fang Qingzhu? Your days are numbered!"

 Chapter 31 Fang Jin Returns!

    "Grandfather, I have had someone find out for us¡ªthe house up ahead belongs to Xiao Yi!"


    On the wide street, a inly dressed grandparent and grandchild walked side by side.


    The girl, in a white dress, carefully supported the white-haired and bearded old man beside her and pointed to a mansion ahead. Excitement sparkled in her eyes.


    The old man chuckled and nodded. His murky eyes studied the mansion and the long line of people waiting outside, and heughed, "It seems that this Xiao Yi is not a simple character, attracting so many visitors bearing gifts!"


    The girl smiled broadly, "Grandpa, shall we go and find him now?"


    The old man shook his head, "No rush, Grandpa still has some matters to attend to. After they''re resolved, I''ll apany you to properly thank them, all right?"


    The girl''s expression dimmed slightly, yet she obediently nodded, "Mhmm, I''ll listen to you, Grandpa!"


    "Haha, you''re such a sweet girl, not like your sister¡­"


    The old man affectionately ruffled the girl''s head and looked again at the mansion, as if he could see through the walls. A glint shimmered in his dim eyes, "A Golden Core? Quite the interesting youngster..."


    Inside the mansion.


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu were cultivating, facing each other in a position that pointed toward the sky with all five hearts.


    Between their palms, a Golden Core the size of a walnut bobbed faintly.


    Strands of golden energy escaped from the Golden Core.


    And seeped into both their bodies.


    Xiao Yi''s body glowed with gold. His vitality surged, as powerful as a dragon or tiger.


    Fang Qingzhu''s face glowed with health, and a purple light flickered around her, like a fairy bathed in the glow of purple clouds.


    Whoosh!


    Both retracted their power at the same time, and the Golden Core fell into Xiao Yi''s hand. The storage ring on his fingertip shed as he stored the Golden Core away. Both opened their eyes, and as they faced each other, Fang Qingzhu said with a smile, "Xiao Yi, brother, thank you!"


    "No need for thanks between you and me," Xiao Yi said with a mild smile.


    Fang Qingzhu gently nodded her head.


    It had been half a month since Xiao Yi performed the technique to shift flowers and:


    rece the core in Fang Qingzhu''s dantian with the beast core of a Purple-Patterned Blood Python.


    Over this half-month...


    Xiao Yi had been cultivating with her using the Golden Core. Fang Qingzhu had already been at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm before her cultivation was crippled. Now that her dantian was restored, all she needed was to absorb enough energy to regain her cultivation. In just half a month, she hadpletely returned to her peak condition.


    Once again at the Peak of the Qi Gathering Realm.


    Ready to break through to the Shentong Realm at any moment!


    As for Xiao Yi, his progress hadn''t been slow either, having reached the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm and activated two hundred God Sealing Seeds.


    He was just a step away from entering the Shentong Realm!


    Of course.


    By cultivating together with the Golden Core, they had used up a full fifth of the core''s energy.


    "Xiao Yi, brother, I feel like I am about to step into the Shentong Realm!" remarked Fang Qingzhu.


    Xiao Yiughed, "I should be breaking through in the next couple of days as well. Let''s strive to enter the Shentong Realm together."


    "Yes!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded vehemently, her eyes filled with resolve and determination, "As soon as I enter the Shentong Realm, I will have nothing to fear, even if Fang Jin returns. The position of family heir belongs to me!"


    Xiao Yi rubbed her head and said, "Don''t put so much pressure on yourself. What does it matter if you''re no match for Fang Jin? I''m here for you!"


    Fang Qingzhu squinted, her face breaking into a sweet smile.


    "Young Master Xiao, Yan Mingli requests an audience!" called a voice from outside¡ªYan Mingli''s.


    Fang Qingzhu softly said, "Xiao Yi, brother, Elder Yan must have urgent business. You should go see him first!"


    "Alright!"


    Xiao Yi walked outside and frowned at Elder Yan, whose forehead showed traces of sweat, "What''s the matter?"


    Elder Yan nced inside the door and said in a low voice, "Xiao, I''ve just received a message that Fang Jin has returned to the Fang Family!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was somewhat surprised. Logically speaking, even if Fang Jin had returned, it wouldn''t have caused Elder Yan to loseposure like this. Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "But did he bring anyone back with him?"


    Elder Yan''s gaze held admiration as he looked at Xiao Yi and said, "The message from Lord Sikong is that Fang Jin has returned with a young man. That person is wearing the uniform of a Mysterious Rank student from the Royal Martial Arts Academy..."


    Xiao Yi arched an eyebrow.


    He was, of course, familiar with the levels of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    The Mysterious Rank Academy, that was at least the cultivation of the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm or higher.


    But a Third Layer Divine Passage Realm from the Royal Martial Arts Academy was far from beingparable to Zhang Yong. In Nanhuang City, a third-rank martial technique could be a n''s treasure. Yet in the Royal Martial Arts Academy, it''s not to mention the third-rank martial techniques, even fourth-rank martial techniques were at the students'' disposal to study and understand at will.


    What''s more important was...


    There were Divine Skills above martial techniques!


    The power of Divine Skills of the same level far exceeded that of martial techniques of the same tier.


    It could be said without exaggeration that a student of the same Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm from the Royal Martial Arts Academy would absolutely be stronger inbat than those who hadn''t mastered Divine Skills, even if they were of the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    No wonder Elder Yan had lost hisposure.


    However.


    Xiao Yi was now halfway into the Shentong Realm, and he also bore the seed of Sword Intent, hisbat strength absolutely able to easily defeat a master of the Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm, unless the opponent had the cultivation of the Sixth Layer of the Divine Skill Realm or above and had mastered Divine Skills.


    Otherwise, Xiao Yi did not even consider them a threat!


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Let the generals handle the soldiers and the earth handle the flood; we shall watch quietly and see how things unfold!"


    Meanwhile.


    Within the Fang Family...


    Fang Tianhao was overjoyed, his face glowing as he looked at Fang Jin: "Fang Jin, you''re finally back!"


    "I pay my respects to the family head!"


    Fang Jin merely gave a perfunctory bow to Fang Tianhao. Ever since he became a student of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he had been looking down on Fang Tianhao more and more. Then, with respect, he looked at Jia Sichun, "This is Brother Jia, he is a Mysterious Rank student at the Martial Arts Institute."


    "So it''s Jia, your visit truly brings light to our humble home!" Fang Tianhao said with sparkling eyes, Mysterious Rank students - these were high-level experts of at least the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. He spoke with a fawning tone.


    As for Fang Jin''s perfunctory attitude, he did not dare to show the slightest dissatisfaction.


    Jia Sichun nodded slightly, looking at the Fang Family''s courtyard with a slight frown and a disdainful tone, "Your Fang Family is too rundown, aren''t they? If not for Fang Jin''s sake, you couldn''t have gotten me to set foot in this godforsaken ce even if you carried me on a pnquin."


    "Uh..."


    Fang Tianhao wore an embarrassed expression.


    Jia Sichun spoke indifferently, "Fang Jin, aren''t you here for revenge? Have someone send a letter, tell that Xiao Yi toe over and meet his death right away. I can''t bear to stay in this dump for a moment longer!"


    Fang Jin immediately said, "Brother Jia, rest assured, I have already nned everything. I guarantee that all matters will be settled within three days!"


    "What does it matter to me how many days you take to settle things?"


    After a pause, Jia Sichun turned toward Fang Tianhao and directly ordered, "You, go call Fang Qingzhu here. Oh, right, she has a live-in son-inw, doesn''t she? Have him personally bring Fang Qingzhu to me!"


    Fang Tianhao''s face stiffened, and he said with great trepidation, "Jia, Master Jia, that Xiao Yi is fierce, I dare not go!"


    Smack!


    Jia Sichun pped Fang Tianhao across the face with the back of his hand, his voice cold as ice, "Useless trash, you can''t even handle such a simple task? Who among you will bring Fang Qingzhu back? I''ll reward them with a Shen Yuan Elixir!"


    The Shen Yuan Elixir, a high-grade elixir of the third rank, could allow a Divine Passage Realm strongman using it for the first time to break through a minor realm directly.


    It was an incredibly valuable elixir.


    Fang Jin had received a Shen Yuan Elixir from Jia Sichun''s hands, and now he already had the cultivation of the Second Layer Spiritual Power Realm.


    *Gulp!*


    Fang Tianhao was tempted by the Shen Yuan Elixir but just thinking about Xiao Yi''s terrifying strength in killing Zhang Yong, he could only lower his head. This only made Jia Sichun even angrier, but just then, a voice came from outside the door: "Master Jia, I am willing to serve you!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 32 Life and Death Platform!

    Everyone looked toward the door.


    They saw Lei Laohu, with his tiger''s back and bear''s waist, stride in, his face alight with excitement as he eyed the Shen Yuan Elixir in Jia Sichun''s hand.


    Fang Tianhao frowned and said, "Lei Laohu? Who let you in?"


    Lei Laohu ignored Fang Tianhao, respectfully bowed to Jia Sichun and Fang Jin, and said with a sycophantic smile, "Jia, Mr. Fang, I am the leader of the ck Tiger Gang. I share an irreconcble feud with Xiao Yi, and the moment I heard you two had returned, I immediately came to pay my respects. Overhearing Jia''s words from outside, I took the liberty to offer my services, willing to follow your everymand!"


    "Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm? Being able to cultivate to such a level in this small ce, you do indeed qualify to be this young master''s dog!"


    Jia Sichun sized up Lei Laohu and said indifferently, "Go, as long as you bring the person back, this young master will grant you a Shen Yuan Elixir!"


    "Rest assured, Jia, I will not disappoint you!" Lei Laohu, far from feeling humiliated at being called a dog by Jia Sichun, thanked him with a glowing face and strode off.


    Fang Tianhao hesitated and then said, "Jia, I''m afraid that Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu will not be willing toe over!"


    Jia Sichun sneered, "Would he dare? Once I, Jia Sichun, make my name known, he''ll obediently send Fang Qingzhu to my bed! I just hope that little guy hasn''t touched her, or if he has, I''ll have to grind his bones to dust first..."


    ......


    Lei Laohu sat in his carriage, feeling the strength within him growing, his eyes bing increasingly cold, "Xiao Yi, you killed my son, ended my lineage, and made me lose facepletely. Today, it''s time for me, Lei Laohu, to take my revenge!"


    A momentter.


    Lei Laohu arrived at Xiao Yi''s residence.


    Thud!


    Lei Laohu carried a stele on his shoulder, rushing over with a swiftness.


    On the stele was inscribed "Tomb of Xiao Yi" in big characters as he nted it with a thud in front of the main entrance.


    Those in line to present their gifts couldn''t help but show shock on their faces, "Has Lei Laohu been hit on the head by a door?"


    "How dare he do this? Has he forgotten the lesson from the Zhang Family?"


    "Not long ago, he knelt here begging Xiao for forgiveness, how can he now dare to do this?"


    However, Lei Laohu paid no heed to the murmurs of the crowd, his icy gaze fixated on Zhao Xian as he growled dispassionately, "Tell that dog Xiao Yi toe out and see me!"


    Zhao Xian hurriedly opened the door and ran inside, looking for Xiao Yi, "Xiao, it''s bad news, Lei Laohu brought a tombstone and blocked the main gate, and he''s calling for Xiao to roll out and meet him!"


    "Lei Laohu? Has he gone mad?" Elder Yan frowned.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and said, "Fang Jin just got back, and Lei Laohu is causing trouble on my doorstep?"


    "You mean... Lei Laohu was sent by Fang Jin?" Elder Yan asked with a frown.


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders, seemingly unconcerned, "Whoever sent him, we''ll know when we go out and see!"


    A group of people walked out of the residence.


    Seeing the red inscription on the stele, Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted slightly, revealing a hint of interest, "I have managed the Eternal Heavenly Tomb for ages, yet I never expected someone would deliver a tombstone for me!"


    Elder Yan was instantly furious; he regarded Xiao Yi as his honored master, and could not tolerate such provocation.


    Elder Yan shouted coldly, "Lei Laohu, you are courting death!"


    Lei Laohu nced at Elder Yan and said ndly, "Elder Yan, there''s no need to be angry. My visit today is also following orders."


    Xiao Yi and Elder Yan exchanged nces.


    As expected!


    Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed, looking curiously at Lei Laohu, "Following orders? Whose orders are you under?"


    "I am here by themand of Jia, a Profound Level student from the Royal Martial Arts Academy!" Lei Laohu held his head high, proudly stating, "Jia ordered you to immediately bring Fang Qingzhu to the Fang Family; he wants you to personally deliver Fang Qingzhu to his bed..."


    Hiss!


    The surrounding crowd was utterly shocked.


    Who didn''t know that Fang Qingzhu was the wife of Xiao Yi?


    Asking him to personally deliver Fang Qingzhu to another man''s bed?


    This was not merely a challenge but an absolute disregard and humiliation!


    What man with even a shred of dignity could endure such a thing?


    Let alone Xiao Yi?


    His eyes emitted a cold glint as they locked onto Lei Laohu like icy daggers, "Are you looking for death?"


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, now that Lei Laohu has the backing of Jia, do you think I''d still be afraid of you?"


    Lei Laohu mentioned Jia with a face full of reverence and was extremely confident in his strength, sneering continuously, "If you behave and personally deliver Fang Qingzhu for Jia''s enjoyment, maybe Jia could leave you a whole corpse. Otherwise, this stele can be erected above your grave today..."


    "You think a mere Profound Level student from the Royal Martial Arts Academy can intimidate me?"


    Xiao Yi let out a cold snort, "You''re too naive!"


    His figure suddenly moved, with the force of thunder, he moved in an instant.


    Whoosh!


    A series of afterimages merged into one on the ground, and under Lei Laohu''s astonished gaze, appeared right in front of him. It was just a punch, casuallynding on Lei Laohu''s body.


    Boom!


    Before Lei Laohu could react, he was sent flying, copsing on the ground like a heap of mud.


    Blood couldn''t stop gushing out.


    His face was filled with astonishment, horror, fear, and a deep sense of disbelief: "You... you''re finished... I represent Jia, and by hitting me, you''re pping Jia''s face. Even if you''re willing to deliver Fang Qingzhu to his bed now, he won''t let you go..."


    "Shut up!"


    Xiao Yi''s hand shed with the light of his sword and cut off Lei Laohu''s left hand, asking indifferently, "Why does this Jia specifically want Qingzhu?"


    Lei Laohu, in pain, his face twisted, knew he had to cooperate or the next sword would sever his head, and hurriedly replied, "Fang Jin, it was Fang Jin who rmended Fang Qingzhu to Jia. That''s all I know..."


    "Fang Jin?"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes turned ice-cold in an instant, his intent to kill Fang Jin was stronger than ever.


    He was about to speak...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Inside the gate, Fang Qingzhu''s cool voice was heard: "You go tell Fang Jin that three days from now, I, Fang Qingzhu, will face him on the Fang Family''s Life and Death tform to decide our fate."


    "Qingzhu?"


    Xiao Yi looked at her.


    Fang Qingzhu took a deep breath, the icy expression on her face softened a bit, and with a smile at Xiao Yi said, "Big Brother Xiao Yi, leave Fang Jin to me to deal with!"


    Xiao Yi was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright!"


    He walked over to Lei Laohu, spoke lightly, "I will let you go back. Ry exactly what Qingzhu has said to Fang Jin. And by the way, tell Jia Sichun to clean his neck and wait!"


    Jia Sichun actually dared to covet Fang Qingzhu, even demanding that she be delivered to his bed.


    This man was now marked by Xiao Yi as someone who must be killed.


    "Yes, yes, I will ry the message exactly!"


    Lei Laohu was sincerely frightened, and the coachman quickly helped him into the carriage, which then hastily made its way back to the Fang Family.


    The Fang Family''s great hall.


    Fang Jin and the others looked at Lei Laohu, and for a moment the atmosphere turned silent.


    "Hehehe, what a Fang Qingzhu. Just a discarded wretch, and she dares to challenge me on the Life and Death tform?"


    Fang Jin sneered and looked at Fang Tianhao, "Head of the family, spread the news tomorrow. Three days from now, I want everyone to witness who the real dragon of the Fang Family is!"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll have someone take care of it right away!" Fang Tianhao hurriedly nodded.


    However, Jia Sichun was squinting his eyes, sizing up Lei Laohu, "Did you tell him that you were sent by me?"


    "This humble one has told him it was Jia''s intention, but that Xiao Yi said, for you to clean your neck and wait..."


    Lei Laohu looked down at his severed left hand, a trace of spite shing in his eyes, and embellished with malice, "Not only that, but Xiao Yi also said that killing Mr. Jia would be as easy as ughtering pigs and dogs."


    Bang!


    Jia Sichun mmed his palm on the tea table, shattering it, his eyes ice cold, sneering continuously, "Such boldness,paring me to ughtering pigs and dogs? Hmph, isn''t Xiao Yi just a waste expelled by the Xiao Family, an impotent son-inw? It''s fine for him to show off in this small ce, but he dares to insult me like this?"


    Fang Jin said, "Brother Jia, after I defeat Fang Qingzhu in three days, I will take care of Xiao Yi for you, to let off some steam!"


    "No!"


    Jia Sichun''s sinister smile continued, "He looks down on me, right? I''ll let him see just how ridiculous all his pride and confidence are in front of me. Lei Laohu, I now grant you a Shen Yuan Elixir and a third-grade martial skill. Three days from now, I want you to publicly ughter Xiao Yi, understood?"


    Lei Laohu''s breath became rapid, his eyes turning red, and with sincere trepidation, he said, "Thank you for your grace, Mr. Jia. I won''t let you down!"


    In his eyes, a cold and biting glint of determination was visible...


    "Xiao Yi, your death awaits in three days!"

 Chapter 33 Alarm Throughout the City

    "Have you heard? Fang Jin from the Fang Family has returned and he''speting for the position of the heir to the Fang Family!"


    "The news I heard is that Fang Jin is already a student at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he doesn''t even care about the position of the family head, but Fang Qingzhu refuses to give up the position of the heir, and she even challenged Fang Jin!"


    "What? Wasn''t Fang Qingzhu crippled? Challenging Fang Jin, isn''t that seeking death?"


    "That might not be the case, perhaps Fang Qingzhu will have Xiao Yi step in?"


    "This is destined to be a sh of the titans!"


    Such discussions became the most frequent topic in Nanhuang City over the past two days.


    Fang Qingzhu from the Fang Family, once the pampered princess, now a crippled nobody.


    Fang Jin from the Fang Family, always suppressed by the once-pampered princess Fang Qingzhu, had finally made a name for himself and became a distinguished disciple of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    The two of them were like heaven and earth.


    One could even say...


    If it wasn''t for Xiao Yi recently annihting the Zhang Family single-handedly, right now everyone would assume Fang Qingzhu was as good as dead. However, the focus of attention is now on the battle between Xiao Yi and Fang Jin, and who will have thestugh.


    And not Fang Qingzhu versus Fang Jin.


    After all.


    In everyone''s eyes, Fang Qingzhu is nothing but a cripple.


    Within the Xiao Family''s side residence.


    Xiao Yi was dressed in a short gown of crescent moon white, his ck hair a floating cascade, adding a sense of grace and ir to his demeanor. In front of him stood Fang Qingzhu in a tight-fitting purple leather armor, with a long purple whip at her waist.


    "Xiao Yi, how do I look in this outfit today?" Fang Qingzhu asked with a smile.


    Xiao Yi gave a thumbs-up, "Perfect!"


    "Giggle giggle giggle!"


    Fang Qingzhuughed merrily, then suddenly stood on tiptoes and lightly pecked Xiao Yi on his cheek before blushing and fleeing with her hand over her face.


    Xiao Yi touched his cheek subconsciously, the lingering faint fragrance sending his heart racing, a smile unconsciously lighting up his face, "Did this girl just steal a kiss from me?" Watching her bounded away, her long hair swinging behind her, Xiao Yi''s smile gradually faded.


    In his mind, he couldn''t help but recall the night before, when the two of them practiced cultivation and had their breakthrough to the Shentong Realm.


    The ice-blue phantom phoenix that appeared behind Fang Qingzhu.


    The phoenix, king of mythical birds who fed on dragons, roaming the heavens and earth with unmatched strength. When Fang Qingzhu broke through to the Shentong Realm, an ice-blue phantom phoenix appeared behind her, and she awakened her Innate Divine Ability.


    It is known, not every Shentong Realm cultivator could awaken their Innate Divine Ability!


    Only those with exceptional talent, or a powerful bloodline inheritance, had a chance of awakening their Innate Divine Ability.


    Like Xiao Tianjiao...


    When he broke through to the Shentong Realm, he awakened his Innate Divine Ability, the Limitless Golden Body. By invoking this Divine Skill, he could make himself invulnerable to de and fire, water and me, andbined with the terrifying power of the Supreme Overlord Holy Body, he was invincible within his realm, fighting across levels as easily as drinking water.


    "The Fang Family''s ancestors have no records of birthing such powerful individuals, how did Qingzhu awaken her Innate Divine Ability?"


    As he pondered.


    Fang Qingzhu''s urging voice came from in front, "Xiao Yi, hurry up!"


    Ah!


    Why think so much?


    It only adds to one''s troubles!


    Xiao Yi let out a heartyugh and responded, "I''ming!"


    Elder Yan was already waiting outside, standing in front of an opulent golden carriage, respectfully saying, "Young Master Xiao, Madam Xiao, please get into the carriage!"


    "Thank you!"


    Fang Qingzhu smiled sweetly, looked to the left and right and not seeing Lin Bingxin, asked with curiosity, "Elder Yan, where is Bingxin?"


    Elder Yan smiled and said, "Bingxin is on her way, you will see her soon!"


    "Alright then!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Fang Qingzhu nodded and climbed into the carriage.


    Elder Yan personally drove the carriage, a truly astonishing level of deference.


    Tatata!


    The carriage slowly made its way toward the Fang Family, and Xiao Yi, sitting inside, narrowed his eyes and lifted the curtain.


    He saw figures darting out from all around the street, closely following behind the carriage.


    Within the crowd.


    It was possible to vaguely make out the figures of Lin Bingxin, Zhao Yu, Zhao Xian, and others.


    "Xiao Yi, brother, what are they doing¡­" Fang Qingzhu looked bewildered, why such amotion?


    Elder Yan''s voice came from outside the carriage, "Xiao, Madam Xiao, this has been organized spontaneously by everyone. The shameless actions of the Fang Family have long been intolerable to everyone, today they are all here to cheer and support you!"


    Lin Bingxin had already caught up to the side of the carriage, riding a tall horse, smiling as she looked inside, "Qingzhu, sister, fight hard, you are not fighting alone!"


    "We support you!"


    "Go for it!"


    Cheers and shouts kepting from outside the carriage.


    In these past few days...


    The Fang Family continually ndered Fang Qingzhu and Xiao Yi, both of whom had been focused on their closed-door training and were unaware of the events unfolding outside. However, Elder Yan, Zhao Yu, and the others were well aware, and they also mobilized their resources to expose the deeds of the Fang Family to the public.


    From the expulsion of Xiao Yi from the main courtyard by the Fang Family.


    To the humiliation and oppression of Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu during Fang Tianhao''s birthday feast.


    And the shameless actions of Fang Zheng, Liu Yun, and others, as well as Fang Jin''s attempt to please a high-ranking disciple of the Royal Martial Arts Academy by offering Fang Qingzhu to Jia Sichun, and so on...


    The people deeply detested the despicable actions of the Fang Family.


    With the calls from the Treasure Pavilion and the Zhao Family, the scene that unfolded now was made possible.


    Tens of thousands of people surrounded Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu, converging into an iron flood and majestically heading toward the Fang Family.


    Emptying every alley, startling the entire city.


    ......


    The Fang Family''s premises were already swarming with a sea of people.


    On the open ground outside the main gate, a huge fighting tform made of bluestone had been set up.


    This was the Life and Death tform.


    By the side of the tform.


    Jia Sichun loungedzily on a Taishi Chair, with a beautiful woman on each side attentively tending to him, with Lei Laohu, Fang Jin, and Fang Tianhao sitting to his left and right.


    As for Fang Zheng, Liu Yun, and Fang Hao, they didn''t even have the privilege of sitting, and stood behind the others.


    Jia Sichun caressed the waist of a woman beside him, enjoying the taste of the delicacies in his mouth, and impatiently said, "Haven''t Xiao Yi and the others arrived yet?"


    "They should be arriving soon!" Fang Tianhao said obsequiously.


    Boom boom boom!


    Suddenly, a thunderous noise like a multitude of armies on the move came from the front, rattling the cups on the table, as a ck tide of steel gradually emerged on the street, almost covering the entire street.


    At the forefront of the crowd, a golden carriage slowly approached.


    "Here theye!" Fang Jin squinted.


    Jia Sichun raised his eyebrows, "Oh? The carriage from Treasure Pavilion? It seems this Xiao Yi has quite a special rtionship with the Treasure Pavilion!"


    Fang Tianhao looked concerned, "Jia, the Elder Yan from Treasure Pavilion has an unbreakable bond with Xiao Yi, do we¡­"


    "No need to worry!"


    Jia Sichun waved his hand indifferently, "If it were the Pavilion Master of the capital''s Treasure Pavilion, I might fear him somewhat. But a mere branch Pavilion Master from Nanhuang, is someone I do not regard highly!"


    Fang Tianhao let out a sigh of relief.


    Meanwhile.


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu also stepped down from the carriage.


    The moment Jia Sichun caught a distant glimpse of Fang Qingzhu, he abruptly stood up from his seat, his eyes glued to her, his gaze filled with a fiery passion, he swallowed and eximed, "Beautiful, incredibly beautiful, hahaha, Fang Jin, you have not disappointed me at all."


    Jia Sichun nced at Lei Laohu andmanded, "You, go bring that Fang Qingzhu to me!"

 Chapter 34 You Think You Are Worthy?

    "Bring Fang Qingzhu to me!"


    Jia Sichun stared at Fang Qingzhu with excitement, giving orders to Lei Laohu.


    Lei Laohu''s whole body surged with Qi-Blood like a rainbow, bursting forth from his body, all over him lingered the ferocious aura of a recent breakthrough. Having received a Shen Yuan Elixir from Jia Sichun, he had progressed from the Third Layer of the Shentong Realm to the Fourth Layer.


    Hisbat strength had increased several-fold from before.


    It was the perfect moment for him to retaliate in high spirits and redeem his previous disgrace.


    "Rest assured, Jia," Lei Laohu respectfully said. "I''ll bring Fang Qingzhu to you right away!"


    Jia Sichun said, "Don''t harm the beauty, but as for the others," his eyes shed with a cold light, "if they dare to obstruct, kill!"


    "Yes!"


    Lei Laohu strode towards Xiao Yi and the others with the confident gait of a despot.


    "Eh? Isn''t that the ck Tiger Gang''s Leader Lei? What is he up to?"


    "They say when the Zhang Family was just annihted, Lei Laohu knelt in front of Xiao Yi''s residence begging for forgiveness. Howe he''s now siding with that Jia?"


    "He''s probably looking to avenge his past humiliation. They say this Jia is from the Mysterious Rank Academy at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, with a deep background. With such a powerful patron, Lei Laohu naturally need not fear Xiao Yi anymore!"


    Amidst the murmuring.


    Lei Laohu arrived in front of Xiao Yi and Qingzhu, looking proud and indifferent. His gaze was cold as he regarded Xiao Yi, madness for revenge shing in his eyes: "By Jia''s order, I''m to take Fang Qingzhu to serve him!"


    "How dare you!"


    Elder Yan''s expression darkened as he angrily reprimanded.


    Lei Laohu stared down Elder Yan without fear, raising his mangled left hand and feigning a fist salute in the direction of Jia Sichun, casually saying, "Elder Yan, consider carefully. This is what Jia wishes. Are you sure you want to oppose him?"


    "You..." Elder Yan''s face turned unsightly.


    Jia Sichun was not only backed by the Royal Martial Arts Academy, but his family background was also terribly strong.


    Even Elder Yan dared not offend him too much.


    As Elder Yan hesitated, Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "You really are tired of living!"


    Instinctive fear flickered deep within Lei Laohu''s eyes, but upon thinking of Jia Sichun''s support and his newfound strength having broken through to the Fourth Layer of the Shentong Realm and having received a martial skill from Jia, he felt full of confidence.


    "Hmph, I am no longer the same Lei Laohu as before. I have sessfully stepped into the Fifth Layer of the Shentong Realm with Jia''s help and acquired a third-grade high-level fist technique. I won''t be at a disadvantage even against you!"


    Lei Laohu arrogantly dered, "Xiao Yi, if you know what''s good for you, hand over Fang Qingzhu to Jia. Perhaps you can then clutch at life and maintain a semnce of it. Otherwise, this day next year will be your day of remembrance! If you doubt it, we can settle this with a fight!"


    Xiao Yi''s fingers slightly curled up, forming a sword-finger gesture, ready to make a move.


    Suddenly stepping forward, Zhao Yu bowed respectfully, "Xiao, such trash does not deserve to be on the receiving end of your hands. Please allow me to sever his head!"


    Taken aback, Xiao Yi looked at the earnest expression on Zhao Yu''s face and nodded. "Granted!"


    Whoosh!


    Zhao Yu let out a breath, ecstasy spreading across his face.


    With Xiao Yi''s permission for him to step forward, it indicated that he was regarded as one of Xiao Yi''s own.


    Lei Laohu eyed Zhao Yu standing in front of him, squinting, "Zhao Yu, has your brain been squeezed by a door? Behind me stands Jia, a student of the Mysterious Rank Academy of the Royal Martial Arts Institute, with a background both powerful and formidable. And yet you choose to stand with Xiao Yi?"


    Slowly drawing his longsword, Zhao Yu spoke calmly, "Jia Sichun? He''s not even qualified to carry Xiao''s shoes... Enough talk, it''s time to die!"


    "Since you seek death, don''t me me for it!"


    Lei Laohu snorted coldly, "Barbaric Bull Power Fist!"


    He leapt into the air and charged ferociously towards Zhao Yu.


    This set of moves, known as the "Barbaric Bull Power Fist," was a third-grade high-level fist technique he had bought from Jia Sichun with over a decade''s umtions of the ck Tiger Gang, far stronger than any martial skill he had previously mastered.


    Forceful and overwhelmingly fierce.


    However...


    Zhao Yu, on the other hand, appeared indifferent. Holding the longsword, he suddenly sidestepped, "Tiger-ying First Sword!"


    Swish!


    This sword strike,unched from below to above, barely forced Lei Laohu to dodge by tilting his body. Calm andposed, Zhao Yu immediately followed with the next move: "Tiger-ying Second Sword!"


    This sword came shing diagonally from top to bottom.


    Lei Laohu felt a chill all over. Instinctively stepping to the side, he retreated backward.


    But just as he retreated, a breath of death had already struck from behind.


    With a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, Lei Laohu was chilled to the bone with fright.


    Zhao Yu had unknowly positioned himself behind him, "The Third Sword of Subduing the Tiger!"


    Swish!


    A single sword thrust, and even ghosts and gods were startled.


    Thrust!


    That thrust pierced through Lei Laohu''s throat, and he knelt on the ground, clutching his throat, trembling all over. Zhao Yu watched him coldly, "Both are third-grade high-level martial arts. Yours was bought from the ck Tiger Gang with more than a decade of savings, while mine was something Xiao discarded because he didn''t think it was good enough!"


    Thrust!


    Lei Laohu spurted a mouthful of fresh blood.


    Did the martial skill he spent more than a decade''s savings on actually amount to less than the trash Xiao Yi didn''t even want?


    Ah...


    Lei Laohu roared unwillingly, and with a loud boom, fell on his back, breathless in death.


    Zhao Yu put away his longsword under the awe-struck gaze of the crowd and stood before Xiao Yi, stating respectfully, "Xiao, I have not failed your expectations!"


    "Well done!"


    Xiao Yi nodded with a smile, then his gaze shifted to Fang Jin and Jia Sichun.


    The two had left their seats at the moment of Lei Laohu''s death.


    "Here, take him back!"


    Xiao Yi kicked Lei Laohu''s corpse to Jia Sichun''s feet.


    "Useless trash, a disgrace..."


    Jia Sichun, with an angry face, struck out with his palm, smashing Lei Laohu''s body into mincemeat. He looked up, locked eyes with Xiao Yi, and sparks flew, their res shing in the air with fiery intensity.


    "Brother Jia, don''t get angry. I''ll kill him momentarily to vent your anger!"


    Fang Jin let out a long howl, his figure soared to the sky, and in an instant, he was on the arena stage, looking down coldly at Fang Qingzhu, "Qingzhu, it''s your fortune that Brother Jia thinks highly of you. If you serve Brother Jia well, I will not only give you the position of family heir, but I will also plead for mercy on your behalf to spare the life of the dog, Xiao Yi. How about that?"


    Fang Qingzhu coldly responded, "The position of family heir is already mine, Hexu, it''s yours to give away!"


    "Oh? So you are keen on battling me? I''m not afraid to tell you, I''m a cultivator of the Second Layer Spiritual Power Realm and have even awakened my Innate Divine Ability. You''re just a cripple with a damaged dantian. Are you sure you want to fight me?"


    Fang Jinughed heartily, his wordsced with a nauseating smugness, "Or are you nning to have a husband and wife team-up ande to die together?"


    "You''re not worthy to make Brother Xiao Yi take action!" Fang Qingzhu coolly replied.


    Swish!


    Her figure shed, and she leapt onto the arena stage, her face indifferent, "Begin!"


    "Hahaha, you should make the first move. If I start, you won''t even have the chance to react!" Fang Jin was full of pride.


    "Oh!"


    Fang Qingzhu just responded with a sound.


    The next second.


    Her figure vanished from Fang Jin''s sight.


    "What? Where is she?"


    Fang Jin was utterly befuddled, then suddenly, a burning pain spread across his face.


    Smack!


    Fang Jin spun around like a top, was flung ten meters away, tumbled for several turns, and crashed down from the arena stage.


    Hiss!


    The crowd gasped, their faces aghast, "What... what just happened?"


    "Such speed, wasn''t Fang Qingzhu''s dantian supposedly ruined? How... how does she have such strength and speed?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Fang Jin was pped into a state ofplete confusion.


    Fang Qingzhu walked to the edge of the arena stage, looking down with scorn at Fang Jin, mocking with a coldugh, "Still thinking of challenging Brother Xiao Yi? Do you think you''re worthy?"

 Chapter 35 Overwhelming Domination

    "Impossible, how can this be possible?"


    Fang Jin''s face was filled with disbelief and shock.


    The news of Fang Qingzhu being crippled was known throughout Nanhuang City, but the strength and speed that Fang Qingzhu had just disyed, how could someone whose dantian had been destroyed possess such abilities?


    At the very least, that level of strength and speed was something even Fang Jin felt inferior to!


    Jia Sichun narrowed his eyes and looked at Fang Qingzhu with an increasingly intense gaze, his desire to possess her growing stronger: "Excellent, excellent, what a heavenly prodigy. To be able to break through to the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm at such a young age in this remote ce, if she can awaken her Innate Divine Ability, she would even be qualified to be a concubine of this young master!"


    "What? First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm?"


    "Is it true? Fang Qingzhu reached the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm? Wasn''t her dantian destroyed?"


    The most shocked were undoubtedly Mr. and Mrs. Fang Zheng.


    They had personally witnessed Fang Qingzhu''s dantian being destroyed!


    And now Fang Qingzhu had actually broken through to the Divine Passage Realm?


    Elder Yan and Zhao Yu exchanged looks, also seeing the shock and astonishment in each other''s eyes, butpared to the confusion and iprehension of others, they felt even more shocked.


    The two exchanged nces and turned simultaneously to look at Xiao Yi, who stood with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face.


    They could be certain that Fang Qingzhu had indeed been crippled!


    Yet now, Fang Qingzhu had broken through to the Divine Passage Realm.


    This was nothing short of a miracle!


    "It must be Xiao!"


    "Apart from him, no one else could create such a miracle... a reborn dantian, Xiao''s methods are truly profound and unfathomable..." As they looked at Xiao Yi, their eyes filled with even more reverence.


    Above the arena.


    Fang Qingzhu said indifferently: "Fang Jin, how much longer do you n to lie there? Weren''t you going to take away the position of family heir? Come on, show me your full strength and let me see what makes you believe you can rece me!"


    Before her dantian was destroyed, Fang Qingzhu was already considered a heavenly prodigy.


    A prodigy has the pride of a prodigy!


    Ever since her dantian was destroyed, Fang Qingzhu had endured the world''s coldness and seen all its hideous faces.


    Her mentality became even stronger than before.


    But at the same time...


    It made her even colder towards her enemies.


    Fang Jin''s face alternated between pale and flushed, originally thinking that his breakthrough to the Divine Skills Realm, especially with Jia Sichun''s help to step into the Second Layer of the Divine Skills Realm, would mean a triumphant return. He would announce himself as the overlord of Nanhuang City in front of everyone.


    But...


    His dream was harshly shattered by Fang Qingzhu from the very start.


    "Damn it!"


    Fang Jin clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with ferocity and madness, "It was just my carelessness just now... Fang Qingzhu, you''vepletely infuriated me."


    "Oh?"


    Fang Qingzhu remained calm as usual, squinting her eyes and saying, "And what about it?"


    "I''m going to kill you!"


    Fang Jin, red-faced, let out a low roar and summoned a ck longsword from his storage ring.


    The longsword was wrapped with a ck dragon, the tip of the de flickering with cold light, shining for ten miles.


    "Second-Grade Yuan Weapon Dragon Scale Sword!"


    "Half a year ago, this weapon was auctioned by Treasure Pavilion and bought by a mysterious person, I didn''t expect it to end up in his hands!"


    "This is bad, Fang Qingzhu''s weapon is only a Firstyer High-Level Yuan Weapon Purple Cloud Whip, she''s at a big disadvantage just based on their weapons alone!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Fang Qingzhu squinted, her eyes flickering with sharp light, but she showed no sign of panic. Instead, she turned back to Xiao Yi with a yful smile: "Xiao Yi, that sword looks pretty good, do you like it?"


    Xiao Yi smiled: "It''s not bad!"


    "Alright!"


    Fang Qingzhu beamed with charm, sweetly saying, "Since Xiao Yi likes it, then it''s mine!"


    "You dare covet my weapon? You''re delusional!"


    "Poison Dragon sh!"


    Fang Jin leaped up, the Dragon Scale Sword exuding a cold brilliance. The ck dragon pattern coiling around the sword seemed toe alive, and amidst a deafening dragon''s roar, the glistening silver tip stabbed towards Fang Qingzhu.


    The strike was powerful and heavy, its angle extremely tricky.


    However...


    Fang Qingzhu''s face remained indifferent, her figure graceful as a celestial, her delicate hand flicking the Purple Cloud Whip.


    Crack!


    The Purple Cloud Whip danced wildly like a raging serpent, striking out in an instant, coiling around the de of the Dragon Scale Sword. Following that, a faint ice-blue phantom flickered in her eyes, seemingly that of a soaring phoenix cloaked in icy blue.


    The Ice Blue Phoenix swept past.


    A dreadful cold swept down his palm, and ayer of cold ice had actually condensed on the longsword.


    "Not good!"


    Fang Jin''s face changed suddenly.


    In such an instant...


    His palm was already covered with ayer of frost, the entire palm numb.


    "Let go!"


    Fang Qingzhu sharply pulled her whip, and with a snap, she broke Fang Jin''s frozen grasp, revealing fierce cracks in the frozen palm. The mist of cold made the oozing blood instantly turn into crimson ice spikes.


    The Dragon Scale Sword fell into Fang Qingzhu''s hands.


    Taking advantage of the momentum, the whip coiled and snapped against Fang Jin''s chest.


    Clothes burst apart, skin split, flesh exploded, and blood gushed like a fountain!


    Fang Jin screamed miserably as he was hurled out, Fang Qingzhu pursued, and with the Purple Cloud Whip binding, she threw the longsword fiercely. With a piercing sound, it prated Fang Jin''s thigh, nailing him to the arena floor.


    All of this happened in a fleeting moment, in the blink of an eye.


    Fang Qingzhu had taken absolute advantage!


    In contrast, Fang Jin...


    This genius from the Royal Martial Arts Academy, now impaled on the arena floor like a dead dog, wailed miserably.


    "Holy shit, isn''t Fang Qingzhu too strong?"


    "Worthy of being the once number one beauty of Nanhuang City, her strength is terrifying!"


    "Fang Jin''s loss isn''t undeserved..."


    The crowd eximed at Fang Qingzhu''s strength, but Xiao Yi''s expression darkened, a glint of intense cold murderous intent flitting across his eyes.


    Just as Fang Qingzhu defeated Fang Jin, a figure suddenly sprang out from below the arena. A sword finger surged with overwhelming Yuan energy aimed directly at Fang Qingzhu, apanied by Jia Sichun''s bitterly cold voice, "Fang Jin is my dog, hitting him means disrespecting me, get down on your knees!"


    Jia Sichun was a cultivator of the Sixth Layer of the Divine Skill Realm and a genius who had awakened his Innate Divine Ability.


    With his gesture, the breath of death enveloped Fang Qingzhu.


    As the sword finger was about to strike Fang Qingzhu...


    At that moment...


    Xiao Yi stepped forward into the air, crushing that sword finger with a stomp, and with a backhanded p, a loud snapnded on Jia Sichun''s face.


    Flinging Jia Sichun away.


    Xiao Yi looked at him with icy eyes, "Dare to touch my woman, I see you''ve grown tired of living!"


    "You dare to hit me?"


    Jia Sichun''s face was full of ferocious hate, who had he ever been pped by in public from childhood?


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "If you seek death, wait until Qingzhu has resolved the matter here, I will oblige you. If you dare to meddle again, I''ll cripple you right now!"


    Boom!


    The aura of the God-Sealing Demon-Suppressing General was unmatched, capable of subduing the heavens and sealing gods and demons.


    Jia Sichun''s pupils shrank suddenly, and an unprecedented solemnity rose in his heart, but he retreated to the side without a word.


    Xiao Yi turned to Fang Tianhao, "Mr. Fang, can you now announce who will be the Fang Family sessor?"


    Whew!


    Fang Tianhao exhaled a long breath, looking at Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu with aplicated expression. He had never imagined that the two whom he once drove out and never took seriously coulde this far.


    His eyes carried ferocity and coldness, staring fixedly at the two but he shook his head and said, "Qingzhu, it''s a joy that you have recovered your cultivation. However, it''s still not your turn to be the sessor of the Fang Family head."


    "Hm?"


    Fang Qingzhu was taken aback, her brows tightly knitted.


    She did not covet the position of head of the Fang Family, but it was the goal she had struggled for since childhood to prove herself.


    She wanted to prove to everyone that she Fang Qingzhu was no less than any man.


    To show her parents that she deserved their love and attention.


    And now...


    She had done it!


    She had defeated Fang Jin and proven her strength.


    But Fang Tianhao said she still couldn''t be the sessor?


    Fang Qingzhu''s face turned pale, her lips tightly pursed as she asked word by word, "Why?"


    Fang Tianhao said coldly, "Because..."

 Chapter 36 The Origins of Fang Qingzhu

    Fang Tianhao said coldly, "Because you are not of my Fang Family''s bloodline!"


    Boom!


    Fang Qingzhu staggered back three steps, her pretty face turned deathly pale, and she looked at Fang Tianhao in disbelief, "What are you saying? I''m not of the Fang Family bloodline?"


    From her childhood, she was born and raised in the Fang Family.


    She had even been willing to be a sacrificial pawn for the Fang Family''s interests, sinking to the role of a tool for the Fang Family to cling to the Xiao Family through alliance marriage.


    But now...


    Fang Tianhao was actually telling her she was not of the Fang Family?


    Fang Tianhao nced at the hiding Fang Zheng couple and said indifferently, "Do you still note forth at this point?"


    The Fang Zheng couple came out from behind.


    They exchanged a nce, and Fang Zheng pushed Liu Yun, "You say it!"


    Liu Yun red fiercely at Fang Zheng, her gaze toward Fang Qingzhu filled withplexity, and she sighed, "Qingzhu, the head of the family is right, you truly are not one of us. Eighteen years ago, on a snowy night, we found you in the Southern Deste Mountain Range during our training and brought you back. You are just an unwanted wild seed!"


    Boom!


    Fang Qingzhu trembled, feeling an icy chill throughout her body.


    She was truly not of the Fang Family?


    She was just an unwanted wild seed?


    Fang Qingzhu clenched her lips tightly as fresh blood seeped from them, staining her pearly white teeth red. "I don''t believe it, you''re lying to me, right? You must all be conspiring to deceive me, right?"


    Her hoarse voice wasced with hysteria, and her bloodshot eyes were too intense to meet.


    "I..."


    Liu Yun looked at the girl she had raised for eighteen years, suddenly feeling a strange sense of fear and unfamiliarity. She opened her mouth but couldn''t make a sound.


    Fang Zheng, standing to one side, sighed and said, "Let me do it then!"


    "You are indeed not our daughter. At first, we thought to raise you only to have you serve as a maid, but at the age of eight, you showed exceptional martial arts talent, and we decided to keep your true origin a secret. Having a daughter with remarkable talents could stabilize our position within the n. We hoped to keep this secret forever and treat you as our own, especially after arranging your marriage with the Xiao Family. But you were crippled and useless, and married to such a weakling, you hold no value for us now..."


    Fang Zheng looked up at Fang Qingzhu and said, "Fang Jin has Jia''s support, and even if you regain your cultivation, you cannotpete with him. Qingzhu, for the sake of eighteen years of affection, my advice to you is to submit willingly to Jia. As long as you serve Jia well, even if only as his lover, you will still be our good girl!"


    Thump! Thump! Thump!


    Fang Qingzhu suddenly realized why, as a child, Fang Zheng and his wife had always been so indifferent to her.


    It was only after she began to cultivate and disyed immense talent that they suddenly started showing her great concern.


    But once she was married to Xiao Yi, and her cultivation was destroyed, they became strangers to her.


    "So it turns out... I was nothing but a tool for you to use all along..." Fang Qingzhu murmured to herself. As she spoke, tears fell, and as she cried, sheughed as well.


    Yet herughter was deste, and her smile was terribly bitter.


    She felt as if the whole world plunged into endless darkness.


    Out of reach was any light or hope!


    Liu Yun, standing aside, shouted, "Your father is right, with Jia''s status, bing his lover would hugely benefit us and the Fang Family. You''re nothing but an unwanted wild seed, bing his lover is a great fortune for you, I urge you..." Ah...


    Before she could finish.


    Smack!


    Liu Yun was sent flying by a p from Xiao Yi, her teeth shattered from the impact, and Xiao Yi''s cold gaze swept across them, "If you utter one more useless word, I''ll ughter you right now!"


    Hiss!


    Fang Zheng and Fang Hao quickly bowed their heads, as silent as cicadas in winter.


    Watching Fang Qingzhu by his side, who alternated betweenughing and crying, Xiao Yi''s eyes shed with pain, and he gently embraced her, "Don''t be afraid, you still have me!"


    Fang Qingzhu stiffened, then gradually softened in his arms.


    The warmth emanating from Xiao Yi''s body felt like a lifesaving straw, pulling Fang Qingzhu out from the abyss of darkness and despair.


    Life returned to Fang Qingzhu''s eyes once more.


    She was not alone, she was not unwanted.


    She still had Xiao Yi!


    "What a touching disy of love between a man and his girl¡­ However, you knew that I fancied her, yet you dared to be so intimate with her, isn''t that too dismissive of me?" Jia Sichun looked at Fang Qingzhu curled up in Xiao Yi''s embrace, his eyes filled with rage and jealousy, which diluted the awe his imposing aura should havemanded.


    His possessiveness was extremely intense.


    In his eyes, anyone or anything he desired was his.


    No one else was permitted to touch them!


    "You¡­"


    Just as Fang Qingzhu was about to speak, Xiao Yi stopped her and shook his head with a light chuckle, "Leave it to me!"


    Fang Qingzhu obediently nodded, "Mhm!"


    Watching Fang Qingzhu step off the tform, Xiao Yi''s soft smile quietly faded away, and his nearly closed eyes emitted a cold sharpness. Casually strolling by Fang Jin, he reached out his hand into thin air, and the Dragon Scale Sword whistled into his grip with a swift motion.


    "Owow¡­" Fang Jin cried out in pain.


    The Dragon Scale Sword had only pierced through his flesh when it went through his thigh, but Xiao Yi suddenly withdrew it,pletely shattering his bones.


    Xiao Yi nced sideways at the curled up Fang Jin who was screaming on the ground and said indifferently, "You''re too noisy!"


    The longsword pierced, prating Fang Jin''s throat.


    From the moment Fang Jin set his sights on Fang Qingzhu, his fate had already been sealed!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "No¡­ you, you actually killed Fang Jin?" Fang Tianhao''s eyes were filled with fury.


    Now that their rtionship with Fang Qingzhu had be irreparably vtile, Fang Jin was their Fang Family''s only hope.


    But now¡­


    Xiao Yi had personally crushed that hope.


    Fang Tianhao shouted to Jia Sichun beside him, "Jia, kill him, quickly avenge Fang Jin!"


    Bang!


    Jia Sichun made his move.


    Only...


    His palm struck Fang Tianhao''s head.


    Fang Tianhao''s body trembled, blood spurted from his seven apertures, and until his dying moment, he still couldn''t understand why Jia Sichun, clearly on the same side, would suddenly strike at him.


    "A dog dares to give orders to me?"


    Jia Sichun withdrew his hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe his palm, and looked at Xiao Yi with disgust, "Xiao Yi of the Xiao Family? Your brother Xiao Tianjiao is indeed an impressive figure, said to have entered the Dharma Manifestation Realm half a month ago, bing the Deputy Sect Master of Tianjian Sect, and he might reach the ranks of the ancient giants within ten years. But I heard he doesn''t think highly of you; he even considers you a disgrace and expelled you from the Xiao Family. If I kill you now, he should thank me, right?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, "He has reached the Dharma Manifestation already? That''s fast!"


    Though he harbored all sorts of hatred towards Xiao Tianjiao, he couldn''t help but admire his martial talent.


    Entering the Dharma Manifestation Realm in his twenties!


    Even in the history of the entire Heavenly Yuan Realm, such individuals are rare.


    "It seems I still have a long way to go to surpass him!"


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, his gaze settling on Jia Sichun, the Dragon Scale Sword in his hand vibrating ever so slightly, its tip flickering with silver light, bright and cold for a hundred zhang, and he said coldly, "If you want to kill me to curry favor with Xiao Tianjiao, you''ll have to see if you''re capable!"


    Jia Sichun''s tongue, red as blood, licked his lips, and he sneered, "If you can withstand ten moves from me and hand over Fang Qingzhu to me, I''ll spare your life. How about it?"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Killing you is like ughtering pigs and dogs, ten moves? That''s too many!"

 Chapter 37 Visit Mr. Xiao

    ```


    "Killing you is like ughtering pigs and dogs, ten moves? Too many!"


    Xiao Yi wore a look of indifference on his face as he gently shook his head.


    Although his cultivation was only at the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, the four hundred God Sealing Seeds within his body had been activated. Even though he hadn''t subdued any new foes, those seeds had infused his Sword Intent Seed with the power of the divine.


    He hadpleted thest step of transformation.


    True Sword Intent had formed!


    With Sword Intent in his grasp and having stepped into the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he had also awakened his Innate Divine Ability.


    This elevated Xiao Yi''s power to a whole new level!


    He underwent a fundamental transformation!


    With his current strength, not even a Sixth Layer of Divine Skill Realm powerhouse like Jia Sichun was of any concern to him.


    "Killing me is like ughtering pigs and dogs?"


    Jia Sichun''s face was filled with a hideous rage, experiencing humiliation like never before, he touched his cheek that had just been pped by Xiao Yi, his eyes glinting with icy coldness, "A dog like you dares to humiliate me like this? I''ll show you how foolish it is to have angered me!"


    Boom!


    Jia Sichun''s fists flew through the air.


    Vital energy surged wildly along his arms as if cloaked in an armor of Qi, his figure as swift as the wind and lightning, racing forth in a blink.


    Whoosh!


    In the blink of an eye.


    Jia Sichun appeared before Xiao Yi, pointing his finger, "Four Directions Prison Dragon Finger!"


    Boom!


    Vital energy, fine as threads, burst forth from his fingertips, enveloping the space around Xiao Yi from all directions, interweaving into a cage of Qi.


    Jia Sichun''s face twisted malevolently, "Six Harmonies Extinction Sun Palm!"


    He opened his hands, one to the left and one to the right, with palms facing each other.


    From his palms erupted scorching vital energy like raging mes, transforming into two fiery dragons rushing towards Xiao Yi within the cage. The dragons appeared fierce and life-like, with mes that soared high enough to almost melt the arena itself.


    "Is this... really martial arts? Why do our techniques seem like child''s y before his, although we''re also in the Divine Skills Realm..." Zhao Yu swallowed nervously, his eyes filled with horror and dread.


    Elder Yan took a deep breath, his face tinged with bitterness, "This is true Divine Skills. What we''ve been cultivating is merely martial arts... Nanhuang is too small!"


    Nanhuang was indeed too small.


    So small that these family heads who presided over their respective areas couldn''t even awaken their Innate Divine Abilities when breaking through to the Divine Skills Realm.


    If they were in the capital, these Divine Skills Realm experts could only be called pseudo-Divine Skills.


    They were far inferior to those of the same realm who had awakened their Innate Divine Abilities.


    Not to mention in the Great Qian Dynasty...


    Any Divine Skills Realm cultivator who hadn''t awakened their Innate Divine Ability, even in the military, would only be cannon fodder.


    Not far away, amidst the crowd.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lord Sikong wore a grave expression as he turned toward the elder beside him, his heart filled with unease, he ventured, "Elder Wang, should you intervene?"


    "Grandfather, won''t you take action?" The young girl standing beside him looked up.


    Elder Wang chuckled and shook his head, petting the girl''s head, he smiled, "No need, that young fellow named Xiao Yi has brought me quite a few surprises! And his wife, having such a rare Ice Attribute Innate Divine Ability, if I bring this couple back, those old fellows will surely be green with envy..."


    Sikong Nan''s face shifted slightly.


    He was well aware of Elder Wang''s status and naturally understood where the elder spoke of taking them.


    Sikong Nan calmed the envy and excitement in his heart, looking towards Xiao Yi, he thought to himself, "It seems it must have been Xiao who brought forth the heavenly phenomenon back then, and now he has even caught Elder Wang''s favor. Xiao''s future is boundless indeed!"


    Meanwhile.


    The fiery dragon from the mes had already rushed toward the Four Directions Prison Cage.


    Numerous mes spewed out tongues of fire, emitting intense heat as if to incinerate all in its path to ashes.


    "Die, Xiao Yi!"


    Fang Zheng and his family had faces full of venomous resentment.


    However...


    Amidst the mes, a heaven-shattering Sword Qi burst forth.


    ```


    ```


    Whoosh!


    The silver sword light cleaved the fierce mes into two halves, and along with the entire vital energy prison, crumbled to dust under Xiao Yi''s sword edge. Following closely, Xiao Yi''s figure emerged from the mes, like the deity of fire descending upon the world.


    "Impossible¡­ How, how could you possibly break my Four Directions Prison Dragon Finger?" Jia Sichun''s face was filled with shock, disbelief written all over it.


    This was a third-grade high-level martial skill,bined with the fire attribute vital energy brought by his Innate Divine Ability, it was tremendously powerful.


    Using these two consecutive moves against his opponents, he had always been invincible!


    Boom!


    Jia Sichun''s body shook violently as tongues of fire burst forth from within him, turning him into a human-shaped me. mes spewed from his eyes, revealing his Innate Divine Ability, the ming Devil Body.


    Enveloped in the soaring demon mes, the ming Devil Body charged towards Xiao Yi: "Trinity Palm!"


    "Four Symbols Thunderous Fist!"


    "Five Directions Demon King Finger..."


    With demon mes enhancing his body, over ten different skills came crashing down like andslide, but Xiao Yi effortlessly neutralized each one. Facing Xiao Yi, who stood quietly before him, revealing no ws, Jia Sichun, even with his demon mes, still felt an icy chill throughout his body.


    Xiao Yi held the Dragon Scale Sword, looking indifferently at whatid before him: "Ten moves have passed, now it''s my turn!"


    "Sweeping a Thousand Armies!"


    A horizontal sweep of the sword, its brilliance like thousands of galloping horses.


    Boom!


    The terrifying Sword Qi sent Jia Sichun tumbling into the air, and right then, Xiao Yi''s second sword strike was upon him: "Chasing Stars and Moons!"


    Whoosh!


    This sword strike snapped the tendons in both of Jia Sichun''s hands.


    "Life Seizing Soul Chaser!"


    In an instant, dozens of sword shadows descended upon Jia Sichun''s body, obliterating the mes andpletely shattering the Innate Divine Ability, the ming Devil Body. Xiao Yi shed forward in pursuit, a foot stomping down hard.


    Bang!


    Jia Sichun''s head smashed heavily onto the arena, reverberating with a thunderous boom, spreading spiderweb-like cracks all over the stage.


    Sand flew and dust tumbled.


    As the dust settled,


    Xiao Yi stood proud between heaven and earth, while Jia Sichun was pinned beneath his foot, his head having smashed a deep pit in the arena floor, blood oozing from all seven orifices, both hands limp with snapped tendons, looking every bit the cripple.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "You''ve lost before ten moves were up!"


    Hiss!


    The arena was shrouded in silence, as quiet as death.


    Gulp!


    Someone swallowed nervously, breaking the eerie stillness.


    "I, I''m fuckin''¡­"


    "Xiao won? He, he actually defeated Jia Sichun?"


    "Jia Sichun is a Profound Level student at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, a genius who has awakened his Innate Divine Ability. Would this not mean that Xiao''s strength surpasses that of the Profound Level students at the Royal Martial Arts Academy?"


    "That''s terrifying!"


    "Xiao''s talent and strength are indeed frightening, but... he''s gotten himself into big trouble! I heard that Jia Sichun''s background is profound, his father holds a high position in the current court, and his brother is an Earth Level student at the Royal Martial Arts Academy. Xiao has no background; how can he deal with the Jia Family''s retaliation?"


    "Xiao is from the Xiao Family..."


    "The Xiao Family? They were about to expel Xiao from their family, why would they care about his life or death?"


    At this moment,


    amotion suddenly arose from the crowd: "Lord Sikong is here!"


    "Make way, Lord Sikong must havee to save Jia..."


    "Xiao Yi is as good as dead!"


    Jia Sichun, still being stepped on by Xiao Yi, regained his senses. With a bloody face, he roared ferociously, "So what if you''re stronger than me, Xiao Yi? Can your strength possiblypare to the power of my Jia Family? You''re doomed... Lord Sikong, my father is Jia Jun, a second-grade officer of the court. Help me kill him!"


    However...


    Sikong Nan did not even give Jia Sichun a nce but bowed deeply to Xiao Yi in full view of everyone, speaking loud and clear: "Sikong Nan pays respects to Mr. Xiao..."


    ```

 Chapter 38 No Ones Face Works!

    "Greetings, Mr. Xiao!"


    Sikong Nan stood in front of Xiao Yi with a face full of solemn respect, meticulous in his demeanor.


    This scene left the crowd around the tform in utter shock, "Isn''t Lord Sikong here to help Jia? Why, why is he showing such respect to Xiao Yi instead?"


    "What on earth is going on?"


    Jia Sichun was thoroughly confused.


    The moment they saw Sikong Nan, everyone, including Jia, thought he was there to help them.


    But then...


    It was as if Sikong Nan didn''t even see him.


    It felt like an invisible p had fiercely struck his face, causing a burning sting on his cheek. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "Sikong Nan, do you not see that this young master is trapped here? Won''t you lend a hand and rescue me?"


    "Shut up!"


    Xiao Yi kicked, shattering all of Jia Sichun''s teeth, then turned to Sikong Nan, "Lord Sikong, what brings you to me?"


    Sikong Nan''s respectful stance didn''t waver, "Mr. Xiao, Elder Wang wishes to see you!"


    "Elder Wang?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, not knowing who Elder Wang referred to, but his impression of Sikong Nan was not bad, so he replied, "Wait a moment. Once I have killed him, I will go with you!"


    "This..."


    Sikong Nan''s expression slightly changed.


    Because Elder Wang highly valued Xiao Yi, he pretended not to see Jia Sichun, but if Jia Sichun were to be in by Xiao Yi right before his eyes, it would be difficult for him to escape me when Jia''s father sought ountability.


    As Sikong Nan struggled with this dilemma, a hoarse voice came from the crowd, "Young friend, could you do an old man a favor and spare his life?"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was stunned, and looked in the direction of the voice.


    Sikong Nan was already standing aside with respect, "Elder Wang!"


    "Hmm!"


    Elder Wang smiled, his expression kind as he looked at Xiao Yi, "I am Wang Zhiyuan!"


    "Wang Zhiyuan? Why does that name sound so familiar?"


    "Wait, isn''t the vice chancellor of the Royal Martial Arts Academy also named Wang Zhiyuan?"


    "Hiss! No way? The vice chancellor of the Royal Martial Arts Academy? Why, why would hee here?"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze towards Elder Wang was filled with confusion.


    If this man could serve as vice chancellor at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he was definitely one of the top figures in the Tianqing Kingdom. Why would hee to this remote and deste ce?


    Just as Xiao Yi was about to speak, Jia Sichun, as if grabbing onto a lifeline, screamed hysterically, "Elder Wang, save me... my father is Jia Jun, my brother is Jia Sidao, please save me..." His face turned red with excitement as he stared at Xiao Yi with hatred, "Hahaha, you''re as good as dead, dog! Elder Wang is famously protective of his charges, and I am a genius disciple of the Royal Martial Arts Academy. He will definitely take a stand for me!"


    In Jia Sichun''s eyes, the arrival of Elder Wang was his ultimate reliance!


    The thought of being trampled underfoot by Xiao Yi, an ant he had never taken seriously, subjected to immense humiliation, made Jia Sichun''s heart brim with tremendous hatred.


    His vindictive gaze carried the thrill of revenge.


    Jia Sichun''s eyes red fiercely at Xiao Yi, brimming with arrogance as he dered, "You dog, if you want to save your wretched life, you can kneel before this young master. If you kneel, beg for mercy, and send Fang Qingzhu clean to my bed, I might consider sparing your miserable life!"


    Elder Wang was present, always known to be protective.


    In Jia Sichun''s eyes, he was already out of harm''s way, naturally emboldened.


    Phew!


    Xiao Yi let out a deep breath and, with a raised eyebrow, looked at Wang Zhiyuan who had appeared in front of him and smiled, "As the saying goes, heaven may allow one tomit certain faults, but one brings destruction upon oneself. I was willing to spare him for the sake of Vice Dean Wang''s face, but he bore down on me aggressively, intent onying hands on Qingzhu. Since he touched my reverse scale, nobody''s face can save him now!"


    His smile remained, but his expression became colder and colder.


    In his eyes,


    Cold lights shed like knives, like swords, overwhelming.


    Jia Sichun sneered repeatedly, arrogantly saying, "Xiao Yi, you doglike creature really dare to put on airs! Nobody''s face can save me? Hmph, who do you think you are? Standing in front of you is the Vice Dean of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and you dare to threaten me in his presence? You''re simply courting death!"


    Xiao Yi just looked at Wang Zhiyuan.


    Waiting for his response.


    "s..."


    Wang Zhiyuan nced at Jia Sichun, who was still shouting, and a trace of helplessness swept across his face as he shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "Every dragon has a reverse scale, and touching it means death. For a man, his wife and children are his reverse scale... Jia Sichun, you''re determined to seek death, I truly cannot help you!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Boom!


    The radiant smile on Jia Sichun''s face instantly copsed.


    He looked at Wang Zhiyuan with disbelief, his head buzzing as if his breath had ceased, "Wang, Vice Dean Wang, what, what did you say?"


    Wang Zhiyuan sighed, "If you seek death on your own, you can''t me anyone else!"


    Thump!


    This sudden thunderbolt made Jia Sichun tremble as if struck by lightning, staring nkly at Wang Zhiyuan for a long while without saying a word. Suddenly, with a hoarse cry as if gasping for air after being suffocated, Jia Sichun began to breathe in great gulps, his face deathly pale, "Vice Dean Wang, I, I am a Profound Level student, my brother is an Earth Level student, my father is a second-ranked official of the current reign... How could you possibly not save me? You can''t not save me, hurry and kill this damn dog to save me, save me..."


    His voice grew louder, but it was also increasingly desperate.


    In the hysterical roar,


    Jia Sichun kept calling out his father''s and brother''s statuses, emphasizing the powerful background, that each alone belonged to the elite echelons of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    But today...


    The very things he once took pride in could not save him.


    "How, how could this be? This is just the remote Nanhuang, as long as I mention my name, who dares to disrespect me? As long as I mention my father and brother''s names, who dares not to treat me with the utmost respect? Why, why do you dare to kill me? Why..."


    Suddenly, Jia Sichun knelt on the ground with a plop, wailing pitifully, begging in a lowly manner, "Xiao, please spare my life, I beg you not to kill me, I know I was wrong, I will never dare again... "


    Thud, thud, thud!


    Jia Sichun kept kowtowing toward Xiao Yi, his head striking the ground heavily, creating a dull sound.


    Each impact made one''s heart skip a beat.


    All around the arena was silent.


    Not long ago...


    Jia Sichun was full of vigor, so dominant and aggressive.


    As if aside from Elder Tian, he was to be honored as the elder brother!


    And now?


    He was doing the very thing those lowly ants in his eyes used to do, kneeling humbly on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy, lowly like a dog!


    "If only you had known, why did you do it to begin with?"


    Xiao Yi looked at Jia Sichun who was begging fearfully like a dog that had lost its home. As he lightly shook his head, his sword swept across. The sword sealed the throat, blood gushed like a fountain, and with a thud, the head rolled onto the ground. As the blood sprayed till thest drop, that was also exactly when Xiao Yi''s treasured sword returned to its sheath.


    The silver light disappearing into the scabbard was an image forever unforgettable to those who witnessed this scene...

 Chapter 39 You Reap What You Sow

    Xiao Yi flipped his hand and put the longsword into the storage ring.


    The murderous intent on his face faded, reced by a touch of gentleness. He smiled and said, "Elder Wang, please wait a moment, let me handle the matters here first!"


    "Please do!"


    Wang Zhiyuan nodded, his gaze at Xiao Yi filled with increasing admiration.


    To treat enemies with the cold ruthlessness of a harsh winter, yet extend the warmth of spring to friends.


    This is how a true man ought to be!


    Xiao Yi looked towards Fang Qingzhu, gently holding her soft palm, and smiled, "Qingzhu, from now on you will be the head of the Fang Family!"


    Fang Qingzhu was stunned, her expressionplex.


    The head of the Fang Family, huh?


    She had exerted all her effort to keep her position as the heir apparent, merely seeking the recognition of her parents. But now that she knew she was not really a member of the Fang Family, what inheritance could she speak of?


    Fang Qingzhu forced a smile and said, "From today on, I have nothing to do with the Fang Family anymore. Whoever wants this position of family head can have it!"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, thenughed, "Alright, then don''t take it!"


    Beneath the stage.


    Suddenly, Fang Hao''s voice rang out, "Sister, since you don''t want this position of family head, then give it to me!"


    Liu Yun''s eyes shone brightly, shamelessly saying, "That''s right Qingzhu, even though you''re not our own flesh and blood, we''ve raised you for more than a decade. Give the position of family head over to your brother! That way, it would be like repaying us for our kindness in raising you!"


    Fang Zheng''s face also showed interest.


    Before Fang Tianhao passed away, they had no chance at the position of family head.


    But now...


    With Fang Tianhao and Fang Jin gone, their branch would be the only one left in power in the Fang Family.


    Fang Qingzhu looked at the two with disdain in her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "Those who give birth without raising, a severed finger can repay. Those who raise without giving birth, eternal gratitude is owed. Although you raised me just to use me, I cannot repay this kindness. You can take the position of family head of the Fang Family if you want! Just from today onwards, I no longer have anything to do with you!"


    "Good, good, good, no more ties!"


    "Haha, Hao''er, you''ll be the family head from now on!"


    Fang Zheng and his family of three were overjoyed, hugging each other in celebration.


    Everyone around them couldn''t help but shake their heads in pity, "This family of three is incurably foolish!"


    "Given the current state of the Fang Family, even if they take control, how could they maintain such an inheritance?"


    "The entire Fang Family are fools... Had they sincerely apologized, Fang Qingzhu might have still been mindful of past kindness, and taken care of them in the future. Now... I reckon the Fang Family won''tst three months before theirplete downfall!"


    "Three months? If hests a month, I''ll take your surname..."


    The chatter of the people made Fang Zheng''s trioe to a sudden realization.


    Without absolute strength, how could they possibly hold onto the Fang Family?


    Even if they took the position of family head now, who could preserve them against the increasingly fiercepetition in the future?


    Upon this thought.


    The three hurriedly turned to Fang Qingzhu, "Qingzhu, we were wrong, we still treat you as our own daughter..."


    Fang Qingzhu''s face turned pale.


    She saw their true colors clearly and thoroughly.


    She took a deep breath, tears in her eyes, and said through gritted teeth, "I''ve already said, I have nothing more to do with the Fang Family, or with you!"


    "Fang Qingzhu you can''t do this, I raised you for eighteen years..."


    "You illegitimate child, it''s no surprise your own parents abandoned you..."


    "You ungrateful wretch..."


    As they watched Fang Qingzhu''s resolute face, Fang Zheng and his family were furious, roaring continuously.


    Fang Qingzhu had her eyes tightly closed, but Xiao Yi, standing by her side, could feel her body tremble slightly, a cold glint crossing his eyes as he nced over Zhao Yu and Elder Yan.


    Both of them nodded at the same time, their looks of pitynding together on the family of three of Fang Zheng.


    It indeed confirmed what Xiao Yi had said earlier, "Heavenly sins can be forgiven, but one brings about his own destruction¡ªcannot live!"


    Truly, this family of three, Fang Zheng, had dug their own grave!


    Watching as Zhao Yu and Elder Yan took Fang Zheng and his family away, Xiao Yi took Fang Qingzhu by the hand and approached Wang Zhiyuan, "Elder Wang, sorry to have kept you waiting!"


    "Not at all!"


    Wang Zhiyuan chuckled, then said, "Xiao Yi, are you wondering why I managed to find you?"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Wang Zhiyuan smiled and called out to the crowd, "Xue''er, aren''t you going toe and greet Xiao Yi, young friend?"


    "Grandfather!"


    Xue''er walked out from the crowd, stood by Wang Zhiyuan''s side, and stuck out her tongue yfully towards Xiao Yi, "Brother Xiao Yi, do you remember me?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    Wasn''t this the woman he had saved in the Southern Deste Mountain Range? He nodded his head, a look of realization dawning as he turned to Wang Zhiyuan, "I had no idea that Xue''er was actually the granddaughter of Elder Wang!"


    "Hahaha, such is the way of the world, everything is bound by destiny!" said Wang Zhiyuan with a smile, before continuing, "This girl Xue''er, being mischievous, ran out from home on her own. If she hadn''t encountered you, I''m afraid she might have already met with disaster!"


    While speaking, Wang Zhiyuan red fiercely at Xue''er.


    Xue''er looked a bit wronged and pouted.


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "It was but a small effort, not worth mentioning!"


    "It may have been a small effort for you, but for me, it''s a favor as great as the heavens!"


    Xue''er was the Wang Family''s third generation''s only girl, greatly adored, and her mother''s background was extremely formidable. If anything had happened to Xue''er, let alone the five cities of Nanhuang being wiped off the map of the Tianqing Kingdom, even the Wang Family would suffer, he continued, "Xiao Yi, my reason foring today is to give thanks for saving Xue''er and to offer you some treasures as a token of gratitude!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi shook his head to refuse.


    "Do not be hasty to refuse, just hear me out... Before meeting you, I intended to grant you some Cultivation Techniques or treasures aspensation, but now, I have changed my mind!"


    Wang Zhiyuan''s gaze was intense as he stared at Xiao Yi and said in a solemn voice, "Nanhuang is but a small corner of the world. Here, some pseudo-Divine Skills wielders are already considered big shots, but in the Royal City, in the Great Qian Dynasty... even in the whole Heavenly Yuan Realm, such pseudo-Divine Skills wielders are not worth mentioning. I believe you would never want to be confined here, right?"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Wang Zhiyuan, "Elder Wang, please speak frankly."


    Wang Zhiyuan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "The path of martial arts requires talent, for sure, but resources are equally indispensable. I want to invite you to the Royal City to join our Royal Martial Arts Academy. With your talent and strength, you will definitely shine. You will be able to obtain more resources from the Martial Arts Institute..."


    Xiao Yi frowned.


    Leaving Nanhuang was a certainty.


    But...


    He nced at Fang Qingzhu by his side.


    Fang Qingzhu, holding Xiao Yi''s hand, wore a tender smile on her face and softly said, "Brother Xiao Yi, do you remember what I once told you?"


    Xiao Yi''s body trembled.


    How could he forget those words?


    To follow whomsoever she would marry!


    Fang Qingzhu continued, "As long as you don''t dislike me for being an unwanted orphan, wherever you go, I will follow!"


    Whew!


    Xiao Yi gripped Fang Qingzhu''s soft hand tightly and said firmly, "Alright, no matter where I go in the future, I will take you with me!" He looked up at Wang Zhiyuan and said in a deep voice, "Elder Wang, when do we depart?"


    Wang Zhiyuan''s face showed delight, saying, "There''s only half a month left until the next selection. We set off tomorrow, how does that sound?"


    Xiao Yi looked at Fang Qingzhu, and as the two of them had no attachment to Nanhuang City anymore, he nodded and said, "Then we leave tomorrow!"


    His gaze turned towards the distant horizon, towards the direction of the Royal City of the Tianqing Kingdom, and also the closest direction to the Great Qian Dynasty, his palm quietly clenched, his eyes suddenly sharp, "Xiao Tianjiao, the distance between us is getting shorter."

 Chapter 40 Mingjian Manor

    Late at night, the Fang Family.


    Fang Zheng, Fang Hao, and Liu Yun were gathered together.


    Fang Haoined indignantly, "Dad, Mom, that Fang Qingzhu is really too ungrateful, isn''t she? We even allowed her to return to the Fang Family, yet not only did she refuse, but she also had Zhao Yu and Elder Yan drive us away. It''s truly hateful!"


    Liu Yun, too, had an aggrieved look and a venomous gleam in her eye, "That bastard is a white-eyed wolf, not valuing us at all!"


    "Shut up!"


    Fang Zheng snorted coldly, "Fang Qingzhu isn''t the little girl that we could manipte before; she now has the backing of Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yi has gained the favor of that Elder Wang, who has unlimited prospects for the future."


    That''s the vice-principal of the Royal Martial Arts Academy!


    A figure who could rank within the top ten throughout the entire Tianqing Kingdom.


    If the Fang Family could connect with Elder Wang, not to mention dominating Nanhuang, it would even be possible to enter the royal capital and be one of the noble families of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    Liu Yun said hatefully, "They really have stumbled upon good luck."


    Fang Hao spoke with a worried face, "Dad, now that our family no longer has a warrior of the Divine Skills Realm to take charge, what shall we do in the future?"


    In this world where the weak are prey to the strong, without absolute martial dominance, even owning a mountain of gold would be emptied out.


    The Fang Family, being one of the four great families of Nanhuang City.


    Their main advantage had been having Fang Tianhao, a powerful warrior of the Divine Skills Realm.


    Now that Fang Tianhao had been killed, Fang Jin had perished, and Fang Qingzhu had been forced to leave the Fang Family.


    It was a precarious situation!


    Fang Zheng''s sinister smile emerged, "Don''t worry, I''ve already nned everything. Fang Qingzhu thinks she can cast us aside with just the position of family head? Simply a fool''s dream... Aren''t they going to the capital? Once they leave, we will sell off our assets, take the money, and go to the capital to seek them out."


    "Ah? Seek her out? She doesn''t acknowledge us anymore, what''s the point of going to her..." Liu Yun asked, puzzled.


    Fang Zhengughed loudly, "She''s nothing but a bastard. It''s only we who can abandon her, since when does she have the right to abandon us? Once we get to the capital, if she dares to ignore us, we will spread the news everywhere that Fang Qingzhu abandoned her parents and siblings to please Xiao Yi. ''A person''s face is like the bark of a tree''... As long as she wants to make it in the capital, she won''t dare dismiss us. With their support, we canpletely re-establish the Fang Family there in the capital..."


    "So, we''ll be nobility of the capital in the future?"


    "Hahaha, Dad''s n is indeed the best!"


    While the family of three was smugly pleased with their calctions, a frosty voice suddenly rang out, "You might not live to see that moment!"


    "Huh?"


    "Who?"


    All three trembled, only to see Zhao Yu and Elder Yan stepping out from the darkness.


    Hiss!


    Theirplexions suddenly changed.


    All traces of sinister expression vanished from Fang Zheng''s face, reced by a hint of ttery and sycophancy, "Zhao Family Head, Elder Yan, may I ask why you haveete at night?"


    "On the orders of Young Master Xiao, we''re here to send you off to theherworld!" Zhao Yu said calmly.


    The hint of pity in Elder Yan''s eyes had vanished upon hearing the conversation of the three, his expression turned ice cold as he said, "Such filthy creatures like you don''t deserve to live in this world."


    "No, you can''t kill us, I am Fang Qingzhu''s father..."


    "Xiao Yi, Fang Qingzhu, you ungrateful white-eyed wolves..."


    Elder Yan scoffed, "Kill them!"


    He acted simultaneously with Zhao Yu.


    Blood sttered, and three heads rolled in a pool of blood, their eyes wide with anger and filled with despair...


    ......


    Three dayster, Mingjian City.


    This city lies on the essential path from Nanhuang to the royal capital, and with the Tianqing Kingdom''s number one Sword Forging Family, Mingjian Manor, located within, hence its name.


    This Sword Mountain Manor has been a swordsmithing family for generations.


    Inside the manor, there''s even a Sword Tomb.


    Countless famous swords were nurtured within the Sword Tomb, especially half of the renowned top ten swords of the Tianqing Kingdom originated from there.


    Each year, Sword Mountain Manor would open the Sword Tomb to the public. Anyone who pays ten thousand taels of silver could enter the Sword Tomb. If fated, they could obtain the acknowledgment of a primeval sword and take it away. Whenever the Sword Tomb opened, Mingjian City would be packed with people, attracting countless strong individuals from all over the Tianqing Kingdom.


    On a wide imperial road.


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu rode on tall horses, looking from afar at the majestic Mingjian City and the bustling crowd along the way. Fang Qingzhu sighed and said, "I''ve long heard that the liveliest time in Mingjian City is when the Sword Tomb opens each year. I never expected that we''d coincide with it!"


    "The Sword Forging Skill of Sword Mountain Manor is indeed unparalleled in the Tianqing Kingdom. With half of the top ten famous swordsing from Sword Mountain Manor, naturally, there are many people whoe for its fame," Xiao Yi nodded in agreement.


    The two of them were originally traveling with Wang Zhiyuan.


    But yesterday, Wang Zhiyuan received a secret missive from the Royal Martial Arts Academy and hurried away with Wang Xue''er, leaving only the two of them behind.


    "Xiao Yi, you have now reached the Spiritual Realm Cultivation. The Crimson me Chasing Wind Sword is no longer suitable for you as a weapon. Since it happens to be the time when the Sword Tomb is open, why don''t we go take a look together?" Fang Qingzhu looked at Xiao Yi with a smile, her lips slightly curving up, revealing a sharp little canine tooth.


    Xiao Yi thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, let''s go see what this Sword Tomb is all about!"


    After stepping into the Divine Skills Realm, a second-grade primeval weapon was indeed somewhat underpowered.


    Especially after he had mastered Sword Intent, his requirement for a primeval weapon had be much more stringent.


    If he could obtain a weapon that suited him, indeed, it could greatly increase hisbat power.


    The two made their way to the city and settled down at an inn before heading to Sword Mountain Manor.


    The Sword Tomb would open at sunset.


    After paying twenty thousand taels of silver and receiving the pass tokens at Sword Mountain Manor, they waited outside the Sword Tomb.


    It was currently midday.


    The scorching sun was high, baking the earth as Xiao Yi and hispanion found a quiet shady spot to sit under a tree.


    They had arrived early and it wasn''t long before the square gradually filled with people, bing a sea of heads.


    Xiao Yi murmured, "Sword Mountain Manor is making a good business. Ten thousand taels per person, and there are at least a thousand people here... Just the entry fee alones them over ten million..."


    A second-grade primeval weapon is worth over a hundred thousand taels of silver, while a third-grade one values at over a million taels.


    However, each time the Sword Tomb opens, most that could be taken away are first and second-grade primeval weapons.


    Third-grade primeval weapons are extremely rare, let alone those that rank among the top ten swords of the Tianqing Kingdom, which are fourth-grade primeval weapons. These appear only once in several decades; for Sword Mountain Manor, this is indeed a no-loss business.


    "Hey, you two, get lost! This spot is mine now!" A chubby-faced young man appeared in front of them, with sweat drenching his body and an impatient expression as he urged them on.


    Xiao Yi frowned and nced at a small patch of shade beside them, saying, "Isn''t there still space over there?"


    "Who the hell are you to sit next to this young master?" the young man, with his Qi-Blood flowing like a torrent, had cultivated to the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, looked down at him with arrogance,"Make yourself scarce, or don''t me this young master for not being polite!"


    Fang Qingzhu slightly furrowed her brows, "We were here first, why should we give up our spot to you?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What a beautiful chick!"


    The young man leered at Fang Qingzhu, his eyes lighting up, his face wearing ascivious grin, "Beauty, you can stay. Later, you can give this young master a shoulder massage or something. As for you, you''re like a dog and you think you deserve to sit next to such a beautiful girl? Get lost right now, or I''ll throw you out myself!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "Get lost!"


    "Fuck, you''re asking for it!"


    Enraged, the young man''s palm surged with vital energy as he struck towards Xiao Yi''s head.


    Boom!


    Amidst a muffled collision, the young man was sent flying backward for a good ten meters, crashing to the ground with a thud. He knelt on the floor, covering his abdomen, howling in pain, continuously vomiting acid, his venomous gaze locked on Xiao Yi, "You... you''re dead meat. I won''t let this go..."


    "If you don''t leave now, I''ll ughter you!" Xiao Yi said coldly.


    The young man''s face turned ghostly pale, feeling chilled to the bone, not daring to dy any longer, he scrambled away in pain and embarrassment...

 Chapter 41 The Sword Tomb

    "Brother, you better get out of here fast. That fat guy just now is no ordinary person!"


    "Indeed, he is from the capital, said to be a student of the Royal Martial Arts Academy. Quite a few people havee from the academy this time; you really should leave quickly!"


    A few people whispered their warnings.


    Xiao Yi nodded his thanks to them but did not move an inch.


    Seeing this, the others said no more, only feeling that Xiao Yi was too confident, "Young people haven''t suffered enough; they don''t know how treacherous the world can be!"


    "We''ve warned him. If he doesn''t run, it''s not our fault!"


    Fang Qingzhu looked at Xiao Yi worriedly, "Brother Xiao Yi, we..."


    "Don''t worry!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively; he had ughtered students from the Martial Arts Institute before and said, "Qingzhu, remember to stay close to me once we enter the Sword Tomb!"


    "Okay!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded.


    Half a day passed by swiftly.


    The sun set in the west, and the silver moon began to rise.


    Dong!


    A dull bell toll suddenly sounded, and nearly two thousand formidable figures rose up in unison, their eyes zing as they looked toward the hundred-foot-high hill before them. The hilly within Mingjian Manor, and the Sword Tomb was built into the belly of this hill. As the rumble sounded, the stone door to the Tomb opened.


    Two Divine Skill practitioners from Sword Mountain Manor stood to the left and right, watching the crowd, "Gentlemen, the Sword Tomb will be open for an hour. Whether or not you obtain a Yuan weapon, you muste out within that time. Otherwise, you will be locked inside the Sword Tomb, and toe out, you will have to wait until next year''s opening!"


    "No worries, we understand the rules!"


    "If you haven''t gained recognition from a famed sword within an hour, then you''re just not destined for the swords inside. Staying longer would be a waste of time!"


    The crowd responded one after another.


    The two Divine Skill practitioners were not the least bit displeased by the interruption and said indifferently, "Inside the Sword Tomb, there are a total of 18,000 Grade One swords, 1,800 Grade Two swords, 180 Grade Three swords, and 18 Grade Four swords. Among them, six are regarded as the ten great famous swords of the Tianqing Kingdom, but five have already been taken, leaving only thest one still within the Sword Tomb!"


    The other continued, "Inside the Sword Tomb, you will see various sword steles, each representing a famous sword. As long as you gain the sword''s acknowledgment, you can take it with you. Gentlemen, please enter the Sword Tomb!"


    The crowd hurried toward the entrance of the Sword Tomb.


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu walked shoulder to shoulder, but at the entrance, they encountered the fat man whom he had sted away earlier.


    The fat man red at Xiao Yi with venomous hatred; at his side were a young man and woman.


    Both were d in brocade robes, and their Qi-Blood surged like dragons and tigers, their cultivation clearly at least at the Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm.


    The fat man pointed at Xiao Yi and said to the young man, "Brother Fan, this is the bastard who hit me!"


    The brocad-robed young man squinted at Xiao Yi and said coolly, "You''ve got guts to strike someone connected to Yun Fan. I''ll give you a chance to end yourself. If I make a move, you won''t even be able to die easily!"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly, "A good dog doesn''t block the way!"


    "Hm?"


    Yun Fan''s face darkened, and he sneered, "Very well, very well. Since I became a Profound Level disciple of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, you''re the first to speak to me like that. You could have died quickly if you chose tomit suicide, but since you..."


    Yun Fan''s voice suddenly cut off.


    His body flew backward involuntarily, blood spewing from his mouth as he crashed with a thud ten meters away.


    Hiss!


    The surrounding crowd was dumbfounded, watching Xiao Yi in disbelief, "What, what just happened? What exactly went down just now?"


    ```


    "I, I didn''t even see how he made his move..."


    Yun Fan was spitting out blood, struggling several times to get up, only to heavily crash back onto the ground each time.


    The fatty and the brocade-robed woman wore expressions of astonishment, looking at each other, before turning their gaze to Xiao Yi in unison. The fatty said with a venomous look, "You dare injure Yun Fan? You''re dead meat. His brother is Yun Lei, the super genius on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List. He will never let you go!"


    "Enough noise!"


    With a casual p, Xiao Yi''s palmnded on the fatty''s face. Thetter''s head snapped around, his neck twisting grotesquely like a braided rope, and with a thud, he fell to the ground, dead.


    The fatty''s repeated provocations had thoroughly enraged him.


    He was a Heaven-Suppressing Godly General.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Subduing the heavens, the God-Sealing Demon-Suppressing.


    How could he endure repeated provocation?


    His eyes swept over the brocade-robed woman as he said coldly, "You should feel lucky that I don''t hit women; otherwise, you would be a corpse by now!"


    "You, you''re insane, you dare..." As the brocade-robed woman was speaking, her face too was met with a p.


    She covered her face in disbelief, turning to look at Fang Qingzhu who had appeared before her.


    Fang Qingzhu''s palm moved like a phantom, as p after pnded on the woman''s face incessantly, making her see stars and dizzying her. It was then that she stopped, dusting her hands off and saying, "Xiao Yi doesn''t deign to strike women, but I quite enjoy beating them. If you dare point fingers at Xiao Yi again, I''ll twist your neck off!"


    With tears welling up in her eyes and a face full of fear, the brocade-robed woman didn''t dare to say another word.


    Fang Qingzhu returned to her gentle demeanor, taking Xiao Yi''s arm, "Xiao Yi, let''s go."


    Xiao Yi sighed, following her into the Sword Tomb.


    Two powerhouses from Mingjian Manor exchanged nces. Such ughter wasmonce in Sword Mountain Manor; which year had the Sword Tomb opening not resulted in the death of hundreds? They had long grown ustomed to it, and with a call, they ordered someone to carry the fatty''s body away.


    Only then did they turn to Yun Fan and the other, "Do you still want to enter the Sword Tomb?"


    "Enter my ass!"


    Yun Fan cursed angrily, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with a ferocious murderous intent, "Dare to hit me? If I don''t tear him to pieces, I might as well write my name, Yun Fan, backwards..."


    "Fan, you must avenge me!" the brocade-robed woman said with a swollen face, looking pitiful.


    The murderous intent in Yun Fan''s eyes grew more intense: "My brother has some connections with the Third Elder of Sword Mountain Manor. I''ll go to him right now... This dog dares to hit me? And to kill my dog? I''ll make sure he''s torn to pieces..."


    The brocade-robed woman''s eyes flickered with a biting chill, and she gritted her teeth, "And that disgusting woman, I''ll scratch her face, then find a bunch of beggars to publicly humiliate her..."


    ......


    Inside the Sword Tomb.


    This was within the belly of the mountain, yet it was a world unto itself.


    The tomb was circr, surrounded byyers of caves, each housing a sword stele. In the very center, there was a gigantic circr cavern stretching over a kilometer, as if it led straight to the heart of the earth.


    Below...


    Strands of moltenva rolled, their fiery red color illuminating the entire Sword Tomb; the lower one went, the higher the temperature.


    At the same time...


    The stronger the swords became!


    "Xiao Yi, there are so many sword steles here, how do we choose?" Fang Qingzhu was somewhat dazzled by the view; the Sword Tomb contained over a hundred thousand steles, creating a dizzying array.


    Xiao Yi was about to speak, but his expression shifted, looking towards the deepest part of the Sword Tomb, "Over there... It seems like something is calling out to me?"


    ```

 Chapter 42 Suicide?

    "It seems like something is drawing me in..."


    Xiao Yi looked at the scaldingva below and spoke in a deep voice.


    Fang Qingzhu was startled and peered at the churning crimsonva. The rolling heat waves were still heart-stopping even from a kilometer away, "Xiao Yi, maybe there''s an unrivaled legendary sword down there that''s destined for you!"


    Just like the zing Wind Pursuit Sword before.


    Although Fang Tianhao had specially prepared it for Fang Jin, Fang Jin could not gain its recognition. Instead, Xiao Yi was able to control it with ease.


    This is the destiny of a sword!


    There has always been the saying that legendary swords are matched with heroes!


    This is not without reason, as some legendary swords have their own spirit and can choose their owners.


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Then let''s go down and have a look!"


    "Yeah!"


    The two of them walked towards the deeper parts of the sword grave.


    Along the way, they constantly encountered powerful individuals seeking swords, each trying tomunicate with the sword stele.


    Some were joyful; some were sorrowful.


    Overall, the chances of being recognized by a legendary sword were incredibly low, about one in a hundred, and usually, it would be a first or second-tier elemental weapon.


    "I''ve heard that within the Mingjian Manor''s sword grave, there is actually a fifth-tier elemental legendary sword hidden. Once it appears, it could be ranked among the top three legendary swords. Who knows where it''s actually hidden?"


    "Even if you found that sword, you wouldn''t be able to take it away!"


    "It is said that the current Crown Prince once entered the sword grave and found that fifth-tier legendary sword, but still he could not take it with him..."


    "Hisss, the Crown Prince is the strongest Tianjiaao in the Tianqing Kingdom, and even he couldn''t get the sword''s recognition. Then who can take it away?"


    Hearing the conversations of many along the way, Fang Qingzhu squinted her eyes, longing for it, "A fifth-tier elemental weapon? How powerful must that weapon be?"


    In Nanhuang City.


    A second-tier elemental weapon alone can lead to a struggle among all parties.


    Let alone a fifth-tier one?


    Xiao Yiughed and said, "If I can find that fifth-tier elemental weapon, I will try to tame it. Then you will know how powerful it is!"


    "Dude, you really don''t know the height of the sky!" A rough voice rang out beside them like muffled thunder, rumbling, "You think you can tame a fifth-tier elemental weapon? Are you sure you''re not joking?"


    The speaker was a muscr young man with a bald head, towering at two meters tall, his muscles as distinct as lead blocks, bristling with explosive power.


    He carried a pitch-ck heavy sword on his back.


    And he was now looking at Xiao Yi with a mocking expression.


    Fang Qingzhu frowned slightly and said, "If my Xiao Yi can''t tame that fifth-tier elemental weapon, do you think you can?"


    "Of course, I, Niu Dali, am a born swordsman. If anyone here can get that fifth-tier elemental weapon, it must be me! As for him..." Niu Dali looked at Xiao Yi from the corner of his eye and sneered, "If he can get the recognition of that fifth-tier elemental weapon, I, Niu Dali, will call him my big brother!"


    At that moment...


    Whoosh!


    A strong individual attempted to forcefully break open a sword stele, only to be repelled by the stele, with endless Sword Qi soaring into the sky, sending him flying into the Lava Lake.


    Theva suddenly exploded, waves of heat shooting into the sky and swallowing the man whole.


    Not even his bones remained!


    Hisss!


    Everyone took a sharp breath, "Has this guy gone mad? How dare he attack a sword stele?"


    "I heard this person has already entered the Sword Tomb for the tenth time," someone said. "The previous nine times, he came away with nothing. It seems he''s gone mad..."


    "Attack the Sword Stele? He truly knows nothing of life and death!"


    Niu Dali sneered, and suddenly seeing Xiao Yi''s gaze firmly fixed on the scorching Lava Lake, he couldn''t help but tease, "What? You''re not seriously thinking about that fifth-grade Yuan weapon at the bottom of theva, are you? You''re not the first one with that idea. There have been others who tried jumping into the Lava Lake, and they all ended up on a one-way road to death. I''m telling you, don''t be stupid!"


    Without saying a word, Xiao Yi''s eyes grew increasingly bright as he stared at theva.


    That moment when the powerful figure was devoured by theva, the feeling of being deeply attracted and called to had suddenly intensified.


    He was almost certain...


    That which was calling out to him was indeed beneath the scorchingva.


    Seeing Xiao Yi''s contemtive face, Niu Dali was startled, "Hey, you''re not really thinking of jumping in, are you?"


    Fang Qingzhu was also taken aback, her worried eyes fixed on Xiao Yi as she gently tugged at his sleeve, "Xiao Yi, safety first!"


    "No matter!"


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, feeling an extremely strong premonition that a huge opportunity was waiting for him beneath theva. However, even for a cultivator in the Golden Core Realm, falling into that scorchingva would most likely result in certain death.


    He had to be cautious.


    Xiao Yi drew out the Dragon Scale Sword and stabbed it towards the ground below.


    Whoosh!


    The Dragon Scale Sword plunged into the Lava Lake, immediately stirring up a series of towering mes. The entire Lava Lake seemed toe to life, as waves of heat overturned, and columns ofva shot up to the sky, turning into ferocious fire dragons that wrapped around the Dragon Scale Sword and dragged it into theva.


    Xiao Yi''s actions caught everyone''s attention. They looked at him as if he were a lunatic, "Has this guy gone crazy? He just threw a second-grade Yuan weapon down there?"


    "You see him staring at the Lava Lake; he''s not thinking of jumping in, is he?"


    "Hahaha, I guess another failure who kept entering the Sword Tomb without sess has lost his mind..."


    However...


    Xiao Yi seemingly did not hear their ridicule, his eyes shining with brilliance as he stared at the Lava Lake, his face revealing a look of ecstasy, "Yes, it''s down there... It''s calling me, telling me to jump!"


    "Xiao Yi..." Fang Qingzhu said with a face full of worry.


    Xiao Yi patted her hand reassuringly, "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing! Just wait here for me, I''ll be right back!"


    Niu Dali frowned, "Buddy, don''t be impulsive! If you jump, you''re finished for life¡ªcalm down!"


    "Fortune favors the bold, and this risk is worth taking!"


    Xiao Yi leaped into the air, somersaulting several times amidst the crowd''s exmations and with a whoosh, plunged towards the scorching Lava Lake below. The zing Wind Pursuit Sword appeared in his hand, and he unleashed a series of sharp moves, "Sweeping a Thousand Armies!"


    "Chasing Stars, Pursuing the Moon!"


    "Life Seizing Soul Chaser..."


    Under the bombardment of Xiao Yi''s sword moves, the Lava Lake exploded with noise, forcibly cleaved open a path.


    However...


    The Lava Lake was bottomless, and countless streams ofva converged from all directions, quickly filling in the path he had created. The surface of theke went silent, showing no trace of Xiao Yi.


    "Hahaha, that idiot actually jumped in himself?"


    "This is killing me, I''ll beughing about this joke for a lifetime!"


    Niu Dali sighed, "The guy''s got courage, but he''s a bit off in the head!"


    Fang Qingzhu bit her lip tightly, her eyes filled with determination, "Xiao Yi, Qingzhu will wait for your return. If the Sword Tomb closes and you haven''te back, Qingzhu will go down to apany you!"


    Just at that moment,n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    a scar-faced man appeared before Fang Qingzhu, rubbing his hands in front of him, his eyes gleaming as he leered at her, "Prettydy, your lover has already jumped into the Lava Lake tomit suicide. From now on, you''ll follow me!"

 Chapter 43 Sword Intent Shakes the Heavens, Ten Thousand Swords Chime in Unison!

    "From now on, you just follow me, sister! I''ll take good care of you!"


    The scar-faced man with a chubby face leered at Fang Qingzhu, rubbing his hands back and forth, looking sleazy.


    The neer indeed possessed considerable strength.


    Having reached the Sixth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he exuded an aura filled with evil qi and was clearly of a malevolent nature.


    Fang Qingzhu frowned slightly, "Get out of my way!"


    "Oh? Fiery temper, I like a little chili pepper like you. Come, let brother touch you..." The scar-faced man licked his lips with his crimson tongue, hisrge palm reaching towards Fang Qingzhu''s body.


    "Back off!"


    Fang Qingzhu''s Purple Cloud Whipshed out fiercely, sending the scarred man''s hand iling back.


    A startling bloodstain appeared on the back of his hand.


    The scar-faced man''s expression darkened abruptly as he licked the blood on his hand with his blood-red tongue, his eyes filled with a touch of madness and ferocity.


    Smack!


    The scar-faced man struck suddenly, pping Fang Qingzhu to the ground, grinding his teeth, "You wretched woman, you dare to hit me? You ungrateful thing, I wanted to be gentle, but since you''re asking for it, I''ll force myself on you!"


    Niu Dali stepped forward to shield Fang Qingzhu, speaking sternly, "Mate, what kind of skill is it to bully a woman? If you have the guts,e at me!"


    "Who do you think you are? Dare to mess with my fun?"


    The scar-faced man red at Niu Dali with his bloodshot eyes, snorted coldly, and the evil qi surged towards him like a wind, "Step aside if you know what''s good for you, or I''ll throw you into the Lava Lake as well!"


    "Let''s see if you''ve got the ability!"


    "You''re seeking death!"


    With a low roar from the scar-faced man, a violent wind whipped up around him as he threw a heavy punch.


    Niu Dali snorted coldly, the longsword on his back shing horizontally.


    Boom!


    As the iron fist collided with the longsword, a gust of wind erupted, and Niu Dali stumbled back several meters, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.


    The scar-faced man looked at him with a cold smile, taunting, "That little skill and thinking of being a hero? Wait until I''ve thrown you into the Lava Lake, then I''ll have my fun with this beauty..."


    However...


    Just as the scar-faced man was about to make his move.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Suddenly, the calm Lava Lake exploded with a boom, a giant pir of fire shooting up.


    Then a second, a third...


    Countless pirs of fire soared into the sky like dragons leaving their nest, causing the entire Lava Lake to boil over, with searing magma sshing everywhere, burning and melting the ground uponnding.


    An incredibly terrifying Sword Intent soared up from beneath the magma.


    Under the influence of this formidable Sword Intent, every sword monument within the Sword Tomb shone brightly, and from within them echoed the hum of swords.


    Hum!


    Humming...


    The sounds of swords ringing like a dragon''s roar reverberated throughout the vast Sword Tomb.


    All the swords were chiming in unison!


    Swish!


    A hundred-meter-tall column of magma burst forth, and as the fiery moltenva fell, a figure shrouded in a blood-colored glow appeared before everyone. He leaped gracefully down from the air andnded on the ground.


    The red glow was absorbed into the blood-red longsword in his hand, revealing his true face¡ªit was Xiao Yi, who had just jumped into the Lava Lake!


    "Xiao Yi? I knew you were alright!" Fang Qingzhu, disregarding the severe pain on her face, was ecstatic.


    Niu Dali was also dumbfounded, "Sheesh! He''s not dead?"


    "Damn, he survived jumping into the Lava Lake? Wait, look at the sword in his hands..."


    "Could that be a fifth-grade Yuan weapon?"


    Xiao Yi, however, paid no attention to the shouts of astonishment from everyone. His gaze locked first and foremost on the red p mark on Fang Qingzhu''s face, his eyes suddenly turning ice-cold. With a flicker, he helped Fang Qingzhu up, his eyes filled with repressed anger and undisguised concern, "Who did this?"


    Niu Dali wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, unable to hide the shock in his eyes, he pointed at Scarface and shouted, "This bastard is the one who hit me!"


    Xiao Yi''s icy gaze turned toward Scarface.


    However, Scarface''s eyes were shining, seemingly indifferent to Xiao Yi''s frosty stare, fixated on the blood-red longsword in his hand, "Is this the sword you retrieved from under theva? Hahaha, I''ll take this sword!"


    Whoosh!


    Scarface''s palm shot forward, grasping for the longsword in Xiao Yi''s hand with the swiftness of a hawk snatching a rabbit.


    "Seeking death!"


    Xiao Yi''s face was expressionless as he swiftly drew his longsword, a fiery red sword light shed past, plunging into Scarface''s body. Scarface''s speed plummeted, and he thudded to his knees, eyes fixated on Xiao Yi, "Such, such a fast sword..."


    Spurt!


    A jet of blood sprayed out wildly.


    Scarface''s head soared high into the air, and a fountain-like gush of blood spurted from the severed neck.


    Hiss!


    The onlookers all gasped in astonishment.


    This Scarface was in the Sixth Layer of Divine Skill Realm, yet he couldn''t even take a single sword strike from Xiao Yi?


    "That, that sword is a fifth-grade Yuan weapon!"


    "Right, it must be a fifth-grade Yuan weapon, otherwise how could he, with just the strength of the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, so easily kill a strong man from the Sixth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm?"


    "Quick, grab it!"


    The horde of strong men all stepped forward, their eyes zing with heat and greed as they looked at the longsword in Xiao Yi''s hand, "Boy, hand over that famous sword and spare yourself!"


    "If you remain stubborn, you and yourpanion will both die!"


    Surrounding Xiao Yi were no less than a hundred strong men, among whom the strongest was a Seventh Layer powerhouse from the Yan Family of the royal capital, Yan Ying. Yan Ying''s face was colored with greed, staring intently at the blood-red longsword in Xiao Yi''s hand, "I am Yan Ying from the royal capital''s Yan Family. Offer up the famous sword to me, and I''ll spare your life!"


    Xiao Yi looked coldly at the hundred or so men in front of him, with even more strong men watching silently around them.


    If hecked the strength to keep this sword.


    The onlooking strong men would certainly swarm like hungry wolves.


    Fang Qingzhu remained silent, holding the Purple Cloud Whip, standing by his side.


    Niu Dali hesitated for a moment, sighed lightly and also stood shoulder to shoulder with him, looking at Xiao Yi askance, "Don''t look at me like that. I''m just honoring a bet! Since you''ve earned this famous sword''s recognition, from now on, you''re my brother. How can a younger brother stand by and watch you get mobbed?"


    Even with Fang Qingzhu and Niu Dali''s help, they were still three against a hundred.


    Completely at a disadvantage!


    Yan Ying sneered ominously, "Are you still not ready to give me the famous sword?"


    "Enough with the nonsense. The sword is in my hand, if you have the guts,e and take it!" Xiao Yi said coldly.


    "Seeking death!"


    Yan Ying''s eyes turned fierce, and he suddenly vanished from the spot, appearing in front of Xiao Yi with a whoosh. Clutching a third-grade Yuan longsword with a silvery gleam and dragon patterns coiling around it, he proimed, "ording to the Pavilion, Listen to the Rain and Wind!"


    Rustle rustle!


    The sword chant sounded as if a sudden rainstorm was descending, straining straight for Xiao Yi''s heart.


    Faced with such a cunning thrust, Xiao Yi showed no expression as the power of Sword Intent enveloped him. The invisible and intangible force of Sword Intent was terrifying. As it surged, Yan Ying''s body shook, feeling as if the man before him had transformed into an invincible sword sovereign!


    Unmatched!


    "Not good..."


    It was this moment of distraction that allowed Yan Ying to regain his senses, his pupils constricting as he felt the aura of death envelop him.


    Thud!


    A sword stroke passed.


    Yan Ying screamed as Xiao Yi cleaved him in two!


    The astonishing Sword Intent soared into the heavens, causing all swords within the Sword Tomb to resonate in unison.


    Xiao Yi stood like a king among swords, stepping on Yan Ying''s corpse, and looked coldly at the crowd, "Who else?"

 Chapter 44 Pressing Hard

    "Who else?"


    Xiao Yi stood on Yan Ying''s corpse, holding the bloodstained longsword, his icy gaze sweeping over the crowd.


    For a moment...


    The would-be challengers among the strong were all effectively intimidated into inaction.


    None dared to step forward!


    Even Yan Ying, a powerhouse of the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, was no match for a single stroke of his de; who among them would dare to advance?


    While everyone was still considering their options, an icy voice suddenly rang out, "Do you really think you can steal the treasured heirloom of Mingjian Manor,mit murder within our Sword Tomb, and not have to exin yourself to me?"


    The crowd looked toward the source of the voice.


    It was an old man with youthful features and white hair, whose powerful aura was unmatched, having reached the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    Following him were Yun Fan and the woman in brocade.


    The pair, with faces full of smug smiles, looked at Xiao Yi with a tilted gaze, Yun Fan said viciously, "I truly didn''t expect you to gain the approval of the heirloom sword of Mingjian Manor, but sadly for you, the sword will no longer be yours shortly!"


    The white-haired, youthful-faced elder looked at the Fire Qilin Sword in Xiao Yi''s hands, his eyes also shining with a greedy fervor that he couldn''t hide, "This sword is the heirloom treasure of Mingjian Manor, hidden beneath this Lava Lake, yet you had the audacity to steal it, a crime unforgivable!"


    "Who are you?" Xiao Yi asked with narrowed eyes.


    The elder gave a cold smile, "I am Jian San, the third elder of Mingjian Manor!"


    "Does everyone from Mingjian Manor have no shame like you?"


    Xiao Yi''s expression was indifferent, "Your Mingjian Manor made it clear that whoever gains the approval of a famous sword within the Sword Tomb could take it. Now that I have the Fire Qilin Sword''s approval, you use me of stealing your treasure? Do you think I''m an easy target?"


    "Humph, shameless ingrate, I am bullying you, and what can you do about it? The rules of Mingjian Manor are for us to dictate. If I say it''s yours, then it''s yours; if I say it''s not, then it''s not. What can you possibly do to me?" Jian San spoke coldly, with an air of arrogance.


    Mingjian Manor is stronger than you, so yes, I''m bullying you. What are you going to do about it?


    Yun Fan burst intoughter, "Kid, if you kneel and beg for mercy, maybe I can plead with the third elder on your behalf and let you keep your whole corpse!"


    The brocade-d woman beside him ground her teeth, her eyes filled with hatred as she stared at Fang Qingzhu, "And this woman, I want her to crawl on her knees to me, begging for mercy, her face cut, thrown into a brothel..."


    Xiao Yi''s face turned cold, and the Fire Qilin Sword in his hand moved suddenly.


    A sh of fiery sword light passed.


    Thud!


    The brocade-d woman''s body shuddered, her head soared into the air, blood spraying over Yun Fan.


    Yun Fan, dumbfounded, "You, you dare to kill her?"


    Xiao Yi responded coldly, "Keep your idle chatter to yourself, or I''ll ughter you as well!"


    "You not only dare to steal the treasure of Mingjian Manor but also kill someone in my presence; don''t you think you are not giving Mingjian Manor the respect it deserves?" Jian San said darkly, with heavy emphasis on each word.


    Mingjian Manor presides over Mingjian City, and it is the oldest and most powerful sword-casting family in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    It has interactions with numerous aristocratic families.


    Even the royal family has close ties with them; isn''t their status exalted?


    Xiao Yi had dared tomit murder before him, and in Jian San''s eyes, this was a direct p in the face.


    "Old dog, shut your mouth!"


    Xiao Yi looked coldly at Jian San, "The rules of the Sword Tomb were set by your Mingjian Manor. You change them at your whim, treating us like monkeys? Today I took the Fire Qilin Sword, but what if someone else takes a higher-grade sword tomorrow? Will you use them of stealing the treasure, too?"


    Yun Fan said with a sneer, "If anything, it''s your fault for not having a powerful enough background. My brother Yun Lei is not only the eldest son of the Yun Family but also a genius on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List, and he took a fourth-grade famous sword from the Sword Tomb!"


    Xiao Yi mused, "So, to take a sword from here, one must have a profound background, is that it?"


    "Of course!"


    Yun Fan said, full of pride.


    However, Jian San''s face darkened, silently cursing, realizing something was amiss.


    Indeed...


    Upon hearing Yun Fan''s words, the faces of the other powerhouses in the Sword Tomb changed, "The ones who previously obtained several famed swords were all from noble families in the capital, and if not, they were masters from the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List. That''s why Mingjian Manor didn''t target them, right?"


    "Who would dare toe to Mingjian Manor after this?"


    "So you''re saying wemon folk are just giving Mingjian Manor money for nothing? Even if we get hold of anything valuable, we won''t be able to take it with us, and might even lose our lives here..."


    Jian San''s face turned furious as he pped his palm toward Xiao Yi, "You mongrel, how dare you tarnish the reputation of my Sword Mountain Manor? Die!"


    Hum!


    Shocking Sword Qi burst forth from the body.


    In Jian San''s hand appeared a cyan longsword with an Azure Dragon coiled around its edge, which emitted a dragon roar-like sword cry that was deafening as he swung the sword, "Human Sword Skill!"


    Whoosh!


    The Green Edge Sword drew a beautiful arc, and in an instant, it seemed as though dozens, if not hundreds, of sword shadows came shing through the air. These sword shadows exploded in the sky, covering the heavens and earth with their impressive might. Niu Dali''s expression changed continuously, "Be careful, this is the ''Human Sword Skill'' from Sword Mountain Manor''s ''Heaven Earth Human Sword'', you cannot withstand it with brute force!"


    Xiao Yi''s face was expressionless, with an icy look in his eyes to the extreme, "Soul Chasing, Life Snatching!"


    Hum!


    The Fire Qilin Sword glowed red rmingly, and under the envelopment of Sword Intent, the actual Fire Qilin Sword seemed to tremble faintly.


    Two beams of sword light collided like the tip of a needle against a stalk of wheat.


    Boom!


    The shing sword lights scattered terrifying Sword Qi in all directions.


    Thump thump thump!


    Xiao Yi took several steps back, nced at his palm, and saw that the tiger''s mouth had burst open, with blood rolling down, "A powerhouse of the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, indeed not someone I can currently contend with!"


    He felt a sense of admiration for Jian San''s strength in his heart.


    Jian San was equally shocked, "First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, yet he has mastered the power of Sword Intent? Since when did the Tianqing Kingdom have such a genius?"


    Sword Intent.


    This usually indicates a high likelihood of achieving the Golden Core in the future!


    In Tianqing Kingdom, being in the Golden Core Realm would be a rightful giant, and the lord of Sword Mountain Manor was at the Golden Core Realm.


    A chill shed in Jian San''s eyes, "This young man must not be spared. If allowed to grow, he will surely be a major threat to my Sword Mountain Manor in the future."


    Whoosh!


    As the thought shed through Jian San''s mind, his longsword soared through the air, and he said coldly, "Earth Sword Skill!"


    "Heaven Earth Human Sword" is divided into three skills.


    Human Sword injures people.


    Earth Sword kills people.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Heaven Sword vanquishes the soul!


    The Earth Sword Skill gushed close to the ground, sending Sword Qi soaring into the sky, and wherever it passed, several powerhouses were cut in two before they could dodge. Amidst the churning dust and smoke, the sword light headed straight for Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi raised his sword to meet the attack, his sword light shining like cold stars in the sky, constantly repelling Jian San''s assaults, but he himself was also forced back to the edge of the Lava Lake.


    Jian San, with a hideous smile, said, "To think you have grasped Sword Intent at the Divine Passage Realm, your talent is truly terrifying, but as long as I kill you, even the strongest talent will be in vain!"


    Hu!


    Suddenly, Xiao Yi exhaled a turbid breath, squinted at Jian San, and revealed a cruel smile, "I had no intention of bing an enemy of Sword Mountain Manor, but you force my hand, don''t me me!"


    "Force your hand? I am indeed forcing you, what can you do to me?" Jian San snickered.


    However, the next moment...


    The smile on his face vanishedpletely, he stared at Xiao Yi in stunned outrage, "You, you madman, stop at once..."

 Chapter 45 From Now On, No More Sword Tomb

    A boundless Sword Intent suddenly released from Xiao Yi''s body.


    The Sword Intent lotus within him bloomedpletely, and a streak of blood-red light burst forth from within that lotus.


    It prated his body and enveloped his entire figure.


    In his hands, the Fire Qilin Sword trembled and buzzed, formidable sword light soaring into the sky while the de itself vibrated intensely. A Fifth Grade Yuan Bing is not so easily forged; aside from needing precious materials, it also requires awakening.


    With the same materials, without awakening, it would at most be considered a peak Fourth Grade Yuan Bing.


    And uponpletion of the awakening...


    It could then be called Fifth Grade!


    The Sword Spirit felt the boundless Sword Intent within Xiao Yi and seemed to send an excited cheer.


    The entire de shook continuously, and all the swords in the hands of the strong ones within the Sword Tomb also began to buzz and tremble, as if they were about to unsheathe themselves: "What, what''s happening? Why doesn''t my sword obey me..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "This, this is Sword Intent, he''s using Sword Intent to summon the allegiance of a myriad of swords!"


    "Oh my gosh, something big is going to happen!"


    Everyone had a look of horror on their faces.


    Why is it that only Fifth Grade and above Yuan Bing require awakening and the gathering of an Artifact Spirit? It''s because Fifth Grade Yuan Bing are mostly in the hands of Golden Core Realm experts, and these experts allprehend the martial dao''s essences.


    Only with the power of the martial dao''s essence can the Artifact Spirit truly be stimted.


    Xiao Yi activated the Fire Qilin Sword''s Artifact Spirit with Sword Intent, thoroughly awakening it as if a slumbering sovereign had been roused.


    When the sovereign awakes, all nations submit.


    When the Sword Spirit revives, a myriad of swordse to pay homage!


    "Madman, you madman... you''re going to destroy the Sword Tomb, you''re trying to offend Mingjian Manor to death..." Jian San''s eyes werepletely filled with bloodshot, and the cold light within them was as sharp as a de''s edge.


    Jian San''s figure shed, furiously rushing towards Xiao Yi.


    "Don''t you dare harm my Xiao Yi!"


    Fang Qingzhu stood in his way with a sidestep, her Purple Cloud Whip whirling through the air, coiled around Jian San''s ankle and yanked fiercely.


    Swish!


    Jian San was tripped unexpectedly and fell to the ground.


    The Purple Cloud Whip merged with Fang Qingzhu as one, as easy tomand as her own limb, and as it waved, it coiled Jian San up high, then wrapped around himyer byyer. Jian San was unable to break free for a moment, his eyes shing coldly: "You are courting death!"


    Swish!


    A light shed on the storage ring, and the Green Edge Sword kept cutting the Purple Cloud Whip. Enjoy new adventures from empire


    Sparks flew everywhere.


    The Purple Cloud Whip was merely a First Grade Yuan Bing, while the Green Edge Sword was a Third Grade Yuan Bing. In their sh, the whip was severed by just three strokes. Jian San, once free, charged toward Fang Qingzhu: "You little wench, dare to block me, die!"


    Swish!


    Jian San shed out with a palm, and Fang Qingzhu spat blood as she was sent flying backward, while a cold light flowed in his eyes: "Die!"


    The Green Edge Sword thrust forward, aiming straight for Fang Qingzhu''s heart.


    But at that moment...


    Niu Dali suddenly made a move, grasping a ck great sword in both hands and with a thunk struck down on the Green Edge Sword, blocking Jian San''s attack. His ck great sword was also covered in cracks, his eyes full of distress: "Dammit, what skill is there in hitting a woman? Have the guts to fight your grandpa Niu!"


    "You''re courting death!"


    Jian San was furious, sword in hand.


    But just at that time...


    Atop the Sword Tomb, a sword stele suddenly burst apart with a bang.


    Swish!


    A sword light soared into the sky.


    Then the second stele.


    The third stele.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    With every stele''s explosion, a sword rose to the heavens, converging toward Xiao Yi''s location.


    "No. No..."


    Jian San''s eyes were nearly splitting, each explosion of a stele signifying a famous sword breaking free from its seal. Without the protection of the steles, these masterless swords, though they could not be recognized by an owner, could still be taken away directly.


    The entire Sword Tomb kept rumbling, one sword after another appearing before everyone.


    All were stunned.


    Inside the Sword Tomb, more than a hundred thousand swords¡ªthis was the wealth umted by Mingjian Manor over hundreds of years¡ªwere now all exposed before everyone.


    Seeing the scattered Yuan Bing longswords all around, everyone felt as if an invisible hand was choking their throats, unable to breathe.


    Xiao Yi was covered in red Sword Intent, he roared, "What are you all waiting for? These swords now belong to no one, why aren''t you taking them?"


    "Right, grab them quickly!"


    "Grab and run..."


    The crowd was momentarily stunned, and then their eyes turned bloodshot with excitement as they yelled out.


    Faced with a substantial reward, there will always be brave takers!


    Even the lowest grade of Yuan Bing was worth tens of thousands of silver, so grabbing any sword and you''d make a killing!


    One after another, strong figures began to crazily loot the longswords that were scattered everywhere.


    The scene descended into chaos.


    "Let''s go!"


    Seizing the chaos, Xiao Yi grabbed Fang Qingzhu and made a break for it, snatching up famous swords along the way and shoving them into his storage ring.


    "Stop..."


    Jian San''s eyes were filled with rage as he saw Xiao Yi taking away two fourth-grade famous swords, at least six third-grade famous swords, and not to mention the fifth-grade famous sword, the Fire Qilin Sword. Xiao Yi had practically looted half of the sword tomb!


    Jian San wanted to chase after Xiao Yi but was blocked by the other strong figures who were crazily looting the famous swords, "Get out of the way!"


    "Fuck off, can''t you see I''m busy grabbing swords?" several of them cursed back without even lifting their heads.


    "Stop right there! These treasures belong to Mingjian Manor. Whoever dares to take them, I''ll kill..." Jian San shouted hysterically, but his voice was gradually drowned out by the mor of others fighting over the longswords.


    In the midst of the crowd.


    Niu Dali swallowed hard, hurriedly snatched up a few longswords and threw them into his storage ring, then dashed off in Xiao Yi''s direction, "Bro, wait for me..."


    "Xiao Yi, Yun Fan is over there..." Qingzhu spotted Yun Fan in the crowd, who was also grabbing swords.


    A cold light shed in Xiao Yi''s eyes, "Die!"


    The longsword pierced through the air, and with a ''thud'', Yun Fan''s head, who wasughing heartily while holding a third-grade Yuan Bing famous sword, was lopped off. Even in death, his face retained an excited grin.


    Without stopping, Xiao Yi quickly dashed out of the tomb of swords.


    Outside the tomb of swords.


    Several figures from Sword Mountain Manor looked at the appearances of Xiao Yi and hispanions in front of them, all taken aback and thenughed, "There''s still a while before the tomb closes, and you''re leaving already? Seems like you''ve found something good!"


    Xiao Yi nodded with a smile, "Lucky, got some loot!"


    "Haha, then congrattions!"


    "You''re too kind!"


    Xiao Yi gave a slight smile, then quickly left with Fang Qingzhu towards the outside of Mingjian Manor.


    The two figures from Sword Mountain Manor exchanged nces andughed, "Looks like they got a nice sword and are worried others might covet it, that''s why they are running!"


    "At best, it''s a second-grade famous sword. You think it''s easy to get a third-grade or higher?" another sneered.


    "Yeah, without enough backing, even if you get the sword, you can''t keep it!"


    "All just fools giving away their money, thinking they''ve taken advantage, but in reality, aren''t they just being yed like monkeys by our Mingjian Manor?"


    The two were still talking.


    Suddenly, several figures rushed out of the sword tomb without uttering a word and left directly.


    Soon after...


    The third, the fourth...


    About seven or eight hundred strong figures escaped from the sword tomb. All of them left without any dy, quickly disappearing.


    This left the two guardspletely dumbfounded, "What''s happening?"


    "Stop them..."


    A furious roar rang out. Jian San, his body drenched in blood, appeared before the two men. His eyes were bloodshot with anger as he bellowed, "Where are the man and woman who were the first to leave? Where are they?"


    "Huh?"


    "They already left..." The two guards said, still confused.


    "Useless fools!"


    Jian San roared in fury and with a thunderous p, inflicted severe injuries on the two. Blood swirled in his eyes as tears streamed down his face. He watched as more than a hundred thousand sword steles in the sword tomb were all destroyed. Even though he killed hundreds of strong men, tens of thousands of famous swords were still taken.


    What was worse...


    Xiao Yi had taken the one and only fifth-grade Yuan Bing Fire Qilin Sword, as well as fourth and third-grade famous swords...


    They were practically wiped clean!


    The long-renowned Sword Mountain Manor''s tomb of swords was thoroughly ruined.


    "It''s all over,pletely over... The tomb of swords that has been passed down for hundreds of years in my Mingjian Manor ispletely ruined..."


    Jian San''s eyes were filled with the fissures of rage. Beyond regret, there was a hysterical madness, "Someone, send out the Sword God Guard Brigade immediately. I want them to chase after that criminal. I will have him torn to pieces..."

 Chapter 46 A Formidable Enemy Arrives!

    Xiao Yi and hispanions fled Mingjian City, running wildly without any pause.


    They ran for a whole day and night before finally stopping.


    Huff huff huff!


    Xiao Yi, Fang Qingzhu, and Niu Dali copsed on the ground, leaning against the cold rock wall, gasping for air. The continuous running for a day and night had taken a tremendous toll on them.


    They rested for a while.


    Xiao Yi frowned at Niu Dali, "Why are you following us?"


    Gulping for air, Niu Dali said, "Didn''t we make a bet? I lost, you''re my brother, so of course, I have to follow you!"


    Xiao Yi nced at Niu Dali''s bearded face and the profound worry lines on his forehead: "..."


    Fang Qingzhu stuck out her tongue, "You''re old enough to be our uncle..."


    Niu Dali red, eximing, "Who says? I''m only eighteen this year!"


    Hiss!


    The two eyed him, "You''re just eighteen?"


    "Doesn''t it seem so?"


    Seeing their skeptical faces, Niu Dali grew annoyed, "I really am eighteen, I had my birthdayst month. I just look a bit older... If I''m lying, may lightning strike me!"


    Xiao Yi looked deeply at Niu Dali, sighing, "You do look quite older for your age!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded seriously.


    Niu Dali: "..."


    Nima!


    I''m still right here, alive and kicking! Can you consider my feelings?


    Xiao Yi said, "My name is Xiao Yi, and this is my wife, Fang Qingzhu."


    "Hello elder brother and sister-inw!"


    Niu Dali stood up, straightened his clothes, and cupped his fist in greeting, "I''m Niu Dali, you can call me Dali, or Little Niu Niu!"


    "Little Niu Niu?!"


    Xiao Yi''s mouth twitched, "I''ll just call you Dali. We''ve already left the sphere of influence of Mingjian City. The people from Mingjian City probably won''t catch up to us now, so let''s part ways here!"


    "Don''t leave, big brother!"


    Niu Dali hurriedly said, "It''s not good for brothers to part so soon after recognizing each other. Wherever you go, I''ll follow!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    God damn recognition!


    Xiao Yi said with a dark face, "We''re going to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, you want to follow there too?"


    Thumping his thigh, Niu Dali chuckled, "See, that''s fate! Elder brother, I am also nning to apply to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, it''s the same path! Elder brother and sister-inw, please take me with you!"


    Fang Qingzhu said, "Xiao Yi brother, back in the Sword Tomb, if it weren''t for Dali''s help, I would''ve died at the hands of Jian San!"


    After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yi nodded, "Alright, then we''ll go to the capital together."


    "Thank you, big brother, thank you, sister-inw!"


    Niu Dali grinned, then his face showed a worried expression, "Big brother, we''ve raided the Sword Tomb, and the people from Mingjian Manor won''t let it go easily, right? I heard their manor master is a Golden Core Realm expert, if we fall into his hands, it will be a disaster for us!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Don''t worry, that manor master from the Mingjian Manor surely wasn''t in Mingjian City, otherwise, we wouldn''t have been able to escape. As long as we can reach the capital and enter the Royal Martial Arts Academy, even Mingjian Manor can''t do anything to us!"


    "Big brother is so wise!"


    "Cut the ttery. If you''re going to be my little brother, you need to be prepared to act like one. We haven''t eaten anything all day, go find us some food!" Xiao Yimanded.


    "Right away, on it!"


    Niu Dali scampered off.


    Xiao Yi took out the swords, nging them onto the ground, and began to count them one by one, "Two fourth-grade, seven third-grade, one hundred sixty-three second-grade swords, worth no less than eighty million silver. This trip to the Sword Tomb really paid off."


    "Eighty million plus?"


    Fang Qingzhu gasped in astonishment, such wealth could bepared to the total assets of the four great families of the past.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Once we reach the Royal Capital, we will sell these Elemental Weapons, then I''ll find one that suits you!"


    It didn''t take long for Niu Dali to return.


    He was carrying a Firstyer Demon Beast Iron Leg Pig, his face beaming with a bright smile: "Big brother, sister-inw, you two just sit back and rest for a while, and let me show off my skills with the legendary roasted whole pig!"


    While saying this, Niu Dali busied himself with starting a fire and roasting the meat.


    Xiao Yi couldn''t bother about him and took out the Fifth Grade Yuan Bing Fire Qilin Sword.


    Hum!


    Upon grasping the Fire Qilin Sword, a burst of fierce mes spat out instantly, scorching the ground into a charred patch where the sword''s edge passed.


    Hiss!


    Fang Qingzhu''s phoenix eyes widened in amazement, "Is this a Fifth Grade Yuan Bing? Just with its power erupting casually, it''s already this terrifying. If it were fully refined, how powerful would it be!"


    "Do you want to see? I''ll refine it right now, andter let you see how powerful it is," Xiao Yi fondled Fang Qingzhu''s head, his eyes filled with doting affection, smiling as he spoke.


    Fang Qingzhu nodded obediently.


    Xiao Yi then sat down cross-legged to begin refining the Fire Qilin Sword.


    Fifth Grade Yuan Bing.


    Even within the Royal Capital, it was considered a first-ss existence.


    If Xiao Yi could refine it andpletely master the Fire Qilin Sword, hisbat strength would undoubtedly climb to another level.


    Stay tuned to empire


    Under the shade of a nearby tree, Xiao Yi sat with legs crossed, refining the Fire Qilin Sword with a posture of ''five hearts facing the sky''.


    Before long, an hour had passed.


    The body of the Fire Qilin Sword in Xiao Yi''s hands buzzed, radiating streaks of crimson light. Then the red light retracted inwards, disappearingpletely, and Xiao Yi opened his eyes. Holding the Fire Qilin Sword, he leaped up high and shed diagonally, sending out a red sword light that howled forth with a whoosh.


    Five meters away, a thousand-pound boulder was split cleanly into eight pieces.


    Hiss!


    Niu Dali stood agape, bewildered: "Holy shit, is this sword really this powerful?"


    Fang Qingzhu also followed, her face filled with admiration, "Xiao Yi, have you finished refining the Fire Qilin Sword?"


    Xiao Yi nodded with a smile, "I can wield it proficiently now, it''s indeed a fine sword!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Big brother, did you really fully refine this Fifth Grade Yuan Bing?"


    Niu Dali looked at Xiao Yi in shock, shaking his head with a wry smile, "You really are a freak! As far as I know, it usually takes ten days to half a month for one to refine a Fifth Grade Yuan Bing, but you did it in an hour, how do you cultivate?"


    Looking at Niu Dali''s intive gaze, Xiao Yi smiled, about to speak, but his expression suddenly changed.


    His eyes narrowed sharply.


    The Fire Qilin Sword in his hand trembled, emitting a hot red glow.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Xiao Yi..."


    "Shush!"


    Xiao Yi made a silencing gesture, holding Fang Qingzhu protectively behind him, his eyes squinting into slits as he looked ahead.


    Thump, thump, thump...


    The urgent sound of galloping hooves grew louder as they approached.


    The ground trembled slightly, and pebbles on the ground kept bouncing.


    Suddenly...


    The sound of the hooves came to a fierce halt and then exploded into a sound several times louder, a cavalry troop of a hundred men riding through the forest swiftly, appearing before Xiao Yi and the others.


    The man at the forefront had an indifferent face, with a ck greatsword on his back, his eyes emitting an icy chill, fixating on the Fire Qilin Sword in Xiao Yi''s hand. The corner of his mouth twisted into a sinister cold smile, "The Fire Qilin Sword? It seems you are the ones who caused a great uproar at Mingjian Manor, audacious viins. The Sword God Guard Brigade is here, will you not surrender willingly?"

 Chapter 47 Sword God Guard Brigade

    The Sword God Guard Brigade, numbering a hundred men, each rode a white steed, the Python Blood Horses with python blood lineage.


    Each one was priceless.


    To build the Sword God Guard, Mingjian Manor had spared no expense.


    Their equipment alone wasparable to the royal guards.


    The person leading them was none other than Jian San, the third elder of the Mingjian Manor.


    Jian San''s gaze was icy as he looked at the Fire Qilin Sword in Xiao Yi''s hand, a fiery greed flickered deep in his eyes. The Fire Qilin Sword, housed in the Sword Tomb, was the treasured heirloom of the n, but even Mingjian Manor had never been able to bond with it despite years of effort. Yet now, Xiao Yi, a youth from the First Layer of the Shentong Realm, had imed the Fire Qilin Sword.


    As the saying goes, "The innocent man who carries a jade will be med for it."


    The corners of Jian San''s mouth curled upwards as he coldly said, "Boy, I personally led the Sword God Guard to chase you here, aren''t you going to surrender without a fight?"


    Niu Dali''s forehead was covered in cold sweat, which rolled off likerge beans and had already soaked his back. He said in a deep voice, "Big, big brother, why don''t we surrender? This is the Sword God Guard we''re dealing with, the three of us are no match for them..."


    Fang Qingzhu remained silent, simply standing by Xiao Yi''s side.


    Xiao Yi gently patted Fang Qingzhu''s hand, squinted at Jian San, and said, "So, you''re the third elder? May I ask what crime have Imitted?"


    Jian San replied coldly, "Stealing the treasured Fire Qilin Sword of our Mingjian Manor, isn''t that a crime?"


    "The Fire Qilin Sword was obtained from within the Sword Tomb, and your Mingjian Manor has explicitly stated that whoever can make a sword from the Sword Tomb recognize them as master can be its owner. Mingjian Manor won''t obstruct this, will it?" Xiao Yi said solemnly, his hand gripping the Fire Qilin Sword tightly, ready to execute his sword moves.


    The shamelessness of Mingjian Manor was clearly disyed by Jian San.


    They would never talk rules with you.


    As Jian San said, expecting to take a high-grade famous sword from the Sword Tomb without any backing was nothing less than a fool''s dream!


    Xiao Yi believed that Jian San was no different.


    His previous words were merely a dying tactic.


    Indeed...


    After hearing Xiao Yi''s words, Jian San burst intoughter, his face filled with mockery. He leaned on his horse''s back and said with a sneer, "Kid, you''re truly na?ve. Haven''t I told you before that not just anyone can take a famous sword from our Mingjian Manor? If that were so, our Mingjian Manor, no matter how powerful our sword forging capability, would still be overwhelmed and ruined!"


    "Enough of your thering, hand over the Fire Qilin Sword, and I might leave you a whole corpse..." Jian San said coldly.


    Xiao Yi sighed and said, "Well, it seems like the Fire Qilin Sword is not fated to be mine. Then I''ll give it back to you!"


    "Hmm?"


    Jian San was startled, then heughed out loud, saying, "Not bad, not bad, you are quite sensible." He turned to the two Sword God Guard powerhouses beside him, "You, go get the Fire Qilin Sword, and tie them up while you''re at it!"


    "Yes!"


    The two powerhouses of the Sword God Guard rode forward, looking down on Xiao Yi from their high horses, and with a swish, threw down a rope, "Hand over the Fire Qilin Sword and tie yourselves up!"


    However...


    The-face-that-had-been-creased-in-woe Xiao Yi now showed a trace of icy coldness. With a flourish of his arm, a sh of sword light cut down the two Sword God Guard powerhouses from their horses. Grabbing Fang Qingzhu, he mounted a horse and shouted to the stunned Niu Dali, "What are you waiting for? Mount up, and run!"


    "Ah? Oh..."


    Niu Dali quickly mounted as well.


    Whipping their horses...


    The trio fled on two horses.


    Jian San: "..."


    The entire Sword God Guard: "..."


    Looking at the two cold corpses on the ground, Jian San''s face twisted with ferocious rage as he roared, "Damn it, chase after them! That brat dares to y me for a fool, I''ll have him torn to pieces!"


    Thud, thud, thud!


    Xiao Yi and his twopanions were fleeing madly ahead, with the Sword God Guard Brigade hot on their heels.


    During their frantic escape,


    a merchant caravan appeared up ahead, with several horse-drawn wagons and about several dozen guards apanying them. Sensing the sound of approaching hoofbeats from behind, the head guard, Chen Jie, changed expression, drew his longsword, and roared, "Ambush! Defend!"


    ng, ng!


    The guards unsheathed their weapons in unison, watching Xiao Yi and his party warily.


    "Make way, people ahead!" Xiao Yi shouted loudly.


    From behind, Jian San, seeing Xiao Yi getting further away, shouted, "Listen, people up front, we are from the Sword God Guard Brigade of Mingjian Manor, in pursuit of criminals. Please help us stop them, and Mingjian Manor will repay you handsomely!"


    Chen Jie''s face underwent a slight change as he nced at the middle wagon.


    His mission was simply to escort the person and goods within the wagon and he didn''t wish to court trouble.


    However...


    Just as Chen Jie was about to step aside, a sprightly voice came from inside the wagon, "Mingjian Manor? This youngdy has had the pleasure of meeting young master Huang Zijian from Mingjian Manor. Chen Jie, take your men and stop those three! If we can owe Mingjian Manor a favor, it will be more convenient to cooperate with them in the future!"


    "Chen Di, it''s better we don''t get involved in this mess..." another voice from the wagon cautioned.


    "Shut up!"


    The owner of the previous voice, Chen Di, spoke impatiently, "You spineless coward, always afraid of this and that, how can you ever achieve anything great? Chen Jie, what are you waiting for? Don''t just stand there, attack!"


    "Yes!"


    Chen Jie let out a helpless sigh and bellowed, "Stop them!"


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The group of guards acted in unison, forming a line across the official road, blocking Xiao Yi''s path.


    Whoa!


    Xiao Yi pulled hard on the reins. The Sword God Guard Brigade was gaining from behind, while Chen Jie and his men blocked the road ahead. Xiao Yi spoke in a deep voice, "Brother, I bear you no grudge, and this is a personal grievance between myself and Mingjian Manor. Please step aside and let us pass!"


    Read new adventures at empire


    Chen Jie did not speak.


    Chen Di''s coldugh emerged from within the wagon, "This youngdy has had the pleasure of encountering young master Huang Zijian from Mingjian Manor, and I know well that Mingjian Manor has always cherished its reputation, acting with justice and integrity. If the Sword God Guard Brigade is pursuing you, you must be extremely vile criminals. As martial artists, we have the duty to act chivalrously and uphold justice on behalf of the heavens!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Fang Qingzhu: "..."


    Niu Dali, fuming with nostrils ring, bellowed, "To hell with upholding justice on behalf of the heavens, you prattle without knowing the actual truth. If you have the guts,e out here, and I, old Niu, will punch your head into pieces!"


    Whoosh!


    Chen Di emerged from the wagon with a sullen face, her venomous gaze fixed on Xiao Yi and hispany, "Hmph, this youngdy is standing right here. Let''s see you try to smash my head!"


    "You..."


    Niu Dali''s face turned shades of red and white.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    The sound of approaching hoofbeats grew louder, apanied by Jian San''s triumphant voice, "Hahaha, friends up ahead, thanks for your assistance. Three little runts, your end is sealed..."


    Xiao Yi''s expression darkened as if it could drip water, and he said in a grave tone, "I''m asking onest time, step aside!"


    "Hmph, what if I don''t?" Chen Di retorted confidently.


    Xiao Yi exhaled a long breath of turbid air, and said coldly, "Since you won''t move, then prepare to die!"

 Chapter 48 First Visit to the Royal Capital

    "If you won''t yield, then go to die!"


    Xiao Yi''s voice was filled with a chilling intent to kill.


    He had already spoken in good faith, but the other party wouldn''t give an inch.


    The Sword God Guard Brigade was getting closer and closer behind them.


    If they got caught between the two forces, the three of them were certainly heading down a path of no return.


    Facing Xiao Yi''s threat, Chen Jie''s expression turned grave, while Chen Di was fearless and mocking, "Die? Hahaha, you''re delusional. Just with you three? Among my guards, there are six at the Divine Passage Realm, and Chen Jie who leads them is a powerhouse at the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Who do you think you are? Hoping to kill all of us? Dream on..."


    While speaking,


    Chen Di nced at Chen Jie with an air of indifference and said, "Chen Jie, cripple this brat for me, cut off his tongue, and gouge out his eyes. I want to see what he''s capable of that he dares to threaten me like this!"


    "Yes!"


    Chen Jie took a deep breath and looked at Xiao Yi, "An order from the master cannot be disobeyed, I apologize! But rest assured, I''ll make it quick for you!"


    Whoosh!


    The moment Chen Jie finished speaking, he swiftly thrust with his sword.


    Being at the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm and particrly confident in his exquisite sword technique, he hadplete confidence in himself.


    However...


    Against Chen Jie''s rapid and relentless assault, Xiao Yi just let out a cold snort, and his Fire Qilin Sword cleaved through the air with a sh.


    ng!


    A crisp sound echoed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Chen Jie''s figure suddenly halted.


    His longsword dropped to the ground with a ng, and his mighty steed continued forward two steps before copsing, with both horse and rider being split in half.


    They had been cleaved in two by a single stroke of Xiao Yi''s sword.


    Hiss!


    The group of guards looked at each other in shock.


    Chen Di fell off the carriage with a thud, his face a picture of befuddled horror as he looked at Chen Jie, split into two halves, "This, this, how is this possible? Chen Jie was at the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, and this kid is merely at the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, how can he be so strong..."


    Xiao Yi looked coldly at the remaining guards, "Scram, or die!"


    Whoosh!


    The guards dared not to obstruct any further.


    They stepped back one after another.


    Xiao Yi and his twopanions spurred their horses and galloped away, raising a cloud of dust behind them.


    A momentter...


    Jian San and his men finally caught up, only to see Xiao Yi and his friends disappearing into the distance. He was unable to contain his fury, ring at Chen Di, "What happened here? Weren''t you supposed to stop them? Why did you let them go?"


    Chen Di stuttered, "This, this lord, just now that young man was surprisingly strong, even the captain of my guards was in by his sword, so... so..."


    p!


    Jian San pped him across the face, sending Chen Di tumbling to the ground, and bellowed with a dark face, "Useless, all of you are useless... Your guards are nothing but cannon fodder, even if all had died, what would it matter? But now, you''ve let them get away for nothing... Men, kill all these wretches, leave none alive!"


    "No. Don''t..."


    Chen Di''s face immediately turned pale, devoid of any color, as he knelt on the ground and yelled.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    The Sword God Guard Brigade, in their rage, frantically began ying Chen Di''s guards.


    Chen Di, hisplexion drained of color, reeked of fear and had evidentlypletely lost control of his dder.


    "Elder, what should we do with this woman?" a guard asked.


    Jian San responded coldly, "Kill her!"


    ng!


    The guard raised his longsword.


    Just then...


    Huo Zhen suddenly burst out from the carriage, shielding Chen Di and shouting, "Lord, my young miss is acquainted with Mr. Huang Zijian, please consider Mr. Huang''s face and spare us!"


    "Hmm?"


    The guard hesitated, looking towards Jian San.


    Jian San squinted his eyes and asked, "You know Mr. Huang?"


    "Yes, yes..."


    Huo Zhen hastily nodded.


    Jian San stroked his chin and said, "Well then, since you know Mr. Huang, I''ll spare you this time. However, our Sword God Guard Brigade has been inconvenienced by you all, and these goods shall serve aspensation; we''re taking them!"


    "This is uneptable..." Chen Di''splexion changed.


    "What did you say?" Jian San narrowed his eyes, staring at him.


    Huo Zhen quickly covered Chen Di''s mouth and said with a forced smile, "It''s okay, it''s okay, you take it, please!"


    "Hmph!"


    Jian San snorted coldly, eyes still narrowed as he looked in the direction Xiao Yi and the others had left. "After half a day''s journey, we''ll arrive at the royal city, but at their current speed, we won''t catch up. No matter, we''ll head back to Mingjian Manor first and inform the master to see what to do next!"


    Then,


    The Sword God Guard Brigade, along with the Chen Family''s goods, made their departure.


    For a time,


    all that remained on the imperial road were Chen Di and Huo Zhen.


    Chen Di slumped to the ground, while Huo Zhen said with a look of pity, "Cousin, don''t be sad..."


    p!


    With a backhand p, Chen Di struck Huo Zhen fiercely across the face, ring at him with disgust and contempt in her eyes, "You''re useless, hiding in the carriage just now, and nowing out tofort me? You and those three bastards all deserve to die..."


    "Cousin, it''s, it''s not their fault. If you hadn''t insisted on stopping them, none of this would have happened..." Huo Zhen said with a mournful expression.


    p!


    Experience tales at empire


    "Whose fault is it then if not theirs? They offended Sword Mountain Manor and got chased; they should simply have stopped and let Sword Mountain Manor capture them. Not only would we not have been implicated, but we could have also gained Sword Mountain Manor''s favor. But they resisted, causing us to suffer Sword Mountain Manor''s wrath..."


    Chen Di pped him again, her eyes full of hatred and ferocity. As far as she was concerned, once Chen Jie made his move to stop them, Xiao Yi and his group should have surrendered. But Xiao Yi resisted, filling Chen Di with resentment. She gritted her teeth and said, "I''ve memorized that kid''s face. Even if he turns to ashes, I won''t forget him... He''d better pray he never meets me again, or I will tear him limb from limb... I will make him wish for death that he will not find!"


    ...


    Huo Zhen opened his mouth, but the burning pain on his face stopped him from saying anything further.


    Chen Di shakily got up, ring at Huo Zhen, "What are you standing there for? Aren''t you going to drive the carriage and take me home?"


    "Yes, yes..."


    With a face full of resignation, Huo Zhen obediently took control of the carriage and headed towards the royal city.


    Meanwhile,


    Xiao Yi and his group were racing on their python-blood steeds, and after half a day''s travel, they finally saw the majestic royal city.


    "We''ve finally arrived!"


    "Once we''re in the royal city, Sword Mountain Manor will surely hesitate to take action..."


    Xiao Yi and the others heaved a sigh of relief.


    Momentster,


    They arrived at the city gate; facing the vast city, especially a gate five to six timesrger than Nanhuang City, Fang Qingzhu couldn''t help but express in awe, "This is truly the royal city; it''s so grand, so prosperous..."


    "Cut it out, what country bumpkin is this,ing to the city for the first time?" an inopportune voice remarked from the side, belonging to a young man in brocade, with a look of scorn.


    Fang Qingzhu''s expression dimmed, feeling as if she had embarrassed Xiao Yi, and she lowered her head.


    Xiao Yi held Fang Qingzhu''s gentle hand and said with a lightugh, "Don''t mind what others say; just being ourselves is enough."


    "Mhm!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded obediently.


    As the young man opened his mouth, Niu Dali red back at him with a fierce look.


    The young man''s breath caught.


    Anger shed across his face. Just as he was about to speak, a luxurious carriage slowly approached. The young man''s face was filled with envy, "Damn, that''s the highest-ss carriage from Treasure Pavilion, worth over a million silver each. I wonder who owns it... If I could just touch this kind of carriage once in my life, dying would be worth it!"


    As soon as he finished speaking,


    The carriage stopped right beside Xiao Yi and the others, and the elder driving it approached respectfully, "May I ask if you are Xiao Yi, sir?"


    "I am!" Xiao Yi nodded and asked, "And you are?"


    The elder''s face shone with a bright smile, "This humble servantes at themand of Miss Xue''er, waiting especially for you, sir. The young mistress awaits you at her residence; would you please board the carriage?"


    "Thank you!"


    Xiao Yi, leading Fang Qingzhu, boarded the carriage.


    Before boarding, Niu Dali nced at the dumbfounded young man and teased, "Want toe over for a touch?"


    Thud!


    The young man copsed to the ground, his face burning with pain, "..."


    He''d never expected that the so-called country bumpkins were actually the owners of the sumptuous carriage he''d dreamed of touching...


    What a disgraceful turn of events!

 Chapter 49 Lingering Spirit

    Treasure Pavilion in Wangdu.


    This was not something that could bepared to any branch in Nanhuang, the facade alone was much taller than the city gates of Nanhuang City, and the interior decorations were even more luxurious.


    The area in front served as the business district, while the back was a luxury residential area.


    The high-ranking members of the Treasure Pavilion lived in this particr area.


    Xue''er''s home was among them.


    The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of Xue''er''s house, and the old man said with a smile, "Xiao, the young miss instructed that upon your arrival, you may directly enter."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Thank you!"


    Xiao Yi took out one hundred silver taels and handed them to the old man, smiling as he spoke.


    The old man hastily waved his hands, "This really isn''t necessary..."


    "It''s fine! You just take it," Xiao Yi said with a smile.


    The old man wore a grateful expression, "Thank you, young master!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, the guards at the door recognized the old man, and as they saw Xiao Yi and the two others get off the carriage, they came forward to greet them, "Xiao, please follow me!"


    They walked through abyrinth-like corridor and arrived at the back courtyard.


    Xue''er, donning a white long dress, was sitting in the garden, supporting her cheek with her delicate hand, her eyes fixed on the glimmering ripples on the water''s surface. The guard''s voice reached from outside, "Miss, Xiao has arrived!"


    "Ah?"


    Xue''er was startled, then came back to her senses and saw Xiao Yi and the three people arriving. A bright smile appeared on her face, "Xiao Yi, Qingzhu, you''ve finallye, Xue''er has been waiting for you for quite some days!"


    She walked forward and took Fang Qingzhu''s hand, her face full of happiness.


    "Xue''er, what were you just looking at?" Fang Qingzhu asked curiously.


    Xue''er stuck out her tongue, "Nothing! It''s just that you weren''t here, and I was so bored... Qingzhu, your timing is just perfect... Tomorrow night, there will be a grand auction at the Wangdu Auction House, and I''ll take you both there to look around!"


    "The Wangdu Auction House?"


    "An auction? Xue''er, does that auction ept elemental weapons?" Xiao Yi asked.


    He now had a bunch of elemental weapons in his possession, including two fourth-grade ones. Although they were worth over eighty million, they were just a pile of scrap metal if he couldn''t sell them!


    Xue''er was surprised and curiously asked, "Xiao Yi, do you have elemental weapons to sell?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "I''ve got some elemental weapons and was worrying about how to sell them."


    Xue''er said, "Xiao Yi, I''ve arranged a reception banquet for you tonight. You give me the elemental weapons, and I''ll have someone take them to the Wangdu Auction House for an appraisal. If the price is right, we''ll let them auction it off, how about that?"


    "No problem!"


    Xiao Yi smiled and handed over a pile of elemental weapons to Xue''er. He found searching for buyers too troublesome and was d to have Xue''er handle it for him.


    Xue''er immediately called a guard and instructed him to take the elemental weapons to the Wangdu Auction House. She then led Xiao Yi and the others to the dining hall. She had been preparing for this reception banquet since she returned to Wangdu and didn''t call many people, just a young man dressed in fine clothes, with a handsome and distinguished appearance.


    Xue''er introduced them with a smile, "Xiao Yi, Qingzhu, Uncle Dali..." She directly ignored Niu Dali''s sorrowful gaze and continued, "This is Qi..."


    Before Xue''er could finish the introduction.


    The young man stepped forward with a smile and greeted the three with a bow, "My name is Jiang Tai, but everyone is ustomed to calling me Qi Shao!"


    "Nice to meet you, Jiang!"


    "Greetings, Qi Shao!"


    After exchanging greetings, they took their seats.


    The wine flowed and the courses continued, one after another.


    Jiang Tai raised his ss in a toast to Xiao Yi, smiling as he asked, "Xiao Brother, I often hear Xue''er talk about your heroic deeds. If it weren''t for your timely intervention at the Southern Deste Mountain Range, that girl would have suffered a terrible fate!"


    "Brother Jiang Tai, you..." Xue''er looked at him with an aggrieved face.


    "Hahaha..."


    Jiang Taiughed nonchntly and then turned to Xiao Yi, asking meaningfully, "Xiao Brother, Xue''er mentioned that you are interested in applying to the Royal Martial Arts Academy?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "I do have that intention!"


    Jiang Tai eximed with a hint of regret, "What a pity, I don''t really have any acquaintances at the Royal Martial Arts Academy... However, if you are interested, I could certainly rmend you to the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!"


    "The Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    "Hasn''t it been in decline for many years? What''s the use of going there..." Niu Dali said, puzzled.


    Xiao Yi nced at him and said with a smile, "Let''s try the Royal Martial Arts Academy first. If it really doesn''t work out, I''ll definitely have to bother Brother Jiang then!"


    "Don''t mention it!"


    The meal passed in a harmonious atmosphere, and everyone dispersed afterwards.


    The night passed without event.


    Next morning.


    Read exclusive content at empire


    With an invitation card and a golden card in hand, Xue''er found Xiao Yi, who was practicing in the courtyard at dawn, "Brother Xiao Yi, there''s news from the Royal Martial Arts Academy... Those valuable soldiers they are providing two options, one is consignment, your share will be based on the auction price. The other is to buy them outright for one billion silver. They''ve already brought the money over, which option do you choose?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, "Buy them outright for one billion silver?"


    By his estimation, those valuable soldiers were worth only about eighty million, and the other party was offering a direct price of one billion?


    Xiao Yi looked at Xue''er and thought to himself, "Probably because they want to favor Xue''er."


    Reluctant to bother with it, he said, "Just sell them outright!"


    "Alrighty!"


    Xue''er handed the golden card to Xiao Yi, and then the invitation, "This is for the auction tonight, but I have something to do and can''t make it, so you''ll have to take Sister Qingzhu and the others!"


    "No problem!"


    Xiao Yi said with a smile, "You go ahead with your business!"


    "Mhm!"


    With a sweet smile, Xue''er bounced out of the courtyard and waved her hand at Xiao Yi without turning back, "Brother Xiao Yi, you should rest! I''m going to take Sister Qingzhu out for a stroll in the city. You haven''t even bought her a few pieces of jewelry; I''m really going to look down on you..."


    Watching the sprite-like Xue''er hop away, Xiao Yi touched his nose and said half-jokingly, "This girl¡­ she insisted on staying in the same room with Qingzhust night, and I haven''t even seen Qingzhu this morning, and you''re already taking her out shopping?"


    He shook his head lightly.


    Xiao Yi sat cross-legged in the small courtyard and continued to immerse himself in his cultivation.


    By the time Fang Qingzhu returned, it was nearly evening, and Xiao Yi and hispanions took a carriage straight to the Royal Martial Arts Institute''s auction house.


    As he presented the invitation, the guard at the door became noticeably more respectful: "So it''s Xiao, Xu has already instructed us that, should Xiao arrive, please have him take a seat directly in the VIP area!"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.


    VIP area?


    Although he was not very familiar with the Royal Auction House, he knew just how coveted the seats in the VIP area were.


    Could it just be because of the valuable soldiers he sold?


    However, considering the disposition of the Royal Auction House, those soldiers shouldn''t be enough for them to pay such special attention to him, should they?


    While Xiao Yi was musing, a hauntingly familiar voice suddenly came from behind, "Why are you guys here too?"

 Chapter 50 Auction House

    "Eh? You''re here too?"


    A surprised voice interrupted the trio''s conversation.


    Xiao Yi looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhang Kang watching them with a look of disdain on his face.


    Chen Di and Huo Zhen followed behind Zhang Kang.


    Huo Zhen nodded towards the three as a greeting.


    Chen Di, with a look of contempt, sneered, "Uncle Zhang, it seems that the Imperial City Auction House is really going downhill under the pressure of your Treasure Pavilion, allowing just anyone to join the auction, eh?"


    "Xu Lai is truly getting worse at handling things, cing such people next to me. The Imperial City Auction House will really fall into decline under his management."


    Zhang Kang also showed a face of disgust, waving over to two guards not far away. Once they approached, he said, "Tell your manager Xu to throw these three out, or at least move them to a corner. They''re a blight on my sight!"


    Chen Di arrogantly said, "They''re just country bumpkins from some backwater vige, what money would they have to attend your auction?"


    "This..."


    The two guards looked at each other and said, "Manager Zhang, we''re terribly sorry, we''ll go and call Manager Xu right away!"


    A few momentster.


    Xu Lai arrived in front of them, greeting Zhang Kang with a friendly smile: "Manager Zhang, you honor us with your presence; apologies for not weing you from farther away!"


    Although the two parties werepetitors, they maintained a cordial facade on the surface.


    Zhang Kang spoke indifferently, "Manager Xu, you''re not being very fair in the way you handle things! I could overlook not being assigned a private box, but to have these three country bumpkins seated next to me is an insult to me, Zhang Kang, isn''t it?"


    Chen Di chimed in from the side, "Yeah, Manager Xu, just look at the three of them, their clothes and taste don''t resemble that of high society. Look at that woman; she doesn''t even have a single decent piece of jewelry on her. These lowly people should be..."


    p!


    Before he could finish.


    Chen Di''s face was struck by a p, the bright red mark bringing a burning pain.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, his gaze as if choosing his prey, and spoke deliberately, "Say another word, and I''ll kill you!"


    "You, you dare to hit me? You..." Chen Di''s eyes were filled with rage and despair as he roared.


    Zhang Kang was furious, "Boy, you are too presumptuous!" He turned to Xu Lai, "Manager Xu, this incident happened in your Imperial City Auction House, aren''t you going to intervene?"


    Xu Lai looked at Zhang Kang coldly and said indifferently, "Indeed, this matter requires attention!"


    Chen Di looked at Xiao Yi triumphantly, "Kid, did you hear Manager Xu''s words? Aren''t you going to kneel down and apologize to your grandma..."


    p!


    Another p resounded.


    However, this time it was not Xiao Yi who struck, but Xu Lai.


    He stared at the trio with a cold face and said, each word enunciated clearly, "Any guest who enters the Imperial City Auction House is a distinguished guest, and we treat all guests without discrimination. If you feel humiliated sitting here, feel free to leave on your own. Whoever dares to point fingers at our guests will have to deal with me. What''s more, in my eyes, Lin Lai, you don''t even qualify to carry Xiao''s shoes!"


    "You, I..."


    Chen Di''s face alternated between green and white.


    She never imagined that Xu Lai would side with Xiao Yi and hispanions. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with grievance and confusion.


    In her view, having the support of a seat like Zhang Kang''s should have made her status much higher than Xiao Yi''s.


    Lin Lai should have been on her side.


    But instead, Lin Laipletely disregarded her and showed Xiao Yi utmost respect.


    Zhang Kang''s gaze shifted repeatedly, knowing this was Lin Lai''s territory; he saw no need to antagonize Lin Lai over Chen Di and snorted coldly, "Fine, since Manager Xu said so, I naturally can''t disregard his face." He promptly sat down to the side, and seeing Zhang Kang keep silent, Chen Di naturally did not dare to speak another word.


    Only Huo Zhen was left on the side, quietly sighing and nodding at Xiao Yi, mouthing an apology.


    Xiao Yi nodded slightly in response.


    Xu Lai asked, "Xiao, would you like me to change their seats?"


    Hiss!


    Zhang Kang and hispanions'' faces turned pale at once.


    If Xu Lai had pped her because Xiao Yi was also there to participate in the auction, it was to show a gesture to the other guests.


    But now...


    Xu Lai actually showed such sincere respect towards Xiao Yi, which undoubtedly indicated there were other, deeper reasons.


    This young man must be extraordinary!


    Realizing this, Zhang Kang red fiercely at Chen Di, "Didn''t you say they were just country bumpkins who had never seen the world?"


    Chen Di looked wronged, "I, I didn''t know either..."


    Zhang Kang was speechless.


    A momentter.


    The auction officially began.


    As each item was presented on stage, Xiao Yi showed no interest in any of them, and thus never made a move.


    In contrast, Chen Di had already helped Huo Zhen bid for a third-grade Element Weapon, costing over two million Silver, her face was full of smugness as she provocatively looked at Xiao Yi and his group, "Who else in the first row hasn''t bid for anything? Just you three country bumpkins, are you purely here to watch the show?"


    Xiao Yi nced at her, "Talk nonsense again, and I''ll tear your mouth apart!"


    "I..."


    Chen Di opened her mouth but then, remembering the p Xiao Yi had delivered without mercy earlier, she swallowed her words back down.


    Xiao Yi paid no attention to Chen Di and instead focused on the auction stage.


    "The next Element Weapon is a whip, named Purple Dragon. It is said to be crafted from the tendons of a demonic beast with the bloodline of a Purple Dragon, known as Purple Blood Jiao, and is a fourth-grade Element Weapon. The starting bid is five million Silver, is anyone interested?" the auctioneer said.


    "Five million!"


    "Five million five hundred thousand..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    One after another, powerful individuals ced their bids.


    Quietly holding Fang Qingzhu''s hand, Xiao Yi chuckled, "Do you like it?"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded.


    Xiao Yi then dered, "Ten million!"


    Hisss!


    The crowd sucked in a breath of cold air.


    Ten million Silver?


    This was already close to the limit value of the Purple Dragon Whip. The auctioneer, excited, eximed, "Ten million Silver for the first time, ten million Silver for the second time... any higher bids? Ten million Silver for the third time, sold!"


    The moment the auction hammer fell, Chen Di shouted, "Wait a moment!" Continue your saga on empire


    All eyes turned toward Chen Di.


    Pointing at Xiao Yi, Chen Di angrily dered, "They definitely can''t produce ten million Silver; he''s deliberately driving up the price!"


    "What?"


    "Someone is deliberately raising the price? Daring to cause trouble in the Capital''s auction house, does this kid no longer wish to live?"


    Faced with everyone''s questioning,


    Xiao Yi delivered a p, "smack," flipping Chen Di onto the ground. In a sh, he was by her side, his foot grinding her face into the ground for a few seconds as he spoke coldly, "Do you really think I wouldn''t dare to kill you?"


    "Xiao, please wait!"


    Xu rushed over, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, "Xiao, may I ask for a favor for my sake?"


    Though the Royal Capital''s auction house had the royal family as its backing, Chen Di''s status was not simple either; if she died here, it would ultimately bring trouble to him.


    Xiao Yi frowned.


    Huo Zhen stepped forward and said, "Xiao, please let Chen Di off this time. I promise she won''t provoke you again!"


    "Huo Zhen, why are you pleading with him? My father is a third-grade officer in the current administration. I don''t believe he''d really dare to kill me..."


    Chen Di was gnashing her teeth, venomously shouting, "Bastard, you''d better let me go now, and then kneel down and apologize to me. Otherwise, when my father takes action, I''m going to have you chopped into a thousand pieces. And that cheap woman with you, I''ll sell her to a brothel..."


    Before she could finish speaking,


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi stomped down, crushing Chen Di''s head...

 Chapter 51 Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array

    ```


    Hiss!


    Panic spread throughout the auction house.


    Xiao Yi actually killed Chen Di?


    This was a murder in the capital city''s auction house!


    Since the creation of the capital''s auction house, no one had ever dared tomit murder here.


    "Has this kid gone mad?"


    "He actually killed someone in front of Xu, the manager. Is he tired of living?"


    The crowd murmured among themselves.


    Huo Zhen and Zhang Kang were utterly dumbfounded. They had never anticipated that Xiao Yi would really kill Chen Di right in front of them. Huo Zhen felt dizzy and the world seemed to spin around him. Chen Di was his cousin, and now she had been in by Xiao Yi right before his eyes.


    He could not shirk his responsibility!


    Zhang Kang''s face was also gloomy. He was friends with Chen Di''s father, but now...


    Zhang Kang, with a sullen expression, turned to Xu Lai: "Manager Xu, this incident happened in your auction house. You must give me a satisfactory answer!"


    Despite being shocked, Xu Lai also regained hisposure. Under normal circumstances, he would have handed over Xiao Yi immediately, but the Seventh Prince had already instructed him to be on good terms with Xiao Yi. Keeping this in mind, he spoke in a deep voice: "I don''t think there is anything wrong with what Master Xiao did. The whole incident was a baseless usation concocted by Miss Chen to nder Master Xiao!"


    "What do you mean?" Zhang Kang frowned.


    Xu Lai said indifferently: "With a personal wealth of over a hundred million silver, why would Master Xiao stoop to deceit over a mere ten million? Miss Chen tantly framed and insulted Master Xiao; she brought this upon herself. You can''t me others!"


    "What? A worth of over a hundred million?"


    "So young and already possessing over a hundred million in wealth, who is this nobleman?"


    The crowd inhaled sharply. Suddenly, no one spoke up for Chen Di anymore.


    His worth was over a hundred million.


    Yet you publicly called him a country bumpkin, randomly driving up prices!


    Isn''t that asking for death?


    Zhang Kang''s face turned even uglier. He suddenly remembered when Xiao Yi attempted to sell him some elemental weapons previously. If Xiao Yi was indeed so wealthy, would those weapons be of low quality? Zhang Kang could only feel resentful towards Chen Di: "That foolish woman has caused my downfall..."


    Huo Zhen was the only one looking utterly dejected.


    He hade to the capital to depend on the Chen Family, but now Chen Di was dead before him, and not being killed by the Chen Family in a fit of rage was already the best possible oue.


    Xiao Yi, however, did not pay any attention to all of this. He calmly sat back down, collected the ten million silver, and handed over the Purple Dragon Whip to Fang Qingzhu: "Qingzhu, this is a gift for you!"


    "Thank you, Xiao Yi!" Fang Qingzhu said with a smile as she epted the Purple Dragon Whip.


    The auction thereafter became somewhat uninteresting.


    Just as Xiao Yi was preparing to leave,


    Another item that piqued his interest appeared on the auction stage¡ªit was an Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array. The auctioneer excitedly announced, "This Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array, crafted by the great array master Ouyang Shang with a clump of earth fire at its core, can increase the speed of refining medicinal pills by a hundredfold with an effectsting for 24 hours. The starting bid is ten million silver!"


    Interest fading, Xiao Yi''s expression suddenly became intense.


    A hundredfold refining effect?


    He currently held a Golden Core from the Iron de King, which he had been refining for several days, but the progress was slow.


    But if he had the hundredfold effect of this Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array, even if it onlysted for 24 hours, it would be equivalent to a hundred days of refinement for him. A hundred days would allow him to refine one third of the Golden Core''s energy.


    It would be enough to help him step into the Third Layer of the Shentong Realm, or even the fourth.


    The price at the auction had already reached thirty-five million, and the person bidding was Zhang Kang. He raised his hands to greet the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, I must have this Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array. I hope you will do me the courtesy of letting me have it!"


    "With Manager Zhang speaking, we naturally yield to you!"


    "We won''tpete!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Just as Zhang Kang was basking in his anticipated victory, Xiao Yi opened his mouth and said: "Forty million."


    Hiss!


    The crowd sucked in their breaths again.


    ```


    Zhang Kang is the chief steward of Treasure Pavilion, whom among the crowd wouldn''t give him some face?


    Xiao Yi actually dared to bid against him?


    Zhang Kang''s face darkened as he stared at Xiao Yi, "Kid, are you deliberately opposing me?"


    Xiao Yi replied with an innocent face, "In an auction, isn''t the item awarded to the highest bidder? Since when did it be whoever shouts the loudest gets the item?"


    "You..."


    Zhang Kang felt his face turn hot with anger, never expecting to be looked down upon by Xiao Yi, and said with a somber face, "Competing in wealth? Do you think I, Zhang Kang, would be afraid of you? Fifty million!"


    "Fifty-five million!"


    "Sixty million..."


    The bidding went on.


    Finally, when it reached seventy million, Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I will only go as high as seventy million, if you bid higher, it''s yours!"


    "Seventy million... I..." Zhang Kang gnashed his teeth in frustration.


    His money wasn''t his own, but belonged to Treasure Pavilion.


    Your next read awaits at empire


    The real value of the Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array was only around fifty million, seventy million had already far exceeded the value he could justify; with a cold snort, his eyes revealing a venomous look, he gritted his teeth and said, "Kid, you''re ruthless. We''ll see about this!"


    "Take your time, I won''t see you out!" Niu Dali burst into loudughter.


    Zhang Kang nearly stumbled in anger.


    After paying seventy million Silver, he bought the Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array.


    As Xiao Yi and the two others were about to leave, Xu Lai took the initiative to approach them, "Sir Xiao, a distinguished guest wishes to meet with you!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, then said, "Lead the way!"


    "Please!"


    Xu Lai led the trio to one of the VIP rooms, where only a young man with a handsome and noble aura was present. Upon seeing Xiao Yi arrive, he stood up with a smile, "I am Jiang Tai, pleased to meet you, Sir Xiao!"


    "Jiang Tai? Are you His Highness, the Seventh Prince?" Niu Dali eximed in surprise.


    Jiang Tai smiled, "Indeed, that''s me!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "May I know what brings His Highness to seek me out?"


    Jiang Tai said solemnly, "Sir Xiao..."


    Xiao Yi said, "Just call me Xiao Yi, Your Highness!"


    "This... very well, Xiao Yi!" Jiang Tai nodded, and said earnestly, "Xiao Yi, I would like to invite you to join the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy."


    "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?" Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    Niu Dali interjected, "Big brother, I have heard of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy... Before the Royal Martial Arts Academy rose to prominence, it was the strongest Martial Arts Institute in Tianqing Kingdom. However, it has been suppressed by the Royal Martial Arts Academy in recent years..."


    Jiang Tai gave a bitter smile and said, "Brother Dali is right, the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy has indeed been suppressed by the Royal Martial Arts Academy over the years. However, if you Xiao Yi are willing to join the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, I assure you the highest standard of treatment!"


    Xiao Yi bowed and replied, "I apologize, but I have already promised Elder Wang that I will go to the Royal Martial Arts Academy."


    "Elder Wang?"


    Jiang Tai was taken aback, as the name Wang Zhiyuan was renowned, and then he gave a wry smile, "I didn''t expect that Brother Xiao Yi had already caught the favor of Elder Wang, it seems that the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy has no fate with you!"


    Xiao Yi nced at him apologetically.


    Jiang Tai shook his head indicating it was okay, then said, "Brother Xiao Yi, I heard from Steward Xu that you bought that Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array? It''s not easy to use such an array in ordinary ces, so if you wouldn''t mind, you can cultivate inside the training room of the auction house!"


    "Training room?"


    Xiao Yi was surprised and thought that since both he and Fang Qingzhu were at the Shentong Realm, refining the Golden Core would cause quite a disturbance. It would be inconvenient in an inn, so he said, "Then I''ll have to trouble the Seventh Prince!"


    "No trouble at all!"


    Xiao Yi then gave Niu Dali ten million Silver, saying, "Qingzhu and I need to go into closed-door training. This money is for you for now; I''ll repay what I oweter. Find us again in two days when it''s time for the trial at the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"

 Chapter 52 The Legacy of Dao Yan

    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu were escorted to the training room.


    Jiang Tai and Xu Lai stood outside the training room. Unable to contain himself, Xu Lai said, "Your Highness, previously you showed no intention of recruiting Xiao Yi, but after he killed Chen Di, you actively sought him. Why is that?"


    The Chen Family that Chen Di belonged to was only a second-rate family in the Royal City, but Chen Di''s father was in the prime of his life and had great potential for further advancement.


    As for Xiao Yi, he was only at the firstyer of the Shentong Realm.


    In Xu Lai''s view, offending the Chen Family for Xiao Yi''s sake was clearly not worth it.


    Jiang Tai said indifferently, "Elder Xu, do you know Xiao Yi''s identity?"


    "This..."


    Xu Lai shook his head.


    Narrowing his eyes, Jiang Tai said, "He is from the Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty. Although this news was suppressed by the Xiao Family and only a small number of people in Nanhuang City know about it, someone passed a message from Nanhuang City a few days ago. This Xiao Yi is not simple at all! When he first arrived in Nanhuang, he was only at the Physical Body Realm. But in just a few months, he stepped into the Shentong Realm. Even Jia Sichun of the Jia Family died at his hands..."


    "What? He reached the Shentong Realm in just a few months and killed Jia Sichun? How is that possible?" Xu Lai''s eyes widened in shock.


    Only then did he understand why Jiang Tai suddenly sought to recruit Xiao Yi.


    A genius who could step into the Shentong Realm from the Physical Body Realm in just a few short months would undoubtedly achieve limitless heights in the future.


    "For ordinary people, it certainly isn''t possible, but don''t forget that he has the same blood as that person..."


    Taking a deep breath and unable to hide the shock in his heart, Jiang Tai ended with a sigh, "It''s just a pity that he has already agreed to help Elder Wang. Since he is someone valued by Elder Wang, I cannot take him no matter what!"


    Wang Zhiyuan held very high prestige and status within the Tianqing Kingdom.


    Nowadays, the position of the Crown Prince of Tianqing Kingdom is still up for grabs, and any prince who could gain Wang Zhiyuan''s support would significantly increase his chances of obtaining the title of Crown Prince.


    He didn''t want to offend Wang Zhiyuan for Xiao Yi''s sake.


    Jiang Tai continued, "Since we cannot recruit him, then we should forge good karma with him. Letting him use this training room, if he remembers this kindness, maybe he can also be a great asset to me in the future!"


    Xu Lai nodded, then, recalling that Xiao Yi had not only killed Chen Di but also offended Zhang Kang, hesitated and said, "Your Highness, ording to what you said, hasn''t Xiao Yi already offended the Chen Family, Jia Family, and Zhang Kang? Any one of these parties is difficult to deal with, should we help him in secret?"


    "No need!"


    Jiang Tai waved his hand, his gaze calm and detached as he said, "The path to bing a strong warrior is never smooth sailing. If he can''t ovee these difficulties, it just proves that he does not have the qualifications to be my Jiang Tai''s chess piece!"


    ...


    Inside the training room.


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu sat facing each other, their palms aligned with the Golden Core of the Iron de King between them.


    Previously, in order to break through to the Shentong Realm, the two had already refined one-fifth of the Golden Core''s energy and had both stepped into the Shentong Realm. Now, resuming cultivation, they were further elerating the process a hundredfold with the help of the Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array.


    It was likely that, by the end of this refining session, more than half of the energy of the Golden Core would be depleted.


    "Qingzhu, I''m about to activate the Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array. If you can''t handle it, exit immediately. Understand?" Xiao Yi warned Fang Qingzhu earnestly as he stared at her.


    His physical body was strengthened by the power of the God Sealing Seed, much stronger than that of a warrior of the same level.


    Naturally, he could endure the onught of power.


    But Fang Qingzhu''s physical body was iparable to his, and her limit for enduring energy was naturally much lower.


    Fang Qingzhu nodded to show she understood.


    Xiao Yi flicked his finger, tossing an array g between them.


    A thread of Yuan energy surged into it.


    Hum!


    The array was immediately activated, and red beams of light appeared beneath them, with red lines forming a circr array te. Within the array te, the red light wove into gray array patterns.


    The light shone brilliantly, like celestial light, like divine brilliance, bathing their bodies.


    Both channeled their profound energies at the same time.


    They could feel a surge of immense power rush into their bodies from the Golden Core.


    With a hundredfold increase in refining speed.


    This allowed them to constantly and distinctly feel their strength skyrocketing.


    After one hour.


    Two hours.


    Three hours...


    Both of their cultivation levels continued to rise. In just eight hours, Xiao Yi''s cultivation had reached the Third Layer of the Shentong Realm, and Fang Qingzhu had also kept pace, reaching the same realm as him.


    However, Fang Qingzhu apparently was struggling to withstand the surge of energy, as the ice-blue phantom phoenix behind her manifested once again.


    Though it was but a fleeting appearance,


    it still managed to coat the training room with ayer of frost.


    Whoosh!


    Fang Qingzhu immediately exited the array, as the sudden two minor realm increases in cultivation overwhelmed her, and she sat cross-legged to the side to begin refining and stabilizing her own realm.


    Xiao Yi, however, was still absorbing the energy transferred from the Golden Core. Your next read awaits at empire


    When 24 hours had ended,


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation had reached the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, and his Golden Core had shrunk down by half from its original walnut size. Xiao Yi took a deep breath and ced the Golden Core into his storage ring, then he began guiding the primal energy into the God Sealing Seed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The God Sealing Seed burst forth with dazzling light as Xiao Yi was bathed in divine radiance.


    Four hundred and one.


    Four hundred and two...


    At the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, his God Sealing Seed was activated with four hundred seeds, and now that he had reached the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he had added as many as six hundred more. He had a total of one thousand God Sealing Seeds in his body!


    Boom!


    When the primal energy, refined by the essence of the one thousand God Sealing Seeds, transformed into the power of the gods and fed back into his dantian,


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation became firmly established.


    Simultaneously...


    His consciousness suddenly entered the Ancient Heavenly Tomb, where one thousand God Sealing Seeds could now allow him to suppress another being; his gaze swept across until Xiao Yi found a short grave that was a zhang high. However, this grave did not bear a wooden tombstone, but a stone one.


    From his several previous visits to the Ancient Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Yi had discerned some patterns: the taller the grave and the better the material of the tombstone, the stronger the entity within the grave.


    For instance, the grave of that Death-Dealing Schr was but three feet tall!


    Yet the one in front of him stood at an entire zhang!


    "Divine General of Suppression, Crush the heavens, the God-Sealing Demon-Suppressing!"


    With a smash of his palm, Xiao Yi shattered the grave before him, and with a thunderous roar, a stream of light soared into the sky ¡ª it was a refined schr. d in a blue Daoist robe, with a face like carved jade, friendly and amiable, Xiao Yi hardly needed to act, as it voluntarily burrowed into the God Sealing Seed.


    Turning into a statue, residing only within the God Sealing Seed.


    Simultaneously,


    Xiao Yi received information from the shadow in the robe: "Dao Yan, Heavenly Yuan Realm, a grandmaster in martial arts theory, the creator of the ''Martial Canon,'' ''Sword Canon,'' ''Saber Canon,''... among one hundred and eight sacred martial arts scriptures, directly or indirectly instructing nearly a million disciples. His number one disciple is a legend of the Heavenly Yuan Realm ¡ª Martial God Zhao Wuji!"


    Hiss!


    Xiao Yi took a sharp breath.


    This was Dao Yan? The master of Martial God Zhao Wuji?


    Dao Yan''s name was thunderously renowned!


    He was a prodigy who couldn''t cultivate himself yet possessed an incredibly high aptitude, a talent who spanned the heavens and earth. It could be said that the flourishing state of the martial way in the Heavenly Yuan Realm today owed much to Dao Yan''s contributions. Some had even hailed him as the mentor to the Martial God!


    After suppressing Dao Yan, Xiao Yi immediately gained his understanding and theoretical knowledge of the martial way.


    Many previous uncertainties also became clear to him.


    It''s no exaggeration to say,


    That in terms of martial arts theory, in the great Heavenly Yuan Realm, those who could surpass him could be counted on one hand!


    More importantly, he had also acquired a secret technique from Dao Yan''s heritage, the "Blood Explosion Skill."


    This secret technique could be ssified as a fifth-grade technique, which by burning one''s own blood, offered a surge in strength for a short period, potentially reaching an increase of up to a hundredfold. However, the price was thepletebustion of one''s blood, and it was not to be used lightly.


    Although suppressing Dao Yan this time did not yield powerful martial techniques or cultivation methods, it did perfectlyplement Xiao Yi in theoretical aspects, sparing him many detours on his future path in martial arts.


    Especially the "Blood Explosion Skill," it provided him with an additional lifeline; the intangible gains were immensely great.


    Indeed, from another perspective, this gain was even richer than if he had obtained a Martial God''s inheritance directly.


    After all...


    This was Dao Yan, who had taught a person like Martial God Zhao Wuji.


    "Brother Xiao Yi, time''s up; we should head to the Royal Martial Arts Academy now!"


    Suddenly, the voice of Fang Qingzhu came from outside, as Xiao Yi''s consciousness exited the Ancient Heavenly Tomb, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, "The Royal Martial Arts Academy? Here Ie, Xiao Yi!"

 Chapter 53 Royal Martial Arts Academy

    ```


    Outside the Royal Auction House.


    Xue''er''s carriage had been waiting for quite some time.


    As soon as she saw Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhue out, Xue''er immediately approached them: "Xiao Yi, Qingzhu... We went to the Qingyan Pavilion yesterday to find you. Luckily, we ran into Dali, or else we wouldn''t have known you were here!"


    "I''m sorry, Xue''er, we came in a haste and forgot to leave you a message!" Fang Qingzhu said apologetically.


    Xue''er shook her head and said, "The assessment is about to start, let''s set off!"


    "Alright!"


    The group rode the carriage and headed straight for the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Inside the carriage.


    Xiao Yi asked, "Xue''er, Elder Wang hasn''t returned yet?"


    Xue''er shook her head and said with a bitter smile, "This time, my grandfather went out with the headmaster. It seems there has been the emergence of a secret realm belonging to someone from the Tao Tribtion Realm. They went together, and we don''t know when they''ll be back."


    "A secret realm of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert?"


    Xiao Yi and hispanion exchanged a look.


    Above the Golden Core is the Tao Tribtion, signifying the tribtions of martial arts, it is also a transformative realm for leaping through the dragon gate to be a true dragon.


    It is said that in the vast Tianqing Kingdom, only the ancient forebear of the royal family is at the Tao Tribtion Realm, but that venerable ancestor has not shown himself for over a hundred years.


    "No wonder Elder Wang was in such a hurry to get back..." Xiao Yi murmured to himself.


    Xue''er said with a smile, "Xiao Yi, don''t worry! Before my grandfather left, he made all the arrangements, and with your strengths, getting into the Royal Martial Arts Academy will be a piece of cake!"


    ......


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy was established five hundred and thirty-one years ago.


    It is said that at that time, the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy was dominant and tried to influence the session of the Crown Prince, which angered the King.


    To counterbnce the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, the King founded the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    After more than five hundred years of development, the Royal Martial Arts Academy haspletely surpassed the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy in all aspects.


    The entire academy is situated in the East City District, facing the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy of the West City District. Stay connected via empire


    Almost a quarter of the East City District belongs to the Royal Martial Arts Academy; the academy is home to sixty thousand Yellow Level students, twelve thousand Profound Level students, thirteen hundred Earth Level students, and thirteen Heaven Level students.


    Even the weakest Yellow Level students are above the Qi Gathering Realm.


    By the time Xiao Yi and the others arrived at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, the entrance was already a sea of people.


    Xue''er said, "Xiao Yi, you''re going to take part in the assessment soon. I''ve already prepared a banquet at the Qingyan Pavilion, waiting for your triumphant return!"


    "Don''t worry, we won''t disappoint you!" Fang Qingzhu said with a smile.


    Xiao Yi nodded in agreement.


    Niu Dali grunted: "It''s just the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s assessment. It''s a trifle for me, nothing but light rain!"


    "I bet you won''t pass the assessment!"


    A boastful voice came through, the speaker was a youth not even one and a half meters tall, "Don''t you know that the elimination rate of the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s assessment is as high as ny percent? And you say it''s light rain? That''s sheer arrogance!"


    The youth had a small mustache under his nose and was pinching it with his chubby little hands, looking disdainfully at Xiao Yi and the others.


    Niu Dali snorted darkly, grabbing the youth by the cor: "Shorty, you''re itching for a beating, aren''t you?"


    "You big oaf, let me down right now, or I''ll start shouting for help!" the diminutive youth iled his arms and legs, but being so short, he couldn''t reach Niu Dali and could only speak fiercely.


    Niu Daliughed heartily: "Go ahead and shout, nobody wille to help you even if your throat breaks!"


    "Big brother, second brother, three of them, someone is bullying me!" the small fellow suddenly shouted.


    "Who dares to bully our brother?"


    "Looking for trouble, are they?"


    ```


    In the crowd.


    A little dwarf who was stealing someone''s purse dropped the purse and rushed out; another small dwarf who was negotiating with a few extravagantly dressed people walked out; and another was squeezing through the crowd, stealing touches, hustling over with a red bellyband in hand.


    Three dwarfs, none taller than four and a half feet, stood in front of Niu Dali, hands on hips, fiercely red at him, and shouted in unison, "Put down our fourth brother!"


    "Damn, did I hit a dwarf nest?" Niu Dali''s eyes widened as he looked at the four little dwarfs in front of him.


    Xiao Yi said, "Dali, let him go."


    "Oh!"


    Niu Dali released his grip, and the little dwarf jumped down. After straightening his cor, he said with self-satisfaction, "I bet you wouldn''t kill me!"


    Niu Dali: "..."


    The short one bowed to Xiao Yi and said, "Dude, thank you for your righteous help. My name is Shi Yaodu; this is my eldest brother Shi Yaoqian, my second brother Shi Yaoquan, and my third brother Shi Yaose. From now on, you''re a friend of us four Shi brothers. If anyone dares to bully you, we brothers will tear him to shreds together!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    The crowd: "..."


    Money, Lust, Power, Gambling?


    What kind of names are these?


    And to top it all off, your surname is Shi, which, no offense, sounds like ''Shit'' Family''s four brothers!


    Shi Yaose walked up to Fang Qingzhu with his hands rubbing together and chuckled, "Everyone has a love for beauty... Beauty, our bed is big and soft..."


    Shi Yaodu whispered, "I bet third brother is about to get beaten up!"


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi kicked him out with a foot and said with a dark face, "Stay away from Qingzhu!"


    At that moment...


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Three dull bell tolls rang out, startling everyone and brightening their expressions.


    From within the gates of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, three figures emerged.


    The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in profound garments, with heroic eyebrows like unsheathed swords, breathing in one continuous flow, and eyes like stars, with a glint of cold light. nking him was a man and a woman, each exuding the aura of the Divine Skills Realm.


    Especially the middle-aged man in profound garments, he was a powerhouse of the High-order Divine Power Realm.


    "Wee, everyone, to the quarterly assessment of the Royal Martial Arts Academy. I am the chief examiner, Ge Qingyun, and these two are earth-level students, Zhang Yi and Sun Ying. You will face three rounds of tests, and only by passing all three will you pass the assessment and be students of the Martial Arts Institute! The first round of assessment will be conducted by Sun Ying!" Ge Qingyun said indifferently.


    Sun Ying stepped forward, pointed at the stone lion on the left side of the gate, and said, "This stone lion can test your level of cultivation. Anyone over eighteen years old and below the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm is unqualified. Please go ahead!"


    The crowd advanced one after another.


    This round easily eliminated forty percent.


    Xiao Yi and the others, of course, passed easily and then entered the second round of the assessment. Ge Qingyun said, "This second round will be conducted by Zhang Yi!"


    Zhang Yi stepped forward, his icy gaze sweeping over the crowd, pausing slightly on Xiao Yi and two others as he said indifferently, "The second round of the assessment tests your innate talent. All you have to do is touch the talent stone in my hand, and it will emit either white or ck light, white light for elimination, ck light for qualification!"


    The crowd stepped forward to test.


    Soon it was Xiao Yi''s turn. Zhang Yi''s lips curled up slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement, "Go ahead!"


    Xiao Yi frowned and ced his hand on the talent stone.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Whoosh!


    Bright ck light burst forth, the deep ck light especially eye-catching against the blue sky and white sun.


    However...


    Zhang Yi''s face showed a trivial expression, his lips curling up in a thick sneer, and he said lightly, "Disqualified..."

 Chapter 54 Reversing Black and White

    "Disqualified!"


    Zhang Yi''s face wasden with thick mockery, but the three words that left his mouth left everyone agape.


    The sneer on his face grew even more brilliant, his gleeful gaze sweeping over Xiao Yi,den with intense mockery and provocation.


    The surrounding crowd was also stunned.


    "What''s going on here?"


    "I clearly saw ck light just now, how could it be disqualified?"


    "Could I be seeing things?"


    "Keep your voices down... Can''t you see? He must have offended someone from the Royal Martial Arts Academy, so they''re intentionally targeting him!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, staring at Zhang Yi; "You''re saying I''m disqualified?"


    Zhang Yi indifferently replied: "That''s right, you are disqualified!"


    Fang Qingzhu immediately stepped forward, anxiously retorting: "We clearly saw white light, how can it be disqualified?"


    Niu Dali also shouted with a grim face: "Which eye of yours saw white light? Are you blind? When my big brother touched the talent stone, the ck light was so evident, how could you not see it?"


    "How dare you! Are you questioning the authority of the Royal Martial Arts Academy? I am the examiner this time, and if I say he''s disqualified, then he is disqualified!"


    Zhang Yi was fearless, lowering his voice somewhat, "Kid, some people you can''t afford to offend, and this is your fate!"


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath and then turned to Ge Qingyun: "Instructor, you must have seen the results of the test just now, right? Do you also think I''m disqualified?"


    Ge Qingyun''s face was indifferent: "All I see is that you failed the assessment, yet you''re trying to force Zhang Yi to change the results! With such a poor character, even if your talent were outstanding, our Royal Martial Arts Academy would not ept you!"


    He was the chief examiner of this assessment.


    Since even he said that Xiao Yi didn''t pass, it was as good as set in stone.


    Fang Qingzhu''s face paled, and she quickly said: "Mr. Ge, we were referred here by Elder Wang, we hope you will treat us fairly..."


    "Elder Wang?"


    "Vice-Chancellor Wang? How could you know him?" Ge Qingyun''s expression changed dramatically. If Xiao Yi really knew Elder Wang, then he was in big trouble.


    Moreover...


    A person who had caught Elder Wang''s eye must definitely be a prodigy.


    Even if Elder Wang didn''t pursue the matter, the higher-ups of the Martial Arts Institute would consider it a serious crime if they found out that he hadmitted such injustice and turned away a prodigy for his own personal reasons!


    Standing by his side, Zhang Yi had already been aware of Xiao Yi''s identity, and whispered: "Mr. Ge need not worry, Brother Jia is the crown prince''s man, they have already handled everything... But just to be safe, we should eliminate him. Would Vice-Chancellor Wang really offend the crown prince over a dead man?"


    "Well said!"


    Ge Qingyun''s eyes lit up and he said, "Elder Wang is eminent and highly regarded, and he would definitely not want to see us engaged in any corruption. Not only have you disrupted the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s examination, but you have also ndered Vice-Chancellor Wang, the crime is heinous, and you must be executed! Zhang Yi, kill him for me, to serve as an example to others!"


    "At yourmand!" Enjoy more content from empire


    Zhang Yi appeared in front of Xiao Yi with a fiendish smile, going for a ck Tiger Heart Dig straight toward Xiao Yi''s chest.


    Facing such a ferocious attack from Zhang Yi, Xiao Yi merely raised one hand and firmly caught the palm.


    He then viciously pped it away.


    Zhang Yi screamed miserably as he was sent flying by Xiao Yi''s p, tumbling through the air like a kite with its string cut, as Xiao Yi pursued and kicked him in the face in midair.


    Bang!


    Zhang Yi harshly crashed to the ground, spewing out blood along with a mouthful of teeth.


    His face smeared with blood, he looked up at Xiao Yi, who was slowly withdrawing his foot.


    Zhang Yi''s cultivation was at the Fifth Layer of the Shentong Realm, and he was a master who had awakened his Innate Divine Ability; he didn''t expect to be sent flying by a kick from Xiao Yi? Zhang Yi red furiously, grinding his teeth: "You... you dare hit me?"


    "I''ve already hit you and you''re still asking if I dare, it seems youck not only a pair of eyes but also a brain..." Xiao Yi replied coldly.


    Zhang Yi''s face was red with rage as he bellowed, "You dare to insult me? You''re as good as dead, I..."


    "Save that nonsense for King Yama!"


    Xiao Yi''s fist suddenly smashed down.


    Boom!


    Zhang Yi''s head burst open instantly, turning into a mess of flesh scattered on the ground.


    A Profound Level disciple from the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he didn''t even have the chance to use his Innate Divine Ability before his head was blown apart by Xiao Yi''s punch.


    "Rascal!"


    Ge Qingyun, with a gloomy face, roared in fury, his eyes emitting a cold light as he locked his gaze onto Xiao Yi, "How dare you, a scoundrel, ughter a student of the Royal Martial Arts Academy! It''s utterly unforgivable, a crime deserving of death a thousand times over!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Deserving of death a thousand times over? Whether I passed the examination is clear to all, yet you insist on distorting the truth and framing me ¨C who truly deserves to die a thousand times over?"


    Xiao Yiughed coldly, "You blind old dog, go keep himpany!"


    Ge Qingyun, filled with murderous intent and a dark expression on his face, said, "In all my years at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, I have never seen someone as arrogant as you. It''s clear that you forced Zhang Yi to alter the test results, and when that failed, you resorted to murder. If someone as violent and ruthless as you were allowed to grow unchecked, you would surely be a scourge on thisnd. Today, I, Ge Qingyun, shall act in heaven''s stead and rid the world of you, a murderous devil!"


    Xiao Yi let out a loudugh to the heavens, "Hahahaha, this is the Royal Martial Arts Academy? With such tant disregard for right and wrong, truth and falsehood, I suggest you might as well close your doors now!"


    "Scoundrel, you''re courting death!"


    Ge Qingyun''s face turned alternatively green and white, his rage uncontroble.


    The furious anger turned into a cold, tangible intent to kill, firmly targeting Xiao Yi.


    Ge Qingyun''s face bore a cold smile to the extreme, his voice sinister, "Daring to challenge the authority of the Royal Martial Arts Academy and openly threatening the chief examiner, you deserve to be torn to pieces!"


    As soon as his words ended¡­


    Ge Qingyun''s vital energy surged violently around him, and with a leap, hended in front of Xiao Yi.


    He pped down with one hand.


    "Void Shock Palm!"


    A high-tier, third-grade martial technique, the palm attack came rushing forward with the momentum of Move Mountains and Overturn Seas, containingyers uponyers within the palm, its power seemingly endless.


    With just one palm, it could ignore physical defense and directly shatter the internal organs.


    Such a formidable move, coupled with Ge Qingyun being at the Eighth Layer of the Divine Power Realm, had enough destructive power to crush even amon practitioner at the Eightfold Divine Power Realm.


    Xiao Yi''s cold gaze was fixed on the iing attack that seemed unstoppable, as his understanding of Dao Yan''s punch shed through his mind. His thoughts shifted in an instant, finding a w in what seemed to be an imprable assault.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, focusing on the center of the palm fueled by vital energy.


    Having received Dao Yan''s legacy and the martial wisdom and heritage of the Martial God, he could see through the fatal w in Ge Qingyun''s move at a nce.


    In his eyes, across the vital energy-enveloped palm, faint blue liquid streams coursed like ghosts, and Xiao Yi instantly pinpointed the core where these blue streams converged, his lips curving up into a slight, cold arc, "Break for me!"


    Swish!


    At the strike of his finger, Ge Qingyun''s gathered assault crumbled to pieces.


    The sharp finger strike hit dead center on the palm.


    This was the weak point of his attack!


    Crack!


    Amidst the sound of bones shattering, Ge Qingyun let out a hysterical scream as his entire right arm was obliterated.


    Bone fragments protruded from his shoulder, and amidst the bloodied spectacle, there was also a chilling sense of desperation as Ge Qingyun crashed to the ground with a thud.


    Ge Qingyun, clutching his broken arm, looked at Xiao Yi with deep fear and regret in his eyes.


    With such strength, once he entered the Martial Arts Institute, he would at least be a Profound Level or even Earth Level student, and one day he might even be strong enough for the Heavenly Rank Academy. But s, there''s no medicine for regret in this world. Having offended him now, he might as well offend him thoroughly!


    Ge Qingyun took out a summoning arrow and swiftly released it into the sky, his face simultaneously revealing a ferocious expression, "Impudent Xiao Yi, to brazenly assault and injure a Martial Arts Institute examiner without cause, showingplete disregard for thew. I''m going to immediately call for the Law Enforcement Team. You''re done for..."

 Chapter 55 Law Enforcement Team

    Whoosh!


    Amand arrow pierced the sky, exploding above with a loud bang.


    In the blink of an eye,


    dozens of powerful auras surged out from the Martial Arts Institute.


    Equally matched in the Shentong Realm.


    This was the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s Law Enforcement Team, feared by all who heard their name.


    The person leading them radiated elemental energy, surrounded by a protective golden light; he was a superpower within the Golden Core Realm. His brows were sharp as des, his eyes flickered with lightning, sweeping a cold gaze over the crowd.


    His eyes flickered with a cold light, "What is going on here?"


    Ge Qingyun wept bitterly, "Elder Zhou Xin, save me! This guy named Xiao Yi, unable to pass the talent test, was enraged and wanted Zhang Yi to change the results. Zhang Yi refused and has been killed by him. My teacher tried to intervene and has been seriously injured by him..."


    This Zhou Xin was the master of the Law Enforcement Hall.


    His cultivation had reached the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core Realm, one of the apex existences within Tianqing Kingdom''s martial ranks.


    Zhou Xin''s body was enveloped by golden elemental energy, resembling a radiant halo, majestic and solemn. His sharp eyes seemed capable of piercing into one''s soul, his cold gaze fixated on Xiao Yi, expressing a hint of doubt, "How could someone of such an age manage to y Zhang Yi and defeat Ge Qingyun? He must be a genius, why would he fail the assessment?"


    Ge Qingyun''s face slightly changed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He was about to speak.


    But Zhou Xin waved his hand dismissively, "Nevertheless, it doesn''t matter. What our Royal Martial Arts Academy nevercks are geniuses. You dared to openly kill a student of my Royal Martial Arts Academy and severely injure an instructor, this cannot be easily resolved. Only your blood can wash away the disgrace you''ve brought upon our Institute. You, take your own life!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Zhou Xin indifferently, "Is this the justice of the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s Law Enforcement Hall? To depart from justice is unrighteousness, to be unable to discern right from wrong is folly, and to disregard the rules of the Martial Arts Institute is disloyalty. You, a person whocks loyalty, intelligence, and righteousness, dare to sit in the position of the Law Enforcement Elder?"


    Zhou Xin was strong.


    With the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core Realm, unless he employed the highest-level Blood Explosion Skill, burning all his blood, he was not someone Xiao Yi could currently contend with.


    But...


    As a War God, tasked with suppressing all the heavens and sealing all things,


    how could he fear anyone?


    Zhou Xin narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp. Having held the position of Law Enforcement Elder for many years, even students at the heaven-level revered him. When had anyone ever dared to rebuke him to his face? His expression turned as cold as ice, "You say this Elder is unfair? I want to see, aside from you, who else believes this Elder is unjust!"


    His gaze swept over everyone present.


    One by one, the strong ones stepped back, bowing their heads.


    Just as Zhou Xin was reveling in his triumph, a cold voice rang out. Fang Qingzhu stood by Xiao Yi''s side, "Xiao Yi is right. You are not only unjust but also disloyal, unwise, and unrighteous."


    "You..."


    Zhou Xin''s face stiffened; he thought nobody would dare confront him, yet immediately someone stood up and fiercely pped him in the face.


    Following that, Niu Dali stepped forward, wielding his heavy sword, "Fairness and justice, do they have anything to do with you?"


    "Despicable..."


    Zhou Xin''s face grew even darker.


    "Peace leads to prosperity! Although I love money, I must say you really have nothing to do with fairness!" Shi Yaoqian yed with two Silver Ingots in his hand, wearing a scornful smile on his face.


    Shi Yaose sniffed harshly at the red bellyband in his hands, squinting his eyes in enjoyment, "Everyone desires beauty... count me in!"


    Shi Yaoquan shrugged, "Logically, I should cling to you, but how could I when even my two brothers can''t stand it?"


    Thest one to step forward was Shi Yaodu.


    He twirled a pair of dice in his hands, smiling at Zhou Xin, "I bet you can''t kill us today!"


    Including Xiao Yi, there were a total of seven of them.


    Zhou Xin''s face shifted between shades of green and white. He had never imagined that these seven people would dare to publicly defy him.


    "Good, good, good, you..." Just as Zhou Xin began to speak, another person stepped out from the crowd.


    It was Huo Zhen.


    He looked solemnly at Zhou Xin and said in a deep voice, "Elder Zhou, I have always admired the Royal Martial Arts Academy, but what you''ve done today is just too much."


    "Where did this mongrele from, daring to criticize this Elder?" Zhou Xin, furious, struck out with his palm.


    As his icy palm drew near Huo Zhen, itnded with a smack, sending him flying.


    Huo Zhen spit out blood and stumbled to the ground.


    With a cold snort, Zhou Xin said, "You rabble who only wish for chaos, you all deserve to die! All Law Enforcement Team members listen to mymand, capture these eight people. If they resist, show no mercy!"


    "Yes!"


    A group of strong individuals from the Law Enforcement Hall charged at them simultaneously.


    Twenty-something people faced off against eight!


    Xiao Yi took the lead, "To enforcew unjustly, what dignity do you have wearing those tunics? Brothers, strip them of their fa?ade!"


    "Strip them clean!" Niu Dali said viciously.


    "Fortune favors the bold. Take my fist!" Shi Yaoqian struck with intricate skill, his Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm prowess enabling him to fight two other practitioners of the same level without falling behind.


    The attacks of Shi Yaoquan, Shi Yaose, and Shi Yaodu were no less formidable.


    Wielding her Purple Dragon Whip, Fang Qingzhushed out with whip strikes like phantoms ¨C graceful and seemingly sentient, handling her opponents with ease.


    Xiao Yi was like a War God himself, holding a third-grade elemental weapon in his hand. The Fire Qilin Sword was too dazzling, and he was not yet able to reveal its power casually. With the sword in hand, he executed the "Soul-chasing Life-taking Sword" to great effect.


    "Sweeping through a thousand troops!"


    Your journey continues with empire


    "Chasing stars and moons!"


    "Life Seizing Soul Chaser..."


    Every strike of his sword injured someone, every move was lethal!


    With his current prowess at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, even if he faced a practitioner of the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he could emerge victorious. The rest of the opponents were simply swept aside.


    For a moment...


    Eight against twenty-seven, Xiao Yi''s side imed aplete victory!


    Xiao Yi and his sevenpanions stood in line, staring coldly at Zhou Xin, whose face was turning shades of green and white, and said, "You im I''m not qualified to enter the Royal Martial Arts Academy? I''d like to ask, these people lying here, what status do they hold within the Academy?"


    Zhou Xin''s face turned the color of liver, as if he had swallowed a kilogram of flies; the difort was palpable.


    The Law Enforcement Teamprised the elite students of various levels.


    If even they were easily defeated by Xiao Yi and his group, to say that Xiao Yi was not qualified and failed the examination would imply that more than ny percent of the Academy''s students were also not qualified, wouldn''t it?


    He felt his face burning with an intense, unbearable pain.


    Seeing the peculiar looks of the other strong participants in the examination directed at him, Zhou Xin red viciously at Ge Qingyun, cursing inwardly: You idiot, if you want to deal with him, at least use smarter methods!


    Now, he was in a difficult position!


    But he couldn''t tarnish the reputation of a Law Enforcement Elder. With a cold huff, he said, "Our Royal Martial Arts Academy not only values talent but also character. Just on that alone, none of you qualify, I..."


    Before he could finish, a longugh interrupted him.


    A Cangyun Eagle soared into view, its wings spanning twenty meters, casting a shadow as if to cover the sky, descending from above.


    A cold voice came from on the back of the Cangyun Eagle, "Zhou Xin, your Royal Martial Arts Academy is as shameless as ever, isn''t it? Your Academy looks down on their character? From what I see, they are loyal, brave, and resourceful, which makes them far stronger disciples than those so-called geniuses you speak of. Gentlemen, are any of you interested in joining my Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"

 Chapter 56 Lets go together!

    "Would you be willing toe to our Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    A genialugh echoed from the back of the Cangyun Eagle.


    Dressed in a refined, schrly green shirt, the middle-aged man floated down, moving with the wind as if a celestial being had descended to the world. The gentle breeze swirling around him carried no trace of coercion but exuded a sense of majesty that was as awe-inspiring as a towering mountain.


    All eyes were drawn to him.


    "Gu Junhe, what are you doing here at the Royal Martial Arts Academy?" Zhou Xin''s eyes narrowed, filled with a serious countenance as he sized up the neer.


    Gu Junhe.


    Head of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Your journey continues with empire


    A peak existence of the Golden Elixir Realm, and the youngest record holder in the entire Tianqing Kingdom to reach that level.


    There were rumors...


    That the next person to step into the Tao Tribtion Realm in the Tianqing Kingdom would likely be this Gu Junhe.


    Gu Junhe''s face was adorned with a radiant smile, as he lightly said, "I was passing by when I suddenly saw your Royal Martial Arts Academy''s distress signal. I thought the Demon Sect''s followers were besieging your academy, so I hurried over to help. Little did I expect that instead of the Demon Sect, I would find your Royal Martial Arts Academy failing to discern right from wrong, reversing ck and white, and bullying the younger generation!"


    "Bullshit!"


    Zhou Xin flew into a rage, blurting out without thinking.


    But no sooner had he uttered these words than his face abruptly changed, as a loud whoosh resonated from the void.


    An invisible pnded heavily on his face.


    Wow!


    Zhou Xin was directly smacked to the ground, his head mming into the earth with such force that stars sparkled before his eyes, his head spinning.


    Gu Junhe looked at Zhou Xin with a cold expression, his demeanor indifferent, "Even if Elder Wang and Shu Linghua were here, they wouldn''t dare talk to me like that. What are you that you dare say I''m spouting nonsense? If I farted, could you even handle it?"


    Zhou Xin twitched the corner of his eyes, hastily saying, "Head Gu, I misspoke earlier, please forgive me!"


    "Hmph!"


    Gu Junhe sneered, but as he turned around, his face was already filled with a brilliant smile, focusing on Xiao Yi and the others, "You youngsters have integrity and don''t bow to power, which suits my taste very well. Any interest in joining my Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    "Harmony brings wealth!"


    Shi Yaoqian muttered his mantra before adding, "Does your Tianqi Martial Arts Academy have a lot of money?"


    Gu Junhe paused, then nodded, "Yes, our Tianqi Martial Arts Academy has more money than we can spend!"


    Hiss!


    Shi Yaoqian''s eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded, "I''ll go, I''m going!"


    Shi Yaoquan squinted his eyes, "Ever since I saw you p Zhou Xin away with just a palm strike, I knew I''d follow you for life!"


    The corner of Gu Junhe''s eye twitched.


    Shi Yaose licked his lips, rubbing his hands together, "Are there many beauties at Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    "Uh..."


    Gu Junhe gave a serious reply, "As long as there are women, they are all peerless beauties!"


    "Hmm, I''m not lecherous. It''s just that training with both genders is less tiring. I''m willing to go!" Shi Yaose stated seriously.


    Gu Junhe unconsciously nced at Shi Yaodu, who hesitated before saying, "I bet you will definitely take me in!"


    Gu Junhe then looked towards Niu Dali and Fang Qingzhu.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Fang Qingzhu smiled, "Wherever Xiao Yi goes, I go there!"


    Niu Dali dered, "I''ll follow the big brother!"


    Gu Junhe''s gaze settled on Xiao Yi, a sh of excitement skimming the depths of his eyes. He had witnessed everything Xiao Yi had done previously, and he immediately said, "Xiao Yi, would you be willing toe to my Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    Xiao Yi nced at Gu Junhe.


    He didn''t believe Gu Junhe had really just happened to pass by, but seeing no malice from the man, Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Head Gu, I didn''t even pass the second round of assessment at the Royal Martial Arts Academy. Are you sure taking me in won''t be a loss for Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    "They at the Royal Martial Arts Academy are blind!"


    Gu Junhe looked deeply at Xiao Yi, and although it was their first meeting, there was an unspoken understanding between them, "As long as you agree toe to my Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, I guarantee that within five years, you will be able to sweep through the entire Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "No, five years is too long!"


    "Hmm?"


    Gu Junhe was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi continued, "Elder Gu, since you want me to join the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, as the headmaster, you will protect me, right?"


    Gu Junhe nodded subconsciously, but as he saw the triumphant smile at the corner of Xiao Yi''s mouth, his heart skipped a beat. He was about to speak when he saw Xiao Yi had already approached Zhou Xin, slowly raised his thumb, then turned it down, and roared word by word, "Today, I, Xiao Yi of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, on behalf of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, challenge all students of the Royal Martial Arts Academy below the Profound Level!"


    What?


    Gu Junhe was stunned.


    Zhou Xin''s face flushed red with anger, "Xiao Yi, do you really think my Royal Martial Arts Academy has no one left?"


    Xiao Yi said coldly, "Didn''t you say I''m not qualified to enter the Royal Martial Arts Academy? Then let me see the so-called geniuses of your academy, if every single one of them is stronger and more outstanding than me, Xiao Yi! Anyone below the Profound Level,e one by one or two by two. If I lose, I, Xiao Yi, will kneel to death at the gates of your Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    Zhou Xin roared, "Xiao Yi, you''re looking for death!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Gu Junhe, "Headmaster!"


    Gu Junhe''s face darkened, "Zhou Xin, didn''t you hear Xiao Yi''s words? Call out all disciples below the Profound Level of your Royal Martial Arts Academy. Otherwise, don''t me me for losing my temper!"


    Zhou Xin, "..."


    In the capital of Tianqing, Gu Junhe had a famous nickname, known as the Unbeatable Naughty Boy.


    Once provoked, he didn''t care about consequences.


    Act now, talkter!


    If Zhou Xin didn''t follow his instructions, Gu Junhe might really cause a ruckus at the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    With this thought,


    A cold light shed in Zhou Xin''s half-closed eyes, and with a venomous stare fixed on Xiao Yi, he said coldly, "Fine, since you''re courting death, I won''t be to me!"


    Whoosh!


    Zhou Xin took out amand arrow.


    Themand arrow shot into the sky, bursting into a brilliant golden lightning.


    Boom boom boom!


    The sound of war drums resonated continuously, echoing between heaven and earth.


    "When the war drums sound, disciples gather!"


    "Three sounds, calling together the Earth, Yellow, and Profound levels? Quick, there must be some big trouble!"


    The entire Royal Martial Arts Academy was in an uproar.


    Disciples of Earth, Yellow, and Profound levels rushed towards the gates of the Royal Martial Arts Academy. Excluding those who were not within the academy, the gathered crowd exceeded twenty thousand. Nearly twenty thousand Yellow Level disciples, over three thousand Profound Level disciples, and nearly a hundred Earth Level disciples¡ªall of them ring fiercely at Xiao Yi and the others.


    The atmosphere was extremely tense.


    "Elder Zhou, what happened? Why gather us in such haste?" A young man dressed in Earth Level disciple uniform stepped forward and asked. He was the strongest among many Earth Level disciples currently at the academy, ranked tenth among Earth Level disciples, Zhuge Shuangdao.


    Zhou Xin pointed at Xiao Yi and said icily, "This person named Xiao Yi, wishes to challenge all students of the Royal Martial Arts Academy below the Profound Level. This matter concerns the reputation of the Royal Martial Arts Academy for hundreds of years. Who dares to fight?"


    "What? Challenge all students below the Profound Level?"


    "That''s too arrogant! He''s simply asking for death!"


    "Kill him!"


    A Profound Level disciple leapt forward, looking at Xiao Yi coldly, "Royal Martial Arts Academy, Profound Level disciple Wang Ye, let me..."


    "Too much nonsense!"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly, his figure suddenly vanished from its original spot, and when he reappeared, he had already used the move "Dragon Tail Whip" to fiercely send Wang Ye flying.


    With a heavy thud, Wang Ye from the Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm fell hard, foaming at the mouth, unable to move.


    Everyone was dumbfounded.


    A powerhouse of the Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm, defeated by a single kick?


    Xiao Yi, however, disregarded the shocked expressions of the crowd and said indifferently, "One by one is too troublesome; you alle at me together..."

 Chapter 57 Zhuge Shuangdao

    "All of you,e at me together!"


    Xiao Yi hooked his finger at the crowd, his eyes zing with an intense desire for battle and excitement.


    The war-hungry gene inside him was now fully activated.


    Suppressor of the Heavens, War God,


    Subduing the myriad heavens, sealing deities in their ce.


    He was the existence that fought against gods, immortals, the heavens, the earth, endless battling without loss.


    The repeated oppression from the Royal Martial Arts Academy had wholly sparked the war-like instinct within him, causing the God Sealing Seed inside to buzz and hum, and a faint glow ebbed and flowed around his body as if a celestial being had descended to the world. With a wave of his hand, a Tier-3 Yuan weaponnded within his palm.


    Whoosh!


    The sword''s edge sliced through the air, emitting a series of tearing sounds.


    The array of formidable experts standing before Xiao Yi exchanged nces¡ªtwenty thousand in number, and he was asking them all to attack at once?


    To face an army of thousands alone?


    That was, of course, impossible!


    Even if Xiao Yi dared to take them all on, they wouldn''t dare to rush him en masse; after all, if they did, the reputation of the Royal Martial Arts Academy would be utterly ruined.


    "Hmph, it was only because he was caught off guard for a moment that you managed to trick him. Let this old man teach you a lesson, you oblivious fool¡ª"


    A Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm expert soared high, his body sturdy and powerful, possessing Innate Divine Strength. His fists, hard as iron maces, brutally smashed down. With unparalleled strength, single-handedly capable of tearing apart tigers, panthers, wolves, those ruthless fists descended upon Xiao Yi, aiming to crush his skull and surely kill him if they connected.


    Facing this thunderous attack.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze lifted slightly, and the sword in his grip swung upward in a swift arc.


    Whoosh!


    The silvery sword light, like a crescent moon, sliced into the attacker''s body with a swish.


    St!


    The body of the strong opponent was cut clean in two; blood rained down like a downpour, and the two halves of the corpse fell to the ground.


    Hiss!


    The death of two Fifth Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm experts at Xiao Yi''s hand, and undeniably instantaneous kills at that, shocked all the rapidly arriving Royal Martial Arts Academy students, horror-stricken they eximed, "This guy''s strength is so formidable, who exactly is he? Why is he challenging us?"


    "I heard he was also participating in our Royal Martial Arts Academy''s disciple assessment, but he was eliminated during the second round!"


    "You must be joking, right? With his strength, he couldn''t pass because of poor talent? Then what are we?"


    "Which idiot was in charge of the assessment? Aren''t they just pushing a genius out the door?"


    "Keep your voice down. I heard it was by Brother Jia Sidao''s suggestion..."


    Listening to the discussions among the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s students, Zhou Xin''s face turned as livid as a pig''s liver, wishing he could flog the corpses of Ge Qingyun and Zhang Yi. But right now, he absolutely could not afford to lose hisposure. Zhou Xin let out a cold snort, "Xiao Yi, aren''t you being a bit too ruthless?"


    Xiao Yi nced at him and turned to address Gu Junhe, "Director!"


    Gu Junhe appeared in a sh before Zhou Xin, pressing a palm against his face and pushing him to the ground, rubbing it back and forth, as he coldly questioned, "What''s the matter? I''m still standing right here. Are you already nning to threaten my disciple?"


    Zhou Xin felt like crying, "When the hell did I threaten him?"


    "Still trying to talk tough?"


    Gu Junhe, gripping his face, smashed it against the ground over and over.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The ground was smashed into a deep pit.


    Zhou Xin''s nose was blue, and his face was swollen; if not for his Golden Core Realm body being as durable as a first-grade Yuan weapon, the impacts could have made his head burst open and bleed. Even so, Zhou Xin''s head had swollen like a pig''s, barely recognizable as human anymore.


    Smack smack smack!


    Gu Junhe dusted off his hands and looked at Xiao Yi, "You continue!"


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curled up as he looked towards Zhuge Shuangdao and the others, "Those of you in the Yellow or Profound Levels, don''t bothering over to seek death. Do none of you Earth Level students have the guts to fight me? I get it now. They say I''m unqualified to enter the Royal Martial Arts Academy because my guts aren''t small enough, nor is my skin thick enough, is that it? If that''s the case, then I admit defeat; indeed, I''m not suitable for the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Xiao Yi, don''t think that just because you''ve killed two Profound Level students, you''re really invincible. My Royal Martial Arts Academy has countless people who could kill you like stars in the sky!"


    A voice like rolling thunder spoke, and a bald young man stepped forward.


    The young man was bald with brows sharp as swords, high cheekbones, and eyes cold like an eagle''s gaze; his cultivation had reached the Seventh Layer of the Spiritual Power Realm, marking him as an Earth Level student.


    "Is this the Bald Butcher ranked 278th among the Earth Level students, Ding Qiang?"


    "I didn''t expect him to not be out on a training expedition. With him here, Xiao Yi won''t be able to act arrogantly for long!"


    The disciples of the Royal Martial Arts Academy were excitedly discussing.


    The Bald Butcher Ding Qiang licked his lips and revealed a ferocious grin, speaking ominously, "Xiao Yi, I respect you as a real man, so I will use the manliest way to give you a quick death."


    ng ng!


    In the cold sh of metal, he held a huge cleaver resembling an ox head in each hand.


    The pair of cleavers were pitch-ck with silver edges shimmering.


    "Third-grade Yuan weapon, Heaven ughter de, I''ming for your dog head!" Ding Qiang bellowed, charging at Xiao Yi with his dual des.


    His bulky figure was surprisingly fast, and amidst his wild charge, his de light spilled everywhere like quicksilver. Faced with such a reckless assault, Xiao Yi shook his head and chuckled, "Soul Snatcher, Life Stealer!"


    Whoosh!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Sword drawn, sword fallen.


    Xiao Yi brushed past Ding Qiang, walking straight towards Zhuge Shuangdao and others, while behind him, Ding Qiang copsed with a thud, his throat spraying blood. Xiao Yi lifted his longsword, with droplets of blood rolling down its edge, and coldly said, "Come at me all at once. Killing you one by one just isn''t satisfying enough!"


    Hisss!


    These words struck like thunder out of the blue, drawing a wave of gasps.


    Killing wasn''t satisfying enough?


    Every sword strike could im the life of a talent painstakingly nurtured by the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and yet you call that not satisfying enough?


    Zhuge Shuangdao was furious, his eyes cold as frost, and he gritted his teeth, "Xiao Yi, I admit that what Zhang Yi and Mr. Ge did was despicable by fabricating the reasons for your disqualification from the assessment. But you''ve caused enough trouble, and you''ve killed enough. This should be the end of it, and I will personally draw a satisfactory end to this issue!" Stay tuned with empire


    "A satisfactory end?" Xiao Yi looked at him with an amused gaze.


    "Killing you, to settle this matter, that would be the most satisfactory conclusion!" Zhuge Shuangdao said coldly, "Rest assured, I will give you enough respect, and I will use my strongest strike to kill you!"


    No sooner had his voice faded.


    Zhuge Shuangdao''s body erupted with a boom.


    White light swirled around him; behind his back, two white streams rose, and two arms tore through them appearing at his rear. Each of his four arms grasped a pitch-ck war de that shone with a dark gleam of sharpness, sending chills down the spine.


    "Zhuge Shuangdao, ranked 10th among the Earth Level students of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, 25th on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List''s Tiger List, his Innate Divine Ability, four arms!"


    "Four arms perfectly fused with his body, extremely fearsome!"


    With a face full of excitement, Zhou Xin, despite his bruised and swollen face, showed an eerie smile, "This time, Xiao Yi is undoubtedly going to die!"

 Chapter 58 An Earth-Shattering Sword

    Zhou Xin wore a smug expression on his face, provocatively looking over at Gu Junhe.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Gu Junhe gave him a nce.


    Not a word was uttered.


    Yet, his palm once again came down on Zhou Xin''s face, pressing it against the ground and rubbing it back and forth.


    Zhou Xin''s mouth was full of mud and sand, despairing in anguish, "Gu Junhe, you are going too far!"


    Gu Junhe said indifferently, "Your eyes are asking for a beating!"


    Zhou Xin: "I..."


    Meanwhile¡­


    Zhuge Shuangdao had alreadyunched a thunderous offensive, his four arms spinning simultaneously, with ck sabers cutting through the air¡ªthe dazzling ck saber light was blinding and impressive, arriving in a sh, appearing right in front of Xiao Yi,unching attacks from both sides. The saber des, merged with the arms, offered even more flexibility than using weapons alone.


    The power had also increased significantly.


    Xiao Yi was entirely focused. The opponent before him was of the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer, far beyond any opponents he had previously encountered.


    With a single hand, he grasped the Dragon Scale Sword to block the attacks in front of him.


    ng!


    Amid a dull sound, the first ck saber strikended on the edge of the sword, actually causing the de to curl back and sparks to scatter. The brute force was just transmitted to both hands when Xiao Yi felt a numb soreness, and then the second saber strikended on the edge of the sword.


    ng!


    This strike was even more powerful than thest.


    Followed immediately by the third, fourth, fifth saber strikes...


    "Whirlwind sh!"


    Zhuge Shuangdao''s figure spun like a top, his four arms wielding thebat sabers repeatedly striking the Dragon Scale Sword.


    The dragon scales on the sword broke apart and shattered, shooting off in all directions.


    Xiao Yi was forced to retreat again and again.


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, weren''t you quite arrogant? It seems you can only bully those weaker than you..."


    "What our Royal Martial Arts Academy doesn''tck the most are geniuses. What are you? The fact that our Royal Martial Arts Academy doesn''t want you is only your loss, it has absolutely no impact on us!"


    "Brother Zhuge, go for it, chop him down!"


    The strong ones from the Royal Martial Arts Academy shouted one after another, their expressions filled with excitement.


    The eighteenth saber strike came down!


    ng!


    With a crisp sound, the Dragon Scale Sword in Xiao Yi''s hand broke into two pieces, the violent shockwave sent Xiao Yi flying away. He was flung over ten meters, dragging two ferocious traces behind him, the centers of his palms split open, blood spurting wildly, the broken sword dim and shattered.


    Zhuge Shuangdao stood proudly in front of Xiao Yi, with heavy mockery in his lips, "Is that all you''re capable of? Still dreaming about challenging all the students below the heaven level at the Royal Martial Arts Academy?"


    Xiao Yi shook off the fresh blood on his hands, tore off a piece of cloth to wrap around his palms, and looked up at Zhuge Shuangdao: "As expected of the number twenty-five on the Flying Tiger List, you do have some skills. There can''t be many geniuses like you at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, right? If I killed you, the Royal Martial Arts Academy would surelyment your loss!"


    Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List is divided into the Teng Long List and the Flying Tiger List.


    The Teng Long List has twenty spots, with each person being a Golden Core Realm powerhouse under the age of forty.


    The Flying Tiger List has one hundred slots, each a powerhouse under the age of forty and below the Golden Core Realm.


    Zhuge Shuangdao, being ranked twenty-fifth on the Flying Tiger List, meant that he was ranked forty-fifth among the younger generation across the entire Tianqing Kingdom.


    Such a prodigy was indeed a rare talent, even for the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Zhuge Shuangdao looked disdainful: "You think you can kill me?"


    Xiao Yi stretched and cracked his joints, raising the bandaged hand, and said lightly, "I, Xiao Yi, always act on the principle of not offending others unless I am offended first. Today''s affair was provoked by you. And Zhuge Shuangdao, since your earlier attacks on me were all deadly, if I don''t kill you, wouldn''t I be letting down my own bloodshed?"


    "That also depends on whether you have the capability!" Zhuge Shuangdao scoffed.


    ng!


    The long sabers held in the four arms crisscrossed, slowly dragging the des with ear-piercing ngs, sparks flying and killing intent surging to the heavens.


    Xiao Yi''s body shook.


    With a flick of his palm, a third-grade elemental longsword appeared in his hand, this de was obtained from the Sword Mountain Manor; it was named Tiger yer. The sword''s hilt portrayed a fierce tiger''s head, its maw wide open with the sword de emerging from within, a cold light circling the entire de. Xiao Yi gripped the hilt tightly, his body trembling: "It''s not only you who has an Innate Divine Ability!"


    Hum!


    A stream of ck liquid flowed out from Xiao Yi''s body, adhering to his right arm, wrapping around the Tiger yer Sword in his hand.


    The Tiger yer Sword turned a shiny ck color.


    It hadpletely fused with his arm! Find more to read at empire


    On this side was Xiao Yi''s ''Weapon Fusion'' innate divine ability, manifested after his breakthrough to the Shentong Realm, using a weapon as a support to transform his body into a weapon,bining himself with it. Holding a war sword, his arm fused with it; the entire arm was the war sword. d in battle armor, his torso could merge with it, and his whole body became the armor!


    Weapon Fusion, one of the top ten divine skills!


    "His innate divine ability is actually Weapon Fusion?"


    "Just how strong is Xiao Yi''s talent?"


    All were astonished.


    Even Zhou Xin was sweating profusely at this moment, filled with immense regret. He had turned away a peerless genius who possessed the Weapon Fusion innate divine ability?


    "That, that''s the power of Sword Intent¡­"


    "To master one of the top ten divine skills, Weapon Fusion, at merely the Fourth Layer of the Shentong Realm, and to grasp Sword Intent already? This, this¡­"


    If Zhou Xin only felt regret upon discovering Xiao Yi''s mastery of the Weapon Fusion divine skill, at this moment he was regretting it so much his guts turned green. Mastering Sword Intent in the Shentong Realm meant a hundred percent certainty of advancing into the Golden Core Realm!


    Added to that was his innate divine ability, Weapon Fusion.


    Xiao Yi''s future achievements would at least be in the top three of the Teng Long List!


    "Jia Sidao, Ge Qingyun, Zhang Yi... you''ve wronged me..." Zhou Xin was so angry that he spouted a mouthful of old blood, his eyes filled with hysterical madness as he stared fixedly at Zhuge Shuangdao, "Shuangdao, kill him, kill him for me!"


    Meanwhile.


    Xiao Yi and Zhuge Shuangdao had already engaged again inbat, with Zhuge wielding knives in all four arms, attacking with an unparalleled ferocity.


    Between their exchanges, the two appeared evenly matched.


    After all, Xiao Yi was still at the Fourth Layer of the Shentong Realm, facing off against Zhuge Shuangdao of the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer who had awakened his innate divine ability, there was still a certain gap.


    "I admit you''re strong, but you''re still far from killing me!" Zhuge Shuangdao''s four arms waved wildly, momentarily baffling Xiao Yi with his madness-like knife techniques.


    "It seems I can only use this move¡­"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes suddenly surged with a crimson hue as he roared, "Blood Explosion Skill!"


    Whoosh!


    A red glow emerged around his body, enveloping him entirely.


    It was indeed the Blood Explosion Skill inherited from Dao Yan!


    The Blood Explosion Skill instantly burned one-tenth of Xiao Yi''s blood, offering a burst of tenfold strength. The secondyer burned a fifth of the blood for twentyfold power, and so on, till the tenthyer burned all the blood to unleash a hundredfold strength.


    But to cast the tenthyer meant burning all the blood, leading to death!


    Fortunately, Zhuge Shuangdao was only at the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer; Xiao Yi needed to activate only the firstyer of the Blood Explosion Skill.


    Boom!


    After the tenfold increase in strength.


    Xiao Yi''s right arm, merged with the Tiger yer Sword, was covered in ayer of crimson glow: "Sweeping a Thousand Troops!"


    A sword swept across the sky.


    Both speed and power were ten times greater than before!


    ng!


    This sword blow forcibly knocked the des out of Zhuge Shuangdao''s hands.


    "Not good¡­" Zhuge Shuangdao''splexion underwent a drastic change.


    The moment Xiao Yi passed by him, he promptly reversed direction and struck again with his sword: "Chasing Stars and Moon!"


    Whoosh!


    The de sliced through the void, severing Zhuge Shuangdao''s four arms on the spot.


    Howl!


    Zhuge Shuangdao''s spirit almost left his body as he wailed in pain, turning to run towards Zhou Xin, "Elder Zhou, save me..."


    "No one can save you!"


    Xiao Yi sneered coldly, the scarlet sword glow piercing the heavens, a thirty-foot sword light shrouding the sun.


    This earth-shattering sword descended from the sky!


    Spurt!


    Zhuge Shuangdao''s body shuddered, and he spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, his entire body cleaved into two halves by Xiao Yi''s relentless strike¡­

 Chapter 59 Within a year, I will take your life!

    Silence.


    Explore stories at empire


    Deathly silence.


    In front of the gates of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, despite the presence of over ten thousand people, there was now absolute quiet.


    Gulp!


    Someone swallowed instinctively, which set off a wave of gulping as one formidable figure after another swallowed repeatedly. This sound seemed to break the spell that had frozen time, gradually restoring the ability to move among the crowds.


    Every single person looked at Xiao Yi with a mix of shock, awe, and a hint of disbelief, "Dead, dead? The tenth ranked Earth-Level student, ranked twenty-fifth on the Flying Tiger List, the genius Zhuge Shuangdao is actually dead?"


    "I, I must be dreaming¡­"


    Even Gu Junhe was momentarily stunned before bursting into heartyughter, proiming loudly, "Interesting, interesting! Someone who didn''t even pass the second round of assessments at the Royal Martial Arts Academy and was turned away at the door as ''trash'' has actually killed one of your so-called geniuses, hahaha, what a Royal Martial Arts Academy indeed¡­"


    At this moment.


    The entire Royal Martial Arts Academy erupted into chaos.


    Especially Gu Junhe''s term ''trash''. It was like an invisible p fiercely striking the face of every powerful figure of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Pain.


    A pain that drills into the heart!


    If even Xiao Yi, who killed Zhuge Shuangdao, could only be considered trash and not worthy of entering the Royal Martial Arts Academy, what did that make them?


    Are they even less than trash?


    "Ge Qingyun, Zhang Yi, and Jia Sidao, you all deserve to die¡­"


    "Because of your selfish desires, you not only caused the death of Zhuge Shuangdao but also caused our Royal Martial Arts Academy to lose an unparalleled genius!"


    "You are the sinners of the Royal Martial Arts Academy¡­"


    Many of the powerful figures from the Royal Martial Arts Academy cursed without stop.


    Zhou Xin''splexion turned from pale to flushed, feeling chilling drafts on his back.


    If Elder Wang and the headmaster were to return and learn about this, he feared that losing his position as the Law Enforcement Elder would be the least of his worries!


    "Xiao Yi¡­ it''s all because of you, you damned mongrel¡­" Zhou Xin red venomously at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi''s body ceased its glow of blood, revealing the Blood Explosion Skill.


    The Blood Explosion Skill constantly burnt his blood, and thatst strike had burned away a tenth of his blood volume, leaving his face extremely pale.


    His arm too returned to normal.


    The vital energy expended to maintain his Innate Divine Ability was also tremendously great.


    Xiao Yi''s lips curved slightly upward, his pale face bearing a strange smile as he bowed to the people of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, "The Royal Martial Arts Academy is indeed worthy of its reputation, the talents are as plentiful as the stars in the sky, no wonder you looked down on Xiao Yi. This Zhuge Shuangdao is supposedly ranked beyond the twentieth at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, but it took me the strength of nine bulls and two tigers just to kill him. It seems that my previous deration of challenging all students below the Sky Level was truly overconfident and arrogant!"


    Zhou Xin''s face twitched: "..."


    The disciples of the Royal Martial Arts Academy gnashed their teeth in anger: "..."


    Your words are anything but modest, they''re a p in our faces!


    Xiao Yi then turned to face Gu Junhe, bowing, "Headmaster, the Royal Martial Arts Academy is indeed terrifying with its abundance of powerful figures. We should return to the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy."


    "Yes, let''s go!"


    Gu Junheughed heartily, he hadn''t felt this joyful in many years.


    Gu Junhe gave a bow to Zhou Xin, "Elder Zhou, my Tianqi Martial Arts Academy is no match for the Royal Martial Arts Academy, we can only take in the disciples you look down upon. When your headmaster returns, remember to thank him for me, will you!"


    Zhou Xin: "You, you¡­ argh..."


    He was so angry that he spewed out a mouthful of old blood.


    "Hahaha..."


    Gu Junhe waved his hand grandly, "Children, follow me back home; tonight, I will treat you to great amounts of meat and wine!"


    Whoosh!


    A fierce wind swept through, and the Cangyun Eagle swooped down from the skies,nding in front of the crowd.


    Xiao Yi and the others climbed onto the back of the Cangyun Eagle, and with a wingspan of twenty meters, it pped its wings and soared into the sky, vanishing among the clouds.


    Soon after¡­


    Zhou Xin slowly regained consciousness only to discover Elder Wang and Zhou Yuan, the headmaster of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, staring at him with extremely ugly expressions. It was clear they already knew the full story of what had happened.


    Zhou Xin''s pale face was filled with bitterness and resentment, "Dean, Elder Wang, that Gu Junhe has gone too far!"


    p!


    Elder Wang''s hand struck Zhou Xin''s face, shocking him into confusion. Holding his cheek, he stared at Elder Wang in a daze, "Elder, Elder Wang, what are you doing?"


    Elder Wang''s face was grim as he said, "Xiao Yi was my personal rmendation, intended to be cultivated as the core talent of the future for the Royal Martial Arts Academy. Yet you all pressured him to leave? Now you want to turn the situation around and me him? What did Gu Junhe do wrong? Am I supposed to watch idly as you ruin a talent?"


    "I, I..."


    Zhou Xin opened his mouth but was unable to utter a word under Elder Wang''s furious re.


    "Enough!"


    Zhou Yuan spoke faintly, his gaze towards Elder Wang filled with displeasure, "Zhiyuan, this matter can''t be med all on Zhou Xin. If Xiao Yi truly intended to join the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he would have stayed even if he felt wronged, or at least until you and I returned. But he not only killed our disciple, he also tarnished the academy''s reputation. It proves that he is not fated to be with our academy!"


    Elder Wang''s expression remained dark, "Dean, this whole affair was caused by Jia Sidao for his own personal hate. How can you me Xiao Yi?"


    "If Xiao Yi had not killed Jia Sichun, would Jia Sidao have targeted him? Ultimately, Xiao Yi has no respect for our academy. Such a person, we are better off without!" Zhou Yuan paused and then continued, "Zhou Xin, go tend to your injuries. I will make a trip to Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Dean, what are you going to do?" Elder Wang asked, frowning.


    Zhou Yuan snorted coldly, "Do I need to report to you what I do?"


    Whoosh!


    Zhou Yuan soared into the sky.


    ...


    On the back of the Cangyun Eagle.


    Xiao Yi sat cross-legged, hisplexion regaining some color. Opening his eyes, he saw Fang Qingzhu looking at him with concern and managed a smile, "Don''t worry, I''m fine!"


    Fang Qingzhu spoke softly, "Can you not take such risks in the future? I, I only have you as my family now..."


    Family?


    Xiao Yi felt a slight jolt, wasn''t he the same?


    Gripping Fang Qingzhu''s soft hand tightly, Xiao Yi nodded firmly, "Okay..."


    However...


    Before the word "okay" could leave his lips, it seemed to get stuck.


    Whoosh!


    A light flickered in the void, and a finger carved out of crystal shot towards Xiao Yi''s back.


    Fang Qingzhu''s pupils contracted sharply, and she forcefully pulled Xiao Yi, swapping ces with him.


    Under Xiao Yi''s shocked gaze, the crystal fingernded on Fang Qingzhu''s back with a booming sound.


    Wow!


    Fang Qingzhu''s body trembled, blood spurting out and covering Xiao Yi''s face.


    Everything in front of him was blood-red!


    Xiao Yi held Fang Qingzhu tightly; she continually spat out blood, and he desperately tried to stop it, but blood still flowed through the gaps in his fingers. Xiao Yi looked around, trying to call for Gu Junhe, but realized he couldn''t make any sound, only gasping for breath.


    Niu Dali and the four brothers from the Shi Family were on high alert, encircling the two of them.


    Suddenly, a furious roar erupted from the void, "Zhou Yuan, you old bastard, how dare you strike a junior with such a venomous blow? Have you no shame?"


    Zhou Yuan''s indifferent voice came through, "This brat tarnished the reputation of the Royal Martial Arts Academy and killed my disciple. Why shouldn''t I take his life? Besides, you, Gu Junhe, as the dean of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, have been reduced to picking up the trash discarded by our academy. You''ve truly lost all face for your academy!"


    "To hell with losing face, die!"


    "You think I''m afraid of you?"


    Boom!


    A terrifying energy burst forth in the sky, hanging like a radiant sun, illuminating the expanse of the capital.


    "Gu Junhe, you are still no match for me, go back and practice more! Hahaha..."


    "Damn you, old dog Zhou..."


    Gu Junhe, with a face filled with rage, returned to the Cangyun Eagle. After checking Fang Qingzhu''s injuries, he took out a golden pill and ced it into her mouth, exhaling in relief, "Don''t worry, I''ve weakened that strike by ny percent, and with this Three-turns Golden Healing Elixir, after we return and properly rest, Qingzhu''s injuries should heal within three months."


    Xiao Yi nodded heavily, looking down at Fang Qingzhu, who had fallen into a deep sleep in his arms.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    His eyes were a blood-red color, his gaze filled with violence and madness. He pronounced each word with determination, "Old dog Zhou Yuan, I, Xiao Yi, swear to the heavens¡ªI will take your life within a year!"

 Chapter 60 Tianqi Martial Arts Academy

    Above the Cangyun Eagle, there was silence.


    Gu Junhe, looking apologetic, gave Xiao Yi a wry smile and said, "I''m sorry, I didn''t expect Zhou Yuan, that old dog, to be so despicable as to strike a junior at the zenith of the Golden Elixir Realm."


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "Director, this isn''t your fault!"


    He knew very well that if it weren''t for Gu Junhe''s timely intervention, blocking ny-nine percent of the power of that finger, he and Fang Qingzhu would have be a pair of doomed lovers.


    After this battle,


    Xiao Yi had gained a deeper understanding of the strength of the Golden Elixir Realm, especially the might of someone at the Golden Elixir Peak, whose single finger, even with less than ten percent of its power, almost imed Fang Qingzhu''s life.


    Gu Junhe hesitated for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "The words you uttered earlier were too impulsive!"


    He was referring to Xiao Yi''s vow to kill Zhou Yuan within a year.


    That was an existence at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak.


    Furthermore...


    Zhou Yuan was the head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and with his status and position, even if he didn''t possess the strength himself, Xiao Yi couldn''t just kill him at will. After all, he represented the face of the royal family, and should his illustrious reputation be threatened, the royal family might very welle out in full force to protect him.


    Even that ancestral figure from the Tao Tribtion Realm who had not shown himself for a long time might appear because of this.


    Moreover...


    Gu Junhe didn''t believe that Xiao Yi could possess the strength to kill Zhou Yuan within a year.


    After all.


    The gap between the Fourth Layer of the Shentong Realm and the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm was like heaven and earth, a true dragon against a stubborn snake.


    Even if Xiao Yi''s talent were exceptional, he would still need time and opportunity.


    Xiao Yi shook his head, and his bloodshot eyes softened as theynded on Fang Qingzhu, "I once swore I would never let Qingzhu suffer the slightest harm, yet she nearly lost her life to save me. If I don''t avenge this, I swear I am not a human being!"


    "This..."


    Seeing the determination in Xiao Yi''s eyes, Gu knew it was pointless to say more and could only say, "Don''t worry, I will do my utmost to help you."


    "Thank you, Director!" Xiao Yi said.


    Niu Dali patted his shoulder, "Brother, count me in for taking revenge for sister-inw. When you go to storm the Royal Martial Arts Academy, I will go with you!"


    "And us too!" The Shi Family brothers also said one after another.


    Shi Yaodu, with a mournful face, twirled two dice in his hand, "I bet we can''t withstand a single finger from Zhou Yuan... but even if it means death, we must go at it!"


    Xiao Yi looked deeply at hispanions.


    Apart from Niu Dali, they were all strangers he''d met by chance.


    Yet whether it was at the Royal Martial Arts Academy or now, they still stood by his side.


    Xiao Yi etched this camaraderie in his heart and, with eyes narrowed, looked in the direction of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, silently vowing, "In one year''s time, I will tten your Royal Martial Arts Academy and take your head, Zhou Yuan!"


    Cheep cheep...


    The Cangyun Eagle, as if influenced by him, soared high, letting out a series of sonorous cries.


    Swish!


    The Cangyun Eagle swiftly vanished into the clouds.


    They had already flown out of the capital,nding within a mountain range thirty miles outside the capital, where Tianqi Martial Arts Academy was situated atop the most majestic peak of this mountain range. This peak rose abruptly like a spring bamboo shoot joining the clouds, thousands of feet tall if not more.


    Amidst the mist and clouds,


    sprawling buildings neatly arranged could faintly be seen on the mountainside.


    At the entrance was an archway carved out of white marble, nked by six stone columns entwined by sculpted dragons, which seemed to spring to life. At the gate stood two ck stone lions, one with a ball of fire in its mouth and the other stepping on auspicious clouds, both exuding a powerful presence.


    Above the archway hung a que with gold letters on a ck background that read: Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!


    The gates were indeed magnificent!


    "This is our Tianqi Martial Arts Academy? The gates are quite spectacr!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "They say that over five hundred years ago, this was the premier academy of the Tianqing Kingdom. They say a camel dying of starvation is bigger than a horse, so even though it''s declined, it should still be not too shabby!"


    Niu Dali looked towards Gu, who was dispatching the Cangyun Eagle to hunt deeper in the mountains, and asked, "Director, how many disciples do we have in Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    Shi Yaose spit into his hands, rubbed them together, and then smeared it casually through his hair, squinting he asked, "Director, didn''t you say that the female disciples in our academy are all peerless beauties? Where are they?"


    Shi Yaoqian also asked, "Headmaster, you said our Martial Arts Institute is so poor all we have left is money, so our monthly stipend should be quite substantial, right? I''ve heard that the lowest-ranked Yellow-tier students at the Royal Martial Arts Academy get a monthly stipend of 500 silver. We shouldn''t be worse off than them, should we?"


    "Don''t worry, I am the honorable Headmaster after all, how could I possibly deceive you!"


    Gu Junhe kept a straight face as he took out eight contracts, saying solemnly, "These are the enrollment contracts. You must sign your names and press your fingerprints for it to be official and for you to be formally admitted into the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!"


    Everyone signed the contract one after another.


    Xiao Yi looked at Gu Junhe with a strange expression. Thetter chuckled mischievously and collected all the contracts before pping his hands and shouting towards the gate, "Come out and greet the guests... ahem,e out and wee your new junior brothers and sisters!"


    Shi Yaose quickly straightened out his clothes.


    Niu Dali looked forward hopefully, waiting for the legendary beautiful senior sisters.


    A few momentster.


    A youth with a handsome and stately appearance came out, greeting everyone with a calm smile, "Wee, my fellow junior brothers and sisters!"


    "Senior brother, why is it just you? Where are the beautiful senior sisters?" Niu Dali asked curiously.


    The youth smiled wryly, "In Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, aside from the Headmaster, it''s only me!"


    What?


    Niu Dali and the others were dumbfounded.


    What the heck?


    There''s only one disciple?


    Shi Yaose stared nkly at Gu Junhe, "What happened to the beautiful women you promised?"


    Gu Junhe said earnestly, "I said that if there were any female disciples, they would be considered peerlessly beautiful. Isn''t Qingzhu beautiful?"


    Shi Yaose''s eye twitched, "I&...*£¨£©"


    Shi Yaoqian clutched his chest, "Headmaster, you''re not also lying about being so poor all we have is money, are you?"


    "That part is true!"


    Gu Junhe nodded, adding, "We are indeed so poor that we can only save money."


    Shi Yaoqian, "&*£¨£©..."


    Shi Yaoquan asked, "What about the promise that all resources would be open to us?"


    Gu Junhe patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly, "In the entire Martial Arts Institute, it''s just you few. You can live wherever you like, cultivate wherever you wish. Both Dean Jiang Tai and I, serving as tutors, are responsible only for you eight. Doesn''t that count as having all resources open to you?"


    Everyone: "..."


    So Tianqi Martial Arts Academy has neither money nor resources, plus just the ten of them in total?


    Everyone knew Tianqi Martial Arts Academy was in decline, but who could have imagined it was this bad!


    Shi Yaoqian said with a dark face, "Is this a ce for people to stay? Let''s go, let''s go..."


    Gu Junhe''s expression darkened, and he revealed the signed and thumb-printed enrollment contracts, "You''ve all signed the enrollment contracts. Without the Headmaster''s permission, anyone who dares to leave the Academy will bemitting a crime of defection. I will announce it to the world, and you will be loathed by everyone as backstabbers and betrayers to your master. Try leaving, just one of you?"


    Everyone felt stars in their eyes, and a mouthful of fresh blood almost spurted out.


    "Think about it from another perspective. Because of the small number of people in the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, you can getprehensive guidance! If you don''t believe it, ask Jiang Tai. He owes his current achievements to my personal guidance; he is third on the Teng Long List and a super strong man at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm!"


    Gu Junhe, seeing that he had stunned them into silence, continued, "As long as you obediently stay in Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, I guarantee that within three years you will all be on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List, and within ten years, on the Teng Long List..."


    Within three years, the Dragon and Tiger List? Within ten years, the Teng Long List?


    Listening to Gu Junhe speaking confidently, Niu Dali and the Shi Family brothers all shone with hope and longing.


    However, Xiao Yi was looking at Jiang Tai, who had approached, and said with a wry smile, "It was the seventh prince who had Dean Gu visit the Royal Martial Arts Academy, right?"


    "After hearing Jia Sidao was targeting you, I was worried you might be in danger, so I had the Headmaster make a trip. But I didn''t expect him to bring back so many people..."


    Jiang Tai gave the Shi Family brothers and Niu Dali a strange look, then frowned at Fang Qingzhu in Xiao Yi''s arms, "What''s going on there?"


    Xiao Yi simply said two words, "Zhou Yuan."


    Jiang Tai sneered, disying no surprise, "That indeed sounds like him." After a pause, Jiang said, "The Headmaster will still be busy brainwashing for a while, let me get you settled first!"


    "Thanks for the trouble!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and followed Jiang Tai into the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy...

 Chapter 61 Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List

    Time flies, three days slip by quietly.


    Over the past three days, the news of Xiao Yi causing a ruckus at the Royal Martial Arts Academy has spread far and wide.


    There''s nobody in the capital of Tianqing Kingdom who doesn''t know the name Xiao Yi.


    Especially after Xiao Yi slew Zhuge Shuangdao and took his ce, bing the twenty-fifth on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List''s Flying Tiger Board.


    In an instant.


    The name Xiao Yi became an idol to countless people.


    However¡­


    Xiao Yi himself had no opinion on the matter; to him, whether it was the Flying Tiger Board or the Teng Long List, everything still depended on one''s own strength being sufficiently strong. Over thest three days, aside from taking meticulous care of Fang Qingzhu, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation.


    Besides Gu Junhe and Jiang Tai, there were only eight of them in the entire Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, so there was no talk of sses. Apart from not being able to leave the academy at will, it was extremely free.


    On the back mountain.


    Xiao Yi stood bare-chested under the waterfall, holding the Fire Qilin Sword in his hand, swinging the longsword again and again.


    He didn''t use a trace of Yuan energy, but just mechanically waved the longsword.


    The power of Sword Intent allowed him to merge as one with the Fire Qilin Sword.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    With each thrust of the sword, the swiftly falling water in front of him was forcefully torn apart, and suddenly Xiao Yi thrust out mightily with his sword.


    Whirl!


    This sword, akin to a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate.


    Moving against the stream.


    Wherever the sword edge passed, the waterfall''s waters were torn asunder, extending for over thirty meters before stopping.


    Only then did the curtain of water from the waterfall slowly heal.


    Simultaneously, Xiao Yi leaped up andnded by thekeside, thrusting the Fire Qilin Sword into the ground, then sat cross-legged, carefully contemting the sensation of that sword stroke: "Dao Yan divided Sword Intent into five stages, the first stage being rity of Sword Heart, the second stage, the Sword Follows the Heart, the third stage, Unity of Man and Sword, the fourth stage, the Sword Moves at Will, and the fifth stage, All Swords as One. I have now truly mastered the first stage, rity of Sword Heart. If I were to face Zhuge Shuangdao again now, I could defeat him without the need for the Blood Explosion Skill!"


    The understanding of martial arts is a profound realm.


    Ordinary martial artists may not reach the first stage in their lifetimes.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Xiao Yi, being able to grasp the first stage, rity of Sword Heart, within the Spiritual Realm Cultivation, certainly rtes to the inheritance from the Life-Taking Schr, but it''s also inseparable from his own talent.


    "Xiao Brother!"


    Jiang Tai''s figure approached from a distance, carrying two jars of strong liquor, tossing one to Xiao Yi and sitting down next to him.


    Xiao Yi pped open the y seal, took a few big gulps, exhaling a long breath of turbid air: "Who would have thought that His Highness the Seventh Prince would not fancy exquisite spirits but rather this throat-shing strong liquor?"


    "Exquisite spirits are too mild, just like a man without any vigor, not suited for me!" Jiang Tai tilted his head back and took a few gulps, casually wiped his mouth, and nced at Xiao Yi, "How is Fang doing in her recovery?"


    A rxed smile appeared on Xiao Yi''s face: "She woke up yesterday, but she will need another month or so of recovery. I must also thank you, Jiang Brother, for bringing those healing pills. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have recovered so quickly!"


    "Why the formality between brothers?"


    Jiang Tai smiled and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Xiao, have you heard that today within the Tianqing Kingdom, a secret realm of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert has been discovered?"


    Xiao Yi nodded his head.


    He had heard Xue''er mention this.


    Zhou Yuan and Elder Wang had gone before to explore that secret realm.


    Otherwise...


    If Elder Wang had personally been stationed at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, none of the subsequent events would have happened.


    Jiang Tai''s voice became grave, "The Dean has already decided topete for it, and my father has also sent people there. The information I got shows that it''s the tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert, with the lifelong treasures of a Tao Tribtion expert inside. As is customary, after these big shots finish their exploration, they will allow our junior generation to go there for training..."


    Xiao Yi''s action of drinking suddenly halted.


    The tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert would surely have many treasures.


    This was a great opportunity!


    Xiao Yi, with a solemn voice, asked, "Is the news reliable?"


    "Reliable!"


    Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and then said, "What do you mean by that, Jiang?"


    Jiang Tai lifted his head to gulp down two mouthfuls of strong liquor, his eyes shining with sharp intent, and he said in a grave tone, "The tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert is an immense opportunity. In addition to the experts from the Royal Martial Arts Academy, families like Mingjian Manor, as well as the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple and the Nine Profound Sect, will send their strong ones to enter. Even the younger generation from the neighboring countries wille. Although their strength is not bad, they still fall shortpared to true geniuses. I want to invite Xiao to join me and travel together!"


    Although Xiao Yi was tempted, he did not immediately agree and instead frowned while looking at him, "With your strength, Jiang, wouldn''t partnering with you just slow you down?"


    Jiang Tai was a prominent expert at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    Among the younger generation, possibly only that prince at the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm could beat him; he was just at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Even though he had thebat power of the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he was far from being a match for a Golden Core Realm expert!


    Jiang Tai said seriously, "I know a little about your affairs in Nanhuang. In just three months, you went from having no cultivation to bing a Divine Skills realm expert. After those big shots conclude their exploration, there will be at least two more months. I don''t believe that in two months, Xiao will still have the same cultivation level. Of course, if I feel that Xiao''s strength is not enough to form an alliance with me at that time, I will go by myself!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, sizing up Jiang Tai seriously, then suddenlyughed, "You speak quite directly, but I like to associate with straightforward people. Rest assured, if at that time my strength can only slow you down, you won''t need to speak. I will know to keep my distance."


    "Hahaha, then let''s toast in advance to our sessful return from the secret realm!"


    "To our sessful return!"


    The two swung up their pots of liquor and finished them off in one go.


    "Xiao, you must train hard during this time. I will keep an eye on the situation there and inform you immediately once there''s any news!" After giving his advice, Jiang Tai left with the empty liquor pot in hand.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes and fell into deep thought.


    The tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert was a huge opportunity, one that he would definitely need to explore whether Jiang Tai invited him or not.


    But it was also a great risk.


    When the time came, the experts from the Royal Martial Arts Academy would go as well, and considering his rtionship with them, they would surely not let him off easily.


    "Two more months of time... I must at least break through to the Golden Core Realm to have the qualifications to fight for it."


    In Xiao Yi''s palm appeared the Iron de King''s golden core. He took a deep breath, "Once this golden core ispletely refined, I should be able to step into the Seventh or even Eighth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Then, it will be time to visit the Iron de King''s residence again to fulfill the promise I made to the Iron de King."


    And then...


    Xiao Yi once again entered the waterfall, his palms facing each other with the golden core suspended between them, while circting his profound skills to refine the energy within the golden core...

 Chapter 62 Murder in the Street

    Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    The back mountain, waterfall.


    Whoosh!


    Streams of water cascaded down from the summit, striking the surface of theke with a thunderous roar.


    Within that waterfall...


    Xiao Yi''s body was bathed in a faint milky white glow, which coalesced into a spherical shield, keeping the droplets of water at bay. Between his hands, there was a grain-of-rice-sized yellow light that turned into a yellow stream, merging into his body.


    Boom!


    Xiao Yi''s body shuddered as his aura surged, reaching the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    But his cultivation did not end there, as the vast primordial energy within his body poured into the God Sealing Seed, activating one after another.


    From one thousand, it rose to fourteen hundred and fifty.


    The torrential power of the God Sealing Seeds fed back into his body, and Xiao Yi finally exhaled a murky breath, ceasing his cultivation with a brilliant smile on his face, "Just as I expected, sharing that Golden Core with Qingzhu expended too much energy, and fully refining it only allowed me to step into the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. However, with my current strength, even a master of the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer is no match for a single punch of mine. Even peak Divine Skills practitioners can be challenged in battle!"


    In the midst of speaking.


    Xiao Yiunched a punch forward.


    The third-grade advanced martial skill, Vajra Fist, was as powerful and unyielding as a vajra.


    Boom!


    The waterfall in front was sted open with arge hole, which did not close even after Xiao Yi walked through it and left theke.


    This Vajra Fist was a set of fist techniques Xiao Yi had found in the Scripture Pavilion of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, along with a sword technique called Four Seasons Swordy and a movement technique called Falling Leaves Mystical Step. Over the past twenty days, he had not only broken through to the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm but had also cultivated these fist, sword, and movement techniques to a state of perfection.


    Xiao Yi made his way back to his courtyard.


    The Tianqi Martial Arts Academy was sparsely popted, but there were many courtyards, and the one they resided in was previously owned by the Vice Dean of the academy.


    Fang Qingzhu could now walk on the ground, but since Zhou Yuan''s finger had injured her internal organs, it was not advisable for her to practice cultivation for the time being. When Xiao Yi returned, the table was already set with avish meal, and Fang Qingzhu rested her cheeks in her hands, fixated on the doorway.


    As soon as she saw Xiao Yi return, she hurriedly stood up, carrying a basin and a towel to meet him, "Brother Xiao Yi, quick, wash your face so we can eat!"


    "Alright!"


    Xiao Yi grinned with a smile.


    He thoroughly enjoyed this kind of life, in but filled with the warmth of home.


    "Qingzhu, I need to make a trip out tomorrow, and it will likely take about half a month. Do you want toe with me?" Xiao Yi asked.


    Fang Qingzhu was taken aback, then shook her head, "Brother Xiao Yi, I really want to go with you. However, my injuries have not fully healed yet, so I should stay here and recuperate. But Brother Xiao Yi, you must take care when you''re out on your own!"


    Xiao Yi did not insist, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, I know!"


    ......


    Iron Mountain City.


    Located at the foot of Iron Mountain, more than seven hundred kilometers from the capital.


    Famous for its abundant iron mines.


    The entire Iron Mountain City''s iron ore reserves were controlled by the Tie Family and the Xu Family. The Tie Family specialized in forging saber weapons, and all the ded weapons used by the army of the Tianqing Kingdom were supplied by them, which earned them the title of Iron de King. The Xu Family, on the other hand, had been granted the title of Comrade King because one of their ancestors, a Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realmmander, had expanded the kingdom''s territory.


    These two great families held the iron mines of Iron Mountain, and even the royal family of the Tianqing Kingdom dared not offend them easily.


    On the wide streets.


    Xiao Yi, dressed in ck, led a horse and stopped by a stall selling women''s jewelry, picking up a red hairpin and asking, "Shopkeeper, how much for this?"


    The shopkeeper, a plump middle-aged man, responded cheerily, "My lord has a fine eye! Are you picking out a gift for your wife? This red hairpin is made of pure gold, and the pearls iid on ite from the top-quality pearls produced in Qinghe. It''s only a hundred taels of silver."


    "A hundred taels of silver? I''ll take it!"


    Xiao Yi took out a hundred taels of silver and tossed them to the stall owner, just as he was storing the rouge hairpin in his storage ring when a scream rang out from beside him, a figure rapidly flew backwards towards him.


    Bang!


    An old woman with a withered face smashed heavily into the stall, toppling over a disy of jewelry onto the ground.


    "Grandma..."


    The heart-wrenching cry filled with desperate pain was distressing to hear.


    Xiao Yi turned towards the sound.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Across the street, on the railing of the second floor of a tavern, a delicately beautiful girl in tattered clothes was gripping the railing tightly, poised to jump down. Despair filled her eyes as she looked helplessly at the old woman lying in a pool of blood, crying out with no strength. Behind the girl were two young men in luxurious clothing, both with vicious smiles on their faces as they dragged her back inside, one on each side.


    "Sigh, it''s those two beasts again..."


    "Isn''t this the fifth time this month? We should remind our neighbors to keep a closer watch on their daughters!"


    A few sighs of resignation echoed within the crowd.


    The stall owner nced at the old woman lying in the pool of blood and sighed, "What a sin!"


    Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "Boss, what''s going on here?"


    The stall owner nced at Xiao Yi, his expression changing, and said in a grave tone, "You must be from out of town, young master. I advise you not to meddle in other people''s affairs. Better leave quickly!"


    "Ugh..."


    The old woman on the ground suddenly trembled.


    Xiao Yi was taken aback and was about to step forward to help her when the stall owner grabbed him, saying gravely, "Young master, please don''t meddle. It will only bring trouble to your doorstep. You saw who those two men upstairs are, didn''t you? If they see you dare to help this olddy, you''ll be in a world of trouble!" Enjoy new stories from empire


    "The olddy is still alive, can we really just watch her die before our eyes?" Xiao Yi broke free from the stall owner''s grasp and helped the old woman up.


    However...


    Just as he lifted her up, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind him.


    Xiao Yi''s expression tightened, and as he turned around, he reached into the air and caught the iing arrow. Had he not acted quickly, the arrow would have pierced through the old woman''s head. Who could be so cruel as to deal such a deadly blow to a withered old person? Xiao Yi looked back and saw a young man with his upper body bare jump down from the second floor.


    "Damn it, you dare to save someone I want to kill? You must be tired of living!"


    The young man threw away therge ox-horn bow in his hand and drew a three-foot-long de from his waist. With a couple of swings creating a flower of de movements, he chopped towards Xiao Yi''s head.


    "Another life lost..."


    "I told you not to meddle..." The stall owner''s face was filled with pity.


    However...


    The de did not fall; mid-air, it was caught firmly between two of Xiao Yi''s fingers.


    "Hmm?"


    The young man was startled, then roared with a fierce face, "Let go!"


    "Scram!"


    Xiao Yi casually tossed the young man aside, sending him flying with his sword.


    "You, you dare to fight back? You''re seeking death!"


    Enraged, the young man pulled out a ck, heavy crossbow from behind him. With a thud, a crossbow arrow shot straight for Xiao Yi. The poison-coated arrow was deadly on contact, and as Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank, he quickly dodged using a movement technique, allowing his shape to blur and barely evading the arrow. In an instant, his right hand reached out.


    Grabbing the crossbow arrow, he shot back from the ground at full speed.


    With a thump, the arrow pierced through the young man''s throat.


    Bang!


    The young man sped the arrow in his throat with both hands, knelt on the ground, shaking. All he could hear was Xiao Yi''s cold voice, "Relying on your family''s power to bully men and women, quick to take a life at the slightest disagreement, scum like you shouldn''t be allowed to live in this world..."

 Chapter 63 If I want you dead, can you refuse to die?

    "Murder, murder, there''s been a murder!"


    "Run! Someone''s been killed..."


    In an instant, the onlookers on the street scattered in terror, screaming as they fled.


    The owner of the jewelry stall turned deathly pale, looking at Xiao Yi as if eying the gue God, "You, you, you actually killed him? He''s the sworn brother of Comrade King''s Princely Heir Xu Tao... I told you to mind your own business, now you''re dead for sure..."


    At that moment...


    From the second floor of the tavern, a cry of rm could be heard.


    The woman who had been earlier dragged in was now covered with vicious, shocking wounds, and fresh blood gushed from her body, a sight so sorrowful it was unbearable to watch.


    Whoosh!


    With the sound of cutting through the air, that woman was brutally thrown down from the second floor.


    Her head hit the ground with a thud, sttering blood everywhere.


    "Damn wretch, being favored by me is due to the virtue of your ancestors. Ungrateful and even daring to bite me? Truly tired of living..."


    A voice full of discontent and arrogance came from the second floor, "Younger brother, why aren''t you done? It''s just killing an old hag, why is it taking so long? Younger brother, young... younger brother?"


    Whoosh!


    A robust young man jumped down forcefully and saw the young man Xiao Yi had in.


    His eyes were blood-red with rage, and his fierce gaze fell upon Xiao Yi, "You? You killed my younger brother?"


    Xiao Yi coldly observed the young girl lying in a pool of blood behind the young man.


    A twinge of regret surfaced in his heart, "I should have charged directly to the second floor earlier; then, this innocent life wouldn''t have been wasted in vain!"


    "Kid, do you know who he was? He was the sworn brother of Comrade King''s Princely Heir Xu Tao. You actually killed him? You''re definitely dead, no one can save you... Not only are you going to die, but your entire family and all your rtives must die as well..." The young man''s face twisted with ferocity as he bellowed crazily.


    "You''re really annoying!"


    Xiao Yi gave him a cold nce. Discover exclusive content at empire


    That icy look alone made the young man shudder, his First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm abilities unable to be summoned, and he copsed to the ground with a thud.


    "Don''te any closer... you, don''te any closer... I''m Xu Tao''s sworn older brother; if you dare to harm a single hair on me, my second brother will not let you off..." The young man said in terror, scuttling backward on his hands and feet.


    Xiao Yi advanced step by step.


    Crack!


    With a stomp, he broke the man''s left foot.


    "Aaargh..."


    The young man screamed miserably, howling, "Have you gone mad?"


    Crack!


    The right foot was broken as well.


    Filled with despair, the young man no longer dared to be as arrogant as before. Enduring the intense pain, he backed away on his hands, "Brothers, let''s talk this out, please don''t kill me. I have money, I can give you lots and lots of money, please don''t kill me..."


    "She must have pleaded with you just now, hadn''t she?" Xiao Yi suddenly asked.


    "Ah?"


    The young man looked dumbfounded.


    Xiao Yi pointed to the old woman and the young girl lying in the pool of blood, "They must have begged you as well, right?"


    "You, you, you did this for them? They are just lowly poor people. I fancied her body, and she should''ve obedientlyplied with me, but instead, she thought of resisting, so I, I had to kill her..." As he spoke, the young man shamelessly pulled down his trousers, "Look, I''m all swollen here from where that wretched woman bit me; it was her own fault!"


    "Her own fault?"


    When Xiao Yi spoke these four words, the air around seemed to turn icy cold.


    His chest felt as if it was blocked by a stone.


    Xiao Yi''s voice was oppressively subdued, even somewhat hoarse, "Just because they are impoverished, they are to be trampled and manipted at your whim? If you fancy her body, she must submit to you, and if not, she deserves to die? Haha, it''s ludicrous, truly the height of absurdity."


    Crack!


    Xiao Yi pointed a finger.


    St!


    Vital energy cleanly severed the young man''s arms at the shoulders, and blood gushed forth; the young many on the ground, howling in agony.


    Xiao Yi''s voice sounded as if it came from theherworld, "I tell you to die, will you die or not?"


    "I can''t, I can''t die..." the young man roared.


    Xiao Yi shook his head, sighing, "In my eyes, you are no more than an ant. I order you to die, and you dare not die? That is an affront to me!"


    Swish!


    The sword finger moved again.


    Vital energy like a de, ruthlessly severed his legs as well.


    Awooo...


    The young man was in excruciating pain, his limbless body writhing in a pool of blood. Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "You see, I want to kill you, and you don''t just die quietly, but dare to scream like this, ruining my mood. Do you now say you deserve to die or not?"


    "No, please no..."


    The young man sobbed uncontrobly, his heart filled with nothing but fear and regret at this moment.


    At this moment...


    He seemed to see those he had bullied in the past. Their faces were likely filled with the same despair and pain as his own, right? Yet, in the past, those expressions only stirred excitement and pleasure in him, but now it was only fear and despair that overwhelmed him!


    "I dare not, I will never dare again..." the young man wailed miserably.


    Just then...


    The sound of thundering hooves approached; a troop of dozens of horsemen was closing in fast.


    The leader, a middle-agedmander d in ck armor with eyes sharp as a hawk''s.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "General Geng, please, hurry, save me..." The young man cried out like a drowning person grasping for a lifesaver.


    Theers were none other than the ck Armored Army under themand of Geng Jing from Comrade King''s mansion, who had rushed over upon hearing that the Princely Heir''s sworn brother had been killed.


    Geng Jing rode on a ck armored ferocious tiger, followed by more than thirty ck Armored Army horsemen, his cold gaze fixed on Xiao Yi, "You audacious scoundrel, how dare youmit murder in broad daylight? Release him this instant!"


    "Release him, you say?"


    Xiao Yi grabbed the young man''s dream and flung him; the young man shot towards Geng Jing''s mount like an arrow from a bow, the speed too fast for the ck armored tiger to react. It trampled right over him with a crisp crack.


    The young man''s head was crushed t.


    Geng Jing turned to see the unrecognizable young man and felt a chill run through his scalp. This was Princely Heir Xu Tao''s sworn brother, now dead before his own eyes¡ªa responsibility he could not escape. Staring fixedly at Xiao Yi, he said coldly, "Do you realize who they are? By killing them, you leave yourself no path but death!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "He was crushed to death by your mount!"


    "You..."


    Geng Jing''s face turned shades of green and white, his teeth clenched in anger, "Where is the ck Armored Army?"


    ng! ng! ng!


    In the midst of the shing sounds of metal, thirty ck Armored Army horsemen stepped forward in unison.


    Geng Jing pointed his long spear at Xiao Yi, "Take this criminal down and bring him to the Princely Heir!"


    "Yes!"


    The thirty ck Armored Army horsemen instantly spread out their formation and charged.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Horse hooves shook the earth, rumbling loudly.


    The whole ground vibrated as if a ck tide of steel surged forward, heading straight for Xiao Yi...

 Chapter 64 Kill Geng Jing, Acquire the Mine Map

    The ck-armored cavalry were the elite soldiers of the Comrade King''s residence.


    Each of them had reached the Shentong Realm in their cultivation, and their mounts wereparable to the second-tier high-grade beasts at the Peak of the Qi Gathering Realm, the Bloodthirsty Dragon Colts¡ªwith great speed, immense strength, and robust bodies. Coupled with the protection of their ck armor, their charge was overwhelmingly powerful and their destructive force was astonishing.


    Though their cultivation was only at the first or secondyer of the Shentong Realm, thebined charge of thirty ck-armored cavalrymen.


    Their destructive power was enough to threaten the life of someone in the High-order Divine Power Realm.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The thirty cavalrymen lined up in three rows and charged headlong.


    The ground trembled as pebbles danced about.


    Xiao Yi stood with his hands behind his back, as proud as a lone pine standing tall in the bitter cold, unshakable by the wind or the snow. His eyebrows, sharp as swords, moved slightly, and when the first cavalryman reached him, his hands shot forward fiercely.


    Godly strength gathered and Qi cloaked his hands.


    ng! ng!


    In the sharp sound of metal piercing through, Xiao Yi''s hands actually punctured the ck armor in front of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Colt''s chest and firmly grasped the warhorse.


    His figure was also pushed back by the momentum.


    But he only took three steps back!


    Xiao Yi''s legs plunged into the ground like steel stakes, veins on his forehead bulging, the muscles on his arms tensing instantly. The ferocious strength erupted in an instant, and with a low growl, Xiao Yi actually lifted the Bloodthirsty Dragon Colt, weighing thousands of pounds, into the air.


    He threw it violently into the sky, and at the same time, grabbed the hind legs of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Colt.


    "Die!"


    Xiao Yi spun wildly like a top.


    The Bloodthirsty Dragon Colt in his hands became a lethal weapon, harshly smashing into the other ck-armored cavalrymen.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The Bloodthirsty Dragon Colt let out continuous screams, with its rider already smashed into a pulp, and after several swings. The ck-armored cavalrymen were battered to pieces, their figures unrecognizable, and when Xiao Yi finally stopped, all that was left of the Bloodthirsty Dragon Colt in his hands were its two legs.


    Before him...


    All thirty ck-armored cavalrymeny in pools of blood, none spared.


    Hiss!


    The entire street fell silent.


    So quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    This was the ck-armored cavalry!


    The most elite cavalry of the Comrade King''s residence, capable of facing ten foes each on the battlefield, were now all taken down by a single Xiao Yi?


    Xiao Yi tossed the two horse legs aside and walked toward Geng Jing.


    Tap tap tap!


    His footsteps rang clearly, echoing in the deathly quiet street.


    Geng Jing''s mount, the ck-armored fierce tiger, used to be imposing from every angle, but now it was backing away continuously, intimidated by Xiao Yi''s aura. Geng Jing felt a burning sensation on his face as he pulled tightly on the reins to stabilize the ck-armored fierce tiger, his cold gaze locked onto Xiao Yi, "Boy, who on earth are you?"


    "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, Xiao Yi," Xiao Yi said calmly.


    "Tianqi Martial Arts Institute?"


    Geng Jing was taken aback, then sneered, "Seeing you act so decisively in killing, I thought you were a brave man who dared to take responsibility. I didn''t expect you to be a rat hiding behind a guise. Everyone knows Tianqi Martial Arts Institute has few people left, aside from the current seventh prince, there are no other students. If I''m not wrong, you must be sent by the Iron de King''s residence, right? It seems the Iron Arm Commandery Princess has run out of tricks, to actually send someone to kill the Princely Heir''s sworn brothers, attempting to disturb his heart and obstruct his breakthrough to the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer?"


    Xiao Yi frowned at Geng Jing, "Iron Arm Commandery Princess?"


    "Hmph, your scheme has already been seen through by this general, how much longer do you intend to y dumb?" Geng Jing sneered continuously, "Once I have captured you, I will break your limbs and take you to confront the Iron de King''s residence and the Iron Arm Commandery Princess face to face. Let''s see if she can still refuse my family''s Princely Heir then!"


    While speaking, Geng Jing had already leaped down from the ck-armored fierce tiger and, in the blink of an eye, appeared in front of Xiao Yi.


    Ayer of white frost covered his right hand.


    The frost condensed into a long spear, and the silver spear thrust fiercely at Xiao Yi, "Angry Dragon Leaps from the Sea!"


    Thunderous roars like rolling thunder filled the sky, and the dazzling silver light, like mercury pouring down, transformed into ferocious silver dragons entwining with each other, coalescing into a silver celestial river suspended across the sky. Geng Jing''s strength was extraordinary, at the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, having awakened the Innate Divine Roar of the Dragon.


    A low roar came with the intimidation of dragon''s might.


    The unwavering of mind.


    Under the influence of his dragon''s roar, one''s spirit would be chaotic, even shaking their martial heart, leaving behind an indelible nightmare shadow.


    Seeing Xiao Yi standing still, not moving an inch, Geng Jing was extremely pleased, the silver light of his spear casting an especially cold reflection on his face, "Struck by my dragon''s roar, you can''t even resist. Just die obediently!"


    The spear dragon soared across the sky, and the surrounding stalls were swept up into the air, the stone bs on the ground ttered, and a web-like pattern of cracks covered them.


    It seemed that Xiao Yi was about to be impaled by a spear!


    In the nick of time,


    Xiao Yi''s figure suddenly shifted, his vital energy circted within him with hints of golden light emerging and submerging like an Immovable King, his punch was like heaven itself, obscuring the sun.


    Boom!


    Under this punch,


    The silver spear dragon shattered inch by inch.


    Xiao Yi appeared as if he had transformed into the War God, unbeatable in attack, invincible in battle, sweeping through everything!


    ng!


    The fist and the spear shed like the tip of a needle against a stalk of wheat.


    Humm!


    The body of the spear suddenly bent.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "This can''t be¡­" Geng Jing''s face, previously filled with triumph, was now swept clean, reced by shock and terror.


    As the spear twisted, he was now only a step away from Xiao Yi!


    Xiao Yi''s footsteps were enigmatic as he brushed past the long spear, the inertia from the spear snapping back propelled Geng Jing forward unwittingly. In contrast, Xiao Yi once again closed the distance between them, his punch transforming into a palm, his five fingers clenched, grabbing Geng Jing''s neck.


    With a fierce push!


    Bang!


    Geng Jing''s head was mmed fiercely onto the ground, as Xiao Yi surged forward.


    Geng Jing''s head plowed through the ground like a plowshare, tearing open a ghastly ravine.


    The stone bs shattered, dust spiraled upward.


    Continuing for over twenty meters!


    Geng Jing''s head pounded with pain; just as he managed to open his eyes, he saw a dark footprint descending from the sky, and with a bang, his head was crushed.


    Blood sttered in every direction.


    The street was a wreck, with the bodies of the ck-armored cavalry strewn about in disarray.


    A cold wind blew, leaving a chilling destion.


    At the end of the street¡­


    Xiao Yi, leading a horse carrying the bodies of the old woman and the young girl, strode away.


    Outside Iron Mountain City,


    In a forest, after Xiao Yi had buried the young girl, he turned to the old woman with tears streaking down her face and let out a light sigh, "Condolences!"


    "They''re all gone, all of them are gone¡­"


    The old woman''s face, wrinkled like tree bark, squeezed out an ugly smile and walked tremulously to Xiao Yi, "Kind sir, thank you for avenging my granddaughter. I have nothing to repay you with, this map of the ore vein was given to me by my son before he died, iming it marks the location of thergest tungsten iron mine within the Iron Mountain. I was afraid it would bring me fatal disaster, so I never dared show it to anyone. Today, I shall give it to you!"


    "Tungsten iron mine?"


    Xiao Yi was surprised, as this was a metal several grades higher than iron. Weapons made of tungsten iron were second only to elemental weapons. He repeatedly waved his hands, "Old madam, how can I ept this?"


    "Kind sir, my husband and son both died in search of this mine; it''s of no use to me. If you do not ept it, I will not rest in peace when I die!" The old woman, trembling, pushed the parchment into Xiao Yi''s hands with a sincere expression.


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, nodded to the old woman''s begging eyes and said, "Alright, I will ept it!"


    The old woman gestured, "Kind sir, please go ahead! I still want to apany my granddaughter for a while longer¡­"


    "Old madam, I''ll wait for you nearby! I''ll take you hometer!" Xiao Yi said.


    The old woman did not refuse and sat by the grave.


    She sat there for an entire hour.


    Bang!


    The old woman suddenly fell in front of the grave; Xiao Yi was startled, and on checking her, he found the old woman had bitten her tongue andmitted suicide. Xiao Yi''s eyes showed intense grief, "Xiao Yi, you fool¡­ you should have realized that the old woman was settling her affairs... you¡­" Continue reading at empire


    Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.


    Xiao Yi buried the old woman next to her granddaughter, stood there for a long time, and didn''t leave until the sun set behind the mountains¡­

 Chapter 65 The Crisis of the Hu Family

    The bustling of Iron Mountain City under the cloak of night still thrived immensely.


    The clinking and nging of metalworking could be heard everywhere, for the city was home to a great number of cksmiths.


    From the forge businesses of the Hu and Xu Families to small private workshops, one could almost say that everyone who came out of Iron Mountain City knew how to work with iron.


    But today, the atmosphere in Iron Mountain City was even more tense, and the night patrols by soldiers seemed more anxious than usual, with the frequency of their rounds increasing. All of this was due to the battle during the day; thirty ck armored cavalrymen of the Comrade King''s estate had fallen in battle, and even themander of the ck armored cavalry, Geng Jing, had been in.


    The Comrade King''s estate was enraged.


    All of Iron Mountain City was as silent as if in the grip of winter''s chill.


    Xiao Yi relied on his nimble movement technique to traverse the shadows and quietly approached the estate of the Iron de King.


    The sprawling estate of the Iron de King was well-lit, with even more patrolling powerhouses than usual.


    Xiao Yi infiltrated their ranks.


    He made his way unseen to the vicinity of the main hall when he suddenly heard several heated arguments inside.


    A cold voice came from within the hall, "You can go marry him if you want, but I will never marry Xu Tao!"


    "Qing Bi, can''t you be a little less selfish? Not only is he Xu Tao, the Princely Heir of the Comrade King, but also a disciple of the Nine Profound Sect. What about him doesn''t match up to you? Moreover, once you marry Xu Tao, the Hu and Xu Families will be rted by marriage, and they will no longer harm our Hu Family''s business..."


    "Sacrificing oneself for the peace of the whole family¡ªwhat''s so bad about that?"


    The cold voice of Hu Qingbi echoed from within, "Everyone shut up!"


    "Is this the way you talk to your elders?"


    "We are all considering the estate''s best interests. No matter how you look at it, your marriage to Xu Tao benefits our Hu Family the most!"


    Faced with the relentless pressure from her own rtives, the Iron Arm Princess Hu Qingbi''s face went pale, and her eyes shimmered with the threat of tears.


    The rtives before her were like termites, incessantly eroding the Hu Family''s interests.


    With Hu Yi in the family, he could at least intimidate them, but since Hu Yi had disappeared years ago, Hu Qingbi, with her abilities and strength, was utterly incapable of deterring these greedy parasites.


    "Qing Bi, listen to me!"


    The person speaking was the brother of Hu Yi.


    With a light stroke of the moustache under his nose, Hu Liughed like an old fox eyeing a chunk of meat in a crow''s beak, "Six years ago, your father took every treasure from our n in an attempt to breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm, and that''s the root cause of our Hu Family''s downfall. As the saying goes, a son inherits his father''s debts. It''s time for you to pay back what your father owed!"


    Bang!


    Hu Qingbi pushed over the tea table in front of her and red at Hu Li, "Uncle, are those even human words you''re saying? Why did father risk his life to advance to the Golden Core Realm those years ago? Was it not because you were caught meeting Xu Shiheng''s lover in secret, and when Xu Shiheng sought to take your life, father was gravely injured saving you? Is that why he thought to take the resources and enter seclusion to make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm? And now you have the audacity to speak like this?"


    "Shut up! It was your father who chose to save me back then. Did I ever ask him? Did I ever beg him to lift a finger?"


    Hu Li sneered indifferently, "I''ve already negotiated the terms with the Comrade King. As long as you marry Xu Tao and bring the eighth and thirteenth mining veins as a dowry, he will spare the Hu Family. We''ve decided on this, and you have no right to refuse!"


    "I will never marry Xu Tao..." Hu Qingbi roared in fury.


    Hu Li sneered in response, "That''s not up to you! Come, tie her up and take her to the Xu Family!"


    "I''d like to see who dares to tie me up!" Hu Qingbi humphed coldly, her formidable aura instantly filling the hall; she was currently the strongest person in the Hu Family, a being of the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    However...


    As she started circting her vital energy, a wave of weakness engulfed her body, and she copsed to the floor with a thud. Your next read awaits at empire


    She found herself unable to move her limbs.


    Hu Liughed heartily, "As the Hu Family''s top expert, would I act without certainty? I''ve added plenty of Muscle-locking Powder to your food; you should obediently marry Xu Tao! Hahaha..."


    "You, you shameless..."


    Defeat and despair painted Hu Qingbi''s face as her tearful eyes beheld the n members, their faces twisted with a ferocious desire to bind her and send her off to the Xu Family.


    Filled with despair and regret, Hu Qingbi thought to herself, "Father, these are the n members you fought with everything to protect¡ªunworthy, they''re all unworthy..."


    "Gag her mouth and..."


    Boom!


    Hu Li''s voice was abruptly cut off by a deafening roar, and the door to the room exploded with a bang, sending two guards from the Hu Family flying through the air from the powerful st.


    From within the wreckage of the splintered door, Xiao Yi''s figure gradually appeared.


    "Who is it?"


    "How dare you, thief, sneaking into the Hu Family in the dead of night ¡ª surely harboring ill intentions¡­" A powerhouse of the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm red at Xiao Yi, bellowing in anger.


    Before the words could even finish.


    Xiao Yi cast a cold nce at him and threw a punch like a Wrathful Vajra.


    Boom!


    The elder of the Hu Family was smashed to the ground, with a fist-sized hole gushing blood through his forehead, as if a fountain of blood had erupted forth.


    Hiss!


    The hall fell silent.


    Everyone''s gaze toward Xiao Yi was as if they were looking at a demon.


    Hu Li forced himself to remainposed while gazing intently at Xiao Yi, "Friend, has my Hu Family somehow offended you? I, Hu Li, apologize on behalf of my family. We''re willing topensate you¡­"


    "Compensate?"


    Xiao Yi''s indifferent gaze settled on Hu Li.


    Hu Li felt as though an invisible hand was gripping his throat under Xiao Yi''s gaze, making even breathing difficult, and he stammered, "Yes, yes¡­ I''m willing topensate, whatever conditions you have, I will meet them!"


    "Oh, then give me something aspensation."


    "What is it?"


    Hu Li nced at Xiao Yi and hastily said, "Whatever you want, I can provide it for you. How about my niece? She''s beautiful and as long as you like¡­ Er¡­"


    Mid-sentence, Hu Li realized his feet were no longer touching the ground.


    His face filled with terror as he saw Xiao Yi, close at hand, single-handedly lifting him by his throat, and Hu Li''s face was ovee with fear, "Why, why is this? I, I''m willing to pay¡­ "


    Xiao Yi''s icy gaze remained on him, "I only want your dog life!"


    "Ah? Why? I, I''ve never provoked you¡­"


    Hu Li''s face turned pale, his voice trembling with the question.


    Xiao Yi''s right hand clutched his throat, and his left hand produced a Token.


    It was the Token of the Iron de King, Hu Yi.


    "This, this is the Family Head''s Token? How could it be in his possession?"


    Hu Li looked at the Token in disbelief, "How did you get this Token? I saw with my own eyes Xu Shiheng grievously wound my brother, he clearly¡­"


    Hu Li suddenly stopped speaking, his expression turning increasingly horrified.


    "You, what did you say? You saw Xu Shiheng grievously wound my father?" Hu Qingbi also recovered from her shock, looking at Hu Li in disbelief.


    Hu Li went white as a sheet, and Xiao Yi coldly demanded, "Won''t you speak the truth?"


    Hu Li trembled all over, bereft of hope, and closed his eyes in despair, "That year, Xu Shiheng promised not to kill me as long as I helped him murder my brother¡­ I, I had no choice. It''s not my fault; it was all Xu Shiheng''s doing. I, I only told him where my brother was in secluded cultivation¡­"


    "Hu Li, you bastard, our father was wounded trying to save you, and you repay his kindness with treachery?" Hu Qingbi trembled all over, her eyes bloody.


    Xiao Yi turned towards her, "Would you like to take revenge with your own hands?"


    To that, Hu Qingbi started, then nodded eagerly.


    With a flick of Xiao Yi''s finger, a surge of vital energy entered her body, neutralizing the Muscle-locking Powder''s poison in her system, and he threw Hu Li to the ground.


    Hu Qingbi''s eyes were a bloody red as she pounced on Hu Li like a mad demon.


    Her fists and feet flew, smashing Hu Li''s head into a pulp.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    She tore off his limbs with her own hands¡­


    The hall was filled with the stench of blood, as if it were a Shura hell¡­

 Chapter 66 Eve of the Battle

    Within the grand hall of the Hu Family.


    The pungent scent of blood made people involuntarily furrow their brows; Hu Li''s body had long been shattered into pieces, torn to shreds by Hu Qingbi herself.


    Her eyes were a bloody red, her body covered in fresh blood, her cold gaze sweeping over the Hu Family''s powerhouses.


    That blood-red gaze was like two soul-snatching crimson pearls, making one feel as if they''d be devoured with just an extra nce, and no one dared to meet her eyes.


    Readtest stories on empire


    The grisly death of Hu Li was right in front of them, not to mention the mysterious Xiao Yi standing by the side.


    Naturally, no one dared to say much.


    Hu Qingbi looked coldly at the crowd and said sternly, "You all have heard it, my father was killed by that despicable Hu Li in cahoots with Xu Shiheng. Do you still want me to marry Xu Tao?"


    One after another, the elders exchanged nces, all bowing their heads.


    Who would dare to agree now?


    Hu Qingbi snorted and said emphatically, "Listen to me, all of you, gather all the Hu Family''s forces by noon tomorrow. I shall settle this with a fight to the death with the Xu Family atop Iron Mountain!"


    The crowd exchanged looks.


    An elder of the Fifth Layer of the Divine Power Realm hesitated and said, "Miss, we must not act rashly in this affair! The Xu Family''s power far surpasses ours, to say nothing of Xu Shiheng who has already reached the peak of Shentong, and Xu Tao who has broken through to the Tenth Layer of Shentong. We simply are no match for them!"


    "Yes, to engage in a fight to the death with the Xu Family at this time would be a suicide mission!"


    A few elders spoke out with worried faces.


    For them...


    As long as they could protect their own small piece of interest, the revenge for Hu Yi and who would call the shots in Iron Mountain City in the future were simply not their concerns.


    "You¡­ you all¡­"


    Hu Qingbi''s face turned pale.


    She never expected that even after learning the truth about Hu Yi''s death, these n members would still remain indifferent, only thinking of their own benefits.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi, standing nearby, nced at the group ofcent Hu Family powerhouses, grinned, and said, "Miss Hu, some people are just naturally base; no matter how nicely you try to persuade them, they won''t take you seriously!"


    Hu Qingbi was startled, then steeled her heart.


    Thud! Thud!


    She struck out in session.


    The two elders who had first raised objections had their heads smashed by Hu Qingbi''s palm, one after the other. She said coldly, "I''ll say it again, all Hu Family forces will gather by noon tomorrow for a fight to the death with the Xu Family. Do you understand?"


    "We understand!"


    "Miss, please rest assured, we will definitely not disappoint you!"


    Seeing the awe in the elders'' eyes, Hu Qingbi huffed coldly, then turned to Xiao Yi, gave a respectful bow, and said with meticulous courtesy, "Qingbi is grateful for your assistance, Sir!"


    Xiao Yi helped her up, shook his head, and said, "You needn''t thank me; I''ve already received my payment from your father." After pausing, he handed over the scroll of the "Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill" to Hu Qingbi.


    "Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill?"


    Hu Qingbi''s expression changed drastically, then she revealed a look of ecstasy.


    The "Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill" was the Hu Family''s ancestral cultivation technique, which traditionally only the heads of the family and their heirs could practice.


    Hu Qingbi had only practiced the first half so far, but now with theplete "Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill," given enough time, she was certain to lead the Hu Family to new heights of glory.


    Xiao Yi said solemnly, "If it''s convenient, could you tell me about your wagered duel with Xu Tao?"


    Upon hearing the name Xu Tao, Hu Qingbi''s face contorted with added ferocity.


    She took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone, "Our Hu Family and the Xu Family have always been rivals; our two families control over eighty percent of the mines in Iron Mountain City. Since my father went missing, the Xu Family has been suppressing us at every turn. Not long ago, they proposed a wagered duel where the loser would have to surrender all of their mining veins. I had no choice but to agree under pressure..."


    Iron Mountain City is the mining capital of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    If the Xu Family managed to take over the Hu Family''s mines, they would be the undisputed mining kings of the Tianqing Kingdom, and even the royal family of Tianqing Kingdom would have to ask favors from them.


    Xiao Yi asked, "Do you have confidence in your fight against Xu Tao?"


    Hu Qingbi gave a wry smile and said, "I''ve heard that Xu Tao has secluded himself and advanced to the Tenth Layer of the Divine Power Realm. I''m no match for him. But even if it means death, I will never surrender..."


    With her inherently tenacious character, and especially after knowing that Hu Yi''s death was inextricably linked to Xu Shiheng, there was no way she wouldpromise.


    Xiao Yi was silent for a moment before asking, "Are there any specific rules about who can fight in your duel?"


    "There are none!"


    Hu Qingbi shook her head, then suddenly, her expression froze, and she looked at Xiao Yi with disbelief, "Benefactor, could it be that you..."


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "I''ll fight for you."


    It was precisely because of Hu Yi''s Golden Core that he was able to enter the Divine Realm so smoothly with Fang Qingzhu, allowing Fang Qingzhu to defeat Fang Jin.


    This debt of gratitude couldn''t simply be repaid by returning the royal order and the "Mixed Yuan Purple Mist Skill"!


    Hu Qingbi looked at Xiao Yi with gratitude, "Thank you, benefactor... As long as we can defeat the Xu Family, I am willing to hand over all of the Xu Family''s mines to you!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and said, "Keep the Xu Family''s mines for yourself, I might have some cooperation to discuss with you when the timees!"


    In his hands, he held a map of the Tungsten Iron Mine.


    ording to the old crone, it was the biggest vein in the entire Iron Mountain Range.


    Its value was probably more than thebined mines of both the Xu Family and the Hu Family.


    However...


    This Tungsten Iron Mine was far too precious, and with Xiao Yi''s current strength, it would be impossible to keep it safe once exposed.


    At the same time.


    The Xu Family.


    Bang!


    A loud boom suddenly erupted from Xu Tao''s room, causing the entire residence to tremble slightly, and everything inside was a mess.


    Dressed in ck with a pale, cold, and fierce face, Xu Tao growled furiously, "That Hu Qingbi, she actually dared to send people to kill my eldest brother and third younger brother? I must kill this woman, no, I will annihte the entire Hu Family and let them apany my brothers in death!"


    In front of Xu Tao, wearing a python robe and an indifferent expression, Xu Shiheng casually said, "Tao''er, Hu Qingbi is not a concern, but the person she has invited is not so simple, even Geng Jing died by his hand. If that man fights for Hu Qingbi tomorrow, you must be very careful!"


    "Father, rest assured! With my current strength, even Geng Jing wouldn''tst three moves against me."


    Xu Tao, with a look of disdain, lifted his hands with palms facing upwards, and as his fingers twitched slightly, his gaze became immensely cold, "It doesn''t matter if that boy doesn''t show up, but if he dares to, I will squash him easily. Moreover, my senior brother Jin He will also being to watch the battle tomorrow; with him supporting us, nothing can go wrong!"


    "That''s good!"


    Xu Shiheng looked at Xu Tao with satisfaction, and his eyes flickered coldly, "Hu Yi, oh Hu Yi, I will personally take the Hu Family you''ve built and make it mine. Not only your family but also your daughter will be ythings under my son''s hip, hahaha..."

 Chapter 67 So Much Nonsense

    Iron Mountain.


    It loomed majestically and vast, the entire Iron Mountain Range stretching for thousands of kilometers.


    Endless and winding.


    The mountains were rich in ore veins, and mining pits and tunnels pockmarked thendscape, among which stood a mountain riddled with holes.


    This was Iron Mountain!


    The highest peak in the entire Iron Mountain Range, and the only peak within the range devoid of any ore veins.


    At this moment...


    At the summit of Iron Mountain, it was already a sea of people.


    The Xu and the Hu families would engage in a decisive battle at the peak of Iron Mountain, with the loser bing a vassal to the victor - a piece of news that had, with the Xu family''s deliberate exaggeration, already spread throughout Iron Mountain City.


    "Who do you think will win this battle?"


    "Who else could it be? It''s definitely going to be the Xu family. The Hu family has been in name only since the Iron de King, Hu Yi..."


    "That''s a pity, though. The Hu family has been good to us, while the Xu family is much harsher!"


    "How dare you nder the Xu family? Seize him!" Amotion suddenly erupted from the crowd, and a few burly men, blending in with the crowd, immediately dragged away those who had been talking earlier.


    They were brought to the central square at the top of Iron Mountain.


    Xu Tao and Xu Shiheng had long been waiting there, and beside Xu Tao stood a young man in a golden long coat, disheveled and carrying a longsword on his back.


    The two were chatting merrily when suddenly they saw five poor men being dragged up.


    Xu Tao frowned and asked, "What''s going on?"


    The subordinate reported, "Your Highness the Princely Heir, these people were secretly insulting your father..."


    "Kill them then!" Xu Tao waved his hand.


    "Yes!"


    The muscr strongman gestured, and regardless of the desperate pleas of the poor men, beheaded them on the spot. As heads rolled, Xu Tao''s voice rang out, "Hang their bodies in front of the square as a warning to others!"


    "At yourmand!"


    A momentter.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Five stakes were erected in front of the square.


    Each stake was over twenty meters tall, the bodies of the five men suspended in the air, their figures swaying in the fierce cold wind, a sight of utter destion.


    The surrounding crowd kept silent, only looking at those five bodies, feeling the wind blowing even colder through their bones.


    "Brother Jin, I really can''t thank you enough foring all this way!" Xu Taoughed, squinting at Jin He.


    This Jin He was of the Tenth Level of Shentong Realm Cultivation, no different from Xu Tao.


    However...


    Xu Tao''s master was the Great Elder of the Nine Profound Sect, Jin Sheng, and Jin Sheng was Jin He''s grandfather. This was the reason Xu Tao treated Jin He with such respect.


    Jin He chuckled, "Junior brother is too polite. It was grandfather who asked me toe and support you. But now you have stepped into the Tenth Layer of the Divine Skills Realm; it seems mying may have been somewhat superfluous!"


    "What are you talking about, brother? Having you here gives me a real sense of support!" Xu Taoughed heartily, speaking words like a breath of spring, making them particrlyfortable to hear.


    "Tao''er, the people from the Hu family have arrived!" Xu Shiheng suddenly said in a low voice.


    Xu Tao was startled and looked in the direction indicated.


    The Hu Family''s party wasing up from the base of the mountain, led by Hu Qingbi and Xiao Yi, followed by some of the Hu family elders and strong figures.


    Their numbers were vast, nearly all prominent warriors of the Hu family had arrived.


    "The Hu Family hase out in full force!"


    "Considering it''s a matter of life and death for them, it''s no surprise they''re making such a big move..."


    Xu Tao was sitting boldly with a leg crossed over the other, his eyes narrowed to slits,pletely ignoring Hu Qingbi as his gaze was fixed firmly on Xiao Yi.


    The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, curling into a cold arc, "So this is the kid who killed my eldest brother and third brother, huh? Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm? Hmph, I could snuff him out with a flick of my finger!"


    Jin He also showed an indifferent expression.


    Both the Nine Profound Sect and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple were powers second only to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and they recognized all the masters of the younger generation on the Tianqing Kingdom''s Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List.


    They had never seen Xiao Yi before.


    Jin He''s eyes sparkled as he spoke, "Xu, let''s finish up the fight here quickly! I''ve heard that the service at Iron Mountain City''s Misty Rain Pavilion is quite something!"


    Xu Tao grinned and said with ease, "Why bother with Misty Rain Pavilion, Brother Jin? Once I''ve taken care of the Hu Family, I''ll let you have Hu Qingbi for some fun."


    "Hmm? Isn''t that a bit much? She is, after all, yours..." Jin He''s gaze towards Hu Qingbi was filled with greed and desire, yet he appeared to be in a difficult position.


    Xu Taoughed loudly, not bothering to hide it, and dered, "What''s mine is yours, brother. Besides, she''s just a woman. I''ve decided, tonight I''ll have Hu Qingbi take good care of you!"


    Jin He grinned, "Why not together?"


    Xu Tao paused, thenughed, "Alright, let''s do it together!"


    Thesements, when heard by the Hu Family, turned their faces iron blue, and fury zed within them.


    Hu Qingbi''s chest heaved with intense emotion, her eyes cold as ice, "These two bastards..."


    Xiao Yi patted her shoulder, "Don''t worry, let them be smug for a moment!"


    However...


    It was this pat on the shoulder that caused Jin He''s face to suddenly darken. In his view, Hu Qingbi was already his ything; how could he allow another man to touch her?


    Jin He snorted coldly and pointed at Xiao Yi, "Xu, I really don''t like that kid. Break his filthy arms and legs first!"


    "Alright!"


    Xu Tao immediately stood up and walked towards Xiao Yi and his group, his gaze falling coldly on Xiao Yi as he arrogantly said, "Which hand did you just use to touch Qingbi? Cut that one off, and I might leave your corpse intact. Otherwise, I''ll slice off your flesh piece by piece..."


    Hu Qingbi''s eyes widened in fury, "Xu Tao, don''t go too far!"


    "Shut up, you cheap woman!"


    Xu Tao snorted and, raising his hand, swung it towards Hu Qingbi''s face, "You are already a toy I''ve given to Brother Jin. You should be keeping yourself clean, how dare another man touch you? Go stand aside and wait..."


    Xu Tao''s voice stopped abruptly.


    Your journey continues at empire


    The hand he had lifted was firmly grasped by Xiao Yi.


    No matter how much he exerted force, he couldn''t free himself from Xiao Yi''s grasp for a moment. Xu Tao''s face twisted with a savage look as he red at Xiao Yi, "Kid, you''ve wasted the only chance you had to keep your corpse intact, I..."


    "What a lot of nonsense..."


    Xiao Yi roared and swung his fist, aiming it straight at Xu Tao''s face.


    Behind him, it was as if a Wrathful Vajra stood proud between heaven and earth, and amid the chaotic gust of wind, Xu Tao''s features werepletely distorted, his handsome face was utterly disfigured.


    Bang!


    With a muffled sound.


    Xu Tao''s body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, t on his back, skimming the ground. The wind he swept up tore open the summit of Iron Mountain.


    Like a vicious scar crawling over the mountain''s peak.


    He was flung more than thirty meters away...

 Chapter 68 Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, Xiao Yi!

    Atop Mount Iron, there was a hush.


    Everything happened so suddenly.


    Everyone was watching as Xu Tao appeared before Hu Qingbi and the others, arrogantly proiming his intent to break Xiao Yi''s hands, while everyone waited for Xiao Yi to do the deed himself.


    But then...


    Xiao Yi actually punched Xu Tao and sent him flying?


    Thirty meters away.


    Amidst the billowing dust.


    Xu Tao finally stopped, with two bloody trails hanging from his nostrils, his nose bridge broken, tears streaming down his face in humiliation.


    Panting heavily!


    Gasping for air, Xu Tao wiped the blood from beneath his nose, first stunned, then his face twisted ferociously, "Bastard, you dare to ambush me? I''ll skin you alive!"


    Whoosh!


    A vast surge of primal energy burst forth from within him.


    As a cultivator at the Tenth Layer of the Divine Power Realm, Xu Tao''s energy was increasingly refined, and with a single gesture, a green spearnded in his hand.


    Humming!


    The spear danced wildly in the air, whistling fiercely, its silvery light ring like the venomous fangs of a savage snake.


    "Xu Tao really broke through to the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer?"


    "What terrifying talent; he''s only twenty-six, right? He might have a chance to challenge for the top ten of the Flying Tiger List before he''s thirty!"


    Those in the top ten of the Flying Tiger List are all in the Golden Core Realm.


    Reaching the Golden Core Realm before thirty is indeed a sign of extraordinary talent.


    Not far off.


    Pride showed on Xu Shiheng''s face as he looked toward Jin He, "Jin He, do you think Tao has a chance to enter the Golden Core Realm before thirty?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "No problem!"


    Jin He smiled faintly and said, "Grandfather values Xu Tao highly. As soon as this matter here is settled, I will take him back to our sect. Grandfather mentioned that in two months, there will be a huge opportunity. As long as he seizes this chance, not to mention before thirty... Xu and I might both be able to enter the Golden Core Realm within a year!"


    "What opportunity?" Xu Shiheng asked, startled.


    "Don''t ask what you shouldn''t!"


    Jin He swept Xu Shiheng with a warning look, then focused on the direction of Xu Tao and Xiao Yi, looking rxed, "Although Xiao Yi had the advantage of a surprise attack, being able to blow away Xu with the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm shows he''s not weak. Had Xu not made his breakthrough, he might not have been a match for Xiao Yi. But now, his death is certain!"


    Xu Shiheng didn''t dare to ask further and quickly looked toward the direction of Xu Tao and Xiao Yi.


    "Turning Rivers and Seas!"


    With a low roar, Xu Tao''s spear moved like a dragon turning over the seas, unleashing a fierce surge of force upon Xiao Yi.


    Watching the silvery spear glow closing in.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed and he put his palms together before his chest, drawing the violently trembling spear glow tond between his hands.


    Then with one hand above the other, it was as if the heavens and earth closed in together.


    ng!


    During the shrill, hair-raising noise,


    The wildly spinning spear glow was actually caught firmly between Xiao Yi''s hands!


    "Burst for me!"


    Xu Tao''s eyes were bloodshot as he charged forward, wielding the spear like an arching bridge. Xiao Yi was forced to retreat explosively.


    After retreating more than ten meters,


    Xiao Yi suddenly mmed his foot on the ground, halting his retreat, then shifted aside, releasing the spear tip from his grasp.


    With the obstruction gone, the spear thrust forward, causing Xu Tao to involuntarily lurch a couple of steps.


    Suddenly, a palm appeared in front of him, fingers spread wide like a sky-covering hand, and with a thud, it pressed on his face with a terrible force that seemed to root his fingers deeply into his face.


    The violent force erupted in an instant from that palm.


    Xiao Yi, gripping Xu Tao''s face, violently lifted him and mmed him to the ground, with a loud thud as Xu Tao''s head smashed into the earth.


    With one hand pressing down on Xu Tao''s head, Xiao Yi charged forward.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Xu Tao''s head plowed through the earth like a bulldozer, stirring up dust and stones, and amidst a cloud of flying dust, trails of fresh blood marked the ground.


    Xiao Yi dragged him for over fifty meters before he abruptly released his grip and stood up.


    Xu Tao''s face was unrecognizable, lying on the ground.


    Xiao Yi''s right fist shone with golden light, as if a Wrathful Vajra judged the legions of demons. Gales of vital energy wrapped around his entire fist, creating bursts of wind and deafening sonic booms between his knuckles.


    This punch was aimed straight for Xu Tao''s head and descended with the force of thunderbolts.


    If this punch were to connect,


    it would surely result in a head exploding upon impact!


    "No!"


    Xu Shiheng''s face drastically changed, and he roared like an arrow released from a bow as he rushed towards Xiao Yi.


    Jin He was momentarily stunned, then he turned a shade of iron blue, pping the armrest as he leaped up, quickly dashing towards Xiao Yi.


    Both of these Tenth Layer Divine Power Realm powerhouses took action at the same time.


    Indeed it was like Wind Thunder drums booming in battle.


    "Fiery Palm!"


    Xu Shiheng''s hand zed with roaring mes as his Innate Divine Ability burst forth in an instant, sweeping an intense orange fireball towards Xiao Yi.


    Jin He formed a sword with one hand, pointed it at the void, and fired a highlypressed ball of vital energy.


    These two attacks were no trifles.


    If Xiao Yi were hit, he would undoubtedly be dead.


    "Stop!"


    "Don''t think of harming our benefactor!"


    Hu Qingbi and the multitude of strong Hu Family members acted at the same time. Their cultivation might not match those two, but they were numerous. If one couldn''t stop them, a whole group would attack together.


    "Get out of my way..."


    "Move aside..."


    Xu Shiheng and Jin He were entangled by the Hu Family members and could not break free for a moment.


    They could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yi''s punch descended. Jin He roared, "Stop... Xu Tao is a disciple of the Nine Profound Sect, if you dare to kill him, you will face the relentless pursuit of our Nine Profound Sect disciples, you..."


    "Nine Profound Sect?"


    Xiao Yi''s movement slightly hesitated.


    Jin He showed an ecstatic look, saying proudly, "That''s right, our Nine Profound Sect..."


    However...


    He didn''t finish his sentence.


    Xiao Yi just sneered, "Never heard of it!"


    Boom!


    His punch heavilynded on Xu Tao''s head, the vital energy creating a circr tornado, as if thousands of des were swiftly slicing through, causing an explosive burst.


    Only half a body remained of Xu Tao in the pit, lying in a pool of blood.


    "No... Tao''er..." Xu Shiheng''s eyes were filled with splitting fury.


    Jin He was stunned. Who in the vast Tianqing Kingdom dared to disrespect the Nine Profound Sect? Yet Xiao Yi, knowing well that Xu Tao was a disciple of the Nine Profound Sect, still struck the deadly blow, which made Jin He fear him as well.


    After dealing with Xu Tao, Xiao Yi saw Xu Shiheng kill two Hu Family warriors.


    And even sent Hu Qingbi flying.


    A cold light shed in his eyes as he leaped forward, brandishing a third-grade longsword and shing it out: "Reiming Soul, Seizing Life!"


    Pffft!


    The sword, swift as a fleeting shadow!


    Thump!


    The ferocious looking Xu Shiheng was beheaded, copsing into a pool of blood.


    Xiao Yi, standing with his sword, was enveloped by the roaring wind, his robe billowing, his gaze falling on Jin He.


    Jin He shuddered, looking at Xiao Yi with a grave face, "Who exactly are you?"


    Merely at the Seventh Layer of the Shentong Realm yet possessing suchbat prowess, he was surely no ordinary figure!


    Xiao Yi looked calmly at Jin He and said indifferently, "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, Xiao Yi!"

 Chapter 69 One Man Guards a City

    "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy?"


    Jin He was taken aback, obviously very unfamiliar with the once glorious but nowpletely declined Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Even the onlookers from Iron Mountain City were perplexed, "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy? Hasn''t that ce closed down long ago? How can there still be disciples?"


    "However, this young man actually killed the father and son of the Xu Family, his strength is truly terrifying!"


    "No matter how strong he is, it''s useless, that Xu Tao is a disciple of the Nine Profound Sect. If he were a disciple of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, perhaps the Nine Profound Sect wouldn''t dare seek revenge, but since he''s from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, the Nine Profound Sect will definitely not let him go..."


    The onlookers'' faces held a hint of anticipation as they looked towards Jin He.


    However...


    Jin He''s expression suddenly changed, and he looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief, "You, you are the Xiao Yi who caused havoc in the Royal Martial Arts Academy, who killed Zhuge Shuangdao?"


    Hisbat power was on par with Zhuge Shuangdao.


    But since even Zhuge Shuangdao had fallen at Xiao Yi''s hand, Jin He didn''t think he had the strength to contend with Xiao Yi, and for a moment, he felt a chill throughout his body.


    He cursed the ancestors of the father and son of the Xu Family in his heart.


    If only he had known that Xiao Yi was behind the Hu Family, he wouldn''t have got involved in this matter even if it killed him!


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes as he sized up Jin He, "What? You know me?"


    Jin He forced a smile.


    How could he not know?


    The name of Xiao Yi from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy was already well-known among the younger generation of Tianqing Kingdom, after all, someone who was under twenty and ranked within the top thirty of the Flying Tiger List.


    Furthermore...


    How many years has it been since someone dared to defy the Royal Martial Arts Academy?


    Xiao Yi was a unique case indeed!


    Jin He took a deep breath and said to Xiao Yi with a fist sped, "Xiao Yi, today''s affair has nothing to do with me. We have no past grudges and no recent hatreds, can we part ways here?"


    After witnessing Xiao Yi''s formidable strength, he was even less willing to sh with him.


    "..."


    The Iron Mountain City strongmen who had been expecting Jin He to step in and punish Xiao Yi were collectively shocked.


    The formidable Jin He was actually cowering?


    Actively seeking peace?


    The couple of people who were previously so sure of themselves now felt a burning shame on their faces.


    Xiao Yi was also somewhat surprised; he had thought Jin He would seek revenge for the father and son Xu, but instead he was asking for peace? With a yful look on his face, Xiao Yi said, "Nothing to do with you? Wasn''t it you who earlier said Qing Bi was your ything, and you wanted to cut off both my hands?"


    When Xu Tao wanted to give Hu Qingbi to him to toy with.


    Jin He hesitated not at all!


    If Xiao Yi hadn''t intervened to help Hu Qingbi today, the entire Hu Family might have been wiped out, and Hu Qingbi would inevitably fall into the hands of Jin He and Xu Tao as their ything.


    How could it all be settled with just one sentence from him?


    Jin He''s eyes twitched, and he said in a deep voice, "What do you want?"


    Find more to read at empire


    Xiao Yi said, "Kneel down, apologize!"


    "What?"


    Jin He''s face darkened. As a disciple of the Nine Profound Sect, representing the face of the sect when outside, if he really knelt this time, how would he have any face to return to the Nine Profound Sect?


    Jin He took a deep breath and said, "Xiao Yi, I admit I''m not your opponent. But don''t push me too far. My grandfather is a great elder of the Nine Profound Sect, a mighty Golden Core Realm powerhouse. If I''m really pushed to the brink, you won''t end well either!"


    "Ah!"


    Xiao Yi sighed softly and said, "You shouldn''t have threatened me."


    "Hmm?"


    Jin He was taken aback, about to speak, but then he saw a streak of Sword Qi sh before his eyes.


    Pfft!


    Blood reddened his eyes.


    Jin He''s head thudded to the ground with a crash.


    Hiss!


    Around them rose a chorus of sharp intakes of breath.


    Even Hu Qingbi seemed somewhat lost in thought, her expression solemn as she looked upon Jin He''s corpse. With a wry smile, she said, "Benefactor, you shouldn''t have killed him..."


    "Why?" asked Xiao Yi.


    Hu Qingbi was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Jin He''s grandfather is a great elder of the Nine Profound Sect, a formidable figure in the Golden Core Realm. We killed Xu Tao and Xu Shiheng, and there was still some leeway for negotiation. But now that we''ve killed Jin He, it''s a fight to the death!"


    The Golden Core Realm, ah!


    What an unattainably high existence.


    One capable of annihting an entire city!


    Xiao Yi, however, showed an interested expression and asked, "Qing Bi, are you certain that if we had let him go, the Nine Profound Sect would not move against us?"


    "Eh? You mean..." Hu Qingbi''s face showed confusion.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Letting a tiger return to the mountain is always a future threat!"


    With Jin He''s nature, he would never appreciate Xiao Yi''s mercy in sparing him; he would only see it as a humiliation.


    To erase this stain from his life, naturally, he would need to obliterate his enemiespletely!


    Whether or not they let Jin He go, they would ultimately have to face the Nine Profound Sect.


    It might as well be a decisive kill!


    Hu Qingbi also came to understand this point and said with a bitter smile, "It seems I was presumptuous. Thank you for your guidance, Benefactor!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively.


    He dared to act this way because he knew that whether or not Jin He was released, the Nine Profound Sect would take action. More importantly, he was confident that at least before they could eliminate him, the Nine Profound Sect would definitely not move against the Hu Family.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As for eliminating him?


    That would depend on whether the Nine Profound Sect was up to the task!


    Xiao Yi''s gaze, sharp as a hawk''s, swept over everyone present. The icy sharpness in his eyes, knife-like, deterred others from meeting his gaze, prompting them to lower their heads instead.


    ng!


    Xiao Yi flicked his arm, and the longsword created a splendid disy of sword flowers. The longsword, carrying a fierce wind, abruptly paused, then he shed forward with one strike.


    Sword Intent instantly coalesced at the tip of the de.


    A thirty-foot-long Sword Qi swallowed and surged forth, transforming into a silver canopy that descended from the sky.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    All of Iron Mountain City thundered and roared. As dust and smoke billowed, a vicious sword scar dozens of feet long appeared before them. The terrifying Sword Intent lingered, and a sharp, whistling wind echoed all around.


    Those spectating turned pale, feeling a chill cover their bodies.


    Only then did Xiao Yi speak, "From this day forward, the Hu Family of Iron Mountain City is under my protection, Xiao Yi. Whoever dares to touch the Hu Family, this will be their fate!"


    The crowd fell silent as cicadas in winter.


    Hu Qingbi looked at Xiao Yi gratefully. Encouraged by his gaze, she stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "Everyone here is a citizen of Iron Mountain City, so you should all be aware of the wager between Qing Bi and Xu Tao. After today, all the assets of the Xu Family in Iron Mountain City will belong to the Hu Family. I hope everyone will support Qing Bi!"


    The people: "..."


    Xiao Yi cleared his throat subtly, and the longsword in his hand buzzed as it trembled.


    "Rest assured, Iron Arm Princess, we will definitely support the Iron de King''s estate!"


    "Absolutely support!"


    A multitude of powerhouses hastened to express their allegiance, fearful that any hesitation would draw Xiao Yi''s attention.


    Hu Qingbi watched the crowd''s awe-filled looks towards Xiao Yi, her eyes brimming with reverence, admiration, and a hint of infatuation.


    This young man before her, younger even than herself, had single-handedly and with one sword, intimidated the entire Iron Mountain City.


    Something not even her father had managed to achieve, Xiao Yi had done it¡ªa feat of epic proportions...


    One man stood guard over a city!


    Who else but me!

 Chapter 70 The Golden Core Great Battle, the Great Demon Entrusts His Orphan!

    Under the deterrence of Xiao Yi, the Hu Family faced much less resistance in taking over the Xu Family''s forces.


    ording to Hu Qingbi''s earlier prediction, when the Xu Family fell, other forces in Iron Mountain City would inevitably scramble for a share of the spoils; the Hu Family being able to consolidate fifty percent of the profits would already be considered good.


    But because of Xiao Yi, this time theypletely took over the Xu Family''s assets.


    Not only did it help the Hu Family out of their predicament, but it also increased the family''s foundation several-fold.


    Hu Qingbi looked at Xiao Yi reluctantly, "Benefactor, are you sure you don''t need me to apany you? We mine the Iron Mountain Range all year round and often conflict with the demon beasts there; they are extremely hostile towards humans, and I know how to avoid these beasts!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head with a smile, "Your Hu Family has just taken over the Xu Family''s properties, you must stay in Iron Mountain City. Besides, I will not go too deep, there will be no danger!"


    "Well... okay then!"


    Hu Qingbi let out a wry smile, "When will you return, Benefactor? You muste to find me!"


    "Mm!" Enjoy new adventures from empire


    Xiao Yi nodded, then leaped up like a monkey and disappeared into the forest.


    Having fulfilled the promise to the Iron de King, the trip to Iron Mountain City ended on a perfect note.


    But...


    Because of the Nine Profound Sect, Xiao Yi still wasn''t at ease to leave Iron Mountain City just yet. Plus, he now had that map of the Tungsten Iron Mine, so Xiao Yi decided to explore the mine as indicated on the map first.


    He followed the route marked on the map through the terrain.


    Along the way, he encountered one mining cave after another, with the mountains hollowed out and pitted, a barren sight to behold.


    Many of the trees had long since withered, turning into a bare expanse.


    "ording to the map, after passing through the Thread of Sky Gorge up ahead, and then two hundred li further, with my current speed, it should take about another four hours to reach the location of the Tungsten Iron Mine..."


    Xiao Yi checked the direction and picked up the pace.


    He darted between towering mountains and through strange rock formations and forests.


    Four hourster.


    Xiao Yi finally arrived at the area marked as the Tungsten Iron Mine on the map, a vibrant and lush forested region.


    "The old woman''s son was pursued by an Iron-Eating Beast and identally entered a cave behind a waterfall, where he discovered the Tungsten Iron Mine. Where might there be a waterfall around here?"


    Looking out over the vast green field ahead, Xiao Yi felt somewhat dizzy.


    Perhaps any man wouldn''t be too fond of this color, right?


    Just then...


    Boom!


    A thunderous explosion suddenly echoed from the woods ahead, sending dust and smoke rolling hundreds of feet into the air, where it hung like a mushroom cloud between heaven and earth.


    Two huge figures burst from the cloud of dust.


    A twenty-plus-meter-long, pitch-ck giant snake with cold light flickering in its eyes suddenly coiled its massive body andshed out like a dragon swinging its tail into the smoke.


    Bang!


    The sound of thunderous explosions continued to boom.


    From within that cloud of smoke, a giant beast covered in gray-white iron armor, resembling an ant, also burst forth.


    The two beasts stood suspended in midair, their bodies radiating light that ebbed and flowed as they collided again and again, causing shockwaves of terrifying energy to burst forth.


    Even from several kilometers away, the shockwave was so strong that it caused a stinging pain on Xiao Yi''s face, "Floating in midair, these are two Giant Beasts from the Golden Core Realm?"


    The ten-meter-tall gray ant was the infamous Iron-Eating Beast of the Iron Mountain Range.


    It fed on ore veins.


    Decades ago, when Iron Mountain City was developing ore veins, it had fiercely shed with the beast, which waster defeated by a Golden Core Realm expert from the Tianqing Kingdom and fled to the depths of the Iron Mountain Range.


    Xiao Yi did not expect to encounter it today.


    "That ck giant snake can actually fight to a standstill with the Iron-Eating Beast? I''d better keep my distance..." Xiao Yi had no intention of getting caught in the crossfire, so he stayed far away and watched from the sidelines.


    The Iron-Eating Beast fed on metal; its shell was extremely hard, defense nearly invincible.


    Yet the ck giant snake was also incredibly strong, and after multipleshings and bites, it had managed to fracture the shell of the Iron-Eating Beast, leaving it covered with wounds and dripping with greenish blood.


    Of course, the giant serpent was not faring well either.


    Under the iron-eating beast''s teeth, which could easily snap through metal, the ck serpent bore numerous scars with fresh blood flowing freely.


    The battle raged to the point where the sky darkened, and there was no light from the sun or the moon.


    From a distance.


    The forest of tens of thousands of acres had been ttened, treespletely destroyed, rocks copsed, as if it were the apocalypse.


    The battle that hadsted for the better part of the day finally began to subside.


    "Has it been decided?" Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted, yet he still waited for half an hour.


    There was still no movement.


    Only then did he cautiously approach, but not too quickly.


    From afar, he could tell the two beasts'' battle had been incredibly destructive, but it was not until he got close that Xiao Yi realized he had still underestimated their capacity for destruction.


    Three to four small mountains, hundreds of meters high, had been razed to the ground by the fighting beasts!


    Within that rubble...


    Xiao Yi saw the corpse of the iron-eating beast, utterly lifeless, but what puzzled him was the mysterious disappearance of the ck serpent: "How strange, where''s the ck serpent?"


    Boom!


    The corpse of the iron-eating beast suddenly shook violently, toppling to the ground as a huge ck figure darted out from under its belly, sending sand flying and the ground shaking.


    The ck serpent stood erect, its cold gaze fixed on Xiao Yi.


    Shit!


    Xiao Yi''s face turned pale instantly; feeling an icy chill all over under that cold gaze, he was about to turn and run when he saw the ck serpent shake violently and then thump to the ground.


    The coldness vanished from its two eyes, leaving only despair and a hint of pleading.


    Xiao Yi was stunned¡ªthose pleading eyes reminded him of the time his mother knelt before Xiao Tianjiao, begging for his life.


    Xiao Yi inexplicably stopped in his tracks and, after hesitation, tentatively asked, "Do you... want me to help you?"


    Hiss!


    The ck serpent nodded its head with difficulty.


    Xiao Yi said gravely, "What do you want me to do?"


    Roar!


    The ck serpent struggled to open its bloody maw, and between two rows of fang-like teeth, strings of blood-stained saliva hung from top to bottom.


    Its blood-red tongue wrapped around an egg the size of a human head and brought it before Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi paused, looking at the beast egg and asked with a frown, "Is this your child? You want me to look after it for you?"


    Roar!


    The ck serpent nodded again.


    Xiao Yi frowned and said, "But... "


    Hiss!


    Roar!


    The ck serpent shook its whole body, flung its head, bit into the corpse of the iron-eating beast, thrust its tongue inside the beast''s body, and took out a fist-sized Golden Core covered in cracks before delivering it to Xiao Yi.


    This iron-eating beast was a fourth-rank intermediate demon beast,parable to a Fifth Layer of the Golden Core Realm expert; it was pitiful that the Golden Core was shattered, with little energy remaining.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Huff!


    Xiao Yi exhaled deeply, holding the beast egg close to his chest, and said with determination, "Don''t worry, I will take good care of it!"


    Roar!


    The ck serpent spat a shattered Golden Core into the sky, which spread into a thin golden mist that sprinkled down like mottled gold rain onto the beast egg.


    The beast egg in Xiao Yi''s arms trembled slightly.


    The ck serpent''s head drooped to the ground, powerlessly nudging the egg held tightly in his arms, its eyes flickering with profound reluctance and longing, followed by a painful wail before it copsed to the ground with a thud...

 Chapter 71 Xiao Yi Returns

    Half a dayter.


    Xiao Yi stood in front of a small grave, holding the tinum-striped beast egg in his hands.


    The ashes of the ck giant snakey within.


    An existence that sought to protect its child with its dying breath¡ªXiao Yi would never touch its body, even though it was just a magical beast.


    Even though the corpse was that of a Golden Core Realm magical beast, invaluable beyond measure, he felt no temptation to touch it.


    On the contrary, he had stripped away the carapace of the Iron-Eating Beast.


    It was prime material for forging elemental battle armor.


    The carapace of the Iron-Eating Beast alone was worth no less than a hundred million Silver, not to mention that shattered Gold Core?


    "Rest assured, since I''ve promised you, I will definitely take good care of your child," Xiao Yi deeply bowed to the ck giant snake.


    He gently patted the beast egg in his embrace and tucked it into his clothes.


    Following the map, Xiao Yi searched and half a dayter, found the entrance to the Tungsten Iron Mine behind this waterfall¡ªa deep cave in the mountain.


    After traveling five or six kilometers along the cave, Xiao Yi encountered an expanse of silver-gray ore.


    Just the visible amount of tungsten iron was no less than a small mine vein, to say nothing of the tungsten iron ore mostly hidden underground; this was definitely a major vein.


    The value of the tungsten iron ore here definitely exceeded ten billion Silver.


    Ten billion silver!


    The fortunes of ordinary Golden Core Realm powerhouses amounted to about ten billion Silver¡ªthis vein equaled the entire wealth of ten Golden Core Realm powerhouses, and should it be known, even the royal family would covet it.


    "I absolutely cannot reveal the existence of the tungsten iron mine before my breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm¡­"


    Xiao Yi suppressed the excitement in his heart and then traced his way back through the cave to the outside of the waterfall, "There''s still about a month and a half until the secret realm of that Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse opens. I''ll cultivate here during this time!"


    The secret realm of a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse is filled with treasures for those in Divine Skills Realm and even the Golden Core Realm.


    Furthermore, powerhouses from the Royal Martial Arts Academy will also be going.


    For Xiao Yi, it was both an opportunity and a dangerous predicament.


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy would love nothing more than to smash him to pieces!


    He sat down cross-legged before the waterfall.


    The scenery was enchanting, nestled by the mountain and water.


    Before Xiao Yi, the shattered Golden Core bobbed up and down, turning into a faint golden mist that enveloped his body. As his mysterious arts circted, the energy from within the Golden Core continuously surged into him.


    The Iron-Eating Beast at its peak wasparable to the Fifth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. Despite most of its energy dissipating after the core shattered in the battle with the ck serpent, it remained a colossal energy treasury for those in the Divine Skills Realm!


    However, this time without the aid of the Earth Fire Spirit Refining Array, the speed of refining the Gold Core was much slower. Yet, after ten days, Xiao Yi stepped further into the Eighth Layer of the Divine Power Realm.


    A monthter, he entered the Ninth Layer.


    It was only when he reached the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm that the shattered Golden Core waspletely depleted of energy, turning into ash. Xiao Yi still had his eyes tightly shut, guiding the vital energy in his body into the God Sealing Seed.


    By breaking through two realms, Xiao Yi''s number of God Sealing Seeds rose to one thousand seven hundred and fifty.


    Crackling sounds!


    As Xiao Yi stood up, his bones and muscles made a popping sound like the crackling of fried beans. Unprecedented explosive strength filled his body: "At the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, with one thousand seven hundred and fifty God Sealing Seeds, my strength is nowparable to that of a First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm powerhouse. Even within the secret realm of the Cmity, I''ll be capable of defending myself!"


    The gap between the Divine Skills Realm and the Golden Core Realm is as vast as the sky is from the earth.


    The fact that Xiao Yi at the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm has strengthparable to that of the Golden Core Realm truly marks him as a prodigy among prodigies.


    "I wonder if I''m now capable of opening that celestial tomb¡­" With a sh, Xiao Yi entered the Ancient Celestial Tomb and headed towards one that he had long coveted.


    This Celestial Tomb belonged to an unparalleled swordsman, known as the Sword Demon¡ªDugu Qiubai!


    Engraved on his tombstone read: "For over thirty years amidst the chaos of Jianghu, I have in every foe, bested all heroes, and found no one left to oppose me. With no other recourse, I secluded myself in a deep valley, taking only sculptures as mypanions. s! All the heroes bound their hands, and my longsword remains useless. Yearning for a worthy opponent all my life, but never finding one, truly is a lonely and unbearable fate."


    At that moment, with just one nce, Xiao Yi was captivated by this peerless swordsman from the Blue Star Realm.


    What a pity...


    Even with one thousand seven hundred and fifty God Sealing Seeds in his possession, Xiao Yi was still two meters away from Dugu Qiubai''s tomb. With no choice, he could only exit the Eternal Tomb, "Perhaps only after I break through to the Golden Core Realm will I be able to obtain his inheritance. Dugu Qiubai, I will soon be able to dig up your grave..."


    Within the sky dome, the tombstone of Dugu Qiubai seemed to tremble...


    ¡­


    Iron Mountain City.


    Today, Iron Mountain City was particrly bustling. Before Xiao Yi even entered the city gates, he could sense that the flow of people around him seemed much greater than usual.


    Some strong individuals from the Iron Mountain mining area were also hurrying towards the city.


    Xiao Yi stopped one of them and asked, "Elder, is something big happening in Iron Mountain City? Why are so many people rushing over there?"


    The man, his skin dark from toiling under the sun, though old, was more robust than many young people. He sighed and said, "A major incident urred at King Tieshan''s pce. A month ago, the Hu Family killed the Xu Family''s father and son along with a disciple from the Nine Profound Sect. Seven days ago, the powerful members of the Nine Profound Sect descended upon Iron Mountain City and captured all the Hu Family''s people. Today, they are to be executed in public!"


    Boom!


    Xiao Yi felt a jolt through his body, and his eyes suddenly sharpened, "Executed?"


    Meanwhile...


    In the central square of Iron Mountain City.


    With Hu Qingbi at the forefront, the people of the Hu Family were all bound tightly, covered in wounds, their cultivation sealed, and were forced to kneel in a line across the square.


    In the center of the square, on a high tform.


    A middle-aged man with a grim face and eyebrows like swords sat confidently, nked on either side by five strong individuals wearing the robes of Nine Profound Sect disciples.


    All of them were from the Divine Ability Realm, especially the young man to his left, whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, much stronger than Jin He.


    "Master, the time hase!" the young man respectfully said to the middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man was Jin He''s father, Jin Ze, the Eleventh Elder of the Nine Profound Sect, with the cultivation of the First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. And the young man was his disciple Liu Chun, ranked within the top ten True Disciples of the Nine Profound Sect.


    Narrowing his eyes, Jin Ze looked towards Hu Qingbi and the others in the middle of the square, a cruel sneer crossing his face, "Liu Chun, go ask that wretch again where Xiao Yi has gone! For every breath she doesn''t speak, kill one of her nsmen until she reveals everything..."


    "Yes!"


    Liu Chun approached Hu Qingbi and said coldly, "Where is Xiao Yi?"


    Hu Qingbi red at him and spoke in a deep voice, "I truly don''t know where he is..."


    Liu Chun said, "Starting now, I will kill a member of the Hu Family every breath you dy. Let''s see if your stubbornness or their heads are harder!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You dare?"


    Hu Qingbi''s eyes widened in fury, her teeth clenched, "Xiao Yi won''t let you get away with this..."


    "One breath!"


    With a wave of his hand, Liu Chun made a puff sound as he crushed the head of a Qi Gathering Realm strongman from the Hu Family. His face remained indifferent as he looked at the rage-contorted Hu Qingbi, "Will you speak or not?"


    "I''ll speak, I''ll speak..." Hu Qingbi''s eyes were red as she bit out the words, "He, he has returned to the Royal Capital."


    p!


    Liu Chun struck her face with his palm, saying coldly, "We''ve already sent people to check the Royal Capital, and he never went back. The time for the second breath has arrived!"


    Hum!


    Liu Chun gathered his vital energy at his fingertips, ready to strike.


    But just at that moment...


    An icy voice suddenly came from outside the martial arts field, "Harm a single hair on her, and I''ll make your entire family apany her in death!"

 Chapter 72 The Golden Core Can Also Be an Opponent

    "Harm but a single hair on her head, and I''ll exterminate your entire n!"


    An icy voice appeared out of nowhere, and a pale hand suddenly reached out, grasping Liu Chun''s wrist.


    The concentrated vitality at the tips of his fingers dissipatedpletely in an instant, bing invisible.


    Liu Chun''s pupils shrank suddenly, and he instinctively yanked his hand back, only to find he couldn''t break free at all. His gaze followed the arm that had grabbed him and looked up sharply, staring at the figure that had appeared before him.


    The neer was none other than Xiao Yi, dressed in ck.


    Standing proudly in front of Liu Chun, holding his wrist with one hand, he looked over the injured members of the Hu Family scattered across the square, his eyes gradually turning cold.


    "Who are you? Do you know who we are? You dare to meddle in the business of the Nine Profound Sect, aren''t you afraid of death?" Liu Chun squinted and said.


    p!


    Xiao Yi backhanded him with a p across the face, causing Liu Chun''s vision to burst with stars and his teeth to crack, spitting out blood.


    He looked at Xiao Yi, utterly dumbfounded.


    Xiao Yi pped him again and said coldly, "That p was for those people of the Hu Family!"


    p!


    Another p.


    "This p is for the Hu Family member who just died!"


    p!


    "This p..."


    p! p! p!


    Xiao Yi pped him repeatedly across the face, Liu Chun, at the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer, had no ability to fight back in his grip.


    Blood streamed from his every orifice.


    His entire face lost any semnce of humanity.


    With every opening of his mouth, blood sprayed out.


    p!


    The final p sent Liu Chun tumbling to the ground, his head smashing into the floor with a thud; he struggled to raise his head, his swollen eyes staring intensely at Xiao Yi, "This... this p, why is that so?"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Don''t know... I just felt like hitting you!"


    "I..."


    Liu Chun rolled his eyes back and passed outpletely.


    All of this happened too quickly.


    So quickly that even Jin Ze hadn''t reacted before Liu Chun was beaten beyond recognition and passed outpletely.


    "How dare you!"


    Jin Ze was furiously enraged, and his Golden Core Realm aura burst forth all at once.


    It turned into a vigorous air wave, surging crazily towards Xiao Yi.


    Rumble!


    The violent energy fluctuations came like giant, overturning waves. Wherever this terrifying air wave passed, stones cracked and the arena copsed, with a sky full of flying sand shooting upwards.


    "Xiao Yi, run... that''s a Golden Core Realm master..." Hu Qingbi''s face was filled with panic, the air wave rolling up a ten-meter-high stone dust like an enveloping hand from the sky.


    It was like a doomsday curtain descending to obscure everything.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hu Qingbi''s pupils contracted drastically, her eyes filled with terror and despair.


    This was a true Golden Core Realm master!


    Below the Golden Core, everybody was an ant.


    In Hu Qingbi''s eyes, Xiao Yi was no match for a Golden Core Realm opponent.


    "Golden Core Realm?"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes turned cold; his legs were firmly nted on the arena like steel drills, his arms circting with vitality, majestic and dignified.


    The bright golden vitality swirled and condensed, like the Wrathful Vajra in his glorious aspect.


    "Jingang Earthquake!"


    Xiao Yi''s eyebrows rose, his fists like the wind smashing towards the rolling clouds of dust, countless golden energies concentrated in his fists, heavily striking against the waves.


    Boom!


    The cloud of dust and waves violently shook and were torn apart by Xiao Yi''s punch.


    He moved forward, piercing through the dust curtain, and simultaneously shed his cold longsword towards the sky: "Python Evil Twining Tree!"


    Swoosh!


    The sword''s edge coiled like a python, baring its fierce fangs at Jin Ze approaching from the opposite side.


    "Arrogant junior, die!" Jin Ze''s eyes were cold, his expression frosty, and the de''s aura seemed to chop the heavens, descending on Xiao Yi''s head.


    ng!


    de and sword collided, as if the tip of a needle met a stalk of wheat.


    Dazzling sparks burst forth like fireworks, the violent force flinging Xiao Yi away. He flew backward, face up to the sky, his sword''s edge scraping against the ground amid a flurry of sparks, carving a ferocious gash.


    After more than twenty meters,


    Xiao Yi flipped midair to steady himself, only to face a st of icy wind.


    It roared like a tiger, the cold edge scraping painfully across his face.


    "You little bastard, daring to harm my son! I will tear you to pieces!" Jin Ze''s eyes shed like lightning, as his de''s light descended like rain, countless and falling.


    With one hand, Xiao Yi pped the t of his de, using the tremor to vault into the air.


    He dodged the de light that Jin Ze had shed down.


    Taking advantage of the momentum, Jin Ze''s de arced upward from below, heading straight for Xiao Yi''s waist, but fortunately, Xiao Yi, holding his sword with one hand, kept it tight against his waist. With a crisp ring, Xiao Yi was repelled with force.


    The violent power caused his hand to burst open at the tiger''s mouth.


    Blood rolled down the sword hilt.


    "You can take three of my moves without dying? Among the juniors in the Shentong Realm, aside from the top three of the Earth rank at the Royal Martial Arts Academy, you''re the first!" Jin Ze said with narrowed eyes.


    Xiao Yi flicked the droplets of blood from his palm, squinting as he spoke, "The Golden Core Realm is nothing special!"


    "Oh? A mere Shentong Realm, you dare to look down upon me?" Jin Ze said with a coldugh.


    Xiao Yi casually flicked his wrist, and the third-grade famous sword he had obtained from the sword tomb emitted a silver sword light. Pointing the sword''s edge at Jin Ze, he said indifferently, "With a sword in hand, even Golden Core can be matched!"


    "Arrogance!"


    Jin Ze sneered, "A mere Divine Skills wants to oppose the Golden Core? Your survival was simply due to my momentary carelessness; I had not even used half my strength. If I were to strike with full force, I would certainly y you within three moves!"


    "Kill me in three moves? You''re dreaming!"


    Xiao Yi let out a coldugh.


    His form was like the wind, a thought in motion, as fluid as flowing water or drifting clouds.


    He left behind a series of ck afterimages where he stood, and as they densely gathered, Xiao Yi had already appeared before Jin Ze.


    His figure abruptly split into three, each holding a sword: "Light Breeze Falling Leaves!"


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    The sword edges arrived like a gentle breeze, like a profusion of falling leaves, each striking towards Jin Ze.


    Jin Ze''s expression turned icy as he lifted his de to meet the attack: "Prying Up Mountains from a Dry Land!"


    Whoosh!


    The de swept across, and the silver de light tore through the air. A ten-zhang-long Yuan Gang de shattered the drifting leaf-like sword lights that floated before him.


    Jin Ze advanced with his de, sneering repeatedly, "Trivial insect skills, go to hell!"


    Crrrrash!


    The silver Gang Qi surged like a dragon swinging its tail, heading straight for Xiao Yi''s head. His pupils contracted sharply, his legs braced against the ground as he lifted his longsword above his head.


    Hum!


    His body vibrated, and in an instant, his arms were covered in ayer of Hei Mang. It was his Innate Divine Ability, "Weapon Transformation."


    His arms and longsword merged into one.


    ng!


    The de edge struck the longsword squarely, forcefully plunging Xiao Yi towards the ground, the floor of the arena below his feet crumbling, rocks erupting chaotically.


    Cracks spread around in a web-like pattern.


    "One of the top ten Innate Divine Abilities, Weapon Transformation?"


    Jin Ze''s face grew solemn, his eyes brimming with ferocity, "A youth from the Ninth Layer of the Shentong Realm possessing the strength to battle the Golden Core Realm... If you continue to grow, you will undoubtedly be a major threat to the Nine Profound Sect. This child must die!"


    A lethal chill shed in his eyes, his murderous intent sky-high.


    "Blood Explosion Skill!"


    Suddenly, Xiao Yi roared lowly, and his blood surged with light. A tenth of his blood ignited instantly, his strength increasing tenfold. A blood-red Qi surged violently. Like a bloody tornado, it sted Jin Ze''s battle de away with a boom.


    "What?"


    Jin Ze''s pupils dted abruptly, his eyes filled with shock.


    He had not expected Xiao Yi to suddenly explode with ten times the strength. Caught off guard, he retreated repeatedly, and just at that moment, Xiao Yi fiercely pushed off the ground, shooting upward like an arrow released from its bow.


    "Life Seizing Soul Chaser!"


    The sword streaked through the air, swift as light skimming a shadow.


    Jin Ze instinctively dodged, narrowly avoiding Xiao Yi''s lethal strike. Under the surge of blood-colored light, Jin Ze''s right arm was severed at the shoulder.


    "Xiao Yi... I will not let you go, the Nine Profound Sect will not let you go..."


    Jin Ze''s face turned deathly pale, ring venomously at Xiao Yi while clutching his severed arm. He shot up into the air and fled toward the outside of the city...

 Chapter 73 If I Become a Demon, There Will Be No Buddha in the World!

    When a Golden Core Realm expert is determined to escape, even another of the Golden Core Realm would find it hard to pursue.


    Xiao Yi could only watch helplessly as Jin Ze fled, his gaze falling upon the remaining disciples of the Nine Profound Sect, whoseplexions suddenly changed.


    Even Jin Ze of the Golden Core Realm had been chased away; how could they dare to contend against Xiao Yi?


    Thump, thump!


    One after another, the strong members of the Nine Profound Sect knelt on the ground, with faces full of ttery and pleading, "Xiao, spare our lives, ah! We, we have never killed any of the Hu Family!"


    "We were just following orders..."


    Xiao Yi looked towards Hu Qingbi, "Did any of themy a hand on you?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hu Qingbi and the others pointed out five among them.


    Xiao Yi flicked his fingers, and the heads of those five Nine Profound Sect disciples separated from their bodies, terrifying the remaining few even more. Xiao Yi indifferently said, "Go back and tell Jin Ze that if the Nine Profound Sect wants to seek revenge on Xiao Yi, I wee them anytime!"


    "We, we will definitely ry your words to Elder Jin!"


    "Xiao, Xiao, can we, we leave now?"


    The crowd was visibly nervous.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, "Scram!"


    "Thank you, Xiao, for your mercy in sparing our lives!"


    The few people hurriedly rolled on the ground and left the martial arts field.


    Xiao Yi neutralized the effects of the Muscle-locking Powder on Hu Qingbi and the others. The Hu Family had suffered great losses this time; a third of the senior members had died, but thanks to Xiao Yi''s defeat of Jin Ze, the reputation of the Hu Family in Iron Mountain City had risen even higher.


    It''s no exaggeration to say...


    Within Iron Mountain City, definitely no one would dare to oppose the Hu Family again.


    As for the Nine Profound Sect.


    With the defeat of Jin Ze as a precedent, and with the words brought back by those few, they would inevitably be wary of attacking the Hu Family before taking down Xiao Yi.


    Although the loss of powerful members in the family was severe, for the Hu Family, the gains were greater than the losses!


    "Xiao Yi, thank you for saving us!" Hu Qingbi looked at Xiao Yi earnestly and said, "I don''t know how to repay you!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, smiling, "I owe your father a favor, naturally I need to protect the Hu Family." He paused, then Xiao Yi continued, "I believe the Nine Profound Sect won''t trouble you again for a while; during this time, you should concentrate on strengthening your family''s power!"


    "Don''t worry!"


    "Rest assured, Xiao, now that my Hu Family is unrivaled in Iron Mountain City, no one can threaten us!"


    Everyone said one after another.


    With keen insight, Hu Qingbi stared at him, "You... are you leaving?"


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "I have matters to attend to back in the royal capital, but don''t worry, I will return after a while. When that timees, I have a surprise for the Hu Family!"


    "Alright, I''ll wait for your return..." Hu Qingbi bit her lip and said.


    After chatting briefly, Xiao Yi left on his own.


    Watching the direction he left in, an elderly woman in the Shentong Realm said to Hu Qingbi by her side, "Miss, since you like Xiao, why not tell him so?"


    "Don''t talk nonsense, when did I ever say I liked him?"


    Hu Qingbi''s cheeks tinged with red as she red fiercely at the old woman, muttering to herself in a voice only she could hear, "Someone like him... how could he possibly be within my reach?"


    ......


    On the royal road leading to the capital.


    Xiao Yi rode his steed at a gallop when a young monk appeared in the middle of the road ahead, wearing monk''s robes, with his right hand held in a palm shape at his chest and his left hand holding a gray alms bowl.


    The monk had his eyes slightly closed, standing still in the middle of the road like a wooden stake.


    "Whoa..."


    Xiao Yi pulled the reins tight, staring at the monk standing before him.


    The young monk opened his eyes, chanting Amitabha Buddha, radiating an august presence, and said with a smile, "Why doesn''t benefactor ride over this poor monk?"


    Xiao Yi frowned and said, "I bear no grudge against you, why would I ride over you?"


    "The poor monk has blocked the benefactor''s path!" the young monk said.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "This road is so wide, if you block here, I can simply pass by the side!"


    The young monk smiled and said, "What if someone blocked the path of the benefactor''s life?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "Monk, did you wait here specifically for me?"


    Amitabha!


    The young monk brought his palms together and said with a smile, "This monk''s Dharma name is Dao Yuan. I''ve had the pleasure of meeting you, Xiao."


    "So you really were waiting here for me!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged nonchntly and asked with interest, "Monk Dao Yuan, we have never met before. Why have you stopped me?"


    Monk Dao Yuan said, "Xiao, you have yet to answer the question of this poor monk!"


    Xiao Yi replied, "The journey of life is so very long, isn''t it? Obstacles and obstructors are bound to be encountered. Kick them aside and continue on one''s way; that''s what one does!"


    "What if they are persistent and refuse to let go?"


    "Then kill them!"


    Amitabha!


    Monk Dao Yuan brought his palms together, shook his head, and let out a light sigh, "Xiao, you havemitted far too many killings. Better to join this poor monk in traveling to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple to study the Buddhist Law and transform the malignant energy within you. Otherwise, you may someday be corrupted by it and be a cmitous devil to the human world!"


    "Study the Buddhist Law? I have no fate with your Buddha. Monk, please step aside!" Xiao Yi said with a frown.


    "Xiao, you do have a fate with Buddha. I am willing to convert you with Buddhist teachings,e with this poor monk!"


    Monk Dao Yuan brought his palms together, chanting the Buddha''s name, as Buddhist chants flowed from his mouth. They were like thunder shaking the heavens, as well as Sanskrit enchanting one''s surroundings, possessing the power to mesmerize and bewilder.


    Those of weak will might find their minds copsing under its influence, easily swayed this way and that.


    Xiao Yi''s body shuddered, shaking off the influence of the Buddha''s chant and speaking with an icy face, "Monk Dao Yuan, I have no fate with your Buddha. I ask you to let me pass!"


    "Amitabha... Xiao, the Evil Qi within you is too strong. If not converted by Buddhist Law, you will fall into a devil''s role, bringing cmity to the human world, still..." Monk Dao Yuan continued with a face of righteousness.


    "Bullshit!"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly, scoffing, "Devil? Do not say that I cannot be a devil, even if therees a day that I do, I will make sure there are no Buddhas in this world! Little monk, your Buddha cannot convert me!"


    "If you remain so unenlightened, this poor monk has no choice but to act on heaven''s behalf!" Monk Dao Yuan brought his palms together and bowed deeply to Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi was momentarily startled and was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed.


    He saw that the bowing figure of Monk Dao Yuan suddenly became blurry, it was only an afterimage.


    "Buddha saves all living beings!"


    Dal Yuan''s voice came from above, as a golden palm imbued with Buddha''s light descended from the heavens, aiming straight for Xiao Yi''s head.


    Is this really Buddha saving all living beings?


    It''s more like sending someone to the Western Paradise!


    A cold light flickered in Xiao Yi''s eyes, his legs kicked against the stirrups, and his body soared into the air, while his fist smashed into the void, "Vajra Vanquishing Demons!"


    Boom!


    Fist and palm collided, the thunderous noise was deafening.


    Wow!


    Monk Dao Yuan spat out blood and flew backward, while Xiao Yi gracefullynded back onto his horse, squinting his eyes and scrutinizing Dao Yuan, "Monk, we have no grudge or grievance. Why did you stop me?"


    Amitabha!


    Monk Dao Yuan brought his palms together, his face full of regret, "No wonder you were able to kill Zhuge Shuangdao; you truly possess some skill!"


    "You''vee to avenge Zhuge Shuangdao?" Xiao Yi asked, narrowing his eyes.


    Monk Dao Yuan shook his head and spoke with justified words, "This poor monk is only here to convert a devil. It''s a pity that my skills are not sophisticated, and my Buddhist teachings are not deep enough to match you. It seems today''s attempt at converting you has failed. However, I believe we will meet again soon. At that time, this poor monk will surely convert you with Buddhist teachings properly!"


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Monk Dao Yuan vanished from sight in a whiff of smoke.


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    So this guy hade for Zhuge Shuangdao?


    Shaking his head.


    Xiao Yi did not think further and rode his steed, dashing towards the royal capital.


    After Xiao Yi had left, Monk Dao Yuan''s figure sprang out from the bushes, watching the direction of his departure and suddenly vomiting a mouthful of fresh blood.


    Squinting his eyes, there was no longer the solemnity of reciting Buddha''s name, but rather a chill so cold it seared, "Brother Ge, it seems I alone am insufficient to avenge you. But rest assured, I''ve already contacted several senior brothers. With them taking action, we will surely kill this devil to apany you in death!"

 Chapter 74 What are you pretending to be?

    The entrance to the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Yet, here it was crowded with people, strong warriors from all over had gathered, each wearing a look of schadenfreude as they gazed upon the gates of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    At the very front of the crowd¡­


    A pitch-ck stele stood there, with four bright red characters inscribed on it¡ª¡ªDisgrace of Tianqing!


    As the name suggests.


    These four characters were a clear indication that the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy was considered a disgrace to the Tianqing Kingdom!


    Around the stele sat a group of strong men, each with a longsword on their back, dressed in garments whiter than snow, and possessing an extraordinary handsome appearance.


    Each one of them radiated a sharp Sword Qi that pierced the heavens.


    All of them were strong warriors above the Shentong Realm.


    In the forefront of these warriors in white, a young man held in his hand a three-foot green peak, his face cold as frost, his eyebrows covered in ayer of white chill, standing tall like an ancient pine, exuding an icy Sword Intent aura.


    However, this aura of Sword Intent wasn''t particrly strong, it was intermittent, merely the condensation of a Sword Intent seed.


    In front of him¡­


    Fang Qingzhu''splexion was pale, with a thread of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, her right sleeve soaked with blood dripped onto her Purple Dragon Whip, sliding down along the patterns of the whip onto the ground.


    Niu Dali and the four brothers from the Shi Family were all ashen-faced, suffering heavy injuries.


    "Hmph, is this all the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy can muster? Truly the disgrace of the Tianqing Kingdom, in my opinion you should take down the signboard of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!" The cold voice came from the young man.


    He was Huang Zijian of Mingjian Manor''s four great swordsmen, with Tenth Level of Shentong Realm Cultivation, having grasped the seed of Sword Intent, and ranking twenty-second on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List.


    Fang Qingzhu''s face was frosty, and she coldly said, "I have not lost yet!"


    "Not lost? Hmph, had it not been for the fact that you are a woman, that sword just now would have taken your life!"


    Huang Zijian sneered, his gaze turning to look at Niu Dali and the others, "I advise you to hand over that Xiao Yi to my Mingjian Manor quickly! That thief dared to steal the famous swords from the sword tomb of my Mingjian Manor, if he doesn''t die, my Mingjian Manor and your Tianqi Martial Arts Academy will never rest!"


    Shi Yaoqian spurted blood out of his mouth, his face weak, "I''ve said Xiao Yi is not in the academy..."


    Niu Dali said in a muffled voice like thunder, "If our boss were here, you dogs of Sword Mountain Manor would have been shed by him long ago..."


    "Hahaha, shed by him? That''s just a fool''s dream. My Mingjian Manor is proficient in swordsmithing and even more skilled in swordsmanship. If that Xiao Yi you speak of were topete in swords with me, I would take his life within three moves!" Huang Zijian dered arrogantly.


    Fang Qingzhu said, "Your strength is not far from that of Zhuge Shuangdao. Even he became a ghost under brother Xiao Yi''s sword. If you were to face brother Xiao Yi, it would be you who falls within three moves!"


    "Hmm?"


    Huang Zijian''s pupils slightly contracted, and he snorted coldly, "My Sword Mountain Manor blocks the front door of your Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, yet that Xiao Yi is hiding like a turtle with its head withdrawn, not even daring to show his face. And you say I am not his match?"


    Fang Qingzhu said proudly, "You are not even qualified to carry Xiao Yi''s shoes!"


    "You''re courting death!"


    With a cold huff, Huang Zijian raised his hand and swung out a sword.


    The silver sword wind cut through the ground, shing straight at Fang Qingzhu.


    The Purple Dragon Whip in Fang Qingzhu''s hand seemed toe alive, snapping out with a crack, but it was repelled by the sharp edge of the sword, forcing Fang Qingzhu to stagger a few steps backwards.


    Huang Zijian stepped forward, reaching Fang Qingzhu in an instant, with the edge of his sword thrusting straight at her heart.


    If this sword struck, Fang Qingzhu was bound to die without a doubt!


    It was at this critical moment.


    A figure stepped through the void and appeared above Huang Zijian in an instant, only to stomp down with one foot. With a loud thud, Huang Zijian''s head was brutally mmed onto the ground.


    Thud!


    Huang Zijian''s head heavily hit the ground.


    Theer wrapped an arm around Fang Qingzhu''s waist and, with a few leaps,nded steadily in front of the main gate of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Fang Qingzhu recognized the person and her face lit up with joy, "Brother Xiao Yi?"


    Xiao Yi nced at Fang Qingzhu''s bleeding hand, and said with a deep voice, "Sorry, I''mte!"


    Fang Qingzhu pursed her lips and shook her head.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze swept over Niu Dali, the four brothers of the Shi Family, each one of them severely injured, he frowned and said, "Where are Jiang Tai and Gu Junhe?"


    His voice already carried a hint of ice-cold fury.


    People from Sword Mountain Manor had fought right up to our doorstep, yet these two hadn''t shown themselves at all?


    If either of them had appeared, Sword Mountain Manor would never have dared to be so arrogant.


    Niu Dali gave a bitter smile. "The head left two months ago, and Brother Jiang went to the northern borders half a month ago, it will still be several days before he returns..."


    Xiao Yi''s eyebrows were tightly knitted.


    Only then did he recall the opening of the secret realm for those in the Tao Tribtion Realm, which Gu Junhe had entered.


    As for Jiang Tai...


    Since he had gone to the northern borders, naturally, he couldn''t be med either.


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath and looked at Fang Qingzhu and Niu Dali and the others. "How are the injuries?"


    Fang Qingzhu shook his head. "They''re just superficial!"


    Niu Dali: "A few broken bones."


    The four brothers of the Shi Family also spoke up, each one of them seriously injured.


    Xiao Yi nodded, and as he turned around, Huang Zijian was already getting up again, his face swollen and bruised, with two lines of blood flowing from his nostrils down to his upper lip, ring at Xiao Yi with a face full of resentment: "You bastard, you..."


    Xiao Yi turned a deaf ear and looked at Fang Qingzhu. "Did he cause your injuries?"


    Fang Qingzhu subconsciously nodded.


    "Wait for me a moment!"


    Xiao Yi leaped into action.


    Without the crowd hearing any noise, they saw Huang Zijian suddenly flying backward,nding on the ground with a bang, a footprint-shaped crater deeply indented in his chest.


    Almost his entire chest was crushed.


    One kick, instant kill!


    Hiss!


    The strong onlookers were all dumbfounded with disbelief, "How is this possible?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Huang Zijian of the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer, who had grasped the seed of Sword Intent, was instantly killed by a single move?"


    The most shocked were the strong from Sword Mountain Manor.


    The young man seated before the ck stele, who had kept his eyes closed the whole time, opened them, his eyes bright like stars and radiating cold light, he stared fixedly at Xiao Yi and articted with a pause between each word, "You, shouldn''t have killed him!"


    "So what if I did?" Xiao Yi replied casually.


    The young man said, "Send him to his grave!"


    Xiao Yi asked, "By yourself?"


    "Yes, just by myself!"


    The young man paused then slowly raised his finger, pointing one by one at Fang Qingzhu, Niu Dali, and the four brothers of the Shi Family, and slowly said, "Not just you, them as well, and the families behind you all, must apany Huang Zijian in burial!"


    Xiao Yi touched his nose and said, "Exterminate my family? The Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty, please feel free!"


    The young man: "¡­"


    Xiao Yi urged, "Don''t be polite, really, I wish you would immediately exterminate the Xiao Family!"


    The young man''s face turned green.


    The Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty, they were a much more powerful presence than the entire Tianqing Kingdom, asking him to exterminate the Xiao Family?


    Wasn''t that a death wish?


    "Why so silent? Can''t do it? Or don''t dare?" Xiao Yi''s face was full of mockery.


    The young man''s face was as ck as charcoal.


    Xiao Yi sighed, "If you can''t handle it, why put on an act?"

 Chapter 75 Swordsmanship Domination

    "You... you..."


    The young man''s face turned green and red in turns, and he nearly spewed out a mouthful of old blood.


    The previously imposing words had now be a vicious p to his face.


    A p that left his cheek burning!


    He was the third ranked Jian Yi of the Mingjian Manor, having reached the Peak of the Shentong Realm, just one step away from the Golden Core Realm.


    Nature had endowed him with a Sword Bone. It was said that the secret technique he practiced used his own spine as the sword embryo, solidifying his backbone.


    The Sword Bone fused with his body.


    It gave him a powerparable to the first stage of Sword Intent, the Sword Heart Enlightenment, allowing him to¡ªdespite being at the Peak of the Shentong Realm¡ªcontend with ordinary warriors at the First Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    But even so...


    He could absolutely not afford to ignore the Xiao Family!


    Not to mention that the Xiao Family was the hottest family in the Great Qian Dynasty, with countless strong individuals flocking under their banner, just the three words ''Xiao Tianjiao'' alone were enough to bring despair to many powerful figures.


    Not to mention him...


    Even if all the strong warriors of the Tianqing Kingdom were to join forces, they would not be a match for Xiao Tianjiao alone!


    Behind Jian Yi, a cultivator at the Third Layer of the Shentong Realm sneered coldly, "Xiao Yi, stop pulling the tiger''s beard. Who doesn''t know that you''ve been kicked out by the Xiao Family? You''re just a discarded pawn of the Xiao Family, you..."


    Before he could finish speaking.


    He suddenly found he couldn''t make a sound, desperately opening his mouth only for blood to spurt out.


    Thud!


    A head fell from its neck to the ground.


    Eyes wide open with disbelief.


    Hisss!


    Everyone couldn''t help but take a sharp breath, their horrified gazes fixed on Xiao Yi, their eyes filled with disbelief: "Did anyone clearly see what just happened?"


    "Good, it seemed like Xiao Yi made a move, such a fast sword..."


    Jian Yi''s face grew even darker, his eyes narrowed into a sliver, sharp glints shot out of those narrow gaps, staring fixedly at Xiao Yi: "No wonder that sword in the Sword Tomb acknowledged you as its master, your mastery of swordsmanship is indeed remarkable. I just wonder, how many of my swords can you take?"


    Hum!


    Jian Yi lightly flicked his fingers, and the jade-encrusted longsword at his waist was drawn from its sheath.


    Suspended between his palm.


    The sharp edge, cold Sword Qi, raised a gust of violent wind, scraping across faces like knives cutting against their skin.


    "Mingjian Manor''s four great Jian Yi have been famous for a long time, especially this Jian Yi, who was already within the top twenty on the Flying Tigers List three years ago. This time he takes action, I''m afraid Xiao Yi is doomed to lose!"


    "How many swords do you think Jian Yi needs to kill Xiao Yi?"


    "Within three swords, I guess!"


    ng!


    Jian Yi flicked the jade-encrusted longsword in his hand, looking coldly at Xiao Yi: "Bring out that sword you got from the Sword Tomb, otherwise you won''t even be able to take one of my swords!"


    What he held was one of the top ten famous swords, the Fourthyer Yuan Weapon Thunder Sword, forged from Thunderous Mysterious Steel, with a natural thunder paralysis effect. Coupled with his Sword Bone enhancing his sword moves and speed, it boosted hisbat power by more than thirty percent!


    In his view...


    Unless Xiao Yi used that fifth-rank Yuan Weapon, he would stand no chance against him.


    Xiao Yi walked in front of Fang Qingzhu, gently smoothed her disheveled hair, took a silver hairpin from the top of her head, and said with a light chuckle, "I''ll be back in no time!"


    "Mhm!"


    Fang Qingzhu squinted her eyes and nodded obediently.


    Xiao Yi, holding the hairpin, walked up to Jian Yi, waving it with a swooshing sound and beckoned to Jian Yi: "Come on!"


    "..."


    Jian Yi''s face turned green, staring intently at Xiao Yi with clenched teeth, "Xiao Yi, are you humiliating me?"


    "You''ve misunderstood!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, an innocent look on his face, "If it were humiliation, then what I''d have in my hand would be a stick!"


    Jian Yi shuddered.


    A stick?


    This wasn''t just humiliation; this was utter disregard!


    Jian Yi''splexion grew so dark it seemed it could drip moisture, his fingers around the longsword turned green with strain, and with a venomous face said, "I''ll chop off your head, sever your limbs, and cut you to pieces to feed the dogs!"


    Boom!


    The Mysterious Sword plunged towards him, moving as fast as an arrow released from a bowstring, leaving behind only a trail of afterimages where he once was. Even as the afterimages ovepped without fading, a golden sword gleam had already appeared in front of Xiao Yi.


    "One of the four great sword techniques of Mingjian Manor, the ''Thunderous Lightning Sword Skill,'' and this technique ces utmost emphasis on speed!"


    "With his spine as his sword and the art refined into his bones, the Mysterious Sword is on par with those who have mastered Sword Intent. Coupled with the profound intricacies of the ''Thunderous Lightning Sword Skill,'' Xiao Yi stands no chance against him!"


    Within the crowd, a middle-aged man donning a wide-brimmed hat and Embracing a sword confidently dered, "The oue was decided the moment Xiao Yi chose his weapon! The fight will be over in one strike!"


    The crowd turned to look at the man, all eximing in awe, "That''s the renowned Rain Listening Swordsman, Xue Ming; he is a master of swordcraft said to have grasped the power of Sword Intent!"


    "If even he says Xiao Yi is bound to lose, then there is no suspense about the oue of this battle!"


    Rain Listening Swordsman Xue Ming.


    A Loose Cultivator and an expert with the sword.


    With the cultivation of the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm andmand over Sword Intent, hisbat power is no weaker than that of an average practitioner of the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    His attainments in the way of the sword are publicly acknowledged as those of a grandmaster.


    However...


    Beneath the onught of that lightning-fast fierce sword y, Xiao Yi, with a mere hairpin in hand, simply leaped aside, narrowly avoiding each strike.


    The golden sword gleam whooshed past, nearly grazing the clothes on his chest.


    Just one more inch, and it would have pierced his chest and shattered his viscera.


    "Wasn''t it said the fight would be resolved in one strike?"


    Everyone turned to look at Xue Ming as Xue Ming ndly responded, "He just got lucky!"


    The second strike followed close behind, also dodged by Xiao Yi.


    Xue Ming frowned deeply, "The Mysterious Sword is holding back; he must be trying to humiliate Xiao Yi!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The crowd suddenly understood, "So that''s how it is!"


    Then...


    The third strike.


    The fourth strike...


    After more than a dozen strikes, the Mysterious Sword was drenched in sweat, whereas Xiao Yi remained graceful, effortlessly crushing the formidable sword strikes with a slight force from his hairpin.


    "Avoiding over a dozen strikes and shattering four with a hairpin, all by chance?"


    "Did the Mysterious Sword hold back with each of these strikes?"


    "Just who is humiliating whom here?"


    The staring crowd made Xue Ming squirm ufortably, his forehead slick with sweat as he said in frustration, "What are you all staring at me for? I''m not a damn fortune-teller; how could I know this kid''s sword skill wouldpletely overpower the Mysterious Sword, making his sword seem as feeble as a child''s inparison..."


    That''s right!


    Just as Xue Ming said...


    Xiao Yi''s swordsmanship totally overwhelmed the Mysterious Sword.


    No matter how the Mysterious Sword varied his attacks, he couldn''t escape Xiao Yi''s control, as if a hand that covered the sky was obstructing everything.


    Xiao Yi utterly toyed with the Mysterious Sword as if he were pping his hands in amusement.


    Xue Ming saw it, and everyone else did too.


    The Mysterious Sword was clearly aware of this as well!


    He was drenched with cold sweat, having exceeded his best performance today, yet he still could not breach the defense of Xiao Yi''s hairpin. The Mysterious Sword stared fiercely and yelled, "I''m going all in against you!"


    Buzz!


    From his spine, a world-shaking sword shadow coalesced, and his body merged with his sword.


    This was the Mysterious Sword''s Innate Divine Ability, the integration of Sword and Bone!


    Whoosh!


    Both sword speed and might increased by fifty percent.


    A deadly strike headed straight for Xiao Yi.


    In the face of this swift strike, Xiao Yi''s expression of indifference vanished, and his Innate Divine Ability transformed, bing one with his hairpin, as he pointed his sword: "Wicked Python Entwines the Tree!"


    Whoosh!


    The sword took an unpredictable course!


    The two passed by each other.


    Xiao Yi, holding his hairpin, gently flicked it, and a drop of blood fell to the ground.


    Behind him...


    The Mysterious Sword''s form softened, and with a thud, he fell to the ground, a spot of red gleaming bloodily on his forehead...

 Chapter 76 Winning People Over with Virtue

    ```


    Hiss!


    The death of Mysterious Sword left everyone agape and dumbfounded.


    Before this¡­


    Almost no one believed Xiao Yi could have thestugh, especially after Rain Listening Swordsman Xue Ming''s solemn prediction, everyone was convinced that Xiao Yi''s death was certain.


    The oue, however,


    was a harsh p in the face for everyone.


    Xue Ming, in particr, had his face figuratively swollen from the p.


    His face was filled with cold rage as he red venomously at Xiao Yi, "You dog-like thing, if it were not for you, how could Xue be so humiliated?"


    But he dared not act now.


    This was, after all, the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, and the Sword Mountain Manor with a Seventh Layer Golden Core Realm master at its helm, as well as the backing of the royal family, naturally didn''t fear the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    But he could not afford to be reckless...


    He was but a Loose Cultivator.


    If he dared to kill Xiao Yi in public, he would inevitably face retribution from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, and he could only bury this grudge deep in his heart.


    Xiao Yi, of course, had no idea why Xue Ming was targeting him out of the blue.


    His gaze turned to the people of Sword Mountain Manor, the thirty-or-so strong men of Sword Mountain Manor seemed to freeze under Xiao Yi''s stare, cold sweat dripping down, "You, you, what are you going to do?"


    "We, we are from Sword Mountain Manor, I... "


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Every strike from Xiao Yi''s hairpin took the life of a Sword Mountain Manor strongman, leaving only four trembling and kneeling on the ground, shivering, "Please spare us! Xiao, please spare us!"


    Xiao Yi looked at the four indifferently as the hairpin danced on the stele like a dragon or snake.


    ng, ng, ng!


    The sound of metal on metal rang out, sparks flying.


    To the left of ''Tian''s Shame,'' four more characters were added¡ªSword Mountain Manor!


    "Sword Mountain Manor, Tian''s Shame!"


    "This is a deration of a fight to the death with Sword Mountain Manor..."


    Everyone couldn''t help but inhale sharply.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze was indifferent as he looked at the four and said, "If you don''t want to die, carry it into the city from the Vermilion Bird Gate, and go around the city three times. Otherwise, this will be your fate!"


    The four nced at the corpses strewn haphazardly around them, shuddered, and turned deathly pale.


    After exchanging looks,


    the four gritted their teeth and said, "We, we will carry it!"


    Xiao Yi nced at the Shi Family four brothers and said, "Shi Yaoqian, you and your brothers follow them. If they dare to deceive me in any way, inform me immediately!"


    "Don''t worry, big brother!"


    "We four brothers will definitely not let them skip a single step!"


    The Shi Family four brothers had previously been viciously beaten by the strongmen of Sword Mountain Manor and now they had finally found an opportunity for revenge, they used all their might.


    Niu Dali was eager to try, "Big brother, what about me?"


    Xiao Yi asked, "Are your injuries no problem?"


    This guy was covered in sword wounds, most of his clothes soaked red with blood, yet he was still full of vigor, "Keeping an eye on them will be no problem!"


    "Then go with them," Xiao Yi waved his hand.


    Niu Dali and the Shi Family four brothers, excited, drove the four strongmen of Sword Mountain Manor as they carried the stele inscribed with ''Sword Mountain Manor, Tian''s Shame'' and rushed madly toward the capital.


    It was not hard to imagine...


    After this event.


    Sword Mountain Manor would inevitably be utterly disgraced, and the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy and Sword Mountain Manor would fully tear their faces apart, as ipatible as fire and water.


    As the instigator, Xiao Yi was indifferent to all this.


    His eyes swept over the crowd, and he said lightly, "The excitement is over, everyone can disperse now!"


    The crowd scattered in amotion.


    Daring not to linger.


    ```


    This was the fierce man who killed two Swordsmen of Mingjian Manor with just a flick of his wrist, who would dare to provoke him?


    Xiao Yi returned to Fang Qingzhu''s side and smiled, "The hairpin is stained with blood, I''ll buy you a new er!"


    "No!"


    Fang Qingzhu took the hairpin back from Xiao Yi''s hand and wore it on her head, smiling as she said, "This hairpin was used by brother Xiao Yi, I have to keep it!"


    Xiao Yi, with no choice, lightly scratched her nose and smiled, "Suit yourself!" Then noticing the bloodstains on her arm, he frowned, "Let''s go inside and bandage that up!"


    "It''s unnecessary, it''s just a superficial wound..." Fang Qingzhu weakly said.


    Xiao Yi, with a stern face, said, "When I say you need a bandage, you need a bandage!"


    He took Fang Qingzhu''s hand and walked toward the Tianqi Martial Arts Institute.


    Fang Qingzhu, looking at Xiao Yi''s retreating back, slightly raised the corners of her mouth...


    ¡­


    The next day.


    After fermenting overnight, the news that two great Swordsmen of Mingjian Manor had fallen at Tianqi Martial Arts Academy had already spread throughout the entire capital.


    The name Xiao Yi had be the talk of the town.


    He was even regarded by some as the foremost among the younger generation.


    As the foremost under the Golden Core Realm and so forth!


    As for these empty honors, Xiao Yi did not take them to heart. Instead, it was the return of Jiang Tai and Gu Junhe to Tianqi Martial Arts Academy that he found more interesting.


    "Headmaster!"


    The crowd gathered in the main hall, all turning their eyes toward the head of the table, where Gu Junhe sat holding a wine gourd.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Gu Junhe took a swig of wine, ncedzily at Xiao Yi, "You did well with Mingjian Manor''s affair..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "You all did well too, and didn''t disgrace our Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!"


    The crowd wore looks of pride.


    "Aside from Xiao Yi and Jiang Tai, everyone else will start cultivating with me from tomorrow!" Gu Junhe took another gulp from his wine gourd and said indifferently, "Xiao Yi and Jiang Tai stay behind, the rest of you may leave!"


    Only three people remained in the hall.


    Gu Junhe put away his wine gourd and looked intently at Xiao Yi, "Do you know why I have kept the two of you?"


    Xiao Yi said, "Is it about the secret realm?"


    Gu Junhe nodded and said, "That secret realm is surprisingly vast, and the gains exceed expectations. We''ve decided to open the secret realm in ten days for you juniors to enter. However, they''re only willing to give Tianqi Martial Arts Academy one spot, so which of you two will go?"


    Jiang Tai said from the side, "Headmaster, please give it to Xiao. I can secure a spot from the king!"


    Gu Junhe looked at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and asked, "How many spots do the other parties have?"


    Gu Junhe''s eyes brightened as he nced at Jiang Tai.


    Jiang Tai said gravely, "The royal family has twenty spots, the Royal Martial Arts Academy has twenty spots, Nine Profound Sect and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple have ten spots each, Mingjian Manor has four, and the Loose Cultivators have ten. Additionally, Purple Robe Kingdom from the north has nine spots, and Tian Kingdom to the west has ten..."


    Xiao Yi asked, "Why does our Tianqi Martial Arts Academy only have one spot?"


    Although Tianqi Martial Arts Academy had fallen, with Gu Junhe''s strength, getting a few more spots shouldn''t be a problem!


    Jiang Tai said with a wry smile, "The Headmaster originally secured five spots for us, but they were suppressed by Zhou Yuan, the head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, in alliance with Nine Profound Sect and the Master of Mingjian Manor. The one spot we have is I got from Purple Robe Kingdom..."


    He had gone to the northern border precisely to secure that spot.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, staring at Gu Junhe, and revealed a bright smile, "Brother Jiang, you should take this spot!"


    Jiang Tai asked, "What about you?"


    Xiao Yi stretched himself and smiled, "The Royal Martial Arts Academy, Nine Profound Sect, Mingjian Manor... they all have quite a few spots, don''t they? When the timees, I''ll just make one of them give me a spot!"


    Jiang Tai rolled his eyes, "Give?"


    He had paid a hefty sum of over a hundred million silvers to get that one spot from Purple Robe Kingdom.


    How could they simply give it away?


    Xiao Yi said, "If they don''t, then I''ll fight until they do! But I am a reasonable person, I''ll try to prevail with virtue!"


    Jiang Tai twitched the corner of his eye: "..."


    However, Gu Junhe justughed heartily, with a casual wave, a jade box fell into Xiao Yi''s hand. He said with a beaming smile, "You''re right, we should prevail with virtue. Here is a Bodhi Vermilion Fruit ¡ª ten days should be enough to assimte it. To argue, you must have a strong fist!"


    "Thank you, Headmaster!"


    Xiao Yi smiled slightly.


    Jiang Tai nced back and forth between them, feeling powerless as he massaged his forehead: "..."

 Chapter 77 Trade With Your Life!

    Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Outside the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Gu Junhe and Jiang Tai had already been waiting here, with the Cangyun Eagle obediently standing by their side, its massive head asionally bowing to straighten its iron-like sturdy feathers with its beak that could shatter gold and stone.


    Xiao Yi emerged from the Martial Arts Institute, looking spirited, with an increasingly thick aura about him.


    Gu Junhe''s eyes brightened as he nodded and said, "It seems that the Bodhi Vermilion Fruit was not wasted!"


    Xiao Yi cupped his fists towards him, "Thanks, Dean!"


    "Don''t thank me!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Gu Junhe said indifferently, "That Bodhi Vermilion Fruit was not a gift; when youe back from the secret realm, you owe me two, principal and interest!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Jiang Tai struggled to hold back hisughter and saluted Xiao Yi, "Congrattions, Xiao, on taking another step further. I''m afraid once you return from the secret realm this time, you might attempt to break through to the Golden Core Realm!"


    The Golden Core Realm.


    A transformative realm that sets one apart from ordinary people.


    Upon reaching the Golden Core, one''s longevity increases by a century.


    Like a celestial among men!


    Xiao Yi nced at him and said irritably, "Brother, you are at the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm; are you mocking me?"


    "Hahaha, Brother Xiao, you jest!" Jiang Tai quickly shook his head.


    He knew well that Xiao Yi had gone from having no cultivation base to the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer in just half a year.


    And what about himself?


    He had the endless resources of the Tianqing Kingdom''s royal family since he was young, which was the only reason he had achieved what he had today.


    "Stop ttering each other!"


    Gu Junhe took a swig of alcohol and looked at the two, saying, "Remember, inside the secret realm, you brothers need to support each other. Especially you, Jiang Tai, you must protect Xiao Yi!"


    Jiang Tai responded solemnly, "Dean, rest assured, I will definitely keep Xiao safe!"


    Gu Junhe nodded, his expression strange as he said, "Xiao Yi, you''ve offended quite a few people. In these ten days, apart from Mingjian Manor, the Royal Martial Arts Academy, the Nine Profound Sect, and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple have all sent word that they want you buried in the secret realm. Be extra cautious!"


    Xiao Yi wondered, "Dean, I''ve never met anyone from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. Ten days ago, when I returned from Iron Mountain City, a monk named Dao Yuan ambushed me on the way. And now, they want me dead in the secret realm, why is this?"


    Gu Junhe''s expression remained strange.


    Jiang Tai said with a wry smile, "Brother Xiao, you may not know this, but before Dao Yuan became a monk, his name was Zhuge Shuangqiang, the elder brother of Zhuge Shuangdao!"


    "Outside the secret realm, I have the power to keep them from harming you. But once inside, you must be extremely careful, particrly of Mingjian Manor''s Heaven and Earth Swords, and the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s..."


    Gu Junhe had the two of them board the Cangyun Eagle and then seemed to think, apart from Jiang Tai, everyone seemed to have a grudge against Xiao Yi; he could only wave his hand helplessly, "Forget it, forget it, you''ve made too many enemies,d. Just try your luck!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    ......


    Above the high skies.


    Layers of white clouds and a piercingly cold wind made the mountains and rivers below seem extremely tiny.


    The Cangyun Eagle soared high, shuttleing between clouds, its wings stirring up trails of white clouds, leaving behind a few hundred meters long trail of flight.


    Gu Junhe sat cross-legged on the Cangyun Eagle and said in a deep voice, "This secret realm is the tomb of a Scattered Cultivator from the Tribtion Realm. Zhou Yuan and I have spent two months exploring it and have cleared most of the obstacles. Still, numerous dangers remain, and there are also great opportunities. Don''t underestimate the chance this time offers, both of you!"


    "Dean, rest assured, Xiao and I will do our utmost!" Jiang Tai hesitated for a moment before saying, "It''s just that Xiao''s spot..."


    Gu Junhe also looked at Xiao Yi, "Have you thought it over? Are you sure you don''t want to give your spot to him?"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "No need!"


    Gu Junhe nodded, his calm voice carrying an undeniable sense of firmness and authority, "What I can guarantee is that the older generation won''t make a move!"


    "That''s enough for me!"


    Xiao Yi revealed a smile.


    About half a dayter...


    The Cangyun Eagle descended in altitude, diving towards a mountain range below; Jiang Tai said in a grave tone, "This secret realm lies within the Three Seas Mountain, at the border of the Tianqing, Zishan, and Tian kingdoms. The entrance has barriers set up by several heads of the Golden Elixir Realm Peak, which even Golden Core Realm experts wouldn''t hope to forcefully enter!"


    As he was speaking.


    A whooshing sound suddenly came from not far away, and three Swift Wind Geese appeared, swiftly closing in on the Cangyun Eagle. A loudugh emanated from the back of one of the Swift Wind Geese, "Hahaha, Gu Junhe, I didn''t expect Tianqi Martial Arts Academy to have fallen so far? You only brought two people with you?"


    The Swift Wind Geese drew closer, and Xiao Yi could see the figures on their backs.


    The leader was a middle-aged man with a ck eyepatch over his left eye and a centipede-like scar gruesomely bisecting his face, with an aura not much weaker than Gu Junhe''s.


    On the backs of the other two Swift Wind Geese sat five young elites each.


    All of them radiant and vigorous.


    They were young masters of their generation.


    Jiang Tai said in a deep voice, "These are people from Tian Kingdom. The man in the lead is General Wu Yu, themander of the three armies of Tian Kingdom. Our Tianqing Kingdom is in a constant state of war with Tian Kingdom; they are our sworn enemies. We must be extra careful when dealing with them!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Gu Junhe looked indifferently at Wu Yu and sneered, "The quality of soldiers is more important than their quantity! These two disciples of mine are much stronger than the trash under yourmand!"


    Wu Yu''s expression darkened.


    Jiang Tai, a super genius in the top three of Tianqing Kingdom''s Teng Long List, was so strong that not many in Tian Kingdom could contend with him.


    Atop the Swift Wind Geese.


    A young man, his muscles heavy and clearly defined as if chiseled, sneered, "Jiang Tai is indeed strong, but what about the one with him? Just the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer. I, Niu Ben, could smash him to death with one punch!"


    Jiang Tai whispered, "This man''s name is Niu Ben, third on Tian Kingdom''s Feihu List, at the First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm..."


    Xiao Yi uttered an ''oh'' and didn''t take it to heart.


    First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm?


    When he was at the Ninth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he could already y strong people of this level.


    Now...


    After consuming the Bodhi Vermilion Fruit, he had reached the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer, and he could even kill someone at the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. Why should he fear him?


    Xiao Yi looked toward Niu Ben and called out, "Niu Ben, right? Let''s discuss something!"


    "Hmm?"


    Niu Ben was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi said, "Give me your spot, will you?"


    "Hmm?"


    Niu Ben waspletely dumbfounded, his face showing his confusion, "Why should I give my spot to you?"


    Xiao Yi replied, "Don''t rush to refuse. I''ll trade with you using something!"


    "What thing?" Niu Ben frowned.


    Xiao Yi spoke earnestly, "Your life in exchange! Give me your spot, and I won''t kill you!"


    Niu Ben: "..."


    Everyone: "..."


    A twitch appeared by Jiang Tai''s eye, is this how you reason with others? What happened to convincing people with virtue?


    Niu Ben burst outughing in anger, "Are you an idiot? Do you think you can kill me? Like a dog, I''ll be the first to kill you once we''re on the ground!"


    Xiao Yi sighed, "I''m reasoning with you, and you call me an idiot? And you want to kill me?"


    "I''m indeed calling you an idiot, what can you do about it?" Niu Ben red with hisrge eyes, and his smirk was incessant.


    Wu Yu, who was sitting on the first Swift Wind Goose, also wore a peculiar expression. He was about to speak when his face suddenly changed, and he eximed, "Be careful!"


    As his voice fell,


    Xiao Yi''s figure leaped up andnded behind Niu Ben, a sh of cold light swept from his fingertips. Leaping again, hended back on the Cangyun Eagle.


    Xiao Yi patted his hands, looking at Gu Junhe, "Dean, does this mean we have an extra spot now?"


    Gu Junhe was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Hmm."


    Almost simultaneously...


    A stream of blood spurted from Niu Ben''s neck with a ''puff'', and his robust body fell from the back of the Swift Wind Geese, disappearing into the vast forest.


    In mid-air, there was silence...

 Chapter 78 In the Name of Zhou

    In the middle of the sky, there was a deathly silence.


    It wasn''t until Niu Ben''s corpse smashed into the forest below, emitting a dull thud, that the deathlike hush was broken.


    "Bastard!"


    Enraged, Wu Yu''s aura, which was at the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, erupted instantly, shattering a hundred-meter expanse of clouds, his face''s centipede-like scars flushing red, his look growing even more ferocious, "Little beast, your life is forfeit!"


    Hum!


    A golden qi converged into a golden light palm, as huge as a small house, smashing violently toward Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi''s move took everyone by surprise.


    Even Wu Yu did not react in time and could not prevent it.


    After all...


    Who could have imagined that Xiao Yi would dare to leap through the air, hopping between two beasts to strike a killing blow?


    Xiao Yi let out a loud shout, "Principal, go!"


    Gu Junhe stumbled beneath his feet, nearly falling off the back of the Cangyun Eagle, ring fiercely at Xiao Yi. He waved his hand casually, dissipating the giant palm, his gaze coldly fixed on Wu Yu, "To attack my disciple right in front of me, you''re not taking me, Gu, seriously, are you?"


    "Gu Junhe, your disciple struck first!" Wu Yu retorted angrily.


    Gu Junhe spoke indifferently, "This was merely a transaction. Niu Ben refused to give up his spot, so Xiao Yi took his life. What wrong is there in that? Moreover, it was Niu Ben who first threatened to kill Xiao Yi, so this was self-defense!"


    Wu Yu snapped, "I don''t give a damn, Niu Ben only said he wanted to kill him, did he take any action?"


    Gu Junhe narrowed his eyes, "I''lly it out here today, how the younger generation fights is their business. If you dare to strike, I will obliterate you!"


    "You, you..." Wu Yu''splexion shifted rapidly.


    He was no match for Gu Junhe.


    At that moment...


    On the back of one of the Swift Wind Geese, a young man who had been keeping his eyes closed all along said indifferently, "Why should the Great General be so enraged? Once inside the secret realm, I will personally take his head tomemorate Niu Ben!"


    Jiang Tai looked gravely at the young man, speaking solemnly, "This man is Zhang Tianyi, the champion nominee from the Tian Kingdom, at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, the second on the Tian Dragon Ranking..."


    Xiao Yi nodded calmly, his eyes on Zhang Tianyi taking on a shade of solemnity.


    Taking a deep breath, Wu Yu was clearly influenced by Zhang Tianyi''s words, his resentful gaze fixed on Xiao Yi and the others, he gritted his teeth and said, "Gu Junhe, you''re ruthless! You may protect them for a moment, but you can''t protect them forever. People of the Tian Kingdom, listen up, in the secret realm, Xiao Yi is the prime target!"


    "Yes!"


    "Kill Xiao Yi!"


    A crowd of Tian Kingdom''s powerhouses roared in fury, their gaze toward Xiao Yi as if looking at a dead body.


    "Let''s go!"


    Wu Yu pped the Swift Wind Goose, quickening its descent.


    Gu Junhe looked at Xiao Yi with an odd expression, "That was a ruthless move!"


    Jiang Tai also said, "Brother Xiao, you were too impulsive..."


    Before he could finish,


    Gu Junhe interrupted him, "But, well done on the kill!"


    Jiang Tai, "..."


    Gu Junhe spoke lightly, "Jiang Tai, you think Xiao Yi''s killing of Niu Ben was too impulsive?" After seeing Jiang Tai nod, Gu Junhe said with a faint smile, "You underestimate Xiao Yi! He''s not such an impulsive person!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jiang Tai was taken aback.


    Gu Junhe continued, "Is the Tian Kingdom on the same path as us?"


    Jiang Tai shuddered, the Tian Kingdom was to the west, by all ounts, they should not have crossed paths, "You mean, they were intentionally waiting for us here?"


    Gu Junhe nced at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi said evenly, "Tian and Tianqing are long-time rivals, and in this secret realm struggle, the Tianqing Kingdom already has an advantage. The Tian Kingdom aims to weaken the Tianqing Kingdom''s morale before entering the secret realm. It''s not that easy to act against the Royal Martial Arts Academy or the Nine Profound Sect; the weaker Tianqi Martial Arts Academy is the best target!"


    Gu Junhe nodded, "If it wasn''t for Xiao Yi, they would have targeted you this time!"


    Jiang Tai revealed a grave look.


    He was no match for Zhang Tianyi, and if he, the esteemed seventh prince, were severely wounded or killed by Zhang Tianyi, it would be a tremendous blow to the morale of the Tianqing Kingdom''s people.


    Understanding this, Jiang Tai''s look towards Xiao Yi included a bit more admiration.


    Chirp chirp!


    Cangyun Eagle''s wings shook, and it dived down,nding in a basin within Three Seas Mountain in an instant. At this moment, the basin was already brimming with powerful warriors.


    The Royal family of Tianqing Kingdom, Royal Martial Arts Academy, Nine Profound Sect, Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, Sword Mountain Manor, and Tianqi Martial Arts Academy; Tian Kingdom, Purple Robe Kingdom.


    Warriors from all directions had gathered.


    The arrival of Xiao Yi and his group immediately attracted quite a bit of attention.


    However...


    Apart from the people of Purple Robe Kingdom, the looks that others gave them were filled with hostility.


    Xiao Yi touched his nose, "It seems... we''re not very wee?"


    Jiang Tai rolled his eyes: And you have the nerve to mention it? Nearly everyone here has been offended by you...


    Gu Junhe said, "I''ll go ahead first. You two behave!" After walking a few steps, Gu Junhe turned back to look at Xiao Yi, "Especially you, don''t cause any trouble for me!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders.


    After Gu Junhe left.


    A graceful young girl from Purple Robe Kingdom approached, d in purple armor, her graceful figure especially striking, with her long purple hair fluttering in the wind, she stared at Xiao Yi, "Are you Xiao Yi?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, "And you are?"


    Jiang Tai said, "This is the Fifth Princess of Purple Robe Kingdom, Yue Ling''er." He cupped his fists towards Yue Ling''er, "Ling''er, long time no see. Are your uncle and aunt in good health?"


    Yue Ling''er waved her hand, "With both in the Golden Elixir Realm, do you think their health would be poor?" After a pause, Yue Ling''er blinked, "Cousin, the ce you asked of Father for, it was for this kid?"


    Jiang Tai touched his nose, just about to speak.


    Yue Ling''er was already looking at Xiao Yi with disdain, "Kid, I hear you cause trouble everywhere and many are targeting you. How can you be so thick-skinned? If you don''t have the capability, don''t join the fray. You even had my cousin shamelessly ask for a spot on your behalf..."


    Jiang Tai''s expression darkened, "Ling''er, Xiao Yi didn''t ask for that spot!"


    "Ah?"


    Yue Ling''er was stunned, her brows furrowed slightly, "He didn''t ask for the spot?"


    Xiao Yi chuckled, "Princess Ling''er, is it? If I wanted a spot, I would have fought for it myself, not taking the slightest advantage from you all!"


    At that moment.


    A cold voice from Gu Junhe came from not far away, "Zhou Yuan, what do you mean?"


    Zhou Yuan''s proud voice came simultaneously, "No particr meaning. This is the unanimous decision after everyone''s discussion. We can tolerate Jiang Tai borrowing Purple Robe Kingdom''s spot, which is already a huge concession. As for that Xiao Yi... What is he worth?"


    Zhou, the head of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy added, "If it weren''t for Jiang Tai''s slight connection to the royal family of Purple Robe Kingdom, which allowed us to exchange a spot, your Tianqi Martial Arts Institute wouldn''t get a single hair into the secret realm!" The one speaking was the Great Elder of Nine Profound Sect, Jin Sheng, his face showing resentment and pride as he looked at Xiao Yi.


    Zhuang Bifan, the master of Sword Mountain Manor who carried three longswords, had an indifferent expression, "If, as you said, killing one of them could snatch the other''s spot, then I should just let my Heavenly Son Sword kill a few of them, and my Sword Mountain Manor could send a few more people in, couldn''t it?"


    Wu Yu, full of pride, "Gu Junhe, looks like you''ve capsized in the gutter, huh? Hahaha!"


    Zhou Yuan spoke seriously, "Gu Junhe, you are also an elder among strong warriors, why bother confronting us over a junior of no importance?"


    For a moment...


    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on Xiao Yi.


    The looks contained both schadenfreude and scornful ridicule...


    Yue Ling''er looked at Xiao Yi with sympathy, "You really are pitiable, Xiao Yi!"


    "Pitiable?"


    Xiao Yi cracked a smile, but the look in his eyes grew increasingly cold as he turned to Zhou Yuan and spoke aloud, "So, Head Zhou, you mean to say that I don''t deserve to enter the secret realm?"


    Zhou Yuan let out a coldugh, offering no reply.


    Wu Yu, wearing a taunting expression, "Youd still have some self-awareness; it''s not just Head Zhou''s opinion, we all think you don''t deserve to enter the secret realm!"


    "Well then, it seems reasoning is out of the question!" said Xiao Yi as he shrugged his shoulders and walked to the entrance of the secret realm. Sitting down with legs astride, he proimed loudly, "In Head Zhou''s name, I, Xiao Yi, am establishing a challenge arena here. Whoever is inferior to me has no right to enter the secret realm!"


    Boom!


    His deration caused an uproar among the crowd.


    "Has this kid gone mad?"


    "Is he nning to challenge everyone?"


    "A mere tumbleweed in the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer, how many can he defeat? He dares to set up a challenge arena and take on everyone? Utterly foolish..."


    Xiao Yi, faced with everyone''s cold sneers and hot mocking, plunged his sword into the ground and dered proudly, "Enough talk, if you wish to fight, let''s fight!"

 Chapter 79 Xiao Yi VS Jia Sidao

    "If it''s a fight you want, it''s a fight you''ll get!"


    Xiao Yi sat astride the entrance to the secret realm, majestic and imposing.


    He stood like a sentinel at the gate.


    This was the gathering ce of half the young talents from the Tianqing Kingdom, the Purple Robe Kingdom, and the Tian Kingdom, nearly every one of them a master from the Dragon Tiger List.


    How dare Xiao Yi, with just the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer, block the way and challenge them all?


    "Arrogant!"


    "This kid is simply too presumptuous!"


    The crowd was buzzing with excitement!


    Jin Sheng sneered coldly, "Gu Junhe, your disciple really has some nerve!"


    Zhuang Bifan''s gaze was like a sword, his coldughter unceasing, "No wonder he dares to kill my two disciples, Xuan and Huang¡ªhe is indeed audacious!"


    Gu Junhe felt a headacheing on, but he couldn''t show weakness. He responded lightly, "Just as Xiao Yi said, Zhou Yuan imed hecks the qualifications to enter the secret realm, right? If the others can''t even defeat him, then naturally theyck the qualifications to enter as well."


    All eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan.


    Even the royal family of the Tianqing Kingdom looked to him for direction.


    Zhou Yuan let out a coldugh, "Then let''s fight! However, swords and sabers have no eyes, if there should be any idents, Master Gu will not intervene halfway, will he?"


    Gu Junhe replied, "If you all don''t take action, naturally I won''t either."


    Wu Yu and the others nodded in agreement.


    "Good!"


    Zhou Yuan nodded, "Since that''s the case, let him have his wish. Everyone listen up, to enter the secret realm, you must first defeat Xiao Yi. Swords and sabers have no eyes, life and death regardless!"


    Within the crowd.


    The young and powerful who could hardly contain themselves rushed forward one after another.


    Yue Ling''er, her eyes wide and her neck stiff, turned towards Jiang Tai and pointed to her head, "Cousin, is there something wrong with him?"


    The exploration of the secret realm this time nearly brought together all the top young talents of the three great kingdoms.


    Even the weakest among them was at the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer.


    How could Xiao Yi dare to set up this challenge?


    Wasn''t this seeking death?


    Jiang Tai''s eyelid twitched, "Don''t talk to me..."


    ...


    "I''ll take you on!"


    From the midst of the crowd, a man in green garb with a green wolf''s head tattoo on his face, and at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, waved his Wolf Fang Club with pride, "When you get to the underworld, don''t forget to tell King Yama that it was Lang Tao of the Royal Martial Arts Academy who killed you!"


    Whoosh!


    The Wolf Fang Club swung high, whistling through the air with such force it seemed capable of splitting mountains and shattering stones.


    Xiao Yi nced at him, "Trash like you also dares to show off?"


    With a casual wave of his hand.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His bearing was dignified, like a Wrathful Vajra!


    Vajra Fist''s third form¡ªVajra Subdues Demons!


    Boom!


    His fist, hard as iron, smashed right onto the Wolf Fang Club. The second-grade spiritual weapon exploded with a pop, shards flying everywhere, punching straight through Lang Tao''s chest.


    Blood spurted like a fountain!


    Lang Tao''s face was filled with horror as he crashed to the ground, gasping for air so violently that blood poured unstoppably from his mouth, his face a picture of shock, "Ho-How is this possible? How can your fist be so hard?"


    "Shut up!"


    Xiao Yi lifted his foot and mmed it down. With a loud bang, he crushed Lang Tao''s head. Looking up at the others he dered, "Next!"


    Hiss!


    The crowd gasped in shock.


    Lang Tao, at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, was killed just like that?


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Those below the Golden Elixir Realm,e at me all at once!"


    "Arrogant!"


    "Do you really think you''re invincible?"


    "So arrogant, let us fulfill your wish..."


    In an instant, twenty-three strong warriors from the Divine Power Realm Tenth Layer and the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm surged forward, their des gleaming coldly, their martial arts dazzling and brilliant.


    Forewarned by Lang Tao''s precedent, everyone made their move by invoking their Innate Divine Abilities.


    This was a life-and-death battle!


    Xiao Yi''s eyes were sharp as knives as he issued a light shout, activating his Life-bound Spiritual Weapon Transformation, causing a ck glow to ebb and flow on his arms, integrating with his longsword into one.


    His palms were like knives, his fingers like swords.


    Xiao Yi moved like a dragon into the sea, weaving through the crowd of strong warriors, and nearly no one who came close was a match for him in a single exchange!


    Every punch hit flesh, every palm strike meant death!


    Boom, boom, boom!


    In just a moment...


    There was a chorus of wails!


    On the groundy more than a dozen strong warriors, scattered haphazardly.


    Xiao Yi, standing atop several Divine Power Realm strong warriors, looked proudly at Zhou and the others, "Zhou, you''ve truly nned far ahead, indeed there are many here just filling numbers. Trash that cannot even block my single punch trying to enter the secret realm, do you truly think this Tao Tribtion Realm expert''s secret realm is a brothel, at your free disposal toe and go?"


    Zhou''s face was as dark as pitch: "..."


    Wu Yu, Jin Sheng, and others clenched their teeth, eyes shing coldly.


    Gu Junhe coughed lightly, pretending to scold, "Xiao Yi, these are the chosen from various major forces, you just happened to win against them, you should not be so ostentatious!"


    "The Dean''s teaching is correct!"


    Xiao Yi feigned humility, then with a flick of his longsword, "Stop sending these Divine Skills Realm people to their deaths, let those from the Golden Core Realme up too!"


    "You dog-like thing, do you really think no one can control you?"


    Inside the Royal Martial Arts Academy, a young man in white robes, floating like an immortal, walked out, "Xiao Yi, do you recognize Jia Sichun?"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, "Are you Jia Sidao?"


    "Indeed!"


    Jia Sidao boasted proudly, "Today, I shall take your head to pay homage to my brother!"


    Xiao Yi sighed, "Does the Jia Family have any more brothers left?"


    Jia Sidao was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi continued, "Keep a life for continuing the family line. Don''t let the Jia Family''s legacy end with you!"


    "You..."


    Jia Sidao''s face turned shades of red and white with rage, unable to contain his anger, "Since I stepped into the Golden Elixir Realm, you are the first to dare to belittle me. If I don''t kill you, I swear I''m not a man!"


    Boom!


    His whole body shook, and ck scale armor appeared on him.


    Within the crowd.


    Yue Ling''er eximed in shock, "I''ve long heard that Jia Sidao''s Innate Divine Ability is beastial transformation, but I didn''t expect it to be the strongest defensive Beast Armor Change. Xiao Yi is in big trouble!"


    Jiang Tai''s eyes showed a grave expression.


    Beast transformation was an extremely powerful Innate Divine Ability; some strong fighters could even transform into dragons, phoenixes, and so on... Beast Armor Change granted near invincible defense within their ss!


    ng, ng!


    With every motion Jia Sidao made, the ck scale armor collided like metal on metal, sparking blinding firelight.


    "Beast King Fist!"


    Jia Sidao roared lowly, charging like a wild beast, his footsteps booming like war drums. This punch seemed to carry the force of ten thousand beasts stampeding.


    "This is... the spirit of the Ten Thousand Beast Fist?" Wu Yu''s expression changed, turning to look at Zhou Yuan, "Truly worthy of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, they have such a genius. Beast Armor Changebined with the spirit of the Ten Thousand Beast Fist, this man''s future is limitless!"


    Jin Sheng sighed, "With such strength, killing Xiao Yi is within reach!"


    Zhou Yuan looked pleased and nced at Gu beside him, "Dean Gu, we had an agreement, that in the fight, the sword has no eyes, you better not intervene!"


    "Don''t worry! I''m not as shameless as you..." Gu Junhe scoffed.


    Zhou Yuan snorted coldly.


    Meanwhile...


    Jia Sidao, d in his beast armor,nded a heavy fist on Xiao Yi''s longsword, which he was using to block in front of himself. The sword vibrated intensely, the violent force pushing Xiao Yi back.


    Xiao Yi''s expression darkened, feeling numbness in the web of his hands, "The spirit of the Ten Thousand Beast Fistbined with the Beast Armor Change has such strength? Much stronger than Niu Ben, but still, this power is far from enough to kill me!"

 Chapter 80 Decree of Execution

    ```


    Boom!


    Xiao Yi''s whole body shook, and ck light covered him.


    The Life-bound Spiritual Weapon Transformation covered his entire body, making it as tough as a third-grade Yuan weapon, and the force of Sword Intent enveloped him.


    "Is this one of the top ten Innate Divine Abilities, the Weapon Transformation?"


    "The most heaven-defying aspect of the Weapon Transformation Divine Skill lies in the durability of the transformed part, as solid as the weapon in hand. With this, the advantage of Jia Sidao''s Beast Armor Transformation is gone. Both masters of martial arts intents, victory or defeat now hinges on their martial techniques andbat awareness..."


    All present were no ordinary people; they quickly analyzed the situation.


    "Vajra Subdues Demons!"


    Xiao Yi threw a punch, and when the two fists met, sparks flew.


    It was a stalemate!


    Jia Sidao sneered coldly, "I am a Golden Core elite, I can grind you to death!"


    "The Golden Core practitioners who''ve died at my hand, you''re not the first!"


    Xiao Yi suddenly moved, disappearing from in front of Jia Sidao and reappearing behind him, his longsword like the wind: "Sinuous Python Wraps Around the Tree!"


    "Beast King Fist, Thunderous Charge!"


    Jia Sidao''s eyes sparkled like lightning, and as he sidestepped, he punched with both fists.


    Boom, boom!


    The shadow of his fists filled the air, like a stampede of myriad beasts.


    His form was covered with ayer of ck Scale Armor, fearless, his punches like pounding garlic, and he forcefully shattered Xiao Yi''s iing sword moves.


    "My defense is invincible; your death is certain!"


    Jia Sidao''s face, covered with beast armor scales, revealed a fierce smile as he stepped forward, leveraging his formidable defense to press on without fear of Xiao Yi''s attacks, his violent boxing technique forcing Xiao Yi into retreat.


    "Xiao Yi can''t break through the defense; this is troublesome!" Yue Ling''er''s brows furrowed slightly as she spoke in a deep voice.


    Jiang Tai''s eyebrows furrowed tightly, "Xiao Yi, do you have a way to break through this predicament?"


    No matter how strong the sword moves, if they can''t pierce the defense, they''re useless!


    "Indeed, a tough opponent!"


    Xiao Yi''s face showed a serious expression; this Jia Sidao was the most challenging peer he had encountered thus far.


    The abnormal defense of the Beast Armor Transformation left no opportunity for his sharp sword moves.


    Boom!


    In an unexpected moment...


    Xiao Yi''s chest was struck by Jia Sidao''s fist, forcing him back. Rubbing his chest, Xiao Yi said, "That almost shattered my organs... wait, shattered? I''ve got it!"


    Light shone in Xiao Yi''s eyes.


    He suddenly withdrew the Weapon Transformation, and instead of retreating, he advanced, closing the distance between him and Jia Sidao.


    Jia Sidao''s eyes gleamed ferociously, "Idiot, daring to grapple with me at close quarters? You''re simply courting death!"


    "Beast King Fist!"


    Jia Sidaounched his fists simultaneously.


    At the moment when their figures crossed, Xiao Yi ran the Life-bound Spiritual Weapon Transformation on his back, enduring Jia Sidao''s heavy punches with two thuds.


    The vibrations seemed to fragment his internal organs, bringing intense pain, but Xiao Yi remained unmoved.


    His legs pushed off the ground.


    "Eight Extremes Lean Against!"


    His back, covered in the ck gleam of the Weapon Transformation, mmed hard against Jia Sidao''s chest, sending him flying, and simultaneously Xiao Yi''s right hand reached out.


    The ck light of the Weapon Transformation covered his right hand.


    He grabbed Jia Sidao''s ankle, and with a low roar, eximed, "Eight Extremes Takedown!"


    Whoosh! He threw Jia Sidao over his shoulder.


    Jia Sidao flew backward like a kite with its string cut as Xiao Yi swiftly pursued him, and with full force, he employed the Eight Extremes Copse. His fists pounded heavily on Jia Sidao''s body, smashing him to the ground.


    This sequence of movements was as smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water, without the slightest hesitation.


    "Sinuous Python Wraps Around the Tree!"


    The moment Jia Sidao''s body hit the ground, Xiao Yi struck with another sword. The de, like a python wrapping around a tree, coiled around Jia Sidao''s waist, then with a fierce tug, sent him flying again.


    Xiao Yi''s legs pushed off from the ground as he followed up the attack.


    His longsword moved through the air, repeatedly executing sword moves: "Gentle Breeze Drops Leaves!"


    "Sinuous Python Wraps Around the Tree!"


    "Pursuing Soul, Snatching Life..."


    Stroke after stroke of sword light continuously hit Jia Sidao, each strike aiming for vital organs.


    "Jia Sidao is covered in Beast Armor Transformation, with defense unmatched in his tier, already on invincible grounds!"


    "Xiao Yi can''t possibly win!"


    However...


    Zhou Yuan''s face suddenly changed, "Not good!"


    He intended to take action...


    But alongside him, Gu Junhe scoffed, and a powerful aura locked onto Zhou Yuan as he coldly stated, "You dare to intervene?"


    "You..."


    Zhou Yuan''s eyes were filled with fury.


    Almost at the same time...


    Jia Sidao, whose defenses seemed imprable, suddenly let out a scream, outwardly unharmed yet spewing blood from all orifices. The transformed Scale Armor from his Beast Armor Transformation rapidly receded, and the longsword pierced through the air, puh, impaling his shoulder.


    ```


    Ao!


    Jia Sidao let out a wretched scream as he was pinned to the ground by Xiao Yi''s sword.


    Xiao Yi fell from the sky andnded with a loud thump on Jia Sidao''s legs, the ear-piercing crack apanying Jia Sidao''s hysterical screams.


    His legs had been brutally broken, and Xiao Yi stepped on Jia Sidao''s chest, with a cold smile, "Invincible defense? How do you defend your internal organs?"


    The continuous sword strikes just now were not meant to pierce the defenses, but to shatter his internal organs!


    As it turned out...


    Xiao Yi''s tactics werepletely correct!


    "Xiao Yi, the winner has been decided. Why haven''t you let Jia Sidao go yet?" Zhou Yuan red furiously, grinding his teeth.


    Xiao Yi looked up at Zhou Yuan, unafraid, "Let him go? If I were the one lying here now, do you think he would have let me go?"


    Zhou Yuan''s face changed, a sense of unease rising as he stared angrily at Xiao Yi, "What are you going to do?"


    "What am I going to do?"


    Xiao Yi smirked, his longsword whooshing past Jia Sidao''s throat in a sh, blood gushing out like a fountain; Jia Sidao''s head tumbled away, his body decapitated.


    Hiss!


    Aplete silence surrounded the area.


    Zhou Yuan, the head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, had spoken, and yet Xiao Yi dared to execute Jia Sidao right before him?


    Yue Ling''er swallowed hard, "Has he gone mad?"


    Jiang Tai covered his face, "I knew it woulde to this..."


    Many powerful figures around felt a chill run through their bodies. Some, who were only marginally weaker than Jia Sidao, felt a sense of relief that they had not made a move!


    The angriest was none other than Zhou Yuan!


    He had personally spoken, yet Xiao Yi still killed Jia Sidao in his face. This was a severe p to his face!


    Zhou Yuan''s face turned ck as coal, his eyes cold as ice, and his voice so grim it made one''s scalp tingle, "Xiao Yi, do you realize what you are doing?"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Could it be that Head Zhou has grown old and forgotten his own words?"


    Zhou Yuan was stunned.


    Xiao Yi said calmly, "The sword has no eyes, it was you who said that!"


    "I..."


    Zhou Yuan''s face turned red as he spurted out a mouthful of blood.


    Indeed, those were his words!


    But they were meant for when he believed Xiao Yi was certainly doomed and said to deter Gu Junhe from rescuing him. How could he have imagined that Xiao Yi would be the one to have thestugh?


    Xiao Yi''s gaze passed over Zhou Yuan, Wu Yu, Jin Sheng, and others, speaking calmly, "Gentlemen, now, I should be qualified to enter the secret realm, right?"


    Everyone looked at the Shentong Realm powerhouses sprawled in all directions, then at the beheaded Jia Sidao.


    They were at a loss for words.


    If even this level of strength wasn''t enough to qualify to enter the secret realm, then more than half of those present were certainly unqualified!


    Xiao Yi smiled, "If you still feel I''m not qualified, then I can only continue setting up this arena!"


    As he spoke,


    Xiao Yi nced at several High-Layer Golden Core Realm powerhouses in the crowd who seemed ready to stand, chuckling, "I''m merely at the Shentong Realm. If you wish to make a move, then I will have to let Elder Brother Jiang step in!"


    Everyone: "..."


    A mere Shentong Realm, yet he ughters Golden Cores as if they were butchering pigs and dogs?


    But indeed, there was nothing wrong with his words! He was only in the Shentong Realm, and facing a First Layer of the Golden Core Realm was already oveing the strong as the weak. If these powerful figures at the fifth or sixthyers of the Golden Core Realm made a move, they would be bullying the lesser!


    As for fighting with Jiang Tai?


    Of those present from the younger generation, how many could contend with Jiang Tai?


    Zhou Yuan despised Xiao Yi to the bone, yet was powerless to do anything...


    Zhou Yuan and the others were also in a difficult position.


    If they allowed Xiao Yi to enter the secret realm at this point, they would lose all face in this gamble. If they did not, they might lose even more top fighters.


    At that moment...


    Within the Royal Martial Arts Academy, a Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm youth opened his eyes. This person, named Ye Feng, was the second top student of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, second only to Great Prince Jiang Shanhe.


    Ye Feng''s cold gaze swept over Xiao Yi and then looked towards Zhou Yuan, "Head Zhou, just let him into the secret realm."


    "Hmm?"


    Zhou Yuan was bewildered.


    Ye Feng stated tly, "I, Ye Feng, hereby announce once again... within the secret realm, whoever ys Xiao Yi can exchange for a fourth-grade martial skill from me!"


    Ling Feng, the top disciple of the Nine Profound Sect and Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, also stood up, "I''ll join in the excitement too. Whoever ys Xiao Yi within the secret realm can receive a fourth-grade movement technique from me!"


    Zhang Tianyi from Sword Mountain Manor narrowed his eyes, "Whoever kills Xiao Yi, my Sword Mountain Manor will gift a fourth-grade longsword!"


    In Tian Kingdom, Zhang Tianyi said with contempt, "Count me in too. Whoever kills Xiao Yi will be rewarded with one hundred million taels of silver!"


    Within the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple,n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Monk Dao Yuan said with a smile, "Amitabha, our young monk says Xiao hasmitted heavy sins. Killing him would be carrying out heaven''s will, and the yer can choose a martial skill from the Scripture Pavilion of our Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple!"


    Instantly,


    Among the powers that hade, except for the Purple Robe Kingdom, the other powers had unified to issue a bounty for Xiao Yi''s death.


    All eyes turned to Xiao Yi as if they were looking at a cold corpse.


    Zhou Yuanughed heartily and nodded, "Fine, Xiao Yi, I will grant your wish and allow you to enter the secret realm. Do you dare to enter?"


    Xiao Yi''s face was cold as frost, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd, and he smiled faintly, "Why wouldn''t I dare?"

 Chapter 81 Entering the Secret Realm

    "Why not?"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, his cold gaze fixed on Zhou Yuan.


    Zhou Yuan let out a coldugh, his icy eyes looking at him as if he were a corpse, and said indifferently, "Since that''s the case, then Xiao Yi may enter the secret realm!"


    Wu Yu said indifferently, "I agree."


    "I have no objections!" Jin Sheng dered.


    Zhuang Bifan stood tall like a pine tree, arrogantly like a sword, "If he has chosen the secret realm as his burial ground, then let''s fulfill his wish!"


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy, Tian Kingdom, Nine Profound Sect, Mingjian Manor, and Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple all issued assassination orders against Xiao Yi. In everyone''s eyes, unless a miracle urred, Xiao Yi was never going to leave the secret realm alive.


    Even Gu Junhe had a splitting headache.


    Xiao Yi, however, appeared nonchnt.


    Jiang Tai gave a bitter smile, "Xiao, you''re being too reckless!"


    Yue Ling''er blinked and looked at him with a curious, eager gaze, "Xiao Yi, should my Purple Robe Kingdom also issue an assassination order against you?"


    Xiao Yi nced at her, "As you wish!"


    Yue Ling''er rolled her eyes and said, "Never mind, I always feel you''re too cunning. I''d better not get involved in this mess!"


    Jiang Tai nced at Xiao Yi, helplessly saying, "Xiao, don''t stray too far from me when we''re inside the secret realm, I''ll do my best to protect you."


    Yue Ling''er was stunned, then frowned, "Cousin, are you crazy? He is now the target of public criticism. In the secret realm, no one will care about your prince''s status. If you protect him, you won''t even know how you died when the timees¡­"


    "Shut up!"


    Jiang Tai red at her fiercely, about to speak when Xiao Yi had already waved his hand with a smile and said, "Jiang, once we''re inside the secret realm, it''s better for us to act separately."


    "At least you know what''s good for you!" Yue Ling''er said.


    "Ling''er..."


    Jiang Tai rebuked her, then frowned at Xiao Yi, "Xiao, what are you nning..."


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning cold: "Didn''t they issue an assassination order against me? I want to see, in the end, who will be the one to assassinate whom..."


    Yue Ling''er and Jiang Tai exchanged looks, both feeling a chill run down their spines.


    "This secret realm is the tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse. The tomb is located at the deepest part of the secret realm. You must cross two hundred miles of dense forest and a poisonous marsh to reach the tomb," Zhou Yuan said, his gaze calm as he looked at everyone and announced, "The entrance to the tomb is sealed by our restrictions. You must collect tokens along the way. Only those who gather ten tokens can pass through the restrictions and enter the tomb. Inside the tomb, there are numerous treasures, as well as the inheritance of that Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse. Everything depends on your own fate and effort, strive for it!"


    Everyone was eager and excited.


    This was the inheritance of a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse!


    If they could obtain it, the Tao Tribtion was within reach!


    Zhou Yuan''s cold eyes lingered on Xiao Yi for a moment before continuing, "This journey into the secret realm is a matter of life and death! Anyone who is killed within the secret realm cannot have their death avenged by their backing powers. You all have no objections, do you?"


    Zhuang Bifan and other individuals spoke one after another: "We have no objections!"


    People''s eyes, filled with schadenfreude, inevitably fell on Xiao Yi.


    These words were meant especially for Xiao Yi and Gu.


    Outside the secret realm...


    People were wary of Gu, unable to act freely against Xiao Yi.


    But inside the secret realm, there were no such restrictions!


    "Since there are no objections, follow me to open the entrance to the secret realm," Zhou Yuan said calmly.


    Everyone took action.


    Led by Zhou Yuan, Gu and others jointly opened the entrance to the secret realm.


    Everyone stood still.


    Ye Feng''s cold eyes were on Xiao Yi as he made a weing gesture, "Xiao Yi, you go in first!"


    "We''ll let you run ahead a bit, don''t get caught by us, alright?"


    "You''re not nning to wait for all of us to go in before you back out, are you?"


    People stared at Xiao Yi.


    This was their worry that once they had all entered, Xiao Yi would no longer enter the secret realm and they would miss the opportunity to kill him!


    Xiao Yi grinned and with a bold stride, headed toward the secret realm, "Then I shall impolitely ept the invitation!"


    Whoosh!


    He stepped into the secret realm.


    A cold light shed in Ye Feng and the others'' eyes, "Catch up with him!"


    "Don''t let him escape!"


    All of them surged forward.


    Watching the gradually closing entrance of the secret realm, Zhou Yuan and his group looked at Gu Junhe with cold smiles, "Headmaster Gu can rest assured, I have already ordered my disciples to bring back Xiao Yi''s body, to allow Headmaster Gu to give him a proper burial!"


    "However, Xiao Yi has incurred the wrath of the masses, I''m afraid it won''t be possible to bring back aplete body!"


    "Aplete body? The first thing everyone is going to do upon entering is kill him. I''m afraid by the time they return from the secret realm, Xiao Yi''s body will already be rotting..."


    "Hahahaha..."


    Facing the provocation and mockery of the crowd, Gu Junhe narrowed his eyes, gazing in the direction of the entrance to the secret realm, murmuring to himself, "Xiao Yi... you muste back alive..."


    ...¡­


    Inside the secret realm.


    The moment Xiao Yinded, he took out a packet of poison powder and scattered it behind him.


    Having received the inheritance from Underworld Doctor Bian He, such poison powder was almost effortless for him. The instant he spread the poison powder, Xiao Yi activated his movement technique to the extreme, rushing wildly toward the dense forest ahead.


    Almost simultaneously with his departure...


    Figures appeared within the secret realm, all searching for Xiao Yi''s whereabouts, "Where is Xiao Yi?"


    "That damn dog has run into the forest..."


    "Chase him!"


    However...


    No sooner had their voices faded than screams rang out, "Ah... my eyes..."


    "My face... it hurts so much..."


    "What is this? Damn it, it''s poisonous..."


    "That bastard Xiao Yi used poison! Everyone, hold your breath..."


    Amid the agonized screams.


    As many as seven or eight Shentong Realm strongmen died, their guts perforated and blood pouring from all orifices. Although this poison powder was fierce, it had little effect on those in the Golden Core Realm.


    But for those in the Shentong Realm, it was a deadly affair!


    Ye Feng and hispanions were ashen-faced.


    They had intended to kill Xiao Yi immediately, but not only did he escape, they also lost seven or eight Shentong Realm powerhouses from their own side.


    Ye Feng''s features twisted, "Xiao Yi, if I don''t kill you, I''ll write my name, Ye Feng, backwards!"


    Zhang Tianyi''s gaze was icy as he stared at Jiang Tai, "Jiang Tai, if you dare to help Xiao Yi, I will kill you!"


    Dao Yuan sped his hands together, looking every bit the enlightened monk, "Amitabha... Xiao is surely a devil born into this world, and we must act on behalf of the heavens to eliminate this evil. Master Jiang certainly wouldn''t help him, right?"


    The Heavenly Son Sword and the Dizi Sword stood side by side like twin brothers, speaking in unison, "Whoever aids Xiao Yi shall be killed!"


    Jiang Tai snorted coldly and disappeared into the forest.


    Yue Ling''er said with a smile, "Everyone, rx, I, Yue Ling''er, will not take sides!"


    With a wave of her hand, she led the strongmen of Purple Robe Kingdom deeper into the forest.


    Dao Yuan stood before the crowd with his hands sped, and a series of talismans with Buddhist seals dropped into their hands. He said cheerfully, "These talismans are Thousand-Mile Tracking Talismans; once tagged by them, one cannot escape the tracking of Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. Just sight Xiao Yi and crush the talisman to mark his whereabouts!"


    "With these talismans, Xiao Yi is bound to die!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "It''s somewhat amusing, like a cat catching a mouse!"


    The crowdughed heartily as they surged into the dense forest.


    Under the dim light, from a distance, the forest looked like an ancient giant beast, slowly swallowing them into its belly¡­

 Chapter 82 Red Luo Snake Poison

    In the tranquil jungle.


    Xiao Yi''s figure leapt and darted about like a spry monkey, extraordinarily agile.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    Three sharp arrows burst forth from behind, striking where Xiao Yi had just alighted. The moment these arrows hit the ground, they transformed into roaring mes, setting the trees aze with fire sttering in every direction.


    "Xiao Yi, stop right there!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Despicable coward, how dare you use poison, won''t you stop for us..."


    Two figures chased after him from behind.


    They were two formidable warriors from the royal family of the Tianqing Kingdom, the valiant brothers Yan Bing and Yan Yu from the Imperial Guards. Both were at the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. Coupled with their continuous sharpening in the military, theirbat strength was not inferior even to ordinary warriors at the Third Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Especially their archery,bined with God Burning Arrows, was exceptionally powerful.


    Xiao Yi muttered, "I''m really out of luck to have run into these two..."


    Xiao Yi was not one to sit idly by and await his fate.


    With the Royal Martial Arts Academy, Nine Profound Sect, Wan Fo Mountain, Mingjian Manor, and people from the Tian Kingdom all wanting him dead, Xiao Yi naturally would not just flee. Therefore, he hid in the dense forest, waiting for an opportunity to strike and kill any isted strong warriors.


    Initially, there had been some gains, as he managed to y a couple of groups of strong warriors.


    But this time, he fell into the ambush set by the Yan brothers. Despite mustering all his strength to kill two warriors at the First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm and one at the Second Layer, and escaping a tight encirclement, he was still relentlessly pursued by the two brothers.


    Yan Bing drew his bow and nocked arrows, executing a technique likened to Nine Stars in a String.


    Yan Yu leaped into the air, stepped on one of the sharp arrows, and sped towards Xiao Yi, arrows bursting forth just as rapidly in the Nine Stars in a String technique.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Eighteen arrows sliced through the air, forming a vast that blocked all of Xiao Yi''s retreat paths.


    The arrows surrounded Xiao Yi at the center, the fierce mes rising fiercely.


    Xiao Yi was trapped within a circle of fire, and the Yan brothers had also caught up to him, positioning themselves in front and behind, their faces filled with triumph and fierceness, "Xiao Yi, you have nowhere to run!"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, "I''ve never provoked the royal family. Are you not afraid that Jiang will give you trouble for this?"


    These two brothers were exceedingly experienced in battle, and with their intuition as twins,bined with their expertise in archery, they avoided closebat entirely. This left Xiao Yi quite frustrated and worried that if the fight dragged on too long, other strong warriors might arrive.


    He had no choice but to keep running.


    Yan Bing sneered, "We are followers of the crown prince''s line, the seventh prince has no authority over us!"


    Arrows in hand, Yan Yu said in a grave tone, "Xiao Yi, the crown prince highly appreciates your talent. He wants to make you one of his dogs..."


    Xiao Yi stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.


    A yful look spread across his face as he stared at the two, "With such a deep grudge against the Royal Martial Arts Academy, the crown prince doesn''t care?"


    Yan Bing casually replied, "The crown prince is about to reach the Peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, and among the younger generation, he is the most likely to advance to the Tao Tribtion Realm. As long as you be one of the crown prince''s dogs, even Zhou, the head of the Martial Arts Institute, will give him that much respect..."


    Xiao Yi smiled lightly, "I don''t have the habit of being someone''s dog!"


    "Then you can go to hell!"


    The Yan brothers simultaneously released the bowstrings, and arrows shed like lighting, while the strings hummed like mercury pouring down to the ground.


    Arrow after arrow tore through the air, with a deafening sound that made one''s scalp tingle.


    The arrows, zing fiercely in mid-air, headed straight for Xiao Yi.


    A shock ran through Xiao Yi''s body, Hei Mang covered him, and his Innate Divine Ability of Life-bound Spiritual Weapon Transformation fused his body with his fourth-grade Yuan weapon, making him as sturdy as if he were wearing fourth-grade battle armor.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    The arrows were incredibly fast, striking Xiao Yi''s body almost instantly, each one bearing immense impact force that shook him repeatedly.


    With sword in hand, Xiao Yi brought forth a ck sword light, tearing open a gap through the rain of arrows and charging out like the wind.


    Before he could get near the brothers, however, Yan Bing and Yan Yu had widened the distance between them.


    One retreated, the other advanced, one in front, the other behind.


    Xiao Yi was unable to get close, yet had to withstand attacks from all sides, which greatly frustrated him.


    Yan Bingughed triumphantly, "Xiao Yi, weren''t you very arrogant? Why can''t you be arrogant now? If you can,e and bite me!"


    Whoosh!


    An arrow shot from Yan Yu''s hand, with red mes suspended high in the sky. He looked at Xiao Yi with pride, "People will be here soon. Xiao Yi, your death is certain!"


    Xiao Yi raised his sword to cut through three iing arrows, tapped the ground with the tip of his foot to kick up sand to block another two, and then swung a Vajra Subdues Demons technique to break three more from behind.


    With a swift movement, he took cover behind arge tree. Thud, thud, thud ¨C three arrows pierced through the one-meter thick trunk of the tree and buried into the ground.


    Xiao Yi finally managed to catch his breath.


    "There must be other groups nearby; I must escape quickly. But first..."


    Looking emotionless at the Yan brothers, a cold glint shed in Xiao Yi''s eyes, "Before I leave, I need to leave you with an indelible memory!"


    With a sudden sh, Xiao Yi sprinted towards the east.


    "Not good, he''s going to escape!"


    "Tie him down!"


    The two men chased after him relentlessly, and just as the distance between them was closing, Xiao Yi suddenly turned around and threw a clump of ck mud: "Watch out for the hidden weapon!"


    "Trifling tricks!"


    With a coldugh, Yan Yu pped out a palm.


    Yan Bing''s expression changed: "Be careful!"


    Unfortunately, it was already toote!


    Bang!


    The ck mud exploded, transforming into a cloud of white poison mist that instantly enveloped the two men.


    Xiao Yiughed and said, "Congrattions, you two have been poisoned by my Red Luo Snake Poison!"


    While cultivators at the Golden Core Realm could ignore most poisons, Red Luo Snake Poison was an exception. Although it couldn''t kill a cultivator at this realm, it could make one feel unbearably itchy, with a body as hot as if on fire.


    Yan Bing scoffed disdainfully, "Your poison is ineffective against the Golden Core Realm, you''re just bluffing!"


    "The poison is indeed called Red Luo Snake Poison, and true, it can''t kill you. But if you don''t engage in bedroom affairs as an antidote within half an incense stick''s time, you willpletely lose the ability to reproduce!"


    Xiao Yi gave the two men a mocking look and weirdlyughed, "I might as well congratte you in advance. After you go back, you can resign from the Imperial Guards and be the Chief Eunuch overseeing the harem, hahaha..."


    "What?"


    "You, don''t even think of scaring us..."


    Xiao Yi sneered, "Don''t believe it? Feel for yourselves, there''s no reaction, right?"


    "This..."


    Yan Bing and hispanion looked at each other and indeed, they felt nothing.


    Theirplexions instantly turned incredibly unsightly, as if they were mourning their deceased parents; it was even harder to ept than death itself!


    Death?


    They weren''t afraid!


    But bing eunuchs? No man could ept that!


    Yan Bing''s face was extremely grim, "Big brother, is what he said true or false?"


    Yan Yu''s face was gloomy, "Who am I supposed to ask?" With a dark expression, he stared intently at Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, hand over the antidote and I''ll let you leave. Otherwise, we just need to pin you down until the others arrive, and you''ll be on a one-way street to death!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "There is no antidote for Red Luo Snake Poison; the only way to cure it is to engage in sexual activity. However, it seems there are no women who entered this secret realm, so I''m not sure if it''ll work between men. You might want to give it a try! You don''t have much time left. You need to decide whether to keep chasing me at the risk of bing eunuchs or find a way to cure the poison. The choice is yours!"


    Xiao Yi leaped and disappeared into the dense forest.


    Yan Bing''s face flushed red, "Big brother, are we chasing him?"


    "Chase my ass..."


    Yan Yu cursed angrily with a cold snort.


    Yan Bing had a mournful expression, "Big brother, I, I can feel it... It seems Xiao Yi was right, what do we do now?"


    "How should I know?" Yan Yu''s face was as dark as coal.


    Yan Bing swallowed hard, feeling extremely hot and bothered, "Should, should we give it a try?"


    "Try my ass..."


    Yan Yu cursed, his face still dark. Just as he was about to stand up, a whooshing sound came from behind him, signaling that Ling Feng and the others had caught up.


    Ling Feng frowned, "Where is he?"


    Yan Yu replied gravely, "He got away..."


    "Got away? What the hell are you two doing?" Ling Feng scolded angrily.


    Yan Yu coldly said, "Ling Feng, your Nine Profound Sect isn''t in charge of the Royal Family, are you?"


    "You..."


    Ling Feng''s face darkened.


    Ye Feng from the Royal Martial Arts Academy frowned and asked, "How did he get away?"


    Ye Feng was aligned with the Crown Prince''s faction, so Yan Yu and hispanion did not dare to hide anything. Of course, they omitted the process of detoxifying. But Ye Feng himself pped them across their faces and angrily said, "You two idiots, Red Luo Snake Poison only causes itchiness and heat, it doesn''t harm the body. You two idiots got fooled by him!"


    "Ah?"


    The two Yan brothers looked at each other, utterly dumbfounded.


    "Wait a minute..."


    Ling Feng frowned, "You two believed Xiao Yi''s words, so you didn''t pursue him, but then how did you manage to detoxify?"


    The faces of the two Yan brothers stiffened.


    Everyone''s gaze slowly turned towards the space behind the two men...

 Chapter 83 The Phantom in the Night

    Let''s not mention how awkward Yan Yu and hispanion felt.


    Xiao Yi ran wildly for half an hour until he finally stopped after leaving the dense forest, ahead of himy a swamp.


    The air above the swamp was filled with poisonous miasma, like it was shrouded in a thickyer of gauze.


    "Although the transformation of weapons is powerful, it requires a huge amount of energy and strong physical support. My body is strengthened by the power of the God Sealing Seed, making it stronger than other cultivators of the same realm, but currently, it can only withstand the transformation of a fourth-grade Yuan weapon at most."


    Exhausted, Xiao Yi sat on the ground, gasping for breath: "It seems that in addition to movement techniques, I must find a method of Body Refinement!"


    Before this.


    Xiao Yi had never encountered opponents like the Yan brothers who specialized in long-range attacks, and due to his rapid progress in cultivation, he rarely had the chance to consolidate his experience.


    To summarize the experience from this battle.


    Xiao Yi understood his current shorings, but obtaining either the movement technique or Body Refinement arts was not easy.


    The immediate priority was to find a solution for the Yan brothers'' long-range attacks.


    "If only there was something to restrain their movements!" Xiao Yi thought to himself when suddenly a scream echoed from ahead.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank instantly as he headed towards the source of the scream.


    He saw a Shentong Realm expert entangled in a mass of white threads above the pitch-ck swamp.


    These threads were extremely sticky.


    Even the expert at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm struggled to break free, only sinking deeper and deeper. The white threads pulled him into the swamp, where he was swallowed up by the endless ck mud.


    A thought shed through Xiao Yi''s mind: "What are these white threads? They can restrain even a Peak of the Divine Ability Realm expert. I wonder if they can bind a Golden Core Realm expert?"


    Xiao Yi pondered for a moment.


    He immediately flew towards the swamp and as he soared above the ck swamp, suddenly the ground beneath him gave way and a gash opened up, from which a mass of white threads shot out.


    Luckily, Xiao Yi was prepared; he quickly tapped his toes on the soft swamp and leapt up to dodge.


    The white threads quickly retracted.


    "Stay for me!" he eximed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    A swipe swept across, skimming the muck of the swamp.


    Boom!


    The sword strikended on the white threads but unbelievably failed to cut through them. The threads violently coiled around, while the ck swamp beneath him roared as if a dragon was turning over.


    Bang!


    The swamp burst open explosively.


    A massive spider,pletely ck with nine green eyes on its head and three meters tall, stared fixedly at Xiao Yi, opening its mouth to spit out another mass of white web.


    "A fourth-grade low-level demon beast, the Green-Eyed Demon Spider? I did not expect such a creature to be hiding beneath this swamp, no wonder even a Peak of the Divine Ability Realm expert couldn''t escape your web..."


    While dodging, Xiao Yi sent out a flurry of sword moves.


    But no matter how he wielded his sword, he couldn''t cut through the web.


    The web of a Golden Core Realm Green-Eyed Demon Spider was as tough as a fourth-grade Yuan weapon. Even an expert at the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm bound by it would need to expend quite a bit of effort to break free.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes shed with sharpness: "As long as I kill this beast and extract its silk nd, I can use the web to bind enemies. With the web in hand, why should I fear the Yan brothers?"


    With that thought.


    Xiao Yi leaped into action, rapidly closing in on the Green-Eyed Demon Spider.


    Roar!


    From the seven green eyes of the Green-Eyed Demon Spider, a cold light flickered as it opened its gaping maw, continuously spitting out webs.


    "Not good!"


    Xiao Yi was caught off-guard by the web sticking to him and watched as the Green-Eyed Demon Spider rapidly drew him into its mouth, its sharp fangs inches away.


    In the nick of time.


    Xiao Yi quickly shed his outer garment, watching it disappear into the mouth of the Green-Eyed Demon Spider, and seizing the moment, he leaped tond on the creature''s head.


    "Soul-chasing, life-snatching!"


    A deadly thrust drove straight into the skull of the Green-Eyed Demon Spider.


    Thud!


    The Green-Eyed Demon Spider trembled all over, and its greenish blood spurted out wildly as it struggled in frenzy. Its eight long legs, covered with ck spines, iled madly against the marsh, flinging Xiao Yi high into the air.


    With one hand gripping the sword hilt, his body spun dramatically in midair.


    Thud!


    Like a spinning top, the sword de whirred crazily, grinding the Green-Eyed Demon Spider''s head to pieces.


    The massive body crashed heavily to the ground.


    Ignoring the stench of blood covering him, Xiao Yi cut open the carcass of the Green-Eyed Demon Spider to find the silk sac and a walnut-sized Golden Core.


    "Once I swallow this Golden Core, I should be able to step into the Peak of the Shentong Realm!" Xiao Yi flicked off the green blood from the Golden Core and muttered to himself.


    This Green-Eyed Demon Spider was equivalent to a First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm cultivator, its energy not enough for him to make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm.


    In this world, apart from the legendary wless Golden Elixirs, all other Golden Cores contained impurities.


    Ordinary powerhouses could not even absorb the energy within the Golden Core directly; too many impurities could do more harm than good.


    But Xiao Yi did not have such concerns.


    The energy he swallowed would eventually pass through the God Sealing Seed, eliminating all impurities and transforming into the purest divine power.


    This was also the reason why Xiao Yi''s vital energy was much stronger than that of martial artists of the same level.


    Xiao Yi immediately left to find a secluded ce and began to devour the Golden Core.


    It took him a full day and night.


    Xiao Yi had finally refined all the energy within the Golden Core, officially stepping into the Peak of the Shentong Realm, and the number of God Sealing Seeds broke through to two thousand, reaching two thousand and fifty.


    "It''s a pity I still cannot open the tomb of the Sword Demon Dugu. It seems I can only wait until I break through to the Golden Core Realm. However, with my current strength, plus this Green-Eyed Demon Spider''s web on hand, I should be able to take my revenge!" Xiao Yi''s eyes sparkled as he clenched his fists tightly.


    ...


    In the dark of night.


    Five powerhouses from the Nine Profound Sect were gathered around a campfire. The mes licked at the beast''s leg roasting on a rack while they discussed, "That Xiao Yi is as slippery as an eel. Who knows where he''s hiding now!"


    "Be extremely careful if you encounter Xiao Yi, he''s incredibly cunning and skilled at using poison. You''ve all heard what happened to the Yan brothers, haven''t you?"


    "Heard about it... tsk, tsk, I heard that now when they see a man, their eyes turn red..."


    As the men shared the roasted beast''s leg, a shadowy figure hidden in darkness took a piece of the meat, took a couple of bites, and asked, "Where are the Yan brothers now?"


    "They seem to be searching for Xiao Yi''s tracks near the marsh. I saw them during the day... Huh? Aren''t there only five of us? Why did six pieces get distributed?"


    A chill immediately swept over the five men.


    They all turned to look in unison at the figure in the dark. Under the orange glow of the firelight, Xiao Yi''s face was exposed in front of them.


    Hiss!


    The men gasped, "Xiao Yi? How, how did you get here?"


    "Attack him, kill him now!"


    The five men shuddered andunched their attacks together.


    However...


    Xiao Yi struck faster and more viciously than they did.


    The sword light was like a fleeting shadow, and heads dropped like kites with severed strings.


    Blood gushed like fountains, enough to douse the campfirepletely.


    Among the five were one at the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, two at the First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, and two in the Shentong Realm, but they stood no chance against Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi swallowed the piece of meat in his hand and squinted at the dim starlight in the night sky. Suddenly, his figure shed, darting through the night like a ghost, "A windy night with pitch-ck skies, a perfect time for ying..."


    PS: Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous new year! Exploding with updates tomorrow!

 Chapter 84 Have a Safe Journey

    Above the firmament, dark clouds roiled.


    They obscured the already sparse stars, shrouding the entire secret realm in an unending darkness.


    On a t piece of ground near a swamp.


    Several tents stood erect, with the central bonfire extinguished by the cold wind, leaving only bits of charcoals emitting a reddish glow.


    Inside one of the tents.


    Yan Bing and his brother leaned back to back, both with their eyes tightly closed, longbows in hand.


    Rustle, rustle!


    A faint sound, like that of fabric rubbing against something, came from outside, prompting both men to open their eyes simultaneously.


    They were both strong warriors at the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, their senses tens of times sharper than an ordinary person''s.


    Yan Bing lowered his voice, "There''s some noise outside!"


    Yan Yu nodded subtly, "Wait a little longer..."


    Outside, all was quiet.


    Suddenly...


    An icy roar erupted, "Where do you think you''re going?"


    Boom!


    A Sword Qi burst forth, shattering one of the tents. The assant was none other than Jiang Yi, the Princely Heir of the Supporting Mountain King from the Tianqing Kingdom''s royal lineage.


    Jiang Yi had reached the Peak of the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm and had also condensed a seed of Sword Intent; hisbat strength wasparable to amon warrior at the Third Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Amidst the icy Sword Qi, Xiao Yi retreated explosively, his face revealing a hint of helplessness: "What rotten luck, this guy''s Innate Divine Ability is actually Night Vision..."


    He had been about to assassinate these warriors one by one, but when attempting to assassinate Jiang Yi, his figure was exposed by Jiang Yi''s Night Vision Mystical Skill.


    If it were not for Xiao Yi having advanced further into the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm, Jiang Yi''s sword just now would have gravely wounded him!


    "Xiao Yi? You''ve got some nerve, daring to assassinate me?" Jiang Yi''s gaze was icy as he looked at Xiao Yi, his eyes sharp as des.


    Xiao Yi smiled faintly, "Is it only permitted for you to issue kill orders against me, to hunt me down at every turn, yet I''m not allowed to fight back?"


    "Hmph, Ling Feng is a lifelong friend of the crown prince; if he says you must die, then it is the crown prince who wants you dead."


    Jiang Yi''s father, the Supporting Mountain King, was a staunch supporter of the crown prince, and so was he. He icily continued, "The crown prince is the true chosen of heaven, blessed by the heavens above. If he wants you dead, you cannot escape death. Since Ling Feng has issued a kill order against you, it must be the crown prince who wants you dead. You should obediently ept your death, not resist stubbornly!"


    Xiao Yi sneered, pulling the corner of his mouth, "Cut the crap! I don''t care if you''re the prince or the emperor, if you want Xiao Yi''s life, you''d better have the skills to take it!"


    "You don''t know what''s good for you!"


    Expressionless, Jiang Yi''s eyes glowed with an oily green light under the Night Vision Mystical Skill. His figure abruptly moved, appearing behind Xiao Yi like a dark elf in an instant.


    The silver longsword in his hand split into two, one in each hand.


    Sword edges crossed, sparks flying.


    He shed towards Xiao Yi''s head!


    Xiao Yi''s sword disyed an unbelievable curvature, vertically positioned to block behind him, causing a thunderous noise as the three des shed.


    Xiao Yi used the force of the impact to surge forward, widening the distance between him and Jiang Yi. However, Jiang Yi was relentless in pursuit.


    The sound of slicing air grew closer behind him.


    Xiao Yi''s knees buckled, sliding close to the ground, while leaning back at the same time, causing Jiang Yi, who had lunged forward, to fly right over him.


    "Serpent Coiling Around the Tree!"


    One sword pierced the air, aiming for Jiang Yi''s heart.


    Seeing the icy de drawing ever nearer, Jiang Yi''s pupils shrank violently, his eyes filled with desperation.


    If this strike hit, he was certain to die!


    But just at this critical moment...


    Two arrows whistled through the air, clinking consecutively against the sword, forcibly deflecting the longsword away.


    Yan Bing and Yan Yu, one on each side, held their horn bows, arrows nocked and pointing their sharp tips at Xiao Yi.


    "Hahaha, Yan Bing, Yan Yu, you''ve arrived just in time!"


    Jiang Yi, having narrowly escaped death, was all smiles. His two swords shed, sending off blinding sparks, his eyes fixated on Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, weren''t you acting all high and mighty? Now with the Yan Brothers assisting me, let''s see how arrogant you can be!"


    Xiao Yi nced sideways at the Yan brothers, teasing, "Gentlemen, how does the Red Luo Snake Poison taste?"


    "Shut up!"


    The Yan brothers shouted in unison.


    Xiao Yi tutted, "Impressive! Who would have thought that Red Luo Snake Poison would make you two even more in sync!"


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Yan Bing and his partner released their arrows at the same time, each time executing the technique of the Nine Star Consecutive Shots. Having unleashed six rounds of Nine Star Consecutive Shots, even as skilled archers they were exhausted, and white smoke billowed from their bowstrings.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They were gasping for air heavily.


    Their bloodshot eyes were fixated on Xiao Yi, wishing they could tear him to pieces!


    The two, in order not to be eunuchs, were forced to mutually administer the antidote, which made hexes and the Red Luo Snake Poison taboo and sore points for them.


    Any mention of it would be met with death!


    "Yan Bing, Yan Yu, don''t fall for his tricks! He''s deliberately trying to enrage you¡­"


    Jiang Yi quickly spoke up. Seeing the two slowly regaining theirposure, he said solemnly, "I''ll take the main offensive and tie him down. You two look for opportunities to strike. We must take his dog life today!"


    "Rest assured!"


    "His anniversary of death wille on this day next year!"


    The two spread out, one to the left and one to the right, like venomous snakes lurking in dark corners, waiting for the right moment to deliver a deadly strike to their prey.


    Jiang Yi, with his twin swords, charged at Xiao Yi once more.


    "Fiery Meteor!"


    "Twin Peaks Prating the Ears!"


    Jiang Yi''s sword moves were no less fierce and devious, each one deadly. If Xiao Yi had not grasped the first stage of Sword Intent, he would have struggled to defend against such a frenzied offensive.


    Furthermore¡­


    There were Yan Yu and Yan Bing, the two archers of the Second Layer of the Golden Core Realm!


    "Sweeping Through a Thousand Troops!"


    Xiao Yi split Jiang Yi''s attack with his sword and was about to pursue when a chill rose from his back. It was Yan Bing and his partner simultaneously releasing their cold shots. Xiao Yi was forced to dodge, missing his chance at ying Jiang Yi!


    Jiang Yiughed proudly, "Xiao Yi, you stand no chance! However, if you kneel and beg me now, I can leave you aplete corpse!"


    Yan Bing and his partner alsoughed coldly.


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly, "Aplete corpse? Keep that for yourself!"


    "Stubborn fool!"


    Jiang Yi looked toward Yan Bing and his partner, "Attack him with all your might. I refuse to believe he can split his focus three ways!"


    One close, two at a distance.


    Under theirbined assault, the offensive grew more ferocious.


    An onught like a tempestuous storm of arrows,bined with Jiang Yi''s violent and brutal swordsmanship, every step was fraught with danger, one misstep could lead to a fatal descent into theherworld.


    Xiao Yi fought while retreating, luring the three into a dense forest.


    With the cover of the dense ancient trees, Xiao Yi''s pressure was significantly reduced. Facing Jiang Yi''s relentless attacks, Xiao Yi retreated further back until with a thud his back mmed against a tree trunk.


    "Now''s the chance!"


    "Kill him!"


    Jiang Yi and hispanions'' faces lit up with ecstatic joy.


    His figure paused, then burst forth with maximum speed, his sword moves filling the sky, sealing off all of Xiao Yi''s escape routes. At the same time, Yan Yu and Yan Bing also approached directly in front of Xiao Yi.


    Their bows sang like thunder, the arrows poured down like a downpour!


    Theirbined attack was terrifyingly overwhelming.


    But in this moment of extreme peril¡­


    Xiao Yi was not the least bit flustered, instead, he wore a look of triumph, "You''re all dead!"


    He flipped his left hand.


    Squeezing the silk sac of the Green-Eyed Demon Spider, the sounds of ''pop, pop, pop'' filled the air as streams of white spider silk shot out. In an instant, Jiang Yi and Yan Bing were wrapped tightly in silk!


    The Green-Eyed Demon Spider''s web was incredibly tough, even those in the Fourth or Fifth Layer of the Golden Core Realm could not break free in a short time if entangled.


    Tightly bound by the white spider silk, the three men were like wrapped rice dumplings, unable to move.


    Looking at Xiao Yi in terror, they said, "You¡­ you''re so vicious¡­"


    "You had this nned all along? This is your trap¡­"


    Xiao Yi grinned and waved lightly at them, "Safe travels!"


    His sword cleaved through the air, and blood spurted like fountains!


    Xiao Yi easily decapitated all three, suspending their heads on the tree trunk¡­

 Chapter 85 Who Do You Think You Are?

    The next morning at dawn.


    The corpses of Yan Yu and the other two were discovered.


    In an instant.


    Strong figures from the Royal Martial Arts Academy, the royal family, the Nine Profound Sect, Wan Fo Mountain, and Sword Mountain Manor all gathered here, led by none other than Ye Feng.


    Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, second on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List and Teng Long List.


    This person''s strength was indeed overwhelming, even surpassing Jiang Tai.


    In the younger generation of the Tianqing Kingdom, he was second only to Great Prince Jiang Shanhe. Not only did the Royal Martial Arts Academy look up to him, but the royal family''s strong men were also under his control.


    Monk Dao Yuan from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple joined his hands together, his face full ofpassion for the world, but the words he spoke sent shivers down the spine, "Ling Xiao, Xiao Yi is extremely vicious and ruthless. Two days ago, he was no match for Yan Yu and the others, but now he has killed both Yan Yu brothers and Prince Jiang Yi. If we allow him to continue growing..."


    Ye Feng examined the scene for a while and said in a deep voice, "Judging from the traces of the battle at the scene, Xiao Yi''s strength is already no weaker than an ordinary practitioner at the Third Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm!"


    Dizi Sword cradled his longsword, flicked his bangs lightly, and said in a deep voice, "When this person appeared at our Sword Mountain Manor''s Sword Tomb, his cultivation was barely into the Shentong Realm. But in just a month or two, he has grown to his current level..."


    "He must be eliminated!"


    Everyone exchanged nces.


    Ye Feng touched his hooked nose, his eyes a slit from which cold light emanated, andmanded in a deep voice, "Gather everyone. Search for Xiao Yi in groups of five. As soon as he is found, mark his location with a Thousand-Mile Tracking Talisman. We must get rid of him!"


    "Yes!"


    Everyone responded emphatically.


    Within the crowd.


    Ye Feng nced at the three heads that died with their eyes open. With a wave of his hand, he crushed them into minced meat, his gaze icy to the extreme: "Xiao Yi? Hmph, no matter your background, if you cannot be of use to the Great Prince, then you have only one path left ¨C death!"


    ......


    In the marsnds.


    Xiao Yi moved across the swamp as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water, his feet on ttened wooden boards, when suddenly, a piercing whooshing sound surrounded him.


    "Amitabha, Xiao, please stop!" a loud Buddhist chant came through.


    Dao Yuan appeared in front of him with four Golden Core Realm practitioners, and had even broken through to the Golden Elixir Realm himself.


    Five Golden Core figures, one of them a topless monk at the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes as he stared at Dao Yuan, "So it''s you. How did you find me?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Dao Yuan pressed his palms together, reciting Buddhist scriptures with a smile, "Donor Xiao, you have a karmic connection with Buddha, naturally we would meet..."


    "Monk Dao Yuan, why waste words with him? Just kill him directly!" the burly bald-headed monk said gruffly.


    Dao Yuan bowed to him and said, "Brother Dao Kuang is right. Let us kill him now and send him to the Western Paradise to meet Buddha."


    Boom!


    All five Golden Core Realm experts made their move at once.


    "What the hell is going on? No matter where I run these past few days, these guys always catch up..."


    Xiao Yi, holding a Grade Four Yuan weapon and covering his arms with the Divine Skills of the weapon, fended off thebined assault from the five experts, but inwardly he was extremely annoyed.


    For two days...


    No matter where he ran, he was quickly found by the others.


    "Xiao Yi, just surrender yourself!"


    "Stop resisting in vain!"


    Dao Yuan joined his hands together, his appearance dignified, "Donor Xiao, surrender without a fight and let this monk transform you with the Buddhist Law."


    "Transform your grandpa¡­" Xiao Yi''s eyes zed red, staring daggers at Dao Yuan, and with a sweep of his sword, "Gentle Breeze and Fallen Leaves!"


    Swish!


    As the Sword Qi swept across, the ck mud of the swamp roiled into a massive torrent, like a wall of ck mud crushing everything in its path.


    "Buddha''s Palm!"


    Dao Yuan struck out with his palm, energy condensing above it, like a small mountain crashing downwards.


    Golden Core Realm experts could already harness some of the forces of heaven and earth, capable of moving mountains and diverting rivers with their actions.


    The mud wall shattered under the crushing Buddha''s Palm.


    Countless specks of ck mud shot out in all directions.


    Dao Yuan''s body revolved with Buddha''s light; stepping into the Golden Elixir Realm elevated hisbat power. "Brother Dao Kuang, hurry and help me!"


    "Mahavairocana Palm!"


    A figure of a Great Mahavairocana Buddha seemed to appear behind Dao Yuan as he struck down with his palm, delivering a world-ending blow.


    Dao Kuang wielded a magic wand, the ringing of the golden rings on it resonating loudly, "One strike to bring down the dragon!"


    Hum!


    Golden brilliance gathered around the wand, coiling like an angry dragon as it struck down towards Xiao Yi''s head.


    The attacks of the other three followed closely behind.


    Under the joint efforts of five Golden Elixir Realm experts, Xiao Yi was overwhelmed, and even though he had just broken through to the peak of the Shentong Realm, he still found it difficult to contend with all five masters at the same time.


    "Hahaha, Monk Dao Yuan, all five of you couldn''t take down Xiao Yi, isn''t that a bit too embarrassing?"


    "Shall we lend you a hand?"


    As Xiao Yi fought fiercely against the five Golden Cores, the sound of several figures tearing through the air could be heard from not far away.


    It was Ling Feng, the Heavenly Son Sword, and others who had also tracked him down.


    Over these past few days...


    Their hunt for Xiao Yi had never ceased, and in the previous few skirmishes, Xiao Yi managed to escape, even at the expense of several of their experts.


    This made the various forces take Xiao Yi even more seriously.


    Dao Kuang snorted coldly, "My Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple has its Buddhist Law to subdue him. The rest of you stand by and prevent his escape; that will suffice!"


    Ling Fengughed heartily, "You''d better hurry up, Ye Feng is already on his way. If he arrives and you haven''t killed Xiao Yi, that head will be his!"


    The faces of Dao Kuang and the others shifted slightly.


    Ye Feng, Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, second on the Teng Long List.


    Once he makes a move,


    Indeed, there will be nothing left for them to do!


    Dao Yuan said in a deep voice, "Brother monks, give it your all!"


    Out of the ten experts the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple sent this time, only five remained. The five Golden Cores spared nothing, employing their Buddhist and Taoist cultivation techniques together.


    Facing the overwhelming onught, Xiao Yi''s expression was grave, "I must fight quickly and decisively. If Ye Feng arrives, it will be difficult for me to leave!"


    With this thought,


    His gaze towards Dao Yuan and the others now carried a chilling streak of blood-red rainbow.


    In the previous encounters, Xiao Yi had always refrained from using the Fire Qilin Sword and the Blood Explosion Skill, given thetter''s severe side effects.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi, finding himself cornered, no longer held back.


    Whoosh!


    A fiery red light zed across the sky, and the Fire Qilin Swordnded in his right hand. A red glow suffused his body, appearing like a me king.


    Boom!


    The aura on Xiao Yi''s body surged violently.


    He directly burnt thirty percent of his blood, increasing his strength thirtyfold!


    Hiss!


    The expressions of Dao Kuang, Ling Feng, and the others, who had beenposed just a moment ago, changed drastically. A thirtyfold increase in strength was akin to Xiao Yi possessing, for a short time, the cultivation level equivalent of the Third Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    With his first stage Sword Intent and the Fifth Grade Yuan Bing Fire Qilin Sword,


    Hisbat strength was enough to contend with the Sixth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm!


    "Sweeping a Thousand Armies!"


    With one sweeping strike of his sword,


    The Buddhist seals and martial techniques pushed forward by Dao Yuan and the others were instantly crushed into dust, the gold seals filling the sky, but the terrifying sword light never slowed for an instant.


    "Not good!"


    "Run!"


    The faces of Dao Yuan and the others changed rapidly as they turned to flee.


    But with Xiao Yi having burnt thirty percent of his blood, how could he let them go?


    "Chasing Stars and Moon!"


    "The Python Entwines the Tree!"


    One sword move after another filled the air, each strike iming a life.


    In the blink of an eye, only Dao Yuan was left.


    "No... don''t kill me..."


    His face filled with terror, he saw Xiao Yi advancing with sword in hand. Despair was written all over his face as he looked towards Ling Feng and the others not far away, "Ling Feng, save me..."


    Ling Feng, too, had snapped out of his shock and roared, "Xiao Yi, stop!"


    However...


    Before he could finish his sentence,


    Xiao Yi struck with his sword, splitting Dao Yuan in two.


    Ling Feng''s face twisted in fury, "You bastard, I told you to stop, how dare you kill!?"


    Xiao Yi nced sideways at Ling Feng, surrounded by a blood-colored aura, like a war god incarnate, and said coldly, "Who are you to obstruct me?"

 Chapter 86 Slay the Gods if They Block, Slay the Buddha if He Blocks!

    Xiao Yi sneered coldly, "And who are you to stop me?"


    Facing Xiao Yi''s rebuke, Ling Feng''s face suddenly turned extremely unsightly, and a sinister chill shed through his eyes.


    This Ling Feng was the top disciple of the Nine Profound Sect, with the cultivation at the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    Among the young generation of Tianqing Kingdom, he was ranked in the top five, and even the Crown Prince and others were amiable towards him.


    When had he ever been rebuked in such a manner?


    Ling Feng snorted coldly, flinging his hand dismissively, "You''re no better than a dog; I wouldn''t even need to lift a finger personally to kill you. Is Li Xian avable?"


    "Brother Ling!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Li Xian stepped forward with a fist and palm salute, standing in front of him.


    Ling Feng snorted coldly, pointing his sword at Xiao Yi, "Break his limbs, destroy his dantian, and make him kneel before me!"


    "Yes!"


    Li Xian responded with a salute.


    His body shook, and in his hand appeared a gold-iid Heavenly Treasure Hammer, a Fourth Grade Yuan weapon forged from a thousand-year Fire Cloud Stone, weighing thirteen hundred pounds.


    As he brandished it, the air roared like a tiger.


    His strength was boundless, capable of splitting mountains and crushing stones.


    Li Xian''s cultivation was not to be underestimated, at the Fifth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, he was ranked tenth on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List!


    Thud!


    The gold-iid Heavenly Treasure Hammer mmed fiercely into the ground, sending tremors through the earth as if it were shaking. The sh of his palm and the hammer''s handle emitted a piercing ng, and his eyes, wide like bull''s eyes and red asnterns, sneered, "Within three moves, your head will be mine!"


    A surrounding group of strong fighters nodded silently to themselves, "True to his nickname, ''Little Overlord'' Li Xian, he''s quite domineering!"


    "Li Xian follows the Overlord''s path¡ªcaring for none and fearing nothing. He is an expert in the Overlord Hammer Skill; it''s said that to date, no one has seen him use the fourth move..."


    "And why is that?"


    "Because... no one can withstand his first three!"


    "Doesn''t that mean Xiao Yi is as good as dead?"


    The looks from the crowd towards Xiao Yi were filled with both pity and schadenfreude.


    At that moment...


    Li Xian''s offensive was already upon him. Clenching the gold-iid Heavenly Treasure Hammer in his hands, he swung it with the wind, his ck hair iling wildly, "Overlord Hammer Skill, first move¡ªOverlord Unmatched!"


    Boom!


    The shadow of the hammer crashed down from the sky, creating consecutive afterimages as it fell overhead.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils abruptly contracted as blood surged around him, and with the Fire Qilin Sword in hand, he blocked the blow above his head. With a ng, his figure jolted violently, and the ground beneath his feet burst open with thunderous noise.


    Sand flew, and rocks scattered as the strike emptied the air.


    "Take my second hammer!"


    Worthy of the ''Little Overlord'', Li Xian was quick to follow his first hammer with a second, "Overlord Lifting a Cauldron!"


    Hum!


    The gold-iid Heavenly Treasure Hammer in his hands suddenly twirled, emitting an unsettling hum. As it spun, the hammer burst forth with blinding light, whipping up a fierce gale.


    This gale swept up.


    Like an invisible giant hand, it forcibly lifted Xiao Yi into the air, toward the sky.


    Li Xian leaped high, catching up to Xiao Yi in an instant, raising the heavy hammer in his hands, with ferociousness in his eyes. His face twisted wildly, "Overlord Stripping Armor!"


    Boom!


    This hammer was thrown with all his might.


    As it plummeted from the sky, it headed straight for Xiao Yi''s head.


    In the furious whirlwind, Xiao Yi, hanging in midair, could not escape. If hit, his head would surely shatter, it was a certain death.


    At the critical moment...


    Xiao Yi let out a cold huff, and the fourthyer of Blood Explosion Skill erupted forth.


    Blood surged around his body, his eyes as cold as twinkling stars, focusing all his strength into one sword strike, "Life! Taking!"


    This was the strongest move of the "Life-Chasing Soul Sword," and could only be performed by someone at the Golden Core Realm.


    Life Taking!


    To seize the life of an enemy!


    Whoosh!


    The tip of the sword condensed into a point, a cold gleam cut through the air, like a fiery meteor. With an explosive roar, it struck the gold-iid Heavenly Treasure Hammer, and a crisp crack echoed as the hammer shattered violently.


    "What?"


    Li Xian''s face showed disbelief as he watched the hammer''s fragments fly backwards through the air.


    A cold gleam, tinged with the blood of the world.


    Thump!


    The sword prated Li Xian''s forehead.


    Both men hit the ground.


    Xiao Yi immediately bounced off the ground, while Li Xian''s head hit the ground and exploded with a thud, his headless body lying in a pool of blood. The crowd looked on in shock, "Xiao Yi won?"


    "What just happened? How could Xiao Yi suddenly unleash such a powerful force?"


    "Little Overlord Li Xian has been killed? Xiao Yi is just at the Peak of the Shentong Realm, how, how terrifyingly talented must he be..."


    Xiao Yi''s eyes were a blood red, and with a leap, he charged into the stunned crowd.


    He had now burnt forty percent of his blood, and his body was shrouded in a bright red glow like a fountain, using the explosively increased power to ughter wildly!


    "Chasing Stars and Moons!"


    "Sweeping through a Thousand Armies!"


    "Spirit Chasing... Life Seizing..."


    Xiao Yi''s sword was one meant for killing; with every life the Fire Qilin Sword imed, its de grew only brighter, the Qilin scales and patterns bing more defined, its light dazzling.


    Pu pu pu!


    With each sweeping stroke, heads were sent flying into the air.


    "Run for it!"


    "Don''t kill me, I... I was just watching the excitement..."


    "Save me..."


    In an instant.


    The number of strong warriors that Xiao Yi had in had already surpassed ten. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple was wiped out, nearly all of the twenty royal family members were dead, only less than ten strong men from the Royal Martial Arts Academy remained, and the Nine Profound Sect had only Ling Feng left.


    Only the Heavenly and Earthly Sword Brothers remained from Mingjian Manor.


    At this moment...


    Blocking Xiao Yi''s path were the Heavenly and Earthly Sword Brothers, but even with theirbined force, they could not withstand Xiao Yi. The piercing sword''s edge whooshed by, striking both men and sending them flying.


    The Heavenly Son Sword''splexion changed, and he bellowed, "Earthly Son Sword,bine our swords!"


    "All right!"


    The Earthly Son Sword shifted his form, spinning like a top. However... the Heavenly Son Sword, who should have joined him in abined attack, spun around and dashed towards Ling Feng instead.


    Only the Earthly Son Sword remained to face Xiao Yi alone.


    "Heavenly Son Sword... you motherf..."


    With a face full of despair, the Earthly Son Sword turned back to look at Xiao Yi, "Don''t kill me¡­"


    Thud!


    The edge of the sword swept past.


    The Earthly Son Sword''s head was removed, his face a picture of despair.


    With a surge of blood, Xiao Yi dashed forward, leaving trails of ck mud in his wake as he approached the Heavenly Son Sword.


    Ling Feng''s face hardened with anger as he roared, "Stop!"


    "What are you? Get lost!" Xiao Yi sneered, his sword pointed at the Heavenly Son Sword.


    "Seeking death!"


    Ling Feng''s face grew dark, and with a pointing finger he invoked, "Destruction Finger!"


    Hum!


    The light from his finger was unparalleled.


    Xiao Yi swept his sword across, at the same time bellowing, "Get out of my way!"


    Bang!


    The dazzling aura of the giant Qi Finger collided with the Sword Qi, resulting in absolute suppression. With a roar, it shattered the sword light and then mmed into Xiao Yi.


    A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his mouth.


    Ling Feng coldly said, "You''re no match for me. Resist again, and I''ll cut you down right here!"


    "Get lost!"


    Xiao Yi bellowed in rage, burning another ten percent of his blood, increasing his strength tenfold. But having already burnt fifty percent of his blood, his face was pale as death, even dizzy.


    But Xiao Yi could no longer care about that.


    His eyes glowing red, he roared, "Today, I wish to y my enemies! Whoever dares to block my path, I''ll kill them!"


    If gods block me, I will y gods!


    If Buddhas block me, I will ughter Buddhas!


    Xiao Yi''s sword cut through the air; under the disbelieving gaze of the Heavenly Son Sword, he bisected him. Then, turning around and channeling all his strength, he unleashed his strongest strike, "Life... Seizing!"


    This strikended directly on Ling Feng.


    Qi surged around Ling Feng, forming Qi shields in front of him.


    But in the face of Xiao Yi''s deadly strike, the Qi shields burst apart, and with a loud bang, it hit Ling Feng.


    Wow!


    Ling Feng was sent flying backward, blood streaming from his seven orifices. He sported a horrendous sword wound across his chest. The wound was bone-deep, covered in blood. Xiao Yi was about to follow up on his attack,


    Just as he was about to strike,


    He saw in the distance a terrifying aura rapidly approaching. Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly constricted, "Ye Feng?"


    "Xiao Yi, your death is certain..."


    Ling Feng, dragging his heavily wounded body, rushed toward Ye Feng, shouting, "Ye Feng, Xiao Yi is here, kill him now!"


    "I''ll spare your dog''s life today, but I''lle for itter!"


    Xiao Yi gave Ling Feng a cold look, then turned and in an instant, vanished into the thick miasma and mist above the swamp...

 Chapter 87 Immortals, Demons, Ghosts, and Gods All Listen

    Xiao Yi did not know how long he had run.


    He had long left the swamp and entered a grey and hazy mountain range.


    Between the towering peaks, a raging river cut across thendscape, its giant waves crashing against the shore''s chaotic rocks and cliffs, sending up sprays of white foam.


    The bloody light on his body had grown increasingly dim, a sign that the power surge from the Blood Explosion Skill was rapidly fading, and once this energy was depleted.


    Xiao Yi would also faint from excessive blood loss and weakness.


    After all.


    He had consumed a full fifty percent of his blood!


    "To think that so many people couldn''t kill you, you really do have arge life!" In the midst of his frantic escape, a cold voice made Xiao Yi''s whole body shudder.


    He looked toward the source of the voice.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    About a dozen meters ahead of him stood Zhang Tianyi, in flowing white garments, arms crossed and a yful look on his face.


    "Zhang Tianyi?" Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes.


    Zhang Tianyi''s face was full of amusement as he sized Xiao Yi up and down, his eyes burning with passion: "Peak Divine Skills, capable of bursting forth with powerparable to the Sixth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm in an instant, this must be the secret technique you brought from the Xiao Family, right?"


    The Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty, a family now extremely hot in the Heavenly Yuan Realm.


    The name of the Xiao Family was astonishingly well-known.


    In Zhang Tianyi''s eyes, the only way Xiao Yi could possess such a powerful secret technique was thanks to the gifted Xiao Tianjiao of the Xiao Family.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, feeling a chill surge up his back: "Have you been watching the whole time?"


    He had never expected that during the previous battle, Zhang Tianyi had been spying on the sidelines?


    If Zhang Tianyi had made a move then, wouldn''t he be on a path with no return?


    Zhang Tianyi nodded, smiling slightly: "I have been there since you fought with Dao Yuan and the others. I was nning to kill you, but after seeing the secret technique you used, I changed my mind!"


    With the power of the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, Zhang Tianyi could have easily killed Xiao Yi had he taken action.


    But after witnessing Xiao Yi y Dao Kuang with the Blood Explosion Skill, boosting his strength by dozens of times, he changed his mind.


    He had followed Xiao Yi until he left, tailing him all along, with the sole aim of seizing this secret technique for himself!


    If he could master such a technique, he even had the confidence to contend with the powerhouses of the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Zhang Tianyi spoke unhurriedly, "Simply hand over the secret technique you used, and I can spare you your life!"


    Xiao Yi sneered, "Want my secret technique? Go ask King Yama for it in hell!"


    Boom!


    The bloody light around Xiao Yi was dazzling, as if he were a blood-colored War God holding the Fire Qilin Sword and cutting across the sky.


    A bloody wave swept across Changkong.


    The sharp edge of the sword aura seemed to tear apart space itself, cleaving through mountains and rivers.


    Zhang Tianyi coldly smiled and with a flick of his finger, a "thud" shattered the terrifying sword wave. At the same time, with a casual flick of his finger, a terrifying wave of energy surged forth, hitting Xiao Yi with a loud bang.


    Xiao Yi trembled all over, the bloody light around him faded substantially, and his face grew even paler. He struggled to stand up, but spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, stumbled, and was about to fall when his body abruptly stopped.


    His eyes were filled with rage, and his hands clutched at his throat desperately.


    Zhang Tianyi, with one hand in the air, making a gesture as though grabbing something, summoned an invisible force that formed a hand and tightly gripped Xiao Yi''s neck, lifting him: "Killing you is like crushing an ant. If you don''t want to die, hand over the secret technique obediently!"


    At that moment...


    A chilling voice suddenly rang out, apanied by a surging tide of energy, which with a bang, shattered Zhang Tianyi''s energy hand: "Xiao Yi is prey favored by the crown prince, do you also dare to snatch food from the tiger''s mouth?"


    "Ye Feng?"


    Zhang Tianyi raised his eyebrows, then with a wave of his hand, he grabbed Xiao Yi again, "If Jiang Shanhe were here, I might fear him a bit, but you think you can stop me?"


    "I''ve wanted to test my skills against you for a while now!"


    Ye Feng''s expression was stone cold as his iron fist cleaved through the air; ck Qi condensed into thousands of red leaves, swirling and forming a massive red wave that furiously rolled toward Zhang Tianyi.


    The impact of their attacks was earth-shattering.


    And their strength was evenly matched.


    For a time, neither could gain the upper hand over the other; instead, it was Xiao Yi who repeatedly suffered from the aftershocks of their strikes, his injuries growing more severe.


    "One leaf signals theing of autumn!"


    "A sliver of sky!"


    The two struck simultaneously, and two terrifying energies collided, creating a force that could destroy heaven and earth,pletely annihting a small mountain.


    Xiao Yi''s figure was sent flying once again, he came within a hair''s breadth of the surging, never-ending river.


    "Indeed worthy of being a paramount existence in the Tian Kingdom!" A grave expression spread across Ye Feng''s face.


    Zhang Tianyi snorted coldly and said with sped hands, "The feeling''s mutual!"


    Ye Feng said, "Zhang Tianyi, neither of us can do anything to the other, but Xiao Yi is the prey coveted by the crown prince. This man has transformed from the Physical Body Realm into a strengthparable to the Golden Core Realm in just half a year; he is an asset that the crown prince is determined to possess!"


    Discover stories at empire


    "What? Are you saying he advanced from the Physical Body Realm to his current strength in just half a year?" Zhang Tianyi was taken aback and asked incredulously.


    Half a year!


    Even though they were also considered prodigies, it would be good if they could break through one or two minor realms in half a year.


    Xiao Yi had crossed the Physical Body, Qi Gathering, and Divine Skills realms?


    Zhang Tianyi''s gaze toward Xiao Yi was filled with burning desire as he said solemnly, "Ye Feng, I do not wish to be enemies with Jiang Shanhe, but the secrets Xiao Yi holds are far too important. I absolutely cannot let them go. What do you say we share his secrets?"


    "Share?" Ye Feng was taken aback.


    Zhang Tianyi nodded, speaking coldly, "If you take him back to Jiang Shanhe, the secrets you end up with won''t be yours. But if you and I obtain all his secrets here, then how he broke through three realms in half a year, and how he, at the peak of Divine Skills, possesses fighting strengthparable to the fiveyers of the Golden Core Realm, will be our secrets¡­"


    Huff-puff!


    Huff-puff!


    Ye Feng''s breathing became heavy, and his blood-red tongue licked his lips. He focused and said, "But what if he doesn''t talk?"


    "Not talk?"


    Zhang Tianyi sneered viciously, "If he stays silent for one moment, I will cripple his cultivation; two moments, I''ll break his meridians. Three moments of silence, I''ll cut off his limbs... If he still doesn''t talk, doesn''t he have a wife? We''ll capture her. If he stays silent for a moment, I''ll find ten men; two moments, I''ll find a hundred men... Let''s see if he talks then!"


    Ye Feng gulped down a mouthful of saliva, his gaze filled with pity as he looked at Xiao Yi and chuckled wickedly, "Xiao Yi, you can only me yourself for offending those you shouldn''t have!"


    "I... I offended your mother!"


    Xiao Yi, who had finally regained his senses, struggled to his feet, every word of their conversation not missing his ears. His eyes were filled with bloody ferocity. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Ye Feng, Zhang Tianyi, and Jiang Shanhe... I, Xiao Yi, have never intentionally provoked you, yet you seek to push me toward death at every turn."


    Boom!


    With one step, Xiao Yi moved, and icy coldness glinted in his eyes as he spoke with deliberate emphasis, "I, Xiao Yi, swear here today, if I do not die, I will drench Tian in blood and ughter my way through the Royal Martial Arts Institute!"


    "This vow, witnessed by the sun and the moon, acknowledged by heaven and earth!"


    "Let gods and demons alike listen..."


    The rumble of thunder!


    In the void, there seemed to be thunder tearing the sky apart, lightning shing across the heavens!


    The murderous intent in his oath and the bloodlust in Xiao Yi''s eyes sent chills down their spines, leaving them exchanging looks of shock.


    It was as if they had truly seen a terrifying demon god, wielding a sword, stepping through the Royal Martial Arts Academy, shattering the Tian Kingdom, and ying its rising stars!


    "Not good!"


    "Stop him..."


    The two were jolted, but then they saw Xiao Yi leap into the rapid river. Thunder roared, and silver lightning illuminated his fiercely cold face. Yet even under the mor of thunder, Xiao Yi''s voice was crystal clear, "Keep your filthy lives, wait for me to im them!"

 Chapter 88 Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards, to destroy in order to establish!

    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Huge waves churned within the river, and the surging tides threw up a sky full of white mist against the banks.


    Xiao Yi''s figure was swallowed up by the river water in an instant, disappearing without a trace, while Ye Feng and Zhang Tianyi stood by the riverbank and pursued downstream.


    After chasing for over thirty miles, Xiao Yi''s whereabouts were still nowhere to be found.


    "Over thirty miles, even at our peak, survival would not be possible..."


    "Damn it, one misstep leads to eternal regret! How could the two of us not have been on guard for Xiao Yi jumping into the river? What do we do now?"


    Naturally, the two men weren''t grieving over the death of a rabbit or the sorrow of a fox¡ªthey werementing Xiao Yi''s passing.


    They were simply regretting that they were unable to extract the many secrets from Xiao Yi.


    Ye Feng spoke in a heavy voice, "It''s better that he''s dead!"


    Before his mind shed the words Xiao Yi had said before jumping into the river, that even gods and demons must listen, what an overbearing aura. Even gods and demons were to obey hismands, abide by his vows. Discover hidden content at empire


    Zhang Tianyi fell into silence for a moment, his eyes cold with a hint of gloom: "Even if he not dead, what is there to fear? If we could kill him once, we can kill him a second time!"


    "Enough!"


    Ye Feng took a deep breath and looked towards the depths of the secret realm, "The ancient tomb is right ahead, we should hurry and head over there!"


    The two men immediately left.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ...


    The river water was turbulent, like a raging dragon tossing and turning.


    Downstream from where Xiao Yi had jumped into the river, a hundred miles away, there was a waterfall.


    Rumble!


    The waterfall cascaded down three thousand feet, the massive column of water like an angry dragon falling from the sky, mming viciously into the pool below, sending waves hundreds of meters high into the air.


    All of a sudden...


    Xiao Yi was washed away by the swift river water, plummeting from the waterfall. The fall was three thousand feet high, and if he were to crash into the pool, it would surely be a dead end.


    But at this critical juncture.


    A crack sounded from his embrace, followed by a small figure surrounded by a faint silver glow that wrapped around Xiao Yi, its silver light turning into a silver sphere.


    Shielding Xiao Yi''s body, it smashed into the pool with a thud.


    Then the silver figure twisted its body, carrying Xiao Yi deep into the bottom of the pool. In the pitch-ck depths, hundreds of meters down, suddenly there was a light.


    The silver figure, taking Xiao Yi with it, dived right in.


    In the quiet cavern within.


    Suddenly, bubbles burst forth from the crystal-clearke, popping the moment they surfaced, with a streak of silver light shing up.


    It was the silver snake, clutching Xiao Yi as it surged out from the water.


    Both man and serpentnded on thekeshore.


    The silver snake wove around Xiao Yi''s chest, sensing the life force within him growing fainter and fainter. Determination and an almost human resolve shed in the snake''s eyes. Opening its mouth, it revealed two needle-like fangs.


    Pff!


    It struck right above Xiao Yi''s heart.


    Thump! Thump!


    Xiao Yi''s heartbeat suddenly became rapid and powerful. His pale face flushed with color, but the silver snake seemed listless,zily sprawled on his chest, asionally lifting its head with a human-like worry in its eyes.


    In the darkness.


    A magnificent voice, like thunder rolling across the sky, shook the heavens, its sound captivating all realms: "Without destruction, there can be no establishment..."


    "Only through destruction can there be renewal!"


    Inside Xiao Yi, the God Sealing Seed suddenly boomed, and the power of God Sealing fell like oil onto the fire of hope: "I am a General whomands the heavens, destined to battle against the heavens and earth, to seal gods and suppress demons, invincible in all the world..."


    Rumble!


    In the darkness before Xiao Yi, a sun appeared, its radiant light expelling vast swaths of darkness.


    Boom!


    The dark world violently burst apart.


    At the same time...


    Xiao Yi''s eyes suddenly snapped open, and in his mind emerged a path, his path of martial arts, the path of the invincible!


    Almost at the very moment Xiao Yi grasped this path of the invincible, in the deepest part of the ancient Eternal Tomb, among the nine pyramid-like tombs, the one on the far left trembled violently.


    But it was quickly suppressed by the might of the Eternal Tomb!


    Golden light circted around Xiao Yi, and inside him, the God Sealing Seed came to life, as countless forces of God Sealing surged out, converging at his dantian.


    The cyclone condensed, spinning wildly, and at the same time, it rapidly shrank.


    Eventually, it turned into a ck pill the size of a walnut.


    "With me, invincible!"


    Xiao Yi''s countenance was dignified, and amid a cold shout, the power of the God Sealing Seed frantically assaulted the ck pill. Amid the crisp cracking sounds, the dark shell of the ck pill shattered, breaking away piece by piece.


    A strand of golden light brought forth patches of golden rainbows.


    Finally, it transformed into a walnut-sized Golden Core, floating in the center of his dantian.


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation officially entered the Golden Core Realm!


    Above this Golden Core, a golden ring slowly emerged, indicating the First Layer of the Golden Core Realm. The ring was inscribed with profound and mysterious runes, exuding an ancient and vicissitudinous oppression.


    Sssss!


    The silver snake in his embrace shrank in fear, curling up in Xiao Yi''s arms, basking in the golden light. Its body, originally pure silver, slowly gained threads of gold.


    Boom!


    The vital energy of the First Layer of the Golden Core Realm within Xiao Yi surged wildly into the God Sealing Seed, like a vast ocean pouring into rivers,pletely activating each and every God Sealing Seed.


    Two thousand.


    Two thousand five hundred.


    Three thousand...


    The number soared to five thousand before finally stopping.


    The force of the five thousand God Sealing Seeds converging turned back into his body. After stepping into the Golden Core Realm, this power from the seeds became even stronger!


    With Xiao Yi''s current First Layer of the Golden Core Realm cultivation, even without using the Blood Explosion Skill, he could easily vanquish a practitioner of the Fourth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    "Five thousand God Sealing Seeds, should be enough to inherit his legacy, right?" Xiao Yi''s eyes shone.


    The breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm and the devouring of Xina''s heaven and earth vital energy alleviated the weakness caused by his excessive blood loss.


    Xiao Yi''s figure shed as he entered the Eternal Tomb.


    His eyes sharpened, falling upon the tomb that buried the Sword Demon Dugu, his eyes brimming with an eager fighting spirit, and Sword Intent surged forth like mad: "Suppress!"


    Hum!


    Between his palms, a "Suppress" character inscription fell like a towering mountain.


    Rumble!


    The entire tomb exploded with a st.


    A man dressed in green robes, tall and straight like a pine, with pride like a sword, stood with his hands behind his back. His eyes were as sharp as sword edges, forbidding others to look directly. His gaze rested on Xiao Yi.


    An earth-shaking Sword Intent soared to the heavens.


    The number one expert of the Blue Star Realm, Sword Demon Dugu, became the sword, and the sword became him, reaching the realm where man and sword were one.


    He pointed a single finger, yet it seemed as if a divine sword hung in the sky!


    This sword shone with thousands of glimmers, like a great sun towering in the sky, shing down towards Xiao Yi.


    "im... Life!"


    God Sealing force around Xiao Yi condensed into a sky-piercing sharp sword. This sword, like a meteor tearing through the sky, collided fiercely with another sword light. It was a sh of needlepoint against wheat, with terrifying power spreading in all directions.


    He did not use the power of the God Sealing force to overpower the Sword Demon Dugu; instead, he chose sword against sword!


    This was the dignity and pride of a swordsman!


    Clink clink ng!


    Sword techniques collided, and the two fought countless exchanges.


    Xiao Yi''s sword moves constantly evolved, while the Sword Demon Dugu simply swung his sword in the simplest manner. No sophisticated sword techniques were used, yet they contained the essence of the great way.


    The sword follows the heart.


    Truly powerful swordsmen rely not on sword techniques, but on Sword Intent!


    Everything moves with the heart.


    Where the thought goes, the sword edge follows!


    With this realization,


    Xiao Yi no longer used sword techniques, but simply wielded his sword against his opponent, the duel flowing like clouds and water, bing more and more proficient. After a bout, without any hesitation and devoid of any sword technique, Xiao Yi swung his sword.


    Pff!


    With that sword, he cut off a strand of Sword Demon Dugu''s hair.


    The Sword Demon Dugu startled, a meaningful smile spread across his face, his figure flickered, and he turned into a ray of light that entered into the God Sealing Seed, transforming into an aloof silhouette standing with hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky.


    At the same time...


    Xiao Yi''s mind received the life-long sword understanding of Sword Demon Dugu. His Sword Intent reached a new level, attaining the state where the sword follows the heart!


    Beyond that.


    There was also a set of sword techniques known as the "Solitary Nine Swords"!


    If measured by the standards of this era, this set of sword techniques would be considered a high-grade fourth-tier technique. Whenbined with the second phase of Sword Intent, where the sword follows the heart, it would beparable to a fifth-tier sword technique!


    "The First Layer of the Golden Core Realm, second phase of Sword Intent, aided by the ''Solitary Nine Swords''. With my currentbat power, even without the Blood Explosion Skill, I should be able to kill someone at the Fifth Layer of the Golden Core Realm."


    A hint of anticipation appeared on Xiao Yi''s face: "Ye Feng, Zhang Tianyi, clean your necks and wait for me..."

 Chapter 89 Martial Dao Divine Fruit

    Hiss hiss!


    Xiao Yi stopped mid-sentence as the silver snake poked its head out, flicking its scarlet tongue, while its amber eyes fixed on Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi was momentarily stunned, then he remembered the moment he had jumped into the river earlier, when the beast egg in his arms had cracked and hatched this little creature.


    It was this very creature that had dragged him into the deep waters, allowing him to avoid being pursued and killed by Ye Feng and Zhang Tianyi.


    It had also led him to this cave.


    And at a critical moment, it had bitten him, infusing life force into his body.


    "Little guy, thank you for saving me!" Xiao Yi rubbed the head of the silver snake.


    The little snake nuzzled against Xiao Yi''s palm willingly, winding along his hand and climbing onto his shoulder, flicking its tongue, its eyes filled with worry and inquiry.


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, the little fellow seemed quite human-like. He smiled and said, "I''m fine, don''t worry!"


    This time, disaster had turned into a blessing.


    The continuous battles,bined with the explosion of the Blood Explosion Skill, had taken his already Peak of the Divine Ability Realm cultivation to the next level, stepping into the Golden Core Realm.


    Within the dantian.


    That golden-yellow Golden Core bobbed and drifted, surrounded by a golden halo.


    In the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, one revolution of the Golden Core indicated oneyer.


    With each rise in realm, an additional halo would appear, and now, he had also acquired the Sword Demon Dugu''s lifelong understanding of the sword, along with the Solitary Nine Swords and the second stage of Sword Intent, where the sword follows the heart. Readtest stories on empire


    Xiao Yi''s strength had now made a dramatic advance.


    Hiss hiss!


    The silver snake slithered swiftly to the ground, moving forward a certain distance before turning back to look at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi, surprised, asked, "Are you asking me to follow you?"


    Hiss hiss!


    The silver snake nodded.


    Xiao Yi followed it.


    A man and a snake, moving farther and farther within the dim cave.


    Drip drop drip drop!


    The entire cave was deathly silent, with only the sound of water droplets echoing, adding a somber tone. The faint silver light emitted by the silver snake lit up the ground, with Xiao Yi closely following.


    The silver snake ahead suddenly stopped, spinning in ce and making urgent hissing noises.


    Xiao Yi, startled, approached and saw that right at the spot where the silver snake was circling, there was a corpse. The corpse had been covered by thick soil and stones, but as the silver snake continued to move, it brushed away the earthen cover, revealing its true face.


    "This is..." Xiao Yi stepped forward to investigate.


    The body had been dead for a long time, leaving only a skeleton.


    But it was this very skeleton that made Xiao Yi''s face turn pale with shock.


    Within the skeleton was a fist-sized, emerald-green fruit.


    "The Martial Dao Divine Fruit? How is this possible?" Xiao Yi picked up the green fruit, confirmed it was real, and an astonished look spread across his face.


    The Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    This was the Dao Fruit that formed within a martial artist after they broke through to the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    If such a Martial Dao Divine Fruit were to appear in the outside world, it would certainly cause a bloodbath, because one such fruit represented a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse!


    At the peak of the Golden Elixir, refining a single Martial Dao Divine Fruit would allow one to step into the Cmity Realm.


    Of course...


    There are downsides to consuming this fruit to enter the Cmity Realm, as it will make further breakthroughs much more difficult. However, for the vast majority of the strong, reaching the Cmity Realm is something they can only dream of.


    It''s just that...


    How could the body of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert appear here?


    Moreover, looking at the body, all the bones were shattered, obviously killed by someone who brutally broke all their bones.


    Hiss hiss!


    A silver snake brought a storage ring to Xiao Yi''s palm, and with a drop of blood, Xiao Yi made the ring recognize him as its master. However, inside the ring was merely an empty space with only a parchment scroll.


    Xiao Yi focused his gaze, and as he looked, his pupils suddenly dted, "If someone sees this letter, then it proves I am already dead. I do not know how long it has been, perhaps people have already forgotten my name. I am Wang Tianqi, the first headmaster of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy of Tianqing Kingdom. However..."


    As Xiao Yi read on, the shock and astonishment on his face intensified.


    This Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse turned out to be the founder of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, a genuine Tao Tribtion Realm expert. Xiao Yi had heard of him from Gu Junhe, it could be said that Tianqi Martial Arts Academy''s rise and fall were both because of Wang Tianqi!


    It was precisely because Wang Tianqi was stationed there that the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy could be the number one martial arts academy of Tianqing Kingdom.


    But over five hundred years ago...


    Wang Tianqi mysteriously vanished, and from then on, the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy began to decline, and now has but a few disciples left.


    Xiao Yi had never imagined that Wang Tianqi would appear here, and ording to the parchment scroll, over five hundred years ago, Wang Tianqi and two other Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses from Tian Kingdom and Purple Robe Kingdom were abducted by a mysterious being.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    And the being that took them away only wanted them to build a tomb for him!


    To have Tao Tribtion Realm experts build his tomb, one could fathom how terrifying that being was!


    Surely he was a being of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, or perhaps even from the Longevity Secret Realm!


    At that time, the being promised that as long as theypleted the tomb, he would let them go, but Wang Tianqi was cautious and secretly dug a tunnel leading to the deepest part of the ancient tomb.


    He had intended to enter the ancient tombter on.


    But when the tomb waspleted, that being unexpectedly struck and killed the three of them, ensuring they would rest forever within the burial site.


    Wang Tianqi''s body was different from an ordinary person''s, and he did not die on the spot.


    He managed to escape the ancient tomb through the secret tunnel.


    But he died here soon after escaping, gravely injured. Before his death, he left this parchment scroll: "Lucky one, this parchment bears the secret tunnel route map I left behind... Even in death, I wish to see his tomb desecrated... Wang Tianqi''s final words!"


    Hiss!


    Xiao Yi stared at the parchment for a long time, unable to snap out of his reverie.


    Everyone thought this was the ancient tomb of a Tao Tribtion Realm expert, yet it was the tomb of a being suspected to be from the Dharma Manifestation Realm, or even the Longevity Secret Realm!


    "So it seems Zhou Yuan and the others did not find the real tomb; does that mean the true treasures of this ancient tomb are still intact? They merely took some trifling benefits?" Xiao Yi''s eyes gleamed as heughed heartily.


    Zhou Yuan and other experts at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak spent two months excavating the Secret Realm, thinking they had taken away the best treasures.


    They never imagined...


    What they got was merely trivial gains!


    Hiss hiss!


    The silver snake tilted its head, seemingly puzzled as to why Xiao Yi wasughing.


    Xiao Yi hugged the snake tightly and kissed it fiercely; if not for this little critter, he might never have discovered Wang Tianqi''s remains, nor obtained this parchment: "Little guy, you truly are my lucky star! It''s not good to keep calling you little guy, so considering your silver scales... from now on, I will call you Little Lin. How does Xiao Lin sound for a grand name?"


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin tilted its head,pletely baffled.


    Xiao Yi casually collected Wang Tianqi''s remains and Martial Dao Divine Fruit into his storage ring, preparing to take them out for a proper burial and to establish a memorial.


    Looking at the parchment in his hand, Xiao Yi flicked Little Lin''s head lightly, "Little Lin, let''s dig a grave!"


    A tomb of a Dharma Manifestation Realm, or even a Longevity Secret Realm expert!


    What exactly was inside?


    Xiao Yi''s heart was filled with curiosity and anticipation...


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 90 Killing with a Single Finger

    The routes marked on the parchment were extremely detailed.


    In just half a day, Xiao Yi had entered the main burial chamber. At each of the four corners of the main tomb was a greenntern that had been burning for at least five hundred years, judging by the time of Wang Tianqi''s disappearance.


    That they still shone brightly was truly astonishing!


    There were two corpses within the ancient tomb.


    They must have been martial artists from the Tao Tribtion Realm of the Tian Kingdom and the Purple Robe Kingdom, captured alongside Wang Tianqi to construct the ancient tomb, only to die right on this spot, unfortunately.


    Their Martial Dao Divine Fruitsy quietly within the skulls.


    Xiao Yi collected each of the Martial Dao Divine Fruits, "Just these three Martial Dao Divine Fruits are worth a fortune, I''m afraid they might be even more valuable than all the gains of Zhou Yuan and Gu the elder at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm..."


    Just as Xiao Yi had thought...


    The treasures obtained by Zhou Yuan and Gu Junhe weren''t many. After all, the ancient tombs in the Tao Tribtion Realm outside were just a decoy, and all their treasuresbined couldn''tpare to a single Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    Plus, as the peak Golden Elixir Realm martial artists divided the treasures among themselves, each person''s share was not significant.


    But Xiao Yi alone had obtained three Martial Dao Divine Fruits!


    What''s more important was...


    The most precious and mysterious thing in the entire burial ground was the bronze ancient coffin at the very center!


    The four corners of the bronze ancient coffin each had a divine beast statue, modeled after the images of The Four Divine Beasts: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, ck Tortoise, supporting the ancient coffin.


    The coffin was covered with a myriad of mysterious runes, with strange patterns connected to each other, emitting a faint golden glow.


    Ancient, vicissitudes of time, heavy, solemn, mysterious!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Little Lin shrunk in Xiao Yi''s arms, although this little guy had just been born, it already possessed the strengthparable to a third-order high-level demon beast.


    Definitely considered gifted!


    Its little eyes stared at the ancient coffin, gently flicking its tongue as if asking Xiao Yi what was inside.


    Xiao Yi rubbed Little Lin''s head and ced his hands on the bronze ancient coffin.


    ng!


    The lid of the coffin was suddenly flung open by him.


    A surge of golden light shot up into the sky, obscuring the entire tomb. When the light quietly dimmed, whaty within the ancient coffin was revealed before Xiao Yi.


    "This¡­"


    Xiao Yi was dumbfounded.


    Inside the ancient coffin, the burial wasn''t a corpse but a pitch-ck jade box, and surrounding the jade box were luminous, transparent stones that glittered with spiritual light.


    Spirit Stones!


    The word surfaced in Xiao Yi''s mind.


    These Spirit Stones, which could only form in spirit veins where the heavenly and earth''s essence was incredibly condensed, were categorized into lower, middle, upper, and top grades.


    But even the lowest grade Spirit Stone was worth a fortune!


    ording to what Xiao Yi knew, a single lower-grade Spirit Stone, if converted to gold coins, was worth a hundred thousand, and they were priceless!


    Besides the jade box in the ancient coffin, there were over a thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones, more than a hundred middle-grade ones, and even ten upper-grade ones!


    To put it bluntly...


    Just these Spirit Stones alone exceeded the gains of Zhou Yuan and others!


    "What''s inside this jade box?" Xiao Yi collected the Spirit Stones and held the jade box, attempting to discover its secrets.


    Yet, despite all his efforts, he couldn''t open it.


    "Topel an existence suspected from the Dharma Manifestation Realm, or even the Longevity Secret Realm, to abduct three martial artists from the Tao Tribtion Realm to construct a tomb and bury it, this cannot be an ordinary item! I''ll take it back and find a way to open itter!"


    Xiao Yi stored the jade box away.


    He sat cross-legged before the ancient coffin.


    He took out a lower-grade Spirit Stone and circted his mysterious arts as a stream of pure heavenly and earthly essence flowed into his body. This energy was vast and pure, immediately swallowed up.


    "No wonder all martial artists are so eager for Spirit Stones; this is indeed an excellent aid for cultivation!" Spirit Stones were the essence of heaven and earth condensed to the extreme, materialized into substance.


    The energy within was purer than that of the dantian and medicinal pills.


    Xiao Yi kept devouring them.


    A single lower-grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to ten days of arduous cultivation, and at Xiao Yi''s current level of cultivation, he could devour a lower-grade Spirit Stone in about half an incense stick''s time.


    One by one, the Spirit Stones in his hands were refined.


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation level also kept rising, and in the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. Xiao Yi had devoured more than a thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones.


    His cultivation level had broken through to the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm!


    As the umted essence of the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm surged wildly into the God Sealing Seed within his body, Xiao Yi''s God Sealing Seed gained another fifteen thousand seeds, reaching a total of twenty thousand!


    ```


    Twenty thousand God Sealing Seeds reflected the power of divinity, causing Xiao Yi''sbat strength to swell once again.


    With his current level ofbat strength...


    Even without using the Blood Explosion Skill, he can effortlessly crush a Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm expert, and when he exercises his full power, even an Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm opponent might be a match!


    "The time is almost up; they should have entered the ancient tomb by now!" A cold gleam shed across Xiao Yi''s eyes.


    He then left the true main tomb ording to the secret passage indicated on the parchment.


    The exit of the main tomb turned out to be beneath the stele at the entrance to the false tomb.


    Only from the inside could the stele be flipped; from the outside, it gave away no signs at all. As Xiao Yi left the secret passage, the stele reverted to its original state.


    "This must be the false tomb designed to mislead the world. Judging by Ye Feng and their speed, they should be in here¡­" Standing at the entrance to the false tomb, Xiao Yi pondered for a moment before stepping inside.


    The tomb passage was long and narrow, with traps destroyed by brute force visible everywhere ¨C clearly the handiwork of Zhou Yuan and the others.


    He continued on his way.


    The scent of blood in the air grew stronger.


    Xiao Yi slowed his pace, spotting many corpses along the way, mostly from the Purple Robe Kingdom, causing him to frown: "Why are people from the Purple Robe Kingdom dying here?"


    Suddenly...


    Intense sounds of fighting came from ahead, and Yue Ling''er''s exasperated voice could be heard: "Ling Feng, how dare you kill my subordinates? Aren''t you afraid of my cousin punishing you for your crimes?"


    "Hehe, His Highness the Seventh Prince is strong and a powerful contender for the Crown Prince position, one who my Nine Profound Sect cannot afford to offend. However, a dead prince has no standing to punish me, right?" Ling Feng''s voice was smug and fearless.


    The Nine Profound Sect was already supporting the eldest prince.


    Now that Ye Feng and Zhang Tianyi had joined forces against Jiang Tai, putting him in danger of not being able to protect himself, Ling Feng naturally became even more brazen.


    Yue Ling''er, with her back against the rocky walls of the tomb passage, had a trace of crimson at the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with despair: "Cousin... I told you not to seek revenge for Xiao Yi. You wouldn''t listen, and now look where we are... We''re all going to die here..."


    The moment Jiang Tai learned of Xiao Yi''s "death," he immediately sought out Ye Feng and fought him.


    But with Zhang Tianyi''s support, Ye Feng not only avoided death at Jiang Tai''s hands but instead the two of them teamed up to attack Jiang, forcing him into a retreat to the inside of the ancient tomb.


    Yue Ling''er intervened to help Jiang Tai, which resulted in the death of her own subordinates.


    And now, even she faced death at Ling Feng''s hands.


    "Time to depart!"


    With a malevolentugh, Ling Feng raised his hand, and the sharp de thrust straight at Yue Ling''er.


    It was at this critical juncture...


    A figure suddenly appeared in front of Yue Ling''er, and with a ng, Ling Feng''s fierce sword thrust was blocked.


    The tomb passage fell into dead silence, with not a sound to be heard.


    Yue Ling''er''s phoenix eyes opened slightly wide, herrge, watery eyes fluttering in shock. Ling Feng was ck-jawed, his sword firmly mped between two fair fingers, trapped and unable to advance or retreat!


    Both individuals stared at the figure before them in disbelief, uttering his name: "Xiao... Xiao Yi?"


    Xiao Yi slowly lifted his head, the corners of his mouth lifting as he looked at Ling Feng: "We meet again!"


    "You... you''re not dead?"


    Ling Feng drew in a sharp breath.


    Xiao Yi replied indifferently, "I''m not dead. Does that disappoint you?"


    "How could that be? Heh, I''m too pleased for words that you''re alive..."


    Ling Feng recovered from his initial shock, then sneered, "I was regretting not being able to kill you with my own hands. Now, you can go die!"


    Whoosh!


    Ling Feng''s weapon tore through the air, a mighty strike descending swiftly.


    "Be careful!"


    Yue Ling''er yelled out a warning.


    Yet Xiao Yi merely raised his hand and sent out a finger strike.


    Hum!


    That one finger, like the reemergence of a peerless divine sword in this world, shed with a ng against Ling Feng''s assault, then with a thud pierced Ling Feng''s brow.


    Thump!


    Ling Feng''s body shuddered, his face still twisted in ferocity, but now devoid of life!


    Hiss!


    Yue Ling''er inhaled sharply, speechless and with eyes wide open in astonishment.


    Ling Feng, a Sixth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm martial artist, had been killed by a single finger from Xiao Yi?


    ```

 Chapter 91 Ancestors and Clans

    Ling Feng was at the Golden Elixir Realm Sixth Layer Cultivation, serving as the chief top disciple of the Nine Profound Sect.


    Before this¡­


    Xiao Yi had to resort to the Blood Explosion Skill, burning thirty percent of his blood to contend against him, but now, having broken through to the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, Xiao Yi needed only a flick of his fingers to y him.


    This was the enhancement ofbat power that came with a foundation in cultivation.


    Yue Ling''er stared in disbelief, unable toprehend what she was seeing in this young man before her.


    When they had first entered the secret realm,


    she had on multiple asions advised Jiang Tai to keep his distance from Xiao Yi, believing Xiao Yi''s cultivation to be unimpressive and only a harbinger of trouble that would undoubtedly drag Jiang Tai down.


    What she could never have anticipated was Xiao Yi''s growth to his current realm in the mere half-month since the opening of the secret realm.


    Gulp!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Yue Ling''er swallowed hard, asking incredulously, "Xiao Yi, what exactly is your cultivation level?"


    She simply could not believe that just half a month ago, Xiao Yi was merely at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm!


    Xiao Yi nced at her and said indifferently, "Fourth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm."


    Yue Ling''er fell silent for a moment before pressing, "Half a month ago, were you really just at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm?"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Hiss!


    Yue Ling''er sharply inhaled a breath of cold air.


    Half a month, from the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm to the Fourth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm?


    How terrifyingly fast was that?


    Even her brother, hailed as the first genius in the history of the Purple Robe Kingdom, couldn''t manage that!


    Surely no one from the eighteen kingdoms under the Great Qian Dynasty could possibly achieve that, could they?


    Except for that one¡­


    The idol of all the young people in the Great Qian Dynasty, Xiao Tianjiao, who also happened to be Yue Ling''er''s idol. Yue Ling''er looked intently at Xiao Yi and spoke in a grave voice, "Your surname is Xiao, could the rumors be true? Are you really from the Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty? It''s only a family that produced a figure like Xiao Tianjiao that could manifest a miracle like yours¡­ breaking through four realms in half a month..."


    Xiao Yi gave her a cold look, the indifference and iciness in his eyes causing Yue Ling''er to shiver, as if she had fallen into an ice pit.


    Xiao Yi said coldly, "Where is Jiang Tai?"


    "Ah?"


    Yue Ling''er was taken aback, snapping back to reality and quickly saying, "Cousin, chased by Ye Feng and Zhang Tianyi, has probably already entered the main tomb by now. Hurry and help him!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and, with a sh, dashed wildly toward the depths of the tomb.


    ......


    Inside the main tomb.


    Jiang Tai, Zhang Tianyi, and Ye Feng stood clearly divided, with a massive coffin appearing before the trio. The coffin was suspended mid-air, tethered by three chains.


    The chains wrapped around the coffin, with bright red links and yellow talismans stered all over the coffin.


    An eerie ghostly aura pervaded, exceptionally terrifying!


    "The owner of this ancient tomb must be buried here!"


    Ye Feng said lightly, "Later, when the three of us join forces to open the coffin, the Martial Dao Divine Fruit is mine, and the rest of the treasures are yours!"


    Jiang Tai sneered, "Impossible!"


    Zhang Tianyi also had a nonchnt expression, "The Martial Dao Divine Fruit can''t possibly be yours."


    Ye Feng narrowed his eyes and said, "None of us can gain the upper hand over the others, and if we were to truly fight to the death, in the end, it would only benefit a third party."


    "What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhang Tianyi asked, frowning.


    Ye Feng said in a deep voice, "Let the three of us take turns attacking the coffin, and whoever opens it first gets the Martial Dao Divine Fruit. How about it?"


    After a moment of silence, they both nodded in agreement.


    Jiang Tai asked, "Who goes first?"


    Ye Feng said, "I have three sticks here, we could draw lots, with the length determining the order. The longest one goes first, the shortestst. How about that?"


    "Fine!"


    After drawing lots, Jiang Tai went first, followed by Zhang Tianyi, and then Ye Feng.


    Jiang Tai wielded a nine-ring great saber that gleamed with a silvery light, swinging the de down. With a humming sound, the silver saber light fell heavily on the coffin.


    Thud!


    The coffin shook violently, and the chains rattled loudly.


    Yet it did not open!


    Zhang Tianyi was the second to perform, wielding a long spear like a raging dragon sweeping the heavens,nding a blow on the coffin. The entire coffin shook violently, and strips of yellow talismans exploded off it.


    It still did not open.


    Zhang Tianyi, his face twisted with annoyance, red fiercely at Ye Feng, "Your turn!"


    Ye Feng''s mouth curled into a smirk, and with a casual toss, a bottle of blood-red liquid scattered forth.


    Hiss, hiss!


    The blood-red liquid stained the chains, from which plumes of ck smoke began to rise, corrosion eating away at the chains.


    With a loud boom, the three chains snapped in session, and the coffin crashed to the ground. The lid of the coffin had also opened a crack at that moment, and Ye Feng said with a smug face, "Sorry, this Martial Dao Divine Fruit is mine now!"


    "You... vile..." Zhang Tianyi red at Ye Feng venomously.


    That blood-red liquid was the blood of a creature known as the Corpse-Eating Worm, possessing extremely potent corrosive properties.


    Never had they imagined that Ye Feng held this trick up his sleeve.


    Jiang Tai snorted coldly, "People from the Royal Martial Arts Academy really have no shame."


    "To the victor go the spoils; whoeverughsst is the real winner. As for the means used, nobody will care!" Ye Feng jeered and walked towards the coffin.


    But just as he was about three meters away from the coffin, a cold snort suddenly resonated throughout the main tomb: "Who dares disturb my eternal slumber?"


    Hiss!


    The three of them¡ªYe Feng included¡ªtrembled all over, "Who?"


    They looked around, but saw no one at all.


    The cold voice came again: "I am within this coffin. Who dare disturbs me?"


    Within the coffin?


    They exchanged looks, shock written all over their faces.


    Was the being inside the coffin still alive?


    Ye Feng asked in a deep voice, "May I ask the elder''s name?"


    "I am of the ancestral Zong n!"


    "Ancestor Zong?"


    Ye Feng paused for a moment, then respectfully said, "I am Ye Feng, a junior. Unaware that Ancestor Zong rested here, I hope for your forgiveness!"


    "Hmph!"


    The cold voice came again, "If you seek my forgiveness, kneel down and kowtow ten times!"


    A cold light shed in Ye Feng''s eyes.


    The cold voice spoke again, "Should you satisfy me, why should I not pass on my lifetime''s inheritance to you?"


    Hiss!


    Ye Feng''splexion flushed.


    A lifetime''s inheritance?


    That was the inheritance of a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse!


    With this thought in mind.


    Ye Feng thudded to his knees, his head banging resoundingly against the ground, respect on his face: "Junior Ye Feng offers kowtows in apology to Elder Ancestor Zong!"


    "Um, those kowtows are loud and clear. It seems you have had plenty of practice with this!" The icy, authoritative voice suddenly turned mocking and familiar.


    Huh?


    Ye Feng was taken aback and looked up sharply, only to see Xiao Yi sitting atop the coffin, watching him with amusement.


    Ye Feng trembled all over, his eyes instantly bloodshot with rage, "Xiao Yi? You''re still alive?" He suddenly recalled that cold voice, "Was that you speaking earlier? It was not an elder from within the coffin?"


    "My dear grandson, how can you be so rude? Weren''t you calling me your ancestor so naturally just now?" Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow at Ye Feng, tauntingly asking.


    "You..."


    Ye Feng''s face instantly turned beet red, as if he had been pped dozens of times.


    He had knelt before Xiao Yi and kowtowed ten times, even calling him ancestor?


    That was humiliating to the extreme!


    Zhang Tianyi''s eyes were also narrowed as he stared fixedly at Xiao Yi. To him, the secrets on Xiao Yi''s person were far more valuable than the Martial Dao Divine Fruit. His sanguine tongue licked his lips, "Xiao Yi, I''m d you''re not dead. With the secrets on you, who needs the Martial Dao Divine Fruit anyway!"


    Ye Feng immediately looked at Zhang Tianyi, "Zhang Tianyi, let us join forces to take down this man!"


    "Good!"


    Zhang Tianyi nodded his head.


    "Humph, if you want to deal with Xiao, you''ll have to get past me first!" Jiang Tai snorted coldly, his face showing a genuine gleam of joy upon learning Xiao Yi was alive.


    With a sh, he positioned himself in front of Xiao Yi.


    Ye Feng narrowed his eyes, "Your Highness the Seventh Prince, you may be powerful, but any one of us can contain you. The other can then deal with Xiao Yi, you won''t be able to stop us!"


    Before Jiang Tai could respond.


    Xiao Yi''s voice came from behind him, "Brother Jiang, just watch from the sidelines! This unfilial progeny of mine is actually conspiring with strangers against me, his ancestor. I must personally administer the family discipline!"


    With those words, one could almost hear the sound of ps in the air.


    Ye Feng''s face was an iron blue, his murderous intent soaring, "Xiao Yi, I will tear you into a thousand pieces..."

 Chapter 92 Choice

    "I shall tear your body into ten thousand pieces!"


    Ye Feng bellowed furiously, his voice like a booming bell, his figure moving like a startling rainbow.


    Leaving behind a trail of afterimages in his original position.


    In the blink of an eye.


    He had already arrived in front of Xiao Yi, with the cultivation of the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm fully unleashed in an instant. His palm surrounded by Yuan Qi, transformed into a ferocious tiger descending the mountain: "Starving Tiger Pounces on Prey!"


    Ao!


    This palm strike was magnificent and powerful.


    With one palm strike, it could shatter a small mountain.


    Xiao Yi pped the coffin, and with a muffled thud, his body shot upwards, his right hand grasping in mid-air, the Fire Qilin Sword radiant with a fluctuating red light.


    With a casual swing, a red rainbow pierced through the void.


    There were noplicated techniques.


    Just a casual sword thrust!


    But it was the second stage of Sword Intent, the realm where the sword follows the heart!


    This sword was as gentle as the water of autumn.


    Yet, when it collided with Ye Feng''s momentous palm strike, it became as ruthless as the ice of a cold winter, tearing apart the Yuan Qi palm with a hiss.


    Xiao Yi advanced with his sword, threading through the crevice in the palm.


    In a sh.


    Xiao Yi had alreadynded in front of Ye Feng, his body spinning like a whirlwind, suddenly turning, sword in hand, as swift as an arrow released from its bow: "First form of the Solitary Nine Swords!"


    Shua!


    Countless Sword Qi shadows surrounded him.


    Dizzying to the eyes, one couldn''t tell which was real and which was false!


    "No matter how strong your swordsmanship is, it cannot stop my Hundred Battles King''s Fist!"


    Ye Feng''s eyes were bloodshot, his forehead veins bulging like a dragon turning over, all his strength converging in his fists.


    Hands clenched into fists.


    As fists flew, thunder roared, and when the fistsnded, they charged like great beasts.


    In that moment, Ye Feng seemed to transform into the War God of a hundred battles, his fists challenging heaven and earth, unbeatable in all fights, victorious in every battle.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Fist shadows and sword shadows shed like the tip of a needle against a stalk of wheat.


    Colliding with each other, grinding against one another.


    Rumbling...


    Inside the tomb, Sword Qi marks were all over the rocky walls, and fist prints were embedded all around. Dust was flying, sand and stones were moving about as if it were a battlefield.


    Jiang Tai and Zhang Tianyi had already retreated to the side.


    Both looked at the two in the battlefield with uncertainty and disbelief.


    In Zhang Tianyi''s shocked gaze, there was an added fervor, "Golden Core Realm! Xiao Yi is actually in the Golden Core Realm? It''s only been ten days since he jumped into the river, and he has had another breakthrough? I must find out his secret, such speed in improving cultivation is even more valuable than any Martial Dao Divine Fruit!"


    Even Jiang Tai had red eyes, staring fixedly at Xiao Yi, his face showing shock: "Xiao... worthy to be his brother!"


    At that moment...


    A shocking sword light tore through the flying dust.


    The red sword light shed by.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    One saw Ye Feng emerging from the rising dust, moving forward a few steps, then turning around to look towards the dust with a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Xiao! Yi!"


    Hiss!


    Xiao Yi walked out unscathed, facing Ye Feng, with a slight upward curve of his mouth, he said calmly, "You, have lost!"


    Thump!


    Ye Feng''s entire body shook, and his knees bent as he knelt before Xiao Yi.


    Blood continuously spurted out from his throat.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I said before... if I didn''t die, I would surely drench Tian Kingdom in blood and ughter everyone in the Royal Martial Arts Academy! And now, this is just the beginning!"


    Thud!


    Ye Feng''s body fell straight to the ground, with eyes wide in anger and full of unwillingness.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze shifted to Zhang Tianyi, pointing his sword''s tip, "It''s your turn!"


    p p p!


    Zhang Tianyi pped his hands together, wearing a brilliant smile, "Impressive, truly impressive! I never expected that in just half a month, you would make such a tremendous breakthrough, from the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm to the Fourth Layer of the Golden Core Realm. Tsk tsk, in just half a month''s time... Zhang Tianyi admires few people, but you, you are definitely one of them!"


    Xiao Yi looked at him dispassionately.


    Zhang Tianyi narrowed his eyes and said, "Xiao Yi, I admit your talent is strong, and your strength isn''t weak, to be able to kill Ye Feng is indeed beyond my expectations. But, you are no match for me, even with Jiang Tai on your side, it''s impossible for you to defeat me. How about we make a deal?"


    Xiao Yi remained silent.


    Jiang Tai, however, stood beside Xiao Yi with an indescribably solemn expression.


    Just as Zhang Tianyi said...


    Even if they joined forces, Jiang Tai was not confident they could beat him.


    Zhang Tianyi said, "As long as you tell me the secret to your rapid cultivation, I can spare your lives. Even the inheritance from the Tao Tribtion Realm expert within the coffin behind you, I''m willing to let you have it, how about that?"


    His eyes were full of eagerness and anticipation.


    To some who see no hope in breaking through to the Cmity Realm, the Martial Dao Divine Fruit is a treasure worth fighting for with their lives!


    But to a true genius, they are more inclined to break that shackle themselves.


    Xiao Yi, who managed to step into the Fourth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm from the Physical Body Realm in just half a year, having such a secret in hand, Zhang Tianyi was absolutely confident he could step into the Cmity Realm!


    Xiao Yi''s lips curved upward as he said yfully, "You beg me! Maybe if I''m in a good mood, I might just teach you!"


    "Hmm?"


    Zhang Tianyi''s eyebrows furrowed tightly, and a touch of gloom appeared in his eyes as he said coldly, "Xiao Yi, don''t be ungrateful! If you really anger me, I might as well just cripple your cultivation, break your limbs, and take you back for a slow and painful questioning. The Ministry of Punishments of Tian Kingdom has plenty of ways to make people talk!"


    Xiao Yi said, "You can ask my sword if it agrees!"


    Seeing that Xiao Yi was impervious, Zhang Tianyi then turned to look at Jiang Tai, "Jiang Tai, with Jiang Shanhe over you, your chances of seizing the Crown Prince title are not great. But if you can get Xiao Yi''s secret, and you step into the Cmity Realm, then the throne would inevitably be yours. Think about it, he managed to reach the Golden Core Realm from the Physical Body Realm in just half a year..."


    Jiang Tai''s face subtly changed.


    Indeed.


    In the struggle for the position of the Crown Prince, aside from his mother being from the royal family of the Purple Robe Kingdom, he had no advantage at all.


    In terms of cultivation?


    Jiang Shanhe was the first person on the Teng Long List of Tianqing Kingdom!


    In terms of background?


    Jiang Shanhe had the entire Royal Martial Arts Academy behind him!


    His chance of victory was extremely slim!


    But if he could step into the realm of Cmity, then the position of the Crown Prince would be uncontested, even Jiang Shanhe would not stand a chance!


    Jiang Tai''s eyes didn''t just look at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi calmly looked back at him, to be fair, he did not wish to be an enemy of Jiang Tai. But if Jiang Tai chose to attack him, then Xiao Yi would definitely not hold back!


    After a moment of silence.


    Jiang Tai took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and fixed his gaze on Zhang Tianyi, "No matter how down-and-out I, Jiang Tai, am, I have not stooped to the level of turning on my fellow disciples.".


    He clearly chose to stand with Xiao Yi.


    "Utter folly!"


    Zhang Tianyi let out an angry snort, his eyes suddenly turned sharp, "Since you''re courting death yourself, don''t me me!"


    Boom!


    Zhang Tianyi''s vital energy surged like a sudden storm; with a swift movement, he attacked both of them...

 Chapter 93 Solitary Nine Swords

    ```


    Whoosh!


    Zhang Tianyi''s spear in hand rose like an angry dragon taking to the skies, as if it had be one with his body.


    Jiang Tai gripped his nine-ring saber with both hands, the de glittering with silver light. The nine rings clinked against each other, emitting a ngor as he held the saber horizontally in front of him.


    ng!


    The moment the saber edge collided with the spear''s radiance, a fearsome power burst forth in all directions.


    The stone tiles underfoot flew about, and Jiang Tai stumbled backward repeatedly, eventually thudding against a coffin and overturning it.


    A corpse tumbled out of the coffin, revealed to be a pitch-ck skeleton.


    Within the skeleton,


    a ck Martial Dao Divine Fruit rolled on the ground,ing to rest to one side.


    But at this moment, no one was concerned with that Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    Jiang Tai pushed off from the coffin, the rebounding force doubling his speed as he charged back towards Zhang Tianyi: "ying Dragon Saber Skill!"


    "Dragon Ascension to the Heavens!"


    Zhang Tianyi''s face was expressionless, the vital energy within his spear pulsing, flickering like dragon mes.


    This man had alsoprehended Sword Intent!


    What''s more, he had reached the limit of the first tier of Sword Intent, and was just one step away from mastering the second tier¡ªThe Sword Moves with the Heart.


    With a loud ng, his spear shattered Jiang Tai''s saber, and using the spear as a staff, he swung it with momentum.


    The spear went straight for Jiang Tai''s back.


    Jiang Tai had no time to defend, and even Xiao Yi was toote to help him block this spear thrust. At this critical juncture, Xiao Yi had a sh of inspiration.


    With a swift movement, he delivered a hard kick right to Jiang Tai''s buttocks.


    Ow!


    Jiang Tai screamed, and with a bang, Xiao Yi kicked him flying.


    Although he crashed to the ground in aplete mess, he narrowly escaped that potentially fatal spear thrust!


    "Xiao Yi, you..." Jiang Tai red at Xiao Yi with a look of deep resentment.


    Xiao Yi: "Don''t mention it!"


    Jiang Tai: "..."


    Xiao Yi advanced with his sword, executing a stroke that cut across the sky, The Sword Moves with the Heart. His sword moves were neither fancy nor particrly powerful, but each strike''s force, angle, and speed were extremely precise.


    To put it simply...


    They were just right!


    The force was just right.


    The angle was just right!


    The speed was also just right!


    What seemed like ordinary sword moves flowed seamlessly and naturally, keeping pace with Zhang Tianyi without falling behind. This left Jiang Tai astonished: "Is this... the second tier of Sword Intent, The Sword Moves with the Heart? Since when did Junior Brother Xiao master the second tier of Sword Intent..."


    As far as Jiang Tai knew, within the Tianqing Kingdom''s peers, only Jiang Shanhe had mastered the second tier of martial intent.


    Now there was another, Xiao Yi!


    At this moment...


    Jiang Tai suddenly felt thankful for his earlier decision, having stepped into the Golden Core Realm from the Physical Body Realm in just over half a year¡ªa feat somewhat understandable if one had a special cultivation method.


    But...


    To have mastered the second tier of martial intent while at the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm,


    That could only be achieved with truly great talent!


    "I''ll help you out!"


    Jiang Tai surged with an overwhelming fighting spirit, holding the nine-ring saber as he came whirlwind-fast. Side by side with Xiao Yi, the two simultaneously attacked, putting unrelenting pressure on Zhang Tianyi.


    Zhang Tianyi was so pressed that he could hardly catch his breath.


    No matter how he changed his tactics,


    Xiao Yi was always able to respond to changes with unchanging principles. His seemingly whimsical sword moves often had the most direct and significant effects.


    Add Jiang Tai to the mix,


    and as Zhang Tianyi parried a blow from Jiang Tai, he would have to face an immediate assault from Xiao Yi. This made him increasingly irritated: "Damn it, Xiao Yi is such a pain. I never expected him to have mastered The Sword Moves with the Heart. I can''t gain the upper hand with technique, it looks like I''ll have to use raw strength to suppress them!"


    Boom!


    Zhang Tianyi jammed his spear into the ground with one hand, kicked it up with a tap of his toe, and violently uprooted a chunk of earth the size of a small hut.


    Swoosh!


    ```


    Tu Shi shot towards Xiao Yi and another.


    Jiang Tai swung his saber, shattering the rocks and, amidst the flying sand and stones, they lost sight of Zhang Tianyi.


    "Where is he?"


    Jiang Tai was startled.


    Xiao Yi''s expression changed, and he instinctively blocked to his side with the Fire Qilin Sword. With a ng, a violent force violently sent Xiao Yi flying.


    Seizing the momentum, Xiao Yi thrust the Fire Qilin Sword into the ground, but still, he could hardly stop the tremendous force.


    Boom, boom, boom!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The ground was cleaved open by the Fire Qilin Sword, leaving a sword mark stretching tens of meters.


    At the same time Xiao Yi was sent flying,


    Zhang Tianyi thrust with hisnce at Jiang Tai. Caught off guard, Jiang Tai''s shoulder was impaled. With a flick of his spear, Zhang Tianyi shattered Jiang Tai''s right shoulder, blood streaming down.


    The Nine Rings Saber was too heavy to hold and fell to the side.


    Zhang Tianyi pointed his long spear at Jiang Tai''s throat. Jiang Tai kept backing away, watching the spear''s light grow closer and closer, his body drenched in cold sweat.


    "Am I going to die?"


    At this moment,


    Jiang Tai suddenly wished for Xiao Yi to kick him once more!


    Just as the long spear was about to pierce his throat,


    At that moment...


    A tremendous force suddenly kicked him from behind right in the buttocks; with a howl of pain, Jiang Tai''s body flew sideways.


    With a thud, he crashed against the rock wall.


    Spread out like a starfish, as if embedded in it.


    And the one who had kicked him was none other than Xiao Yi!


    At this moment, Xiao Yi''s whole body was covered in blood, evidently using the Blood Explosion Skill. He directly ignited twenty percent of his blood, with his power surging by twenty times, Xiao Yi''s face was cold "Solitary Nine Swords, first move!"


    Whoosh!


    He moved like a whirlwind, with sword in hand.


    "Child''s y!"


    Zhang Tianyi''s legs, like pirs supporting the heavens, were firmly nted on the ground, holding the spear in one hand, unleashing sharp spear shadows one after another.


    ng, ng, ng!


    The shing of spear and sword sparked mes, with violent energy scattering in all directions.


    If it were before...


    Zhang Tianyi could have easily withstood it, but now Xiao Yi''s power had increased twenty times!


    Each sword strike on the long spear made his palm go numb, threatening to burst at any moment.


    "Overturning Rivers and Seas!"


    Zhang Tianyi''s sword-like eyebrows tensed, he gripped the long spear with both hands, the entire spear bending severely under the violent force. Like a fully drawn bow, it released fiercely, and the suppressed power eruptedpletely.


    "Solitary Nine Swords, second move!"


    Xiao Yi gripped the sword handle tightly and abruptly thrust upward, bringing forth a blood-red sword re.


    Boom!


    The sword re collided with the long spear, dispersing its umted force. Meanwhile, Xiao Yi leaped into the air, "Solitary Nine Swords, third move!"


    This sword strike was like a fairy descending from the heavens!


    Falling from the sky!


    Utilizing the vibrating force of the sword, Xiao Yi continuously changed positions in mid-air, smoothly dodging the spear thrust by Zhang Tianyi, and with a puff, a sword shed down from behind him.


    Aoowu!


    Zhang Tianyi screamed in pain, stumbling forward.


    The clothes on his back were torn, and a blood-red sword mark stretched from the back of his neck to his waist, with peeled skin revealing the spine wrapped within.


    Just this one sword nearly crippled Zhang Tianyi!


    In a life-or-death moment,


    Zhang Tianyi red fiercely at Xiao Yi. With severe injuries, he was no longer a match for Xiao Yi and chose to flee without hesitation.


    A vengeful voice echoed within the ancient tomb, "If I do not avenge this, I shall not consider myself a person!"


    Xiao Yi forged ahead with his sword, giving chase relentlessly,ughing coldly, "Vow not to be human? Then be a ghost!"

 Chapter 94 The Consequences of This Sword!

    ```


    Boom!


    Sword Qi surged forth, proving fatally dangerous to Zhang Tianyi as he fled for his life through the narrow tomb passage.


    He couldn''t dodge at all, but if he turned back to defend,


    he would end up letting Xiao Yi close the distance even more.


    He could only use his energy to form an energy shield, constantly blocking Xiao Yi''s sword moves.


    However, the energy shield was extremely draining to maintain. Once or twice was still manageable, but after several times the speed at which the energy shield could be formed could no longer keep up with the speed of Xiao Yi''s sword.


    Pfft!


    Pfft!


    Pfft!


    Several ghastly wounds appeared on Zhang Tianyi''s back, from which blood gushed, dyeing his entire back a bloody red.


    "Xiao Yi, you''re going too far!" Zhang Tianyi roared in rage.


    Xiao Yi''s face remained expressionless as he struck with his sword, "So I bullied you, what can you do about it?"


    "I..."


    Zhang Tianyi was so angry he felt like spitting blood.


    At this moment...


    The only thought in Zhang Tianyi''s mind was why he hadn''t killed Xiao Yi when he teamed up with Ye Feng. s, there are no pills for regret in this world.


    He fled all the way.


    Finally escaped the ancient tomb.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seeing light appear ahead, Zhang Tianyi felt a surge of excitement: "To escape... Once I get out of here, without the restrictions of the tomb passage, he won''t be able to catch up to me."


    "Seize life!"


    A cold voice suddenly came from behind, followed by a series of ear-piercing whooshing sounds.


    "Not good!"


    Zhang Tianyi''splexion changed dramatically, and he quickly ced his long spear behind him.


    ng!


    A thunderous boom erupted.


    The violent force burst out behind him, creating an immense shockwave that sent Zhang Tianyi flying.


    At the exit of the ancient tomb...


    Yue Ling''er was healing under a nearby tree when she suddenly heard a loud noise and saw Zhang Tianyi flying out like a kite with its string cut.


    Thud!


    Zhang Tianyi mmed hard into the ground, not just getting a mouthful of mud but also rolling and crawling dozens of meters away.


    But Zhang Tianyi didn''t care about his own disgrace.


    He rolled and crawled, running wildly toward the distance.


    Like a dog that had lost its home!


    "This, this is... Zhang Tianyi?" Yue Ling''er blinked,pletely baffled.


    This was the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, the second-ranked person on the Teng Long List of the Tian Kingdom!


    How had he be so disheveled?


    "Could it be that cousin has made a breakthrough?"


    Yue Ling''er''s eyes shone with hope, thinking that only if Jiang Tai had broken through to the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm could he have driven Zhang Tianyi to such desperation.


    She quickly got up, looking hopefully towards the entrance of the tomb.


    But...


    The figure appearing before her was not Jiang Tai, but Xiao Yi!


    Xiao Yi stood with his sword, frowning as he nced at Yue Ling''er, "Which way did Zhang Tianyi run?"


    "Over, over there..."


    Yue Ling''er pointed subconsciously in the direction Zhang Tianyi had fled.


    Xiao Yi grunted in acknowledgment and like an arrow shot from a bow, he relentlessly pursued.


    "Uh..."


    Yue Ling''er stood there baffled, momentarily stunned. Then, she saw the pale-faced Jiang Tai walk out from the tomb. She swallowed and stammered, "C-cousin, was it Xiao Yi chasing Zhang Tianyi just now?"


    Jiang Tai nodded, "Didn''t you see it? Which way did they run?"


    Yue Ling''er: "..."


    ...


    Above the marsh.


    Zhang Tianyi ran wildly, changing his position from left to right.


    In his wake...


    Sword Qi tore through the air, slicing through the marsh, sending ck soil sttering into the air. Hisplexion turned deathly pale due to excessive blood loss, and he caught a glimpse of Xiao Yi in hot pursuit from the corner of his eye.


    Zhang Tianyi seethed with hate, "Xiao Yi, let me go, and I''ll no longer be your enemy!"


    ```


    Xiao Yi said, "If you stop, I won''t kill you!"


    Zhang Tianyi shouted angrily, "You don''t trust me? I can swear that I will never be your enemy again!"


    Xiao Yi said calmly, "I swear too, if you stop, I won''t kill you with my own hands!"


    Zhang Tianyi was so angry that he was fuming, "..."


    Not kill me with your own hands?


    If you hand me over to Jiang Tai, that''s still death!


    Zhang Tianyi could only grit his teeth and flee desperately, his blood dripping down his legs to the ground with every movement, causing the wounds on his back to tear and bringing waves of piercing pain.


    But under Xiao Yi''s pressure, Zhang Tianyi had no choice but to run for his life!


    "I''m close, just past the forest ahead and I can leave this damn secret realm. Once there, with the Great General around, my life will be safe!" Zhang Tianyi thought to himself.


    Driven by a strong will to survive, his speed unexpectedly increased even more.


    Through the swamp.


    Inside the dense forest.


    Where the two passed, ancient trees copsed with loud crashes, pushing straight through, carving a wide path through the dense forest.


    Finally arriving at the edge of the forest, the exit of the secret realm was right before his eyes.


    Zhang Tianyi was so excited he was near tears; the desperate flight had been far too tormenting. With tears in his eyes, heughed loudly, "Xiao Yi, the exit of the secret realm is right ahead, you can''t kill me! Hahahaha, when I get back, I''m going to spread the word about you. Then, there will be more than just me trying to kill you! You''re done for, no one can save you..."


    Xiao Yi''s face was expressionless: "Blood Explosion Skill!"


    Boom!


    Once again burning off twenty percent of his blood, the fourth level of the Blood Explosion Skill, his strength soared forty-fold, and his speed surged as he and Zhang Tianyi raced towards the exit of the secret realm...


    ......


    Outside the secret realm.


    Gu Junhe, Zhou Yuan, and other mighty figures at the peak of the Golden Core Realm sat distinctly around the entrance of the secret realm.


    Suddenly...


    Several figures opened their eyes and looked towards the exit of the secret realm: "Someone''sing out!"


    "Who could it be?"


    "Ye Feng?"


    "Zhang Tianyi?"


    "Jiang Tai?"


    The eyes of the figures grew fervent, along with a trace of anxiety.


    The reason they had handed over this secret realm for the younger generation to trial, was because the top figures were closely matched and none wished to fight to the death, allowing others to benefit from their dispute.


    After opening up this realm, they allowed the younger generation to contend within it.


    Whose descendant seized the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, their camp would im the victory!


    Zhou Yuan wore a confident look: "It must be Ye Feng... gentlemen, the Martial Dao Divine Fruit will belong to me!"


    "Hmph, that''s not necessarily the case; it could be Zhang Tianyi," said Wu Yu confidently.


    Among the younger generation of powerhouses who entered the secret realm, Zhang Tianyi of the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm was the foremost contender, and he was utterly confident!


    At that moment...


    The entrance to the secret realm buzzed brightly as Zhang Tianyi burst out from it.


    "Hahahaha, indeed, it''s Zhang Tianyi; gentlemen, the Martial Dao Divine Fruit is mine to take!" Wu Yu said triumphantly, his face flushed with excitement as heughed and walked toward Zhang Tianyi.


    But just then.


    Zhang Tianyi, with a look of terror, shouted, "Great General, save me!"


    "Huh?"


    Wu Yu was stunned, and then he saw Xiao Yi, his body covered in blood light, brandishing the Fire Qilin Sword and chasing after him.


    "Life-taking!"


    Xiao Yi thrust out with his sword.


    Wu Yu''s face turned pale, and he roared, "You fiend, stop right there!"


    He wanted to intervene, but it was already toote.


    Thump!


    The sword struck hard on Zhang Tianyi''s back. Zhang Tianyi spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground. Xiao Yi leapt up and stepped on Zhang Tianyi.


    The cold sword de was against Zhang Tianyi''s neck.


    "Stop!"


    Wu Yu''s face turned grim, his eyes shining with a ferocious light, he gritted his teeth and said, "Xiao Yi, let go of Tianyi now. Think carefully about the consequences if you plunge that sword. Let him go, kneel and apologize, and I can let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, you will be the public enemy of Tian Kingdom!"


    In Wu Yu''s view...


    He was a towering figure at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, and themander of the Tian Kingdom''s three armed forces.


    Xiao Yi surely wouldn''t dare oppose his will.


    However...


    Xiao Yi''s sword gently slid across, and with a soft thud, he decapitated Zhang Tianyi. Then, looking up at Wu Yu, he asked, "You were saying... what would be the consequence of this sword strike?"

 Chapter 95 Kill!!!

    Xiao Yi''s face was tinged with amusement as he looked at Wu Yu, whose face was overcast with gloom, "What was that about consequences you just mentioned?"


    Silence enveloped the surroundings.


    All eyes inevitably fell upon Zhang Tianyi, whoy dead at Xiao Yi''s feet.


    This was the second-highest master of the Teng Long List from Tian Kingdom!


    A formidable power from the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    And he was dead?


    Dead by the hand of Xiao Yi, who just half a month ago, was only at the Peak of the Shentong Realm?


    In his shock, Wu Yu felt a burning pain on his face, as if he had been furiously pped dozens of times.


    Xiao Yi had actually in Zhang Tianyi right in front of him.


    If he couldn''t kill Xiao Yi, what face would he have left?


    A raging fury ignited within him; Wu Yu''s eyes turned frosty to the extreme, his teeth clenched, "Xiao Yi, I will tear you to pieces!"


    Boom!


    Wu Yu struck the air with a palm from above.


    Such was the might of one at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak, a palm so powerful it seemed to cause the sun and moon to lose their luster, dimming their light.


    Qi unrivaled in might, coalesced into a hand asrge as a small mountain; this palm, though condensed from Qi, was so lifelike, one could even discern the lines on its palm.


    A gray hand crushed the air downwards, its terrifying might causing the ground to buzz, and pebbles to shatter explosively.


    Xiao Yi''s body quivered, surrounded by a nimbus of blood light, his longsword in motion, "Solitary Nine Swords, the third move!"


    There were nine moves in total within "Solitary Nine Swords."


    Xiao Yi''s sword pierced through the sky, and from the Fire Qilin Sword burst a beam of Sword Qi, winding around ayer of red mes, exploding with a bang as it cleaved the giant gray hand in two.


    Bang!


    The Sword Qi fractured, and the hand was split into halves.


    As Xiao Yinded on the ground, the valley violently shook with a rumble, and the ground cracked open, spread with fierce, web-like fissures.


    Dust swirled, and rocks flew through the air.


    Xiao Yi leaped up, his toesnding upon a flying rock, he lightly tapped it, his figure soaring once more, "Solitary Nine Swords, the fifth move!"


    Every move of "Solitary Nine Swords" flowed with the heart.


    The swordsmanship was ingenious and difficult to defend against.


    His figure constantly shifted positions in mid-air, left, right, high, and low, dazzling to the eye and making it impossible to grasp his intentions.


    Suddenly...


    ng!


    A dazzling streak of silver ripped through the air, with a swish, appearing like a silver rainbow strung across the heaven and earth, slicing towards Wu Yu.


    Wu Yu had not anticipated that Xiao Yi could break his offensive; the subsequent sword technique was even more cunning.


    He casually conjured several Qi shields to block in front of him.


    But Xiao Yi''s sword, almost as if sentient, bypassed the Qi shields and, under Wu Yu''s astonished gaze, thudded into his shoulder.


    A ssh of blood-red sprayed out, hot blood spattering across his left cheek.


    Hisss!


    Everyone was stunned, "I must be seeing things..."


    "Xiao Yi has actually injured Wu Yu?"


    "This man... must not be left alive..."


    Within the crowd, Zhou Yuan wore a dark expression, his gaze on Xiao Yi shifting from initial scorn to grave seriousness.


    A few months ago...


    When Xiao Yi caused a major disturbance in the Martial Arts Institute and Zhou Yuan personally pursued him, seeking to put him to death, Xiao Yi had vowed to tten the Royal Martial Arts Academy within a year to take his life.


    At that time, Zhou Yuan considered it nothing but a joke.


    But now...


    In just a few months, Xiao Yi had acquired the strength to y a power from the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm and was even able to wound Wu Yu, someone at the Peak of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Even considering the possibility that Wu Yu had been careless and underestimated his opponent, one could not deny Xiao Yi''s strength!


    And it had been mere months!


    "If it''s a yearter?"


    "What about three yearster?"


    Harboring the same thoughts were Jin Sheng, Zhuang Bifan, and Master Kong Ming from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. Xiao Yi and them had unresolvable deep hatred!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Wu, the Great General, I am here to assist you!" Zhuang Bifan let out a cold snort; his longsword, sheathed at his back, was drawn and held in each hand, with another clenched between his teeth.


    The strongest sword technique of Mingjian Manor¡ªTriple Sword Style!


    A cold gleam shed in Jin Sheng''s eyes; his grandson was in by Xiao Yi, and even his son was left half-dead by Xiao Yi''s hand. Now that he had the chance, he certainly would not hold back.


    Swish!


    Without a word, Jin Sheng also charged toward Xiao Yi.


    Both were of the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. Together with Wu Yu, the two attacked Xiao Yi. This outraged Gu Junhe, who was originally just observing the battle, "Damn it, you shameless wretches, stop this instant!"


    He had seen Wu Yu unable to threaten Xiao Yi for the moment and had been on standby, but he hadn''t expected Zhuang Bifan and Jin Sheng to be so shameless.


    One at the Golden Elixir Peak, and two at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Three elders from the older generation were ganging up on Xiao Yi.


    Is this something people would do?


    However...


    No sooner had Gu Junhe made his move, he was stopped by Zhou Yuan and Master Kong Ming working together. Gu Junhe red furiously, "Zhou Yuan, Kong Ming, you bald donkey, get out of my way!"


    "Xiao Yi killed Zhang Tianyi, he must die! If the Tian Kingdom uses this as a pretext to start a war, causing untold suffering, the humble monk cannot let you save him!" said Master Kong Ming with an air of moral superiority and a face ofpassion.


    Zhou Yuan spoke indifferently, "Sacrificing one for the avoidance of war between two nations is worth it!"


    "Bullshit!"


    Gu Junhe cursed loudly.


    He tried to break through theirbined attack several times, but Zhou Yuan''s strength was no less than his, and he was joined by Master Kong Ming, who was at the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    He simply couldn''t break through their blockade.


    Gu Junhe''s eyes were blood-reddened. He could only look over them in fury at Xiao Yi, who was being overwhelmed by Wu Yu and the other two, falling back step by step and he roared angrily, "Zhou Yuan, you thieving baldy... If anything happens to Xiao Yi, I''ll never let you two off the hook!"


    "Amitabha, if he can sacrifice himself to relieve the suffering of all living beings, Xiao Yi''s death would indeed be worthwhile!" Master Kong Ming put his palms together.


    Zhou Yuan''s lips curled up into a mocking, cold smile. "Gu Junhe, the righteous gain help while the unrighteous find little support. You and the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, along with Xiao Yi, have chosen to act perversely and against the tide. It is destined that you will only face defeat!"


    Meanwhile...


    Faced with the attack of three great masters, Xiao Yi was retreating step by step, his body covered in wounds.


    Zhuang Bifan, with a sword in each hand, his Sword Qi stern, stated, "Xiao Yi, from the moment you destroyed my Sword Burial Ground, you should have foreseen this day''s oue!"


    Jin Sheng''s punches whipped up fierce winds, mighty and powerful, driving Xiao Yi into a corner punch after punch, "Join my grandson in death!"


    Wu Yu''s expression was impassive, "Even the people of your own Tianqing Kingdom are so eager to kill you; you truly deserve your fate!"


    "I am dying, your motherf¡ª"


    Xiao Yi spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his right hand gripping tightly onto the sword hilt, his fierce eyes scanning the three men, teeth clenched, "You want my life? You three old dogs are not worthy!"


    Boom!


    The Blood Explosion Skill, the fifth level.


    The sixth level.


    The seventh level...


    Xiao Yi''splexion was pale as snow, but upon unleashing the seventh level of the Blood Explosion Skill, his strength had increased seventyfold.


    A blood-red storm rose from beneath his feet.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The ground beneath Xiao Yi exploded, and rocks burst upward in the crimson storm, crushed to dust by Sword Qi before him.


    His eyes were a blood-red re, the Fire Qilin Sword in his hand trembling with an ascending Sword Intent.


    What of the Golden Elixir Peak?


    What of the three great figures?


    The divine general whomanded the heavens was invincible in battle and defeated all in war!


    His blood-colored gaze swept over the three men.


    Xiao Yi''s boundless fighting spirit erupted like a volcano, his roar thundering into the skies, "Kill!!!!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 96 Youve Rejoiced Too Soon!

    Xiao Yi''s blood turned wicked as seven-tenths of it became tainted in a single instance.


    The seventhyer of the Blood Explosion Skill exploded in full force.


    He was truly risking his life in this fight.


    After all...


    At the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, facing three highyer Golden Core Realm powerhouses at once, Xiao Yi had no other choice but to fight desperately or face certain death.


    He erupted with power in this dire situation!


    Of course.


    If Xiao Yi had fled desperately to Gu Junhe''s side, with Gu Junhe''s strength, he could have protected him thoroughly. But Xiao Yi was the War God, holdingmand over the Ancient Tomb of Eons, suppressing the existence of heavenly immortals, ghosts, demons, and gods!


    Even if the enemy was dozens of times stronger than himself, he must not lose the heart to fight bravely.


    Otherwise, how could he suppress those legendary supreme powerhouses within the Ancient Tomb of Eons?


    Almost at the same moment that Xiao Yi unleashed the seventhyer of the Blood Explosion Skill, within the Ancient Tomb of Eons, the most dazzling among the nine majestic golden pyramids suddenly trembled violently as if trying to break free from the shackles of the Ancient Tomb of Eons.


    But the eighty-one radiant divinities restraining the Ancient Tomb of Eons suddenly burst forth with blindingly brilliant light.


    Along with the nking chains.


    Forcefully suppressing this golden pyramid.


    Of course, Xiao Yi was unaware of all these events; at that moment, his body was shrouded in a ten-zhang high sea of blood, resembling a crimson War God. Holding the Fire Qilin Sword, activating his Divine Skills, his entire body was covered with a ck membrane.


    He looked like an iron figure crafted from ck iron.


    Whoosh!


    The Fire Qilin Sword, swung in the air, emitted a piercing sword re that shed straight toward Zhuang Bifan.


    Among these three...


    The most difficult and threatening to him was naturally Wu Yu, but Wu Yu''s strength was too immense. At the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, even with Xiao Yi''s current state, killing him would be quite challenging.


    Once entangled by Wu Yu, then Zhuang Bifan and Jin Sheng would be a great threat.


    Therefore.


    Xiao Yi''s objective in this three-against-one battle was clear, to first strike down Zhuang Bifan, who had a stronger offense, then kill Jin Sheng.


    And finally, to have a deciding life-or-death battle with Wu Yu!


    "You little bastard, do you really think I''m a pushover?"


    Seeing Xiao Yi choosing him first among the three, Zhuang Bifan''s face showed a hint of annoyed anger; his sword brows furrowed tightly as the Solitary Nine Swords were fully executed. His left handmenced work, performing two entirely different sword moves.


    And the longsword he held in his mouth was also covered with ayer of vitality, stabbing straight at the vital points like a spirit snake.


    The Solitary Nine Swords was not only fast.


    It also simultaneously performed three different sword moves, overwhelming the opponent. These were three fourth-grade famous swords, each one ranked among the top ten in the Tianqing Kingdom, not to be underestimated in power.


    The sword moves with the heart.


    Xiao Yi''s sword moves constantly changed, one by one neutralizing Zhuang Bifan''s attacks, all the while shifting positions, using Zhuang Bifan to block the offensive of Jin Sheng and Wu Yu.


    When facing the siege of three great experts, Xiao Yi did not sh directly with them.


    While bombarding Zhuang Bifan with attacks, he used Zhuang Bifan to resist the offensive of Wu Yu and the other, making Wu Yu''s trio feel restrained everywhere; despite having mightybat strength, they couldn''t utilize it at all.


    "Nine Evolution Divine Fist!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Jin Sheng''s fists glimmered like gold, smashing down with thunderous force, the two fist lights converging into a column of light.


    However...


    Xiao Yi turned back, his sweep carrying the momentum of a sweeping army and sliced toward Zhuang Bifan.


    Zhuang Bifan''s longsword stood vertical, blocking the sword in front of him. Yet the great impact from the sword edge sent him flying backward,nding right on Jin Sheng''s column of light with a loud bang.


    Zhuang Bifan took the full brunt of the punch.


    Wow!


    Zhuang Bifan spat out blood, ring fiercely at Jin Sheng: "Damn you, aim more carefully!"


    Jin Sheng''s face twisted with embarrassment: "..."


    Wu Yu snorted coldly, "Zhuang Bifan, get out of the way!"


    Zhuang Bifan tried to dodge, but Xiao Yi returned swiftly, sticking close beside him.


    Eight Extremes Copse!


    Eight Extremes Copse!


    Life-Chasing Soul Sword...


    The constant onught left Zhuang Bifan with no way to escape, rendering Wu Yu and Jin Sheng helpless and forced to look on.


    Not far away.


    Watching Xiao Yi fight one against three and still have the upper hand to the extent of toying with them effortlessly, Gu Junhe felt much relieved and burst intoughter, "Wu Yu, you three shameless old dogs ganging up on a junior from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy and still falling behind? You have truly lived your years in vain!"


    Zhou Yuan''s face was also extremely ugly as he angrily said, "Wu Yu, what good are you for?"


    Master Kong Ming, with eyes narrowed, pressed his palms together as the Buddha beads in his hands gently turned. All of a sudden, with a flick of his hands, the string of beads whizzed towards Xiao Yi. These Buddha beads were a fourth-grade spiritual weapon, and if they hit Xiao Yi, he would be gravely injured if not killed.


    "Bald donkey, you dare?"


    Gu Junhe flew into a rage, hurling his wine gourd out.


    Whoosh!


    The wine gourd suddenly expanded and with a bang, collided with the Buddha beads.


    The wine gourd burst open.


    The Buddha beads were abruptly halted, missing the prime opportunity to ambush Xiao Yi.


    "Bald donkey, how utterly despicable!" Gu Junhe red furiously.


    Master Kong Ming pressed his palms together, chanting Buddha''s name with a face full ofpassion, "Amitabha, this poor monk is merely exorcising demons and protecting the path!"


    "A fine exorcism, and protection of the path! Today, I, Gu Junhe wille to see for myself the Buddhist Law of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple..."


    Gu Junhe trembled all over as the aura of someone at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm fully erupted.


    He charged directly at Master Kong Ming.


    Master Kong Ming''s face changed dramatically, shouting to Zhou Yuan, "Director Zhou, help me!"


    "I aming too!"


    Zhou Yuan charged towards Gu Junhe, joining forces with Master Kong Ming to fight Gu Junhe into a melee.


    For a moment...


    The entire valley was filled with soaring battle intent.


    ......


    "I''ll hold him off, you two strike quickly!" Zhuang Bifan suddenly let out a low roar as three longswords circled each other, forming a sword array.


    Trinity Sword Formation!


    The three renowned swords were positioned as Heaven, Earth, and Man to form a sword-shaped cage, trapping Xiao Yi within the sword formation. Xiao Yi''s Fire Qilin Sword constantly bombarded the sword formation but was unable to break free for the moment.


    Jin Sheng and Wu Yu''s faces revealed a trace of ecstasy, "Now''s the time!"


    "Nine Evolution Divine Fist!"


    "Monument Splitting Hand!"


    The attacks from Jin Sheng and Wu Yu, one from the left and one from the right, came crashing in.


    Looking at Xiao Yi trapped in the sword formation with two ferocious attacks bearing down, Zhuang Bifanughed triumphantly, "Like a damn dog, how are you not dead yet?"


    However...


    Just as the two attacks were about to hit Xiao Yi.


    A brilliant smile suddenly appeared on Xiao Yi''s face, which in Zhuang Bifan''s eyes resembled the soul-reaping grin of the grim reaper, causing his back to suddenly break out in a cold sweat.


    The next moment...


    A streak of silver light suddenly burst forth from Xiao Yi''s bosom.


    It was none other than Little Lin!


    Little Lin''s tail swept out, directly tearing through the Trinity Sword Formation, while Xiao Yi shed out of it. The two attacks collided behind him, and the explosive shockwave elerated Xiao Yi''s speed by several times.


    Like an arrow leaving the bowstring, he charged at Zhuang Bifan.


    "Sword Breaking Style!"


    The strongest attacking move of the Solitary Nine Swords, Xiao Yi''s form seemed to merge with the Fire Qilin Sword, barely revealing the third phase of Sword Intent''s unity of man and sword. Whoosh, he brushed past Zhuang Bifan.


    Zhuang Bifan shuddered, his hands subconsciously clutching his neck as blood uncontrobly gushed out.


    In his ears...


    He heard Xiao Yi''s cold voice, "You''ve celebrated too soon!"

 Chapter 97 The March Agreement

    "You''re celebrating too early!"


    A cold voice rang in his ears.


    The moment the words fell.


    Zhuang Bifan''s hands clutched at his neck as blood uncontrobly spurted out like a fountain.


    His life force was rapidly draining away.


    Darkness fell before his eyes.


    His vitality waspletely extinguished!


    Xiao Yi quickly grabbed Zhuang Bifan''s corpse and threw it towards Jin Sheng and hispanion.


    "Get out of my way!"


    Jin Sheng raised his hand to throw a punch, explosively sting Zhuang Bifan''s corpse away, and amidst the blood mist that filled the air, Jin Sheng suddenly saw a streak of red sword light sh before his eyes. Wu Yu''s voice came from beside him, mixed with shock and anger, "Quick, dodge!"


    "Hmm?"


    Jin Sheng was stunned and instinctively dodged to the side.


    But he was still a step too slow!


    The moment Xiao Yi threw Zhuang Bifan''s corpse, he was already closely following behind, and with a ''pff,'' his sword''s cold light shed off Jin Sheng''s left arm. A blood-stained arm soared high into the air, like a kite with its string cut.


    Aaawooo!


    Jin Sheng let out a miserable scream, his face instantly turning pale.


    Sharp Sword Qi came from behind again, and Jin Sheng, disregarding his injury, stumbled forward. But Xiao Yi merely whistled, and amid the whoosh of a sonic boom, Little Lin wrapped itself around Jin Sheng''s neck.


    Hiss!


    Little Lin opened its mouth and its sharp poisonous fangs deeply pierced Jin Sheng''s neck.


    "What the hell is this thing?"


    Jin Sheng winced in pain, grabbed Little Lin, and brutally mmed it to the ground. With a thud, Little Lin hit the floor, blood spraying from its mouth. It rapidly coiled and slithered away to the side.


    Little Lin was not strong inbat, but its physical body was incredibly tough.


    Even Xiao Yi could not break through its scale armor defense.


    Just now, it used its sturdy scale armor to wrap around the Three Talents Sword and broke through Zhuang Bifan''s Sword Array, but it was still seriously injured by Jin Sheng''s throw, trembling on the side, its cold eyes fixed on Jin Sheng as if staring at a lifeless corpse.


    Jin Sheng, running frantically, dodged Xiao Yi''s attacks several times, only to find his speed getting slower and slower, his body increasingly heavy, and his vision now and then fading to darkness.


    Jin Sheng''s expression changed drastically, "What''s, what''s happening?"


    He raised his hand.


    A sticky mess of blood clung to his palm.


    ck blood began to spurt from his seven orifices.


    "Poisoned?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jin Sheng felt his scalp go numb.


    The poison from Little Lin was terrifyingly potent, and this bite was right on his carotid artery, the toxin rapidly spreading throughout his body. Despair filled Jin Sheng''s face as he could feel his life force swiftly slipping away.


    "I must detoxify immediately, or my life is at risk!"


    With a resentful re at Xiao Yi, Jin Sheng did not dare to stay any longer and fled desperately.


    The turmoil here naturally caught the attention of Gu Junhe and others.


    Bang!


    Gu Junhe punched Master Kong Ming, breaking most of his ribs, and if Zhou Yuan had not intervened timely, Master Kong Ming would have surely perished at Gu Junhe''s hands.


    His face went pale as he looked at the disheveled Jin Sheng fleeing and Zhuang Bifan''s dismembered body, swallowing hard, "How, how is this possible? Zhuang Bifan and the others, faced with a three against one, ended up with one dead and one fleeing?"


    Zhou Yuan''s face was extremely ugly: "Useless trash."


    Gu Junheughed heartily, "Xiao Yi, well done! Worthy of being the sessor of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!" He looked triumphantly at Zhou Yuan and Master Kong Ming, his face mocking, "Gentlemen, does that sting?"


    Previously, these two were convinced that as long as they kept him upied, Xiao Yi was as good as dead.


    But...


    Xiao Yi was not only alive.


    He had counter-killed Zhuang Bifan and severely injured Jin Sheng, forcing him to flee in a wretched state.


    Now, that was a resounding p in the face!


    Zhou Yuan''s face alternated between shades of green and white, so furious he was at a loss for words.


    At Master Kong Ming''s side, his face was as pale as death. He swallowed several Buddha Pills to stabilize his injuries but could no longer maintain the detachment he had before. His Buddha Beads kept spinning in his hand, and his eyes reached the ultimate level of gloominess.


    Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice, "Kong Ming, I will stop Gu Junhe. How confident are you in helping Wu Yu y Xiao Yi?"


    Master Kong Ming was startled, about to speak.


    Gu Junhe, who was standing nearby, already sneered, "Zhou Yuan, if you dare to do that, I will ignite my Golden Core and fight you to the death right away!"


    "You¡­"


    Zhou Yuan''s face stiffened and he was at a loss for words for a moment.


    Hisbat strength was on par with Gu Junhe, even slightly suppressing him.


    But¡­


    If Gu Junhe were to ignite his Golden Core, it would be a fight to the death, and even if Zhou Yuan could kill Gu Junhe in the end, he would suffer great losses himself.


    Seeing this.


    Gu Junhe also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, obviously Zhou Yuan had his concerns too.


    He shed to Xiao Yi''s side in an instant.


    With bloodshot eyes, Xiao Yi nced at Gu Junhe and, enduring the severe pain all over his body as well as the exhaustion and weakness from loss of blood, gritted his teeth and said, "Headmaster!"


    "Leave it to me!"


    Gu Junhe nodded at Xiao Yi and ced his palm on Xiao Yi''s body, infusing a surge of vital energy into him. With the boost of vital energy, the color returned slightly to Xiao Yi''s face. Gu Junhe, staring at Wu Yu with an extremely ugly expression, said indifferently, "You can''t kill him, how about we call it quits?"


    Snorting, Wu Yu said with a dark face, "He killed our national Tianjiao, Zhang Tianyi. Do you expect me to let this go so easily?"


    Gu Junhe spoke indifferently, "Before entering the secret realm, we had an agreement that we will not discuss life and death in thepetition within. When Zhang Tianyi and the others issued the kill order against Xiao Yi earlier, I did not interfere!"


    "That was inside the secret realm¡­ Zhang Tianyi had already escaped from the secret realm, yet Xiao Yi was relentless in pursuing... If we let it go like this, where would my face be?" Wu Yu said.


    That being said.


    Inside, Wu Yu was already starting to beat a retreat.


    Although he was at the Golden Elixir Peak and had experienced many battles.


    It''s not easy to suppress Xiao Yi at this moment either!


    Moreover¡­


    Xiao Yi''s desperate fighting style had also deeply rmed him. Additionally, with Gu Junhe nking, he knew it was impossible to kill Xiao Yi today. However, Wu Yu was clearly not willing to let Xiao Yi off the hook just like that.


    Gu Junhe said indifferently, "If you''re not satisfied, I can apany you in a battle!"


    "You¡­"


    Wu Yu''s face changed repeatedly, his expression uncertain.


    At this moment.


    Xiao Yi spoke up, "If you want to kill me, let the strong from Tian Kingdome to the Royal Martial Arts Academy in three months!"


    "Huh?"


    Wu Yu was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan and Master Kong Ming, an icy chill in his eyes as he said slowly, "I have said that within a year, I will tten the Royal Martial Arts Academy. In three months, I will personally go to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and then you can send your strong ones over!"


    "Xiao Yi¡­"


    Gu Junhe''s face changed.


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy is the holynd of martial arts in Tianqing Kingdom.


    Even he dared not im to tten the Royal Martial Arts Academy outright. To him, Xiao Yi''s actions were suicidal!


    Yet Xiao Yi gently shook his head, stopping Gu Junhe from persuading him further, fixing Zhou Yuan with a stare, "Zhou Yuan, you old dog, do you dare ept the challenge?"


    Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and smiled coldly, "In three months, I will have a coffin ready for you!"


    Master Kong Ming murmured Amitabha and, with his Buddha Beads rolling and a cold expression on his face, said, "At that time, my Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple will definitely send people there!"


    Xiao Yi turned to Wu Yu.


    Wu Yu''s expression fluctuated, he took a deep breath, and said through gritted teeth, "Fine, in three months, my Tian Kingdom will surelye on time!"


    Zhou Yuan and others soared into the sky and disappeared into the horizon.


    With aplex expression on his face, Gu Junhe looked at Xiao Yi and sighed, "Xiao Yi, you''re too impulsive... The Royal Martial Arts Academy has a profound background, far beyond what you understand..."


    Xiao Yi gave a faint smile, about to speak, but suddenly everything went ck, and he passed out.


    Gu Junhe quickly caught him, looking at Xiao Yi in his arms, he sighed gently, a resolute look appearing in his eyes, "Well then... I''ll apany you in your utter madness!"

 Chapter 98 The Struggle for First Place

    Inside the valley.


    Gu Junhe gave Xiao Yi many elixirs to consume and, seeing Xiao Yi''splexion regain some of its rosiness, finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Looking at the dozen or so empty medicine bottles on the ground, Gu Junhe couldn''t help butugh bitterly, "This kid... In order to save you, he almost emptied out my entire stock... You better not disappoint me!"


    Xiao Yi had burned up to seventy percent of his blood.


    Any other person at the Golden Core Realm would have long since died from excessive blood loss.


    Gu Junhe had also been startled when he saw Xiao Yi''s blood was nearly drained.


    He hastily fed all his treasured elixirs to Xiao Yi.


    "What a monster!"


    Watching the body that had be withered after losing the power boost of the Blood Explosion Skill, slowly recovering, Gu couldn''t help but take a deep breath, "Such terrifying recovery ability is no less than some Spiritual Bodies!"


    In the Heavenly Yuan Realm.


    There are many special physiques, and from weak to strong, they are ssified as Spiritual Body, Sacred Body, and Divine Body!


    For instance, Xiao Tianjiao possesses the Supreme Overlord Holy Body!


    This is a terrifying physique that can evolve into a Divine Body.


    Although Xiao Yi doesn''t possess a special physique, the transformation from the silent influence of the divine power has made his body no weaker than an ordinary Spiritual Body. Otherwise, he would not have survived after consuming so much blood!


    Hum!


    The entrance to the secret realm suddenly transmitted a surge of energy fluctuations.


    Jiang Tai walked out with the support of Yue Ling''er, and the first thing they saw was the unconscious Xiao Yi and Gu Junhe.


    Jiang Tai''s face changed, and he quickly asked, "Principal Gu, Xiao, is he...?"


    "He''s fine!"


    Gu Junhe shook his head and frowned at Jiang Tai, "What about you? What happened to you?"


    Upon hearing Xiao Yi was fine, Jiang Tai also rxed and then bitterly recounted everything that had happened in the secret realm to Gu Junhe, "I didn''t expect Junior Brother Xiao to be so terrifying, even Ye Feng was killed by him..."


    "Not just Ye Feng?"


    Gu wore a strange expression and moved his mouth towards a side, "Zhang Tianyi and Zhuang Bifan were both killed by him. Jin Sheng from the Nine Profound Sect also had an arm severed by him and fled in a sorry state..."


    Hiss!


    Jiang Tai and Yue Ling''er took a sharp breath, exchanging nces and seeing the shock in each other''s eyes.


    Zhuang Bifan and Jin Sheng!


    They were both high-level Golden Core practitioners from the older generation.


    They were killed by Xiao Yi?


    Seeing the astonishment that left the two at a loss for words, Gu Junhe thought for a moment but decided not to tell them that Xiao Yi had fought Wu Yu, who was at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, for dozens of rounds without falling at a disadvantage!


    To avoid hitting them too hard and making them lose their confidence in pursuing the martial path.


    Yue Ling''er sized up Xiao Yi with curiosity and suspicion sparkling in her phoenix eyes.


    The first time they met.


    Yue Ling''er didn''t think much of Xiao Yi at all.


    When they met again.


    In front of her, Xiao Yi had in Ling Feng, making it hard for her to believe.


    Now, the third time they met...


    Even though Xiao Yi was unconscious, his battle achievements had also shaken her heart.


    Gu Junhe nced at the secret realm entrance behind them and frowned, "Logically, now that you''ve broken through the main tomb, others should havee out too. Howe it''s only you two..."


    "They''re all dead, I suppose!" said Yue Ling''er.


    "Hmm?"


    Gu Junhe was taken aback, "Was thepetition in the secret realm that intense?"


    Jiang Tai nced at the unconscious Xiao Yi and said with a bitter smile, "Most of them were killed by Junior Brother Xiao!"


    "Eh... He killed them?"


    Gu Junhe looked confused.


    Twenty people each from the royal family and the Royal Martial Arts Academy, ten each from the Nine Profound Sect and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, four from Mingjian Manor, and ten from the Tian Kingdom.


    All seventy or eighty people were killed by Xiao Yi?


    Gu Junhe looked down at the unconscious Xiao Yi, rubbed his forehead with his hand, and said with a wry smile, "This guy... Does he have such a heavy killing intent?"


    Yue Ling''er said, "Elder Gu, it was those people who tried to take Xiao Yi''s life first, that''s why he killed them!"


    Gu Junhe let out a sound.


    Jiang Tai looked at her with a strange expression, "Ling''er, you... seem to be very concerned about Xiao, aren''t you?"


    "Wha, what..."


    Yue Ling''er''s face turned red with embarrassment.


    But from the corner of her eye, she couldn''t help but nce over at Xiao Yi from time to time.


    Jiang Tai''s expression turned thoughtful.


    Gu Junhe shook his head and said, "Since no one else ising out, we can also close the entrance to the secret realm!"


    With a wave of his hand, the secret realm''s entrance dispersed into nothingness.


    Out of the blue, Jiang Tai said, "Elder, this is a Martial Dao Divine Fruit that I acquired from the ancient tomb!"


    "You keep it,"


    Gu Junhe waved his hand, not even ncing at the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, for he was still young and fully capable of breaking through to the Tao Tribtion Realm on his own, "Let''s head back first! Next up, the Royal Capital is going to be a lively ce indeed¡­"


    Gu Junhe whistled.


    High above in the sky.


    The Cangyun Eagle pped its wings and descended, carrying a few people as they soared into the air...


    ......


    Just as Gu Junhe had predicted.


    The Royal Capital indeed became bustling with excitement, with everyone from noble lords tomoners in the streets discussing the battle in the secret realm.


    And the most famous from this battle was naturally Xiao Yi!


    He had in nearly eighty young talents from various major forces!


    Fighting one against three, killing the lord of Mingjian Manor, grievously wounding the elder of Nine Profound Sect, and shing with a peak Golden Elixir Realm powerhouse for dozens of rounds without falling behind, and so on...


    A series of such news spread through the entire Royal Capital like a gue.


    Xiao Yi became famous in one battle!


    Simultaneously...


    The news that Xiao Yi had agreed to fight Zhou Yuan and tten the Martial Arts Institute in three months also spread rapidly, with the source being none other than Treasure Pavilion, the very same entity in charge of the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List!


    Treasure Pavilion''s influence extended across the Heavenly Yuan Realm, and its intelligencework was immensely powerful, with eyes and ears everywhere.


    On this day.


    Outside the Treasure Pavilion.


    It was already a sea of people.


    "Thetest Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List is about to go on sale soon, where do you think Xiao Yi will rank?"


    "He must be in the top three!"


    "Top three? You are underestimating him. Xiao Yi killed Zhang Tianyi, the second-ranked of the Tian Kingdom''s Teng Long List, and the lord of Mingjian Manor. I think he might very well challenge for first ce!"


    "First ce? That''s impossible. Great Prince Jiang Shanhe has been at the ninthyer of the Golden Elixir Realm for two years, firmly holding the top spot on the Teng Long List. Xiao Yi cannot surpass him!"


    "I heard that Xiao Yi is only at the fourthyer of the Golden Elixir Realm. There''s still a significant gap between him and the Great Prince, so it''s unlikely he''ll surpass the Great Prince any time soon."


    "I think Xiao Yi has a good chance of challenging for first ce..."


    Among the crowd, there was a heated debate.


    More than half of their focus in the debate was whether Xiao Yi could surpass Jiang Shanhe and be the first-ranked on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List and Teng Long List.


    Being first on the Teng Long List.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    That also signified the glory of being the foremost among the Tianqing Kingdom''s younger generation.


    It was a matter of significant importance!


    Under the watchful eyes of the masses, the doors of the Treasure Pavilion slowly opened.


    A young man stood at the doorway and shouted, "Thetest edition of the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List is now on sale, one hundred Gold Coins per copy, limited to one copy per person!"


    Whoosh!


    The crowd rushed in, frantically purchasing.


    Momentster...


    A young man squeezed out from the crowd, eagerly flipping open the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List. Upon seeing the contents, he couldn''t help but draw in a sharp breath, "This, this..."

 Chapter 99 Renowned Everywhere, Xiao Yi Awakens!

    "Wha, what is this..."


    "Oh my God, I must be seeing things..."


    "How is this possible?"


    "The Tianqing Kingdom is in for a change..."


    From within the crowd, exmations of shock followed one after another, filling the air. Every strong warrior was clutching the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List with faces filled with horror, unable to stop their gasps of surprise.


    On that very list, sharing the coveted top spot on the Tenglong List right next to Crown Prince Jiang Shanhe, was another name.


    Xiao Yi!


    Heaven-level student of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, at the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, with major achievements including: ying Ye Feng, who was second on Tianqing Kingdom''s Tenglong List, defeating Zhang Tianyi, second on Tian Kingdom''s Tenglong List, killing the master of Mingjian Manor, and crippling an elder of the Nine Profound Sect...


    Every newbie who enters the Tenglong List would have their major achievements listed.


    This was essential for the rankings on the list to carry more weight!


    Until now.


    Everyone thought that at most Xiao Yi would only rece Ye Feng and im the second spot on the Tenglong List, but to everyone''s surprise, Treasure Pavilion had ranked Xiao Yi alongside Jiang Shanhe, as the joint top figure on the Tenglong List.


    Joint first ce!


    This was unprecedented in the history of the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List.


    Putting aside the dazzling series of achievements following Xiao Yi''s name, just his shared first ce with Jiang Shanhe was already astonishing enough!


    Every strong warrior who had gotten their hands on a copy of the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List and seen this news, all looked in the direction of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy and muttered to themselves, "The name Xiao Yi will surely spread across the world!"


    Treasure Pavilion has branches everywhere.


    Dragon and Tiger Lists of various countries could be purchased, and the name Xiao Yi quickly spread far and wide.


    In the Tian Kingdom.


    Wu Yu respectfully looked at the brocade-d youth in front of him, who was none other than Wu Zheng, the top figure on the Tian Kingdom''s Tenglong List and the reigning Crown Prince.


    "Xiao Yi? Joint first on the Tianqing Tenglong List?"


    Wu Zheng clenched his fist fiercely, the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List in his hand turned into a ze and burnt to ashes. His face revealed a grim and cold smile, "Issue my order, in three months, I will personally visit the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "Yes!"


    Wu Yu bowed respectfully and withdrew.


    In the Purple Robe Kingdom.


    Yue Ling''er was staring at the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List in her hands, dazed. After a long while, she put down the list and rushed straight to the residence of the current Crown Prince Yue Cang, "Big brother, big brother,e out quickly!"


    "Ling''er? What brings you to visit me?" Yue Cang, with his trouser legs and sleeves rolled up, wearing a sun hat, and holding a watering can, was tending to his flowers. He looked curiously at the hastily arriving Yue Ling''er and asked.


    Yue Ling''er pursed her lips and said, "In three months, you have to apany me to the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "Ah? No way, no way!"


    Yue Cang was taken aback and shook his head, "This secret realm ordeal, Xiao Yi of the Tianqing Kingdom has killed too many people. His name has spread throughout the surrounding six countries by now, and surely many strong warriors will gather in the Tianqing Kingdom. There are a few tough guys who have been wanting to challenge me, and I would rather not waste my time with them!"


    Yue Ling''er''s face fell cold as she said, "You won''t go? Then I''ll just have to tell Father about your secret visit to Smoke and Dust..."


    "Shh!"


    Suddenly, Yue Cang vanished from where he was standing, covered Yue Ling''er''s mouth with his hand, and said with a mixture of crying andughter, "Oh my dear aunt, I''ll go, okay? You absolutely cannot let this get out..."


    Adjacent to the Tianqing Kingdom were the Baijing Kingdom, Qingyun Kingdom, and Sihai Kingdom.


    Within these nations...


    Some of the favored children of heavens also received the news, "Golden Core Realm Four Layer, actually on par with Jiang Shanhe? Interesting, I really want to see what kind of genius this is!"


    "Most likely the Treasure Pavilion of Tianqing Kingdom is exaggerating. No matter how talented one is, how could they possibly kill an Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm expert with just the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm? I''m going to expose them in person..."


    "Three months from now, in Tianqing Kingdom, I shall go!"


    Just as Gu Junhe had said, Xiao Yi was indeed renowned in all directions.


    His fame skyrocketed!


    However...


    As the one who caused all thismotion, Xiao Yi knew nothing about it.


    Half a month had passed since he returned from the secret realm.


    During these past two weeks, Xiao Yi had been in aa. If it wasn''t for his heartbeat still persisting, Gu Junhe would have thought he was dead.


    This time his exhaustion was truly tremendous!


    He had ignited seventy percent of his blood.


    If it were anyone else, they would have died long ago.


    That he was still alive was a miracle!


    In the bedroom.


    A silver-coated Little Lin was coiled by Xiao Yi''s pillow. Over these past two weeks, it had not only regained its vitality but was full of energy and had sessfully stepped into the Fourth Order realm. In terms of cultivation alone, it wasparable to the early stage of the Golden Core Realm.


    Together with its powerful body that could withstand attacks from peak Golden Core Realm experts and the potent venom that could threaten Eighth Layer Golden Core Realm enemies, it was an extremely difficult foe.


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin lifted its head, its emerald eyes looking towards the door.


    When it saw that Fang Qingzhu hade in, it rxed,zily worming its way over to her. Landing on her shoulder, it gently touched her cheek with a worried gaze at Xiao Yi.


    Fang Qingzhu ced Little Lin on the table, rubbed its little head, and said, "Don''t worry, Xiao Yi will wake up soon." After a pause, she looked at Xiao Yi, whoy motionless on the bed, and repeated in a more resolute voice, "He will definitely wake up!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    For the past half month, it had been Fang Qingzhu who took meticulous care of Xiao Yi.


    Day after day, under the nourishment of century-old ginseng and red-bellied brocade chicken soup, the blood that Xiao Yi lost was recovering.


    It was just that the expenditure from that battle was too great, which was why he had yet to wake up.


    But Xiao Yi''s life was out of danger.


    "Xiao Yi, do you know? You are now on top of the Teng Long List, tied with Great Prince Jiang Shanhe!"


    Fang Qingzhu helped Xiao Yi to sit up against the headrest, talking to him. "Elder Yan and Bingxin sent a letter the other day! Elder Yan nned to visit the capital soon; you need to wake up earlier. Otherwise, if you are still in aa when theye, that would be really embarrassing!"


    Fang Qingzhu cooled the chicken soup in the spoon and fed it to Xiao Yi bit by bit, "Do you remember when we first met, Xiao Yi? I was really desperate at that time! If it weren''t for you, I might have already been... Thank goodness for you!"


    "Xiao Yi..."


    Fang Qingzhu kept talking about the past.


    From when she met Xiao Yi to all that had happened along this journey.


    From the memories of her childhood to the present...


    During this half a month, she had persisted, talking to Xiao Yi every day, hoping to awaken him. Yet, as she saw Xiao Yi still with his eyes tightly shut, ayer of mist gradually formed over her eyes.


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin crawled up to her shoulder, its tail gently wiping the tears from the corner of her eye.


    "Little Lin, I''m okay!"


    Fang Qingzhu offered a faint smile, but as she turned her head back, the bowl and spoon ttered to the ground. She widened her eyes in disbelief at the sight before her, Xiao Yi: "..."

 Chapter 100 Qingyun Banquet

    "Xiao Yi, Brother Xiao Yi? You, you''re awake?"


    Fang Qingzhu looked at Xiao Yi with incredulity, her phoenix eyes wide open and ayer of mist already veiling her watery orbs.


    Hiss!


    The Little Lin on her shoulder also stood erect, staring intently at Xiao Yi.


    In its eyes was a human-like excitement.


    Xiao Yi squeezed out a faint smile on his pale face, nodded, and with a hoarse voice that was still somewhat weak, he said, "Sorry for making you worry!"


    Even though he had been in aa for half a month, there were times when he could still sense everything that was happening outside.


    Fang Qingzhu''s meticulous care over the past half-month, her tireless conversations in hopes of awakening him¡ªXiao Yi was fully aware of all this.


    Xiao Yi tried to rise, but his arms felt weak and he leaned heavily against the headboard.


    "Brother Xiao Yi, don''t move...What do you want to do? Let me help you!" Fang Qingzhu said in panic, supporting Xiao Yi as she hastily asked.


    With the help of Fang Qingzhu, he sat up properly.


    Xiao Yi caught Fang Qingzhu''s retreating hand. Her soft palm was somewhat cool, and medicinal ointment was applied on the back of her hand. Xiao Yi asked with concern, "Does it still hurt?"


    This was where Fang Qingzhu had identally scalded herself while stewing soup for him.


    Before this incident,


    Fang Qingzhu had never cooked, but for Xiao Yi, she started learning to cook, learning to make soup, learning to take care of people.


    Xiao Yi remembered all of this in his heart.


    Fang Qingzhu shook her head, a sweet smile on her face as she said, "It doesn''t hurt!"


    "You''re lying!"


    Xiao Yi forced a smile.


    Fang Qingzhu was taken aback and lowered her head, "It hurt a bit at the beginning, but His Highness the Seventh Prince got me these ointments, and they worked very well. It doesn''t hurt anymore!"


    Xiao Yi gently stroked Fang Qingzhu''s messy fringe on her forehead and said in a deep voice, "Qingzhu, thank you for staying by my side all this time!"


    "Brother Xiao Yi..."


    Fang Qingzhu hesitated for a moment and then rested her head against his chest, "We are husband and wife, if you never leave, I will never forsake you!"


    Smelling the faint fragrance that entered his nose, Xiao Yi gently patted her shoulder and lightly rested his chin against her head.


    In this life...


    Besides his mother, at least for now, Fang Qingzhu was the only one who had entered the sanctuary of his heart. This feeling was more than just between husband and wife, it was also an inseparable kinship!


    In his eyes, however, there was an unprecedented determination!


    Little Lin, looking at the two hugging each other, nced left and right at itself, then brought its tail to its head.


    It rested its head against its tail.


    Its face showed a human-like contentment.


    ¡­


    At Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, behind the mountain.


    It was still that waterfall.


    Xiao Yi stood beneath the waterfall, holding an energy stone in each hand.


    The surging energy from the energy stones infused into his body, converging within his Golden Core, and above Xiao Yi''s Golden Core were already five light rings floating up and down.


    This signified that his cultivation had stepped into the Fifth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Half a month had passed since he woke up.


    "Breaking through a realm now requires fifty medium-grade energy stones, and the further I go, the greater the consumption¡­"


    Xiao Yi slowly opened his eyes, looking at the energy stones in his hand that had lost their luster and turned to waste, he sighed deeply.


    Back then, in that ancient tomb, Xiao Yi had obtained a little over a thousand low-grade energy stones, one hundred forty medium-grade, and twelve high-grade ones.


    The medium-grade energy stones contained ten times the energy of the low-grade ones, and the high-grade ones ten times that of the medium-grade.


    To break through to the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, he had exhausted all the low-grade energy stones.


    The remaining medium and high-grade energy stones amounted to what would be equivalent to two hundred and sixty medium-grade energy stones: "Two hundred and sixty medium-grade energy stones... Should be enough to break through to the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. Below the tribtion, I''ll be invincible, Zhou Yuan is no longer a concern!"


    The greatest reward for Xiao Yi from this secret realm adventure was not the spirit stones, but those three Martial Dao Divine Fruits.


    Each of these Martial Dao Divine Fruits could be exchanged for several hundred or even a thousand top-quality spirit stones.


    But Xiao Yi had no intention of selling the Martial Dao Divine Fruits.


    "Xiao!"


    Jiang Tai''s voice came from outside the waterfall, and with a step, Xiao Yi emerged with rolling vital energy surrounding him, preventing the cascading water from getting close.


    In just a few shes, Xiao Yi had reached Jiang Tai''s side.


    After the journey through the secret realm.


    Xiao Yi hade to recognize Jiang Tai. He sized him up and down andughed, "Congrattions, elder brother, your cultivation has greatly improved!"


    Since returning from the secret realm, Jiang Tai had already stepped into the Eighth Layer Realm of the Golden Core Realm.


    Hisbat power was also even stronger than before!


    Jiang Tai rolled his eyes and said exasperatedly, "You''re supposed to beplimenting me, right? But why does it sound so awkward to my ears?"


    Xiao Yiughed heartily, clearly aware Jiang Tai was referring to him being tied for first ce on the Teng Long List, and then shook his head, "Did elder brother need me for something?"


    Jiang Tai nodded, a yful look on his face, holding an invitation between two fingers, "This is for you!"


    "Hm?"


    Xiao Yi was startled, opened it, and looked with a peculiar expression, "Jiang Shanhe is inviting me to the Qingyun Banquet?"


    In half a month''s time, it would be the Tianqing Kingdom''s Qingyun Festival.


    Every year at this time, when the unique Qingyun flowers of the Tianqing Kingdom bloom, the royal family holds the Qingyun Banquet to invite the outstanding young talents from within the kingdom.


    Moreover, with the Crown Prince position not yet decided, the recent Qingyun Banquets have been organized by the eldest prince.


    Given Xiao Yi''s rtionship with the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he couldn''t fathom why Jiang Shanhe would send him an invitation!


    Jiang Tai squinted his eyes and suggested, "Maybe he wants to recruit you?"


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, "Recruit me? It''s probably a setup for a trap, aiming to put me in a deadly situation!"


    "Don''t worry, the Qingyun Banquet is a state banquet. If anything goes wrong, father won''t spare him, and he wouldn''t dare make a rash move. If you don''t want to go, I can help you decline," Jiang Tai said.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively and smiled at the invitation in his hand, "Go, why not go? Not only will I attend, but our fellow brothers from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy will go as well!"


    "Ah?"


    Jiang Tai was taken aback.


    "Our Tianqi Martial Arts Academy is too poor, you see, the Shi Family brothers and Niu Dali have all starved to the point of skinniness, it''s a good opportunity to take them for a good meal!"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed into slits, "It''s also a good chance for me to see for myself what this eldest prince, who has held the top position on the Teng Long List for many years, is really like!"


    A strong sense of fighting spirit suddenly burst forth from him.


    Ten days flew by in the blink of an eye...


    At the gate of the Tianqi Martial Arts Institute.


    Xiao Yi looked at Gu Junhe, who was drinking sullenly next to the Cangyun Eagle, and said helplessly, "Headmaster, the Qingyun Banquet is for young people, it''s really not suitable for you to go!"


    "Are you saying I''m old?" Gu Junhe squinted his eyes and asked.


    With a serious face, Xiao Yi hummed in agreement.


    Gu Junhe: "..."


    Niu Dali chuckled and said, "Headmaster, let the young people handle their affairs; you don''t need to get involved!"


    "Are you saying I''m old?" Gu Junhe asked again, putting down his liquor gourd.


    Mimicking Xiao Yi''s seriousness, Niu Dali nodded his head, but before he could utter a word, he was abruptly smacked to the ground by Gu Junhe''s palm.


    The p made stars dance in his vision.


    Gu Junhe grabbed Niu Dali''s ankle and dragged him towards the institute like dragging a dead dog. Niu Dali''s head made a thudding sound with every intimate contact with the stairs, and Gu Junhe''s voice drifted, "You all go! Niu Dali will stay with me in the institute for some extra training."


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    Everyone looked at the stairs with over a thousand steps, swallowing saliva subconsciously, their faces filled with sympathy.


    Shi Yaoming sighed and said earnestly, "Brother Dali, keep the headmasterpany, we will eat your share as well..."

 Chapter 101 For Your Drink!

    Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion!


    It sits at the bustling intersection of Vermilion Bird Avenue and Azure Dragon Avenue in the royal capital.


    Though not the most luxurious tavern in the capital, it bore the strongest backing, hosting many royal banquets. For example, the current Azure Cloud Banquet was held within this Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion.


    Along the road, the non-stop flow of carriages was seen.


    Those within the carriages were either rich or noble.


    Not only did they include many famous and esteemed families from Tianqing Kingdom, but also numerous gifted masters from the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List.


    Azure Cloud Banquet, implying an ascension into the Azure Clouds.


    It was specifically organized by the royal family to invite the young heroes within the kingdom.


    "Xiao Yi, brother, the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion is so grand!" Fang Qingzhu admired the elegant and imposing building before her with a look of wonder on her face.


    Little Lin, perched on her shoulder, craned his neck and stuck out his tongue lightly.


    The Shi Family''s four brothers exchanged a nce, excitement in on their faces. Shi Yaoqian''s eyes shone, "Owning such a tavern in this prosperous area would be like raking in gold every day!"


    Shi Yaodu rolled the dice in his hand non-stop, his eyes slightly squinted, "I wonder if there are any gambling games at this Azure Cloud Banquet!"


    "Gambling, gambling, gambling, is that all you ever think about? In a ce like this, making connections with geniuses from all over is what''s most important, isn''t it?" Shi Yaoquan nced at his brother and said, annoyed.


    Shi Yaoming said indifferently, "Second brother, as long as we hold tight to Xiao''s coattails, do we need to make connections with any other genius?"


    Shi Yaoquan''s face stiffened.


    Just as Shi Yaoming said, wasn''t Xiao Yi the most talked-about genius in Tianqing Kingdom at the moment?


    Xiao Yi nced at the three and said, speechlessly, "Speak any more nonsense, and I''ll have you roll back home!"


    The four of them promptly shut up.


    Xiao Yi, holding Fang Qingzhu''s hand, smiled and said, "The Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion is backed by the royal family, naturally it is a lot more imposing! Brother Jiang should already be inside, let''s go in!"


    "Yes!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded obediently.


    Suddenly, a harsh whooshing sound came hurtling towards her shoulder, and Little Lin tensed up on her shoulder. He quickly turned and dodged as a streak of silver light, avoiding it just in time as a dark shadow shed by.


    Swish!


    The cloth on Fang Qingzhu''s shoulder was torn apart.


    "Diao,e back!" An arrogant voice called out.


    The dark shadow quickly returned to the shoulder of a youth in brocade robes, with a face like a jade carving and a handsome, spirited appearance. Astonishingly, it was a gray-colored fourth-grade demon fox marten. The fox marten''s fiery eyes were fixed on Little Lin, who had climbed back onto Fang Qingzhu''s shoulder, its gaze filled with greed.


    Fox martens were naturally fond of preying on snake-type demons, and it had just tried to prey on Little Lin.


    "Are you all right?" Xiao Yi hastily inquired.


    Fang Qingzhu shook her head, her face slightly pale, but immediately hugged Little Lin in her arms, checking him over to make sure he wasn''t injured. Only then did she look at the youth, "You..."


    Before she could finish speaking,


    The youth arrogantly said, "My Diao has taken a fancy to your snake, sell it to me!"


    Meanwhile,


    The youth flicked his finger, and a silver note of one hundred silver floated towards Fang Qingzhu.


    Frowning with displeasure, Fang Qingzhu raised her hand and sent a gust of wind to blow the silver note back, saying coldly, "Little Lin is not for sale!"


    "Is it that you find the money too little?" demanded the young man impatiently, "One thousand silver!"


    Today, the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion was already full of people, and many recognized the youth: "Isn''t that the son of the Minister of War, Li Heng? He''s a master on the Flying Tiger List, and also proficient in The Way of Beast Tamer, truly one of the elites among the young generation!"


    "Youngdy, you should just sell that demon beast to Young Master Li!"


    "Young Master Li is not someone you can afford to provoke!" the crowd advised in turn.


    Despite Xiao Yi''s growing reputation, very few people had actually seen him.


    Not to mention Fang Qingzhu.


    Fang Qingzhu retorted angrily, "Little Lin is our partner, and we will absolutely not sell him!"


    Over these past months, she had developed a deep, rooted bond with Little Lin, regarding him as a friend and family member. She would not sell him for mere thousands of silver, not even for a million yuan stones!


    Little Lin seemed to understand, holding its head high, its little eyes fixed on Fang Qingzhu.


    Squeak squeak squeak!


    The green marten on Li Heng''s shoulder let out a few piercing shrieks, standing its fur on end and drooling uncontrobly.


    "Alright, alright, I know you''re hungry!"


    Li Heng doted on the marten by rubbing its head, then looked towards Xiao Yi and the others, saying arrogantly, "I''ll say this onest time, hand over that little snake, crawl under my crotch, and I''ll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, I..."


    His words were cut off.


    A crisp p suddenly sounded across his face.


    Li Heng''s body spun on the spot from the impact, seeing stars, and he looked around in disbelief, "Who? Who hit me?"


    He was at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm, along with a martenparable to the First Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    How could he not have seen who pped him?


    All was silent around.


    Nobody had seen who made the move.


    Li Heng''s face turned ashen with rage, unable to find the assant, his eyes filled with venomous hate as he stared at Xiao Yi and hispanions, "You... it must be you who ambushed me!" He patted the marten on his shoulder, "Little Diao, kill them for me!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The green marten was a fiercely murderous beast.


    Upon receiving Li Heng''smand,


    It gave a squeak.


    Whoosh!


    It turned into a grey streak of light, charging straight towards Fang Qingzhu, aiming to y her and then capture Little Lin on her.


    Li Heng wore a look of triumph, "This is the fate of those who offend me!"


    However...


    Faced with the rapidly approaching marten,


    Xiao Yi merely gestured towards the void, invisible energy coalescing into a giant hand that snatched the marten firmly.


    Squeak squeak squeak...


    The marten red with rage, struggling hysterically.


    Li Heng''s face underwent a drastic change, seeing Little Diao caught in Xiao Yi''s hand, powerless to break free, his heart skipped a beat, realizing he was facing a real expert. Li Heng spoke hastily, "Release Little Diao, and I will not pursue any grudge with you..."


    To tame that marten, he had exhausted countless resources and wealth.


    Just finding a young green marten had cost him nearly ten million silver pieces!


    "Not hold a grudge with us?"


    Xiao Yi let out a sneer, ncing sideways at Li Heng and suddenly clenching his fists harder.


    Crack!


    The sound of breaking bones made one''s scalp tingle.


    Squeak...


    The marten let out a pitiful cry, its life hanging by a thread.


    Xiao Yi tossed it towards Little Lin, "Here''s something for you to enjoy with your drink!"


    Hiss!


    With a single swallow, Little Lin consumed the marten.


    Little Lin was alreadyparable to a primary fourth-tier demonic beast, possessing strength equivalent to the Fifth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. Once it assimted the marten, chances were it would break through to the middle fourth-tier.


    After swallowing the marten, Little Lin returned to Xiao Yi''s embrace.


    In front of the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion, silence reigned.


    Pant! Pant!


    Li Heng watched Xiao Yi with disbelief. Had his painstakingly nurtured marten died just like that?


    But now, he didn''t dare to move an inch!


    If Xiao Yi could subdue a martenparable to the Golden Core Realm with a single p, how could he be his match?


    While Li Heng was in panic, his eyes suddenly brightened, and he sprinted towards the figure emerging from the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion, "..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 102 Its You Who Should Kneel!

    Li Heng''s face was filled with excitement and tion as he ran towards the figure emerging from the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion.


    While running,


    Li Heng turned his head back to look at Xiao Yi and hispanions, his face twisted with smugness and ferocity, "You mangy curs, you will soon know just how terrifying the consequences of offending this young master are! Hahaha..."


    "Lei, you must stand up for me!"


    Li Heng, jogging all the way, arrived in front of the young man, sobbing his heart out.


    His father was the imperial Minister of War, a dignitary of the first rank.


    In the capital,


    Li Heng also belonged to the cream of the second generation.


    It was natural that he was acquainted with Yun Lei!


    Yun Lei was stunned; he had been entertaining guests on behalf of the crown prince when he heard a conflict brewing outside and came out to see what was going on.


    He hadn''t expected to step outside just to encounter Li Heng running up to him, crying his eyes out with a runny nose. The Yun Family had a good rtionship with the Li Family, and Yun Lei had known Li Heng for many years. Seeing the fiery red palm mark on his face, Yun Lei furrowed his brows and asked, "Heng, how did you end up like this?"


    With a face full of resentment, Li Heng said, "Lei, someone killed my Diao and beat me up like this. You must seek justice for me!"


    But he was indeed reversing right and wrong!


    He did not mention at all that it was his own silver fox that had struck first, attempting to capture and kill Little Lin, and when his offer of one thousand taels of silver to forcefully buy Little Lin was declined, he resorted to murder. He only mentioned the killing of the silver fox and the fact that he was beaten.


    Yun Lei''s brows were tightly knit.


    He had been an earth-grade student himself but had stepped into the First Layer of the Golden Core Realm half a month earlier, bing a heaven-grade student ¨C his status soaring high, basking in the height of sess.


    Seeing his childhood friend beaten up like this, he swung his great hand and said coldly, "What audacity, to dare beat the son of the current Minister of War in the middle of the street! Heng, point out that lunatic, and Lei will avenge you!"


    "It''s them..."


    With his face full of excitement, Li Heng pointed towards Xiao Yi and hispanions.


    But he hadn''t noticed...


    As soon as he saw he was pointing at Xiao Yi, Yun Lei''s expression turned exceedingly grim.


    Strutting up to Xiao Yi and the others with an air of superiority, Li Heng said with a smug face, "Brat, I told you, offending this young master would lead to no good end. My Lei is a heaven-grade student of the Royal Martial Arts Academy and also the crown prince''s confidant. Having offended me is like offending the crown prince, and if you don''t want to die, kneel down and crawl between my legs right now, then kneel before me and kowtow to apologize..."


    Shi Yaodu shook his head and sighed, "Li Heng, is it? I bet you''re going to cry!"


    "Hmm?"


    Li Heng was taken aback as Yun Lei came to his side.@@novelbin@@


    Feeling bold with Yun Lei beside him, Li Heng shouted, "Lei, it was this beast that hit me!"


    With a dark face, Yun Lei barked, "Kneel down!"


    Li Heng crossed his arms, looking triumphantly at Xiao Yi and the rest, "Did you hear that? Lei is telling you to kneel!"


    "I''m telling you to kneel down!"


    Standing by his side, Yun Lei suddenly let out a low roar, and immediately following, Li Heng felt his legs in severe pain as his knees knocked on the ground with two thumps. The pain made Li Heng grimace, and he looked at Yun Lei in confusion, pointing at Xiao Yi, "Lei... Lei, you must have kicked the wrong person. You should kick him..."


    Before he could finish speaking,


    Yun Lei had already grabbed the finger Li Heng was using to point at Xiao Yi and brutally broke it, causing Li Heng to scream in agony, his eyes turning bloodshot as he red at Yun Lei, "Yun Lei, have you gone mad?"


    "The one who''s mad here is you!"


    Yun Lei pped Li Heng across the face, sending him reeling with stars in his eyes as he shouted angrily, "Do you know who he is? He is Xiao Yi from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy..."


    "What?"


    Li Heng could no longer care about the pain.


    Hisplexion turned deathly pale, andrge beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.


    Who within the Tianqing Kingdom today did not know the name of Xiao Yi?


    This is someone who even dares to kill the owner of Sword Mountain Manor!


    Killing the son of a Minister, what''s that to him?


    Gulp!


    Li Heng swallowed hard, crying with a grim face as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Xiao, Xiao... I didn''t recognize Tai Shan; please spare me..."


    Yun Lei''s face carried a pleasing smile, "Xiao, please be magnanimous and let him off this time!"


    With Xiao Yi''s current talent and strength, even the eldest prince wants to recruit him.


    Once Xiao Yi agrees to the eldest prince''s recruitment, he will definitely be the first fierce general under the eldest prince. That''s why Yun Lei is behaving like this!


    Xiao Yi looked at him with a strange expression, "Is Yun Fan your brother?"


    Yun Lei''s face twitched.


    He naturally knew that Yun Fan had died at Xiao Yi''s hands, but thinking of the eldest prince''s intention to recruit Xiao Yi, he had to suppress the hatred in his heart, smiling obsequiously, "I''ve heard about Little Fan''s incident. It was all his own doing; Xiao can''t be med for it!"


    Xiao Yi sized up Yun Lei and sneered, "If today you would seek revenge for your brother and strike at me, I might still respect you. As for now..."


    Yun Lei forced a smile, "Xiao is joking... The Crown Prince has been waiting inside for a long time. Now, look at this..."


    Xiao Yi nced at Li Heng and waved his hand, "Let him kneel! Let him leave after the banquet is over!"


    "Rest assured, Xiao!"


    Yun Lei nodded firmly and red fiercely at Li Heng, "Did you hear Xiao''s words? Kneel right here for me!"


    Li Heng was on the verge of tears, "..."


    He never imagined that he would hit a snag today!


    He could only kneel obediently in front of the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, this way, please!"


    Yun Lei led the way at the front, guiding Xiao Yi and the others into the banquet hall, "Xiao, the banquet will be held here shortly. You all can have a look around the banquet hall for now, or try some of the pastries here! The banquet will start very soon!"


    "Go attend to your duties!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand.


    The others stood in the banquet hall. Shi Yaodu''s eyes lit up, "What a huge roasted pig, and that fatty beast leg..."


    "Eat, we must eat our fill!"


    "And pack some to take back for the Institute Director and Da Li..."


    The Shi Family''s four brothers dashed away, vanishing among the array of delicious foods.


    Xiao Yi, on the other hand, was holding Fang Qingzhu''s hand, starting to savor various delicacies with her.


    At this moment, Xiao Yi did not know...


    After leaving, Yun Lei went to the eighth floor of the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion. With a respectful expression on his face, he spoke to Jiang Shanhe, who was standing with his hands behind his back, gazing outside through the window, "Your Highness, I''ve brought Xiao Yi to the banquet hall."


    "Hmm!"


    Jiang Shanhe didn''t turn around, his eyes narrowed to slits as he looked outside and said, "Yun Lei, do you me this prince?"


    Xiao Yi had killed Yun Fan.


    And Yun Lei could not take revenge; instead, he had to serve Xiao Yi with all due respect.


    Yun Lei said in fear, "Your Highness jests; how could I me you? Your actions are all about the bigger picture, and I swear my unwavering loyalty!"


    "Good, this prince was not mistaken about you! Rest assured..."


    Jiang Shanhe narrowed his eyes, looking at the bustling Tianqing capital, a sh of icy cold light quickly passing through his gaze, "If he obedientlyplies and agrees to serve me, then let him live for a few more years. If he disobeys, this prince will personally hand him over to you..."


    "Your Highness''s great kindness is unforgettable!"


    Yun Lei bowed deeply, his lowered eyes filled with a fierce cold light, "Little Fan, your brother will surely avenge you!"

 Chapter 103 Is It Him?

    Xiao Yi''s arrival naturally attracted the attention of many people.


    This was the current genius of the Tianqing Kingdom who was in the spotlight¡ªif it had been any other time, countless powerful individuals would have approached to befriend him.


    But now...


    Less than a month remained until the deadline for the duel between Xiao Yi and the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    For the crowd.


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy and Xiao Yi were at odds, with an evident lean towards Xiao Yi.


    In their eyes, Xiao Yi''s life and death were uncertain, and in this gamble, the Royal Martial Arts Academy was clearly more likely to win. To befriend Xiao Yi now and, should he die at the hands of the Academy in a month, they might face retributione autumn.


    That''s exactly why.


    Even though many in the banquet hall nodded and made polite gestures towards Xiao Yi, not one person came forward to start a conversation.


    "Amitabha!"


    Xiao Yi was tasting the delicacies with Fang Qingzhu when a hoarse voice echoed in his ear.


    It was a bald monk, but on top of his head were not the usual scars of monkhood, but three ferocious w marks running across his forehead and the back of his skull, making his appearance particrly vicious. At this moment, he had his palms together, smiling at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "From the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple?"


    "Amitabha, this poor monk Dao Tian is a disciple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple!" Dao Tian said with a smile.


    Xiao Yi replied indifferently, "What do you want with me?"


    He didn''t have much fondness for these hypocritically benevolent monks.


    Dao Tian kept a smiling face, seeming amiable, and spoke in a not-so-loud voice, "Xiao benefactor, a few days ago our abbot had a dream in which the Buddha said you have a destiny with our Buddha. The poor monk hase uninvited today, wishing to invite you to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple to receive the baptism of the Buddhist Law!"


    The news that Xiao Yi was able to y a practitioner of the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm with a cultivation at the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm had long since reached the ears of various forces.


    Even Dao Tian, a disciple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, coveted this secret.


    The abbot of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple ordered him to bring Xiao Yi back to the temple, and then to brainwash and control him with Buddhist Law. If they could force the secret of his ability to fight beyond his level out of him, the great prosperity of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple was in sight.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively, "I won''t go!"


    "Xiao benefactor, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is the orthodox sanctuary of Buddhism, with a Buddha''s light that shines over all, it is a sacred ce. Generally speaking, even the royal lineage cannot set foot there at will. Our Buddha is merciful and wishes to convert you with the Buddhist Law, so you should not refuse!" Dao Tian kept smiling, but his tone became somewhat stern.


    Xiao Yi said, "ording to what you''re saying, going to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple would be an honor for me then?"


    Dao Tian replied, "Of course it is!"


    He was a contemporary chosen disciple, usually hidden from the world, not even listed on the Heavenly Qing Dragon and Tiger List. But Dao Tian''s strength was not to be underestimated¡ªstanding at the Golden Elixir Realm Seventh Layer Peak, he wasparable to Jiang Tai before his breakthrough!


    "Amitabha!"


    Dao Tian brought his hands together and reached out to grab Xiao Yi''s shoulder, "Xiao benefactor,e with me!"


    However...


    His palm rested on Xiao Yi''s shoulder, and with a fierce jerk, Xiao Yi didn''t budge an inch.


    "Hmm?"


    Dao Tian''s expression tightened.


    Xiao Yi said emotionlessly, "It seems that I have a destiny without affinity with your Buddha. However, I do think you have a destiny with the King of Hell!"


    "Huh?"


    Dao Tian was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi raised his palm and mped onto his wrist, followed by a crisp crack¡ªDao Tian''s arm broke on the spot. Before he could even scream, Xiao Yi kicked out, striking Dao Tian in the abdomen.


    Whoosh!


    Dao Tian screamed miserably, copsed to the ground holding his stomach.


    Spittle gushed from his mouth like a breached dam.


    After days of cultivation, Xiao Yi''s level had stepped into the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. The strength from the thirty-five thousand God Sealing Seeds made his physical power even more formidable.


    His martial prowess wasparable to the peak of the Golden Elixir!


    Was Dao Tian even a match for him?


    Themotion here naturally drew the attention of the surrounding crowd. Watching Xiao Yi casually cripple Dao Tian with ease, expressions of shock were evident on everyone''s faces. "As expected from the genius ranked equal to the crown prince on the Teng Long List, Xiao Yi''s strength is truly unfathomable!"


    "Dao Tian is a Buddha''s son from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. Although a Buddha''s son is detached from worldly concerns and not ranked, he definitely has the strength of the top five on the Teng Long List. Yet he couldn''t even take one move from Xiao Yi. Among the younger generation, I fear only the crown prince can suppress Xiao Yi!"


    The whispers in the crowd abruptly ceased.


    The crowd surrounding them automatically parted, creating a path, as Jiang Shanhe, arrayed in brocade robes, appeared within everyone''s sight, escorted by Yun Lei.


    His gaze was serene, and he wore a smile as he walked towards Xiao Yi.


    Their eyes met.


    Jiang Shanhe said with a smile, "Do me a favor and let him live, how about it?"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders, "Drag him away!"


    Jiang Shanhe nced at Yun Lei.


    Yun Lei stepped forward, intending to help Dao Tian up, but Xiao Yi stopped him.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I said drag him away!"


    Yun Lei was taken aback and looked to Jiang Shanhe.


    Jiang Shanhe frowned slightly, then gestured with his hand. Yun Lei immediately understood his intentions, grabbed Dao Tian by the ankle, and dragged him out of the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion like a dead dog.


    "Shall we have a good drinkter?" Jiang Shanhe asked with a smile.


    Xiao Yi replied, "Only if it''s good liquor!"


    Jiang Shanhe nodded, "Royal brews guaranteed not to disappoint you!"


    Xiao Yi said with a smile, "Sounds good!"


    Jiang Shanhe said, "I''ll find youter!"


    "Suit yourself!"


    Watching Jiang Shanhe''s departing figure, Fang Qingzhu said softly, "Xiao Yi, I don''t like him!"


    Little Lin raised his head and nodded.


    As if expressing his agreement with Fang Qingzhu''s opinion.


    Xiao Yi asked curiously, "Why?"


    Fang Qingzhu''s brows furrowed slightly, and a strange light flickered in her beautiful eyes. "I can''t exactly put my finger on it, but I feel his smile is very fake, it gives an ufortable feeling!"


    "In this life, we can hardly avoid wearing a few masks, especially those born into the imperial family. But¡­" Xiao Yi smiled and then continued, "I don''t like him either, so avoid him!"


    "Okay!"


    Fang Qingzhu nodded obediently.


    Around them, however, no one else dared to approach.


    They only nodded to him from a distance, in a gesture of goodwill.


    Xiao Yi was rather pleased with the peace and quiet.


    "Xiao,e over here for a second!" Shi Yaoqian gestured to him with a mysterious air.


    Xiao Yi was startled, looking at him curiously, "What is it?"


    Shi Yaoqian whispered, "Xiao, you have a storage ring, right?"


    Xiao Yi nodded subconsciously.


    Shi Yaoqian nced around, then pulled open the cor of his clothes, revealing an astonishing array of crystal cups, tes, vases, and more stuffed inside his loose clothing. Xiao Yi''s eyes twitched,pletely at a loss as to how Shi Yaoqian managed to fit all these items into his clothes.


    Shi Yaoqian said, "Xiao, open up your storage ring quick, these things are worth a fortune!"


    Xiao Yi''s face turned as ck as coal: "¡­"


    He wanted nothing more than to smack this humiliating fool and send him flying.@@novelbin@@


    How embarrassing would it be if someone saw this?


    Shi Yaoqian whispered urgently, "Xiao, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and stash these things! I even spotted a table made from Azure Dragon wood over there; make sure to take that tooter..."


    Xiao Yi, with a darkened expression, said, "Scram!"


    He took Fang Qingzhu by the hand and walked away.


    At that moment...


    Jiang Shanhe''s voice suddenly resounded throughout the banquet hall: "Wee everyone to the Qingyun Banquet. It''s an honor given by the King for me to host this event. Before we begin, please allow me to introduce a distinguished guest!"


    He pointed towards the entrance.


    All eyes turned as one to look.


    Xiao Yi also saw the figure at the entrance and couldn''t help but reveal a trace of coldness in his eyes: "Is it him?"

 Chapter 104 Are You Satisfied Now?

    At the entrance to the banquet hall.


    Zhou Xin, resplendent in his robes, strode in with authority as the crowd parted to either side to make way, "Law Enforcement Elder Zhou Xin of the Royal Martial Arts Academy? Why did he return here?"


    "I heard Zhou Xin made a breakthrough to the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Realm and has been promoted to the Deputy Head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Deputy Head? No wonder even the Crown Prince calls him an honored guest!"


    Amidst the whispering.


    Zhou Xin approached Jiang Shanhe with a beaming smile, "His Highness the Crown Prince is too polite. How can I, Zhou, be worthy of such a guest title?"


    "Please take a seat, Deputy Head Zhou!" Jiang Shanhe gestured invitingly.


    Zhou Xin smiled and sat beside him.


    His gaze swept through the crowd, eventually settling on Xiao Yi, the smile on his face slowly fading, reced by a hint of amusement.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Zhou Xin.


    When he was being troubled by Ge Qingyun and others, it was Zhou Xin, the Law Enforcement Elder, who brazenly shielded them.


    This led to Xiao Yi causing an uproar at the Royal Martial Arts Academy!@@novelbin@@


    "Many thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince!"


    Zhou Xin bowed to Jiang Shanhe and then took the seat to Jiang''s left.


    Jiang Shanhe spoke loudly, "Ladies and Gentlemen, you must be wondering why Deputy Head Zhou would grace the Qingyun Banquet with his presence."


    The crowd turned their gaze toward him.


    Jiang Shanhe looked at Zhou Xin.


    Zhou Xin slowly stood up, face wearing a radiant smile, his eyes sweeping across those present beforeing to rest on Xiao Yi, he dered, "Zhou hase to the Qingyun Banquet today for just one purpose!"


    "Xiao Yi, this seems to be targeted at you!" Fang Qingzhu said.


    Xiao Yi acknowledged with a hum, quietly waiting for what was toe.


    Zhou Xin said unhurriedly, "Perhaps everyone has heard, there was some misunderstanding between the Royal Martial Arts Academy and Xiao Yi, and all of it was because I, Zhou, was deceived by nder and wrongly used him!"


    "Ah..."


    "What''s going on? Has someone from the Royal Martial Arts Academy actually admitted they were wrong?"


    "The Royal Martial Arts Academy, such a domineering entity, has actually admitted fault? Just how strong is this Xiao Yi, to make the Royal Martial Arts Academy capitte... "


    All eyes focused on Xiao Yi.


    Surprise appeared on Xiao Yi''s face; he had thought of many reasons why Zhou Xin might appear here but had never considered that he would openly apologize to him?


    To know...


    Zhou Xin was now the Deputy Head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Wait a minute...


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, his face showing thick sarcasm, "So that''s how it is... No wonder they would promote him to Deputy Head at this time..."


    If Zhou Xin were still the Law Enforcement Elder, his public apology to Xiao Yi would mean that the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s Law Enforcement Hall would suffer a loss of dignity and justice, and even lead others to question the rules of the Martial Arts Academy.


    But now Zhou Xin was the Deputy Head.


    His apology could entirely be attributed to him personally, minimizing the impact on the Royal Martial Arts Academy!


    Zhou Xin bowed deeply to Xiao Yi, his voice solemn, "Xiao Yi, it was all because I misbelieved malicious gossip, wrongly using you! This has nothing to do with the Royal Martial Arts Academy, it''s all my personal mistake. When we return, I will request the Head to relieve me of my position as Deputy Head!"


    Boom!


    A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd once more.


    The disturbance was hard to calm!


    To appease Xiao Yi''s anger, was Zhou Xin actually prepared to resign in acknowledgment of his fault?


    "Xiao Yi, that''s enough!"


    "Deputy Head Zhou has already gone to this extent; if you keep pursuing this, you''ll truly be ungracious!"


    "Enough is enough!" the crowd urged.


    In their view, the Royal Martial Arts Academy had already conceded to such an extent, with full sincerity. Xiao Yi ought to ept Zhou Xin''s apology and no longer pursue the matter.


    However...


    Xiao Yi remained seated in his ce, warmly serving vegetables to Fang Qingzhu: "This tastes good, and this too... Look at how thin you''ve be. You need to eat more meat, understand?"


    Fang Qingzhu smiled gently, dutifully nodding her head.


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin stood up, sticking out its tongue.


    Xiao Yi rubbed its head, offering it a few pieces of meat: "Alright, alright, you need to eat meat too!"


    He seemed to have not seen Zhou Xin''s actions at all.


    "Xiao Yi, please forgive me!"


    Zhou Xin, still in a bowing posture, had a face that turned livid, but remembering Zhou Yuan''smand, he could only take a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I trulye to offer an apology with all my heart. Whatever you ask of me, I can agree to it!"


    Xiao Yi said yfully, "Even if I asked for your life?"


    "This..."


    Zhou Xin was startled, the murderous intent in his eyes already seething, yet he forcibly suppressed it and said sternly, "Xiao Yi, I, Zhou, indeed made the first mistake, but today I have set aside my pride to apologize to you. Do you really intend to be mercilessly thorough?"


    Yun Lei said with unease, "Xiao Yi, no matter what Vice Head Zhou did wrong before, he has already apologized to you. Even if you still harbor resentment, he is, after all, your elder. Don''t you think you are being too excessive?"


    "Who the hell are you to lecture me on what to do?" Xiao Yi looked up at Yun Lei, with a face of indifference.


    "You..."


    Yun Lei was taken aback, his face turning an iron blue.


    Xiao Yi pointed at Zhou Xin, who was still maintaining a bowing posture, and sneered, "You think he''s really apologizing to me? He is but trying to manipte public opinion, making everyone believe that I, Xiao Yi, am unreasonable and unyielding even when I''m in the right... In this way, no one will me the Royal Martial Arts Academy for bullying others, nor will anyone remember how you twisted truth and justice, attempting to put me to death everywhere. Am I right?"


    His mocking gaze turned to Jiang Shanhe.


    Yun Lei''s expression changed.


    As a confidant of Jiang Shanhe, he naturally knew that all of today''s events were orchestrated by Jiang Shanhe''s hands. The n was to first offer an apology with Zhou Xin, manipting public opinion against Xiao Yi.


    Afterward...


    Jiang Shanhe would step in to cate Xiao Yi.


    If they could subdue Xiao Yi, his reputation would be greatly enhanced; even if Xiao Yi refused in the end, the Royal Martial Arts Academy would shed the usation of oppressing the weak, a strategy that would kill several birds with one stone.


    But this n was supposed to be top secret!


    Xiao Yi had pinpointed the crux of the scheme with a single statement. Yun Lei instinctively looked towards Jiang Shanhe.


    Jiang Shanhe narrowed his eyes, the n indeeding from him, and he never expected Xiao Yi to see through it. Yet he showed no panic, calmly tasting the dishes on the table.


    Zhou Xin straightened up, his face the picture of despair, "Xiao Yi, why can''t you trust me? Do you really need my life to extinguish your anger?"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Yes! Are you willing to give it?"


    "You..."


    Zhou Xin''s mouth twitched violently.


    Was he willing?


    Of course not!


    All of this was just an act!


    Jiang Shanhe, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up, "Vice Head Zhou, since it''s an apology, you should show some sincerity!"


    Zhou Xin''s expression changed drastically.


    Under Jiang Shanhe''s cold gaze, he gritted his teeth and said, "Please enlighten me, Your Highness!"


    Pfft!


    With a flick of his sword finger, Jiang Shanhe severed Zhou Xin''s right arm at the shoulder, the bloody limb falling in front of Xiao Yi. Jiang Shanhe narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you satisfied now?"

 Chapter 106 The Dragons Reverse Scale, Touch It and Die!

    Xiao Yi''s gaze swept over the people in the banquet hall.


    His eyes were icy and sharp, as if they could see right through someone.


    Anyone under his intense stare felt a sense of fear and involuntarily bowed their heads, remaining silent as cicadas in winter.


    Xiao Yi looked at Jiang Shanhe, who was clenching his teeth, and shrugged, "Crown Prince, it seems that you were indeed hallucinating earlier!"


    Jiang Shanhe''splexion turned from green to white.@@novelbin@@


    The Qingyun banquet today was specially prepared by him to make Xiao Yi submit in front of everyone.


    Unfortunately...


    He had exhausted all his means, and not only did his ns fall through, but he had also lost Zhou Xin and Yun Lei. Now even his own face was swollen.


    Jiang Shanhe took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, saying in a deep voice, "Indeed a good move, no wonder Ye Feng and Zhuang Bifan fell to you. But do you really think you''ve got me cornered?"


    Xiao Yi looked at him with interest, "Whatever tricks you have, go ahead and use them!"


    "Hmph!"


    With a cold snort, Jiang Shanhe''s eyes narrowed into slits, with a cold light flickering within, "I had wanted you to willingly join under mymand; I could promise you a lifetime of wealth and glory. Unfortunately, all this is now irrelevant to you..."


    No sooner had he finished speaking.


    Jiang Shanhe suddenly stood up and strode towards Xiao Yi.


    Each step was like a prehistoric beast walking amongst men, the cold oppression was so intense that the banquet hall became silent except for the sound of his footsteps.


    Pat!


    The sound of Jiang Shanhe''s footsteps abruptly stopped, and there he stood, in front of Xiao Yi.


    The two of them looked into each other''s eyes.


    The tangible res struck like lightning in the air, bursting into a fierce ze.


    The crushing aura pressed down on Xiao Yi like a towering peak, and Jiang Shanhe said with narrowed eyes, "Xiao Yi, I''ll give you a chance to live. All you have to do is announce your withdrawal from Tianqi Martial Arts Academy and pledge your loyalty to the Royal Martial Arts Academy and myself. Tell me the secrets of your cultivation, and I will spare your life!"


    Xiao Yi cocked his head and looked past Jiang Shanhe''s shoulder at the sky outside, "The night''s just begun, why are you already dreaming?"


    "You..."


    Jiang Shanhe''s expression turned rigid as they locked gaze.


    Xiao Yi saw the cold intent to kill in Jiang Shanhe''s eyes; Jiang Shanhe saw the indifference and chill in Xiao Yi''s.


    Whoosh!


    Jiang Shanhe let out a long breath, "You''ve personally severed your only path to survival!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged, neither servile nor overbearing, each word ringing like a bell tolling, deafening, "I''d rather die standing than live on my knees!"


    "Then go and die!"


    Jiang Shanheshed out with a palm strike without warning.


    As the esteemed Crown Prince, the most probable sessor to the throne, and the first-ranked fighter on the Tianqing Tenglong List, Jiang Shanhe felt he had made significant concessions to get Xiao Yi''s secret.


    Yet Xiao Yi still refused him!


    This was a challenge to his authority!


    "One palm to decide the world!"


    In Jiang Shanhe''s palm seemed to flow an endless river, with raging waves and towering mountains, aimed at Xiao Yi''s head. Your journey continues on empire


    The terrifying force generated a massive gust.


    The wave walls over a hundred meters high seemed to be the hands of gods descending from the heavens. This palm was so mighty that even an ordinary practitioner at the Tenth Layer of the Golden Core Realm would struggle to bear it.


    "Get away quickly!"


    "The Crown Prince''s ''One Palm to Decide the World'' is a high-level fourth-rank martial art, containing unparalleled destructive power. Xiao Yi is doomed..."


    "If he had turned away from the dark and joined the Crown Prince, bing a noble or a general in the future would have been easy, but s..."


    Sighs and remarks filled the air, and of course, there were also some who were gloating, "The Crown Prince has already extended an olive branch to him, who asked for his refusal, so ignorant of death?"


    "It''s one thing for heaven tomit evils, but quite another for a man to bring disaster upon himself!"


    Amidst the discussion.


    Jiang Shanhe''s palm strike had already reached Xiao Yi''s front.


    The wild palm wind roared past, shattering the surrounding tables and chairs, and bursting the floor tiles as well, with sand and rocks hitting Xiao Yi''s body.


    But before anyone could get close, they were shredded into powder by the fierce surge of energy from Xiao Yi''s body.


    As Xiao Yi looked up, a cold glint shed in his eyes, "Vajra Subdues Demons!"


    Hum!


    Elemental energy roared out from within him like a tidal wave, transforming into a towering golden figure, with its right fist smashing fiercely towards the giant palm descending from the sky.


    The fist and the palm collided mid-air.


    Thud!


    In the midst of a world-shaking boom,


    From the point of contact between the fist and the palm, an invisible shockwave surged outwards in all directions, the rumbling noise unceasing to the ear. Surrounding tables and chairs were all shattered to pieces, and many powerful fighters were caught in the cmity, sent flying in all directions.


    Amongst cries of agony,


    The two forces disappeared in an instant.


    Xiao Yi defied gravity and soared up, engaging in close-quartersbat mid-air, exchanging blows with fists and palms.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi and Jiang Shanhe''s figures were like two streaks of light, moving with extreme speed. Every collision between them set off tremendous roars that shook the heavens.


    After dozens of exchanges,


    The entire Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion was a wreck, its roofpletely torn off by their fight, leaving them standing on the broken eaves, facing each other from afar.


    Xiao Yi stood proudly atop a broken wooden column.


    With his hands behind his back, a gentle breeze caressed his face, his ck hair dancing wildly, his face remained calm, "Ranked alongside me at the top of the Teng Long List? Do you really think you''re worthy?"


    Jiang Shanhe wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his blood-shot eyes ice-cold, "I never expected that you''d already broken through to the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm..."


    His gaze was icy, but his heart was surging with emotion.


    It had only been about two months since the trip to the secret realm.


    Had Xiao Yi really risen from the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm to the Seventh Layer?


    Advancing three minor realms in two months?


    "Such a pace of cultivation is rare in the world. Even that Xiao Tianjiao probably isn''t this fast, right? If I could get my hands on such a treasure, not to mention the Tao Tribtion Realm, even the elusive Longevity Secret Realm might be within reach. I might even be a being that stands shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Tianjiao..."


    Jiang Shanhe took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "With your current strength, Xiao Yi, even the pce might not be certain of defeating you. But don''t forget, you''re not alone. Your wife, and your brothers from Tianqi Martial Arts Academy... If the pce were to use its power against them, how many do you think you could save?"


    Hum!


    The wind that had been blowing around them seemed to stop all of a sudden.


    The smile on Xiao Yi''s face gradually faded, and what reced it was a chilling gleam, "Jiang Shanhe, you''re courting death!"


    Fang Qingzhu was his inverse scale.


    To touch the dragon''s inverse scale is to court death!


    "Hm?"


    Jiang Shanhe''s expression changed. Xiao Yi''s aura had suddenly turned cold, instilling a deep sense of dread in him. Just as he was about to speak,


    A violent gust of wind surged towards him head-on, entering his mouth and forcibly pushing back the words that had reached his lips.


    When he opened his eyes again...


    Xiao Yi had already appeared before him, and a fist wasing straight toward his face.


    "Fuck!"


    Jiang Shanhe''splexion changed drastically, devoid of his prior arrogance and pride. Crossing his hands defensively, he instinctively protected his chest. With a thud, Xiao Yi''s punch sent him flying.


    Wow!


    Jiang Shanhe spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flung through the air like a falling star, soaring hundreds of meters before crashing onto the street with a boom.


    The unyielding force continued, dragging Jiang Shanhe along and carving a trench hundreds of meters long on the ground.


    Soil and rocks were upturned, dust filling the air.


    Therey Jiang Shanhe in the pit, bleeding from every orifice, his life and death unknown...

 Chapter 107 Martial King of the Nation

    Half of the Spring Breeze and Rain Pavilion was reduced to ruins.


    The top talent on the Teng Long List, Great Prince Jiang Shanhe of the Tianqing Kingdom, couldn''t withstand Xiao Yi''s punch and was sted hundreds of meters away.


    Such a scene left the tens of thousands of onlookers dumbstruck and speechless.


    The gazes that fell on Xiao Yi were filled with shock and awe, with fear and disbelief being the only other emotions left.


    "How on earth did he cultivate? Advancing from the Four Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm to the seventhyer in two months?"


    "Such a speed of cultivation is simply terrifying!"


    "I''m afraid only Tianjiao of the Great Qian Dynasty can match him!"


    "There are rumors that Xiao Yi is also from the Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty, I initially thought it was true. But now, how could I feel it''s false? How could the Xiao Family send such a talent to Nanhuang City to be someone''s son-inw?"


    "Unless the people of the Xiao Family are blind!"


    "The Xiao Family had given birth to Tianjiao, how could they be blind? This rumor is mostly false!"


    The murmurs among the crowd naturally reached Xiao Yi''s ears, and he slightly lifted the corners of his mouth in a trace of faint mockery: "Xiao Zhengde, if you heard these words, you must feel very embarrassed, right?"


    Originally, Xiao Zhengde had sent him to the Fang Family as a son-inw to secure a breeding beast for Tianjiao''s mount.


    In the end...


    Wasn''t it because they thought Xiao Yi was useless?


    The stronger and faster Xiao Yi became, the more severe the ps on Xiao Zhengde and Tianjiao''s faces were.


    He was even somewhat impatient to know, what would the expressions of Xiao Zhengde and Tianjiao look like when they heard this news!


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a dull and rapid sound of horse hooves came from the front, as if thousands of troops were galloping.


    A momentter...


    A group of several hundred ck Dragon Cavalry d in ck armor appeared on the streets, with two fast horses taking away the now unconscious Jiang Shanhe. The ck Dragon Cavalry moved imposingly, closing in on Xiao Yi.


    "This, this is the ck Dragon Cavalry of the imperial guards, even they have been alerted?"


    "In the entire Tianqing Kingdom, only His Majesty canmand the ck Dragon Cavalry. It seems His Majesty has already learned of the situation here, Xiao Yi is in danger now!"


    ck Dragon Cavalry.


    They were all elite soldiers at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm, and with their armored ck Dragon steeds, each was worth a hundred in the fight.


    When the hundreds of ck Dragon Cavalry charged collectively, even warriors in the High-Layer Golden Core Realm were in danger of losing their lives.


    "Xiao Yi..."


    Fang Qingzhu stood by Xiao Yi''s side, tightly clutching his palm with a look of concern on her face.


    The Shi Family''s four brothers also put away their usual irreverent expressions and stood solemnly by Xiao Yi''s side, ready to step in without hesitation if the ck Dragon Cavalry reallyunched a charge.


    Xiao Yi patted Fang Qingzhu''s hand and said with a light chuckle, "Don''t worry."


    Clip-clop!


    Amidst the crisp sound of horse hooves, a ck Dragon cavalry leader, d in ck armor, carrying a pitch-ck long spear, and standing tall like a pine tree, came before Xiao Yi, his cold voice tinged with a metallic quality: "Xiao Yi, the King summons you!"


    "Hmm?"


    Everyone was taken aback, "The ck Dragon Cavalry came not to kill Xiao Yi?"


    "Strange... The Great Prince has just been seriously injured by Xiao Yi and is unconscious, yet His Majesty is summoning Xiao Yi, what in the world is happening?"


    Xiao Yi also raised an eyebrow and asked, "Just me alone?"


    "Yes!"


    The ck Armored leader nodded, still as cold as ever, "His Majesty summons you, please proceed immediately with me to the pce!"


    "Xiao Yi..."


    Fang Qingzhu''s face still wore a worried expression.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, I will apany you!" He turned to the Shi brothers, "You guys, see to it that Qingzhu safely makes it back to the Martial Arts Institute!"


    "Rest assured, Brother Xiao, we will definitely protect Miss Fang!" Shi Yaoquan patted his chest and said earnestly.


    Xiao Yi nodded and addressed the ck Armored leader, "Lead the way!"


    "Please!"


    Xiao Yi leaped up andnded on the back of one of the ck Dragon steeds, galloping away into the distance.


    Shi Yaodu looked at Fang Qingzhu with a smile on her face, full of concern, andughed, "Good thingse from harmony, I bet Xiao wouldn''t have a problem!"


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    Shi Yaoqian rubbed the two silver ingots in his hands, "Fang, just ease your heart! If His Majesty had any intentions to harm Xiao, the ck Dragon Cavalry would have alreadyunched an attack!"


    "Let''s head back to the Martial Arts Institute first!"


    Fang Qingzhu kept looking back every three steps, her face still filled with worry.


    ......


    The Royal Pce.


    Luxurious and majestic.


    Xiao Yi followed the lead of the ck-armored general and came all the way to the Jade Dragon Pavilion, where the Emperor of Tianqing Kingdom, Jiang Tianchen, resided.


    The Jade Dragon Pavilion was at the very center of the entire pce, not only heavily guarded but also protected by dozens of formations.


    To the east, west, north, and south, each was overseen by a high-level practitioner of the Golden Core Realm.


    Even a peak Golden Core Realm powerhouse would find it utterly impossible to enter the Jade Dragon Pavilion without a sound, and the current Emperor of Tianqing Kingdom was now holding a scroll, sitting on the Dragon Throne with amanding presence.


    "Your Majesty, Xiao Yi has been brought here!" dered the ck-armored general respectfully.


    Jiang Tianchen put down the scroll in his hands and looked up at Xiao Yi, his gaze full of wisdom and unfathomable depth.@@novelbin@@


    Hmph!


    Jiang Tianchen suddenly let out a cold snort, making the temperature inside the grand hall drop tens of degrees in an instant, his voice containing a hint of coldness and ruthlessness, "Xiao Yi, do you know your crime?"


    The ck-armored general was already so frightened that he knelt down with a ng.


    He couldn''t help but take a covert look at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi, however, curled up the corners of his mouth and said, "I don''t."


    "Hmm?"


    Jiang Tianchen squinted his eyes, silent.


    But it was this silence that soaked the tough ck-armored general, who had charged through battlefields and bloodshed, in cold sweat, and he gulped down his saliva before lowering his voice, "Won''t you kneel and admit your mistake to His Majesty?"


    Xiao Yi remained silent, just staring at Jiang Tianchen.


    They locked eyes.


    Then suddenly...


    Ha ha ha ha!


    The robustughter of Jiang Tianchen echoed throughout the Jade Dragon Pavilion, like the rumbling of war drums and thunder from the heavens resonating long within the grand hall, deafening.


    A momentter.


    Jiang Tianchen''sughter came to an abrupt stop, and with narrowed eyes, he said, "I heard... You have a bet with Zhou Yuan, to level the Royal Martial Arts Academy in a month?"


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Why? Does Your Majesty wish to stop me?"


    The ck-armored general beside them wished he could cover his ears.


    Who dares to speak to Jiang Tianchen like this in all of the vast Tianqing Kingdom?


    Isn''t that seeking death?


    However...


    Jiang Tianchen, who sat high on the Dragon Throne, instead of getting angry,ughed heartily and said, "Good, good, good, young people should have this kind of spirit. If you really can level the Royal Martial Arts Academy, I will grant you the title of Martial King of the Nation of Tianqing Kingdom..."


    Boom!


    The ck-armored general was scared out of his wits.


    Martial King of the Nation?


    The words "of the Nation" were not to be given lightly!


    If Xiao Yi truly became the Martial King of the Nation, he would beparable to the Emperor in the future!


    The ck-armored general looked at Xiao Yi with eyes full of envy.


    However...


    Xiao Yi frowned and said with a look of disdain, "Sorry, I refuse!"

 Chapter 108 Certain Death

    "What, what? He actually refused?"


    The armored general was dumbfounded, unable to believe what he was seeing. He even forgot to kneel.


    Seated on the dragon throne, Jiang Tianchen''s initially certain and confident smile suddenly froze, and he blinked, subconsciously saying, "What did you say?"


    Xiao Yi curled his lips, "I said, I refuse to be the Martial King of the Nation!"


    Hiss!


    The armored general inhaled sharply and began to scold, "How daring of you, Xiao Yi. Do you know what being the Martial King of the Nation means? It is the highest title in the Tianqing Kingdom. Once you be the Martial King of the Nation, even the Royal Martial Arts Academy won''t dare to harm you, and even princes would have to show you the respect due between ruler and subject. You, you actually refuse?"


    Being the Martial King of the Nation!


    Since the founding of the Tianqing Kingdom, there had only been two urrences.


    The first was the former Tianqi King from the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, who created the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy and single-handedly delineated the borders of Tianqing Kingdom with Tian and Purple Robe Kingdoms.


    Xiao Yi actually refused?


    "Are you out of your mind?" the general eximed subconsciously.


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes and cast a sidelong nce at Jiang Tianchen, speaking indifferently, "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re plotting..."


    This Jiang Tianchen had said that if he were victorious in the battle with the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he would be named the Martial King of the Nation.


    Indeed.


    As the Martial King of the Nation, Xiao Yi''s influence and status would beparable to that of the monarch of a country.


    But...


    If he were to defeat the Royal Martial Arts Academy alone, his strength alone would beparable to that of a monarch. Would he still need to be the Martial King of the Nation?


    And once he became the Martial King of the Nation, he wouldn''t just be receiving a title; it would also be a responsibility, the responsibility to protect the entire Tianqing Kingdom.


    He was solitary and carefree.


    Why should he put shackles on himself for a mere title?


    Jiang Tianchen''s profound gaze shimmered with wisdom as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thud thud thud, each tap striking at the heart.


    The armoredmander was sweating profusely, wishing he could personally press Xiao Yi to the ground.


    This was the current sovereign!


    The ruler of a country!


    Even Zhou Yuan, the head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, wouldn''t dare to speak to him like this!


    "This is the end, this young man is so arrogant, he will surely enrage His Majesty¡­ he is as good as dead¡­" thought themander.


    At that moment,


    Jiang Tianchen''s knocking on the table abruptly stopped, and his usually impassive face suddenly burst into a radiant smile as heughed heartily, "Interesting, truly interesting!"


    Huh?


    He''s not angry? Find more to read at empire


    The armored general was bewildered and had begun to question his life, "Is this the same unpredictable, emotionless killer sovereign I know?"


    Jiang Tianchen waved at the armored general.


    "I shall take my leave!"


    The armored general retreated cautiously.


    Jiang Tianchen walked around the table and strutted up to Xiao Yi, staring at him, "Xiao Yi, are you truly not afraid I will kill you?"


    "You won''t kill me," Xiao Yi said lightly.


    Jiang Tianchen, neither joyous nor sad, his eyes a profound abyss revealing no emotions, casually remarked, "Oh? What makes you so sure?"


    Xiao Yi said, "You can''t kill me!"


    "What a joke!"


    Jiang Tianchen narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly as he stared straight at Xiao Yi. The two were so close they could feel each other''s breath, "I am the ruler of a nation,manding an army of a million strong, with a host of powerful warriors at my disposal, and within the pce sits an old ancestor at the Tribtion stage. Yet you im that I cannot kill you?"


    Indeed, Jiang Tianchen''s cultivation was no weaker than that of Zhou Yuan or Gu Junhe, also existing at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak.


    His imposing, non-angry yet threatening gaze had once literally scared a powerful minister, who wielded great influence over the court, to death.


    Who would dare to meet his gaze?


    But Xiao Yi showed no fear, meeting his eyes directly, neither servile nor overbearing.


    The Jade Dragon Pavilion was silent for quite a few moments.


    The icy expression on Jiang Tianchen''s face gradually melted away, revealing a hint of admiration as he smiled and said, "You may go!"


    "Uh..."


    Xiao Yi blinked in astonishment, looking at Jiang Tianchen, "Just like that, you''re letting me go?"


    Jiang Tianchen nced at him, "Do you expect me to beg and plead for you to stay?"


    "There''s no need for that!" Xiao Yi waved his hand, "Since that''s the case, I will take my leave!"


    In the spacious Jade Dragon Pavilion.


    Jiang Tianchen stood with his hands sped behind his back, squinting at the dragon throne before him, murmuring, "Some people would disown their kin, turn on their brothers, or even kill their parents for power and for this throne... And yet there are those who, when offered power, still look upon it with disdain..."


    "That must be human nature! Some value wealth, some value honor, and others value affection..." A hoarse voice seemed toe from all directions.@@novelbin@@


    Jiang Tianchen murmured, "Old Ancestor, what do you make of this young man?"


    The hoarse voice from all around fell silent for a moment beforeing in fragments, "Your Majesty already has a decision in mind, why ask me?"


    Jiang Tianchen''s deep eyes shimmered with a sh of wisdom as he spoke to himself, "Then I shall trouble the Old Ancestor!"


    "Hmm!"


    The voice from the darkness quietly faded away.


    ......


    Within the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Zhou Yuan''s face was grim as he looked at Jiang Shanhe, whose face was pale, "Has that little bastard grown to such an extent that even you are not his match?"


    "He has already reached the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, and his vitality is mixed with pure essence, his strength formidable beyond belief..."


    Jiang Shanhe''s face was dark, Xiao Yi''s punch had nearly shattered his internal organs, every breath he took now brought with it agonizing pain that tore at his heart and lungs, his eyes filled with overwhelming hatred, "Master, this boy is a disaster, he must not be left alive!"


    Zhou Yuan clenched his fists so tightly they creaked, "How could I not know that this boy must not be spared? In just a few months since his arrival in the capital, he has advanced from the Divine Skills Realm to the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm; his rate of cultivation surpasses even that of Xiao Tianjiao. In another month, even I may not be his match..."


    The mere thought of a few months ago when Xiao Yi had told him he would tten the Royal Martial Arts Academy within a year, and his own scorn at the time...


    Zhou Yuan found his face burning with humiliation.


    At the same time, he felt extreme loathing towards Zhou Xin and the others.


    Had it not been for Zhou Xin driving Xiao Yi away, Xiao Yi would have been a disciple of the Royal Martial Arts Academy. How could it havee to this current situation?


    "He wants to step on the head of my Royal Martial Arts Academy? No chance!" Zhou Yuan''s eyes shed with a sinister light.


    Jiang Shanhe''s eyes shone as he eagerly asked, "Master, have you thought of a way to deal with him?"


    "I had not wished to use that item, but the little brute is too troublesome. We have no choice but to use it..."


    Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and took a ck jade box from his storage ring, slowly opening it. A surge of overwhelming energy emanated from the jade box; he observed the object lying quietly inside.


    Joy erupted on Jiang Shanhe''s face, his eyes filled with the ecstasy and excitement of impending revenge, "With this item, Xiao Yi is as good as dead!"

 Chapter 111 Phoenix Spreads Its Wings, Annihilating the Blood-Clothed!

    Hiss!


    Little Lin shuddered all over, having been pped to the ground by Xue Jiu, who then stepped on Little Lin with one foot.


    A trace of surprise appeared on Xue Jiu''s face, "Snake demon beasts of the Golden Core Realm are pretty standard, but I have never seen the likes of this one. Little guy, as long as you submit to me, I will spare your life!"


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin struggled desperately, its small eyes filled with human-like anger and hatred. It opened its tiny mouth, attempting to bite at Xue Jiu''s foot with its venom.


    "Hmm?"


    With a cold sneer and a sinister smile, Xue Jiu revealed his stark white teeth, "If you are so intent on seeking death, I will oblige you!"


    Swish!


    A bloody sword edge raised high, chopping down towards Little Lin''s head.


    The radiant blood-red sword light, piercingly bright, traced a scarlet arc through the air, promising to severe Little Lin''s head once it fell.


    "No!"


    Fang Qingzhu roared in anger.


    Throughout these days, both she and Xiao Yi hade to treat Little Lin as family.


    How could she possibly watch it be killed right before her eyes?


    "Get lost!"


    Xue Jiu merely raised his hand, backhanding and snatching the Purple Dragon Whip from Fang Qingzhu''s grasp. With a ripping sound, Fang Qingzhu''s palm was left bloody and mangled, dripping with fresh blood.


    He then flung the Purple Dragon Whip.


    Crack!


    This strikended on Fang Qingzhu''s body.


    It burst her clothes open, leaving a bloody wound across her back.


    "Let him go..." Ignoring the intense pain in her back, Fang Qingzhu gathered her vital energy and once again charged at Xue Jiu.


    "Foolish woman, oblivious to death!"


    Xue Jiu casually swung his hand, pping Fang Qingzhu across the face and toppling her to the ground. He then kicked out fiercely, striking her in the abdomen.


    Swish!


    Fang Qingzhu was savagely kicked away, pushed horizontally and violently crashing against the wall. Half the wall copsed thunderously, and Fang Qingzhu spat out a mouthful of blood.


    Hiss hiss...


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    Little Lin howled in anger, struggling ever more fiercely.


    Xue Jiu paused, looking at Little Lin with amusement, "You don''t want me to kill her? Just submit to me, and I can spare her from death..."


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin red back in rage.


    "If you don''t submit, then don''t me me for being merciless!" Xue Jiu reached out into the void, and with a swoosh, he grabbed Fang Qingzhu and dragged her before him.


    He punched her over and over again before Little Lin''s eyes.


    He held nothing back with each punch.


    Every blownded heavily, each fist shot exacerbating Fang Qingzhu''s injuries, blood dripping from every orifice. She was nearly unconscious, her drooping eyes faintly glowing with ice-blue light.


    Yet all of this went unnoticed by Xue Jiu.


    He continued to bombard Fang Qingzhu with punches, taunting Little Lin, "If you don''t submit, she''s going to die!"


    "Let her go!"


    "Damn you, have the guts toe at me!"


    Niu Dali and the four brothers of the Shi Family bellowed with veins bulging, their eyes filled with madness.


    With a mockingugh, Xue Jiu looked at them, "You''re like ants, killing you would only dirty my sword!" He stared at Xia Lin, "This final punch, I will directly obliterate her Golden Core. If you don''t want her to be a cripple, then submit to me obediently!"


    Hiss!


    Despair painted Little Lin''s eyes, reflecting a very human emotion.


    It clearly understood how important Fang Qingzhu was to Xiao Yi; it could not bear to watch Fang Qingzhu die before itself.


    However...


    Just as it was about to bow its head in submission,


    The temperature around plummeted suddenly.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh whoosh!


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh...


    A fierce wind tore through heaven and earth, growingrger and colder, sharp as a de''s edge, slicing across onto faces as if to peel the skin off their flesh.


    Snowkes like goose feathers began to drift between heaven and earth.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Is it snowing? But it''s June..."


    "What situation is this?"


    Xue Jiu too was taken aback, his confusion promptly turning to a chill when he felt an icy cold on his palm and subconsciously looked down to see an ice-blue hand firmly grasping his wrist.@@novelbin@@


    "What is this...?"


    Xue Jiu''s pupils suddenly narrowed, he lifted his head urgently and followed the direction from the icy blue hand.


    Standing before him, Fang Qingzhu was covered in ayer of blue frost crystals like a sculpture made of ice. She slowly raised her head, her pupilspletely turning the color of ice blue.


    Her eyes held a coldness within.


    "What the hell is this? Get out of my way!"


    Xue Jiu kicked towards Fang Qingzhu''s lower abdomen, a kick that could overturn a small mountain, but it stopped abruptly before it could touch Fang Qingzhu.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    Chains of ice crystallized on his foot, binding him as if with icy shackles.


    The bone-chilling cold spread instantaneously from his foot up through his entire left leg.


    The ice continued to spread rapidly.


    Suddenly, it had surpassed his knee.


    In a matter of life and death.


    With a sh of his sword, Xue Jiu severed his leg at the knee, but the intense pain did not quell the shock in his heart. An icy chill was also transmitted from his wrist.


    "Let go!"


    Xue Jiu roared in anger, violently twisting his palm.


    Pop!


    His palm shattered at the wrist.


    The hand turned to ice sculpture fell to the ground, and in the blink of an eye, Xue Jiu had lost a hand and a foot. He staggered backward, unable to believe what he was seeing as he looked at Fang Qingzhu, whose body was covered in frost, "What kind of monster are you?


    He had never seen such a fearsome entity before.


    She was clearly just at the Peak of the Shentong Realm!


    And she had caused him to lose a hand and a foot in the blink of an eye?


    "I, sentence you, to death!"


    Fang Qingzhu lifted her head, and her face was covered with ayer of frost, giving her an extreme pallor, but it wasn''t terrifying; instead, there was a sacred sense of icy coldness.


    Fang Qingzhu spread her arms, and a huge ice-blue phoenix emerged behind her.


    "What, what is that?"


    "It seems like a phoenix?"


    "Impossible! Phoenixes belong to fire; they are creatures of supreme yang, but this..." The Shi Family''s four brothers and Niu Dali looked at the ice-blue Phantom Phoenix with horror and disbelief.


    Gazing at that ice-blue phoenix, Xue Jiu''s pupils contracted violently, and he felt a bone-piercing chill engulf his entire body.


    If it were his heyday, he would still have the confidence to fight.


    But now...


    The loss of a hand and a foot made him dare not linger any longer.


    ncing at the Shi Family''s four brothers and Niu Dali, Xue Jiu let out a low growl, "Take them and leave..."


    The several Xue Yilou powerhouses immediately grabbed the five people.


    "Die!"


    Fang Qingzhu snorted coldly, and a gust of icy wind howled past, with the ice-blue Phantom Phoenix behind her taking flight. Behind her trailed a series of icy wind trails, and where it passed, the earth was sealed, and nts were frozen.


    The Xue Yilou powerhouses, while still in the posture of grabbing people, were covered with ayer of frost.


    As the ice-blue Phantom Phoenix behind Fang Qingzhu cried out to the heavens,


    Crack, crack, crack!


    The Xue Yilou powerhouses burst on cue, turning into a sky of ice fragments.


    The Phoenix pped its wings, exterminating the Xue Yilou!


    For a moment...


    In the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, which had be and of frost, only Xue Jiu remained from the Xue Yilou. The surrounding frost couldn''tpare to the coldness in his heart.


    "Now it''s your turn!"


    Fang Qingzhu turned into a blue streak of light and shot forth, skimming across the ground with fierce winds and swirling snow in her wake.


    Xue Jiu''s expression changed drastically, a crazed look filled his eyes, "You''re forcing me!"


    Whoosh!


    A blood-red bead was thrown by him.


    This was a Sword Orb!


    Only by understanding the third level of Sword Intent, the fusion of man and sword, could one condense such a Sword Orb!


    Its strongest swords moves were integrated within!


    Boom!


    The Sword Orb exploded, and a sky full of sword shadows enveloped everything, with a thunderous roar, shattering the frost around Fang Qingzhu.


    When the Sword Orb hadpletely dissipated, Fang Qingzhu suddenly trembled all over.


    The ice-blue Phantom Phoenix shadow behind her disappeared into nothingness, and she fell to the ground with a thud, as the Sword Orb had depleted all her strength.


    Gasp!


    Gasp!


    Xue Jiu, with a look of ecstasy on his face,ughed loudly, "Ha ha ha, so your secret technique has its limits? Without this secret technique''s blessing, killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant!"


    Just as Xue Jiu raised his sword with the intention of going forth to im Fang Qingzhu''s life, an icy voice suddenly rang out, "Move again, and I''ll surely kill you!"

 Chapter 112 Come out and die!

    "Move again, and I will kill you!"


    From the cold voice, Xiao Yi''s figure slowly descended from midair.


    His gaze fell on Fang Qingzhu, Little Lin, and Niu Dali among others. He finally breathed a sigh of relief when he realized they were not in mortal danger.


    He held Fang Qingzhu in his arms, feeling her weak life force, his rage thundering in his heart.


    "Xiao, Xiao Yi? How did youe back so soon?" Xue Jiu looked at Xiao Yi with a shocked face.


    This was a man who could defeat Jiang Shanhe from the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm. With his strength, he was no match for Xiao Yi. Precisely because of this, Xue Jiu had used Yan Mingli''s severed finger to lure Xiao Yi away.


    ording to his n...


    It would take nearly an hour for Xiao Yi to reach Zhuilong Valley.


    Even if he realized that it was a feint the moment he arrived at Zhuilong Valley and came back, it would still take an hour and a half, enough time for him to have captured Fang Qingzhu and the others.


    Xiao Yi sneered, "I never went to Zhuilong Valley!" Explore stories at empire


    After he left the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, he raced at full speed toward Zhuilong Valley, but halfway there, he discovered a spy from Xue Yilou tailing him.


    Xiao Yi captured the Xue Yilou expert, forced their n out of him, and immediately turned back.


    But he was still a step toote!


    If Fang Qingzhu hadn''t unleashed that ice-blue phoenix at the critical moment, by now, they would probably have been taken away by Xue Jiu and his people. The thought made Xiao Yi shudder.


    Xue Jiu closed his eyes in despair, "I have pulled every lever I could, yet I forgot that with your strength, those who have just entered the Golden Core realm would ultimately betray themselves. It seems this mission is my failure!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Who is behind all this?"


    "Do you think I will tell you?"


    Xue Jiu let out a sneer filled with disdain, "There are countless strong individuals in Xue Yilou. You might have evaded this wave, but can you withstand the forces Xue Yilou musters from the Qing Dynasty? I am not afraid to tell you, we have warriors from the Tao Tribtion Realm in Xue Yilou. Once a Cmity Realm warrior takes action, do you think you can defend against it?"


    The most terrifying thing about Xue Yilou was the endless assassinations and the unpredictable killing methods.


    This wave had failed.


    They would immediately n the second wave.


    And then the tenth!


    Xiao Yi looked at Xue Jiu with cold eyes. With a raise of his hand, his vitality formed an invisible hand in the air that tightly grasped Xue Jiu''s neck, lifting him up, "Tell me, who is behind all this, and I will spare your life!"


    "I will never tell you!" Xue Jiu scoffed.


    St!


    Xiao Yi tore off his right arm in one move, disregarding Xue Jiu''s face twisted in pain, and demanded, "Will you speak or not?"


    "No..."


    St!


    This time, he tore off Xue Jiu''s right leg.


    "I would rather die than tell you..."


    St!


    Xiao Yi cut off Xue Jiu''s third leg with a sword.


    Ahh...@@novelbin@@


    Xue Jiu''s screams of agony were continuous, his body convulsed and trembled uncontrobly.


    Xiao Yi''s voice was like a soul-hooking incantation, "Say it again, who exactly is it?"


    "I..."


    As soon as Xue Jiu began to speak, Xiao Yi ripped off his ears, one by one pulling out his hair. Xue Jiu''s entire head was bloodied and dripping, suffering unbearable pain, he shouted in despair, "I''ll tell, I''ll tell... please, just put an end to my agony, I''ll tell..."


    Xiao Yi threw the bloody, skin-covered hair to the side, "Who?"


    Bearing the excruciating pain, Xue Jiu gritted his teeth and said, "It was Yun Feiying from the Yun Family, and Jia Yisheng from the Jia Family..."


    "Yun Feiying? Jia Yisheng?"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted slightly, recalling their identities. They were the heads of the Yun and Jia Families., also the fathers of Yun Lei and Jia Sidao, "So it was them... they are simply courting death!"


    Xue Jiu gasped for air, "I... I have told you, now... can you give me a swift end?"


    The mission failed, and it also exposed the employer.


    Xue Jiu, even if he left alive, would be a target for assassination by Xue Yilou.


    Death was certain!


    Xiao Yi said, "Where are Yan Mingli and Lin Bing Xin?"


    Xue Jiu swallowed a mouthful of blood and said, "After they were captured, they were sent to the Jia Family. ording to Jia Yisheng, the death of his youngest son has something to do with Yan Mingli; they were imprisoned in the dungeons of the Jia Family."


    Jia Sichun died in Nanhuang City.


    And Yan Mingli was in Nanhuang City, Xiao Yi''s most loyal supporter.


    "I''ve told you everything I know..." Xue Jiu said with difficulty.


    "Hmm!"


    Xiao Yi responded indifferently, tightening his grip and twisting off his neck.


    Then, he looked toward Niu Dali and the others: "Are you all right?"


    "No, no problems..."


    Niu Dali and the others hurriedly shook their heads.


    They had never seen such a terrifying side of Xiao Yi before.


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, nced at the courtyard covered with frost, and said solemnly, "What exactly is going on here?"


    Niu Dali quickly ryed to Xiao Yi the scene where Fang Qingzhu had turned into an ice-blue phoenix behind him and killed the formidable foes from Xue Yilou.


    Xiao Yi frowned slightly, recalling the ice-blue phoenix that appeared on Fang Qingzhu when she broke through to the Shentong Realm: "I''ve never heard of such divine skills. It seems Qingzhu also has secrets hidden on her."


    But he didn''t probe any further.


    Everyone has their own secrets.


    Just like his Eternal Tomb, unless absolutely necessary, he would never reveal it to anyone.


    Xiao Yi checked their injuries and said in a deep voice, "Your injuries are not serious, and Qingzhu is just overly exhausted. She will recover with proper rest. You guys stay and guard the Martial Arts Institute; I''m going to the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Xiao, are you going to the Royal Martial Arts Academy to find the Yun Family and the Jia Family?" Shi Yaoquan asked.


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Shi Yaoqian said with a wry smile, "Xiao, this is a troubled time. The battle between you and the Royal Martial Arts Academy has already attracted countless powerful figures. Before going into seclusion, Jiang advised us that we must not allow you to make any more enemies. Both the Yun Family and the Jia Family are prominent households in the capital, and they are high-ranking officials in the court. If you kill them, I''m afraid it will infuriate that person in the pce..."


    "No need to say more!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, his eyes cold, "The good are bullied, and the meek are preyed upon. The more this happens, the less we can afford to be weak. I''ll be back shortly!"


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi walked on air, heading straight for the capital.


    Shi Yaoqian and the others looked at each other, their faces filled with anxiety: "We must inform the institute head and Jiang immediately!"


    "This is going to be a big deal!"


    That was the capital!


    Whether it''s Yun Feiying or Jia Yisheng, those are high-ranking officials of the second grade or above.


    Whoever dares to touch them is shaking the foundation of Tianqing Kingdom!


    Bing an enemy of the entire kingdom!


    They seemed to already see Xiao Yi bing the target of all, a one-man-against-an-entire-nation situation.


    Just as they were in a frenzy to go to the seclusion area to try to wake Gu Junhe and Jiang Tai, within the capital, inside the Jia Family''s dark dungeon.


    Before Jia Yisheng stood Yan Mingli and Lin Bing Xin, who were bound hand and foot.


    Jia Yisheng''s wife, holding a red-hot iron, approached the nearly unconscious Lin Bing Xin with a malicious look on her face: "Hehe, you wretched woman, you look so pretty, you must be very close to Xiao Yi, right? Tell me, if I burn your face to resemble a toad''s, will he still fancy you?"


    "No, don''te any closer..."


    Lin Bing Xin had a face of despair.


    Yan Mingli, who was beside her, barely conscious, opened his mouth but could not make a sound, tears of despair falling from his eyes.


    But just as the red-hot iron was about to touch her face, a loud boom suddenly came from outside the dungeon, followed by an angry roar like thunder: "Jia Yisheng,e out and die!"

 Chapter 113 One Man Destroys a Clan

    "Jia Yisheng,e out and meet your death!"


    The cold voice, like a thunderous roar from the heavens, shook the sky and resounded above the entire Jia Mansion. It even prated the multiple barriers and entered the dungeons down below.


    Mrs. Jia''s hand trembled, and the branding iron ttered to the ground, bouncing before settling on the top of her foot.


    Hiss!


    The top of the shoe was instantly burned through, and the scorching hot branding iron cooked the top of her foot in a mere moment.


    Ow...


    Mrs. Jia subconsciously withdrew her foot, but the branding iron tore off the flesh from the top of her foot as it stuck, leaving her with a blood-drenched wound as a hysterical scream escaped from her mouth.


    "Madam, are you alright?" Jia Yisheng, who had been watching coldly until then, changed his expression and rushed over immediately.


    He supported Mrs. Jia with his arm, his face full of concern.


    p!


    Mrs. Jia pped Jia Yisheng across the face, her expression ferocious as she bellowed in anger, "Don''t you see the state of my foot? Do you think I could be alright?"


    Seated high in the halls of power, the formidable second-ranked official Jia Yisheng was actually a henpecked husband.


    Facing Mrs. Jia''s furious roar, Jia Yisheng instinctively shrank his neck and helped her sit down beside him, "Don''t panic, Madam. I''ll apply some medicine to you right now..."


    "What medicine? Go out and see which bastard dares to make trouble in my Jia Mansion and is responsible for hurting me like this... I want him torn to pieces!" Mrs. Jia said bitterly.


    Jia Yisheng quickly nodded, "I-I''ll go at once!"


    ......


    Jia Mansion.


    This estate was originally a gift from Jiang Tianchen to the Jia Family. Therge vermillion gate stood five meters tall, three meters wide, and was extremely thick.


    But now...


    The gate was in disarray, utterly destroyed and in tatters.


    From the gate leading directly to the main hall of Jia Mansion, the path was littered with the bodies of the guards, each with an almost imperceptible bloodstain on their necks.


    Able to take their lives with a single sword strike!


    No one was spared!


    In front of the main hall...


    The manager of the Jia Family, Jia Fugui, was ghostly pale as he kept retreating under the protection of a group of guards. The eyes of all the guards looking towards the young man with the red longsword in his hand, inching closer with each step, were filled with terror.


    "Where is Jia Yisheng?" Xiao Yi asked indifferently.


    Gulp!


    Jia Fugui instinctively swallowed, ring with rage, "Audacious thief! You dare ughter the Jia Family''s guards in broad daylight. Do you know where you are?"


    "Silence!"


    With his sword in the air, Xiao Yi, exhibiting the strength of the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, faced the guards in the Divine Skills Realm as if slicing through vegetables.


    Where the sword''s edge passed, heads rolled.


    "Who dares cause trouble in my Jia Mansion?"


    Jia Yisheng had juste out of the dungeon when he saw the corpses everywhere and Jia Fugui, the manager of the Jia Family, kneeling on the ground, continuously kowtowing to Xiao Yi. He immediately spoke up to scold.


    No sooner had his words fallen.


    A streak of blood shed before his eyes, and Jia Fugui''s head flew up,nding right in front of him.@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi smirked, looked up at Jia Yisheng, and said, "You''ve finally shown up!"


    "Xiao, Xiao Yi? Shit..."


    Jia Yisheng froze for a moment, and upon recognizing Xiao Yi''s face, he didn''t hesitate to turn around and run.


    "Since you''re here, don''t even think about leaving!"


    Xiao Yi reached out with his right hand, and an invisible force seized Jia Yisheng, pulling him fiercely and smashing him heavily onto the ground.


    The entire Jia Mansion roared as if an earthquake had struck.


    The ground was covered in dust, and within a human-shaped crater, Jia Yishengy there face up, bleeding from all orifices, looking up at Xiao Yi in despair, "Xiao, Young Master Xiao, don''t be impulsive... There must be some misunderstanding between us..."


    Xiao Yi, not saying a word, pressed on."


    Jia Yisheng scrambled backward in panic, his face filled with fear, "Young Master Xiao, you can''t kill me. I am an imperial officer. If you kill me, the Emperor will never let you go, and you will have no ce in Tianqing Kingdom..."


    "Are you, threatening me?" Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and said.


    "I..."


    Jia Yisheng swallowed nervously. Jia Sichun and Jia Sidao both had died at Xiao Yi''s hand, and he wished he could y Xiao Yi alive a thousand times over.


    Experience new stories with empire


    But...


    When facing Xiao Yi, he didn''t even have the courage to talk tough, and he quickly shook his head in a servile manner, "No, no dare, how could I threaten you? To you, I am nothing but an ant you could squash effortlessly. Murdering me to be the target of public criticism, that''s not worth it!"


    Who could have imagined that such a high-ranking official could also have such humble moments?


    At this moment, Jia Yisheng was full of regret.


    His son had died, but he could have another; why did he have to provoke this formidable foe?


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Where are Yan Mingli and the others?"


    "In the dungeon, I''ll take you there right away..." Jia Yisheng said hastily.


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Jia Yisheng scurried ahead like a dog, crawling and groveling as he led the way.


    They made their way to the dungeon.


    Mrs. Jia was limping towards Lin Bingxin, holding the freshly reheated branding iron, about to stamp Lin Bingxin''s cheek.


    "Stop!"


    Jia Yisheng was terrified to the core; if she stamped down, he''d have no way out!


    Mrs. Jia was startled and turned around, only to be struck by a fierce p from Jia Yisheng, sending her flying into the wall. With a thud, the branding iron fell into the cor of her garment.


    Hiss hiss...


    A scent of charred flesh emanated from within her bosom, apanied by her hysterical screams, "Ahh... help, save me..."


    Jia Yisheng ignored Mrs. Jia, turning to Xiao Yi with a sycophantic look, "Xiao... Xiao, you can see... they both are here!"


    Mrs. Jia, enduring the intense pain, roared, "Jia Yisheng, have you grown too bold? Dare youy hands on your own wife?"


    "Shut up!"


    Jia Yisheng ground his teeth, wishing he could gag her mouth with a cloth.


    After all, the dreaded Xiao Yi was standing right by his side!


    If he angered Xiao Yi, he and his wife would be done for!


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes as he looked at the unconscious Elder Yan and Lin Bingxin, the vicious wounds all over their bodies darkening his expression, "Release them!"


    "I... I''ll do it now!" Jia Yisheng hurried forward.


    Yet Mrs. Jia blocked his path, menacingly yelling, "I''d like to see who dares! These two bastards, together with that dog bastard Xiao Yi, killed my son. I''d like to see who dares release them?"


    "Shut up, if you want to die don''t drag me into it..." Jia Yisheng red at her furiously, frantically signaling her, "Don''t you see Xiao is here? Get out of my way!"


    "Xiao? Is he Xiao Yi?"


    Mrs. Jia snapped back to reality, glowering at Xiao Yi with a ferocious face, screaming venomously, "Good for you, Jia Yisheng. Your son''s killer stands before you, and you''re as cowardly as a shrinking turtle? Won''t you kill him to avenge your son?"


    "Avenge? I''ll avenge your granddad..."


    Jia Yisheng exploded in anger, previously it was Mrs. Jia who had urged him to join forces with Flying Eagle and hire Xue Yilou to take action, and now that the Jia Family was nearly annihted, Mrs. Jia was not without me, "You stupid woman, if you don''t shut your mouth, I''ll kill you myself!"


    "Kill me? Come on, you impotent fool, you have no guts to avenge your son, and now you help his murderer against your own wife? If youck the guts to take revenge for your son, I''ll do it myself!" As Mrs. Jia spoke, she grabbed a red-hot iron from the furnace, lunging at Lin Bingxin.


    "Seeking death!"


    Xiao Yi''s cold hum was followed by a swift strike that split Mrs. Jia in half, his icy gaze then turning to the dispirited Jia Yisheng, "You go die as well!"


    "No..."


    Jia Yisheng watched in despair as the sword''s de pierced his body.


    Bang!


    Having consecutively killed Jia Yisheng and Mrs. Jia, the entire Jia Family was extinguished!


    Xiao Yi sheathed his Fire Qilin Sword and rescued Elder Yan and Lin Bingxin from the rack, sighing in relief after checking on them, "Thankfully, it''s just excessive blood loss, and there''s no danger to their lives!"


    He gave them pills to stabilize their injuries.


    At this moment...


    Outside Jia Mansion, a sea of people had gathered.


    They kept their distance, looking at the Jia Mansion strewn with bodies, "This... this is outrageous!"


    "Who could it be? Who would dare to massacre a high-ranking official''s entire family in broad daylight?"


    "Look, look... someone''sing..."


    Within that grand gate, Xiao Yi walked out powerfully, carrying the two with him...

 Chapter 114 By His Majestys Decree, Annihilate the Entire Clan!

    "Is that Xiao Yi?"


    "My God! Is it really him? How... how does he dare to do such a thing..."


    "This is the residence of a second-rank official of the court, and he dared to annihte his entire n? Quick, quick, notify the city guards, this is a provocation against the entire Tianqing Kingdom..."


    Gasps of shock arose from the crowd.


    Onlookers outside the Jia Mansion scrambled out of the way, not daring toe within thirty feet of Xiao Yi.@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi''s face was expressionless.


    He simply carried two people and made his way to the Treasure Pavilion.


    He was spotless, but a pungent smell of blood and overwhelming Evil Qi surrounded him, causing everyone to make way wherever he went.


    And the news of Xiao Yi single-handedly exterminating the Jia Family spread like wildfire.


    Countless powerhouses received the news.


    In an instant.


    Everyone came upon hearing the news.


    "A major event has urred, Xiao Yi has wiped out the entire Jia Family... he''s defying the heavens!"


    "I think he''s on a suicide mission, this is going to be interesting to watch. Since the establishment of the Tianqing Kingdom, no one has dared to do such a thing, the emperor will definitely not let him off!"


    "It seems Xiao Yi won''tst until seven dayster, he is going to die today!"


    Powerhouses from all directions gathered with the intent to witness Xiao Yi''s bold challenge against the Royal Martial Arts Academy in seven days.


    But now it seems...


    They won''t be able to wait!


    Along the way, more and more onlookers joined.


    Xiao Yi carried Yan Mingli and Lin Bingxin all the way to the Treasure Pavilion, where the guards were on high alert. Not until Xiao Yi handed over the two did he say, "Take good care of them!"


    "This, this..."


    The guards were at a loss.


    Xiao Yi calmly stated, "If there''s any negligence, I will hold you ountable!"


    The guard hastily replied, "Xiao, rest assured, Elder Yan is originally one of us at the Treasure Pavilion, we will ensure nothing happens to them!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and then soared into the sky, like an eagle gliding through the air, heading toward the Yun Family.


    More and more powerhouses followed him, a dense crowd like a wave of ck steel, unrelentingly chasing across the ground.


    They reached the Yun Family.


    Yun Feiying was an Imperial Secretary, holding a first-rank position, and he himself was a cultivator in the Golden Elixir Realm Sixth Layer Cultivation, much stronger than Jia Yisheng.


    Especially the Yun Family''s Elder Yun He, who had stepped into the Golden Elixir Realm a hundred years ago, unfathomable in his depth.


    "What is Xiao Yi doing at the Yun Family?"


    "Could it be... he wants to obliterate the Yun Family too?" someone in the crowd spected.


    "Are you mad or is he mad? It''s not enough for him to have destroyed the Jia Family, he''s actually thinking of obliterating the Yun Family? Even if he had multiple lives, they wouldn''t be enough..."


    The crowd scoffed at this guess.


    But soon...


    These people were fiercely pped in the face.


    Two guards, with grave expressions, looked at Xiao Yi and the immense crowd behind him, frowned and said, "Who goes there? This is the residence of the Imperial Secretary, all unrted persons should get out!"


    "Bring Yun Feiying out to see me," Xiao Yi said indifferently.


    "How audacious, to address the Imperial Secretary by name... Seize him!" With a cold snort from one of the guards, they rushed toward him from both sides, full of murderous intent.


    The two simultaneously grabbed Xiao Yi''s shoulders, sneering, "Kneel down!"


    "Scram!"


    Xiao Yi''s figure did not move, yet his body vibrated fiercely. Discover stories with empire


    Hum!


    A violent surge of Qi erupted from within, flinging the two guards away, booming as they smashed into the vermilion gates on either side.


    Xiao Yi flipped his palm and the Fire Qilin Sword appeared in his grasp; he lifted the sword to the sky, "Solitary Nine Swords¡ªSword Breaking Style!"


    His vital energy surged, igniting the fiery red scale patterns on the Fire Qilin Sword to burst into dazzling light, and a ten-zhang-long Sword Qi descended from the heavens.


    Boom!


    As the Sword Qi plummeted, the earth shook, and the entire front gate of the Yun Family was cleaved in two.


    "How dare you, who dares to cause trouble at the Yun Family?"


    "No matter who you are, you are surely doomed!"


    Shouts of fury echoed from within the Yun Family, and numerous guards rushed out from the estate. There were at least a hundred of them, forming a dark mass.


    Xiao Yi, alone with his sword, charged into the midst of the guards, his sword light filling the sky, heads rolling everywhere; the elite Yun Family guards could not stop his advance.


    Flying Eagle Yun was among them.


    He recognized Xiao Yi at a nce and saw that in this short time, more than thirty guards had already perished under Xiao''s sword. His pupils shrank suddenly as he bellowed, "Elder Ancestor,e quickly to my aid!"


    Boom!


    From the depths of the Yun Family estate, a heaven-shaking Sword Intent soared into the sky.


    "Who dares to cause trouble in my Yun Family? Do you wish for death?" Amidst the powerful and authoritative voice, an aged figure tore through the void, wielding a ck war saber.


    His Qi-Blood surged like dragons and tigers.


    It was none other than Elder Yun He, whose cultivation had already reached the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    This was a formidable expert that had not appeared in the world!


    Flying Eagle Yun bowed respectfully towards Elder Yun He and dered, "Elder, this thief has killed Yun Lei and Yun Fan. Now he even dares to attack our Yun Family''s doorstep. I implore Elder Ancestor to execute this scoundrel!"


    "Hmph, such young age and extraordinary cultivation indeed show exceptional talent, but the stench of blood and Evil Qi on you is strong, you have killed many. Let this Elder take your life, to act on behalf of heaven!" Yun He''s face was expressionless as his saber swept through the air, slicing outwards.


    The strike was extraordinarily sharp, with the edge of the saber gleaming with cold light.


    The terrifying Sword Intent caused the sabers in the hands of the watching powerhouses to hum as if they were about to leap out of their sheaths. Each of them suppressed their weapons, faces filled with shock: "Is that the second level of Sword Intent? Such a fearsome power, is the Yun Family Elder this terrifying?"


    "A hundred years ago, Yun Family Elder became a Golden Core Realm powerhouse. After a century of seclusion, hisbat power is fearsomely strong. Xiao Yi has really hit a snag this time..."


    Amidst the exmations of the crowd,


    Xiao Yi''s eyes shed with a chill as he swung his sword, "Sword Breaking Style!"


    The Solitary Nine Swords had nine techniques, each with its own characteristics.


    Sword Breaking Style.


    Specifically used to counter the enemy''s saber techniques.


    It was the bane of saber methods!


    Together with Xiao Yi''s own Sword Intent at the second level, he had no fear of Yun He''s attack. With a thunderous bang, the fearsome saber light burst apart on cue.


    Yet the Sword Qi merely paused for a moment before crashing down relentlessly.


    Spurt!


    Yun He let out a pained scream, cleaved in two by the Sword Qi.


    Hiss...


    There was dead silence within the Yun Family.


    The onlooking crowd was dumbfounded.


    "He, he''s dead just like that?"


    "A Golden Core Realm expert of a hundred years, who painstakingly practiced saber techniques and mastered the second level of Sword Intent, couldn''t even block a single sword strike from Xiao Yi?"


    "My goodness..."


    The most shocked was none other than Flying Eagle Yun; Yun He was his greatest support.


    It was only because of Yun He''s presence that he dared to urge Jia Yisheng and hired Xue Yilou to make a move!


    Now...


    Yun He had died right in front of him.


    Xiao Yi turned his gaze to Flying Eagle Yun among the crowd, whose face was ashen, "Now it''s your turn!"


    "I, I..."


    Flying Eagle Yun''s pale face was full of terror, and just as he began to speak, a rumbling noise approached. The onlooking crowd automatically dispersed to reveal a formidable group of armored cavalry approaching.


    It was the ck Dragon Cavalry!


    "Hahaha, the ck Dragon Cavalry has arrived! Xiao Yi, you are doomed. The ck Dragon Cavalry is the king''s most elite force. You dare to kill the Yun Family Elder and destroy the gates of the Ministry in broad daylight. This is an affront to the Tianqing Kingdom; the king will not let you off!" Flying Eagle Yun''s face showed the ecstasy of a narrow escape.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes.


    The imposing ck Dragon Cavalry was already close at hand.


    The leader was the ck-armoredmander whom Xiao Yi had met once before. At this moment, themander''s countenance was cold and indifferent, mounted on a ck Dragon steed, radiating murderous intent.


    Flying Eagle Yun hastily called out, "General Li, the viin Xiao Yi dares to destroy my entrance and kill my Yun Family Elder. I beseech General Li to apprehend him!"


    The ck-armored General Li slowly drew his sword, and behind him, the ck Dragon Cavalry also drew their cknces. Like a colossal beast of ck steel, the terrifying presence of their Evil Qi was enough to drive one to despair.


    "It''s over; with the ck Dragon Cavalry''s deployment, Xiao Yi is as good as dead!"


    "Who asked him to be so arrogant? First obliterating the Jia Family, and now daring to provoke the Yun Family..."


    Flying Eagle Yun''s ferocious face was brimming with triumph, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yi: "You little bastard, I only regret not being able to kill you with my own hands!"


    ng!


    General Li pointed with his longsword, but it was not at Xiao Yi; instead, the de was directed at Flying Eagle Yun. With an indifferent face, he spoke, "By the king''smand, Flying Eagle Yun colluded with Jia Yisheng to plot against Tianjiao of the kingdom. We, the ck Dragon Cavalry, are hereby ordered to eradicate the entire Yun n!"


    "What, eradicate the entire n?"


    Flying Eagle Yun''s look of triumph disappeared in an instant, his face a picture of stunned disbelief as he dropped to the ground with a thud...

 Chapter 115 They Come to Kill!

    Flying Eagle slumped to the ground, his face full of despair.


    He never imagined that the ck Dragon Cavalry, which he viewed as his lifesaver, would be the final straw that crushed him!


    "Why, why? I, I am a first-rank great official of the court, my Yun family has been loyal and courageous, why does His Majesty treat me this way?" Flying Eagle roared with bloodshot eyes.


    His Yun family was a deeply-rooted powerful family in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    With the backing of the crown prince and the Royal Martial Arts Institute, as well as the strength of his ancestor Yun He to suppress others, the Yun family was one of the most powerful in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    Even the current emperor would have many concerns about eliminating the Yun family.


    But now...


    He merely paid to hire the strong from Xue Yilou to kidnap an important person close to Xiao Yi to avenge Yun Fan and also to intimidate Xiao Yi into restraint, thus currying favor with Jiang Shanhe and Zhou Yuan.


    In his view, even if the n failed, Xiao Yi would still not be able to do anything to him.


    "Hmph!"


    General Li, d in ck armor, scoffed coldly, showing no emotion, and waved his hand, "Kill them!"


    Boom!


    The ck Dragon Cavalry turned into a ck iron flood and surged forward, ughtering all the strong members of the Yun family and leveling the grand Yun estate.


    For a moment.


    Dust billowed, and the sh of battle shook the heavens.


    The strong onlookers from afar were stunned, their faces confused, "We thought the ck Dragon Cavalry came to capture Xiao Yi, but they actually came for the Yun family?"


    "Just what is Xiao Yi''s background? He has destroyed the Jia Family and now almost obliterated the Yun Family without consequences?"


    "Haven''t you noticed... that when Xiao Yi killed the ancestor of the Yun family just now, he only used one move?"


    Hiss...


    Everyone drew a sharp breath.


    Only then did they return to their senses, realizing that Yun He was a Ninth Layer Golden Core Realm expert, who had alsoprehended the second stage of the Dao of the de, yet was in by Xiao Yi with a single sword strike.


    Just how strong was Xiao Yi''sbat prowess?


    The eyes of everyone looking at Xiao Yi were filled with shock and awe.


    Indeed, the ck Dragon Cavalry was the most elite force of the Tianqing Kingdom, and in just an instant, the entire Yun family was wiped out. General Li, in ck armor, approached Xiao Yi.


    He dismounted from his horse.


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    General Li looked at Xiao Yi withplex eyes, this was the man who had refused the title of Martial King of the Nation from Jiang Tianchen and had in a Ninth Layer Golden Core Realm existence with a single sword.


    General Li saluted Xiao Yi with a fist wrapped in another, his words also filled with extra reverence, "Xiao, His Majesty has already sent someone to locate the branch of Xue Yilou in the Tianqing Kingdom. His Majesty has instructed that if Xiao has any needs, the ck Dragon Cavalry is willing to serve you to the best of our ability!"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback and asked, "Is His Majesty not afraid of offending Xue Yilou?"


    Xue Yilou was an assassination organization that spread across the ten countries of Nanhuang, and it was said that the shadow of a Great Qian Dynasty''s big shot loomed behind it. For this reason, the Tianqing Kingdom had always refrained from acting against Xue Yilou.


    After all.


    Even though Jiang Tianchen, as the ruler of a nation, had a legendary figure of the Tao Tribtion Realm stationed in the pce and was not afraid of the assassination attempts of Xue Yilou.


    But were the other members of his royal family not afraid? Was the entire court, both civil and military, not afraid?


    If they provoked Xue Yilou and the organization kept sending assassins to murder members of the royal family and the entire court, even the mightiest of kingdoms couldn''t withstand such assaults!


    But now...


    Jiang Tianchen was actually willing to be an enemy of Xue Yilou for his sake.


    This was truly a costly move!


    General Li said, "The thoughts of His Majesty are not something I dare to specte on!"


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath.


    He wasn''t someone who failed to recognize a good turn, even if he knew Jiang Tianchen had ulterior motives for wooing him. The mere fact that Jiang Tianchen chose to stand by him at such a critical time was a favor too great to repay.


    He looked up at General Li and said in a deep voice, "Then I''ll have to trouble General Li to apany me to Xue Yilou''s branch..."


    A sh of joy crossed General Li''s heart.


    Once Xiao Yi epted the help of the ck Dragon Cavalry, it meant that Xiao Yi was epting Jiang Tianchen''s friendly overture!


    With a wave of his hand.


    A majestic ck Dragon steed was led over, and General Li said sternly, "Xiao, please mount the horse!"


    "Let''s go!"@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi leaped onto the horse.


    General Li left ten members of the ck Dragon Cavalry in charge of tidying up the Yun Family''s mess and, with a wave of his hand, hundreds of ck Dragon Cavalry roared off towards the west of the city under Xiao Yi''s lead.


    ...


    The west of the Royal Capital.


    This was also an extremely prosperous area, vast, with its many shops standing in great numbers.


    The throng of people passing to and fro was like a torrential flood.


    Xiaoyao Tower was the most luxurious ce in the western part of the city, where expenses were particrly extravagant, a hallmark of opulence. Many princes and nobles, wealthy merchants, and powerful families often lingered there.


    Aside from the sumptuous food and fine wine, Xiaoyao Tower also boasted cloud-like beauties and thergest casino in the entire Royal Capital.


    It was a den of iniquity and decadence where money rotted away, as well as a hedonistic paradise of extravagance.


    As long as you had money...


    There was nothing Xiaoyao Tower couldn''t do.


    It was said...


    Even if you took a fancy to the daughter of a high-ranking official, as long as you could pay enough, Xiaoyao Tower would bring her to your bed.


    At this moment.


    Xiaoyao Tower, within the top floor.


    Within this room, resplendent with gold, a man d in a brocade robe with long hair sat behind an enormous and luxurious desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, producing a ''thud, thud, thud'' sound.


    In front of him, a figure in a blood-red robe knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head.


    "You can''t even handle such a simple task; you''ve really disappointed me!" the long-haired man said coldly.


    The figure in the blood-red robe replied with sincere trepidation, "Headquarters master, please calm your anger. We had not anticipated that Xiao Yi would not fall for it. Had he not returned in time, our men would not have failed!"


    "Silence!"


    With a wave of his hand, the long-haired man sent him crashing to the floor with a p, his gaze filled with a cold, venomous, and chilling look, "Since I''ve taken charge of the Tianqing Kingdom branch, this is the first time an operation has failed. You have three days to send someone to fetch those people back to me. As for Xiao Yi... if he dares to spoil Xue Yilou''s ns again, let him simply disappear from this world!"


    "Yes!"


    The figure in the blood-red robe quickly nodded.


    "Leave!"


    The long-haired man dismissed him with a wave of his hand.


    The figure in the blood-red robe let out a silent sigh of relief and respectfully left the room.


    The long-haired man continued to tap on the desk, his half-closed eyes flickering coldly, making the temperature inside the room drop significantly, adding to the already ominous atmosphere, "The top genius of Tianqing Kingdom? The number one on the Teng Long List? Hmph, if I want you dead, it''s as easy as crushing an ant!"


    He narrowed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, humming a little tune.


    Suddenly...


    Bang!


    The door was suddenly burst open; it was the blood-robed figure who had left earlier, staggering back in. He gazed at the long-haired man with a face full of panic, bellowing, "Headquarters master, disaster strikes, Xiao Yi ising here to kill us..."

 Chapter 118 Movement from All Sides

    "Then there''s no return!"


    Xiao Yi, standing with his back to Chen Fu, simply waved his hand, his silhouette growing longer under the setting sun.


    Gazing at his figure as it disappeared from view.


    Only then did Chen Fue back to his senses, his face looking particrly ugly, "Ungrateful!"


    Yan Mingli, who was lying in bed, however, smiled. Even with his face covered in sters, one could still see the bright and steadfast gaze in his eyes, "Senior brother, you have underestimated him!"


    "Hmm?"


    Chen Fu was taken aback and said airily, "Underestimate him? I admit that his talent is strong, and indeed he can be called the first in the smallnd of Tianqing Kingdom. Butpared to those true favored children of heaven, he still has a considerable gap. Take Xiao Tianjiao, for example, at his age, he had already reached the Tao Tribtion Realm..."


    "Senior brother, do you know what realm Xiao was in ten months ago?" Yan Mingli asked.


    Chen Fu frowned and said, "Shentong Realm?"


    Yan Mingli shook his head, the scene of their first meeting with Xiao Yi surfacing in his mind, revealing a trace of genuine admiration, "Ten months ago, he was only at the Physical Body Realm!"


    Hiss!


    Chen Fu sucked in a breath of cold air.


    Physical Body Realm ten months ago? And now he''sparable to the Golden Elixir Peak?


    Chen Fu said in disbelief, "How is this possible? How could he go from the Physical Body Realm toparable to the peak of the Golden Core Realm in ten months? Even Xiao Tianjiao wasn''t as fast as him!"


    "Exactly!"


    Yan Mingli shifted slightly, took a deep breath, and still found it hard to contain the shock in his heart.


    "No wonder he looked down on my Treasure Pavilion..."


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    Chen Fu took a deep breath and murmured to himself, "The Xiao Family actually exiled such a monstrous talent, sending him to the Fang Family to be a son-inw? Have the entire Xiao Family gone blind?"


    ...


    Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Xiao Yi returned to his separate courtyard.


    Fang Qingzhu had already transformed; she hadpletely forgotten the previous incidents and was sitting dumbly at the head of the bed, her face full of confusion, "Xiao Yi, am I a monster? Dali said I''ve be a bird person..."


    "..."


    Xiao Yi red fiercely at the innocently faced Niu Dali beside him and gently rubbed her head, smiling, "How could my Qingzhu possibly be a monster? What''s important now is for you to rest well, understand?"


    "Yes!"


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes curved like crescent moons, and she smiled sweetly.


    As long as she was with Xiao Yi, she was no longer the cold and detached ice maiden but became tender and obedient, a jade of a house.


    Xiao Yi rubbed her head again, "You rest well; I need to go cultivate in the back mountain!"


    "Yes! Xiao Yi, good luck!" Fang Qingzhu cheered him on, waving her small, pink fists.


    Xiao Yi nodded, left Little Lin with Fang Qingzhu, and gestured to Niu Dali and the others to go out with him.


    Outside the door.


    Xiao Yi, looking at the few who seemed like they''d done something wrong, said sternly, "From now on, no one is allowed to mention her transformation in front of Qingzhu, especially you, Dali... If you dare call her a bird person again, I will personally castrate you!"


    Niu Dali''s face fell, "I know..."


    Looking at the battered few, Xiao Yi sighed, "You should also rest well these days. In seven days, follow me to the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Yes!"


    As soon as the Royal Martial Arts Academy was mentioned, everyone''s fighting spirit was ignited, and they responded with vigor and enthusiasm.


    Xiao Yi made a beeline for the back mountain.


    Completely immersed in his cultivation, Xiao Yi had no idea that the news of his consecutive annihtion of the Jia Family, the Yun Family, and the Carefree Pavilion had already spread throughout the entire Royal City.


    Within the royal pce.


    Jiang Tianchen sat upright with tension, his fingers lightly tapping on the desk. He waved his hand at Li Qing, who had just finished reporting, "You may leave now."


    "Yes!"


    Li Qing immediately left.


    In the empty great hall, Jiang Tianchen suddenly burst into loudughter, "What a Xiao Yi indeed, annihting two ns on his own, crushing Xue Yilou. Hahaha, such is the genius that my Tianqing Kingdom should boast of!"


    "Has Your Majesty made up Your mind?" A gentle voice asked from the darkness.


    Jiang Tianchen nodded emphatically, saying, "Xue Yilou, relying on the forces behind them, acts wantonly, even daring to assassinate the members of my royal family. This is a provocation against my royal authority. Yet among the many talents in the country, who dares to be the enemy of Xue Yilou? Only Xiao Yi!"


    The voice from the darkness fell silent for a moment, then said, "The old one understands."


    Within a secluded courtyard.


    A figure in a red robe, eyes filled with resentment, gazed at the messenger hawk soaring high into the sky, "Xiao Yi? Daring to oppose my Xue Yilou, I will make sure you have no grave to bury!"


    Inside the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Zhou Yuan was sitting cross-legged in the secret chamber, his body bathed in a radiant glow, the vital energy he inhaled and exhaled was so vast that it turned into a thick mist filling the entire chamber.


    Above his dantian, the Golden Core had transformed into a Martial Dao Divine Fruit, and one of the ten rings of light on its surface had shattered, leaving only nine intact.


    This was the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Using the power of heaven and earth to shatter the luminous shackles on the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, breaking and then establishing anew!


    Each shattered ring meant a step forward!


    Zhou Yuan had just entered the Tao Tribtion Realm, therefore there were still nineplete rings of light, while the shattered one had turned into specks of starlight, adhering to the Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    Once all the rings are shattered, these specks will turn into Dao patterns.


    Only then will the Martial Dao Divine Fruit be truly perfected.


    Even though it was just his initial entry into the Tao Tribtion Realm,


    the current aura of Zhou Yuan was dozens of times stronger than before. Opening his eyes, a cold glint shed past, causing Jiang Shanhe before him not to dare make eye contact, repeatedly cupping his hands, "Congrattions, Master, for advancing further on your illustrious path of cultivation!"


    "It is only because I consumed the Martial Dao Divine Fruit that I was able to step into the Tao Tribtion Realm so smoothly. But blessing and misfortunee hand in hand, relying on the Martial Dao Divine Fruit to enter the Tao Tribtion Realm means my future advancements will be exceedingly difficult!" Zhou Yuan said somberly.


    Jiang Shanhe clenched his teeth and said bitterly, "It''s all that Xiao Yi''s fault. If not for his aggression, would Master have destroyed his own prospects..."


    "Enough!"


    Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said sternly, "You just said Xiao Yi annihted the Yun and Jia families, and also killed Yun He and Xue Chou?"


    "Yes!"@@novelbin@@


    Jiang Shanhe''s eyes took on a stern serious hue, "Master, Yun He might be a small concern, but the strength of Xue Chou... even if your disciple were to break through to the Tenth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, I would only just match him. If Xiao Yi could y Xue Chou, I''m afraid I''m no match for him!"


    "Afraid of what?"


    Zhou Yuan''s gaze was icy cold, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity to strike, "Master has long been fully prepared. On the journey to the Tao Tribtion secret realm, Xiao Yi has killed many. The Tian Kingdom, Sword Mountain Manor, Nine Profound Sect, Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple... Now add Xue Yilou to that list. Perhaps you and I, master and disciple, won''t even need to lift a finger, as others will take his life!"


    "But if perchance..." Jiang Shanhe said with concern.


    Having been previously defeated by Xiao Yi, an indelible shadow had been cast over his heart.


    "Perchance? Then we shall utilize every means to ensure an absolute sess. You just need to..."


    Zhou Yuan revealed a sinister expression, whispering a few words into Jiang Shanhe''s ear. Extending his palm into the air, he suddenly clenched it shut. Countless vital energies condensed to the extreme before explosively bursting apart. A fierce wind stirred wildly, the vital energy surging like overwhelming clouds, "Besides, even should the unthinkable happen, there is still your master. With my current strength, crushing him would be like crushing an ant!"

 Chapter 120 Lifting a Mountain with One Hand

    The next day.


    Early morning.


    When the royal guards opened the city gates, they were collectively stunned.


    In front of the vast and huge Vermilion Bird Gate.


    Xiao Yi stood alone, with a ten-meter-high and five-meter-wide ck stele behind him. The stele was starkly empty without any inscriptions, and a chain as thick as an arm connected Xiao Yi to the stele.


    One hand was gripping one end of the chain.


    With every step Xiao Yi took, the stele would boom loudly, leaving a fierce scar on the ground.


    Hiss!


    The guards responsible for opening the gates, as well as some strong individuals hurrying out of the city, couldn''t help but gasp for air, their faces filled with shock, "This stele must weigh at least several hundred thousand pounds, right? This is like dragging a small mountain!"


    "He must be a Golden Core Realm powerhouse, otherwise, it would be impossible to have such strength!"


    "I remember now, he is Xiao Yi!"


    "What? He is the Xiao Yi who is challenging the Royal Martial Arts Academy today? But why is he dragging such a huge stone..."


    The crowd quickly made way to both sides, whispering amongst themselves.


    The guard sergeant braced himself to approach and interrogate, "Xiao, this stele cannot go in..."


    "Move aside!"


    Xiao Yi''s step did not stop, his expression ice cold as he spoke.


    Fang Qingzhu and others were taken away by Jiang Shanhe, and the resentment and anger in his heart had been suppressed all night, no longer able to be contained.@@novelbin@@


    The guard sergeant''s face turned somewhat ugly, but under Xiao Yi''s cold aura, he dared not show the slightest displeasure, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao, please don''t make it difficult for me. This stele is so heavy that if dragged all the way in, Vermilion Bird Avenue will be ruined, and I cannot take responsibility for that!"


    Xiao Yi''s brows furrowed, ncing back behind him.


    Where the giant stone passed, a deep trench was left behind on the avenue, like a ferocious scar upon the road.


    Just as the guard sergeant had said, if he really dragged it all the way to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, Vermilion Bird Avenue would be destroyed!


    "Xiao, what do you think..." the guard sergeant asked Xiao Yi anxiously.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Then carry it!"


    "Carry, carry it? This thing?"


    The guard sergeant looked bewilderedly at the stone that was as tall as several floors, weighing several hundred thousand pounds. To drag it by one''s own strength already far exceeded the power of an ordinary Golden Core Realm cultivator.


    As for carrying it...


    Was that possible?


    Xiao Yi turned around and approached the underside of the giant stone. Standing in front of it, he was unbelievably small, and his right hand plunged into the stone like a steel spike.


    His muscles tensed instantly, and his veins popped out like writhing dragons. With a roar like thunder, he bellowed, "Lift!"


    Boom!


    The stone that weighed several hundred thousand pounds was forcibly lifted by Xiao Yi.


    Carrying the mountain with one arm, he moved forward.


    Each step made a thunderous rumble resonate.


    Amidst the booming sounds,


    Xiao Yi carried the giant stone into the city, each step leaving behind a deep pit.


    The guard sergeant had already forgotten to obstruct him, and it was not until he saw the sequence of deep pits that he copsed on the ground, "Is this even humanly possible?"


    Such terrifying strength, the deafening noise, carrying several hundred thousand pounds of giant stone with just one''s power, he walked through Vermilion Bird Avenue.


    This scene had already attracted countless strong individuals.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Thud!


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    With every step that echoed, the ground trembled violently, and the houses on both sides of Vermilion Bird Avenue shook intensely with the steps.


    Tiles fell, tables and chairs bounced up, and people rushed out of their homes, "Is there an earthquake?"


    "No, no, look, someone''s carrying a mountain..."


    Unbeknownst to them,


    more and more people gathered behind Xiao Yi, forming a ck iron flood trailing closely behind: "Xiao Yi is heading to the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    "What''s he doing with such a huge rock at the Royal Martial Arts Academy?"


    On his way there,


    a figure suddenly appeared ahead - it was Elder Wang.


    Elder Wang, looking at Xiao Yi carrying the giant rock on his shoulder, forced a wry smile: "Why torture yourself so? Can''t this be resolved?"


    Elder Wang had been trying to mediate these past days,


    but Zhou Yuan was resolute and wouldn''t heed his counsel.


    As for Xiao Yi...


    Elder Wang felt ashamed to face him.


    But today...


    on the day of Xiao Yi''s showdown with the Royal Martial Arts Academy, he had no choice but to step forward to prevent Xiao Yi from going to his death: "Xiao Yi, heed my advice, do not be obstinate. Zhou has entered the Tao Tribtion Realm, you can''t possibly be his match..."


    "Step aside!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently.


    Elder Wang pressed on with a grave voice: "Xiao Yi, I''m trying to save you! Other than the Royal Martial Arts Academy, forces like Mingjian Manor, Nine Profound Sect, Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, Tian Kingdom, Xue Yilou... their powerhouses all want your life, you..."


    "Thank you!"


    Xiao Yi nodded. He was aware that Elder Wang truly wanted to protect him, but the grudge between him, Zhou Yuan, and the others was irreconcble, "Zhou Yuan has no shame, he attacked me and left me severely injured and then sent strong men to besiege me in the secret realm. Now, they have taken Qingzhu and my brothers. Today, nobody shall stop me from leveling the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    "I..."


    Before Elder Wang could finish, Xiao Yi stepped forward, and a powerful gust blew Elder Wang away.


    Elder Wang was dumbfounded.


    His cultivation wasn''t particrly strong; a warrior of the High-Layer Golden Core Realm could blow him away, but for Xiao Yi to do so with such ease, without Elder Wang even having the will to resist, was something not even those at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak could easily do.


    "His strength has be so terrifying? It''s only been half a year, hasn''t it? This..."


    Elder Wang closed his eyes in despair, "Zhou Yuan... you are leading the Royal Martial Arts Academy to its doom..."


    Xiao Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    He scanned his surroundings.


    "Come out, you hidden rats!" Xiao Yi shouted coldly, like a muffled thunder.


    The once-bustling streets were now eerily silent on both sides.


    "Will you not show yourselves? Then don''t me me!"


    Suddenly, Xiao Yi swung his arm, hurling the massive rock towards the side of a building, smashing it violently.


    With a massive roar, rows of houses were crushed to dust.


    The rock, propelled by Xiao Yi, rolled over the debris, leaving behind a trail of wreckage and scattered remains.


    With that single throw, he destroyed hundreds of civilian homes and killed dozens of strong men hidden in the dark.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Amidst the sound of tearing air, nearly a hundred powerful figures appeared before Xiao Yi.


    "Nine Profound Sect, Mingjian Manor... Just the two of you?" Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, observing the nearly hundred powerhouses in front of him.


    Jin Sheng, once beaten into a retreat by him, was among them.


    Besides him stood another powerhouse, at the Ninth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm - the Sect Master of the Nine Profound Sect, known as ''Nine''.


    On Mingjian Manor''s side was Elder Jian San among the crowd, along with several other strong individuals. The strongest among them was an old man in an elegant white robe, bearing the refined air of a sage with seven longswords on his back. This man was Feng Qingge, a peerless genius of Mingjian Manor!


    It was rumored that Feng Qingge had disappeared for a hundred years, yet today, he had also made his appearance here.


    "We two are more than enough!"


    ''Nine'' said, his eyes cold as ice and with an air of arrogance.


    Feng Qingge stood beside him, the seven longswords buzzing behind him, his chilling gaze fixed on Xiao Yi: "Xiao Yi, you''ve gone against the Tao, wantonly in the innocent, your sins unforgivable. Today, we shall be the instruments of Heaven and take your damned life!"

 Chapter 123 The End of the Heavenly Ladder

    Only the strong at the foot of the mountain had already scattered and fled.


    These low-level disciples had long been terrified by the killings and dared not block Xiao Yi''s path in the slightest.


    Above the Heavenly Ladder.


    All of them were at least at the Shentong Realm, among them many powerful figures with golden light circling their bodies, unmistakably from the Golden Core Realm.


    Although among the disciples of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, there were only a few dozen with a cultivation level above the Golden Core Realm.


    But that was only among the currently enrolled disciples.


    Among the strong who had graduated in previous years, there were also many who dominated on their own.


    This time, Xiao Yi stormed the Royal Martial Arts Academy, and these strong individuals who had graduated years ago responded by returning one after another.


    "His Highness said, if you can reach the end of the Heavenly Ladder, you will see your wife and friends. However, I am afraid you won''t make it to the end!" two powerful beings at the Third Layer of the Golden Core Realm sneered continuously.


    "Noise!"


    Xiao Yi swept across with his sword.


    Two blood-drenched heads rolled down, their expressions still locked in a smug sneer.


    They simply intended to provoke Xiao Yi; they never expected him to act immediately and take their lives.


    "Demon!"


    "This man is a Great Demon of our time, kill him!"


    "Kill..."


    Above the Heavenly Ladder.


    With every step Xiao Yi took, opponents charged at him.


    A tidal wave of sword and saber radiance merged and surged, rolling furiously towards him.


    Xiao Yi walked as though he was the very person whomands the tides, his head held high.


    Everywhere he passed, a sword strike would resolve the opponent.


    His gaze was fixed on the end of the Heavenly Ladder, for reaching that point meant seeing Fang Qingzhu and the others.


    "Xiao Yi, you..."


    Two powerful beings at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm barely began speaking before they were crushed to death under Xiao Yi''s foot.


    He had no inclination for parley.


    Whenever he struck, it was with full force.


    A deadly blow!


    Instant kill!


    An immediate kill...


    The opponents in front of him grew stronger, but he was also getting closer to the end of the Heavenly Ladder.


    Swish! Swish!


    Amid the fierce sound of tearing through the air, a full thirty beings at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm swarmed toward him, each pair wielding arge metal. Amidst the nging sounds, fifteen metals were flung toward Xiao Yi, their mesh so tough that even the Fire Qilin Sword could not split it at that moment.


    "Die!"


    "Xiao Yi, this is the fate of those who defy the authority of the Royal Martial Arts Institute..."


    Two strong beings at the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm burst forth from behind the thirty, closely following in order to wait until everyone else had bound Xiao Yi, then they would strike to kill him.


    However...


    The moment the two appeared...


    Theyered metals in front of them were violently shredded by a burst of crimson sword light; the frigid sword gleam took the lives of those thirty beings at the Divine Ability Realm.


    Xiao Yi simultaneously hurled a boulder.


    Boom!


    The boulder brutally crushed one of the powerful beings at the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm into pieces, while his cold gaze turned to the remaining individual.


    That person trembled all over, pupils drastically constricting, the earlier bravado and confidence gone, reced by horror and fear, and despair, "I, I surrender..."


    With an expressionless face, Xiao Yi shed with his sword, splitting the man in two, walking past him, "Sorry, it''s toote!"


    Thud!


    The powerful being at the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm''s bodyy in halves on a pool of blood.


    Sweeping through.


    Xiao Yi had lost count of how many strong beings he had killed; he hadpletely be a bloodied figure, but the blood was all from his enemies. The pungent stench of blood lingered in the air, nauseating. Xiao Yi looked ahead with pride. There were only thest ten steps to the end of the Heavenly Ladder, "Qingzhu, I''ming!"


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Suddenly, ten figures appeared in front of Xiao Yi.


    They were the powerful warriors guarding thest ten levels of the heavenly staircase.


    Each of them was above the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, including two at the Ninth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm. All were prominent officials in charge of different regions in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    They were once disciples of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    A woman d in silver armor, heavily made-up, turned to the man in golden armor beside her, "Big brother, this kid is a tough cookie!"


    "With such talent, if he could be a disciple of our Royal Martial Arts Academy, his future prospects would be boundless. s... Zhou Xin and Jia Sidao have missed a vital opportunity for our Royal Martial Arts Academy''s rise..."


    The man in golden armor sighed. He was one of the three greatmanders of the Tianqing Kingdom, "But no matter how talented you are, defying our Royal Martial Arts Academy means only one thing¡ª a dead end. Little sister, don''t fight with me for his headter..."


    "Hahaha, then it''s each to their own abilities!" the woman in silver armorughed.


    The man in golden armor grinned, "Let''s see who kills him first, then my century-old Ling Monkey Brew will belong to them!"@@novelbin@@


    "I want that wine!"


    "No one dare try to steal it from me..."


    The ten people were brimming with confidence.


    The weakest among them was at the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, and they were all seasoned warriors who had returned from the battlefield. In their eyes, even if they faced someone at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, they dared to engage in battle.


    "Trade my head for wine?"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes were filled with a bloody light, and the corners of his mouth curled up into a grim, cold smile, "Let me send you to hell for Meng Po Soup instead!"


    Xiao Yi leapt into the air.


    Huge stones smashed against the attacks of the few, and amid a series of booming noises, the stele shattered considerably.


    And just as their attacks ended.


    Xiao Yi swiftly took back his boulder, swung his longsword widely, shing out a fan-shaped wave of red sword light.


    Pfft pfft pfft!


    Blood spurted out like fountains.


    This sword bisected six people at the waist.


    Hisss!


    The remaining four took in sharp breaths of cold air. The woman in silver armor, clutching the ghastly wound on her belly, with intestines and blood uncontrobly pouring out, wore a look of utter despair, "Save me... Brother, save me..." Your next chapter is on empire


    "Damn..."


    The man from the Jin Family''s expression changed drastically as he rushed towards her.


    Xiao Yi''s sword edge was already upon them.


    At the critical moment.


    The man in golden armor steeled his heart and threw the woman in silver armor towards the sword edge.


    "No..."


    The woman in silver armor let out a scream of despair as Xiao Yi bisected her with one sword stroke.


    The man in golden armor wore a face full of terror; he was the youngest of the three greatmanders and could even have be the military''s number one in the future.


    How could he lose his life here?


    The man in golden armor bellowed, "Xiao Yi, I''m leaving now, let me go..."


    "Sorry, I don''t agree!"


    Xiao Yi swung the boulder down fiercely, smashing the man in golden armor from midair while his right hand''s Fire Qilin Sword emitted a swirl of fiery sword light. With a crisp pfft, the man in golden armor was cleaved in two, and as his body fell from the sky...


    The remaining few also died at the hands of Xiao Yi.


    Open spacey before him.


    Whew!


    Xiao Yi exhaled a breath of turbid air and strode like a dragon and a tiger to the end of the heavenly staircase, and with a thump, he threw the blood-stained gravestone onto the ground.


    The whole world trembled with a roar.


    At this moment...


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy was utterly silent.


    Xiao Yi had truly swept through thousands of the Royal Martial Arts Academy''s warriors single-handedly and reached the end of the heavenly staircase.


    This was something no one had dared to believe beforehand.


    But he had indeed done it!


    Standing proudly at the end of the heavenly staircase, Xiao Yi surveyed his surroundings and spoke coldly, "Jiang Shanhe, I''ming for you!"

 Chapter 126 Cutting Down the Tianjiao with a Sword

    "Not good..."


    Jiang Shanhe''s expression suddenly changed.


    He had gone to great lengths to capture Fang Qingzhu and the others to keep Xiao Yi in check and to make him hesitate to act.


    Find adventures at empire


    As he had expected.


    Xiao Yi, concerned about the safety of Fang Qingzhu and the others, had been holding back during their previous encounter, greatly affecting his ability to fight.


    But now...


    Fang Qingzhu and the others had been rescued by Yue Cang, and Xiao Yi, free from his bonds, was like a tiger breaking free from its cage.


    A pair of cold eyes fell upon them.


    "Everyone be careful!" Jiang Shanhe said in a deep voice.


    Ping Sifang sneered, "Jiang Shanhe, it seems he has scared you! No matter how strong he is, could he really be a match for the five of us joining hands? Let''s make it quick and capture him first..."


    Bai Xing and Nie Hechuan felt the same way.


    They were each the top contender of the Teng Long List from their respective countries, the number one among the younger generation.


    Now joining forces against Xiao Yi was already shameful enough. If the five of them together could not bring Xiao Yi to his death, they would lose all face.


    This was a battle for honor.


    And a life-and-death battle.


    "Eighteen Arhats..."


    Xu Feiying leaped into the air and retreated backward,nding dozens of meters away. The bowstring of the huge horn bow in his hands was taut, and with each release, an arrow would shoot out with the sound of thunder.


    Swoosh swoosh swoosh!


    Amidst the whooshing sounds of the air being pierced, a total of eighteen arrows were fired in rapid session.


    Jiang Shanhe growled, "Xu Feiying will disrupt from a distance, while the four of us will engage him in closebat. I refuse to believe that Xiao Yi can withstand the siege of us five talents!"


    "Good!"


    "Capture him, cripple his cultivation, break his limbs..."


    "His woman¡ªI, Ping Sifang, will take her!"


    A series of growls were like sudden thunder on a t ground.


    The five experts were from the five great kingdoms.@@novelbin@@


    Half of the top contenders of the Teng Long List from the ten nations of Nanhuang were present, and their target was Xiao Yi, who just a year ago was merely in the Physical Body Realm.


    Xiao Yi, now free from the shackles of Fang Qingzhu and the others, no longer needed to hold back, and the killing intent suppressed in his heart was also thoroughly unleashed. Over the past days, the Royal Martial Arts Academy and people like Jiang Shanhe had been relentless in their tactics, repeatedly trying to put him to death and even capturing Fang Qingzhu and the others as a threat.


    Their actions had intensified Xiao Yi''s desire to kill to the extreme.


    "Soul Snatching and Life Taking!"


    Xiao Yi pointed his sword, emitting a dazzling cold light as bright as day.


    "Merely a petty trick!"


    Ping Sifang sneered, and with a flick of his finger, a silver stream of Qi erupted from his index finger.


    The beam of light was incredibly condensed, like a towering giant finger.


    One Finger Pierces the Heavens.


    Boom!


    The giant finger collided with the sword light, each eroding the other''s energy.


    Gales raged wildly.


    A cold gleam erupted from Xiao Yi''s eyes as he tightly gripped the Fire Qilin Sword to face the opposition. His left hand, however, punched out, golden Qi clinging to the surface of his fist, its radiant brilliance blinding, as if a great sun was attached to his fist: "Vajra Subdues Demons!"


    Thud!


    The power of this punch was to the extreme.


    As soon as he punched.


    The wild power on the fist hammered out a wall of air, pushing forward with a loud bang andnding heavily on Ping Sifang''s body.


    Pff...


    Ping Sifang''s body trembled, his legs involuntarily lifting off the ground, flying backward like a kite with its string cut.


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi took a violent step forward, instantly catching up to Ping Sifang, and reached out with his left hand.


    "Not good!"


    "Quick, save him..."


    Everything happened so suddenly, and Xiao Yi''s speed was astonishingly fast.


    Just as Jiang Shanhe and the others were about to step in and rescue Ping Sifang, Xiao Yi''s hand, which resembled an eagle''s w, already snapped onto Ping Sifang''s ankle with a smack, and with a fierce swing, Ping Sifang was thrown like a human weapon, smashing hard into Jiang Shanhe and the others behind him.


    Jiang Shanhe and the others instinctively raised their weapons.


    "No..."


    Ping Sifang, seeing the cold desing straight at him, eyes wide with terror, let out a roar of despair.


    Jiang Shanhe and the others had no choice but to forcefully retract their weapons.


    But this also meant that they lost their initial advantage.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi used Ping Sifang as a weapon, consecutively knocking back Jiang Shanhe, Nie Hechuan, and Bai Xing.


    The three of them, with frustration on their faces, could only passively endure it, not even daring to defend with their full might.


    Otherwise, if they identally killed Ping Sifang,


    the troubles would be endless!


    Jiang Shanhe bellowed, "Xu Feiying, why aren''t you taking action?"


    Xu Feiying, a few dozen meters away, holding a horn bow, looked helpless upon hearing Jiang Shanhe''s words: "Take action my ass..."


    Every time he bent his bow and readied an arrow, preparing to take a shot,


    Xiao Yi would use Ping Sifang as a shield in front of himself. If Xu Feiying took the shot, he didn''t know whether he could hit Xiao Yi, but Ping Sifang''s body would definitely gain a few more holes.


    He was in a dilemma over hurting the hostage.


    Fearful and hesitant.


    At this moment, Jiang Shanhe felt extremely stifled. Just moments before, holding Fang Qingzhu and Niu Dali among others at his mercy, he had been so brazenly threatening Xiao Yi. But now, how the tables had turned¡ªit was they who were handicapped, facing Xiao Yi who treated Ping Sifang like a weapon, they simply couldn''t find an opening to strike!


    "Xiao Yi, if you have the guts, release Ping Sifang and fight us fair and square!" Nie Hechuan said through clenched teeth.


    Xiao Yi nced at him, "One-on-one?"


    "I..."


    Nie Hechuan''s face stiffened.


    The five of them, even whenbined, were still being pressured to this state by Xiao Yi.


    If it were one-on-one...


    He truly had no confidence.


    "Xiao Yi, release me, and I swear no longer to be your enemy..." Ping Sifang, his head covered in blood, like a dead dog dragged behind Xiao Yi, shouted.


    Xiao Yi nced back at him.


    The man was indeed in a sorry and pitiable state.


    Most of the bones in his body were broken.


    Most of his head was smashed out of shape, swollen and bruised beyond recognition.


    What he regretted most at this moment was getting involved in this mess.


    Xiao Yi looked at Ping Sifang, and with a sneer said, "Once I begin, it''s a fight to the death. There''s no room for surrender."


    "You, you want to kill me? I am..." Before Ping Sifang could finish,


    Xiao Yi had already swung violently, hurling him out like a thrown spear.


    Whoosh!


    Ping Sifang''s body flew like a sandbag, crashing towards Jiang Shanhe and the others.


    The three continuously retreated.


    But just as Ping Sifang appeared before them, suddenly, a crimson sword light tore through Ping Sifang''s body. With a st, it struck Bai Xing square in the body. The sword light came too suddenly, and with Bai Xing''s line of sight blocked by Ping Sifang, he had no time to dodge.


    When the sword light dissipated,


    Ping Sifang was bisected at the waist by Xiao Yi''s sword.


    A blood trail ran through the center of Bai Xing''s forehead, spurting blood from the top of his head like a fountain.


    One sword to y a Tianjiao!


    With one sword, Xiao Yi had killed both Ping Sifang and Bai Xing, two geniuses of the Tenth Layer of the Golden Core Realm!


    Whoosh!


    The crimson sword light swept across the sky, and Xiao Yi looked towards Jiang Shanhe and the others: "Your turn now..."

 Chapter 127 Sorry, I Disagree!

    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Jiang Shanhe and Nie Hechuan retreated in session, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xu Feiying, their expressions grave as they looked at Xiao Yi.


    Their eyes were filled with tumultuous waves.


    There was a time...


    Bai Xing and Ping Sifang were on par with them, dominating figures among the younger generation of the ten nations of Nanhuang, the strongest of existences.


    As long as the older generation of the Tao Tribtion Realm did not step in, they were nearly invincible.


    They had never imagined they would die at the hands of someone their own age.


    Especially not by someone who, just a year ago, was nothing more than waste at the Physical Body Realm.


    "He, he was really just at the Physical Body Realm a year ago?" Xu Feiying swallowed hard, asking in disbelief.


    Nie Hechuan too looked at Jiang Shanhe with a shocked face.


    Gurgle!


    Jiang Shanhe swallowed his saliva subconsciously and said with a wry smile, "ording to the information I received, when he first came to Nanhuang City a year ago, he was merely at the initial stage of the Physical Body Realm."


    Hiss!


    Xu Feiying and the other person gasped in amazement.


    A year''s time, ah!


    For them, advancing even one realm might be tough, but Xiao Yi had spanned across a full four major realms in just one year!


    Such a cultivation speed, they had neither seen nor even heard of before!


    "Xu Feiying, Nie Hechuan... If we do not take out thisd, give him just a few more years... No, perhaps just a few more months, and we will not be his match..." Jiang Shanhe said with a somber expression and a gloomy face.


    Xu Feiying narrowed his eyes, and raised his hand to touch his hooked nose, "You''re right... But with the three of usbined, I''m afraid we''re no match for him!"


    Even when five of them joined forces, Xiao Yi managed to kill two.


    What more now that only the three of them were left?


    A ruthless look shed in Jiang Shanhe''s eyes, "I have a poison at hand called Soul Dispelling Powder. Colorless and odorless, just a single breath of it, and even a Golden Core Realm powerhouse will lose their ability to fight. Nie Hechuan, each of us takes some Soul Dispelling Powder, andter on, let''s use our Innate Divine Abilities to entangle Xiao Yi. We will find a way to use the Soul Dispelling Powder to strip him of hisbat power, and then Feiying will strike at the right moment, how about that?"


    "Soul Dispelling Powder? That''s a fifth-grade elixir, worth over a hundred million silver, you''re really quite willing to use it!" Nie Hechuan looked at Jiang Shanhe in surprise.


    Jiang Shanhe snorted coldly, "You can''t set a wolf trap without giving up a child, just tell me if you''ll do it or not?"


    "Using poison is a bit shameful... But if we can get his secret, it will all be worth it!" Nie Hechuan took the Soul Dispelling Powder from Jiang Shanhe''s hand.


    Discover stories with empire


    Xu Feiying nodded, "Let''s do it!"


    No sooner said than done.


    Jiang Shanhe and Nie Hechuan, one on the left and one on the right, transformed into two roaming dragons, sweeping towards Xiao Yi with two gusts of fierce wind.


    They moved so fast that in the blink of an eye, they were already in front of Xiao Yi.


    "Furious Dragon Shakes the Sea!"


    Jiang Shanhe''s long spear stood tall, like a ck Dragon entering the world.


    Nie Hechuan, expressionless, held a longsword in each hand. The twin swords whirled fiercely, attacking Xiao Yi from both sides with continuous and unrelenting strikes.


    Xu Feiying was further away, repeatedly looking for opportunities to shoot arrows.


    Oftentimes, just as Xiao Yi had dodged the attacks of Jiang Shanhe and the other, and sought to press forward, Xu Feiying''s arrow would fall in front of him, blocking his pursuit and causing him to miss several chances to eliminate the two.


    Xu Feiying, holding a great bow, said with a smug look, "Xiao Yi, with me here, you can forget about touching them again!"


    "Damn it!"


    A flicker of cold light shed in Xiao Yi''s eyes, "It seems I can''t continue the fight without taking down Xu Feiying."


    "Breaking Spear Skill!"


    "Saber-Breaking Style!"


    Xiao Yi suddenly increased his speed, continuously invoking the Solitary Nine Swords, pushing back Jiang Shanhe and the other person time after time.


    His swordy became faster and sharper.


    Like clouds flowing through the sky.


    It was as if the man and sword had merged into one...


    This made Xu Feiying''s arrows fail several times to stop Xiao Yi''s momentum, resulting in Jiang Shanhe and Nie Hechuan suffering several strikes from Xiao Yi''s sword.


    Jiang Shanhe was furious, "Xu Feiying, what the hell are you doing?"


    Nie Hechuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, also extremely angry, "Just a bit more... and I would have been beheaded..."


    Xu Feiying too appeared helpless, "How can you me me for this? His sword is just too fast..."


    In the crowd.


    Gu Junhe''s eyes showed shock, "This... Is this the third level of Sword Intent, the unity of man and sword? No, it''s still a bit off, but he has already touched upon that barrier... What kind of monster is this guy? He''s not even twenty years old, yet he has grasped the third level of Sword Intent at the Golden Core Realm? This... this... "


    Yue Cang also had a glint in his eye, "What an impressive Xiao Yi... No wonder my silly sister took a liking to you, such talent is indeed terrifying. I''m somewhat tempted to fight with you myself! However..." He looked down at Fang Qingzhu whoy unconscious beside him and rubbed his brow, "Oh, my foolish little sister, I''m afraid it''s a case of unrequited love with you!"


    He was very aware of the massive gap in Xiao Yi''sbat strength before and after Fang Qingzhu was rescued.


    There was only one exnation for such a result...


    In Xiao Yi''s heart, Fang Qingzhu held an extremely important position.


    At that moment...


    Xiao Yi suddenly pushed the two back with a sword strike, but his figure sharply changed direction, rushing straight towards Xu Feiying.


    "Not good!"


    Theplexions of Jiang Shanhe and the other changed drastically.


    If they lost Xu Feiying skirting on the sidelines, ready to act and distract Xiao Yi, then a Xiao Yi with no further concerns would be even more formidable.


    The two of them joined forces to chase after Xiao Yi.


    Xu Feiying wore a fierce smile, "Kill me? That''s a fool''s dream. Just eat my dust behind me!"


    Xu Feiying''s forte was long-range attacks.


    He ran whileunching attacks.


    He lured Xiao Yi along as if flying a kite.


    "Hahaha. Xiao Yi, you''ll never catch up to me..." Xu Feiyingughed heartily.


    "Is that so?"


    Xiao Yi suddenly smirked,@@novelbin@@


    A trace of thick mockery appeared on his face, causing Xu Feiying''splexion to change abruptly, filled with a strong sense of unease. Almost at the same time, the Xiao Yi behind him suddenly vanished, his speed inexplicably quadrupling. It turned out he had employed the Blood Explosion Skill, doubling his strength and speed, and he threw a punch from mid-air.


    Boom!


    The heavy fist, tinted with a blood-colored airflow, struck Xu Feiying.


    Xu Feiying''s body shuddered, like a star falling from the sky, crashing to the ground with great force.


    With a loud crash,


    Xu Feiying hit the ground, his head smashed into a bloody pulp, transforming into a headless corpse.


    "Now''s our chance, release the poison!" Jiang Shanhe roared lowly.


    Nie Hechuan nodded fiercely.


    The two simultaneously scattered the powder in their hands.


    Swish! Swish!


    Two streams of white powder enveloped Xiao Yi.


    Just as Xiao Yi was about to be covered, he flipped his hand with a p.


    With a swish, a gust of wind swept by, rolling back the white powder, wrapping Nie Hechuan and the other in its grasp.


    "It''s over..."


    The two wore faces of despair.


    Bang! Bang!


    The pair felt a numbness and weakness throughout their bodies and fell to the ground with two thuds.


    Tap tap tap!


    Xiao Yi, sword in hand, walked over to the two men.


    Nie Hechuan''s pale face was filled with bitter pleading, "I am the Crown Prince of Sihai Kingdom, you can''t kill me..."


    "That reason doesn''t work!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head and slit his throat with his sword.


    Nie Hechuan covered his throat, unable to stop the gushing blood, lying in a pool of blood.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze fell on Jiang Shanhe, his eyes filled with brutality and coldness, "Should I hack you a thousand times? Or should I make it quick for you?"


    "No... don''t kill me, Xiao Yi, I realize I was wrong. Please don''t kill me..." At this moment, Jiang Shanhe had lost all his past arrogance, leaving only despair and the fear of facing death.


    Xiao Yi said, "Tell me, where did you go wrong?"


    "I, I..."


    Jiang Shanhe''s face showed panic.


    He didn''t feel he''d done anything wrong.


    He was only pleading to save his life.


    "It seems you still haven''t realized your mistake!"


    Xiao Yi lifted his longsword, and with two swishes, two arms flew high into the air.


    Aaah...


    Jiang Shanhe screamed continuously, enduring the severe pain, "I was wrong... I shouldn''t have let Ye Feng and the others try to kill you..."


    "Still wrong!"


    Xiao Yi struck again, this time severing Jiang Shanhe''s legs.


    Argh...


    Jiang Shanhe convulsed, suffering unbearable agony, his facepletely twisted, tears streaming down, "I... I see my mistake now... I shouldn''t have opposed you, I shouldn''t have captured Fang Qingzhu and others to threaten you. I was wrong... Xiao Yi, Lord Xiao, I truly admit my fault, please spare me..."


    "You finally got it right this time, but unfortunately, it''s toote!"


    Xiao Yi smiled, his expression appearing as a nightmarish demon in the eyes of Jiang Shanhe, who shouted in terror, "Save me... Master, save me..."


    Boom!


    A thunderous roar, reminiscent of a p of thunder, suddenly emanated from the depths of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, an authoritative voice thundered like a divine decree, "Xiao Yi, release His Highness, and I''ll spare your life!"


    The terrifying pressure caused nearly ny percent of the powerhouses present to feel weak in the knees.


    Yue Cang''s expression changed, "Tao Tribtion Realm?"


    Gu Junhe squinted his eyes, as if facing a great enemy, "This shameless fellow really did use the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, this is troublesome..."


    Facing Zhou Yuan, who appeared in the void, godlike and devilish,


    Xiao Yi smirked, "Sorry, I don''t agree!"


    Thrust!


    A single sword strike.


    A severed head rolled away.


    Jiang Shanhe''s face still held a look of relief and ecstatic joy at having survived, and a touch of confusion...

 Chapter 128 Even the Dao Tribulation Can Be Confronted!

    At the moment Zhou Yuan appeared.


    Everyone thought that Jiang Shanhe''s life was surely saved.


    Even Jiang Shanhe himself thought so.


    After all...


    Zhou Yuan had already stepped into the Tao Tribtion Realm, a far more terrifying existence than the previous Golden Elixir Realm Peak.


    If the earlier Zhou Yuan still needed to give face to the King of Tianqing Kingdom, now, even if he killed the King, he could easily leave the Tianqing Kingdom. Even the legendary ancestor backing Tianqing Kingdom certainly wouldn''t offend a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse over a dead King.


    But what was the result?


    Xiao Yi didn''t give Zhou Yuan any face at all.


    Without a word.


    He beheaded Jiang Shanhe!


    "Xiao! Yi! I told you to stop, didn''t you hear me?"


    Zhou Yuan stood suspended in the air, his face''s proud smile shattered, reced by shock and disbelief.@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi had killed Jiang Shanhe right in front of him after he had spoken out to stop him.


    This was a p to his face in public!


    At that moment, Zhou Yuan felt a burning pain on his face.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, looking up at Zhou Yuan with defiance. Indeed, the aura of a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse was robust, and even though he had broken through to the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, he still felt a bit of pressure.


    Facing Zhou Yuan''s questioning.


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "Sorry, I don''t understand the barking of a dog!"


    Hiss!


    A series of gasps rose and fell in session!


    Everyone''s gaze towards Xiao Yi was as if they were looking at a madman: "How dare he speak to Zhou like this? That''s a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse..."


    "With his talent, if he had kept a low profile for a few decades, he might also have had the chance to step into the Tao Tribtion Realm, bing a dominant overlord. It''s a pity that this man doesn''t know how to judge the situation, always being so stubborn and reckless; this will only lead to the senseless waste of his life..."


    "Too young!"


    Even Gu Junhe couldn''t help but shake his head, whispering to Jiang Tai beside him: "Xiao Yi is no match for Zhou Yuan no matter how strong he is. Once Xiao Yi is in danger, I will intercept Zhou Yuan at the first instant. Then you take the opportunity to take Xiao Yi and escape to the pce and ask for the King''s protection¡­"


    "But¡­ Xiao Yi just killed my brother, I''m afraid Father¡­" Jiang Tai hesitated.


    Gu Junhe shook his head, "Now that Jiang Shanhe is dead, you are the most likely sessor to the throne. Even if your father is furious, he will still think about building a foundation for you. He wouldn''t let go of a talent like Xiao Yi."


    "We have no other choice..."


    Jiang Tai nodded heavily.


    ......


    Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes, looking at the bodies scattered across the Heavenly Ladder.


    The Stele standing at the end of the Heavenly Ladder.


    And the corpses of Jiang Shanhe and the others...


    Whoo!


    Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and then forcefully exhaled, stirring up a gust of wind with his breath, which actually formed a gale amidst heaven and earth.


    The wind howled loudly.


    Under the raging wind.


    Sand flew and rocks were swept away.


    A scene of destion and silence.


    Zhou Yuan stared at Xiao Yi: "I didn''t expect that the five-hundred-year prosperity of the Royal Martial Arts Academy would be ruined by your hands. I have to admit, allowing Zhou Xin to chase you away was the most foolish decision I''ve made since taking charge of the Royal Martial Arts Academy!"


    In just one year, from the Physical Body Realm to the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm!


    If such a genius were to be included in the Royal Martial Arts Institute, it would certainly make it even more splendid.


    He might even have a chance to leave Tianqing Kingdom and enter the Great Qian Dynasty.


    But due to his erroneous decision, he had forced Xiao Yi to the opposing side of the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Only Zhou Yuan understood the regret in his heart.


    Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.


    The slight remorse on Zhou Yuan''s face dissipated like smoke, reced by a bone-chilling coldness: "Since it is my mistake, I must resolve it with my own hands. After I kill you, the Royal Martial Arts Academy will still be the sacred martial ce of Tianqing Kingdom, unshakable by anyone!"


    What does it matter if many disciples have died or are injured?


    As long as Zhou Yuan is still here, the Royal Martial Arts Academy won''t possibly fall.


    And...


    He had already ascended to the Tao Tribtion Realm, and under his leadership, the Royal Martial Arts Academy would only grow stronger.


    "Kill me? With your strength from the firstyer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, which you broke through using the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, I''m afraid it''s not enough!" Xiao Yi said with a yfulugh.


    So what if it''s the Tao Tribtion Realm?


    With his current strength, he could even fight against the Tao Tribtion!


    Within the crowd.


    Yue Cang shook his head and said, "It seems that the previous victory has gone to Xiao Yi''s head... This is a warrior of the Tao Tribtion Realm we''re talking about, among the young generation in the ten countries of Nanhuang, I''m afraid only that one person couldpete with a Tao Tribtion Realm warrior. But even he could only remain undefeated in the face of the Tao Tribtion, as for defeating a Tao Tribtion Realm warrior, it''s absolutely impossible!"


    There are over a hundred subordinate countries under the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Among them, there are ten major kingdoms surrounding Nanhuang, but throughout their history, there has never been one who could defeat a Tao Tribtion Realm existence with only the power of the Golden Core Realm.


    Gu Junhe also shook his head and sighed, "After all, he is still too young, but it''s good for him to suffer a little setback! Only by witnessing the strength of a Tao Tribtion Realm warrior firsthand will he understand that there are always greater powers out there..."


    Jiang Tai also nodded in agreement with his view, "However, speaking of which... If it were me, I''m afraid I wouldn''t even have the courage to face a Tao Tribtion Realm warrior!"


    After returning from the secret realm.


    With the treasures he obtained, Jiang Tai had stepped into the Eighth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, with his talent and martial skills, he could fight even against someone at the Tenth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    But the Tao Tribtion Realm?


    Even if one day he reached the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, he wouldn''t have the courage to challenge it.


    After all.


    A Tao Tribtion Realm warrior is a legendary existence in the ten countries of Nanhuang.


    The position of the king could be challenged, but the might of the Tao Tribtion should not be disrespected!


    "Hahaha, this is the first time I''ve heard of a little Golden Core Realm daring to challenge the existence of the Tao Tribtion..."


    Zhou Yuan sneered and shook his head, looking at Xiao Yi as if he were looking at a cold corpse, and drew a circle beneath his feet with the tip of his foot, "In light of yourmendable courage, I will let you make three moves. Within these three moves, I will only defend and not attack. If you can force me out of this circle, I will acknowledge that you have the power to match the Tao Tribtion!"


    "Three moves?"


    Xiao Yi gently shook his head.


    Zhou Yuan was stunned and mocked, "What? Are three moves not enough? How about I let you make ten moves instead?"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and said, "No no no, what I mean is three moves are too many. If you''re still within the circle after one move, I will surrender myself!"


    "Huh?"


    Zhou Yuan''s pupils suddenly constricted, feeling an unprecedented insult, and he scoffed repeatedly, "Very well, very well, a single move it is... If you can really force me out of this circle within one move, I will kneel before you, and all grievances between you and the Royal Martial Arts Academy will be wiped clean! But if you fail, before I kill you, I will execute your wife and friends right before your eyes!"


    "It''s a deal!"


    Xiao Yi grasped his sword hilt with both hands.


    Hum!


    The sword edge trembled, emitting a whooshing sound.


    "Nine Swords as One!"


    Xiao Yi leaped into the air, his figure suddenly turned into nine shadows, stacking and merging into each other.


    When he arrived in front of Zhou Yuan, the nine shadows merged into one.


    Swish!


    The cold light cleaved through the air, a dazzling cold star.


    Swish!


    A ten-foot-long Sword Qi surged violently, tearing up the ground wherever it passed, creating a fierce gale.


    This one sword made Zhou Yuan''sposed and smug face dissipate into nothingness in an instant, and shock shed across his pupils, "This sword..."


    From that Sword Qi, he felt the threat of death.


    Even if he didn''t want to admit it.


    Zhou Yuan did not dare to be careless, crossing his hands in front of him, conjuring a series of elemental shields.


    The shields blocked before him, but the nineyers of elemental shields were continuously shattered by the Sword Qi, the invisible sword light nearly reaching his body.


    In a critical moment.


    Zhou Yuan had to leap back.


    Just as he leaped away...


    Boom!


    The Sword Qi furiously descended.


    Rumble!


    The entire Royal Martial Arts Academy trembled violently, cracks spread out in all directions on the ground, and a ten-foot-long fearsome sword mark almost tore the earth apart.


    Xiao Yi stood with his sword, mocking expression on his face, looking at Zhou Yuan whoseplexion alternated between green and white, "You lost!"

 Chapter 129 Kill! Kill! Kill!

    "You lost!"


    Xiao Yi stood with his sword, his face thick with mockery as he stared at Zhou Yuan, who had retreated dozens of yards away.


    A whirlwind swept up, scattering the flying sand.


    The web-like cracks spread far and wide, along with that horrendous ten-yard-long sword mark, made all the mighty onlookers silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make the slightest sound.


    Yue Cang was utterly dumbfounded, "Tha¡ªThat sword just now¡­"


    To be fair,


    if that sword hadnded on him, he would have been dead without a doubt.


    Before this¡­


    Yue Cang still thought that he was worthy of a battle with Xiao Yi, but that sword had just driven him to despair, and he self-deprecatingly said, "I actually thought I could fight him? With Xiao Yi''s strength now, even Gai Qinglong, the number one in the ten nations of Nanhuang, wouldn''t be his match, right?"


    Gu Junhe was also left speechless, "Genius, this is a true genius! The Xiao Family, oh the Xiao Family, you actually treated such a genius as trash and sent him to the Fang Family as a son-inw? Was Xiao Zhengde''s brain kicked by a donkey? Or was Xiao Tianjiao blind?"


    Fang Qingzhu slowly regained consciousness, just in time to witness that sword.


    Excitement and agitation were visible on her pale face, "Xiao Yi, he''s¡­ so strong!"


    Her eyes were filled with admiration and happiness.


    This was her man, after all!


    For Zhou Yuan, there was nothing more shocking than that sword.


    Watching the sword mark spreading under his feet, the corner of his eye twitched madly, and his eyes flickered with disbelief, "That sword¡­ How could someone in the Golden Core Realm unleash such a powerful strike?"


    Just moments before,


    he was full of confidence, iming that if Xiao Yi could force him back within three moves, he would admit defeat voluntarily.


    But the result...


    Xiao Yi used just one sword strike!


    Not only did he force him back, but he also nearly inflicted serious injuries!


    That sword was like an invisible p that harshly struck his face, leaving him seeing stars.


    The gaze of the crowd was like needles on his back.


    The humiliation!


    An unprecedented humiliation!


    It was even harder for him to bear than almost having the Royal Martial Arts Academy single-handedly demolished by Xiao Yi.


    "Zhou Yuan, you should be kneeling now!" said Xiao Yi.


    "You..."


    The skin on Zhou Yuan''s face twitched fiercely.


    He had just said that if Xiao Yi could push him out of the ring with one move, he would kneel to Xiao Yi.


    But that was just a figure of speech, how could he actually kneel?


    "Xiao Yi, you are too bullying!" Zhou Yuan said through gritted teeth.


    "I''m too bullying? Hahaha¡­ Zhou Yuan, don''t you feel ashamed saying that? Initially, when I sincerely applied for the Royal Martial Arts Institute, it was you who distorted the truth and forced me to leave. When I left, despite you being at the Golden Elixir Peak, you attacked me, who was only in the Shentong Realm, and nearly took my life."


    All of a sudden, Xiao Yi let out a long howl to the sky, his face full of mockery, "In the Tao Tribtion secret realm, it was also you who issued the kill order, wanting to put me to death. It was you who had people capture Qingzhu to threaten me. Now, the same you, the director of the Royal Martial Arts Institute, a mighty Tao Tribtion Realm master, reneged on his word¡­ Is this what you call too bullying?"


    These words had been suppressed in his heart for too long.


    Today, they burst out all at once.


    The loud voice spread throughout the entire Royal Martial Arts Institute...


    The secrets not known to others, and today they were made public.


    "What? The Royal Martial Arts Institute is too much of a bully, isn''t it?"


    "I used to think that Xiao Yi was too arrogant to challenge the Royal Martial Arts Institute, but who knew there was such a twist to the story?"


    "If that''s indeed the truth, the Royal Martial Arts Institute is really too bullying!"


    At that moment,@@novelbin@@


    the Royal Martial Arts Institute and Zhou Yuan became the targets of widespread scorn.


    The scapegoat for everyone''s arrows!


    Zhou Yuan''s face alternated between green and white, never expecting the situation to develop to this point, with the reputation of the Royal Martial Arts Institute bing tarnished. Knowing that once the news spread, the Institute would truly be the target of public criticism, with this thought in mind, Zhou Yuan''s cold gaze fell on Xiao Yi, "As long as he is killed, all rumors and nder will also end. Kill him, no mercy!"


    Boom!


    Zhou Yuan transformed into a silver streak, piercing the void like a river soaring through the sky, and in an instant, he charged toward Xiao Yi.


    Even before the punch arrived,


    The punch wind was already striking the face.


    The howling wind stirred Xiao Yi''s clothing, whistling like a de scraping his face, bringing bouts of intense pain.


    Xiao Yi''s face was expressionless, sword in hand, "Break Fist Style!"


    Boom!


    A glint of cold light hit the center of the fist shadow.


    Thud!


    The earth trembled, and the wind surged violently.


    Xiao Yi''s figure retreated thirty feet, while Zhou Yuan was also shaken back several yards.


    No sooner had the twonded than they were charging at each other again.


    The fist danced like a phantom.


    The sword glided like a dragon.


    Their fists and swords shed continuously, each collision stirring up waves of energy that shocked the heavens and earth, mighty in all directions, imposing from every angle. Neither held back in their attacks, Zhou Yuan intent on killing Xiao Yi to wipe away his previous shame, Xiao Yi''s killing intent was no less than Zhou Yuan''s.


    "Blood Explosion Skill!"


    Xiao Yi suddenly ignited three-tenths of the blood within his body, his strength and speed suddenly tripling.


    The sudden increase in power and speed overwhelmed Zhou Yuan, who struggled to cope.


    St!


    A dot of cold light pierced through the air, prating Zhou Yuan''s palm.


    At the same time, he employed the Divine Skills of Weapon Fusion, his arms and the Fire Qilin Sword melding into one as dark light coursed through them. His left hand transformed into a w and reached out, with a snap, it grabbed Zhou Yuan''s shoulder, violently tearing away a chunk of flesh.


    Ahhh...


    Zhou Yuan cried out in agony, continually retreating.


    A sword mark pierced through the palm of his right hand, and his left shoulder was missing a piece of flesh, horrifically exposing bone.


    "You mongrel, I swear I''ll kill you, kill everyone rted to you..." Zhou Yuan''s face was ferocious.


    Xiao Yi advanced with his sword, his body surrounded by circting blood light,ughing loudly, "You no longer have a chance!"


    Whoosh!


    The blood-colored sword edge was terrifying.


    With this sword, he forced Zhou Yuan to retreat.


    Xiao Yi''s voice rang out again, "Those who bully or insult me, kill!"


    The Life-Chasing Soul Sword was delivered in rapid session.


    Zhou Yuan kept losing ground.


    "Harm my family, kill!"


    "Hurt my brothers, kill!"


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"


    Xiao Yi grew increasingly valiant in battle, his murderous aura explosively unleashed, his entire being radiating with bloody light, and his offensive onught was like a tempestuous storm.


    Boom!


    Punch after punchnded solidly, unstoppable.


    Zhou Yuan was bloodied by the blows.


    Xiao Yi''s aura grew ever more frenzied, with half his blood now ame, his strength and speed increased fivefold,pletely overpowering Zhou Yuan.


    Zhou Yuan kept losing ground, absolutely unable to withstand the barrage of attacks from Xiao Yi, "Madman. You''re a madman..."


    His mouth flowed with blood, his body riddled with sword cuts, countless bones shattered.


    "Nine Swords as One!"


    Xiao Yi, holding the sword with both hands, raised it above his head and brought it shing down.


    Boom!


    That sword tore through Zhou Yuan''s qi seal, a spurt of blood shooting skyward, savagely splitting open a ferocious wound in his chest. Amid a wretched scream, Zhou Yuan copsed to the ground, blood spewing from his mouth, hair disheveled and face filled with terror, "Impossible, this can''t be... How can I, a practitioner of the Tao Tribtion Realm, be defeated by you?"


    Xiao Yi''s sword tip rested on Zhou Yuan''s throat, he said coldly, "Half a year ago, I vowed to tten the Royal Martial Arts Academy. Today is the day you, Zhou Yuan, meet your demise, the day the Royal Martial Arts Academy falls!"


    "Impossible, impossible... I am of the Tao Tribtion Realm, how can this be..."


    Zhou Yuan was utterly dispirited.


    The blow was too great!


    Xiao Yi''s expression was unreadable, his longsword ready to strike, but just then, a cold voice suddenly reached his ears, "Xiao Yi, see who I have here?"

 Chapter 130 Kneel my ass!

    "Xiao Yi, look who I have in my hand?"


    A sharp voice suddenly erupted by his ear.


    Xiao Yi shivered all over.


    A strong sense of unease rose in his heart, the bone-chilling cold instantly swept through his body, andrge beads of cold sweat soaked through the back of his clothes at this instant.


    As he looked up.


    He saw a blood-red chariot suspended in the void above, and before the chariot were four majestic demonic beasts with crimson bodies, single horns on their heads, tiger-like shapes, but with wings on their backs. Each of these demonic beasts emitted a presence no weaker than Zhou Yuan''s, clearly four Sixth-Layer Path Tribtion Realm beasts.


    And on that chariot...


    A middle-aged man dressed in a blood-colored robe, wearing a silver mask, and with a burly figure, leaned against the side of the chariot.


    In his hand extended from the chariot.


    Fang Qingzhu was being held by her neck, suspended in midair.


    The four Sixth-Layer Path Tribtion Realm Flying Heavenly Demon Tigers pped their wings, stirring up howling gales that battered against Fang Qingzhu.


    Causing Fang Qingzhu''s ck hair to dance wildly, her face growing even paler.


    The Pipa Locks on her shoulders nked and nged.


    "Qingzhu?"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly constricted as his eyes instantly turned blood red.


    Yue Cang, looking haggard, raised his hand to wipe the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, a deep fear and reverence surfacing on his pale face, "Xiao, I''m really sorry, the opponent was too strong."


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Anyone who could employ four Tao Tribtion Realm beasts to pull a chariot must indeed be powerful.


    Possibly someone from the High-Layer Tao Tribtion Realm, or even the stronger Dharma Manifestation Realm!@@novelbin@@


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath and stared at the blood-colored figure, "Who might you be, sir?"


    "Heh heh!"


    The middle-aged man in the blood-colored robe spoke in a voice that was difficult to distinguish as male or female, especially piercing, "Xiao Yi, you dared to destroy my Xue Yilou''s branch and kill my Xue Yilou branch master. Do you really not recognize who I am?"


    "A person from Xue Yilou?"


    "The blood-colored chariot... This, this is Xue Mantian, the Ninth Master of Xue Yilou!"


    "The Ninth Master? As far as I know, Xue Yilou has a total of eighteen Masters, and the weakest are at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm. And this Ninth Master Xue Mantian, who was at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm more than a hundred years ago, could very well be a Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouse..." Gu Junhe''s expression in the crowd turned extremely grave.


    With his current strength, if he exerted his full power, he could indeed contend with an ordinary Tao Tribtion Realmbatant.


    But facing the Dharma Manifestation Realm...


    Let alone being an adversary, he wouldn''t even have the courage to engage in battle!


    In the Dharma Manifestation Realm, one''s lifespan exceeded a thousand years.


    Unlike the Cmity Realm where one could borrow some of the world''s power, the Dharma Manifestation Realm had already mastered most of that power.


    A breath could call forth gales and storms.


    A stomp was like a dragon turning over beneath the earth!


    Unimaginably terrifying!


    "This is troublesome..." Gu Junhe''s face showed a look of anxiety.


    Zhou Yuan''s face, however, revealed hysterical madness as heughed proudly, "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, the heavens want to destroy you! With Xue Mantian himself descending, no matter how a hundredfold or a thousandfold stronger your talent is, you''re no match for him. You''re doomed, hahaha, thestugh will still be mine..."


    "Shut up!"


    Xiao Yi swung his sword backhand and sliced off Zhou Yuan''s jaw clean.


    Blood spurted uncontrobly from his mouth.


    Zhou Yuan howled miserably.


    But Xiao Yi no longer paid any attention to Zhou Yuan, his furious gaze fixed on Xue Mantian, "Xue Mantian, it was I who destroyed your Xue Yilou branch and killed your branch master. It has nothing to do with Qingzhu. Let Qingzhu go, and direct your issues at me!"


    "Irrelevant to her?"


    Xue Mantianughed mockingly, speaking slowly and deliberately, "You dared to provoke my Xue Yilou, so your rtives, friends... anyone rted to you, must all die. Do you think she can escape?"


    His pale, slender finger reached toward Fang Qingzhu''s face.


    Fang Qingzhu turned her head defiantly to avoid Xue Mantian''s finger, looking toward Xiao Yi with tears in her eyes, "Brother Xiao Yi, don''t worry about me... Leave, get away..."


    "Qingzhu... I won''t let anyone hurt you..." Xiao Yi clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding with a grating sound, he roared.


    Tears fell unstoppably from Fang Qingzhu''s face as she staunchly shook her head, "No... Brother Xiao Yi, you''ve already sacrificed too much for me. Ever since I''ve been with you, I have been your burden... I don''t want to burden you anymore, even if it means death, I won''t bear to see you sacrifice for me... Brother Xiao Yi, being with you these days, bing your wife... I have no regrets in dying!"


    "Qingzhu, Fang Qingzhu... what are you doing?" Xiao Yi suddenly felt an intense unease, his eyes turning fierce as he roared.


    Fang Qingzhu gave him a bright smile.


    Her white teeth contrasted sharply against her pale face.


    Her eyes, brimming with tears, carried a resolute hue.


    Fang Qingzhu suddenly turned her head back, opening her mouth to bite at the palm of Xue Mantian fiercely.


    "Seeking death!"


    A cold light shed through Xue Mantian''s eyes. He was of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, how could he possibly be bitten by Fang Qingzhu?


    With a slight tremor of his hand, a muffled ''thump'' echoed, and Fang Qingzhu trembled all over. Both of her shoulder bones were shattered by the impact. The chains binding her arms broke as well, one could only imagine how terrifying Xue Mantian''s palm strike was!


    St!


    Blood spurted wildly from Fang Qingzhu''s mouth, herplexion turning even paler, her breath as thin as a thread.


    "Lowly ants, dare to try and harm my body? Die!"


    Xue Mantian fiercely swung his hand.


    Whoosh!


    Fang Qingzhu was flung high into the air, tossed toward the four flying Heavenly Demons.


    Roar!


    The four flying Heavenly Demons'' eyes radiated a brutal light, showing their teeth and lunging for Fang Qingzhu to bite and tear.


    These were beastsparable to a warrior of the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Let alone Fang Qingzhu, who was only of Spiritual Realm Cultivation, even amon warrior of the Tao Tribtion Realm, once caught in their bite, would either be severely injured or be a feast in their mouths!


    "No..."


    In the nick of time,


    Xiao Yi erupted with unprecedented speed, rushing in front of Fang Qingzhu with a bang, grasping her and throwing her towards the crowd, "Dean..."


    Whoosh!


    Gu Junhe burst out from the crowd with a sh.


    Catching Fang Qingzhu in his arms.


    Simultaneously...


    The four flying Heavenly Demons, having lost their target, turned their razor-sharp fangs towards Xiao Yi.


    "Get lost!"


    Xiao Yi was surging with energy, but against the four Heavenly Demons as strong as the warriors of the Tao Tribtion Realm, these energy barriers were ineffective.


    Amidst a session of crackling sounds, the energy shields burst one after another, and sharp fangs pierced through his back.


    Blood sprayed wildly.


    Xiao Yi fell like a shooting star, crashing to the ground with a loud bang.


    The entire Royal Martial Arts Academy trembled violently.


    Within the enormous crater, dust roiled, and cracks spread across the ground like a spiderweb.


    "Xiao Yi brother..."


    Fang Qingzhu''s eyes were wide with rage, struggling wildly.


    Gu Junhe held on tight to her hands, "Don''t go over there... going now is suicide..."


    "No... Even if it''s death, I want to be with Xiao Yi brother..."


    Fang Qingzhu exhausted all her strength struggling, the chains on her shoulders nging noisily, her flesh torn and blurred, blood gushing like a fountain. Her pale face was filled with worry and despair; after all, those were four beasts as strong as warriors of the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Xiao Yi had resisted the attacks of the four mighty beasts; despite his incredibly strong body,


    he was now gravely injured and might even be in danger of losing his life.


    Her hands, under Gu Junhe''s restraint, were torn open, blood dripping down.


    At this moment, the only thought in Fang Qingzhu''s mind was to rush to Xiao Yi''s side, "Let go, let go..."


    Despair and hope intermingled, overflowing her mind.


    Despair over Xiao Yi''s injuries.


    Hope that Xiao Yi could stand back up.


    Rustle, rustle...


    The disordered sound of falling gravel was heard as Xiao Yi shakily climbed out of the pit, his body swaying as he knelt on the ground, bracing himself with his hands, spewing blood violently. After a moment, he slowly recovered, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, staggeringly stood up, and raised his head to look at Fang Qingzhu. His mouth full of white teeth stained with blood, he managed to squeeze out a bright smile, "Qingzhu... I''m alright..."


    Fang Qingzhu, eyes wide with anguish, watched the unsteady Xiao Yi and cried out in heart-wrenching pain, "Xiao Yi brother..."


    High above,


    Xue Mantian raised an eyebrow and sneered, shaking his head, "Lowly ants love to y out these melodramas of parting and death. Xiao Yi, if you kneel and be my blood ve, I can spare you and that girl from death!"


    "Ha... hahaha... hahahaha..."


    Xiao Yiughed uproariously, his blood boiling as a reddish fog surrounded him. Blood-red light pulsed from his eyes, "Kneel my ass!"

 Chapter 132 Tragic

    "A bunch of ants dares to defy the Azure Dragon?"


    Xue Mantian still loungedzily atop the carriage.


    With his strength, even if the Tianqing Kingdom mobilized their entire nation, he would not take them seriously.


    Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Commanding thews of heaven and earth, possessing the power to reach the heavens!


    A casual wave could summon fierce winds, a shoutedmand could call down thunder.


    Such a being would not fear thousands of troops and horses even in the face of an army; moreover, his back was supported by the mighty Xue Yilou, and behind Xue Yilou stood a great figure from the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Even annihting the Tianqing Kingdom would at most earn Xue Mantian a scolding.


    "Ada, whoever dares to hinder your killing of Xiao Yi, kill them all!" Xue Mantian said indifferently.


    "Yes, master!"


    Three flying Heavenly Demon Tigers were surrounded by a floating ck aura, a ck halo enveloped their forms, and their two pitch-ck wings pped vigorously, as if surrounded by divine light. Their massive bodies soared with a leap and crashed down with force.


    Like three giant ck beasts, they charged toward Xiao Yi and the others.


    Jiang Tianchen, dressed in royal robes and wearing a purple jade crown, drew the gold-iid longsword from his waist. "Subjects of the Tianqing Kingdom, follow your king into battle!"


    "ck Dragon Cavalry, kill!"


    "Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, kill!"


    "King Tieshan''s forces, kill!"


    "Kill..."


    More and more powerhouses from the crowd surged toward the three great flying Heavenly Demon Tigers.


    Although Jiang Tianchen was only at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, the sword in his hand was a high-grade, fifth-level famous sword, which legend imed was forged from the spine of a peak Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse, a sword of an emperor.


    The sword''s edge broke through the air, the sky dyed a uniform color.


    This enabled Jiang Tianchen to wieldbat powerparable to the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    With the help of the ck Dragon Cavalry and others, they managed to barely entangle the youngest of the flying Heavenly Demon Tigers.


    Discover exclusive content at empire


    A key pir of the royal house, d in ck robes.


    Always hidden in the shadows, the royal ancestor Jiang Wei, with his invincible power at the Fourth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, blocked the leader of the tigers, whose strength wasparable to the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, alone.


    The second of the flying Heavenly Demon Tigers charged toward Xiao Yi.


    Gu Junhe, Jiang Tai, Yue Cang, and others assisted Xiao Yi, facing the formidable flying Heavenly Demon Tiger without the slightest negligence. Xiao Yi, with a bloody light flowing around him, took the lead in the offense.


    Gu Junhe and Jiang Tai, among others, provided support.


    Facing the siege of the crowd.


    The second tiger''s face was full of ferocity and rage, amidst thunderous roars, its ws, sharp as scythes, swatted away Jiang Tai, tearing open his chest.


    Blood gushed like a fountain.


    "Monster, you''re courting death!"


    Gu Junhe, enraged, swung a three-meter-long sledgehammer down fiercely.


    The third tiger snorted coldly and swung its tail fiercely!


    Crack!


    Tremendous force sent Gu Junhe flying into the air, and at the same time, with a thrust of its head, it roared like thunder. Terrifying sound waves rolled forth, aimed directly at Gu Junhe in midair. Xiao Yi switched his hand seals, and pure Yuan Qi converged into a circr shield.


    The circr Yuan Qi shield spread across the sky, blocking the rolling sound waves.


    Boom!


    In a thunderous explosion.


    The Yuan Qi shield shattered.


    Gu Junhe fell from the sky, his body like a sword, piercing the heavens, and a sharp sword light shed down with a swish.


    "Roar!"


    The third tiger''s wings curled around its body in a swift roll.


    The fierce sword strikended heavily on the wings.


    Rumble!


    The highly concentrated Yuan Qi sword light exploded, triggering a terrifying energy storm that mmed the third tiger violently into the ground. Blood and tattered wings flew in all directions; nearby, Jiang Tai, who had just stopped his bleeding, showed a trace of ecstatic joy on his face: "Did we seed?"


    Gu Junhe also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, Xiao Yi''s face suddenly changed, and he pushed Gu Junhe beside him away with a palm.


    Whoosh!


    Caught off guard, Gu Junhe was pushed away dozens of meters by Xiao Yi.


    "Xiao Yi, what are you..."


    Just as Gu Junhe opened his mouth, he saw a tiger tail that was tens of meters long fiercelysh down on the spot where he had just been standing. The tiger tail swept up the building Gu Junhe had been standing in front of, wrapping around it and flinging it away with a violent twist.


    Boom!


    The building, over ten meters high, was crushed into smithereens.


    Whoosh!


    Amidst the rising dust, Lao San''s massive figure shot out like an arrow released from a bow, appearing instantly in front of Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi had just pushed Gu Junhe away and was toote to dodge.


    In a moment of life and death,


    Xiao Yi swiftly turned around, presenting his back to Lao San.


    Roar!


    Lao San''s sharp ws struck Xiao Yi''s back fiercely, blood spraying wildly, leaving three vicious w marks on Xiao Yi''s back, deep enough to see the bone. His body was sent flying with the impact.


    With a thunderous noise, Xiao Yi crashed into a cluster of buildings below.


    Rumble!


    Plowing through, one building after another copsed.


    After smashing through six buildings, Xiao Yi finally came to a stop, the blood light surging around his body gradually dimming.


    Roar!


    Lao San pped its wings and dived, disappearing into the rubble, then shot up into the sky once more, lifting a pile of debris.


    It had Xiao Yi in its mouth.


    The sharp fangs pierced through half of Xiao Yi''s body.


    "Xiao Yi..."


    "Let him go..."


    Gu Junhe and the others tried to intervene but were entangled to death by the other two flying Heavenly Tigers.


    Roar!


    Lao San took to the air again, attempting to carry Xiao Yi up high and then drop him.


    But just at that moment,


    A purple whip shadow tore through the air, and with a smack, it coiled around its neck.


    The person who took action was Fang Qingzhu!


    Gu Junhe had unlocked her pipa lock, and now that she had regained some strength, her Purple Dragon Whip wound around Lao San''s neck. Clenching the Purple Cloud Whip tightly in both hands, she tried to stop it from rising, "Let go of my Xiao Yi brother..."


    "A mere ant dares to stop me?"


    Lao San flew into a rage, advancing instead of retreating, instantly closing the distance with Fang Qingzhu.


    Its sharp ws swept down towards Fang Qingzhu''s head.


    "Qingzhu... dodge..." Xiao Yi''s eyes were wide with desperation.


    Thump!


    Fang Qingzhu was sent flying, spewing fresh blood, her life force growing increasingly weak.@@novelbin@@


    "Wretched ant!"


    Lao San snorted disdainfully and took to the air once more.


    But just as it started to fly, the whip around its neck tightened fiercely, and with a bang, it was yanked forcefully back to the ground. Fang Qingzhu, trembling and unsteady on her feet, wrapped the Purple Dragon Whip around her waist.


    She held on firmly.


    "Qingzhu... let go... hurry and let go..." Xiao Yi felt Lao San''s intense murderous intent and struggled frantically with his exhausted body.


    "No... absolutely not..."


    Fang Qingzhu clenched her teeth, blood spilling from the corners of her mouth, appearing oblivious to the pain, as she stared down the flying Heavenly Tiger, "Xiao Yi brother, you''ve always been the one protecting me. Today, it''s my turn to protect you! Nobody is going to take you away from me, nobody..."


    "If you refuse to let go, then die!"


    Lao San held its head high, tossing Xiao Yi up into the air, and with a swift move, caught Xiao Yi in its w.


    At the same time, it opened its gaping maw, lunging to tear apart Fang Qingzhu.


    The breath of death instantly shrouded Fang Qingzhu...

 Chapter 133 Tragic

    Death seemed to transform into a massive hand that shrouded Fang Qingzhu beneath its palm.


    Darkness, despair, and coldness came from all directions, like walls of despairing boulders, pressing down on the hearts of Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu.


    Once bitten by the third beast,


    It would certainly mean certain death.


    "No¡­ no¡­"


    Xiao Yi suddenly erupted in a thunderous roar, and the blood light that enveloped him erupted like a volcano, surging tumultuously. Waves of terrifying blood-red energy swept across, fully activating the Blood Explosion Skill to its limit.


    All of his blood!


    Xiao Yi had actually burned all the blood in his body.


    This was a mad, suicidal move.


    But for Fang Qingzhu¡­


    Xiao Yi had no choice!


    With a tenfold increase in strength and speed, Xiao Yi managed to pull his hands free, violently grabbing the third beast''s two tiger ws.


    Then, he twisted them outwards.@@novelbin@@


    Pop, pop!


    Two streams of blood burst forth, and Xiao Yi forcefully snapped off the tiger ws, causing the third beast to howl in agony and its body to tremble violently. The saying ''every finger feeling the heart''s pain'' wasn''t just about humans; it applied to beasts just as well.


    At the moment the tiger ws were snapped off, the third beast''s body also came to a sudden halt.


    Xiao Yi grabbed the beast''s sharp ws with both hands and, with a crack, brutally broke them, blood dripping over the jagged white bones.


    The intense pain made the third beast''s expression savage as it howled: "Human, go to hell!"


    Its sharp fangs turned viciously towards Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi''s body flickered as he flipped onto the third beast''s back, tightly grasping its ear with his left hand. Meanwhile, his right hand formed into a fist, and amidst swirling red energy, he pummeled the beast''s head with punch after punch.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    No matter how sturdy the third beast''s skull was, under Xiao Yi''s iron fists, blood surged.


    "Oww¡­"


    The third beast shrieked repeatedly.


    Trying to use its tail, ws, and even wild thrashing to throw Xiao Yi off its back.


    But Xiao Yi just kept ripping out its fur by the handful, bloody skin, flesh, and hair tearing away inch by inch. He had burned too much blood, and his consciousness grew increasingly blurry.


    He suddenly opened his mouth wide and bit down hard on the beast''s neck.


    Ow¡­


    The third beast''s body shuddered, trembling and struggling even more frantically.


    Xiao Yi instinctively kept devouring the blood in the beast''s body, the gulping noises making the third beast feel like the grim reaper was beckoning: "Save me¡­ Big brother, second brother¡­ my master¡­"


    "Third brother¡­"


    "Damn you, let go of the third¡­"


    The eldest and the second Flying Heavenly Demon Tigers changed color in shock, never expecting the seemingly victorious third beast to fall into such wretchedness.


    But as they wanted to intervene to help the third beast, Jiang Tianchen and the others held them tightly in ce.


    Preventing them from freeing themselves to help.


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    In the moment of life and death.


    Xue Mantian suddenly snorted coldly, his face turning iron blue: "Useless wastes, struggling against such trash, yet they still require my personal intervention?"


    Whoosh!


    Xue Mantian pointed a finger.


    Hum!


    That finger,pressed with pure energy, instantly turned into a streak of light, shooting straight towards Xiao Yi.


    "Xiao Yi, be careful¡­"


    Seeing this, Fang Qingzhu''s face changed dramatically as she stretched out her arms and threw herself in front of Xiao Yi.


    Boom!


    The blood-colored pir instantly engulfed Fang Qingzhu. Amidst a loud noise, her body trembled, and blood sprayed from her mouth, sttering all over Xiao Yi''s face.


    The nearly unconscious Xiao Yi jolted as his eyes regained some lucidity.


    In that instant of rity.


    Xiao Yi saw Fang Qingzhu spewing blood, struck by the pir and flung away, her familiar figure flying horizontally before him, with her scalding bloodnding on his face.


    "No, no¡­"


    Xiao Yi''s hoarse voice let out a desperate roar.


    He unleashed his final power.


    With a sudden reach of his right hand, his vital energy surged like a spring, turning into a ribbon that coiled around Fang Qingzhu''s waist, pulling her into his embrace. At the same time, his left hand reached out, and the Fire Qilin Sword, belching red mes, flew back from afar.


    Man and sword as one!


    "Die!"


    Hum!


    A sword shed down, heavilynding atop the head of the third brother.


    St...


    Blood sprayed in the air.


    The massive head of the third brother of the Flying Heavenly Demon Tigers was directly cleaved off by Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi, holding Fang Qingzhu, tumbled to the ground, rolling over several tens of meters, desperately protecting her. Struggling to maintain his will, he looked at Fang Qingzhu in his arms,"Qing, Qingzhu... are, are you okay?"


    "Xiao, Xiao Yi..." Fang Qingzhu, with trembling hands, tried to wipe the blood from the corner of Xiao Yi''s mouth.


    But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn''t reach Xiao Yi.


    Her injuries were simply too severe!


    Xiao Yi felt the life force within him continuously slipping away, and memories of his life filled his mind.


    Before he was eight, although not valued by his family, at least he had his mother.


    Then he was imprisoned for ten years.


    During those ten years, he saw neither sun nor moon.


    Even his mother left him.


    It wasn''t until he was sent to the Fang Family by his father and elder brother, reduced to a lowly son-inw, that he met Fang Qingzhu.


    Aside from his mother, she was the first person who truly cared for him, who entered his heart.


    But now...


    "I''m sorry... I, I couldn''t fulfill my promise, couldn''t protect you..." As Xiao Yi spoke, fresh blood uncontrobly flowed out.


    "Xiao Yi, meeting you has been the most fortunate thing in my life!" Fang Qingzhu said with a smile, shaking her head, but the bloodied pale face made one feel even more heartbroken.


    "What a pathetic couple, full of love, but s, you have actually caused the death of my war beast, you all must die!"


    Xue Mantian''s voice suddenly resonated in their ears.


    Xue Mantian was seen striding through the sky, with a cold and gloomy face, reaching out with both hands.


    "Don''t even think about harming my students from Tianqi Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Are my people of Tianqing Kingdom something you can kill at will?"


    Gu Junhe, Jiang Tianchen, and an elder from the Jiang Family all made their moves.


    Two figures,parable to the Tao Tribtion Realm, along with the elder from the Jiang Family, withstood Xue Mantian''s earth-shattering blow.


    But the expressions of the three were extremely ugly.


    Xue Mantian squinted, "A bunch of ants dare to block my path? Die!"


    Hum!


    Xue Mantian pointed his finger to the sky.


    Countless vital energy surged like an ocean, gathered into a huge, cold finger, and with a loud boom, shot towards the group.


    The elder from the Jiang Family, surrounded by dragon shadows, cried out, "Tianqing''s protection!"


    Roar!


    Numerous vital energy formed into a dragon shadow, spanning in front of everyone, but against Xue Mantian''s attack, the Azure Dragon illusion only paused for a moment before shattering into pieces. With a loud bang, the elder from the Jiang Family was sent flying.


    Blood spurted from his mouth, his breath weak as a thread.


    Xue Mantian, surrounded by a flow of blood energy,manded, "Kill!"


    The leader and second brother of the Flying Heavenly Demon Tigers transformed into demon gods, leaving behind a trail of decapitated heads and rivers of blood wherever they went.


    Jiang Tai was bitten on the arm by a Flying Heavenly Demon Tiger, ripping the limb clean off.


    Niu Dali''s abdomen was pierced by the sharp ws of the tiger.


    Even the four brothers from the Shi Family, uniting their strength, were still blown away with a palm strike, their bonespletely shattered.


    The ck Dragon Cavalry under Li Qing''smand, despite their formidable power against the Tao Tribtion Realm''s monstrous beasts, were smashed to pieces. Li Qing himself was impaled atop his steed.


    Tragic!


    Bloody!


    Watching helplessly as one powerful being after another died in front of him to protect him, Xiao Yi''s eyes werepletely stained red with blood.


    "Feels quite desperate and helpless, doesn''t it?"


    Xue Mantian''s voice echoed in his ears as he walked on air, easily knocking away any strong being who dared to block him. With a ferociousugh, he reached out towards Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu, "This is the fate of those who provoke Xue Yilou!"

 Chapter 135 The Curtain Falls

    This day was a catastrophic disaster for the capital of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    The pce alone, symbolizing royal dignity and supreme power, was destroyed in an instant, delivering a massive blow to the royal family of Tianqing Kingdom.


    Besides that...


    In her final outburst, Fang Qingzhu froze the entire pce into ice.


    It came crashing down.


    The razed buildings nearly covered half of the capital.


    At the very center of the capital, where the pce once stood, there was now an immense crater. It was the result of the pce being uprooted by Xue Mantian, looking from afar like a vast gaping hole.


    Inside the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    The scene was chaotic,nd everywhere scorched by war, mountains of bodies and rivers of blood.


    Amidst the ruins.


    Zhou Yuan was tightly bound and kneeling before Jiang Tianchen and others, his face twisted with ferocity and madness, "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, Jiang Tianchen... what does it matter that I have fallen into your hands? You''ve offended Xue Yilou, and you, together with the entire Tianqing Kingdom, have but one path left¡ªdeath..."


    Jiang Tianchen''s face was extremely somber.


    Xiao Yi, who stood by his side, had managed to recuperate some Qi-Blood, thanks to Fang Qingzhu''s sudden burst, which prevented his Blood Explosion Skill frompletely burning away his blood.


    Even so...


    Xiao Yi was still exceedingly weak at this moment, holding Fang Qingzhu in his arms, his icy gaze fixed on Zhou Yuan, "Even if Xue Yilou doesn''te for me, I will go after them!"


    The appearance of Xue Mantian had not only nearly brought him and Fang Qingzhu to their deaths.


    But it also resulted in the demise of Li Qing and many other powerful warriors.


    All of whom had lent a hand in the moment of crisis, aiding him.


    Xiao Yi was filled with self-reproach over their sacrifices.


    And his hatred towards Xue Yilou was equally intense.


    "Seek revenge on Xue Yilou? That''s just about the most ridiculous joke I''ve ever heard."


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    Zhou Yuan was startled, his face covered in viciousness, and sneered, "Xiao Yi, I admit your talent is strong, but Xue Yilou bing the strongest assassin organization among the more than a hundred subordinate nations under the Great Qian Dynasty...their strength far exceeds your imagination. Someone as powerful as Xue Mantian is only one of the Nine Masters. Do you really think you can take your revenge on Xue Yilou? You''re delusional!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "That''s not for you to worry about anymore!"


    "Xiao Yi, what do you think should be done with him?" Jiang Tianchen looked towards Xiao Yi and asked.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "Kill!"


    "Alright!"


    Jiang Tianchen nodded, his cold gaze falling upon Zhou Yuan, he waved his hand, "Execute him!"


    Jiang Weisheng made his move without dy.


    He brought down a palm.


    Boom!


    Zhou Yuan, the mighty head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, was turned into a pile of flesh.


    Amongst the flesh.


    Jiang Weisheng retrieved a blood-stained Martial Dao Divine Fruit and passed it to Jiang Tianchen, "Your Majesty, this is Zhou Yuan''s Martial Dao Divine Fruit!"


    Jiang Tianchen nodded and took it.


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, nodded to Jiang Tianchen, and said, "Your Majesty, the Tianqing Kingdom has offered support in good faith, and I, Xiao Yi, am no ingrate. As long as I draw breath, I''ll stand with the Tianqing Kingdom through thick and thin!"


    "Good, very good!"


    Jiang Tianchen let out a long sigh of relief andughed heartily with contentment.


    For him...


    The destruction of the pce, the devastating losses to the capital, the near annihtion of the ck Dragon Cavalry, none of thatpared to Xiao Yi.@@novelbin@@


    An Xiao Yi, at present, seemed immeasurably more valuable than today''s losses.


    But in Jiang Tianchen''s heart, what he valued even more was Xiao Yi''s future!


    One year''s time.


    From the Physical Body Realm, he had grown into someone who could match a fighter from the Tao Tribtion Realm, and for this very reason, Jiang Tianchen decided to intervene at thest moment. If Xiao Yi hadn''t demonstrated such formidable strength during his confrontation with Zhou Yuan,


    Jiang Tianchen certainly wouldn''t have known about Xue Mantian''s intervention and still chosen to firmly support Xiao Yi.


    It turned out he had made the right bet!


    "Xiao Yi, I have noticed that Miss Fang..." Jiang Tianchen''s worried gaze fell upon Fang Qingzhu.


    Xiao Yi shook his head; with the inheritance of the Underworld Doctor, he had already examined Fang Qingzhu''s condition and found that she had merely fainted from exhaustion without life-threatening injuries. He then said, "Qingzhu is not in any serious danger, she just needs a good rest!"


    Jiang Tianchen breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the frail Fang Qingzhu, as an image of a figure with an ice-blue phoenix behind her, spreading its wings and taking flight,


    frost sealing thousands of miles, and forcing Xue Mantian back.


    He felt that Fang Qingzhu was also hiding a great secret.


    However...


    He did not inquire further.


    Jiang Tianchen said solemnly, "Xiao Yi, once I have properly settled the Royal Capital, I will issue a royal decree to all, proiming you as the Martial King of Tianqing Kingdom. This time, you won''t refuse me again, right?"


    Xiao Yi replied, "I am grateful for His Majesty''s reward!"


    Jiang Tianchen smiled in satisfaction, then turned to look at Gu Junhe, whose face was pale, "Headmaster Gu, the Royal Martial Arts Academy has been destroyed, but there are still many disciples who are innocent. My Tianqing Kingdom cannot do without a Martial Arts Institute. Would your Tianqi Martial Arts Academy be willing to ept them?"


    The Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, ever since Wang Tianqi disappeared five hundred years ago, had been brutally suppressed by the Royal Martial Arts Academy.


    Now reduced to its current state, with only a few people left including Xiao Yi.


    After this battle.


    The Royal Martial Arts Academy hadpletely disappeared, and it was only logical for the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy to take its ce.


    Although he had spected as much, Gu Junhe still couldn''t help but feel excited, his eyes red with emotion as he nodded vigorously, "Your Majesty need not worry, I will lead the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy to cultivate even more powerful fighters!"


    "The future of our Tianqing Kingdom is in your hands!"


    Jiang Tianchen patted Gu Junhe''s shoulder, his gaze sweeping across the crowd anding to rest on Jiang Tai.


    He had lost an arm.


    His face looked somewhat saddened at the moment.


    A ruler of a nation should be a man of perfection.


    Being physically iplete, even with his greatestpetitor, the Crown Prince, dead, he could never be the chosen heir to the throne. Yet, Jiang Tianchen merely smiled faintly, "Tai, from this day forward, you shall be the Crown Prince of Tianqing Kingdom. I hope you will not disappoint me, your father!"


    "Crown Prince? Me?"


    Jiang Tai''s face was a mix of confusion and disbelief as he looked at Jiang Tianchen.


    Jiang Tianchen nodded solemnly.


    Thud!


    Jiang Tai fell to his knees, his face filled with excitement, "I thank Your Majesty for your trust; I will do everything within my power to not let down your high esteem!"


    Xiao Yi watched the people before him, as well as the ruins of the Royal Capital.


    Yet in his eyes, he seemed to envision the great revival of the Tianqing Kingdom on the rise, clenching his fists tightly as he looked into the distance, "Xiao Tianjiao, within one year, I have already be a match for the Tao Tribtion Realm. I must be getting closer and closer to you, right?"


    However...


    Xiao Yi did not realize,


    that for him...


    for the Tianqing Kingdom...


    it was only just the beginning!


    A great storm, aimed at him and the Tianqing Kingdom, was quietly brewing...

 Chapter 137 Turn Against Each Other

    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    In the skies above the capital of Tianqing Kingdom, fireworks exploded one after another, the sound of salute cannons thundering.


    The entire capital was bedecked with lights and decorations, brimming with a festive atmosphere from top to bottom.


    "Martial King of the Nation''s grand wedding, everything in our store is half off!"


    "Come take a look! Our store has the very room the Martial King and his wife once stayed in, just a hundred taels of Silver for a visit..."


    "Martial King''s hearty hairstyle, only ten taels..."


    On the newly refurbished Vermilion Bird Avenue, hundreds ofvish carriages swept grandly by, bearing precious gifts. Leading the procession were the royally dressed Imperial Guards, with Xiao Yi riding on a tall steed followed by a gold, festively decorated carriage.


    The carriage was pulled by eight beastsparable to the Golden Core Realm, an impressive and majestic sight.


    Inside the carriage.


    Fang Qingzhu, dressed in a red wedding gown and wearing a red veil, nervously clutched Lin Bingxin''s hand and said in a low voice, "Bingxin, I... I''m a bit nervous..."


    Lin Bingxin was startled for a moment, then gently patted the back of her hand and smiled, "You and Xiao Yi have been husband and wife for a while now, what''s there to be nervous about?"


    "It''s not the same..."


    Fang Qingzhu shook her head, "During our previous wedding ceremony, Xiao Yi was unconscious throughout, and I was like a walking corpse. Moreover, the Fang Family looked down on Xiao Yi, so everything was kept simple, but now..."


    The wedding held previously at the Fang Family was one in which Xiao Yi was continuously unconscious.


    And Fang Qingzhu...


    Her most vivid memory was being on the wedding ceremony where someone from the Xiao Family descended to strip her of her cultivation.


    How could she remember any details of the wedding?


    Fang Qingzhu said, "Bingxin, do you know? When I married Xiao Yi, I was truly in despair, to the extent that I wanted to kill him. Because of him, my cultivation was destroyed, because of him, I received cold looks from my family... I never thought that I would fall in love with him so hopelessly..."


    Lin Bingxin asked curiously, "When did you start falling in love with him?" Discover hidden stories at empire


    "It was probably when he rushed into the Zhang Family''s dungeon and rescued me! In my most desperate moment, Xiao Yi appeared before me like a god descending from the heavens..." Fang Qingzhu murmured softly.


    As she recounted the past, she also gradually rxed.


    Listening to their story piece by piece, Lin Bingxin felt a bittersweet pain in her heart: "It''s because you''ve experienced so much together that you could truly fall in love with each other! Just like me..."@@novelbin@@


    The image of being locked up in a dungeon, with Xiao Yiing to her rescue, surfaced in her mind.


    That moment with Xiao Yi...


    Wasn''t he also like a god descending in her eyes?


    "Huh? Like who?" Fang Qingzhu was startled and asked.


    Lin Bingxin quickly said, "No, I was just saying I''m really envious of you!"


    "Heehee, Bingxin, you will meet that person too!" Fang Qingzhu said sweetly.


    Lin Bingxin managed a forced smile.


    Before long...


    The procession had entered the royal pce and arrived at the grand hall.


    This wedding was held inside the royal pce, an unprecedented honor, yet everyone present understood that Xiao Yi deserved this honor. Just by being the Martial King of the Nation, it was clear how important he was to Tianqing Kingdom.


    Inside the grand hall,nterns and streamers adorned the space, with guests filling the seats.


    Gu Junhe and Jiang Weisheng, representing the families of the bride and groom, sat in high seats at the front.


    Jiang Tai was in charge of all arrangements.


    Jiang Tianchen personally presided over the wedding, loudly announcing, "Let us wee the bride and groom!"


    Xiao Yi, holding Fang Qingzhu''s hand, walked into the grand hall.


    "Truly a match of talents and grace!"


    "Worthy of the Martial King, such bearing... only Miss Qingzhu is fitting for him!"


    The crowd murmured one after another.


    Jiang Tianchen dered loudly, "Bride and groom... kneel to heaven and earth..."


    "Second bow to the high hall¡­"


    "Husband and wife bow to each other¡­"


    Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu faced each other, ready to perform the ceremony.


    But just at that moment¡­


    With a loud ng.


    Ten cold iron chestsnded at the entrance of the hall, and blood-cloaked figures burst through the air, led by none other than Xue Mantian. His hands had been frozen by Fang Qingzhu; after returning, they could not be treated and had to be amputated.


    Now, the handless Xue Mantian seemed even more sinister and venomous.


    "Xue Mantian?"


    "He, how did he get here?"


    "It''s over, it''s over, this must be Xue Yilou seeking revenge¡­ I knew it, how could offending Xue Yilou end so easily¡­"


    Inside the entire hall, everyone wore a cautious expression.


    Xiao Yi held Fang Qingzhu''s hand tightly, his eyes squinting at Xue Mantian, "Xue Mantian, what are you here for?"


    "Hehe, your grand wedding, Xiao Yi, how could I be absent?"


    Xue Mantian smiled sinisterly, nced at a Xue Yilou assassin beside him, and several went to the front of the ten iron chests, Xue Mantian''s face filled with malice as he said, "Inside these, are the congrattory gifts I prepared for you two, congrattions on your joyous wedding!"


    ng! ng! ng!


    One by one, the chests were opened, and the pungent smell of blood instantly enveloped the entire hall.


    Hisss!


    Everyone inhaled sharply.


    "This, these are human heads?"


    "Wow¡­ how many people did this take to kill? My heavens¡­"


    Each iron chest was filled with bloody human heads, each more horrific than thest, with gouged eyes, cut ears, and pulled out tongues; their deaths were incredibly gruesome.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly constricted: "Is it them?"


    Lin Bingxin and others turned deathly pale.


    The chests contained heads from Nanhuang City, those who had past interactions with Xiao Yi.


    Lord Sikong, the entire Zhao Family¡­


    The heads of all the people in Nanhuang City who had been friendly with Xiao Yi were all present.


    Xue Mantian smirked, "How about that? Do you like my gifts? To prepare this congrattory gift for you, I dispatched five hundred elite assassins to Nanhuang City, hastening over day and night. Each head, freshly warm¡­"


    Giggle!


    Xiao Yi''s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned pale, his eyes instantly filled with bloodshot fury.


    Rage!


    His anger surged to the heavens!


    Grinding his teeth, Xiao Yi said word by word, "They never provoked you¡­"


    "But you provoked me! I said those who offend me don''t end well, you must die, your family must die, your friends must die, everyone rted to you must die!"


    Xue Mantian''s ferocious yell interrupted Xiao Yi,ughing cruelly, "These are just the beginning. Next, I will cleanse the capital city with blood, even the entire Tianqing Kingdom. I will make the billions of souls in the Tianqing Kingdom my war pets, as a burial for my arms¡­"


    "Madmen, everyone in Xue Yilou is a madman!"


    "Xue, we have nothing to do with Xiao Yi, you can''t involve us¡­"


    "Xiao Yi, you reek of evil, bringing cmity upon the people of Tianqing Kingdom. We''ve long found you displeasing. Today, as Xue seeks to rid you like a tumor, we shall fully support Xue in this endeavor¡­"


    "Xiao Yi must be executed, to return Tianqing Kingdom to its clear skies¡­"


    For a moment,


    there were nearly half of the guests who stood on Xue Mantian''s side, turned against Xiao Yi, and pointed fingers¡­

 Chapter 140 Kill Them All!

    Inside the great hall, there was silence.


    The atmosphere was particrly oppressive.


    The festive lights and decorations, meant to convey joy, instead made the oppression feel even heavier, leaving people afraid to even breathe too loudly.


    Everyone''s gaze swept over Xiao Yi, wishing to offerfort but not knowing what to say.


    It was supposed to be a day of great joy.


    Yet, the bride had been forcibly taken away during the wedding ceremony, a blow that would be difficult for any man to bear.


    Among the crowd,


    Lin Bingxin wanted to step forward but was stopped by Elder Yan, who shook his head gently at her.


    Lin Bingxin could only look at him with worried eyes.


    After a moment of silence,


    Xiao Yi came back to his senses, saw the concerned faces around him, and managed a slight smile, saying, "Why do you all look at me like this? Don''t worry, I''m okay!"


    "Xiao Yi¡­"


    "Your Highness the Martial King¡­"


    People were still full of concern.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, having already collected his thoughts.


    If Fang Qingzhu had left on her own volition, he might still feel lost and heartbroken.


    But this was a situation forced upon her.


    And it was because he was too weak!


    If only his strength were enough, if he was in the Dharma Manifestation Realm, or even better, the Longevity Secret Realm, how could Ye Qingyu and the so-called Baiyu possibly have taken Fang Qingzhu away by force? In the end, it was all because he wasn''t strong enough!


    Just like back then with the Xiao Family¡­


    It was also because he wasn''t strong enough that he ended up as a live-in son-inw sent to the distant Fang Family.


    "Xiao junior brother, are you really okay?" Jiang Tai asked solemnly.


    "Rest assured!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, looking at Jiang Tai''s severed arm, and said in a deep voice, "Elder brother Jiang, I saw earlier that Ye Qingyu gave a Heaven''s Remnant Elixir to Xue Mantian, which could regenerate his severed limb. If there''s a chance in the future, I will certainly find one for you!"


    "This..."


    Jiang Tai was stunned.


    Your wife has just been snatched away, and you''re still thinking about my severed arm?


    The looks of concern on everyone''s faces grew more pronounced.


    They feared that Xiao Yi was merely pretending to be at ease.


    Xiao Yi said in a grave voice, "Please rest assured, my friends. I, Xiao Yi, am not so easily defeated. Today, due to myck of strength, I could only watch helplessly as my wife was taken away. But one day, I will go to Baiyu myself and bring Qingzhu back!"


    Only then did everyone feel somewhat reassured.


    Xiao Yi then turned to Jiang Tianchen, "Your Majesty, although Qingzhu has constrained Xue Mantian, preventing Xue Yilou from setting foot in the Tianqing Kingdom for three years, given Xue Yilou''s power, they might incite other kingdoms to act against us. Therefore, it''s crucial that our Tianqing Kingdom recruits several more Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses!"


    "Recruit several more Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses? That''s easier said than done," Jiang Tianchen said with a wry smile.


    Xiao Yi took out three Martial Dao Divine Fruits from his storage ring and handed them over to Jiang Tianchen, "These three Martial Dao Divine Fruits can help our Tianqing Kingdom rapidly gain three Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses. As for whom to give them to, Your Majesty will decide."


    The power held in the hands of the royal family is definitely not as simple as it seems on the surface.


    Perhaps there is indeed only one person, Jiang Wei, who is a Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse.


    But there are definitely more than just Jiang Tianchen at the Golden Elixir Peak.


    Jiang Tianchen, holding the three Martial Dao Divine Fruits in his hands, showed an ted expression and said repeatedly, "With these three Martial Dao Divine Fruits, Tianqing Kingdom can quickly create three Tao Tribtion Realm pirs of the state. Xiao Yi, your actions are a monumental feat for our Tianqing Kingdom. If there''s anything you need, just let me know!"


    "This incident started because of me; this is what I should do!" Xiao Yi said dismissively.


    After discussing the Tianqing Kingdom''s countermeasures for some time, everyone dispersed.


    This was the day Xiao Yi was to be crowned the Martial King of the Nation, as well as his wedding day, but the bride was taken away, and the couple was separated. It really left no mood to continue the banquet.


    In the days that followed...


    The Tianqing Kingdom did go through some peaceful times.


    All industries flourished.


    The strength of the experts from the Tianqi Martial Arts Institute was rapidly enhancing, and their numbers were also increasing.


    Xiao Yi, however, stationed himself at the old site of the Tianqi Martial Arts Institute outside the city. Ever since that day, his cultivation became even more desperate. His cultivation level was advancing in an orderly manner, but stepping into the Tao Tribtion Realm still required a certain amount of time to umte, as well as the right opportunity.


    However...


    This peaceful lifested only for ten days.


    ......


    Inside the pce.


    Jiang Tianchen gathered Xiao Yi and the others, his expression extremely serious as he pointed to the sand table in front of him and said, "Gentlemen, ording to the scouts'' reports... The Tian Kingdom, Sihai Kingdom, Baijing Kingdom, and Qingyun Kingdom have formed an alliance of four nations, advancing with two million troops southward!"


    Hiss!


    A group of court officials gasped, "Our Tianqing Kingdom has always had a feud with the Tian Kingdom, but our rtions with the other three kingdoms have always been good. Why would they join forces?"


    "I have received information that all of this is manipted by Xue Yilou behind the scenes..."


    "Xue Yilou? Isn''t this because of the Martial King of the Nation..."


    "What''s the use of discussing this now? Your Majesty, do you know who is leading their army?"


    Jiang Tianchen narrowed his eyes and said, "The leader of the Tian Kingdom''s army is the Kuchan Elder, for the Sihai Kingdom it is the Co-King Nie Tong, Baijing Kingdom''s leader is the First Beastmaster Jing Yi, and for the Qingyun Kingdom, it is Zhang Ren, the Commander of the Three Armed Forces."


    "What? Are all the leaders of the four nations in the Cmity Realm?" Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    "How can this be good? Our Tianqing Kingdom can''t possibly withstand four great Cmity Realm..."


    "Let alone four great Cmity Realm masters, we can''t hold off the two million strong army alone..."


    The court officials were wailing.


    It''s true that the Tianqing Kingdom had an army that numbered two million, but aside from the garrison troops defending the major cities, and the three hundred thousand troops in the South Deste guarding against the sudden uprising of magical beasts in the Southern Deste Mountain Range that could not be deployed elsewhere.


    The actual number of troops that could bemitted to warfare was only around one million.


    How could they withstand the onught of two million lions from the four-nation alliance?


    Moreover...


    They also have four powerful Cmity Realm leadersmanding the army.


    Jiang Tianchen said in a deep voice, "This time, I wish to lead the campaign personally, with the Crown Prince overseeing the state affairs."


    "Your Majesty, you must not!"


    "You are only at the Peak of the Golden Elixir Realm; if the enemy Cmity Realm powerhouses attack, you..."


    Jiang Tianchen raised his hand to silence them and said sternly, "The Martial King gave me three Martial Dao Divine Fruits. This time, I will use these Divine Fruits to attempt to break through to the Cmity Realm. In addition, Great General Xia Yuan will also consume a Martial Dao Divine Fruit. By then, I will personally lead one army in the campaign, Great General Xia Yuan, the Martial King of the Nation, and our ancestor will eachmand one army, vowing to stop the four-nation alliance at our nation''s gates!"


    Given the ages of Jiang Tianchen and Xia Yuan, they still had plenty of opportunities to break through to the Cmity Realm on their own.


    If the situation were not absolutely critical, they would not easily consume the Martial Dao Divine Fruits.


    After all.


    Once they consumed the Martial Dao Divine Fruits, they would be severing their potential and limiting their future growth ceiling!@@novelbin@@


    But now, with the nation in crisis and troops at the city walls.


    They had no choice but to make a do-or-die effort.


    Seeing the court officials go silent.


    Jiang Tianchen''s gaze fell on Xiao Yi, and he said solemnly, "Martial King, do you have anything to say?"


    Xiao Yi slowly stood up, his eyes shing with coldness as he articted each word, "Meet force with force; where there are troops, there is resistance. Let theme, and we''ll ughter them all!"

 Chapter 143 Seizing Power?

    ```


    The hall was silent.


    Yan Ning knelt on the ground, clutching his knees tightly, his face ashen and full of deep self-reproach.


    Since childhood, he had demonstrated a powerful talent for medicine and had studied under the first physician of the Tianqing Kingdom, believing that no one among the younger generation could surpass him in medical skills.


    With his medical expertise, if he had examined carefully, he could have definitely detected the poison from the Moro Herb, but he was overconfident and hadn''t done any investigation at all. He merely nced at Zhang Baisheng''s wound and concluded there was no poisoning.


    If Xiao Yi hadn''t showed up in time to stop his foolish actions¡ª


    After tonight,


    Zhang Baisheng would have died in his sleep.


    Now, with the Tian Kingdom''s army on the verge ofying siege, it''s clear how huge an impact Zhang Baisheng''s demise, as themander, would have on the battle.


    By dawn tomorrow, Tian Kingdom may well have broken through to Heiya City.


    He would have be an eternal sinner!


    Zhang Baisheng and Hou Sailei, among others, also let out a long sigh of relief.


    Zhang Baisheng looked at Xiao Yi withplicated eyes. Before this, he had felt dissatisfied with Xiao Yi, a young man who, despite his tender age, held a higher title than him¡ªa seasoned general who fought many battles and won great honors for his kingdom.


    Now however, he was already very much persuaded by Xiao Yi.


    "There''s no need for Mr. Yan to be like this!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, seeing Yan Ning''s sincere admittance of guilt, and he didn''t continue to make things difficult, "No one is perfect, but doctors are unlike ordinary people. A doctor saves lives, and any negligence could potentially cost someone their life. There absolutely must not be any room for errors!"


    "Your Highness the Martial King has taught me well. I''ll engrave this lesson in my heart and never make the same mistake again!" Yan Ning said earnestly.


    Xiao Yi smiled and nodded, then turned to Zhang Baisheng, "Old General, I''ve removed the poison from your body, but you shouldn''t engage vigorously in battle for a short time."


    "Thank you, Your Highness the Martial King, for saving my life!"


    Zhang Baisheng sped his hands gratefully and chuckled bitterly, "Now that the Tian Kingdom''s army is at our doorstep, and having already shed with them before, the enemy troops are the elite Tian Army this time. In their army, there are two generals at the Golden Elixir Peak, and theirmander is none other than Ling Wufengyun, the National Advisor of the Tian Kingdom. An old man like me cannot afford to rest, s!"


    Ling Wufengyun, the National Advisor of the Tian Kingdom.


    She was also the only female among the ten nations of Nanhuang to reach the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Her cultivation had reached the Second Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, far surpassing Zhou Yuan, who had forcefully advanced to the Tao Tribtion Realm by using the Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    This was the reason why there were restrictions among the kingdoms that forbid those in the Tao Tribtion Realm from taking direct action in wars.


    Otherwise...


    With just Ling Wufengyun alone, she could forcibly breach Heiya City and lead the Tian Kingdom''s army to storm through.


    Xiao Yi said, "Old General, rest assured. Since I''m here, I won''t allow the Tian Kingdom''s army to advance any further!"


    "Hmm?"


    Zhang Baisheng was startled, catching on to Xiao Yi''s confidence and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness the Martial King, could it be that you already have a strategy to repel the enemy?"


    Hou Sailei and others all turned their attention to him.


    The defending army of Heiya City numbered only two hundred thousand, while the Tian Kingdom''s army had a full million soldiers!


    Even General Baisheng, a veteran of countless battles, had no strategy to repel the enemy.


    Could Xiao Yi have one?


    Hou Sailei said gravely, "Your Highness the Martial King, this concerns the life and death of the Tianqing Kingdom. This is no matter for jokes!"


    "Your Highness the Martial King, we respect your martial prowess and medical skills, but in terms of leading troops into battle, any one of us here has more experience than you..." Brigadier General Zheng Le frowned and spoke.


    He was a young prodigy too.


    He had joined the military at a young age.


    Therefore, he had not made it onto the Dragon Tiger List.


    But his talent was certainly not weak. At the age of thirty-three, he had already reached the Fifth Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, achieving great military aplishments and bing the youngest general in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    Zhang Baisheng, worried that Zheng Le''s words would irritate Xiao Yi, hurriedly said, "Your Highness the Martial King, this is Brigadier General Zheng Le from mymand. Don''t let his youth fool you, he has led ten thousand troops to annihte thirty thousand of the Tian Kingdom''s army."


    Zheng Le looked proud.


    Xiao Yiughed indifferently, "If it''s about going into battle and leading troops in warfare, I naturally cannotpare with all of you. But if everything could only be achieved through the umtion of experience, what''s the point of being a prodigy?"


    ```


    "Uh..."


    Everyone was dumbfounded.


    Zheng Le''s expression also darkened. As a leading figure in the military, and hailed as the sessor to Zhang Baisheng, the fact that Xiao Yi dared to mention the word "genius" in front of him was unthinkable. Zheng Le narrowed his eyes and taunted sarcastically, "So, His Highness the Martial King means to say that your talent in leading troops into battle is stronger than mine?"


    Xiao Yi responded indifferently, "I wouldn''t dare im my ability to lead troops into battle is stronger than yours, but at least I have a method to defeat the Tian Kingdom''s army, which you do not!"


    "You..."


    Zheng Le''splexion shifted slightly.


    Indeed, he had no way to stop the Tian Kingdom.


    Even before Xiao Yi arrived...


    He had been advocating for a retreat to the capital and to negotiate peace with the Tian Kingdom!


    Xiao Yi imed he could defeat the Tian Kingdom?


    Zheng Le sneered, "If you truly can defeat the Tian Kingdom''s army, I, Zheng Le, am willing to personally hold your horse!"


    "Really?"


    Your journey continues with empire@@novelbin@@


    "A gentleman''s word is as good as his bond!"


    "Good!"


    Xiao Yi smiled faintly and turned to Zhang Baisheng. He gave a respectful bow and said, "Old General, Xiao Yi has a strategy to defeat the Tian Kingdom''s army, but it will require some sacrifice on your part!"


    "What are you talking about, Your Highness the Martial King! If we really can defeat the Tian Kingdom, even if it means this old body has to die right now, I''m willing!" Zhang Baisheng hastened to his feet and spoke earnestly.


    Xiao Yi nodded and said solemnly, "Then please, Old General, hand over the Tiger Talisman to me first!"


    The Tiger Talisman!


    The symbol of militarymand.


    Possessing the Tiger Talisman means one can mobilize the entire army.


    "Absolutely not!" Zheng Le protested.


    Hou Sailei also looked worried.


    Although Xiao Yi was the Martial King of the Nation, he had just arrived and was already asking for the Commander''s Seal.


    If Xiao Yi''s strategy failed, it could very well doom all the soldiers and civilians of Heiya City!


    Xiao Yi''s demeanor remained calm, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, wearing a faint smile.


    He did not say much more, only quietly looking at Zhang Baisheng.


    Waiting for his decision.


    After a moment of silence.


    Zhang Baisheng took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then slowly exhaled. He took a ck Tiger Talisman out from his Storage Ring and handed it solemnly to Xiao Yi, "Your Highness the Martial King, the lives of the hundreds of thousands of Heiya City''s soldiers and civilians, and the fate of the Tianqing Kingdom, are now in your hands!"


    "Be at ease, General!"


    Xiao Yi solemnly epted the Tiger Talisman and said in a deep voice, "Old General, to carry out my n, we must kill you first!"


    "Hm?"


    Zhang Baisheng was stunned.


    At that moment, Xiao Yi pointed a finger, and a wave of energy rippled wildly from the center of Zhang Baisheng''s forehead. With a buzzing sound, Zhang Baisheng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body rigidly falling backward...


    "General!"


    "Xiao Yi, you''re seeking death!"


    Hou Sailei and Zheng Le were beside themselves with rage, wishing they could tear Xiao Yi to pieces.


    He actually made a move to kill the old General, Zhang Baisheng?


    Was this a grab for power?


    In an instant...


    The hall was plunged intoplete chaos...

 Chapter 145 Are you looking for him?

    ```


    The night was deep and the world was silent.


    However, atop the parapets of Heiya City, there were only a few sparse guards on patrol.


    But within the city, it was all hustle and bustle, with patrols of soldiers following one wave after another.


    Inside the city lord''s mansion.


    Xiao Yi once again convened Zheng Le, Hou Sailei, and the generals, his voice grave, "Gentlemen, the decisive moment is upon us!"


    "Hm?"


    "Martial King Your Highness, now that the Great General''s life or death is unknown, we..."


    The generals wore faces of concern.


    Even though they knew that all of this was part of Xiao Yi''s strategy, Zheng Le and Hou Sailei were also showing expressions of worry at this moment.


    Despite the fact that Xiao Yi''s fame as a warrior had spread far and wide over these past few months.


    But that was all about his martial arts talent!


    As for leading troops into battle, Xiao Yi waspletely a novice!


    Xiao Yi directly took out the Commander''s Seal.


    ng ng ng!


    The generals kneeled on the ground one after another.


    As soldiers, obeying orders was their sacred duty.


    Xiao Yi said in a cold voice, "Hou Sailei, immediately lead fifty thousand troops around ck Mountain. When the beacon smoke rises, charge the enemy''s main camp."


    "This subordinate obeys the order!"


    Hou Sailei responded respectfully.


    Xiao Yi continued, "Zheng Le, you lead fifty thousand troops along the concealed pathway of Heartbreak Cliff tounch a surprise attack, also waiting for the beacon smoke as the signal to strike the enemy''s main camp."


    "Yes!"


    Zheng Le respectfully epted the order.


    Xiao Yi turned to the remaining generals, his eyes narrowing with a hint of cold intent, "The rest of the generals will lead the remaining garrison to defend Heiya City with this prince." After a pause, Xiao Yi summoned Yan Ning, "Yan Ning, how is the preparation for the things I had you arrange going?"


    Yan Ning, with a face full of excitement and agitation, came forward, holding a storage ring in both hands, and said in a deep voice, "Reporting back to Your Highness, your subordinate has made all the necessary preparations!"


    "Good!"


    The gleam in Xiao Yi''s eyes was sharp as he said gravely, "Lead the Medical Department personnel immediately and distribute these items. Have our own men take precautions... The is spread, we just wait for the prey to leap into it!"


    ......


    The night was deep and the world was silent.


    Thick clouds obscured the stars and moon above.


    Rustle rustle!


    In the darkness, Tian Kingdom''s three hundred thousand-strong army quietly approached Heiya City under themand of Li Tenglong and Geng Jie.


    "General Geng, I''ve always had a bad feeling..." Li Tenglong looked at the vast city looming ahead, furrowing his brow and speaking in a hushed tone.


    Geng Jie spoke indifferently, "The National Advisor has personally investigated, there will not be any oversight. All you and I need to do is to act ording to the National Advisor''s n, besides..." He looked up at the looming city, "If Zhang Baisheng had not met with any mishap, with his cautiousness he would have deployed heavy troops to defend the parapets. The fact that it is loose on the outside but tight on the inside is proof that something has happened to Zhang Baisheng. This approach is just to make us believe that Heiya City is well defended and deter us from rash action!"@@novelbin@@


    "I hope that''s the case!"


    Li Tenglong hesitated for a moment, but felt that information personally investigated by Ling Wufengyun should not be wrong.


    "You wait here, I''ll personally ascend the city wall and dispose of these guards. Once I open the city gates, you all can drive straight in!" Geng Jie''s eyes glowed brightly in the darkness.


    "Be careful, General Geng!" Li Tenglong said solemnly.


    Geng Jieughed heartily, "Even if this is indeed one of Zhang Baisheng''s traps, with my skills I cane and go as I please. Just wait for good news from me!"


    Whoosh!


    Geng Jie led ten elite soldiers, leaping onto the city walls.


    ```


    The few hundred soldiers atop the city walls were easily ughtered with the assistance of Geng Jie, who was at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, and ten elites from the Shentong Realm.


    Geng Jie stuck his head out above the city wall and waved the g in his hand.


    Beneath the city.


    Li Tenglong clenched his fists, his eyes sparkling with intensity, "It seems I was overly cautious. Now that the defenses on the city walls have been removed, we just need General Geng to open the gates, then we can drive straight in!"


    At the same time¡­


    Inside the city.


    Geng Jie looked at the corpses of a hundred guards lying in pools of blood, patted his hands, and sneered, "Just wait until we break through Heiya City, then our army can drive straight in and march directly to the capital of Tianqing Kingdom. I will be the first to set foot in the capital of the Tianqing Kingdom, and the position of a duke will be within easy reach, not to mention my name will go down in history!"


    "Sorry, but I''m afraid you won''t have that chance!"


    As Geng Jie was basking in his smugness, a taunting voice emerged like a specter at his ear.


    "Who?"


    Geng Jie''s face changed dramatically as he looked towards the source of the sound.


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    He saw Xiao Yi, dressed in white, with his arms crossed and an amused expression on his face.


    Those cold eyes were like knife des, causing Geng Jie a chill from deep within his heart. Xiao Yi''s appearance had long been known throughout the ten countries of Nanhuang, and Geng Jie recognized him instantly, "Martial King of the Nation Xiao Yi? Not good, it''s a trap..."


    "Realizing it''s a trap now is toote!" Xiao Yi grinned.


    "Run!"


    Geng Jie bellowed, trying to instruct his men to scatter.


    However¡­


    As his voice fell, those ten men didn''t move an inch.


    While Geng Jie was puzzled...


    Bang, bang, bang!


    All ten men fell to the ground, each with a bloody hole the size of a fingernail in their foreheads.


    A silver figure stood upon the head of the closest powerful warrior to him, twisting its body with emerald green eyes fixed intently on him.


    It was none other than Little Lin!


    Through training during this period, as well as countless Golden Cores Xiao Yi had obtained from ying numerous experts and fed to Little Lin, it had reached the advanced tier of the fifth stageparable to the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm. Besides, its speed was incredibly fast, andunching a surprise attack to solve ten elite warriors instantly was easy.


    "Li..."


    Geng Jie''s mouth flew open, trying to send out a message.


    But his voice seemed to be choked off.


    It stayed stuck in his throat, unable toe out.


    His pupils madly contracted, and as he followed the arm that was gripping his throat, he saw Xiao Yi''s expressionless face before him, and heard his cold voice echoing in his ear, "Watch with your own eyes how your troops arepletely annihted!"


    "Heh, heh heh..."


    Geng Jie struggled furiously but could not break free from Xiao Yi''s hold, the despair in his eyes spreading like ripples to fill his entire gaze.


    A momentter.


    Creak!


    The city gate opened thunderously.


    Li Tenglong, who had been waiting for a long time, gave the order, and 300,000 soldiers swarmed in, flooding into the city like mad.


    Thanks to the massive construction of the city gates of Heiya City, this army of 300,000 surged in like a steel torrent, taking only the time of half a stick of incense to all pour into the city. The surroundings were still darkly packed, and everyone could vaguely see Geng Jie standing atop the city wall, hands behind his back, watching everything unfold.


    As soon as the army had fully entered the city, the figure of Geng Jie on the city walls disappeared.


    Li Tenglong wore a bewildered expression, "Who has seen General Geng?"


    The words had barely left his lips.


    When a thunderous boom was heard, the city gates mmed shut, and at the same time, a mocking voice rang out, "Are you looking for him?"

 Chapter 148 Martial King Supreme, Forever Dominates Tianqing!

    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Raging between heaven and earth, like a hurricane connecting sky andnd.


    In Xiao Yi''s hands, it was torn apart into two halves.


    The tearing winds suddenly dissipated into nothingness in the void, and the soldiers caught in the hurricane fell from the sky; without the barrier of the fierce winds, they did not sustain serious injuries.


    However, on the entire battlefield...


    Hundreds of thousands of soldiers fell utterly silent.


    Every gaze was fixed on the figure standing in the sky, d in silver armor¡ªXiao Yi.


    Gulp!


    Someone swallowed hard, breaking the deathly silence.


    Like a stone dropped into an ancient well, ripples spread out...


    "Damn! Damn! Damn!"


    "What did I just see? Tearing the wind with bare hands? Did the Martial King actually do that?"


    "Heavens above, I must be hallucinating... This is the power of nature, how can someone tear a hurricane apart with human strength? It''s unbelievable..."


    Zheng Le exchanged a nce with Hou Sailei, both seeing the terror and shock in the other''s eyes.


    Hou Sailei teased with a sneer, "General Zheng, you had a wager with His Highness the Martial King before; it looks like you are destined to lose!"


    "I, I..."


    Zheng Le opened his mouth, but with an excited expression, he said, "So what if I lose? Losing to such a Martial King is my honor. Do you qualify to make a wager with His Highness? When history records this battle, my name, Zheng Le, will surely be on it... Hmm, when I return, I must exin this part to the Imperial Censor personally. The young General Zheng bravely wagered with His Highness the Martial King and gloriously lost!"


    Looking at Zheng Le''s proud and self-satisfied demeanor.


    Hou Sailei''s lips twitched: "Such thick skin..."


    At the same time.


    Xiao Yi''s voice suddenly came, "Hou Sailei, Zheng Le, what are you dawdling for? Wipe out those Tian Kingdom bastards for me!"


    "Ah?"


    "Don''t worry, Your Highness, we''re on it!"


    Zheng Le and his men hurriedly got the troops in order andunched another attack.


    Xiao Yi''s feat of tearing the wind had turned into a nightmare, seared into the hearts of the Tian Kingdom soldiers,pletely robbing them of their will to fight.


    A defeated army fell like a crumbling mountain.


    Watching the forces of Tianqing Kingdom charging and sweeping through his troops, Ling Wufengyun recovered from his astonishment and stared at Xiao Yi with clenched teeth: "Who would have thought Tianqing Kingdom could produce someone like you. No wonder Xue Yilou was so eager for us to attack Tianqing Kingdom, to remove you quickly."


    Xiao Yi indifferently said, "So it indeed was Xue Yilou scheming behind the scenes!"


    "That''s right, Xue Yilou!"


    Ling Wufengyun nodded, took a deep breath, his dark eyes filled with a predatory chill, "Xiao Yi, although we have no grudges or hatred, you''ve blocked my path."


    Xiao Yi was taken aback: "Blocked your path?"


    "That''s right!"


    Ling Wufengyun''s lips were tightly pressed, "Xue Yilou promised me that if I could bring about the downfall of Tianqing Kingdom and capture you, they would allow me to go to the headquarters of Xue Yilou in the Great Qian Dynasty and give me the method to break through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Why didn''t you just surrender peacefully? Why did you resist, why oh why..."


    Ling Wufengyun grew more agitated as he spoke, his shoulders trembling slightly, almost madly.


    Seeing the Tian Kingdom''s army copse like a fallen mountain, she knew conquering Tianqing Kingdom was no longer possible.


    The only option now.


    Was to capture Xiao Yi and exchange him at Xue Yilou for the method to break through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Whizz!


    Ling Wufengyun''s ck cloak trembled violently and took flight, opening like a pair of dark wings. Under the cover of that ck cloak, gusts of wind roared in. The wind was not as massive as before, but it was extremely condensed, pouring down like a torrent of arrows.


    Facing the overwhelming assault of wind arrows, Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed, and the Fire Qilin Sword fell into his grasp: "Chasing Stars, Pursuing the Moon!"


    "Python Entwining the Tree!"


    "Sword Breaking Style..."


    Xiao Yi had already reached the realm where the man and his sword were one; the Fire Qilin Sword was like an extension of his body, following hismand.


    Wherever the sword''s edge passed, no storm of arrows could approach him.


    Rather, as he continuously destroyed the arrows, Xiao Yi steadily closed in on Ling Wufengyun. As Ling Wufengyun loomed before him, Xiao Yi''s swordy shifted, swiftly drawing a circr arc: "Enemy-Breaking Style!"


    This sword arc was incredibly dazzling, as bright as the moon.


    Swipe!


    The sword edge carved a path straight ahead.


    Xiao Yi dived forward and was now only a step away from Ling Wufengyun: "Nine Swords as One!"


    Nine sword shadows pierced through the air, only merging into one as they finally reached their target.


    The sword''s edge whistled, thrusting straight for Ling Wufengyun''s brow.


    Ding!


    That sharp, unstoppable sword tip came to a halt right at Ling Wufengyun''s forehead, blocked by a shield formed by windspressed to the extreme. The sword edge and the tempest shield stood off against each other, unable to advance even a fraction more. The enormous force caused the Fire Qilin Sword to bend like a bow, the de trembling with a buzzing sound.@@novelbin@@


    Of course...


    Ling Wufengyun wasn''t having an easy time either.


    The immense pressure caused her skin at the brow to burst open, with blood trailing down her cheeks.


    "Windless Motion!"


    Finally unable to withstand the massive pressure, Ling Wufengyun thrust her palm forward, a ferocious wind swept up, enveloping her body and sting her backward in a retreat. Seeing Xiao Yi with sword in hand in close pursuit, a cold light burst forth in Ling Wufengyun''s eyes, and in her slender jade-like hand appeared a cyan feather fan. This fan, adorned with nine peacock feathers, was swung violently, "Three Months of Beacon Fires!"


    Swish, swish, swish!


    With every flick of the feather fan, the eyes on the nine peacock feathers radiated a cyan glow.


    This was a sixth-order Yuan weapon!


    Empowered by the Yuan weapon,


    the fierce winds became even more terrifying, howling and condensing into a wall made of sharp gales, stretching for hundreds of feet.


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    It was like the beacon fires on a battlefield, burning for three months without extinguishing.


    Boom!


    The Fire Qilin Sword struck the wind wall but couldn''t shake it in the least, instead causing Xiao Yi''s palm to crack from the recoil.


    "Dragon''s Lament of Wind!"


    Ling Wufengyun waved her feather fan once more.


    Whoosh!


    The roaring wind transformed into nine wind-formed Azure Dragons intertwining with one another, creating a massive wind torrent.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly shrunk as he blocked his chest with the Fire Qilin Sword.


    Thump!


    The wind-formed Azure Dragon mmed against the de.


    The terrifying force sent Xiao Yi shooting toward the ground, like a fallen star crashing with a loud noise, shaking the earth. A huge crater erupted with dust flying everywhere, but within that cloud of dust, a sword light shot up into the sky: "Nine Swords as One!"


    Swish!


    The sword''s edge reached its ultimate speed.


    In an instant...


    With a thud, it pierced through Ling Wufengyun''s shoulder.


    Ling Wufengyun shuddered, and the face beneath the cloak changed drastically. She hastily retreated, but she was a step too slow. With a ripping sound, the mask over her face was torn off by Xiao Yi.


    Their eyes met.


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was stunned, could there be such stunning beauty in this world?


    Even Fang Qingzhu could notpare!


    Ling Wufengyun also noticed the mask in Xiao Yi''s hand. Her eyes went from shocked to bewildered, and then to aplex mix of fury and subtle affection. She red fiercely at Xiao Yi and suddenly soared into the sky: "Xiao Yi, I will remember you! The grudge of today, I shall return it another day!"


    Swish!


    Ling Wufengyun broke through the air, wrapped in the howling winds and disappearing into the night.


    She was too fast.


    Even Xiao Yi couldn''t catch up.


    He looked down at the mask in his hand and frowned, "This woman..."


    At that moment...


    The Tian Kingdom''s army, now without Ling Wufengyun, was thoroughly routed, utterly demoralized, and surrendered en masse.


    In this battle, Tianqing Kingdom achieved an unprecedented victory!


    Heiya City''s two hundred thousand army annihted the one-million-strong force of Tian Kingdom!


    At that time...


    Ten thousand soldiers, under the leadership of Zheng Le and Hou Sailei, shouted loudly. Their voices thundered, as if scattering the thick clouds above, and the light of the stars and moon fell down: "Martial King is invincible, eternally dominating Tianqing!"


    "Martial King is invincible!"


    "Eternally dominating Tianqing..."

 Chapter 149 The Pit of Ten Thousand People

    The following day, at dawn.


    The scent of blood filled the air inside and outside Heiya City; everywhere one could smell the pungent reek of blood.


    In every street and alleyy corpses and traces of blood.


    Yet the soldiers and citizens of Heiya City were disying extreme resistance and excitement. Not only the garrison but also the citizens of Heiya City spontaneously went onto the streets to help clean up the battlefield.


    Tian Kingdom had already captured three cities, and countless Tianqing Kingdom civilians had fled to Heiya City, multiplying the city''s poption several times over. With their help, the post-battle cleanup of Heiya City was much more efficient and quicker.


    Moreover, Xiao Yi had long since given his military order.


    Any citizen who participated in cleaning up the battlefield would keep all loot, such as silver taels, except for weapons and armor.


    This further stimted the enthusiasm of the citizens.


    "Martial King His Highness is truly incredible, in one night he annihted the million-strong army of Tian Kingdom!"


    "You did not seest night... I was hiding on the rooftop and saw everything clearly. There was a tornado that reached to the sky among the Tian Kingdom''s army, and it was torn asunder by Martial King His Highness..."


    "You''re joking, right? Even if Martial King His Highness is strong, he''s only at the Golden Core Realm, how could he possibly tear apart a tornado?"


    "This is no lie at all; I also heard some soldiers discussing it..."


    "To have a genius like Martial King His Highness in our Tianqing Kingdom is truly a great fortune! It''s said that the Royal Martial Arts Academy and the Crown Prince even schemed against His Highness before. They were really blind..." Your next read awaits at empire


    "Mind your words!"


    "Afraid of what? Who dares to touch Martial King His Highness now?"


    The discussions among the citizens were overheard by passing soldiers, who not only did not take offense but actually agreed wholeheartedly.


    They had witnessed Xiao Yi''s miracles with their own eyes!


    Tearing the wind with bare hands.


    Defeating Tao Tribtion with the sword!


    Truly terrifying!


    In the city lord''s mansion...


    Zhang Baisheng had awoken; a night''s sleep had flushed his cheeks slightly, and his injuries were gradually stabilizing with the help of Xiao Yi''s elixirs.


    Zhang Baisheng, Hou Sailei, Zheng Le, and others were standing respectfully in the hall, quietly waiting for Xiao Yi''s arrival.


    With a wry smile, Zheng Le said, "General, you''ve just recovered. Please, take a seat!"


    Zhang Baisheng scanned the room with a tiger''s re, and snorted coldly, "Before Martial King His Highness arrives, how can I sit?"


    "This..."


    Zheng Le and Hou Sailei exchanged a helpless nce.


    "Hahaha, who has offended the old general so early in the morning, causing him to be unhappy?" Xiao Yi''s heartyughter came from outside the door.


    Clothed in silver armor, he looked even more majestic and handsome.


    "Martial King His Highness!"


    "Your Highness!"


    Zheng Le and Hou Sailei hurriedly bowed in respect.


    Zhang Baisheng turned to face Xiao Yi and was about to kneel on one knee, greeting him, "Subordinate Zhang Baisheng wees Your Highness..."


    "Old general, you must not!"


    Xiao Yi quickly raised his hand, and with an unseen burst of qi, prevented Zhang Baisheng from kneeling.


    A sh of astonishment crossed Zhang Baisheng''s eyes.


    His cultivation had reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm, yet Xiao Yi could stop him from kneeling with qi from afar, indicating his masterful control over qi.


    "No wonder even the experts of the Cmity Realm are no match for him..."


    Zhang Baisheng thought to himself and said with a deep voice, "Your Highness, this is me kneeling on behalf of the million soldiers and civilians of Heiya City!"


    "We are all citizens of Tianqing Kingdom; there''s no need for such gestures!" Xiao Yi shook his head.


    Seeing this,


    Zhang Baisheng had to relent, straightening his back once more and gesturing for Xiao Yi to sit, "Your Highness, please take your seat!"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, then smiled wryly, "Old general, you tter me too much. You are the city''smander; how can I sit in the seat of honor?"


    However...


    Zhang Baisheng had an unscrupulous look on his face as he said, "If Your Highness refuses to sit, then this old man shall remain standing!"@@novelbin@@


    "This..."


    Xiao Yi felt somewhat helpless as he looked towards Zheng Le and the others, who were also standing straight, indicating that if he did not sit, they would also remain standing.


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders, "Fine then!"


    Only when Xiao Yi had taken his ce in the main seat did everyone else sit down on either side.


    Xiao Yi said, "General Hou, how are the post-battle affairs progressing?"


    Hou Sailei stood up and sped his hands, replying, "Your Highness, with the assistance of the citizens of Heiya City... the city has been cleared. The main camp of the Tian Kingdom will need half a day more. However, the main issue now is what to do with the four hundred thousand prisoners of war¡ªwe are uncertain how to handle them!"


    After the main camp was taken down, that alone resulted in the capture of over a hundred thousand soldiers.


    There were also about two hundred thousand soldiers within the city who were poisoned by the Maluo grass but not killed, totaling four hundred thousand prisoners.


    Xiao Yi looked towards Zhang Baisheng, "What does the old general think?"


    "Everything is up to Your Highness to decide!" Zhang Baisheng said solemnly.


    A cold light shed in Xiao Yi''s eyes as he said coldly, "Then kill them all!"


    Hiss!


    A series of sharp intakes of breath echoed through the hall.


    It''s true that countless lives are lost on the battlefield, but that''s in the heat ofbat. As for prisoners, they are generally used as vebor, or as bargaining chips in negotiations between nations.


    Directly executing hundreds of thousands of prisoners.


    This is something that''s never been done before!


    Zhang Baisheng frowned and said, "Your Highness, this is not appropriate! If we execute them all, it will tarnish Your Highness''s reputation!"


    "Yes, Your Highness, if we kill them, future Imperial Censors will certainly record it in the history books, andter it might lead to you beingbeled as brutal and inhumane..."


    "This could damage Your Highness''s prestige!"


    Everyone was trying to persuade him.


    But Xiao Yi justughed heartily, saying, "Damage my prestige? Brutal and inhumane? Remember this, prestige is not won through kindness." His gaze became sharp and piercing, as if it were a sword thrusting into the depths of everyone''s soul, "Think about it¡ªif it were us who were prisoners, if it were the citizens of Tianqing Kingdom, how would they treat us? Look no further than the three cities they conquered¡ªhow many were spared?"


    Everyone fell silent.


    In those three cities, apart from the refugees who fled...


    All of the soldiers and civilians were ughtered.


    Wherever the Tian Kingdom''s army went, they killed, burned, and plundered without mercy...


    How utterly ruthless!


    With ice in his eyes, Xiao Yi stood up and dered, "Let these four hundred thousand prisoners be buried in a pit outside Heiya City, creating a Mass Grave. Through the heads of these four hundred thousand soldiers of the Tian Kingdom, I will show the world that whoever offends Tianqing, no matter how far, will be punished!"


    Everyone was visibly shaken.


    Their fists clenched tightly, and in their eyes zed a fierce fire of war.


    By noon that day...


    The four hundred thousand soldiers were escorted to an area outside Heiya City, where they were executed and buried in the massive pit created by the battle between Xiao Yi and Ling Wufengyun.


    This Mass Grave exuded a chilling aura.


    But at the same time...


    It also became a formidable sword to deter the world!


    And as the Mass Grave waspleted, the news of the great victory at Heiya City spread like the gue, reaching all corners of Tianqing Kingdom at an rming speed.


    At that moment...


    The entire nation erupted in celebration!


    The name of Xiao Yi once again thundered across Tianqing!


    Nevertheless...


    Xiao Yi himself was indifferent to all of these achievements; at this moment, he was leading the bted fifty thousand Imperial Guards, setting off on a campaign towards the Tian Kingdom...

 Chapter 151 Those Who Are Not of Our Kind Will Surely Have Different Hearts

    Tianqing Kingdom''s border.


    Si Shui Pass, this was one of the three cities that had previously fallen to the Tian Kingdom.


    Xiao Yi led fifty thousand Imperial Guards, along with fifty thousand elite troops from Heiya City, and with Zhang Baisheng and Zheng Le pushed forward directly towards the Tian Kingdom.


    As for Hou Sailei, he was assigned to stay and defend Heiya City.


    This arrangement nearly brought the seven-foot man to tears!


    "Your Highness, Si Shui Pass is just ahead¡­" Zheng Le said in a deep voice.


    Zhang Baisheng looked distantly at Si Shui Pass thaty stretched across thend, his expression somewhat sorrowful, "The originalmander of Si Shui Pass was an officer under mymand¡ª an honest man, brave in battle. Unfortunately, he was killed by a rain of arrows while covering the retreat of the civilians when Geng Jie and others broke through Si Shui Pass¡­"


    "Rest assured, General, their sacrifices will not be in vain!" Xiao Yi dered solemnly.


    "Hmm!"


    Zhang Baisheng nodded his head.


    If Xiao Yi had said this a few days ago, he would have just smiled and dismissed it.


    But now¡­


    After the battle at Heiya City, Xiao Yi hadpletely earned their respect.


    "Report¡­"


    Suddenly, a scout hurried back from the front, his face filled with urgency, "Cavalry General, fifty li ahead, a vige has been discovered, but¡­ but¡­"@@novelbin@@


    "But what?" Zhang Baisheng asked, frowning.


    The scout''s eyes reddened, his teeth clenched as he ryed, "But all the vigers in that vige have been ughtered."


    "What?"


    "Lead us there quickly!"


    Everyone followed the scout.


    A momentter.


    They arrived at the vige, which was not a small one, containing a hundred households.


    Only¡­


    The vige before them was inplete disarray, with signs of burning everywhere, and bodies strewn about in all positions.


    Men, women, the elderly, and children, all were mercilessly killed, not a single survivor!


    "Those Tian Kingdom bastards, how could they... they even ughter innocent civilians?"


    "Your Highness, look over there¡­"


    Zheng Le suddenly pointed ahead.


    Xiao Yi followed his gaze, and his pupils constricted sharply, as if the temperature around him dropped dozens of degrees instantly.


    Everyone felt a bone-chilling coldness.


    It was a mill with arge stone mill covered in uneven bloodstains.


    What truly enraged Xiao Yi were the severed hands and feet still lying on that stone mill. These limbs were small; thergest were merely those of a two or three-year-old child, and the smallest even of a newborn¡ª they had been ground into pulp by the millstone, now scattered on the ground¡­


    Ugh¡­


    Some of the soldiers who couldn''t bear the sight covered their mouths, violently retching.


    Xiao Yi, Zhang Baisheng, and Zheng Le, however, shivered with rage!


    Fury!


    Fury that reached its peak!


    Kill!


    The will to kill soared to the skies!


    "How could these animals¡­ how could they bring themselves to do such a thing?" Zheng Le gritted his teeth, feeling as if a raging fire was burning within his chest, wishing it could burst forth at any moment.


    Zhang Baisheng''s face was ashen, his fists clenched tightly, crackling with tension.


    His nails dug into his flesh, with blood streaming down through his fingers, yet he seemed totally unaware.


    Looking at the half-meter-high pile of minced flesh surrounding the stone mill, with broken bodies on top.


    Your next chapter awaits on empire


    They could almost see the infants still in swaddling clothes, or toddlers just beginning to speak, being brutally thrown by Tian Kingdom soldiers onto the stone mill, ground into flesh and blood by the grinding stones. Some of these children couldn''t even talk yet, some had not even opened their eyes before being reduced to pulp between those massive stones!


    Gritting sounds¡­


    Xiao Yi clenched his fists, his jaw clenched tight, his eyes bloodshot as he looked towards Zhang Baisheng and Zheng Le, "Do you still think my massacre of those four hundred thousand prisoners was too cruel?"


    "It was too merciful; they should have been cut into a thousand pieces!"


    "These beasts¡­"


    Zheng Le and Zhang Baisheng had eyes red with anger.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, squatting on the ground, and looking at the scattered flesh around him, he clenched his teeth and said, word by word, "I, Xiao Yi, swear here that I will definitely crush Tian Kingdom and avenge you all!"


    Indistinctly.


    It seemed to Xiao Yi and the others that in the midst of the shredded flesh, the color-drained shackles fell away from the smiling children, and they ascended to heaven.


    They were freed!


    "Settle the remains of our fellow vigers properly!" Xiao Yi instructed.


    The crowd set to work, clearing the remains within the vige.


    After the cleanup was done.


    It was already sunset.


    Xiao Yi gathered his army of one hundred thousand, his face covered with frost, his sharp gaze sweeping over his men.


    The army seemed unusually suppressed.


    Gone was the joy of a great victory that hade with the start of the campaign.


    Clearly, everything that had happened in this vige had be a huge stone, weighing on everyone''s heart.


    "Non-kin, their hearts must differ!"


    Xiao Yi''s sudden voice drew everyone''s attention, and they all looked up at him, "You''ve also seen what happened, this is war. If we fail, the Tian Kingdom''s army will invade, and countless citizens of Tianqing Kingdom behind us will suffer this same fate. Our rtives, our friends, our loved ones¡­ no one will be spared!"


    The crowd was tense, gritting their teeth.


    Xiao Yi raised his voice, "Do you want to see such scenes again?"


    "No!"


    The crowd shouted loudly.


    Xiao Yi''s voice grew louder, echoing among the hundred thousand soldiers, "Then what should we do?"


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!"


    A hundred thousand men, their killing intent soaring into the sky.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi abruptly drew the Fire Qilin Sword, the de cleaving the air, and with one stroke, he cut off a piece of his garment, dering loudly, "I, Xiao Yi, hereby swear that wherever our weapons point, we must break through Tian! Should I break this oath, may I be like this garment!"


    Zhang Baisheng raised his longsword likewise, cutting off a piece of his garment, "Wherever our weapons point, we must break through Tian!"


    Zheng Le followed suit, "Should I break this oath, may I be like this garment!"


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    The action of the hundred thousand was uniform.


    Raise arms.


    Cut garments!


    "Wherever our weapons point, we must break through Tian!"


    "Should I break this oath, may I be like this garment!"


    The roar of a hundred thousand men shattered the skies, their murderous intent and battle spirit coalescing into a blood-red cloud that hovered over their heads.


    Xiao Yi pointed forward with his longsword, "Advance!"


    The sound of the hundred thousand-strong army rolled like a tide of iron, moving forward.


    Along the way.


    The hundred thousand-strong army led by Xiao Yi was unstoppable wherever they went.


    The several thousand Tian Kingdom soldiers stationed at Si Shui Pass had already fled at the sight of them, leaving behind a burning ghost town. The roaring mes reached for the sky, but as Xiao Yi''s army passed by, heavy clouds gathered above, chill winds howled, and torrential rains fell, extinguishing the mes until the sky cleared after the storm!


    Following that, Huai Shui City, Liu Yin City¡­


    Without much effort, these two cities were also reimed by Xiao Yi and his men.


    The three cities lost to the Tian Kingdom were all returned to the hands of the Qing Tian Kingdom.


    It was only at this point...


    that Xiao Yi and his entourage finally set foot on the territory of the Tian Kingdom.


    A grand feast of ughter hence began to unfold¡­

 Chapter 153 Plan to Win the Heart

    That night.


    Xiao Yi and his men spurred their horses, rushing toward Zhenxi City at top speed.


    Eight hundred li.


    For this carefully selected elite force of a hundred thousand, it was but a three-hour journey.


    As the dawn''s first rays appeared the following day.


    The defending army within Zhenxi City was shocked to find that the army of the Tianqing Kingdom had already set up camp ten li away from the city, and all this had been aplished right under their noses without drawing the attention of the Zhenxi City''s defenders. This indeed caused Zhao Qiankun inside the city to wipe away a cold sweat as he went personally to the top of the city wall.


    tter tter tter!


    Zheng Le, carrying amand g, rode a tall horse to the gates of Zhenxi City.


    "Is General Zhao Qiankun there?" Zheng Le called out loudly.


    Atop the city walls.


    Zhao Qiankun narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Who are you?"


    "I am Zheng Le, the vanguard officer serving directly under His Highness Xiao Yi, the Martial King of Tianqing Kingdom. I havee to deliver a message to General Zhao!" Zheng Le''s voice was loud and solemn, booming like arge bell, resounding thunderously.


    Zhao Qiankun narrowed his eyes and deliberately said, "What Martial King Xiao Yi? Who is this youngster whose hair hasn''t even grown fully? I have never heard of him."


    "Then that indicates your ignorance!"


    Unangered, Zheng Leughed heartily and then continued, "My lord has stated, limit General Zhao to surrender within three days to spare your life. Should you still stubbornly resist after three days, my lord will lead the great army of the Tianqing Kingdom to crush through Zhenxi City. Anyone who obstructs the Tianqing Kingdom''s army shall be killed without mercy!"


    "Arrogance!"


    "You scoundrels of Tianqing Kingdom, we don''t need three days, if you dare, attack now!"


    "We shall see whether it is your Tianqing Kingdom''s soldiers that are sharp, or if our Zhenxi City is more imprable!"


    One by one, the generals under Zhao Qiankun loudly taunted.


    With a sneer, Zhao Qiankun said, "Go back and tell your master, if he kneels and begs for mercy, I might spare your lives!"


    Bang!


    Zheng Le abruptly nted themand g into the ground and proimed, "By the orders of my lord, this g stands here. From this moment on, each day you fail to surrender, we will execute one of your generals and hang their head from this g! After three days, our army willunch a full assault and tten your Zhenxi City!"


    tter tter tter!


    Zheng Le immediately rode his tall horse, leaving swiftly.


    Atop the city walls.


    The Tian Kingdom''s generals were utterly furious: "Damn it, these bastards from Tianqing Kingdom, they''ve gone too far!"


    "Are they suggesting that Zhenxi City has no one capable?"


    "Send orders down, implement the original n and double the patrols and defenses!"


    Zhao Qiankun coldly snorted and with a casual flick, shot an arrow that split themand g, and squinting, he looked toward the distant encampment of Xiao Yi and his men, "My Zhenxi City is a of heaven and earth, I would like to see how you would execute my generals!"


    But as for Zheng Le...@@novelbin@@


    When he returned to the camp, he guzzled down water, wiped his lips, and looked at Xiao Yi with a wry smile: "My lord, please don''t send me to do such things in the future. You didn''t see the look in those generals'' eyes under Zhao Qiankun''smand; they looked like they wanted to eat me alive!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "If that''s the case, then you''re relieved from your position as vanguard officer and can be the quartermaster instead!"


    "No, my lord!"


    Zheng Le became anxious and quickly said, "I only spoke off the cuff!"


    "Hahaha..."


    Both Xiao Yi and Zhang Baishengughed heartily.


    Causing Zheng Le to look embarrassed.


    Xiao Yi said in a serious tone, "What is the state of Zhenxi City''s defenses?"


    Enjoy new adventures from empire


    "Extremely stringent!"


    Zheng Le also turned serious and said in a deep voice, "Based on the defensive setup I saw, it is indeed identical to the one shown on that defense map."


    "So it seems that the defense map is indeed credible!" Xiao Yi nodded.


    Of course, they could not simply believe in the authenticity of the defense map based on just a few words from a minor eunuch.


    This time, they had sent Zheng Le to provoke the enemy, firstly to disrupt the enemy troops, and secondly to confirm the authenticity of the defense map.


    Zhang Baisheng said, "My lord, you had Zheng Le set up thatmanding banner and even imed that every day a head of an enemy soldier would be hung on it, are you going to take action personally?"


    "Mm!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Zheng Le frowned and said, "By doing so, although we can disturb their military heart, it will also make Zhao Qiankun be alert. He might increase his defensive forces, which is not advantageous for us!"


    Zhang Baisheng gave him a re and said, "Do you think you''re the only one who can think of that?"


    "Ah?"


    Zheng Le was stunned.


    Zhang Baisheng revealed a meaningful smile, "In military strategy, direct confrontation is inferior, psychological warfare is superior. His Highness has a well-thought-out n. Let''s just wait and enjoy the show!"


    That very night.


    Within the western city, a group of generals gathered together.


    General Zhang Ti was one of Zhao Qiankun''s fierce generals, with a cultivation at the Fifth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, and possessed Innate Divine Strength. Fierce and fearless in battle, he had established a mighty military record. However, his temper was too impulsive, suitable as a general but not as amander, unable to hold his ground alone.


    Witnessing Zhao Qiankun increase the defensive forces overnight, Zhang Ti was very dissatisfied, muttering, "My lord, Xiao Yi is nothing but a green youth. Why such a fuss over his words?"


    "Shut up!"


    Zhao Qiankun sharply interrupted, "Carry out the defense and guard ording to n, and also pay attention to your own safety. Xiao Yi is the top talent of the Tianqing Kingdom. Even the national master was defeated by him. Do not underestimate him, lest he takes your heads!"


    "Rest assured, my lord, we have been fighting wars for years, and we will not make such a novice mistake!"


    "If he dares toe, I will ensure he does not return!"


    The men swore their oaths earnestly.


    Watching the men leave, Zhao Qiankun squinted up at the star-filled sky, rubbing his brows, "I hope... these are only my misgivings!"


    The next day, at dawn.


    Zhao Qiankun suddenly awoke from deep sleep, his forehead drenched in cold sweat. He looked around and then let out a long breath, "Good, it was just a nightmare..."


    As soon as those words fell.


    An urgent knocking sound came from outside the door, "My lord, something terrible has happened; General Zhang Ti''s head has been hung on the g outside the city gate!"


    "What?"


    Zhao Qiankun was shocked, his body springing up from the bed, rushing out the door.


    Along the way, he could continuously hear whispers among the military and civilians, "Did you hear? General Zhang Ti had his head cut off and hung outside the city gate. Even the general''s wife lying beside him didn''t realize until she woke up this morning."


    "I heard it too... Some say that our Tian Kingdom has incurred the wrath of the heavens, and that deities are aiding the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "s... why bother with such a battle? The Tianqing Kingdom never took the initiative to provoke us, and now, it has made everyone panic..."


    Hearing the murmuring of the people.


    Zhao Qiankun''s face turned exceedingly grim.


    He faintly understood the purpose behind Xiao Yi''s move; it was to scatter the hearts of the military and civilians of the western city!


    When Zhao Qiankun reached the top of the city wall, he saw yet another banner erected below.


    On the banner hung the head of Zhang Ti.


    The blood had already dried, but his face still bore the peaceful expression of deep sleep.


    Bang!


    Zhao Qiankun smashed a brick on the city wall with his palm, his face somber as he looked towards his subordinates, "Increase the guard forces by fivefold. Additionally,bine the generals in pairs to stay together, all centralized in the city lord''s residence. I want to see how Xiao Yi will kill under my watch..."

 Chapter 155 With My Body, I Shall Forever Guard This City!

    ```


    The next day, at dawn.


    The sky had just brightened, with the golden morning sun casting its glow upon thend.


    Casting a long, long shadow of the entire Zhenxi City, the banners on the city walls fluttered against the blue sky, creating a rustling sound, but the wind brought with it a feeling of destion.


    The vast Zhenxi City was bleak, top to bottom.


    The spirit of the soldiers, the hearts of the people, all were dim.


    Boom!


    Boom, boom!


    Rumbling...


    A series of earth-shattering sounds approached from afar, mighty and vast, it was the Tianqing Kingdom''s hundred-thousand-strong army led by Xiao Yi, forming like a dark demonic cloud, marching towards Zhenxi City.


    Their pace was not fast, but it exuded an extremely heavy and suffocating presence.


    Like a colossal stone weighing down on everyone''s chest.


    It was stifling to the point of breathlessness.


    Atop the city walls, the defending army of Zhenxi City gazed at the dense battle formation, feeling as if every step taken by the enemy forces were invisible hammers ruthlessly pounding against their chests.


    So oppressive, they could hardly speak.


    Cough, cough, cough!


    A series of urgent and weak coughs were heard, as the esteemed Martial King of Tian Kingdom, Zhao Qiankun, known as the impregnable great general of the era, appeared to have aged decades in moments. His hair was white, his stature hunched, his face gaunt, as if a gust of wind could knock him over at any time, teetering on the edge.


    A group of Zhenxi City''s defending generals followed behind him, each with their heads bowed and eyes bloodshot.


    Their hands clenched into fists, shoulders trembling slightly.


    Opressiveness.


    The atmosphere was oppressively terrifying!


    Thud!


    The sound of the war drum suddenly stopped.


    Xiao Yi and his men had already arrived at the base of Zhenxi City.


    The two armies faced each other.


    Riding a Heavenly Blue Bull Python, Xiao Yi, adorned in white armor, his ck hair billowing, cape fluttering, with the Fire Qilin Sword at his waist emitting a blinding light. Handsome and majestic, like a dragon among men, he rode atop the Heavenly Blue Bull Python, and alone he seemed like an entire army, exuding a powerful sense of oppression.


    "What a Xiao Yi, what a Martial King of the Nation..."


    Zhao Qiankun gazed at Xiao Yi with intense eyes, unblinking, and then with a sense of resignation and defeat, he sighed, "If Tian Kingdom had such a heroic figure, why would weck a prospering era? s, it''s a pity..."


    "General..."


    "My lord..."


    A group of generals, tears in their eyes, stared at Zhao Qiankun, who just three days ago had been a majestic King of Zhenxi but now appeared as weak and frail as an elderly neighbor gravely ill, each of them struggling to say what they wanted.


    Zhao Qiankun waved his hand with a smile and said, "Since it''s been decided, then proceed as I''ve instructed!"


    "Yes!"


    The generals fought back tears, noddingpressedly.


    Zhao Qiankun supported himself with both hands on the city walls, gazing down at Xiao Yi and at Zhang Baisheng who appeared by his side, basked in the warm, golden sunlight. He gently rubbed the bricks of the city wall in front of him, so familiar to him¡ªhe had guarded this ce for decades: "Every era produces its own talents, and now, it''s time this old bone stepped down!"


    Whoosh!


    Zhao Qiankun let out a long breath, circted his Qi-Blood, and made his voice resonate, loud and clear, spreading throughout Zhenxi City, "Martial King Xiao Yi, would you care to talk with this old man?"


    "Your Highness, be wary of deceit!" Zheng Le cautioned in a deep voice.


    Zheng Baishang, however, shook his head. He fixed his gaze on Zhao Qiankun high upon the city walls, all too familiar with this old adversary, and said in a serious tone, "Zhao Qiankun is not that kind of man!"


    Xiao Yi smiled faintly, stood tall and levitated in front of the city walls.


    The old and the young, eyes locked on each other.


    Xiao Yi gave a bow and said, "The younger generation, Xiao Yi, pays respect to the King of Zhenxi!"


    Continue your journey on empire


    "You''re young, so very young! It''s good to be young!"


    Zhao Qiankunughed warmly, his eyes on Xiao Yi held no resentment or hatred, only helplessness and envy for the youthfulness, "This old man will venture to call you Xiao Yi!"


    "Hmm!"


    ```


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Zhao Qiankun said, "Xiao Yi, could you agree to one condition for me?"


    "Speak," Xiao Yi replied.


    Zhao Qiankun said in a deep voice, "Spare the soldiers and civilians within the city, can you do that?"


    Xiao Yi slightly frowned.


    He remembered the vigers who had been ughtered, the babies ground into pulp beneath the millstones.


    Seeming to sense Xiao Yi''s hesitation, Zhao Qiankun said solemnly, "I can guarantee with my life that none of the people under mymand have everid a finger on any innocent civilians outside the battlefield!"


    Xiao Yi looked back at Zhang Baisheng.


    Zhang Baisheng nodded slightly.


    He had been Zhao Qiankun''s opponent for many years and knew the other man''s character very well.


    Xiao Yi let out a breath and said solemnly, "Alright! As long as they don''t stand against me, I won''t kill them! As for the citizens within the city, they will henceforth be subjects of my Tianqing Kingdom, and I naturally won''t harm them!"


    "Whew!"


    Zhao Qiankun let out a long, turbid breath and smiled, "No wonder even the old fellow Zhang Baisheng is willing to follow you. You truly are exceptional, losing to you is not unjust." After a pause, Zhao Qiankun took out a Commander''s Seal and handed it to Xiao Yi, announcing loudly, "All people of Zhenxi City, from now on, you shall no longer be enemies with the Tianqing Kingdom. In seeing Xiao Yi, you are seeing me!"


    Whirrrr!


    All the soldiers and civilians of Zhenxi City knelt in unison, the atmosphere incredibly oppressive.


    Some soldiers could not hold back their tears any longer.


    Even more civilians wailed loudly.


    But they understood...


    Zhao Qiankun was doing this only to save their lives.


    Xiao Yi held up the Commander''s Seal and also spoke loudly, "Listen, everyone in Zhenxi City, I, Xiao Yi, hereby swear, as long as you do not resist my Tianqing Kingdom, I shall not harm you one bit! I will protect you just as I protect the citizens of the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "Open the gates!"


    Zhao Qiankun shouted with all of his strength.


    The guards already at the city gates immediately opened them¡ªboom! The gates that had sealed off the western border of the Tian Kingdom for hundreds of years were finally opened.


    This gateway to the west of the Tian Kingdom waspletely opened!


    But there were no cheers from the generals of the Tianqing Kingdom, only silent procession into the city, epting the surrender of the soldiers of Zhenxi City.


    Atop the city walls.


    Xiao Yi looked at Zhao Qiankun, whose form was swaying before him, and said with gravity, "Senior King of Zhenxi, I have here some pills that nurture Qi-Blood..."


    "No need!"


    Zhao Qiankun smiled, propped himself up using the battlements, tilted his head back to greet the golden sunlight, and revealed a radiant smile, "Xiao Yi, do you know why I chose to surrender without a fight?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "You knew that if there was a battle, not even one in ten would survive, and Zhenxi City would be brought to ruin. Besides that... your heart has been thoroughly wounded!"


    Whew!


    Zhao Qiankun nodded, "Yes, wounded beyond repair. I have been defending Zhenxi City for decades, never allowing the army of the Tianqing Kingdom a single step across our borders, exerting all my effort without daring to rx in the slightest. But that Zheng Yu, he betrayed the million soldiers and civilians of Zhenxi City over a single dispute. And Zheng Yu is that foolish ruler''s confidant. In the face of such a state of affairs, I am weary..."@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi remained silent.


    He knew very well that the most hated people on Zhenxi City now were not him, but Zheng Yu and the King of Tian Kingdom.


    And for this reason...


    The officers did not stop Zhao Qiankun''s surrender!


    "Senior King of Zhenxi..."


    Just as Xiao Yi began to speak, Zhao Qiankun interrupted him with a wave of his hand. He shakily walked over to the g that symbolized the Tian Kingdom, gently caressing it, and said wistfully, "My Tian Kingdom has paid countless lives to defend this city. So many young people, who should have been full of vigor, died early just to hold on to this ce. Now, it has been breached by my hands..."


    "Xiao Yi!"


    Xiao Yi looked sharply at Zhao Qiankun.


    "I''ve lost!"


    Zhao Qiankun seemed to summon all his energy to say these three words, and his aura immediately became even more wilted. He suddenly yanked the g from its ce, waving it back and forth causing it to flutter fiercely. Suddenly, Zhao Qiankun threw the g high into the air, and with a thunderous crash, it plummeted down, piercing through his cranial point, rooting firmly atop the city walls.


    It fixed his body firmly to the battlements of Zhenxi City.


    The aged voice, but still resonant and powerful, echoed through the heavens and earth, "With my body, I shall eternally guard... this city..."

 Chapter 158 The Legendary Land

    Outside the pce gates.


    Xiao Yi and his five hundred thousand troops had not advanced a single step, simply waiting there quietly.


    Not until Zheng Yu was dismembered and executed by the two hundred thousand-strong army of Zhenxi City, his flesh carved, his bones picked clean until not a single scrap remained, did they stop.


    ng! ng!


    Zhao Gaoyi, leading the two hundred thousand troops, knelt before Xiao Yi in unison, each face bearing heartfelt worship and gratitude, "Thank you, Lord Xiao, for avenging the general!"


    "Thank you, Lord Xiao!"


    The two hundred thousand troops roared in unison.


    They were thoroughly conquered by Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi raised his hand and said, "Rise, if the King of Zhenxi has a spirit in heaven, he would not wish to see you living in the past. From now on, you are all subjects of the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "Long live the Martial King of the Nation!"


    "Long live the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    Shouts erupted, earth-shattering, the roars seemingly shattering the clouds in the sky.


    Xiao Yi said in a deep voice, "Zhang Baisheng, take charge of the capital''s guard immediately." He paused, then continued to look at Zhao Gaoyi, "Zhao Gaoyi, Imand you to lead the Zhenxi army, conquer all cities that have not yet been brought into Tianqing Kingdom territory, and show no mercy to any who resist!"


    "Yes!"


    "Your subordinate obeys the order!"


    The troops split into two forces, with Zhao Gaoyi and Zhang Baisheng leading them away separately.


    Xiao Yi then led the remaining fifty thousand Imperial Guards into the royal pce; this conquest of the Tian Kingdom was definitively a colossal victory.


    After the battle, naturally, came the collection of the spoils of war.


    In the cities conquered in the past, Xiao Yi advocated a non-disturbance policy and did not loot any treasure. But this was the royal pce, once the dwelling ce of the Tian royal family, gathering the greatest wealth and treasures of the Tian Kingdom. At Xiao Yi''smand, Zheng Le led the men to enter the pce to start collecting the spoils.


    As well as to purge the remnants within the pce.


    As for the royal orphans hiding in the pce, they were to be captured alive if they surrendered, but killed immediately if they resisted.


    For a time.


    Smoke of conflict rose within the pce.


    Before long...


    Inside the Golden Throne Hall.


    Zheng Le, escorting a plump, graceful and luxurious woman, came before Xiao Yi and respectfully said, "Your Highness, this is the queen of the Tian Kingdom."


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, looking at the beauty kneeling before him.


    The queen of the Tian Kingdom indeed possessed bewitching beauty, every movement radiating a dignified and regal air. Her eyes, seemingly electrifying, looked at Xiao Yi and she respectfully said, "I have seen Lord Xiao!"


    Truly seductive in every aspect.


    Even Zheng Le beside her couldn''t help but swallow his saliva.


    However...


    Xiao Yi''s face remained expressionless as he said indifferently, "Put away your seductive act; it''s useless against me!"


    "Uh..."


    The queen''s face stiffened, showing a tinge of embarrassment.


    Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "Where is the royal treasury?"


    "I do not know..." the queen''s eyes flickered as she spoke.


    Xiao Yi uttered a sound of acknowledgment, then waved his hand towards Zheng Le, "Take her away and behead her!"


    "Yes!"


    Zheng Le responded solemnly.


    The queen''s face suddenly changed, and she quickly said, "Wait, Lord Xiao... I have just remembered. There is a secret chamber within the King''s chambers; perhaps he may have hidden treasures there."


    "Lead the way!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently.


    The Queen no longer dared to conceal anything, leading Xiao Yi and Zheng Le to Xu Zhengnan''s bedchamber, where she opened the entrance to the secret chamber beneath the bed.


    Xiao Yi nced at the Queen, "Take her down and guard her well!"


    Zheng Le immediately escorted the resentful-looking Queen away.


    Xiao Yi then entered the secret chamber.


    The secret chamber was underground.


    It was built veryrge, withmps made of mermaid oil on both sides of the passage that could burn for a thousand years in adequate air. Walking through the long narrow passage, Xiao Yi reached the chamber, which was sealed by a bronze door. Xiao Yi took out his Fire Qilin Sword and shed the bronze door open.


    ng! ng! ng!


    Inside the secret chamber, there was a dazzle of jewels and gold.


    There was over ten billion in silver alone here, not to mention the many rare treasures and ancient paintings and calligraphy.


    The total value was definitely close to a hundred billion Silver Taels!


    Hiss hiss!


    Little Lin popped out from Xiao Yi''s arms, eyes shining, "Boss, there are so many treasures here!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Little Lin, see if there are any heavenly treasures here."


    He was now at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, just a step away from the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    With sufficient vital energy umtion and bodily refinement, he had reached the standard for breaking through to the Tao Tribtion Realm; only his understanding of the forces of nature was a hair''s breadth shy. If he could find some treasures that enhanced the perception of natural forces, like the legendary Azure Dragon Wood, Windstorm Stone, Diamond Rock, and other heavenly treasures, he could increase hisprehension of the forces of nature and step into the Cmity Realm.@@novelbin@@


    Little Lin flicked its tongue, searching through the pile of treasures.


    A momentter.


    Little Lin emerged from amongst the treasures and shook its head at Xiao Yi, "Boss, I couldn''t find any heavenly treasures, but, I did find an interesting ce!"


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi was surprised, "What ce?"


    Little Lin was a variant beast, and even it didn''t know what species it belonged to, but it had an unparalleled sense for treasures.


    If Little Lin called it an interesting ce, it was definitely out of the ordinary.


    Little Lin led Xiao Yi through the treasures to a corner where there were severalrge chests full of Silver Taels. Xiao Yi pushed them aside and found a hidden entrance. Little Lin pointed its tail at the entrance, "Boss, I smell a strange scenting from here!"


    "Stand back, I''ll st this entrance open!" Xiao Yi said, taking a deep breath and throwing a punch.


    Boom!


    The whole secret chamber shook violently, with countless treasures falling from the shelves, littering the ground with jewels.


    But the entrance didn''t budge.


    "This..."


    Xiao Yi''s pupils slightly constricted.


    With his current cultivation andbat power, one punch could directly shatter a small mountain.


    Yet this entrance remained immovable?


    "I don''t believe this..."


    Xiao Yi took out his Fire Qilin Sword and only after a dozen continuous strikes did he manage to bust the entrance open. And, as the entrance broke apart, there seemed to be an ancient roaring from below.


    Ao!


    This roar was earth-shaking.


    Stay connected with empire


    Fierce wind gushed out violently, almost flipping over both Xiao Yi and Little Lin.


    The two looked at each other, "What on earth is this ce?"


    Only after the wild wind from the entrance had ceased did they quietly approach it; the elemental energy of heaven and earth filling the air was several times denser than the outside.


    An existence from the legends suddenly shed across Xiao Yi''s mind and he subconsciously swallowed, "Could it be? Is my luck that good? Did I really encounter that legendary ce?"

 Chapter 161 Limitless Golden Elixir, Qingyun Sword Song!

    Hum!


    Xiao Yi, seated within the Spirit Pool, was shaken to his core.


    His body suddenly appeared in the ancient tomb from times immemorial, and as he looked around in bewilderment, a golden light burst forth from the depths of the tomb.


    "This, this is¡­"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted suddenly.


    The golden light surged from the depths of the ancient tomb, disturbing one enormous tomb after another on its path. In the void, massive ck chains attempted to bind him, ghastly giant white bone ws tried to capture him, and the sharp edges of swords that could split the heavens and shatter mountains charged at him...


    But...


    The golden light was like a fearless War God, crashing headlong into the fray.


    Shattering the chains.


    Snapping the ws.


    Destroying the glint of swords...


    Hum!


    The golden light suddenly entered between Xiao Yi''s brows, and at the same time, in his mind, the "Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill" suddenly mutated, and an additional chapter materialized.@@novelbin@@


    "Limitless Golden Elixir!"


    These four words were deeply imprinted in his mind.


    At the same time, an old but dignified voice echoed in his mind, "All things under heaven operate by the Tao; every creature is bound by chains... Without breaking, nothing can be established; only through destructiones creation!"


    "Every creature is bound by chains?"


    Xiao Yi''s body quivered, as he seemed to see his Golden Core, with ten rings, wrapped in chains, preventing him from reaching the eleventh Golden Elixir Halo. That streak of golden light had transformed into the sharpest weapon of war, sting the chains asunder with a powerful strike, causing Xiao Yi to abruptly open his eyes.


    He had left the ancient tomb from times immemorial and returned to the Dragon Vein Spiritual Pool.


    His eyes swirled with golden light.


    "Breaking the limit, eleven rings of the Golden Elixir!"


    Xiao Yi roared in a low voice.


    The surrounding heaven and earth vitality rushed towards him frantically, forming one vortex after another, devouring the energy of heaven and earth without rejection.


    The abundant heavenly and earthly vitality continuously flowed into his body.


    Making Xiao Yi''s entire body seem translucent, a Golden Core with ten ovepping rings flew out into the cosmos, hovering above his head.


    Countless streams of heaven and earth vitality poured into it.


    Crack!


    Invisibly, one could hear the sound of chains shattering, and a sea of golden light condensed into a ring,nding on the Golden Core.


    The eleventh halo took shape.


    But Xiao Yi did not stop there, continuing to devour the heaven and earth vitality madly, "Continue, keep condensing..."


    Hum!


    Hum!


    Hum...


    Above his Golden Core, halos formed one after another.


    Twelve rings.


    Thirteen rings.


    Fourteen rings...


    He stopped only after the fifteenth Golden Elixir Halo had formed, because the heaven and earth vitality inside the Dragon Vein Spiritual Pool had been thoroughly consumed by him. In the faintness, one could hear a mournful, tragic cry of the Azure Dragon, with Xiao Yi holding the Golden Core adorned with fifteen halos, he reached out with his palm.


    Pfft!


    His palm crushed the stctites, snatching a transparent crystal as thick as a finger from within.


    This was the essence of the Dragon Vein that had umted in the Dragon Vein Spiritual Pool!


    It was struggling frantically.


    "I never expected you to be hiding inside here. One of you is worth two Dragon Vein Spiritual Pools; devour you, I shall!" Xiao Yi opened his mouth wide and stuffed the struggling Dragon Vein into his mouth. Read exclusive content at empire


    Boom!


    The Dragon Vein was the essence, its pure energy far surpassing the entire Dragon Vein Spiritual Pool.


    Terrifying power of the Dragon Vein circted throughout his body.


    Above Xiao Yi''s head, the halo of his Golden Elixir once again climbed.


    Sixteen.


    Seventeen.


    Eighteen...


    It soared to a full twenty golden halos that encircled the Golden Core, shimmering and sinking, their might enhanced dozens of times more than before. But this was not the end; as the twentieth Golden Elixir Halo condensed, the abundant energy within the Golden Core began to feed back, madly surging into the God Sealing Seed within Xiao Yi''s body.


    The energy contained in the twenty Golden Elixir Halos was far more potent than breaking through to the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    The quantity of God Sealing Seeds also skyrocketed like crazy.


    Sixty thousand.


    Seventy thousand.


    Eighty thousand...


    One by one, the God Sealing Seeds were activated, and in the blink of an eye, they broke through the hundred thousand mark, reaching a terrifying two hundred thousand.


    ording to Xiao Yi''s previous conjectures, to achieve two hundred thousand God Sealing Seeds, he would have to wait at least until the Second Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    This meant that possessing a twenty-haloed Golden Core now allowed him to stand in realm, no weaker than a powerhouse of the Second Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Whoosh!


    The twenty haloed Golden Core once again merged back into his body, and the heaven and earth Qi, refined by the two hundred thousand God Sealing Seeds, became the power of Divine Enthronement and re-integrated into the Golden Core. This power of Divine Enthronement, while roaming through his body, made it even stronger.


    Sitting in meditation within the Spirit Pool, Xiao Yi stabilized his cultivation and pondered, "Two hundred thousand God Sealing Seeds, I wonder which ancient tomb they can unlock?"


    With a thought, his figure appeared within the Eternal Heavenly Tomb.


    Xiao Yi discovered that the gate to the secondyer of the area had unexpectedly opened.


    There are nineyers in the whole Eternal Heavenly Tomb, and he had always been in the outermostyer. He never expected that after breaking through two hundred thousand God Sealing Seeds, he would actually unlock the secondyer.


    Just the outermostyer alone allowed him to inherit the legacies of formidable beings like the Death Envoy and Sword Demon Dugu.


    What kind of gains would this secondyer bring?


    Xiao Yi stepped inside.


    The moment he entered the secondyer of the tomb area, Xiao Yi''s gaze fell on the ancient tomb of Martial God Zhao Wuji, and he licked his lips as he walked towards it. Although there was an invisible resistance, the God Sealing Seeds on him shone brightly, blocking the obstruction from Zhao Wuji''s ancient tomb, causing Xiao Yi''s heartbeat to grow even more frantic.


    This was Martial God Zhao Wuji!


    The first in Qingtian Realm''s history to shatter the void and ascend to the divine level.


    What a pity...


    Xiao Yi was still some distance away from Martial God Zhao Wuji''s tomb and could only shake his head dejectedly, "After all, this is the pinnacle existence of Qingtian Realm, I''m afraid I will need over a million God Sealing Seeds to suppress it. Martial God Zhao Wuji, just you wait, it won''t be long before I take your inheritance!"


    Momentster, Xiao Yi stood in front of another legendary powerhouse''s ancient tomb.


    One sword cleaved the heavens, Qingyun Sword Saint!


    This being, who existed in the same era as the young Martial God Zhan Wuji, had supetive swordsmanship, and his Qinglian Sword Anthem dominated the Qingtian Realm!


    "Suppress!"


    Xiao Yi threw a fierce punch, and endless Divine Enthronement power surged wildly, shattering the low mound in front of him. The mound burst explosively, and a heaven-piercing Sword Intent soared upward, revealing a majestic middle-aged man with a sword on his back, wearing in robes with a refined face, his eyes sharp as swords, staring at Xiao Yi.


    His mouth curled up slightly, then he spoke, "Straight down the three thousand feet cascade!"


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The longsword behind him soared to the heavens, splitting from one into two, and from two into four, forming thousands upon thousands of sword shadows that spanned across and fell like a curtain from the sky. Like a waterfall plummeting straight down three thousand feet, the endless sword shadows poured down insanely. Xiao Yi, tilting his head back, snorted coldly, "Godly Prison of Suppression!"


    Crash!


    The two hundred thousand God Sealing Seeds erupted simultaneously with ck light, turning into a sky filled with ck chains, fiercely smashing through the sword rainfall.


    ng! ng! ng!


    The ck chains wrapped around Qingyun Sword Saint, binding him tightly and forcibly pulling into Xiao Yi''s body. Qingyun Sword Saint struggled fiercely, unable to break free from the God Sealing Seeds'' restraint, ultimately transforming into a statue poised proudly with a longsword on his back.


    At the same time.


    Xiao Yi''s mind buzzed, and the tune of the "Qinglian Sword Anthem" was imprinted in his mind.


    Phew!


    Xiao Yi exhaled a long breath, his eyes sparkling with bright essence, "Po Jun City, here Ie!"

 Chapter 162 Only He Cannot Die!

    Tian Kingdom, royal pce.


    Crown Princess Consort Yue Shuang looked anxiously at Xiao Yi, her face full of worry, "Lord Xiao, are you really going to Po Jun City?"


    In her eyes, aside from anxiety, there was also a hint of expectation.


    Jiang Tai went to Po Jun City with a heart ready to die. Without a miracle, facing the aggressive suppression of Qingyun Kingdom and Great Jin Kingdom, Jiang Tai had no chance of survival.


    Xiao Yi had be the only person she could rely on.


    Niu Dali clenched his fists tightly at the side, "Boss, let me go with you!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, his voice solemn, "You need to take good care of the Crown Princess Consort. With General Zhang Baisheng here, there won''t be any problems. Leave Po Jun City to me!"


    "Alright then!"


    Niu Dali hesitated for a moment before nodding in resignation.


    With his strength, even if he went to Po Jun City, he wouldn''t be of any help.@@novelbin@@


    Instead, he would be a burden.


    Xiao Yi did not say it outright, as he did not want to discourage him.


    "General!"


    Xiao Yi turned to look at Zhang Baisheng and took out a Martial Dao Divine Fruit¡ªone of the three obtained from that secret realm¡ªand handed it to him, "This is a Martial Dao Divine Fruit. If you refine it, General, you can step into the Tao Tribtion Realm. With this, I will have no worries!"


    "This..."


    Zhang Baisheng''s hands trembled as he took the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, took a deep breath, and said earnestly, "Your Highness, rest assured. As long as this old man draws breath, I will not let anyone harm the Crown Princess Consort!"


    "Hmm!"


    Xiao Yi nodded vigorously, then looked at everyone, "Everyone, take care!"


    "Your Highness, we''ll wait for your triumphant return!"


    "Guardian Martial God, invincible in battle!"


    "Waiting for your triumphant return..."


    The crowd shouted out loud one after another.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, and a Tianqing wild ox charged into the sky; he leapt up onto its back and broke through the air.


    Although this Tianqing wild ox was only a fifth-order beast, its speed wasparable to that of an average Tao Tribtion Realm expert. Moreover, its stamina was astonishing, making thousand-mile journeys in a day no problem.


    It was a full three thousand miles from the capital of Tian Kingdom to Po Jun City.


    Under Xiao Yi''s urging, the Tianqing wild ox burst forth with unprecedented speed. Watching the capital grow smaller and smaller behind him, Xiao Yi clenched his fists tightly, "Jiang Tai, wait for me!"


    ......


    Po Jun City.


    This is the northern border of Tianqing Kingdom, bordering on Qingyun Kingdom.


    Once...


    Qingyun Kingdom and Qing Tian Kingdom were of the same lineage, but a thousand years ago, a prince who failed to secure the throneunched a coup, and Qingyun Kingdom seceded.


    After a thousand years of development.


    Qingyun Kingdom''s national strength is no weaker than Qing Tian Kingdom.


    With the historical grudge between the two nations, they have be sworn enemies, never interacting with each other.


    The man leading the troops from Qingyun Kingdom was Jiang Shihai, known as the Supporting Mountain King of Qingyun Kingdom, who is also the paternal uncle of Jiang Tianchen. In the initial shes between the two kingdoms, Jiang Tianchen managed to halt the advance of Jiang Shihai''s forces by taking advantage of Po Jun City''s defenses.


    That was until the powerhouse of Great Jin Kingdom arrived on the battlefield.


    Three Tao Tribtion Realm experts attacked Jiang Tianchen at the same time, and the elite Golden Crow Guards of Great Jin Kingdomunched an assault, cutting down a hundred thousand elites of Tianqing Kingdom.


    This led to the fall of Po Jun City.


    Jiang Tianchen himself was taken prisoner, and when the experts from Great Jin Kingdom forced him to hand over Xiao Yi, he refused and was brutally killed. To this day, eight dayster, Jiang Tianchen''s body has been hanging outside the gate of Po Jun City, marred by signs of decay, asionally attracting flies to buzz and settle.


    In the sky, vultures circle and swoop down from time to time to snatch away pieces of flesh.


    The once-dignified King of Tianqing Kingdom not only died in battle but now his body was beyond recognition.


    If it weren''t for Jiang Tai leading his army here, upon seeing this scene, deploying ten divine archers to guard Jiang Tianchen''s corpse, and once they discovered any vultures immediately shooting them down with arrows, by now, Jiang Tianchen would probably be nothing but a skeleton.


    "Father Emperor..."


    Jiang Tai stood within the military camp, gazing at Jiang Tianchen, who was hanging above the city gate; his palms clenched into fists.


    His fingernails were also digging into his palms.


    Blood trickled down through the gaps between his fingers.


    "Crown Prince, messengers from the Qingyun Kingdom have delivered a letter!" Shi Yaoquan respectfully said, presenting the letter with both hands.


    The four Shi brothers had also set out with Jiang Tai to Po Jun City.


    Shi Yaoquan had already broken through to the Golden Core Realm, bing themander of Jiang Tai''s trusted aides.


    Jiang Tai took the letter, opened it, and his body suddenly staggered, nearly tumbling down.


    "Your Highness..."


    Shi Yaoquan, startled, quickly steadied Jiang Tai.


    Jiang Tai''s eyes were bloodshot, and the letter in his hand was crumpled into a ball, producing a creaking sound between his knuckles, "This is outrageous, absolutely outrageous!"


    "Your Highness, what exactly happened?" Shi Yaoquan asked in a shocked and puzzled tone, looking at Jiang Tai. In his memory, Jiang Tai had always been able to control his emotions well, never allowing his joy or anger to show. But now, he was visibly shaken by a letter.


    Jiang Tai, trembling, handed the crumpled letter to him.


    Shi Yaoquan quickly unfolded the wrinkled letter, and upon reading it, hisplexion too changed drastically, "Is this, this, this the act of humans?"


    The letter stated...


    Only two hours remain of the three-day ultimatum. If Jiang Tai still refuses to hand over Xiao Yi within the next two hours, a cauldron of boiling oil will be ced outside Po Jun City, and Jiang Tianchen''s corpse will be fried in it!


    The corpse had been suspended for eight days, left to rot, in the utmost humiliation.


    And now they actually want to deep fry it?


    "Your Highness, we should..." Shi Yaoquan''s eyes were filled with blood.


    Jiang Tai took a deep breath, his teeth clenched, "Summon all the generals, mobilize the troops. The moment they dare to fry Father Emperor''s body, we willunch a full-scale attack!"


    "Yes!"


    Shi Yaoquan immediately withdrew.


    Shortly after. Continue reading at empire


    The central army tent.


    All the generals had gathered, looking at Jiang Tai, who had a face as dark as thunder. They nced at each other, not even daring to breathe too loudly.


    They had already read the contents of that letter.


    Fearing they might provoke Jiang Tai.


    Left Army Commander Lei Ming hesitated for a long time, then with a toughened resolve, spoke in a grave voice, "Your Highness, given the current disparity in forces between us and the enemy, it is really not suitable to go to war!"


    "Not suitable to go to war? Then when is it suitable? Do we have to wait until they fry my father''s body for it to be suitable?"


    Jiang Tai smashed the table in front of him with a p, his face grim, as he roared furiously.


    The right Imperial Censor muttered, "Actually... we just need to hand over Xiao Yi, and it would be fine. This whole mess was his doing..."


    "Idiots!"


    Jiang Tai looked at Shi Yaoquan, "Drag him out and chop his head off!"


    "Yes!"


    Shi Yaoquan immediately stepped forward, seized the Imperial Censor, who was only at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm, and dragged him out of the tent.


    The right Imperial Censor wailed miserably, "Spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me..."


    Jiang Tai''s gaze was ice-cold as he looked towards the crowd, every word deliberate, "Every single one of you listen up, you can die, I can die, Father Emperor can also die, but the Guardian Martial God must not die! As long as he lives, there is hope for our Tianqing Kingdom! If he stands, our nation stands, if he falls, our nation falls! Anyone who dares to speak such demoralizing words again, questioning the foundation of our nation, will be executed without mercy! Do you hear me?"


    "We will heed your orders with utmost care!"


    Fearfully and respectfully, they responded.


    Jiang Tai took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes, with a surge of fighting spirit, "Main army, prepare for battle!"

 Chapter 163 Why Has the Sky Darkened?

    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The war drums within and outside Po Jun City thundered, sounding like heaven''s wrath.


    The army of the Tianqing Kingdom was already fully equipped and ready to go, consisting of all the remaining soldiers, even the city guard soldiers from the royal capital were brought over.


    Altogether, three hundred and fifty thousand.


    Inside Po Jun City, there were eight hundred and ten thousand troops from the Qingyun Kingdom, plus thirty thousand of the most elite Golden Crow Guards from the Great Jin Kingdom.


    These thirty thousand Golden Crow Guards were worth a hundred thousand ordinary soldiers.


    The battle drums roared, the banners flew against the clear sky, fluttering noisily.


    A menacing atmosphere spread across the dome of the sky, forming thick clouds that turned blood red in the sunset, like a crimson cloud hanging in the sky, exceptionally oppressive, making it difficult to breathe. In front of the formation, Jiang Tai, d in golden armor, held a long spear in his hand, his face expressionless as he stared ahead.@@novelbin@@


    From within Po Jun City, ck iron torrents of troops were pouring out in great numbers.


    Like ants emerging from their nest.


    To facilitate the movement of the army and also to obstruct the enemy, the entrance to Po Jun City was made particrlyrge, while the exit facing the Qingyun Kingdom was narrow.


    The massive armies of Qingyun Kingdom and Great Jin Kingdom spilled out of the city gates, scattering to both sides outside Po Jun City, dividing into two huge square formations of soldiers. The armies swiftly swelled to over five hundred thousand, and only then did Jiang Shihai slowly ride out on a fiery dragon-lion steed.


    Positioning himself in front of the troops.


    Jiang Shihai looked coldly at Jiang Tai and sneered, "Jiang Tai, little nephew, not greeting your uncle when you see him?"


    "Jiang Shihai..."


    Jiang Tai''s face turned steel blue as he gritted his teeth and said, "Return my father''s body to me!"


    "Return it? Of course, I will return it! But, I''ve made my terms clear to you. If you hand over Xiao Yi, not only will I return Jiang Tianchen''s body to you, but I will also immediately withdraw my troops!" Jiang Shihai said indifferently, resting his elbow on the saddle and leaning to the side as he chuckled, "Of course, if you refuse, soon your father''s body will be returned to you fried in oil!"


    Jiang Tai''s eyes split with rage as he roared, "Jiang Shihai, we are both of the Jiang n, from the same root, why be so hasty to turn on each other!"


    "Hahaha, when your old ancestor dubiously snatched the Tianqing Kingdom''s rulership, did he consider we were from the same root?"


    Jiang Shihaiughed scornfully, "It seems you are reluctant to hand over Xiao Yi. Tsk tsk, I thought you, being younger, would know how to read the situation and understand that a good bird chooses the tree it perches on. I didn''t expect you to be as foolish as he was, wagering the fate of an entire kingdom for someone who has no rtion to you? Ridiculous, truly ridiculous!"


    "Xiao Yi is the Guardian Martial God of Tianqing Kingdom; as long as he lives, Tianqing shall not perish. I, Jiang Tai, can die, my father can die, all of my Jiang family can die, but he alone cannot die!"


    Jiang Tai pronounced each word distinctly, his voice unwavering with determination.


    These words were what Jiang Tianchen had once said to him.


    All along.


    Jiang Tianchen had always been a wise and sagacious ruler, leaving an indelible mark in Jiang Tai''s heart.


    If Jiang Tianchen was willing to sacrifice his life and wage war for Xiao Yi.


    Naturally, Jiang Tai would not go against Jiang Tianchen''s wishes. Discover hidden tales at empire


    "Fool! I really don''t understand what kind of spell Xiao Yi has cast on you, but since you''re so stubborn, don''t me me then!"


    Jiang Shihai shook his head in contempt and sneered, "Someone, bring out the oil cauldron; let''s show the Tianqing Kingdom a performance of frying an emperor!"


    "Frying an emperor!"


    "Hahaha, my lord, this will surely be a dish to be remembered through the ages!"


    Generals under the Qingyun Kingdomughed aloud.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Dozens of soldiers pushed out a cauldron of boiling oil, under which wood was stacked to stoke a fierce fire.


    Bubbles continuously erupted from the oil cauldron, exploding and spraying scalding hot oil onto the ground with a hissing sound.


    Creak! Creak! Creak!


    Two Qingyun Kingdom soldiers slowly operated the ropes, gently lowering Jiang Tianchen''s body down, one in front and one behind, carrying Jiang Tianchen''s corpse towards the cauldron. By the side of the cauldron, both men were ready, just waiting for Jiang Shihai''s order to throw Jiang Tianchen''s body into the oil.


    Jiang Shihai slowly raised his right hand, smirking coldly as he looked at Jiang Tai. "Within three breaths, if you choose to surrender and hand Xiao Yi over to me, I will return the body to you!"


    Thud!


    Jiang Tai dismounted from his horse with a flip.


    Shi Yaoquan and a host of other generals and soldiers did the same, dismounting in unison.


    Hundreds of thousands of men, uniformly coordinated.


    Thud!


    One by one, they knelt on the ground.


    Jiang Tai''s eyes were bloodshot, he clenched his steel teeth so hard that blood seeped from the corners of his lips as he roared, "Father, may you have a safe journey ahead!"


    "Your Majesty, may you have a safe journey ahead!"


    "Your Majesty, take your time!"


    Jiang Shihai''s eyebrows were tightly furrowed. He had already counted to two, but Jiang Tai''s actions were causing him great irritation and anger. He shouted, "Since you all remain so obstinate, you can''t me me! Blow him up!"


    "Yes!"


    Two soldiers carried the corpse of Jiang Tianchen and ascended to the tform next to the cauldron of oil.


    With a loud bang, Jiang Tai flipped back onto his horse.


    ng, ng, ng!


    The generals and soldiers mounted their horses simultaneously.


    Pointing his spear forward, Jiang Tai roared, "Generals and soldiers, follow me into battle!"


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"


    "Kill¡­"


    Rumble!


    Three hundred and fifty thousand warriors, in uniform motion, their voices shaking the heavens.


    As the saying goes, mournful troops are sure to win!


    In the hearts of every soldier of the Tianqing Kingdom, there burned a fierce rage, watching helplessly as their sovereign was about to be thrown into a cauldron of oil and fried alive. Every Tianqing Kingdom soldier wished they could tear into the enemies of the Qingyun Kingdom with their bare hands.


    "Blow him up!"


    Jiang Shihai unsheathed his longsword. As the sword swept across the sky and his fighting spirit soared, he bellowed, "My sons, follow me into battle!"


    Rumble!


    The armies of both sides surged forward simultaneously.


    They were like two cataclysmic floods, madly rushing towards each other.


    The earth roared and the mountains trembled.


    The armies were separated by a few miles, but as they charged at full strength, they grew ever closer.


    It appeared that the two forces were about to collide.


    The two soldiers had already climbed onto the tform, lifting high the body of Jiang Tianchen and were about to throw it into the cauldron of oil. But just as they looked up, their pupils suddenly shrank; a ck dot had appeared in the blue sky above them. The dot grew nearer andrger, eventually filling their sight.


    It even turned into a vast ck shadow that covered half the battlefield.


    "Why has the sky darkened?"


    "What''s happening?"


    "You¡ªyou all look, what is that thing in the sky?"


    Sudden cries of rm rang out from the crowd.


    Even the charging armies instinctively slowed, looking up towards the heavens. And when they did, everyone''s face changed¡­

 Chapter 166 Who Won

    ```


    In the cauldron of oil.


    Jiang Shihai''s body had already been fried to a golden brown, bubbling up and down with the hot oil.


    The smile on the nonchntly walking Yu Huaxian''s face solidified, his venomous eyes locked onto Xiao Yi and he said deliberately and slowly, "Didn''t you hear this overseer tell you to stop?"


    "Who the hell are you?"


    Xiao Yi looked up at him, snorted coldly, "I don''t like talking to people looking up. Come down here!"


    Whoosh!


    His right hand reached into the void.


    In the void, the qi became like silk threads, forming a giant qi palm that grasped Yu Huaxian and smashed him forcefully towards the ground.


    Yu Huaxian had not expected Xiao Yi to strike without a word.


    It was toote to counter.


    Boom!


    The elegant, effeminate Yu Huaxian was pped harshly into the ground, half of his body buried in the earth, his face a picture of bewilderment as he looked up at Xiao Yi above him.


    Xiao Yi looked down from above, nodding in satisfaction, "That''s much morefortable!"


    "You, you..."


    Yu Huaxian was so enraged that his hair stood on end, his eyes blood-red.


    Fury!


    Extreme fury!


    He was the overseer of the Eastern Factory in the Great Jin Kingdom, a figure of renown even amongst the sea of powerful beings in Great Jin. Even the lofty officials and wealthy gentry of the Great Jin had to address him respectfully as Overseer Yu!


    But now...


    He had been half buried in the ground with a p by a boy not even twenty years old?


    Boom!


    Rumble!


    Gusts of wind erupted from Yu Huaxian''s body, the ground thundering and trembling, violently churning around him as the epicenter.


    Fierce cracks spread in all directions.


    The cracks grew more numerous and wider.


    Like a spider''s web.


    The surroundingnd was lifted several meters high, and the ground around Yu Huaxian burst apart as he extricated himself. Floating in the air, a sweep of the wind around him blew the dust away, his cold eyes filled with ferocity, fixed on Xiao Yi, "You little bastard, you''vepletely enraged this overseer!"


    "What''s with the androgynous act here? Stop your meaningless yapping!" Xiao Yi said with a disgusted scold.


    "An-androgynous?"


    Yu Huaxian''s face suddenly stiffened.


    Rage!


    Livid with rage!


    The thing he hated most was to be described as androgynous!


    Yu Huaxian spat viciously, pointing at Xiao Yi with a pinching gesture, and growled, "This overseer didn''t want to hurt you, but now this overseer has changed his mind!"


    "Scram!"


    Xiao Yi pped him away.


    Yu Huaxian snorted coldly, "Ignorant fool, you mistook my oversight for weakness. Do you think the same trick would work twice?"


    Yu Huaxian easily waved and smashed the qi palm into pieces.


    He said smugly, "See that, you..."


    Bang!


    His words were cut off abruptly.


    Xiao Yi''s palm had contained a surge of Sword Qi; Yu Huaxian managed to shatter the qi palm, but failed to guard against the Sword Qi st.


    It sent him flying, burying his body halfway into the ground once again, and Xiao Yi quickly followed up.


    Strike the sick, take the life!


    He kicked towards Yu Huaxian''s face.


    Bang!


    Yu Huaxian''s chin took the blow, his body spinning like a top with a clump of earth as he was thrown through the air, rolling dozens of meters beforeing to a stop.


    "You little bastard, bastard... You''ve dirtied this overseer''s clothes? Damn it, you deserve to die a thousand deaths..."


    ```


    Yu Huaxian trembled and struggled to his feet, looking at his pristine white robe now sullied with mud and blood, even with chunks of flesh hanging on his belt. His eyes werepletely covered with a zing red as he raged uncontrobly, "Xiao Yi, if I don''t y you a thousand times, I won''t be able to quell the hatred in my heart!"


    Boom!


    Yu Huaxian leaped into the air, flicking his wrist, and in the blink of an eye, a series of silver needles whizzed through the air.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The needles broke through the sky, trailing bright red threads.


    They wove into a dazzling red peony in mid-air as Yu Huaxian''s voice, indistinct between Yin and Yang, sent chills down the spine, "A thought and the flower blooms!"


    Swoosh!


    The peony flower actually burst into full bloom.


    And those blooming petals were numerous needles and red threads linked together, as if each needle had its own renowned name, firing towards Xiao Yi from different directions.


    There were simply too many needles.


    Xiao Yi tapped the ground and leaped backward to retreat.


    Bang!


    The needlesnded where he had been standing, burrowing into the ground, and as Yu Huaxian gave a tug on the threads, a clump of earth heavy as a hut was lifted high into the air. It was shredded by the red threads in mid-flight, and in a sh, countless needles charged at Xiao Yi once more.


    Xiao Yi fought as he retreated.


    The crisp sounds of shing echoed continuously.


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    The Fire Qilin Sword collided with the needles, emitting a series of dazzling sparks.


    "The Epiphyllum blooms for but a moment!"


    As Yu Huaxian''s fingers weaved an otherworldly sequence, the iing needles and red threads suddenly vanished.


    Xiao Yi first froze, then immediately felt a chill up his spine.


    Instinctively, he swung the Fire Qilin Sword behind him.


    Ting Ting Ting!


    A series of crisp sounds followed and a great force pushed Xiao Yi forward.


    "Not good!"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils dted instantly, as dozens of needles appeared out of thin air ahead of him,ing straight at him.


    In a critical moment,


    Xiao Yi instinctively executed a sword move: "Parting the White Egrets on the Twin Waters!"


    This was a move from the "Qinglian Sword Song."


    With a thrust forward, rolling waves of air formed on the de, splitting everything in front ahead into two halves.


    The air, the wind, and even those needles.


    All were split apart.


    They flew past Xiao Yi on either side, and he seized the opportunity to burst forward, breaking through the needle blockade and closing the distance with Yu Huaxian. Yu Huaxian was at the Fifth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, and his tactics were extremely bizarre and skilled in ranged attacks; Xiao Yi had to close the distance between them.


    "The Torrent Plunges Down Three Thousand Feet!"


    The sword shadows transformed into a waterfall, pouring down.


    The numerous needles before him were shattered.


    Yu Huaxian''s pupils shrank, the sharp sword point now only half a foot from his brow as he stumbled backward. Meanwhile, his hands weaved in front of him, red threads forming the shape of an ancient zither, as Yu Huaxian''s slender palms gently fluttered across the strings.


    Zeng Zeng Zeng!@@novelbin@@


    Amidst the ear-piercing sound of the zither, countless red-threaded needles burst forth.


    The needles and the sword shadows, like the point of a needle against a wheat awn.


    They collided, dissipating one another!


    "Nine Swords Unite as One!"


    Xiao Yi merged all his sword shadows into unity, jabbing forward with one thrust.


    Yu Huaxian''s expressionless face, hands pressed forcefully on the zither strings, "A Hundred Flowers Blossom Together!"


    Countless needles and red threads woven into an image of a hundred flowerspeting in beauty, the blossoms exploded, and the collision of swords and needles made the void around them seem to stand still.


    In the blink of an eye¡­


    Boom!


    An eye-blinding orb of light appeared out of nowhere.


    Right after, the orb expanded tenfold and burst with a loud bang.


    In an instant, Xiao Yi and Yu Huaxian were engulfed in the brilliance.


    Above the battlefield, everyone stopped fighting and looked towards the gradually dimming orb of light: "Who won?"

 Chapter 168 Azure Dragon Guard

    "Guardian Martial God, with me, Wudi!"


    "Wudi..."


    Bellowing roars of fury echoed between heaven and earth.


    Hundreds of thousands of Tianqing Kingdom soldiers seemed to take this opportunity to vent all the grievances and frustrations umted over the past month.


    Over the past month,


    Tianqing Kingdom was besieged on all sides, facing enemies from every direction, almost crushing every soldier and civilian under its weight, leaving them gasping for air.


    This was especially so after Great General Xia Yuan turned traitor during battle, leaving the royal ancestor Jiang Weisheng gravely wounded and forced into retreat. Moreover, the current King Jiang Tianchen was killed and his body hung outside Po Jun City, a series of blows that weighed on everyone''s hearts like a massive mountain.


    Until now...


    Xiao Yi''s emergence, the emergence of Tianqing Kingdom''s Guardian Martial God.


    He hurled mountains, ughtering a hundred thousand foes!


    With a casual hand, he cleaved Tao Tribtion beings, effortlessly cutting down Chilian.


    All these glorious victories finally shattered the dark clouds hovering overhead, giving them a glimpse of hope.


    When people in despair see hope, they chase after the light with all their might, like bloodthirsty ants!


    The soldiers of Tianqing Kingdom were in just such a state!


    "Kill!"


    "Those who offend Tianqing, though far away, shall be punished!"


    "Die..."


    Each one appeared frenzied, their fighting spirits high.


    As if possessed by the War God.


    In contrast, the soldiers of Qingyun Kingdom now resembled mourners at a funeral.


    With Xiao Yi''s appearance, he annihted over a hundred thousand of them with two mountains, and then strongly executed Jiang Shihai, frying his body to a golden crisp.


    But at that time, they had not yet fallen into despair.


    In the hearts of Qingyun Kingdom''s people, behind them stood strong allies from the Great Jin Kingdom.


    However...


    As Yu Huaxian and Li Moqiu fell, theirst hope crumbled too.


    Endless despair followed suit.


    As one side waxed, the other waned.


    The military of Qingyun Kingdom copsed like a house of cards.


    Under the crushing sweep of Tianqing Kingdom''s soldiers, hundreds of thousands either fled in disarray or begged for mercy on their knees. This battle, Tianqing Kingdom had already won!


    Clip-clop, clip-clop!


    Amidst the sound of horse hooves, Jiang Tai, nked by the Shi Family''s four brothers, came to Xiao Yi''s side.


    Kneeling before Xiao Yi with his hands behind his back was Yu Huaxian.@@novelbin@@


    Yu Huaxian''s face was pale; the earlier sh with Xiao Yi had left him badly wounded, and now he looked like a prisoner at the foot of the steps, his face wearing a bitter smile, "No wonder Tianqing Kingdom regards you as their Guardian Martial God, no wonder Jiang Tianchen and the others would rather die to protect you..."


    "As long as I''m here, Tianqing Kingdom will not fall!" Xiao Yi said indifferently.


    "You''re very confident, it''s just a pity..."


    Yu Huaxian let out a sneer and said lightly, "Your enemy this time is too strong, much stronger than you could ever imagine!"


    "You''re talking about Xue Yilou, right?" Xiao Yi said.


    Yu Huaxian nodded.


    Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "One day, I will personally eradicate Xue Yilou!"


    "Hmm?"


    Yu Huaxian blinked in surprise, frowning as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Eradicate Xue Yilou? Do you have any idea how powerful Xue Yilou is? They have thirteen Lords, even the weakest among them is at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, and among them, there are nock of Dharma Manifestation Realm beings, even up to the peak of that realm..."


    "I know!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, being from the Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty, he was naturally aware of Xue Yilou, "So what? If they are the enemy, then it''s either them or us!"


    "If you go head-to-head with Xue Yilou, the most likely oue is that you''ll be crushed to pieces, with no hope of redemption..."


    Xiao Yi said, "Then let there be no hope of redemption!"


    Yu Huaxian fell silent.


    A momentter,


    Yu Huaxian looked up again, gazing steadily at Xiao Yi, "Are you truly confident in eradicating Xue Yilou?"


    Xiao Yi said lightly, "More than a year ago, I was but in the Physical Body Realm!"


    "Er..."


    Yu Huaxian was taken aback, "Over a year ago, you were just at the Physical Body Realm? So what? With that, you think you can challenge Xue Yilou... wait, what did you say? A year ago you were just at the Physical Body Realm? A year ago?"


    Yu Huaxian looked at Xiao Yi with a dumbfounded face.


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Yu Huaxian, incredulous, looked towards Jiang Tai and others.


    Jiang Tai shrugged, "I felt the same when I first found out. But, it''s all true!"


    The four brothers of the Shi Family, "It''s true..."


    "Damn..."


    Yu Huaxian suddenly cursed, a struggle apparent on his face, and after a moment he fiercely clenched his teeth, "Xiao Yi, I am willing to submit to you, but I have one condition..."


    Xiao Yi asked, "What condition?"


    Yu Huaxian took a deep breath, articting each word, "If one day, you have the capability, help me annihte the royal family of the Great Jin Kingdom!"


    "Uh..."


    Xiao Yi was startled.


    Jiang Tai frowned, "Annihte the Great Jin Kingdom''s royal family?"


    Shi Yaodu looked confused, "Aren''t you the supervisor of the Eastern Factory for the Great Jin Kingdom? Logically, you should be a staunch loyalist to the Great Jin Kingdom''s royal family..."


    "No, in their eyes, I am nothing but a dog. I bite whoever they tell me to bite, and if they want me dead, I''m the dog that can''t refuse to die..." Yu Huaxian suddenly smiled, but his smile was especially ferocious.


    Xiao Yi squinted and said, "That reason isn''t enough to make me believe you!"


    Yu Huaxian hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and said, "I had a sister who died at the hands of the Great Jin Kingdom''s Third Prince."


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi looked at Yu Huaxian seriously.


    In his eyes now, there was only hatred and coldness.


    After a moment of contemtion, Xiao Yi said, "I promise you, if one day I have sufficient power, I will help you tten the Great Jin Kingdom''s royal family!"


    "My lord above, please ept Yu Huaxian''s bow!" Yu Huaxian knelt heavily, his voice indistinguishable between Yin and Yang, he called out.


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    That voice was somewhat unbearable!


    Xiao Yi said in a deep voice, "From now on, just call me Xiao!"


    "Yes, Xiao!"


    Yu Huaxian said respectfully.


    "Rise!"


    Xiao Yi helped him to his feet and said solemnly, "Yu Huaxian, how do you n to deal with the thirty thousand Golden Crow Guards within Po Jun City?"


    Yu Huaxian replied, "Xiao, rest assured, the Golden Crow Guards were trained by me. I will have them all pledge allegiance!"


    "Good, go and get the Golden Crow Guards in order!" Xiao Yi said.


    Yu Huaxian nodded and replied, "I will do it now!"


    Watching Yu Huaxian''s departing figure, Jiang Tai''s face showed a contemtive expression, he whispered, "Xiao, can we really trust this man?"


    Xiao Yi said, "I don''t know!"


    "Uh..."


    Jiang Tai blinked, "He''s a Fourth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm power, is it really okay to keep him by your side?"


    Xiao Yi continued, "Intuition tells me he''s not lying. Besides... with me here, he can''t cause any trouble!"


    Jiang Tai was startled, then shook his head with a wry smile.


    A momentter.


    Yu Huaxian returned, his once immacte white clothes now stained with fresh blood, and only twenty thousand of the thirty thousand Golden Crow Guards followed him to the presence of Xiao Yi and others. Yu Huaxian knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "Xiao, mission aplished; these twenty thousand brothers of the Golden Crow Guards wish to follow me!"


    The remaining ten thousand, obviously unwilling to submit, had been dealt with.


    "Very well!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, looking at the Golden Crow Guards kneeling neatly behind him, he proimed loudly, "From now on, you are no longer the Golden Crow Guards of the Great Jin Kingdom, you are the Azure Dragon Guards of the Tianqing Kingdom. You, the Azure Dragon Guards, are you willing to fight with Xiao?"


    The twenty thousand soldiers of the Azure Dragon Guards looked up at Xiao Yi.


    In the previous battle.


    The formidable power Xiao Yi had disyed hadpletely subdued them, and with Yu Huaxian stepping forward, everyone proudly said, "We swear to follow the Guardian Martial God!"


    "We swear to follow!"


    Xiao Yi looked satisfied at the twenty thousand Azure Dragon Guards before him, the equivalent of a hundred thousand strong army.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and announced loudly, "Azure Dragon Guards, heed mymand, follow me in the counterattack against the Qingyun Kingdom!"

 Chapter 169 You Do Not Deserve

    Within the borders of Qingyun Kingdom.


    A formidable army of three hundred thousand marched forth in a vast, iron-ck current that continuously twined through the Qingyun Kingdom.


    Everywhere it passed, it was invincible in battle, and unstoppable in attack!


    It was an unstoppable force that no one could withstand!


    Within the marching formation...


    Shi Yaoqian, with a profound sense of emotion on his face, watched the Azure Dragon Guards leading the way and said, "Xiao, thebat power of these Azure Dragon Guards is too frightening, isn''t it? Seizing cities and taking fortresses, there''s nothing they can''t aplish..."


    "Indeed! Along the way, it has almost always been them earning merits!"


    "We''re just spectating the show..."


    The four Shi brothers were chatting with each other. Shi Yaose admired Xiao Yi and said, "Xiao''s discernment is truly unique! If you hadn''t taken Yu Huaxian under your wing, we wouldn''t have gotten the Azure Dragon Guards, and our journey wouldn''t have been this smooth..."


    Xiao Yi nced at them calmly and said indifferently, "What if I said that I spared him out of sheer curiosity about a question, would you believe me?"


    "Hmm? What question?"


    The four brothers were puzzled.


    Even Yu Huaxian, who was standing beside him and twiddling his orchid fingers, looked at Xiao Yi curiously, also somewhat unclear as to why Xiao Yi hadn''t just killed him. From Yu Huaxian''s interactions with Xiao Yi over the past few days, he knew that Xiao Yi was decisively ruthless towards his enemies, just as he was with Li Moqiu, whom Xiao Yi had in without hesitation.


    Yet, he had spared Yu Huaxian instead.


    Xiao Yi coughed lightly and looked at Yu Huaxian: "Huaxian, what made you do it... out of desperation?"


    The four Shi brothers'' eyes lit up, turning their gaze simultaneously to Yu Huaxian.


    Yu Huaxian''s face twitched violently, never having expected that Xiao Yi''s curiosity stemmed from this.


    Xiao Yi said, "If it''s really inconvenient, then just pretend I never asked."


    Yu Huaxian, twirling a lock of hair by his temple, hesitated but eventually said, "It''s not that it''s inconvenient, but you mustn''tugh at me after hearing it..."


    Xiao Yi: "I promise not tough!"


    The Shi brothers: "Whoeverughs is a dog!"


    "Alright then!"


    Yu Huaxian took a deep breath, and with a defeated look on his face, he said, "To make ends meet, I joined the army at eighteen and became a soldier. But due to my average cultivation, I never received any recognition. Everything changed when I stumbled upon a scroll. Initially, I didn''t practice the art within, but after the Third Prince caused the death of my sister, I vowed to master it."


    "The opening of the scroll read, ''to train in this art, one must first be castrated!''"


    Hiss!


    Everyone drew in a cold breath of air.


    Their gaze towards Yu Huaxian softened, filled with sympathy: "For your sister''s sake, you went through a great deal!"@@novelbin@@


    "It wasn''t easy indeed!"


    "Don''t be sad, as long as you follow Xiao, you''ll have your day of revenge!"


    The fourforted him.


    However...


    Yu Huaxian then leisurely said, "Before, I had never turned to thest page of the scroll. It wasn''t until I broke through to the Tao Tribtion Realm that I finally read it, and it said, ''No castration necessary, sess is still achievable...''"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    The Shi brothers: "..."


    Pfft!


    All five of them couldn''t contain theirughter and burst outughing uncontrobly.


    Yu Huaxian looked at them with a resentful gaze...


    "My apologies, it wasn''t intentional, I just can''t hold it back... pfft..."


    "Such, such misery..."


    "Hahaha..."


    They allughed so hard they were bent double.


    As the group was talking, a colossal city loomed on the horizon, twice the size of the capital of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    This was the capital of Qingyun Kingdom.


    "Ahead is the capital of Qingyun Kingdom. Now that Qingyun Kingdom has no Tao Tribtion Realm experts, with only about two hundred thousand troops to defend the city, they are no match for us," said Shi Yaoqian, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the enormous city ahead. This was a campaign that would wipe out a nation, and they were about to be heroes of such a war.


    In the hearts of the people of Tianqing Kingdom, Qingyun Kingdom was a traitor.


    For millennia.


    Generations of the Tianqing Kingdom always harbored the desire to reim Qingyun Kingdom.


    Today...


    They were finally about to fulfill that desire!


    "Lord Xiao, I request to lead the charge!" Yu Huaxian dered solemnly.


    He had already been thoroughly convinced by Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yi had given him hope of bing a man once again.


    Now, his loyalty to Xiao Yi was unshakable.


    Xiao Yi said, "Granted!"


    Yu Huaxian''s face beamed with ecstasy, and with a squeeze of his legs, his warhorse charged out, "Azure Dragon Guards, follow me to break through the city!"


    Shi Yaodu, stroking his chin, pondered, "The capital''s defenders still number two hundred thousand, and although the Azure Dragon Guards are powerful, it is impossible for them to take the city quickly. I bet that it will take Yu Huaxian at least three days to breach the city!"


    "Makes sense!"


    The crowd nodded in agreement.


    The capital was built with imposing grandeur, easy to defend and difficult to attack, defended by arge army of two hundred thousand.


    Indeed, taking such a city was no simple feat.


    However...


    When they arrived at the capital, they were stunned by the scene before them.


    They saw Yu Huaxian''s Azure Dragon Guards halted several miles outside the city while the gates were wide open. King of Qingyun Kingdom, Jiang Tianxiao, with his ministers in tow, approached in a horse-drawn carriage. With a fawning smile and a slight bow, Jiang Tianxiao rubbed his hands together and said, "Which one among you is Lord Xiao, the Guardian Martial God of Tianqing Kingdom? I am Jiang Tianxiao, and here I am, leading my ministers to request surrender..."


    Yu Huaxian: "..."


    The Shi brothers: "..."


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Surrender?


    With two hundred thousand troops in hand, presiding over such a mighty city, yet you request surrender without a fight?


    Xiao Yi, mounted on a Tianqing wild bull, stepped out from the formation, his icy gaze upon Jiang Tianxiao: "You don''t deserve the Jiang surname!"

 Chapter 172 As You Wish!

    "Be extremely cautious of Zhao Wuji..."


    The voice of the Wind Thunder Venerable boomed like a tide, crazily echoing in his mind.


    Xiao Yi''s head buzzed with the sound.


    Hisplexion also turned deathly pale due to this revtion, perplexed by the severity, he asked, "Senior, you say to be cautious of Zhao Wuji? What do you mean? Senior..."


    However...


    Transformed into a statue, thoroughly suppressed by the God Sealing Seed, the Wind Thunder Venerable gave no further response.


    Xiao Yi''s eyebrows were tightly knitted: "What exactly does it mean? Tell me to be cautious of Zhao Wuji?"


    Martial God Zhao Wuji.


    The most legendary figure in the history of the Qingtian Realm.


    He possessed the Chaos Tyrant Body, ranked first among the Qingtian Realm''s top ten Sacred Bodies.


    In the entire history of the Qingtian Realm, aside from Zhao Wuji, no one else had ever been born with the Chaos Tyrant Body, which firmly upied the first position among the top ten Sacred Bodies.


    Even Xiao Tianjiao''s Supreme Overlord Holy Body was only ranked third on the list of the top ten Sacred Bodies.


    It was imaginable.


    Just how terrifying Zhao Wuji must be!


    With his own strength, he overwhelmed peerless geniuses like the twin hermits, Qingyun Sword Saint, and the Wind Thunder Venerable.


    He left behind countless legends.


    The Wind Thunder Venerable actually warned him to be wary of Zhao Wuji?


    "Senior Wind Thunder Venerable must have a reason for his warning... It seems that to suppress Zhao Wuji, I need to n for the long term!" Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, his fingers lightly stroking his chin as he murmured to himself.


    He had originally nned to suppress the legendary figure Zhao Wuji as soon as the God Sealing Seed could approach Zhao Wuji''s ancient tomb.


    Perhaps he could obtain his peerless Cultivation Technique, as well as the top-ranked Chaos Sacred Body.


    But now...


    Thest warning from the Wind Thunder Venerable made Xiao Yi instinctively vignt, casting a deep nce at Zhao Wuji''s ancient tomb, deciding he would not make a move on it for at least the short term!


    Fortunately, the inheritance from the Wind Thunder Venerable also brought Xiao Yi tremendous benefits. Not to mention the unparalleled Alchemy and infinite elixir recipes of the Wind Thunder Venerable, just the cultivation method of the Wind Thunder Holy Body alone was priceless. It was the only one among the top ten Sacred Bodies that could be cultivatedter on as a special constitution.


    Although it''s not as good as the Supreme Overlord Holy Body, it was at least far superior to ordinary prodigies.


    "The Wind Thunder Holy Body uses the body as a crucible to absorb the power of the Heaven and Earth Gangfeng and thunder to strengthen oneself..."


    Xiao Yi''s mind conjured the cultivation method of the Wind Thunder Holy Body, causing him to sigh inwardly, "No wonder since the Wind Thunder Venerable, no one has heard of anyone who has cultivated such a Sacred Body. Common Heaven and Earth Gangfeng and various thunders are minor, but every time one undergoes Wind Thunder Body Refinement, it causes huge damage to the body. It must be apanied by the corresponding elixir recipes and cultivated with the respective elixirs..."


    The cultivation of the Wind Thunder Holy Body fundamentally strengthens the body with the power of Wind Thunder, while also gaining the power of Wind Thunder.


    There are dozens of types of Heaven and Earth Gangfeng, the mostmon of them being the Five Elements Gangfeng, the Annihtion Gang Wind, the Cleansing World Gangfeng, and so on.


    The number of thunders is considerably greater.


    The most basic thunder of the thunder domain, then the Five Elements Jielei, Five Elements Divine Thunder, Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, and so forth...


    Finding these Gang Winds and thunders was not difficult.


    But whether it''s the Heaven and Earth Gangfeng or the various thunders, their destructive power is extremely terrifying!


    Every time one forcibly undergoes Wind Thunder Body Refinement, there is certain damage to the body, some of which is irreversible. The Wind Thunder Venerable, based on the uniqueness of the Wind Thunder Holy Body, formted nine elixir recipes corresponding to the nine realms of the Wind Thunder Holy Body. After each Wind Thunder Body Refinement, consuming the specific elixir could eliminate the damage.


    Take the essence, discard the dross!


    "The Wind Thunder Holy Body has nine turns. The first turn only requires ordinary Gangfeng and the thunder from a stormy day, but I need to prepare the materials to concoct the First-turn Fenglei Elixir. These materials should be found in the Qingyun Kingdom!" Xiao Yi took a deep breath, nced at Little Lin who wasying beside him, fallen into a deep sleep after devouring a great amount of heavenly and earthly energy, and was slowly digesting it.


    Taking Little Lin into his arms, Xiao Yi left the Dragon Vein Spiritual Pool.


    ...


    "Xiao, I''ve finally found you..." Xiao Yi had just appeared when he heard Shi Yaoqian''s voice.


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, "Shi Yaoqian? What do you want with me?"


    "Xiao, where have you been? You''ve been gone for three or four days..."


    Shi Yaoqian looked depressed, then pped his forehead and said, "Right, Xiao, you need toe with me quickly, there''s trouble!"


    Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "What kind of trouble?"


    After entering the Dragon Vein Spiritual Pool, he had gotten lost in his cultivation and lost track of time, and he hadn''t expected it had been three or four days already.


    Shi Yaoqian exined urgently, "Yu Huaxian was taking inventory of the treasures in the pce when he encountered a strange old man in the imperial physician''s room. They''re arguing fiercely now, and it''s about toe to blows..."


    "Strange old man? Haven''t all the people from Qingyun Kingdom surrendered? Where did this strange old mane from?"


    Xiao Yi was utterly perplexed.


    Then, he followed Shi Yaoqian to the imperial physician''s room.


    This was the ce where medicine was stored in the old pce.


    From Shi Yaoqian''s story, Xiao Yi learned that this strange old man had appeared suddenly today and that his strength was unfathomably strange, even Yu Huaxian couldn''t match him, and he was profoundly wary of him.


    When Xiao Yi and Shi Yaoqian reached the exterior of the imperial physician''s room, Shi Yaoqian was about to push the door open but Xiao Yi grabbed his cor and pulled him back. Almost at that moment, a thud was heard, and a shadow flew out backward. With a bang, the door was broken, and with another thud, the figure hit the ground. Looking closely, wasn''t this Yu Huaxian?


    At this moment, Yu Huaxian''s delicate white skin had turned purple-ck, she was foaming at the mouth and convulsing on the ground.


    Shi Yaoqian''s face changed, "Yu Huaxian? What happened?"


    Just as he was about to step forward, Xiao Yi grabbed him, "If you don''t want to die, don''t go over there. She''s been poisoned by Manggu Zhuha!"


    Manggu Zhuha?


    Shi Yaoqian waspletely baffled.


    He had never heard of such a thing.


    At that moment...


    A harsh, old voice came from inside the room, "Eh? Young man, you''re not old, but you''re quite informed. Can you tell at a nce that she has been poisoned by Manggu Zhuha?"


    Tap, tap, tap!


    A bright red walking stick was the first to poke out from the threshold, followed by a hunchbacked and aged figure tremblingly stepping out.


    He looked as feeble as a candle flickering in the wind, ready to fall at any moment.


    But this person''s cultivation was definitely not weak!


    On the old man''s wrinkled face, which resembled the bark of an old tree, the deep lines seemed capable of trapping flies. He said proudly, "Since you know it''s the poison of Manggu Zhuha, then you should know that unless I personally take action, there''s no cure under the heavens. Young man, where is the Dragon Vein of Qingyun Kingdom? Offer it to me, and not only will I spare your lives, but I will also save her!"@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi looked up at him, "It''s just the poison of Manggu Zhuha, I can solve it with a flick of my finger, why would I need to trade the Dragon Vein for it?"


    "You know nothing!"


    The hunchbacked old man sneered, "The Manggu Zhuha is a rare venomous creature. It only grows on the towering Manggu Mountain Range, its body golden with purple poison stripes. It exhales a breath of poison mist that envelops a thousand-zhang tall mountain for half a month, within which all creatures die. The only antidote is the venom sac fluid from its back. There''s no second way to cure it, not even for me!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "Ignorant and uninformed indeed!"


    "Hmm? Are you saying I''m ignorant and uninformed?"


    The hunchbacked old man''s face darkened, his wrinkled face trembling slightly with fierceness, "I was ying with poison when you didn''t even know where you were! And you dare to say that I''m ignorant?"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "The poison of the Manggu Zhuha, I have at least ten ways to cure it!"


    "Ten methods? Forget ten, if you can cure this poison of Manggu Zhuha, I will immediately kneel down to you and acknowledge you as my master! But..."


    The hunchbacked old man sinisterly said, "If you lose, you must offer the Dragon Vein to me with both hands and be my poison ve. Do you dare to bet?"


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "As you wish!"

 Chapter 173 The Undying Ghost Doctor

    "As you wish!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders and then walked into the physician''s room.


    The poison from Manggu Zhuha was exceedingly terrifying; once it entered the human body, it wouldpletely merge with the blood.


    Even the hunchbacked old man who had been raising the Manggu Zhuha all his life had not found a second method to detoxify it, and he simply did not believe that Xiao Yi, a youth under twenty years old, could have a way to solve the poison of the Manggu Zhuha.


    However...


    The hunchbacked elder did not know that Xiao Yi had received the inheritance of the ancestor of Qingtian Realm''s alchemy, the Wind Thunder Holy Body, mastering all of the alchemy techniques and experience of Wind Thunder.


    Wind Thunder had traveled all over the world, tasting every herb.


    He also conducted thorough research on Manggu Zhuha.


    "Poria, Golden Lotus, Hundred-Year Frost Ginseng..."


    Xiao Yi found more than twenty types of herbs and returned to the outside of the physician''s room.


    The area was already surrounded by the Azure Dragon guards and the four brothers from the Shi Family, who encircled the hunchbacked elder with a watchful demeanor.


    The hunchbacked elder leaned on his cane, full of self-confidence, calm and collected, gently stroking his beard, smiling at the sight of Xiao Yi reappearing before him, "Young man, if you''re not confident, don''t force yourself. If this guy''s poison is not resolved, it will seep into the marrow, and by then even I won''t be able to turn things around!"


    Xiao Yi nced at him and said indifferently, "Watch carefully, this is the first method!"


    Swish!


    Xiao Yi reached out into the air, and his surging Yuan Qi roared forth.


    Under Yu Huaxian''s body, ayer of Yuan Qi cushion formed, gently straightening Yu Huaxian''s body.


    The intense poison of Manggu Zhuha on his body meant that even if an outsider touched his skin with their palm, they would be infected by the toxin. Xiao Yi had not yet cultivated the Wind Thunder Holy Body and was also not immune to these toxins.


    With the support of Yuan Qi.


    Yu Huaxian stood upright, his skin dark and purplish, his aura bing increasingly faint.


    Xiao Yi took out the Golden Lotus, Poria, and several other herbs, grinding them into stems and leaves in the palm of his hand, then pointed his sword finger forward.


    Pfft!


    A silver Sword Qi streaked past.


    It effortlessly cut open Yu Huaxian''s wrist, and Xiao Yi pressed the liquid from the herbs into the wound. Yu Huaxian''s body trembled violently. The wound on his wrist, anointed with the green herbal juice, began to emit plumes of ck smoke and as the smoke rose continuously, the dark color on Yu Huaxian''s body rapidly faded away.


    "This, this is impossible..."


    The hunchbacked elder stood up straight, disbelieving the scene before him.


    He was well aware of the tyrannical nature of the Manggu Zhuha''s poison.


    How could it be resolved so easily?


    But the reality before his eyes left him no choice but to believe.


    After ten breaths.


    Yu Huaxian''splexion had returned to normal, and his breath had stabilized, his eyes weakly opened, and he saw Xiao Yi standing before him.


    Although he had been poisoned into unconsciousness earlier, he was still clear-headed.


    He was well aware that it was Xiao Yi who had saved him!


    Yu Huaxian cracked a smile, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you so much, Xiao... "


    "It''s all right now!"


    Xiao Yi looked at the hunchbacked elder and said indifferently, "You lose!"


    "No, I haven''t lost..."


    The hunchbacked elder grasped his cane with both hands, clenching his teeth, his eyes shining brightly, "You said there were many methods to offset the poison, right? This is just one of them..."


    Xiao Yi said, "Still not convinced? Then let your Manggu Zhuha bite him again!"


    Yu Huaxian shuddered, "..."


    To be bitten again?


    Having been poisoned by the Manggu Zhuha, his blood felt as if it was being scorched by zing mes, an unbearably painful experience!


    He certainly did not want to endure that torment a second time.


    But the hunchbacked elder was quicker than him. From his sleeve, a yellow figure sprang out and bit Yu Huaxian''s arm. Yu Huaxian cried out, his figure stiffening, and from the bite, a ring of ckness spread across his entire body, turning him once more into a charred, dark-purple figure.


    Xiao Yi, from a distance, lifted Yu Huaxian, made a small cut on his heel, and applied a second entirely different medicinal mixture.


    Hissss!


    ck blood gushed out like a fountain.@@novelbin@@


    Yu Huaxian regained consciousness once again, teetering on the brink.


    Xiao Yi looked at the hunchbacked old man, "The second method!"


    "This, this..."


    The hunched elder sized up Yu Huaxian, pried open his lips to check his teeth, lifted his clothes to peek underneath, and pulled at his pants... until Yu Huaxian desperately shielded himself, looking toward Xiao Yi with tears in his eyes and pleading, "Save, save me... Xiao save me..."


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Are you convinced, or not?"


    The hunchbacked elder''s face turned shades of green and white, clenching his teeth, and angrily said, "If you can produce a third method, I''ll admit you''re better!"


    "No, don''t..."


    Yu Huaxian stumbled and fell to the ground, crawling and rolling toward the side.


    But the Manggu Zhuha was even faster!


    Croak!


    It bit him right on his buttock.


    "Ow..."


    Yu Huaxiany on the ground, his buttock swelled up high, and he extended his right hand toward Shi Yaodu in front of him, begging, "Save, save me..."


    Shi Yaodu instinctively wanted to reach out and help.


    Croak!


    The Manggu Zhuha directly jumped onto Yu Huaxian''s head, eyeing him with a predatory gaze.


    Shi Yaodu quickly withdrew his hand, unable to help, and said sympathetically, "Brother, hang in there, huh!"


    Yu Huaxian''s eyes rolled back: "..."


    Fortunately, Xiao Yi didn''t let him down. Momentster, the poison in Yu Huaxian''s body waspletely cured.


    Xiao Yi used yet another entirely different method and looked at the hunchbacked elder, "A bet''s a bet, you agree?"


    "I..."


    Just as the hunchbacked elder opened his mouth to speak.


    Yu Huaxian had already flipped over, clung tightly to his thigh, and burst into sobs, "Senior, Big Boss, Ancestor, oh... Can you maybe try it on someone else? I, I really can''t take it anymore..."


    His indistinct voiceced with resentment and grievance was genuinely creepy!


    The hunchbacked elder shuddered, looking at Yu Huaxian''s pitiful appearance. His face, wrinkled like old tree bark, twitched slightly, and, with a wry smile, he looked at Xiao Yi, "I concede, I concede! I, Xue Bufan, have wandered the worlds for many years and seen countless geniuses, but someone like you, I have never encountered before. Losing to you feels no injustice!"


    "Xue Bufan?"


    "You are the Undying Ghost Doctor Xue Bufan?"


    "My heavens, it''s actually you?"


    Shock and surprise were etched on the faces of all the spectators around.


    The Undying Ghost Doctor Xue Bufan!


    Legend has it...


    He is from the Great Qian Dynasty''s number one alchemical family, the Xue Family, yet because he peeked at the Xue Family''s secret manual meant only for the head of the family, he was expelled from the Xue Family.


    Since then, he wandered Jianghu, traveling between various nations.


    His medical and alchemy skills were both notoriously famous, to the extent that even the King of the Great Jin Kingdom once offered a tremendous price to invite him to be the Chief Imperial Physician of the Great Jin Kingdom.


    No one expected that this disheveled, hunchbacked old man in front of them was actually the renowned Undying Ghost Doctor!


    "This old servant Xue Bufan, greets master!"


    Xue Bufan bent his knee, about to kneel down to Xiao Yi. Experience more on empire


    But Xiao Yi prevented him from doing so, lifting him upright and said with a smile, "I, the junior, had no idea that the senior was Xue Bufan. I cannot ept such a grand gesture."


    Although Xue Bufan''s methods were a bit bizarre, earning him the title of ''Ghost Doctor, he had never been reputed to harm anyone. Poisoning Yu Huaxian earlier was only because Yu Huaxian made the first move and there was no real intent to kill him.


    Xue Bufan shook his head and said, "Master Xiao, I, Xue Bufan, am a man of my word. There was a bet, and I willingly ept the loss. From now on, I shall be an old servant before you, and I ask for Master Xiao''s instructions and care!"


    Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows slightly.


    Not only did this Xue Bufan possess profound medical and alchemical skills, but he was also a master of the Sixth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Having such a master to watch over the Tianqing Kingdom could only be beneficial.


    With this thought in mind.


    Xiao Yi said with a smile, "In that case, I shall ask for Elder Xue''s advice and guidance in the future!"

 Chapter 174 The Initial Formation of the Sacred Body

    Within the pce of the Qingyun Kingdom.


    Xiao Yi sat facing the Undying Ghost Doctor Xue Bufan; the two were sitting opposite each other, discussing the path of alchemy.


    Alchemist.


    In the entire Qingtian Realm, it was a most prestigious upation, its status even higher than that of ordinary martial artists. However, bing an alchemist was no easy task. Firstly, the most basic requirement was that one''s cultivation had to reach at least the Shentong Realm, and one needed to possess Divine Skills with a Fire Attribute.


    Only in this way could one control the alchemic fire and refine the medicinal pills.


    Additionally, every single pill recipe was incredibly precious.


    Even the most basic pill recipe was worth at least a hundred thousand silver.


    One would also need a pill furnace, as well as countless herbs for practice.


    Therefore.


    Within the ten nations of Nanhuang, there wasn''t even a single true alchemist.


    "The way of alchemy and martial arts actuallyplement each other. The stronger one''s martial arts, the more exquisite control over strength one has, the better the effect of the pills one refines. An alchemist from the Golden Core Realm and an alchemist from the Tao Tribtion Realm would produce pills with vastly different effects under the same conditions..."


    Xiao Yi spoke eloquently, his inheritance from the Wind Thunder Sage making him the unquestioned number one in theoretical alchemy knowledge within the Qingtian Realm. Even a few words from him could give Xue Bufan a sense of enlightenment, feeling as if his eyes were suddenly opened, "Now, alchemists often fall into a misconception, believing that the more precious the herbs, the better the quality and effects of the pills produced. This is not the case, however. Without sufficient cultivation and alchemical experience, one might not be able to utilize precious herbs properly, not only wasting heavenly resources but also greatly reducing the effects of the pills produced!"


    Xue Bufan nodded sometimes, frowned sometimes, and asionally stretched out with an excited smile.


    The two had a long, heart-to-heart conversation.


    Not far from them, Little Linzily sprawled over the railing, watching a Manggu Zhuha on a lotus leaf in the pond, flicking its tongue out to catch the insects flying by.


    Xiao Yi and hispanion talked nonstop, exchanging knowledge.


    Xue Bufan waspletely convinced by Xiao Yi.


    The next day.@@novelbin@@


    Early in the morning, warm sunlight fell.


    Whoosh!


    Continue your adventure at empire


    Xue Bufan slowly stood up and bowed deeply to Xiao Yi, "Thank you, Xiao, for the guidance. Listening to your insights is better than reading for ten years. If I had met you earlier, perhaps these old bones of mine could have made further progress!"


    "You tter me, Elder Xue!"


    Xiao Yi smiled humbly, "Elder Xue is still vigorous in spite of age. As long as you research along the lines I mentioned before, within a year you will surely break the five-star barrier and step into the six-star alchemist level!"


    Alchemists were divided into seven stars, and above seven stars, they were known as masters, grand masters, Medicine King, and Medicine Saint!


    A total of eleven levels.


    As far as Xiao Yi knew...


    The chief imperial physician of the Great Qian Dynasty''s royal family was a master-level alchemist, whose status couldpare with that of the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty!


    "Xiao, I have been enlightened and need to meditate in seclusion," Xue Bufan said eagerly.


    The day and night of exchange had been immensely beneficial to him.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Have Shi Yaoqian lead you to the quiet room for your seclusion!"


    "Thank you, Xiao!"


    Xue Bufan respectfully withdrew.


    Xiao Yi stood up, stretching his limbs with a series of crackles and popping his joints, he yawned and said, "Little Lin, summon Yu Huaxian to see me!"


    "Alrighty!"


    Little Lin turned into a streak of silver light and vanished into the sky.


    A short whileter...


    Yu Huaxian arrived in front of him, spirited and beaming, bowing and saying, "I''ve seen Xiao!"


    "Congrattions. With your current state, you should be able to step into the Sixth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm within half a month!" Xiao Yi looked Yu Huaxian up and down, teasing, "You don''t resent me now for using you as a guinea pig and letting the Manggu Zhuha bite you repeatedly, do you?"


    The toxicity of the Manggu Zhuha is lethal.


    But as long as the poison is neutralized in time, not only will it not endanger one''s life, but it can also greatly enhance the vitality of one''s qi-blood.


    It is beneficial to cultivation!


    For this reason...


    Previously, Xiao Yi had allowed the Manggu Zhuha to bite Yu Huaxian time after time. Now, Yu Huaxian''s qi-blood is dozens of times more vigorous than before, his energy is abundant, and his realm has be more profound. In about half a month, he should be able to step into the Sixth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm. With Yu Huaxian''s unpredictable attack methods, by then, he could battle even ordinary warriors at the Seventh Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Yu Huaxian chuckled and then said, "Xiao, is there something important that you have summoned me for?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Yesterday, I asked you to send someone to find a ce that possesses both Heaven and Earth Gangfeng and lightning. Is there any news?"


    Entering the Wind Thunder Holy Body is not difficult, one only needs to find an ordinary ce with Heaven and Earth Gangfeng and lightning.


    "It has been found!"


    Yu Huaxian nodded eagerly, "Three hundred li east of the royal capital, there is a Wind Thunder Canyon. The terrain of that canyon is extremely peculiar, with year-round presence of Heaven and Earth Gangfeng and thunder!"


    Xiao Yi took the map presented by Yu Huaxian, memorized the route, and instructed, "I will be gone for some time, perhaps seven to eight days, or as few as two to three days. During this period, clean up the forces within the royal capital, I do not wish that no sooner have we left than the Qingyun Kingdom revives from the ashes!"


    "At yourmand!"


    Yu Huaxian assured with a serious face.


    Xiao Yi gave additional instructions and then, with Little Lin, he soared into the sky.


    Three hundred li.


    For him, it was just over half an hour before he arrived at the Wind Thunder Canyon as described by Yu Huaxian.


    Still dozens of li away, he could already see a thick, pitch-ck cloud circling above the canyon, with purple-gold lightning striking down within the clouds from time to time. The lightning, resembling antern, caused the canyon to flicker in and out of brightness. From a distance, it looked just like a ghost canyon haunted by devils.


    "Little Lin, you wait outside the canyonter!" Xiao Yi instructed.


    Little Lin nodded, lying on top of a towering tree beside the canyon.


    Xiao Yi entered the canyon shrouded with wind and thunder.


    "Wind and Thunder fortify my body, smelt my flesh¡­"


    Xiao Yi''s figure shook, immersing himself in the midst of wind and thunder.


    The wild winds and astonishing thunder, as if a pack of wolves had encountered their prey,unched a fierce attack, eachnding on him.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The knife-like wind and the arrow-like lightning continuously bombarded his body.


    Xiao Yi circted the Wind Thunder Battle Body Skill, constantly absorbing the power of the Gangfeng and lightning, refining his entire body. This Wind Thunder Holy Body starts with the skin, then the flesh, followed by the tendons, after which the internal organs, and finally refining the bones... to reach a state where the spine is like an Azure Dragon of Wind and Thunder, and the internal organs are unbreakable. The first turn is to fortify the skin.


    It is also the simplest realm.


    Once the cultivation is sessful, the skin will be as tough as copper, impervious to water and fire.


    Time flies.


    Immersed in the wind and thunder, Xiao Yi appears like a god or a demon; what began as a tearing pain with the first onught of wind and thunder has now be fearlessness.


    This wind and thunder might surround him, but it can no longer hurt a single hair on his body!


    Xiao Yi, enveloped by wind and thunder, took the prepared First-turn Fenglei Elixir, a faint cyan light traveled around his body, causing his skin, which was like ck iron, to return to its normal color. The surrounding Gangfeng and lightning fell but formed an invisible barrier around his body, fundamentally unable to get close.


    The first turn of the Wind Thunder Holy Body has been achieved!


    Meanwhile...


    Ten li away from the Wind Thunder Canyon, a massive figure flew through the midair, a Golden Crown ck Eagle, a huge beast of the Tao Tribtion Realm that could travel five thousand li in a day.


    Atop this massive beast, several figures stood proudly.


    Their clothing bore distinct insignia, unmistakably from the Great Jin Kingdom!

 Chapter 176 Wind Thunder Starts to Show Its Power

    "How do you want to die for harming my brother?"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze was icy as he looked at Zhan Bitao and the others.


    He had sensed the presence of the group earlier when the Golden Crown ck Eagle arrived. At the time, he was digesting the First-turn Wind Thunder Elixir, healing his body from the erosion of the gang winds and thunder.


    He couldn''t move hastily.


    He hadn''t expected Little Lin to nearly encounter a fatal ident, and his rage was uncontroble.


    Liu Mubai frowned and looked at Xiao Yi with a sneer on his face, scoffing, "I wondered who it was, turns out it''s just a mere Golden Core Realm Peak. Boy, I see your Body Refinement Technique is not weak, just hand over that technique and the serpent-like magical beast, and I can leave you a whole corpse."


    Xiao Yi sighed, "Leave me a whole corpse? I''m afraid you can''t afford to do so!"


    "Hmm?"


    Liu Mubai let out a coldugh, seeing Xiao Yi at just the peak of Golden Core Realm, he was not worth his attention at all, he turned to Wu Lun and said, "Cut off his limbs!"


    "Rest assured, Your Highness!"


    Wu Lun smiled confidently, striding towards Xiao Yi like a dragon stalking a tiger.


    In his footsteps.


    Each step was firm and powerful, showing his mastery in leg techniques.


    His leg muscles tensed in an instant, as tough as if they were cast from gold and iron. With a ferocious push against the ground, a resounding boom filled the air and dust flew from the ground as he suddenly leaped into the air. In a sh, he appeared before Xiao Yi, and as he spun in the air, two white whips flew from his hands.


    These whips were intertwined with chains and were incredibly sturdy.


    With two nking sounds, they wrapped around Xiao Yi''s hands.


    Liu Mubaiughed derisively, looking at Zhan Bitao by his side, "I thought he was some kind of expert, but it turns out he''s just a silver-spearhead that looks good without substance. Once bound by Wu Lun''s bloodthirsty white satin, even an ordinary warrior at the Tao Tribtion Realm would struggle to break free! After Wu Lun severs his limbs, we''ll use severe torture to extract the Body Refining Techniques from him!"


    "Congrattions to Your Highness for acquiring a set of Body Refining Techniques!" Zhan Bitao said with a smile.


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation was merely at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak.


    He had not yet stepped into the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    In their eyes, he was no different from an ant.


    "Certainly, congrattions are in order, only..."


    Liu Mubai nced at the Golden Crown ck Eagle lying in a pool of blood, shaking his head with regret, "This Golden Crown ck Eagle was a gift from my mother, and now it has died here, truly a pity!"


    "Your Highness, that little silver snake is much stronger than the Golden Crown ck Eagle. I believe the Queen Mother will also like it!" Zhan Bitao said in a heavy voice.


    The queen of the Great Jin Kingdom was a rare Beast Tamer.


    Many formidable magical beasts of the Great Jin Kingdom were personally tamed by her.


    Her greatest hobby was collecting powerful magical beasts with pure bloodlines and extremely rare mutated magical beasts.


    The two were talking when suddenly a harsh crackling sound came from ahead. The men looked at each other and bothughed, "Wu Lun doesn''t hold back, does he? That sounded like a crippling fracture!"


    However...


    When they followed the sound to look, both were momentarily stunned.


    Xiao Yi still appeared easy and carefree, standing with his hands behind his back.


    But Wu Lun''s limbs were broken, and like a gpole, he was stuck into the ground, half his body buried in the earth, blood spurting from every orifice, his face pale with horror and despair as he shouted towards them, "Save me... Your Highness, save me..."


    "Wu Lun?"


    Liu Mubai looked on in astonishment.


    Zhan Bitao also showed a surprised expression, "What happened? How did he break free from the bloodthirsty white satin?"


    That bloodthirsty white satin was a genuine Yuan weapon, exceptionally tough, and not easily broken even by warriors at the Cmity Realm in a short time.


    What exactly had happened?


    "Your Highness, save me..." Wu Lun bellowed, his face covered in blood.


    Liu Mubai''splexion alternated between pale and flushed as he looked at Zhan Bitao, his face distorted with ferocity, and he growled, "Kill him, kill him for me!"


    "Yes!"


    Zhan Bitao pped his hand on the hilt of his sword; with a piercing sound of metal slicing through air, the longsword he cradled shot out of its sheath, bing a silver streak heading forward. Zhan Bitao tapped the ground with his foot, skimming swiftly across the surface like a swallow, grabbing the sword hilt and shing a sword arc in follow-through, "Diagonal Moon!"


    Swish!


    The silver arc, like a diagonal moon, swept close to the ground.


    Swish, swish, swish!


    Wherever the sword arc passed, the ground was torn apart, and the air itself was cleaved open, forming walls of force on either side of the sword edge.


    Xiao Yi reached out a hand, spread his fingers, and grasped toward the sword arc.


    "You think you can catch my sword with your flesh and blood? That''s delusional wishful thinkin¡ª" Zhan Bitao''s fierce and confident expression froze on his face.


    The sharp sword light could not advance an inch further in Xiao Yi''s hand.


    "That''s all!"


    Xiao Yi closed his hand.


    Crack!


    The sword arc shattered, scattering a sky full of sword light.


    "A sword without a trace!"


    Zhan Bitao, after all, was a battle-hardened warrior. Shock quickly gave way toposure, as he gripped his longsword with both hands, his figure turning into a phantom.


    Whoosh!@@novelbin@@


    His figure suddenly vanished from the spot.


    By the time he reemerged,


    he stood behind Xiao Yi.


    The two stood back to back.


    Zhan Bitao slowly raised his longsword in front of him and gently stroked the de, a proud look on his face, "With this sword of mine, my strikes are always met with blood. Until now, no one of my realm has ever avoided it. Take pride in dying by this sword!"


    As he spoke,


    Zhan Bitao intended to sheathe his longsword!


    However...


    There suddenly came a crisp crack from the longsword, followed by a spreading crunching sound.


    Apart from a section of the tip that had entered the sheath, the rest of the de shattered to pieces.


    Turning into fragments on the ground.


    Zhan Bitao: "..."


    His body jolted as if struck by lightning, before freezing in ce, disbelievingly staring at the fragments on the ground, his throat moving up and down.


    Gulp!


    Zhan Bitao forcefully swallowed his saliva, stiffly turning to look at Xiao Yi, "You-you-you aren''t dead?"


    "Indeed, your sword strike was remarkable!"


    Xiao Yi snapped back to reality, touched his neck, finding a white line of a sword scratch there.


    The speed of the strike had indeed been extremely fast.


    Even Xiao Yi had been grazed slightly, and for any ordinary fighter even a slight touch would have been enough to slit their throat.


    Xiao Yi relied on the power of his Wind Thunder Holy Body to protect his throat at the crucial moment, leaving only a sword scratch.


    The fifth-grade Yuan weapon, however, was shattered by the power of Wind Thunder.


    That''s what led to this scene.


    "No-no way, my sword has never failed..." Xhan Bitao''s eyebrows twitched violently, his face full of shock.


    Xiao Yi looked up at him and said indifferently, "You did not miss, but you just didn''t break through my defense. As it happens, my Body Refining Technique is newlypleted, so I''ll use you to practice."


    Boom!


    Xiao Yi suddenly dove forward, the wild force from his body sting the ground apart.


    A cloud of dust billowed behind him.


    His iron fist was already in sight.


    "Damn it!"


    Zhan Bitao crossed his arms in front of him and suddenly, his whole body shook, with a terrifying power of Wind Thunder coursing through him, paralyzing his body in an instant.


    The terrible force spread throughout his body.


    Zhan Bitao was sent flying more than fifty meters away, plowing through everything in his path.


    Boom!


    Zhan Bitao''s whole body became embedded in the rock wall, blood covering all his orifices.


    Xiao Yi shook his arm, the Wind Thunder power fading away from his fist, "Worthy of the Wind Thunder Holy Body, being this powerful even in the first-turn realm!"


    Xiao Yi withdrew his fist and turned back to look at a stunned Liu Mubai.


    Thud!


    Liu Mubai''s legs gave out, and he knelt on the ground, his face full of fear and trepidation, "Spare me, young hero, spare my life. Here''s a billion in silver notes aspensation, please let me live..."


    Whether it was themon folk or the high and mighty emperors and generals,


    when faced with death, most are the same.


    Xiao Yi gave him a cold nce, casually taking the billion silver notes and said indifferently, "Today I''ll spare your life. Remember to be more careful with your eyes in the future!"


    "Yes, yes, Mubai will keep it in mind!" Liu Mubai was earnestly fearful.


    Xiao Yi snorted and took off into the sky.


    Long after Xiao Yi had left, Liu Mubai finally stood up, his body drenched in sweat. He nced at the dumbstruck Wulun, steeled his heart, and with a ferocious face walked towards Wulun.


    Wulun trembled and struggled frantically, "Your Highness, please don''t kill me... I swear I won''t speak of today''s events, please don''t kill me..."


    "Only the dead can keep secrets!"


    Liu Mubai smashed Wulun''s skull with a palm strike, then approached Zhan Bitao, finding that Zhan was knocked unconscious, and heaved a sigh of relief. He pried him from the rock wall, fed him Healing Pills, and after a while Zhan Bitao came to, his face full of pain, "Your Highness, I failed my duty and couldn''t protect you..."


    "Zhan, you exaggerate. This man is beyond you and me, it''s not your fault," Liu Mubai consoled him.


    Zhan Bitao managed a bitter smile, "Your Highness, now that both my hands are shattered, I won''t be able to wield a sword for some time. Are we still heading to Qingyun Kingdom?"


    "Why wouldn''t we go?"


    Liu Mubai''s eyes were filled with ferocity, "We can''t afford to provoke that young man, but what''s Xiao Yi to us? I have the top-quality Golden Healing Elixir that can restore fifty percent of your injuries. Even if you can''t wield a sword, Zhan, you should still be able to capture him. Besides, if it weren''t for Xiao Yi, we wouldn''t havee to this godforsaken ce and ended up like this. I will make Xiao Yi pay dearly..."

 Chapter 177 How is it you?

    Qingyun Kingdom, the capital city.


    It had been only two days since Xiao Yi left, and there hadn''t been any changes in the capital.


    Just as he returned to the pce...


    Xiao Yi heard a screaming from within the pce, yet the patrolling guards seemed ustomed to it, leaving him puzzled, "What''s going on here?"


    "Lord!"


    After a respectful bow, a guard said with a strange expression, "Lord Xue is conducting an experiment..."


    "Conducting an experiment?" Xiao Yi was startled.


    The guard struggled to hold back hisughter and said, "Lord Xue seems to have developed some new elixir, and Lord Shi Yaoqian was deeply interested, so he volunteered to test it. However, pfft..."


    The guard could no longer restrain hisughter.


    Another guard beside him hurriedly said, "It seems there was a problem with the medicine, and now Lord Shi Yaoqian, he has been out of control since yesterday, rampaging around like a mad bull..."


    "Pfft!"


    "Hahaha..."


    The surrounding guards all doubled over withughter, "You don''t know... after Lord Shi took the elixir, he became as strong as a humanoid beast, invulnerable to knives and spears, impervious to water and fire..."


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Listening to the guards'' descriptions, he became increasingly interested in the new drug developed by Xue Bufan.


    What on earth had Xue Bufan developed?


    Thinking this, Xiao Yi followed the noise and came to the imperial garden, where a crowd was gathered at the entrance, each craning their necks to look inside.


    Shi Yaoquan, Shi Yaodu, Shi Yaose, and Yu Huaxian were also in the midst of the crowd.


    Each one stretched their necks to look inside.


    "What''s going on?"


    Xiao Yi was puzzled and levitated to get a better view inside; what he saw left him dumbfounded.


    In the imperial garden.


    Shi Yaoqian was running wildly.


    His body glowed red as if drenched in fresh blood, charging through the garden and smashing everything in his path to pieces.


    Xue Bufan was in hot pursuit with a dagger: "Don''t run... If I cut open a wound over your heart and drain the poisoned blood, you''ll return to normal. Why run? Just one slice, you have to trust me..."


    "I trust your evil intentions, you wretched old man..."


    Shi Yaoqian, enraged and continuously roaring, said, "You told me it was just for strengthening and maintaining health, with absolutely no side effects. Look now... I haven''t been able to stop since yesterday..."


    Xiao Yi waspletely bewildered.


    He then noticed that the imperial garden was inplete disarray, as if a frenzied mythical beast had rampaged through it.


    At that moment...


    Shi Yaoqian tripped by ident.


    Xue Bufan swiftly caught up and pinned him to the ground: "I''ve finally got you!"


    "Shi Yaoqian is in big trouble..."


    "It looks like he won''t be able to dodge this knife..."


    As everyone expressed their nervous sympathy, they suddenly heard the sound of Xiao Yi clearing his throat behind them, and they quickly straightened up, respectfully saying, "Lord, you''re back!"


    Xiao Yi cleared his throat and with a stern face, said, "What is everyone doing here? Don''t you have work to do?" He looked at Shi Yaoquan and the others, "The lot of you, hurry up and prepare the troops. Aside from those staying to protect the capital, the rest wille back with me to Tianqing Kingdom. The troops from Sihai Kingdom and Baijing Kingdom haven''t withdrawn yet!"


    "Yes!"


    Shi Yaoquan and Yu Huaxian and the others quickly retreated.


    Inside the imperial garden.


    Shi Yaoqian was finally in Xue Bufan''s hands, as he pinned Shi Yaoqian to the ground and used his vital energy to form chains that bound his limbs.


    He fiercely guzzled a mouthful of strong alcohol and sprayed it on the dagger.


    Xue Bufan smiled and said, "Don''t be afraid, it will be over in just a moment!"


    "No..."


    Shi Yaoqian closed his eyes in despair.


    "Wait!"


    Xiao Yi sighed, having no choice but to intervene. If this knife strike could indeed release some poisoned blood, it would also severely damage Shi Yaoqian''s meridians.


    "Xiao... save me..." Shi Yaoqian clutched at him like a lifeline.


    Xue Bufan''s face was a mask of embarrassment, "Xiao, you''re back? It was just a small ident, I can handle it right away!"


    Xiao Yi bitterly smiled and said, "Elder Xue, if you make this cut, he can forget about making any progress in this lifetime!"


    "Uh..."


    Xue Bufan blinked and said, "Is it that serious?"


    "The pill and his blood have to integratepletely for him to lose control of his body. If you release arge quantity of blood now, it will damage his meridians. Take Shi Yaoqian to the back kitchen, find arge steaming basket, and steam him on a gentle fire. Slowly expel the poisoned blood and that should do it!" Xiao Yi said earnestly, "This way we can fully detoxify him, not just release all the poisoned blood at once..."


    "I see!"


    With a sudden realization, Xue Bufan carried Shi Yaoqian off toward the back kitchen.


    Shi Yaoqian wailed miserably, "Xiao, save me..."


    "What a headache this old man is..."


    Xiao Yi sighed in resignation, preparing to head to the kitchen to keep an eye on things when his expression shifted slightly, revealing a hint of amusement, "What are they doing here?"


    ......


    In front of the Golden Throne Hall.


    Two figures walked side by side, killing the guards that attempted to stop them and leaving their bodies strewn about.


    In their path...


    Yu Huaxian and the Shi Family brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions solemn as they faced the neers.


    "Yu Huaxian, do you not kneel and greet this prince?" Liu Mubai stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold as he stared at Yu Huaxian.@@novelbin@@


    Zhan Bitao stood by his side, having regained mobility with the help of the Golden Healing Elixir.


    Although he was unable to wield his sword for a while,


    his power at the Sixth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm was still enough to suppress Yu Huaxian.


    Yu Huaxian''s expression shifted. Especially upon looking at Zhan Bitao, his expression turned more solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince, Commander Zhan, it has been a while. Are you unharmed?"


    "Heh, what do you think? The chief supervisor of my Eastern Factory has sided with the enemy along with the Golden Crow Guards. Do you think I would be well?" said Liu Mubai with a sneer.


    His smile was ferocious, sending chills down the spines of those who saw it.


    Zhan Bitao quietly released the overpowering aura of the Sixth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, instilling trepidation in everyone present, "Yu Huaxian, why do you not kneel before His Highness?"


    "I am no longer a subject of the Great Jin Kingdom, why should I kneel to him?" Yu Huaxian spoke with neither arrogance nor servility.


    "Once a dog of the royal family, always a dog. The Seventh Prince is your master. It''s not just kneeling¡ª even if hemands you to die, you can only obedientlyply!" Zhan Bitao spoke dispassionately, enunciating every word.


    Yu Huaxian''s face suddenly changed, "You..."


    "Yu Huaxian, you are just a neutered dog raised by our royal family. A dog should have the awareness of being a dog. If you dare to bite the hand that feeds, there is only one path left for you¡ªdeath!" Liu Mubai said dismissively, "By the way, where is that bastard Xiao Yi? Has he note out to kneel before this prince yet?"


    As he finished speaking,


    a taunting voice emerged from the Golden Throne Hall, "You say... I should kneel and wee who exactly?"


    "Of course, it''s kneel before this prince, prince, prince..."


    Liu Mubai looked up proudly following the voice, but as he saw Xiao Yi emerging from the Golden Throne Hall, his face became stricken as if an invisible hand had clutched at his throat, and the words he was about to speak choked off. Stunned and disconcerted, he stammered, "How... how... how is it you?"

 Chapter 179 One Man with a Sword, Charging into the Enemy Camp Alone!

    The seventh prince of the Great Jin Kingdom, Liu Mubai.


    In a torrent of blood, his bifurcated body plummeted, crashing to the ground with two thumps, shattering to pieces.


    His death meant that there would be no end to the rivalry between Tianqing Kingdom and the Great Jin Kingdom until one was annihted!


    However...


    Whether it was the ordinary soldiers or powerhouses like Yu Huaxian and the three Shi brothers, not a single person med Xiao Yi.


    Their hearts were aze with the will to fight.


    Just as Xiao Yi had said, no strong nation had ever emerged frompromise!


    If Tianqing Kingdom was to rise, it could only rely on itself!


    Meet warriors with warriors, counter water with earth!


    What of the Great Jin Kingdom?


    As long as one is sufficiently powerful, one canpletely repel them at the nation''s gates, or even sweep through the Great Jin!


    Of course...


    The reason Xiao Yi did this, apart from his confidence in his own strength, was that he had acquired the inheritance of the Wind Thunder Venerable, equipping him with countless alchemy forms. Among them was one that could greatly enhance the strength of basic martial artists in a short period of time, and once this set of forms was sessfully concocted.


    Within three months, Tianqing Kingdom would have a million-strong Azure Dragon Guard!


    It is to be noted that the Azure Dragon Guard was formerly the Golden Crow Guard!


    The most elite military force of the Great Jin Kingdom.


    ording to Yu Huaxian, even with the full might of the Great Jin Kingdom, the armies that could rival the Golden Crow Guard were no more than a hundred thousand strong. Stay updated via empire


    If Tianqing Kingdom could muster a million Azure Dragon Guards, and with powerhouses like Xiao Yi, Yu Huaxian, Xue Bufan, and others to defend it, even the Great Jin Kingdom would be helpless against them!


    This was the source of Xiao Yi''s confidence!


    "Xiao, the news of Liu Mubai''s death can hardly be concealed, and it will most likely reach the Great Jin Kingdom within half a month. When that happens, the Great Jin Kingdom will be enraged and maysh out in full force, provoking a war of annihtion. We must be on guard!" Yu Huaxian knew well the strength of the Great Jin Kingdom and spoke with a grave expression.


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "Don''t worry, I have a n in mind. Immediately arrange for men. Tomorrow morning, follow me back to the kingdom with the Azure Dragon Guard!"


    "Understood!"


    Yu Huaxian bowed and withdrew.


    Xiao Yi turned to Shi Yaodu and the other two, "How goes the collection of medicinal herbs I tasked you with?"


    Shi Yaodu promptly replied, "We have gathered all the herbs that could be found in the capital."


    "Very good!"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes and said, "First, hand over all the collected herbs to me. Tomorrow, I will return to the kingdom with Huaxian and the Azure Dragon Guard. We must resolve matters with Sihai and Baijing Kingdoms as soon as possible. As for you... on the way back, collect every single herb I mentioned in every city, without exception."


    "Yes, sir!"


    Shi Yaoquan handed a storage ring to Xiao Yi. The three bowed respectfully and then withdrew.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, looking toward the horizon where the red sun was slowly setting: "Your Majesty, I promised to protect Tianqing Kingdom, and I will keep that promise. Overthrowing the Great Qian Dynasty is too distant a goal, so let me first overthrow the Great Jin Kingdom, and make Tianqing the supreme beneath Great Qian!"


    ......


    Babao Pass.


    Gu Junhe sat in the governor''s residence.


    Indeed, he was a man of extraordinary talent, having stepped into the Tao Tribtion Realm relying solely on hisprehension.


    Moreover, he had single-handedly withstood Xia Yuan and Bai Jianfeng from Baijing Kingdom, both Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses, and staunchly defended Babao Pass, preventing them from gaining even an inch of ground.


    With news of Xiao Yi''s consecutive annihtion of Tian Kingdom and Qingyun Kingdom reaching Babao Pass, the morale of Tianqing Kingdom''s soldiers was high, repeatedly thwarting the advance of Baijing Kingdom''s army. Yet, in such brutal warfare, the army defending Babao Pass for Tianqing Kingdom had dwindled from its original four hundred thousand to now only one hundred and eighty thousand.


    More than half had died in battle!


    On the other hand, though Baijing Kingdom had also suffered heavy casualties, they stillmanded an army of six hundred thousand.


    A medical officer beside Gu Junhe was treating his wounds with meticulous care. His back was covered with dozens of fierce sword marks, inflicted by thebined efforts of Xia Yuan and Bai Jianfeng.


    Gu Junhe remained expressionless, allowing the medical officer to tend to his savage wounds, and asked the officer before him, "Cheng De, how much longer can our provisionsst?"


    "To report to the general, our provisions will only suffice for seven more days."


    Cheng De, having lost an arm, revealed a grim expression, "That bastard Xia Yuan, when he pledged allegiance, he burnt our granaries to the ground, leaving nothing behind. Otherwise, we wouldn''t be in such a passive position."


    "General, the attacks from Baijing Kingdom''s army have be increasingly ferocious these past few days. I fear the men won''t be able to hold out much longer!"


    "I suggest we first evacuate Babao Pass, and once Guardian Martial God Lord Xiao arrives with support, we can counterattack..."


    "Once Babao Pass is lost, the vast prairie lies beyond. How will we defend against the Baijing Kingdom''s army once they spread out?"


    "We must not retreat!"


    "But if we don''t retreat, how can just our 180,000 men hold out?"


    The generals argued fiercely.


    At that moment...


    A messenger rushed in from outside the door, out of breath: "Report..."


    "What''s the matter?"


    The generals turned their anxious eyes to the messenger, "Has the Baijing Kingdom''s rabbleunched another attack?"


    Bang!


    Gu Junhe mmed his palm down on the table, eyes zing with fury: "This is intolerable! Bring me my armor; I''m going to fight them myself!"


    "No, no, no, that''s not it..."


    The messenger finally caught his breath and quickly said, "It''s... It''s the War God himself who has appeared. He alone, with a single sword, has gone to the Baijing Kingdom''s military camp..."


    "What?"


    "The National God of War Xiao Yi himself?"


    "He''s going into the camp alone? Isn''t that suicide?"


    "All men, heed mymand, rush out of the city to meet the enemy... No matter what, we must protect Xiao Yi!" Gu Junhe shouted anxiously.


    Despite the continuous good news from Xiao Yi during this period,


    there were even rumors...


    that even those in the Tao Tribtion Realm couldn''t withstand a single move from him.


    But those were just rumors!


    The Baijing Kingdom has two beings of the Tao Tribtion Realm, and hundreds of thousands of troops. With Xiao Yi charging into the camp alone, isn''t this like sending amb into the tiger''s mouth?


    For a moment,


    Babao Pass was in chaos.


    At the same time,


    Xiao Yi, riding the Tianqing wild ox, appeared alone in front of the Baijing Kingdom''s camp.


    "Who goes there?"


    The soldiers guarding the camp gate tensed up, spears and swords ready, and the archers on the arrow tower aimed their arrows at Xiao Yi.


    Now that the two countries were at war, they could not be too careful with a man appearing alone in front of their camp.


    Xiao Yi nced at them and said indifferently, "Summon Xia Yuan and Bai Jianfeng to see me!"


    "How dare you!"


    "General Xia and Mr. Bai are not names you can call out directly!"


    "Seize this arrogant fool at once!"


    The guard captain waved his hand, and two alert guards stepped forward.


    Xiao Yi shook his head slightly and flicked his fingers.


    Bursts of vital energy shot out like a torrential rain of arrows.


    Swish, swish, swish!@@novelbin@@


    A dozen guards fell to the ground at the sound.


    "This is bad!"


    "It''s an attack!"


    "Kill him..."


    The archers on the arrow tower continuously fired volleys, but their arrows came to an abrupt halt half a meter from Xiao Yi, then reversed direction. With the sound of thuds, they struck down the soldiers on the tower, one by one. In an instant, the guards at the front of the Baijing Kingdom''s camp were wiped out, and Xiao Yi''s voice boomed like a song, reverberating between heaven and earth: "The National God of War of the Tianqing Kingdom, Xiao Yi, is here. Xia Yuan, Bai Jianfeng,e out and face your deaths!"

 Chapter 181 Xiao Yi Triumphant Return

    ```


    Bai Jianfeng fell. Find more chapters on empire


    Tens of thousands of Baijing Kingdom warriors were headless dragons, momentarily dazed, standing still in their ce.


    They never expected that someone as strong as Bai Jianfeng couldn''t even block a single sword strike from Xiao Yi.


    At the same time...


    The ground thundered with vibrations.


    Dust and smoke rolled in the distance; banners pierced the sky. It was Gu Junhe leading the eighteen thousand-strong army of Tianqing Kingdom from Babao Pass to assist.


    When they saw from afar the congregation of Baijing Kingdom warriors inside the camp, Gu Junhe''s expression suddenly changed, "This is bad, Xiao Yi must have been surrounded by them... Thed is too reckless, no matter how strong he is, how can he contend against hundreds of thousands of troops?"


    As he thought, Gu Junhe''s expression turned increasingly grim.


    Whoosh!


    He fiercely pulled out his weapon and roared, "Bai Jianfeng, if you dare harm a single hair on Xiao Yi, I swear to explode myself to take you down with me!"


    "Kill!"


    "Protect the Guardian Martial God..."


    In that moment, the entire eighteen-thousand-strong army of Tianqing Kingdom was furious, rushing towards the enemy camp with utmost speed.


    However...@@novelbin@@


    When they truly approached the Baijing Kingdom camp, they all froze in shock.


    The Baijing Kingdom camp was in shambles, corpses strewn everywhere. The tens of thousands of soldiers, upon seeing their ferocious charge, were shedding their armors and weapons. Some surrendered right there, others fled inplete disarray; where was the ferocity and fierceness they had disyed earlier?


    Amidst the crowd, neither Xia Yuan nor Bai Jianfeng, the two Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses, could be seen.


    "What, what''s going on?"


    "You, you look... Isn''t that Xia Yuan''s body?"


    "Damn... it can''t be, can it?"


    Everyone felt as if they had been struck by lightning, their faces filled with disbelief.


    All of them couldn''t help but entertain a wild idea that emerged in their minds.


    This idea was even somewhat terrifying!


    "It can''t be possible, can it?"


    "If it''s true, then, then haven''t we won?"


    Boom boom boom!


    The eighteen thousand cavalry charged wildly, how could the soldiers of Baijing Kingdom, who had lost their will to fight, be their match?


    Like andslide, defeat was imminent!


    A momentter.


    Gu Junhe arrived at the centralmand tent, and Xiao Yi had been waiting there for quite some time. Seeing Gu Junhe arrive, his face broke into a radiant smile, "Dean, congrattions on your grand victory over the Baijing Kingdom''s camp!"


    "Youd..."


    Gu Junhe felt a warmth in his eyes, understanding that Xiao Yi was attributing the credit to him!


    He hesitated for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Xia Yuan and Bai Jianfeng..."


    Xiao Yi nodded his head.


    Gu Junhe took a sharp intake of breath and sized up Xiao Yi. After a moment, he shook his head with a wry smile, "Incredible, truly incredible..." A year ago, when he first met Xiao Yi, thetter was just a little guy in the Shentong Realm, and now he stood at a height that even he could hardly reach. "Are the people of the Xiao Family blind? Such a genius, yet they treated him as trash? Even Xiao Tianjiao is no match for Xiao Yi!"


    ```


    Ah!


    Gu Junhe exhaled deeply, his gazeplex as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I truly could not believe that someone could achieve such terrifying aplishments within a mere year!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders and smiled, "Just luck!"


    "Luck?"


    Gu Junhe rolled his eyes, "Howe I never have such good luck?"


    Xiao Yi spread his hands in a helpless gesture.


    Gu Junhe said in a deep voice, "Now that the Baijing Kingdom''s power is waning, should we take advantage of our victory and pursue them?"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "We have already conquered Tian and Qingyun; it is not advisable to make a move on Baijing and Sihai Kingdoms for now. Let them jump around for a few more days! Moreover...I killed the seventh prince of the Great Jin Kingdom, so at the earliest in one month, and at thetest in three, the Great Jin Kingdom will arrive at our doorsteps. Our priority should be to consolidate our strength and deal with the Great Jin Kingdom!"


    Gu Junhe, with a confused expression, asked, "The Great Jin Kingdom?"


    That was known as the strongest power among the more than one hundred subordinate countries under the Great Qian Dynasty.


    There was even a saying, ''Below the Great Qian, the Great Jin reigns supreme.''


    The Great Jin Kingdom had countless powerful warriors, including the Golden Crow Guards who were reputed to be worth ten each and an army said to number five million.


    Even if it were just an ordinary army, that was five million people!


    After such sessive tough battles, the Tianqing Kingdom''s army of a million had diminished to about half. Even with three months'' respite, dealing with the Great Jin Kingdom would be extremely difficult, or even utterly impossible!


    Xiao Yi, on the other hand, smiled and said, "Don''t worry, I already have a n. And this time, while indeed it is a cmity for the Tianqing Kingdom, it is also a big opportunity... If we seed in overthrowing the Great Jin Kingdom, from then on, it will be ''Below the Great Qian, Tianqing reigns supreme''!"


    "Below the Great Qian, Tianqing reigns supreme?"


    Gu Junhe''s body shook, and he suddenly felt his blood boiling, as if a fierce battle were raging within him.


    As a warrior born and bred in the Tianqing Kingdom.


    He naturally very much looked forward to witnessing his own country''s rise in strength.


    If they could truly rece the Great Jin and be the strongest nation under the Great Qian Dynasty, their names would be forever etched in the history of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    With this thought in mind.


    Gu Junhe nodded vigorously and said, "Although your idea is extremely crazy... if one is not crazy in youth, they are wasting their years. I''ll be crazy with you this one time!"


    Xiao Yi said, "I am sure you won''t be disappointed, Chancellor!"


    In his mind, Xiao Yi recalled the medicinal pills previously developed by Xue Bufan. The recipe had been personally given to Xue Bufan by him. Although there had been some mistakes in its development, as long as Xiao Yi took action, it could be perfected. With Xue Bufan, the undead doctor, and Xiao Yi himself working on it, the n could certainly be executed perfectly.


    Once it was possible to elevate tens of thousands of the Tianqing Kingdom''s soldiers to match the Golden Crow Guards, who would then dare topete under the Great Qian Dynasty?


    Subsequently...


    Gu Junhe took over the tens of thousands of soldiers captured from the Baijing Kingdom, incorporated them into the ranks, and, after handing over the responsibility of guarding Babao Pass to Cheng De, he set off on the road back to the capital with Xiao Yi.


    As Xiao Yi and the others left Babao Pass.


    In another battlefield of the Tianqing Kingdom, Yu Huaxian led twenty thousand Azure Dragon Guards in support of Jiang Weisheng. They ughtered their way through, coordinating from inside and outside, andpletely routed the tens of thousands of soldiers from the Sihai Kingdom. The tactics of the Azure Dragon Guards and Yu Huaxian were far beyond what the Sihai Kingdom''s army could match. Defeat was like andslide, and, after this battle, Tianqing Kingdom''s perilous situation was temporarily averted.


    Out of the four kingdoms that had dered war on the Tianqing Kingdom, two had been destroyed.


    The remaining Baijing and Sihai Kingdoms had also suffered heavy losses; within their countries, barely a tenth of their forces remained.


    At this point, the rulers of Baijing and Sihai Kingdom had no more thoughts of currying favor with Xue Yilou or waging war against the Tianqing Kingdom. They were already nning on how to please the Tianqing Kingdom to avoid the fate of devastation like Tian Kingdom and Qingyun Kingdom.


    These two kingdoms could no longer stir up any trouble.


    Meanwhile...


    Xiao Yi, Gu Junhe, Yu Huaxian, Jiang Weisheng, and others had already made their way back to the capital, one after another.

 Chapter 184 The Peoples Allegiance, Great Jins Fury!

    Everything that urred within the royal pce quickly spread throughout the entire Tianqing Kingdom, with the consent of Xiao Yi and Jiang Wei.


    Upon learning that Ge Zheng and a group of important court officials had actually considered sacrificing Xiao Yi in exchange for the kingdom''s safety after his imprisonment, not a single voice within the entire Tianqing Kingdom rose to plead their case.


    There was unanimous celebration and apuse.


    The reason being...


    Before Xiao Yi''s time.


    Although Jiang Tianchen was also a wise king, there were several great kingdoms eyeing them covetously from afar, and the Royal Martial Arts Academy meddled in session disputes, staying close to the bed but reaching for the throne. This distracted Jiang Tianchen, leading to rampant corruption among his officials and a life for his people that was far from peaceful and content.


    Until the appearance of Xiao Yi.


    First, he annihted Tian, then wiped out Qingyun.


    Now, he even managed to repel the Baijing Kingdom and the Sihai Kingdom.


    What''s more...


    Xiao Yi leveled the Royal Martial Arts Academy. In its stead, the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, now the holynd of martial arts in the Tianqing Kingdom, was recruiting students from all the popce. As long as one could pass the examination, regardless of background, they could enter the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Without any exaggeration, Xiao Yi alone changed the destinies of the people of the Tianqing Kingdom.


    When they heard that Ge Zheng and others were conspiring against Xiao Yi, the first to refuse were these very people!


    As for the Great Jin Kingdom''s army that was about toy siege to their city?


    With the numerous miracles Xiao Yi had performed before, the people had an even firmer belief than Xiao Yi himself that they could win this war.


    "Have you heard? The War God is nning to create the Four Symbols Legion and is recruiting soldiers right now!"


    "Are you serious?"


    "Of course, I am... Hey, hey, hey, where are you going? Your noodles just came to a boil..."


    "I''m not eating anymore; I have to go back and get my sons to enlist..."


    "Right, enlist!"


    In the past, enlisting in the army was a bitter ordeal for the people, and everyone wished they could hide their menfolk at home.


    Now, they could hardly wait to send their sons to enlist upon hearing the news.


    Gu Junhe, who was in charge of the recruitment, sighed softly upon receiving this news and looked down at the recruitment n he had diligently prepared all night, "The hearts of the people are with us... this is truly the hearts of the people being with us..."


    The following day.


    When the Tianqing Kingdom''s enlistment sites opened, the officers responsible for recruitment werepletely stunned; there were long queues outside the door. Each person was brimming with energy, a stark contrast to the usual disheartened attitude of being forced to enlist, wishing they could be dismissed by the officers to return home.


    The recruitment went astonishingly smoothly.


    In one day, they managed to recruit an army of 150,000 men.


    This was still due to insufficient staffing at various locations; many people who came to enlist were unable toplete testing in time.


    Gu Junhe, looking at the thick roster in his hands, sought out Xiao Yi overnight.


    Xiao Yi was discussing medicine with Xue Bufan. The medicine that Xue Bufan had concocted for Shi Yaoqian was provided by Xiao Yi''s prescription.


    It was just that there had been a small mistake in Xue Bufan''s concoction, which caused Shi Yaoqian to lose control.


    "Xiao, with your guidance, all four medicines are showing promise. Without any mishaps, mass production can begin in three days..." Xue Bufan looked at Xiao Yi excitedly, his cloudy eyes shining with both admiration and fervor.


    Xiao Yi''s attainments in medicine truly startled Xue Bufan.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "The medicine is in your hands; I just wonder how smoothly the recruitment is going!"


    "Smoothly? It''s been beyond smooth!"


    Gu Junhe''s voice came from outside the door; he spoke with a wry smile, "This is just the first day, and we''ve already recruited 150,000 people. That''s with us being unprepared and understaffed, so many people couldn''tplete the tests. I came over to discuss with you whether we should expand the number of recruits to 1.5 million if the medicine can keep up."


    If they recruited another 1.5 million, the Tianqing Kingdom''s total military strength would reach two million.


    Xue Bufan spoke gravely, "As long as the medicinal materials can keep up, there will be no issues with the medicine!"


    Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and then said, "Wait here; I''ll go to the Treasure Pavilion. If the Treasure Pavilion is willing to assist us, there will absolutely be no problem with the medicinal materials!"


    "Good!"


    Both nodded repeatedly.


    Xiao Yi turned and left ...


    ...


    Great Jin Kingdom.


    This was the only one among more than a hundred vassal states under the Great Qian Dynasty that possessed a warrior of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    However, this Dharma Manifestation Realm warrior was in closed-door cultivation all year round, seldom showing his face, serving more as a deterrent.


    Under the Great Qian, Great Jin reigned supreme!


    This was no idle boast ...


    The sprawling pce of the Great Jin Kingdom was ten times the size of the capital of the Tianqing Kingdom, immensely vast and majestically imposing. For an ordinary person to walk from one end of the pce to the other took at least ten days to half a month. The entire pce was actually a formation, and there were even rumors that beneath the pcey the suppressed dragon veins of the Great Jin Kingdom!


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Outside the Golden Throne Hall, the heavenly drum thundered.


    Only in emergencies would this heavenly drum be sounded.


    In an instant,


    Countless ministers hurried toward the pce. Along the way, many of them encountered their colleagues and asked each other, "Do you know what has happened?"


    "I have no idea ..."


    "Isn''t that Minister Qin up ahead? Let''s ask him ..."


    Qin Yu, Minister of War of the Great Jin Kingdom, warrior of the Eighth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Riding on a tall horse, Qin Yu nced at the few ministers who had caught up to him. In response to their inquiries, Qin Yu said indifferently, "If this minister is not mistaken, it should be rted to the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "Tianqing Kingdom?"


    The ministers were momentarily stunned.


    In their eyes, Tianqing Kingdom was but a speck of dust, a ce hidden in the remote recesses of the Nanhuang region.


    How could such a small country stir the heavenly drum?


    With various thoughts in mind,


    The ministers arrived at the Golden Throne Hall; after they took their stand, a soft voice came through, "His Majesty arrives!"


    "We greet His Majesty!"


    "His Majesty''s contributionsst a thousand generations, his legacy endures forever!"


    The crowd shouted in unison.


    This was the difference between the Great Jin Kingdom and the Tianqing Kingdom!


    The ruler of the Tianqing Kingdom could only be referred to as "may he live forever," but the Great Jin Kingdom could acim "may he live for thousands of generations and eternity," while the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty was referred to as "may his reignst forever."


    This was a sign of hierarchical standing, and at the same time, a reflection of strength!


    The Jin Emperor was dignified and magnanimous, draped in a dragon robe wrapped with golden dragons, his movement was like a true dragon striding upon the earth, his eyes as brilliant as if they harbored the sun, moon, and stars, sitting atop the dragon throne, his presence wasmanding without anger. A calm voice issued from him, "My seventh son is dead, the chiefmander of my imperial guards is dead ..."


    Two simple sentences chilled the assembled ministers to the bone.@@novelbin@@


    They exchanged looks, full of shock and disbelief.


    The seventh prince was dead?


    Who was so brazen as to dare to assassinate the seventh prince?


    The Jin Emperor coldly asked, "Is Qin Yu present?"


    "Your servant is here!"


    Qin Yu stood up straight, his towering figure presiding over the court.


    The Jin Emperormanded coldly, "I grant you one hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards, one million troops, lead the Four Kings from the east, south, west, and north to the Tianqing Kingdom, tten Tianqing for me, and bring back the head of Xiao Yi!"


    "Your servant obeys the edict!"


    Qin Yu respectfully epted themand, his head held high, his face full of determination and confidence: "Your Majesty, rest assured, your servant will tten Tianqing, and avenge the prince!"

 Chapter 186 His Name is Xiao Yi!

    ```


    "Let me try."


    Xiao Yi sighed and stepped forward.


    The previous attitude of Chen Fu and the other had made him not want to meddle.


    However...


    If the Four Symbols Legion were to develop smoothly, they still needed the massive resources of the Treasure Pavilion, so helping now would make future transactions much easier.


    Chen Yu was taken aback, then angrily said, "Boy, do you even understand alchemy? The situation ispletely out of control, and there''s no way to save it now. If you mess around and it causes a huge explosion, the bacsh of the earth fire could turn the entire capital into a sea of fire. Can you bear the consequences?"


    Xiao Yi frowned and gave him a cold look, causing Chen Yu to tremble all over as if he had fallen into an ice cer, swallowing the words he was about to say.


    Xiao Yi''s face was indifferent, "Keep whining, and I''ll tear your mouth apart!"


    "You..."


    Chen Yu shuddered, his face turned pale, feeling as if Xiao Yi had turned into a terrifying beast that left him without the courage to speak.


    Xiao Yi looked at Chen Fu, "Let me try."


    Chen Fu''s expression changed rapidly, but he was out of options and could only respond with a wry smile, "We are grateful for your assistance, Xiao."


    "Hmm."


    Xiao Yi nodded slightly and casually walked up to the alchemy furnace.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The earth fire boiled, fiery columns shot into the sky, and the terrifying waves of fire seemed as if they could engulf everything.


    The crimson glow of the mes reflected on his face.


    Chen Yu sneered repeatedly, "Elder Yan, is your friend out of his mind? With the earth fire out of control, even my master can''t handle it. Who does he think he is?"


    Elder Yan gave him a look and watched Xiao Yi anxiously.


    Just then...


    Xiao Yi suddenly extended his palm into the zing mes.


    Chen Yu''s face showed an even more mocking expression, "Has this guy gone mad? That''s earth fire! Even the vital energy of someone in the Golden Core Realm can''t withstand the high temperature of the earth fire. Is he nning to perish with it?"


    However.


    As Xiao Yi''s hand entered the mes, the raging fire that boiled ceaselessly seemed to meet its natural enemy and avoided him. Continue your adventure with empire


    His hands moved to the left and right, forcibly tearing a gap in the wall of mes that had converged in front of him.


    He wasn''t harmed in the slightest!


    "What?"


    Chen Yu was dumbfounded, "This is impossible..."


    That was earth fire!


    The vital energy of someone in the Golden Core Realm would be instantly incinerated, yet Xiao Yi could tear apart the earth fire with his bare hands?


    Chen Fu was also deeply shocked, "Incredible, absolutely incredible!"


    Elder Yan''s face showed excitement, and he smiled proudly, "I''ve always said Xiao could do anything, now do you believe me?"


    Chen Fu nodded in astonishment.


    Chen Yu, clenching his fists tightly and unwilling to ept defeat, said, "Hmph, this only shows that his vital energy is strong, it proves nothing else."


    "Open!"


    Xiao Yi uttered a light shout.


    Vital energy burst out from around him,pletely tearing apart a fire column tens of meters high while pushing forward with one hand. His left hand grabbed the red-hot pill furnace, and amidst a series of harsh sounds, a puff of ck smoke rose up, and Xiao Yi forcefully lifted the furnace.


    Sss!


    Chen Fu and the others were stunned,pletely dumbfounded.


    This alchemy furnace weighed tens of thousands of pounds.


    It was burning hot, and Xiao Yi lifted it with one hand?


    Xiao Yi held the alchemy furnace aloft with his right hand while pushing forward with his left, vital energy gushing wildly from his palm, coalescing into a column of energy, and suddenly crashing down towards the outlet of the earth fire, "Seal!"


    Boom!


    The column of vital energy smashed down, blocking the earth fire outlet with a bang.


    At the same time, the energy column dispersed, its pure energy seeping into the broken Earth Fire Array, causing the fearsome mes to dissipate into the air.


    Thud!


    Xiao Yi set the alchemy furnace to one side, dusted his hands, and looked at Chen Fu with a smile, "It''s just that the Earth Fire Array is worn out after years and your use of it for too long this time caused it to break. I''ve sealed the array; now, as long as someone repairs it, there''ll be no more problems!"


    "Thank you, Xiao, for saving our lives!" Chen Fu, finally recovering, said with a serious expression.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively, "It was nothing."


    "Hmph, he''s just relying on his great strength..." Chen Yu muttered unconvincedly.


    "Shut up!"


    Chen Fu gave him a stern look and scolded, "Aren''t you going to apologize to Xiao?"


    "Apologize? What did I say that was wrong..."


    Chen Yu stiffened his neck, "He previously said my master made a mistake during the alchemy process, just showing off. It was just luck that he encountered a broken earth fire array, and he''s only relying on his strong cultivation. What did I say wrong?"


    ```


    "Xiao, this boy has been spoiled by me, please forgive him!"


    Chen Fu said with a bitter smile as he sped his hands towards Xiao Yi, but in his heart, he agreed with Chen Yu''s view, regretfully looking at the pill furnace covered in cracks, "It''s just a pity for this batch of pills, it was only one step away from sess, but now all efforts have been in vain..."


    "It doesn''t matter, it was just that the temperature was too high during the solidifying pill process. All you need to do is add a measure of Frost Condensing Herb!" Xiao Yi said from the side.


    Chen Fu was startled: "Frost Condensing Herb?"


    Chen Yu folded his arms across his chest, full of sarcasm: "Sure enough, ayman. Do you even understand alchemy? The nature of the Mysterious Yang Elixir is of yang fire, while the Frost Condensing Herb is a medicinal herb with yin cold properties. If these two arebined, it will lead to a chaos in the medicinal properties and turn directly into a poison pill. And you''re saying to add Frost Condensing Herb?"


    Chen Fu couldn''t help but shake his head as well.


    Xiao Yi smiled as he looked at the two of them: "You don''t believe me?"


    "Your words are nothing but nonsense, what''s there to believe?" Chen Yu sneered, "My master was practicing alchemy when you didn''t even know where you were!"


    Chen Fu said in a deep voice: "Xiao, we still have to thank you for stepping in to help!"


    "Forget it!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head and sighed, "Since you don''t believe, then let it be!"


    He had no intention of casting pearls before swine.


    However, Yan Mingli said solemnly from the side: "Elder Chen, I think you should give it a try!"


    "Hmm?"


    Chen Yu frowned and said, "Elder Yan, are you questioning my master?"


    Chen Fu''s face showed a trace of displeasure, being the number one figure in the Tianqing Kingdom''s alchemy world. Seeing Yan Mingli would rather believe Xiao Yi than himself, his expression also turned somewhat unsightly.


    Yan Mingli said solemnly: "Elder Chen, at this point, it''s just a waste of a Frost Condensing Herb either way, why not give it a try?"


    "Master, just try it as he says, lest someone remains unconvinced!" Chen Yu said in a tone tinged with sarcasm.


    Chen Fu sighed: "Alright then!"


    The Frost Condensing Herb wasn''t a precious medicinal herb; they were stocked in the alchemy room.


    The entire Frost Condensing Herb was dark green, its surface dotted with crystal-clear crystals like ice, cool to the touch. Chen Fu threw the Frost Condensing Herb into the pill furnace. At the same time, he activated the Condensing Elixir Art, with qi converging inside the pill furnace. After a while, the pill furnace stopped trembling, clearly indicating the end of the pill condensing.


    Chen Fu could not be bothered to look at the ''poison pills'' and sighed: "Chen Yu, go and take out the pills."


    "Yes!"


    Chen Yu looked at Xiao Yi triumphantly, "Let''s see what you have to say now!"


    Thud!


    Chen Yu lifted the lid of the pill furnace.


    However¡­


    The moment the pill furnace was uncovered, the smug look on Chen Yu''s face disappeared: "This, this is impossible..."


    A rich fragrance of medicine pervaded the entire alchemy room.


    Chen Fu''s eyes widened: "This, this is..."


    He pulled Chen Yu aside and took out the three pills from the pill furnace.


    The pills were entirely red, and they felt warm in the hand.


    "This, this is a Mysterious Yang Elixir? Moreover, a top-quality Mysterious Yang Elixir? How is this possible..." Chen Fu was utterly dumbfounded.


    Top-quality indeed!


    Normally, only a second-grade middle-level alchemist could refine pills of this quality.


    This was clearly supposed to be just a batch of waste pills!


    How could it be that simply by adding a stalk of Frost Condensing Herb, not only was the situation turned around from waste to treasure, but it even became top-quality?


    "Top-quality?"


    Chen Yu was also shocked, disbelievingly staring at the pills in Chen Fu''s hand, his face turning alternately pale and flushed as if he had just been viciously pped dozens of times.


    Yan Mingliughed heartily: "Hahaha, Elder Chen, Xiao hasn''t let you down, has he!"


    "It''s not just about not being let down, it''s simply a miracle! Indeed, there are people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens. Chen admits to not recognizing the greatness in front of him!"


    Chen Fu shook his head self-deprecatingly and sped his hands towards Xiao Yi, "Xiao, I hope you can forgive my shortsightedness!"


    Yan Mingli said leisurely: "I do remember someone saying that if one really turns waste into treasure, they''re willing to unscrew their head and use it as a night pot!"


    "I..."


    Chen Yu''s face turned ashen as he knelt on the ground, his neck stiff, "Xiao, please take my head!"@@novelbin@@


    "Get up. Elder Yan was merely joking, no need for such extreme measures!"


    Xiao Yiughed heartily as he looked at Chen Fu, "Elder Chen, I have a matter to discuss with you!"


    "Xiao, please speak!"


    Chen Fu bowed.


    Chen Yu looked at the disappearing backs of the two, turning towards Yan Mingli. "Elder Yan, who exactly is he?"


    Yan Mingli looked at him with an odd expression and said indifferently: "His name is Xiao Yi!"


    "Xiao Yi?"


    Chen Yu was stunned, his face suddenly changing, incredulous, "He, he, he... the Guardian Martial God?"

 Chapter 187 My Hatred Will Not Be Quelled Until Xiao Yi Dies!

    Inside the Treasure Pavilion.


    Chen Yu''s face was brimming with eagerness and admiration as he respectfully stood to one side, serving Xiao Yi tea and water.


    Xiao Yi, seeing his demeanor, felt somewhat helpless, "You needn''t go to such lengths!" Discover hidden content at empire


    Chen Yu promptly shook his head, not showing the slightest bit of his previous arrogance and pride, speaking with utter sincerity, "War God, I did not realize it was you earlier, and I inadvertently offended you. You, being magnanimous, did not take my petty actions to heart. But all these are things I ought to do..."


    Chen Fu chuckled, "Xiao, you can ignore him. Thisd has really taken you as his idol!"


    "Heh heh!"


    Chen Yu scratched his head and said, "In the Tianqing Kingdom these days, almost everyone regards you as an idol!"


    Xiao Yi couldn''t help butugh and cry, then he turned to look at Chen Fu, "Chen, I''ve taken the liberty toe today because we are forming the Four Symbols Legion, to respond to the Great Jin Kingdom. However, there is quite a shortfall when ites to medicinal materials. We hope to establish a cooperation with the Treasure Pavilion. Of course, we''ll still purchase the materials at market prices!"


    The royal family was footing the bill for these materials, so naturally, Xiao Yi didn''t need to worry about the cost in silver taels.


    Chen Fu nodded, "Xiao, rest assured, I, Chen Fu, am also a man of the Tianqing Kingdom. Whatever medicinal materials you need, just give me a list. I will arrange for it to be transferred from other branches as quickly as possible!"


    "Then, I shall trouble you, Chen," Xiao Yi said with a smile.


    "It''s my duty!" said Chen Fu earnestly.


    Chen Yu, who was at the side, seemed hesitant to speak. Xiao Yi inquired with curiosity, "Chen Yu, is there something on your mind?"


    Taking a deep breath and mustering all his courage, Chen Yu said, "War God..."


    "You can address me by my name!" Xiao Yi interjected.@@novelbin@@


    "Then, then I''ll follow my master and call you Xiao from now on!" Chen Yu chuckled, then continued, "Xiao, regarding the Four Symbols Legion you mentioned, I was wondering if I can qualify to join?"


    His cultivation had also reached the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm, and he was not far from the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "You? Does Chen really feel willing to let you enlist?"


    Even though the Four Symbols Legion was to be built to the standards of the Golden Crow Guards, it was, after all, about joining the military.


    In the future, they were to be deployed to the battlefield.


    This was a matter of risking one''s life.


    With Chen Yu''s status, studying the art of medicine under Chen Fu''s guidance and possibly even taking over the position of Pavilion Master someday...


    Why take the risk?


    Chen Yu spoke in a determined voice, "As a man in this world, one should be like Xiao, entering the battlefield, ying enemies, and protecting the homnd. I¡ªI want to try!"


    Xiao Yi looked towards Chen Fu.


    Chen Fu gazed deeply at Chen Yu, his eyes filled with relief. He nodded, "Xiao, go ahead and agree to his request!"


    "In that case, you just need to go to the recruitment spot tomorrow to enroll!"


    Xiao Yi smiled, thinking that Chen Yu''s entry into the Four Symbols Legion was all to the good. With this setup, Chen Fu would definitely be more active in providing medicinal materials to the Legion. Therefore, he warned, "However, let me be clear upfront, once you join the Four Symbols Legion, you will be a soldier, not Chen''s disciple anymore. I will treat everyone the same; there will be no special treatment!"


    "Xiao, rest assured, I promise not to disgrace you or my master!" Chen Yu pledged, thumping his chest.


    Xiao Yi nodded then stood up, "Chen, then I''ll leave the matter of the medicinal materials in your hands. I still have other matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave now!"


    "Xiao, take care!"


    Said Chen Fu, continuously.


    "Master, let me see Xiao off!" Chen Yu quickly offered.


    "Go ahead!"


    Watching the departing duo, Chen Fu smiled and turned to Yan Mingli by his side, "Mingli, this Xiao is really extraordinary! Not only is his martial arts talent so formidable, capable of leading troops into battle, but he also has such a profound knowledge in medicine. This man''s gift, I''m afraid, is not even a bit inferior to the legendary Xiao Tianjiao!"


    Yan Mingli chuckled, "Who could disagree? I''m bing more and more curious whether the Xiao Family is entirely blind..."


    ......


    Inside the royal pce.


    When Jiang Tai learned that the Treasure Pavilion had agreed to help provide medicinal herbs, he also quietly let out a sigh of relief, "Xiao brother, Father Emperor was right, with you here, Tianqing will not fall!"


    "If you keep praising me like this, I might just ascend to the heavens!"


    Xiao Yi said helplessly before continuing, "Right now, there''s no need to worry about the medicinal herbs. Elder Xue will handle the pill concoction, and as for the training of the Four Symbols Legion, Yu Huaxian and Gu will work together¡ªthere won''t be any problems. Next, I n to take a trip out."


    "Where to?"


    Jiang Tai asked, puzzled.


    Xiao Yi said solemnly, "Weapons. I found a massive mine in Iron Mountain City before, with an extremely rich reserve. I''m nning to go to Iron Mountain City, first to develop that vein, then to have Iron Mountain City put all their efforts into forging weapons and armors!"


    He intended to create special armor and weapons for the Four Symbols Legion.


    All these required a massive amount of ore.


    That mine, with reserves worth over ten billion Silver Taels, had never been developed before due to ack of time, and now was the moment.


    Jiang Tai said, "If that''s the case, then let the Shi Family brothers lead the Imperial Guards to apany you there."


    "That works!"


    The Shi Family brothers had all advanced to the Golden Elixir Realm Cultivation, and with their help along with the Imperial Guards, at least clearing the beasts around the vein wouldn''t be a problem, and it would save a lot of effort.


    The two were discussing this matter.


    However, they hadn''t noticed that an old eunuch who had been standing by their side with bowed head had a glint of sharpness sh through his eyes.


    Deep into the night, all was quiet.


    Within the dungeon.


    Ge Zheng and a group of people were imprisoned inside, waiting for Yu Huaxian to thoroughly investigate their crimes before a public judgment.


    In the dim and damp dungeon.


    A shadowy figure quietly appeared before Ge Zheng and knelt down before him, "Righteous father!"


    Ge Zheng opened his bleary eyes and looked at the shadow before him, "Why are you here? Didn''t I tell you to be extremely careful and not to expose our rtionship?"


    "Righteous father, your son has an urgent matter that requires your decision!" the shadow said.


    Ge Zheng frowned and inquired, "What''s the matter?"


    The shadow spoke in a grave tone, "Your son has received news that Xiao Yi is headed to Iron Mountain City with the Shi Family brothers and fifty thousand Imperial Guards. They have seemingly discovered an astonishinglyrge mine there. Xiao Yi ns to develop that mine to forge weapons for the Four Symbols Legion!"


    "Oh?"


    Ge Zheng''s pupils suddenly dted.


    He was already a prisoner, and with the rtionship between Jiang Tai and Xiao Yi, there was no chance they would allow him to turn the tables.


    Unless...


    The formation of the Four Symbols Legion failed.


    The Tianqing Kingdom was defeated by the Great Jin Kingdom.


    Then, perhaps he would have a way out.


    With this thought in mind.


    Ge Zheng gave a hideous smile, "Well, this is really a godsend opportunity." He looked at the shadow before him, took out a peace charm from his bosom, and said in a deep voice, "This is your father''s token. Take it and quickly go to the depths of Nanhuang to find that person. That person owed your father a favor, and as long as you present this charm, he will certainly make a move to help you. Have him kill Xiao Yi."


    "Righteous father, rest assured, your son will surely fulfill the trust!" the shadow reverently withdrew.


    Ge Zheng''s eyes gleamed savagely as he raised his head to look at the pitch-ck dungeon, and he sneered sinisterly, "Xiao Yi, my hatred will not be soothed until you are dead!"

 Chapter 190 Submit, or Die!

    In the void, sand filled the sky.


    Only Xiao Yi''s figure was nowhere to be seen.


    Huang Bo stood suspended in the air, squinting at the drifting sand ahead, with a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth and a cold sneer, "A mere Golden Elixir Realm Peak, and yet you forced me to use my Annihtion Sandstorm, you are the first. Sigh, how lonely it is to be invincible, hahaha!"


    "Invincible? Are you that confident?"


    As Huang Bo was about to leave, he suddenly heard Xiao Yi''s voice near his ear.


    The voice was so close that it sent shivers down his spine.


    "Not good!"


    Huang Bo instinctively dodged to the side, but as soon as he moved, he banged his head against a wallposed of Sword Qi.


    The collision broke Huang Bo''s nasal bone.


    Blood gushed wildly from his nostrils.


    Tears streamed out uncontrobly.


    He clutched his head wailing, and it took a good while before he recovered, looking around with a befuddled face.


    At some point, several Qi walls, entirely condensed from Sword Qi, had appeared around him. The walls were extremely strong; he had just rammed into one of them. Rubbing his broken nose, which was nowpletely crooked, he clicked it back into ce. Huang Bo''s pupils contracted slightly, staring at Xiao Yi, "How did you break free from my Annihtion Sandstorm?"


    Annihtion Sandstorm.


    It was Huang Bo''s Innate Divine Ability merged with the power of heaven and earth, a lethal move. With his cultivation nearly at the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, even when facing someone from the Eighth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, he could entrap and kill them.


    That Xiao Yi managed to slip away without him realizing was truly astonishing.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Your move is indeed powerful, but its weakness is also very obvious. As long as one''s speed is fast enough, one can leave before your sandpletely seals off the area. It''s not difficult."


    "Impossible!"


    Huang Bo angrily said, "I was watching the whole time, you were clearly surrounded by the sand..."


    Xiao Yi scoffed, "Watching the whole time? Are you sure what you saw was me?"


    "Hmm?"


    Huang Bo was stunned. He rapidly recalled the previous moment, and his expression suddenly changed, "The one trapped was just your afterimage?"


    Xiao Yi gave a mysterious smile.


    When Huang Bo deployed the Annihtion Sandstorm, Xiao Yi sensed the terror of the move.


    With the help of the sandstorm, he escaped the encircling sands at incredible speed, leaving only an afterimage wrapped in the dust.


    But in Huang Bo''s view, it appeared as if it was his real body that was trapped.


    All of this seemed simple.


    Yet achieving it was exceedingly difficult.


    First and foremost, one needed to have an extremely fast movement technique, and additionally, a keen sense of timing was required.


    Escape too early, and the afterimage would disappear before the sand had enveloped it.


    Escape toote, and the sand would''ve formed an enclosure, preventing escape.


    Huang Bo''s face went from pale to flushed. He never imagined his seemingly unbeatable trump card would be directly broken through by Xiao Yi. His face twisted into a vicious expression, "No wonder Ge Zheng used up that favor to have mee kill you. You indeed are a troublesome opponent. However, do you really think this mere Sword Qi can stop me?"


    Whoosh!


    Huang Bo raised his arm, and countless grains of sand burst forth from his yellow robe, crashing against the Sword Qi walls around him.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    After several collisions,


    the Sword Qi walls remained unmoved. Instead, countless grains of sand filled the cage, binding Huang Bo''s range of motion.


    "How is this possible? I can''t break through this mere Sword Qi?" Huang Bo looked around in astonishment.


    Never underestimate the sand in his hands, which seemed weak and powerless when scattered, but once gathered together, were as hard as mysterious iron and as sharp as any ordinary primordial weapon.


    Xiao Yi hovered in the air, "Let me see you off!"


    Swish!


    Xiao Yi felt the divine power within him converge, flowing into the Fire Qilin Sword.


    The Fire Qilin Sword glowed red, its scale-like patternsing to life, as the fiery heat and Sword Qi surged forth. In an instant, the temperature within the cage of Sword Qi soared, turning everything into a world of mes, akin to being inside a volcano, facing the terrifying ze.


    The yellow sand began to melt, transforming into rolling magma.


    Huang Bo, trapped within the magma, grimaced in excruciating pain. While the magma couldn''t kill him, it inflicted unbearable, agonizing pain. "You scoundrels... Despicable humans, release me if you dare, and fight me fairly!"


    "You, a high-ranking sixth-tier Beast King, dares to attack me, a mere human at the Golden Core Realm, and you speak of fairness?" Xiao Yi scoffed repeatedly.


    "I, I..."


    Huang Bo''s face twisted in ugliness, his teeth clenched in anger, "Xiao Yi, release me, or I swear I''ll annihte your entire n..."


    "Clueless fool!"


    Xiao Yi vibrated the de of his sword.


    Shua! Shua! Shua!


    Sword Qi from all directions swarmed in, merging with the magma.


    Chi! Chi! Chi!


    The sword''s edge effortlessly sliced open Huang Bo''s body, leaving vicious wounds over him, and the magma seeped into every opening.


    Should Huang Bo''s demonic power not cover him in time, the magma would infiltrate and burn his flesh.


    The piercing pain!


    The scorching burn!


    Itpletely drove Huang Bo mad. His face turned beet red, his body crisscrossed with ferocious wounds, many of which were scorched.


    Finally...


    Huang Bo gave up resistance: "I admit defeat..."


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "That''s it? You surrender just like that?"


    "Hmph!"


    Huang Bo snorted coldly, "Using such despicable tactics..."


    "It seems it''s not enough!"


    Find your next read on empire


    Xiao Yi sighed, pointing his sword, "A Stroke That Surprises the Wind and Rain!"


    Shua! Shua! Shua!


    Sword beams fell like rain, bombarding Huang Bo frantically.


    Incapable of dodging within the magma, Huang Bo resolutely bore the brunt of the relentless sword beams, frustrated and furious, "Xiao Yi, are you so desperate to force a fight to the death with me?"


    "Still talking tough?"


    "Ao... Xiao Yi, Imand the allegiance of a million demonic beasts in Nanhuang. Believe me or not, if I instigate a beast tide..."


    "A beast tide? Then I shall sacrifice you to Nanhuang!"@@novelbin@@


    "No..."


    "Xiao, ancestor Xiao, I admit my defeat... I was wrong... I lost..."


    "Stop, please... no more..."


    Huang Bo, covered in wounds and barely alive, hadpletely ceased to resist. He looked at Xiao Yi with dodging and fearful eyes, "Stop... I surrender..."


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curled into a small smile, "You surrender?"


    "I surrender!"


    Huang Bo nodded hastily, fearing to anger Xiao Yi further, "As long as you don''t kill me, I''ll agree to anything you ask!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "If you don''t want to die, then submit to me!"


    "What? Don''t even dream of it, I am the noble ruler of Nanhuang..."


    Xiao Yi''s Fire Qilin Sword thrummed with power, "Submit or die! The choice is yours!"


    Huang Bo gulped down saliva nervously, quickly changing his stance, "I submit! I submit! I, the king, submit..."

 Chapter 193 Extreme Training Skill

    ```


    Ge Zheng and Teng Yi.


    To Xiao Yi, those two were nothing more than annoying flies, easily crushed with a flick of his hand.


    He didn''t consider them worthy of attention.


    After dealing with Teng Yi, Xiao Yi headed to Jing Mountain alone.@@novelbin@@


    Jing Mountain was the training ground for the Four Symbols Legion.


    In the past ten days of recruitment, the numbers had already reached a staggering one million, with more soldiers from the Four Symbols Legion still being transported to Jing Mountain from all directions.


    Gu Junhe and Yu Huaxian were stationed at Jing Mountain, in charge of the legion''s training.


    Particrly, the twenty thousand Azure Dragon Guards under Yu Huaxian''smand were all valiant warriors refined from the ferocious battles within the Golden Crow Guards. Yu Huaxian scattered them among the Four Symbols Legion to supervise and train these new recruits. The effect was extremely apparent, and in just a few days, the Four Symbols Legion had begun to take shape.


    At the very least, they looked like an army with strict military discipline.


    Of course... Continue reading at empire


    This was also inseparable from Xiao Yi''s involvement.


    The Four Symbols Legion was Xiao Yi''s own force, with people joining in admiration of his name, naturally not wanting to tarnish his reputation.


    Inside the central military tent.


    Gu Junhe and Yu Huaxian looked at Xiao Yi with befuddled expressions, "What did you say? A million monster beasts?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "I''ve ordered that a million monster beasts be brought to Jing Mountain within half a month. You two will be responsible for coordinating and arranging them when the timees!"


    "Damn, an army of a million monster beasts! The Great Jin Kingdom once attempted to build a monster beast cavalry as well, but due to overwhelming costs, they could only maintain about fifty thousand... that was already imed to be the foremost army under the heavens of Great Qian. I never thought we could actually create a million-strong monster beast cavalry..." Yu Huaxian''s delicate face was filled with deep shock.


    Gu Junhe nodded earnestly, "I''m already impatient to see what expressions they''ll have when we deploy our million-strong monster beast army in front of the Great Jin Kingdom!"


    Monster beasts are incredibly difficult to tame.


    Even after taming them, the cost of maintaining a single monster beast is colossal.


    Even a country with the might of the Great Jin Kingdom can''t support too many monster beast cavalry units.


    But Xiao Yi was different; his million-strong monster beast cavalry could simply be led back to Nanhuang by Huang Bo after the battle, without worrying about unsustainable expenses.


    Xiao Yi asked, "Are there any issues with the training of the Four Symbols Legion?"


    Gu Junhe shook his head, "With Yu Huaxian''s Extreme Training Skill and the elixirs provided by Elder Xue, everything is proceeding smoothly, without any problems."


    Yu Huaxian added, "We estimate that the Four Symbols Legion will be able to formbat capability within a month!"


    "Hmm!"


    Xiao Yi was very confident in the two of them. He then inquired, "Any news from the Great Jin Kingdom?"


    Yu Huaxian nodded, "I was just about to discuss this with you... Elder Yan from Treasure Pavilion came to see us yesterday. ording to the information passed through the pavilion, the Great Jin Kingdom has dispatched one hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards and a million-strong army. They are led by the Minister of War, Qin Yu, and it will take them about two more months to reach the border!"


    "Qin Yu?"


    They had already predicted the military force the Great Jin Kingdom would send, and the numbers were close. Xiao Yi was more interested in thismander, "What about him?"


    Fear shed in Yu Huaxian''s eyes as he said in a grave tone, "His cultivation is at the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, and there are rumors he possesses the Blood Demon Battle Body, second only to the top ten holynds, making him extremely tough to deal with."


    "Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm peak? Blood Demon Battle Body? Then hisbat strength should beparable to the Eighth, or even Ninth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm..."


    ```


    Xiao Yi stroked his chin, pondering, "Indeed, he''s a formidable adversary!"


    He was now at the thirty-fifth ring of the Golden Core realm.


    Comparable to the Third Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, with the enhancement of the Wind Thunder Holy Body and the Divine Enthronement power, he could rival the power of a Seventh Layer Tao Tribtion Realm expert.


    This Qin Yu was at the peak of the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm himself, and possessed the Blood Demon Battle Body. With Xiao Yi''s current strength, if he shed with him, his odds of victory were less than fifty percent.


    "Dean, Yu Huaxian, I have some elemental stones here, you two divide them up!"


    Xiao Yi left a portion of elemental stones for each of them.


    They did not have God Sealing Seeds, and they weren''t practicing a heaven-defying cultivation technique like the Divine Enthronement Heaven Subduing Skill, so their speed and efficiency in absorbing elemental stones were far less than Xiao Yi''s.


    The number of elemental stones he gave them was enough for them to cultivate for a half month at least, and they could possibly increase by a minor realm.


    The two looked at the elemental stones in their hands, exchanging nces, "Where did you find these elemental stones?"


    Among them were even two top-grade elemental stones.


    These were treasures beyond price!


    Xiao Yiughed heartily, recounted the news of the mineral vein, which earned him their envious looks, "You truly are a child of fortune!"


    Xiao Yi simply shrugged, "Among these are some lower and middle-grade stones, suitable for Golden Core realm experts to use. See which Golden Core realm experts in the army could use them." He then prepared another two portions of elemental stones, "These two are for you to kindly deliver to Elder Xue and Elder Jiang on my behalf!"


    Jiang Weisheng''s injuries had not yet healed, but with the aid of elemental stones, he would surely be able to recover before the arrival of the Great Jin Kingdom, and he might even make further progress in his cultivation.


    Gu Junhe nodded and said, "Xiao Yi, you''re nning to go into seclusion, aren''t you?"


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Yi spoke solemnly, "With my current strength, I''m still insufficient to face the top experts of the Great Jin Kingdom!"


    Gu Junhe said, "Then you can go to the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy, their cultivation chambers are always vacant!"


    He was naturally referring to the old site of the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    Xiao Yi hummed in affirmation; he had already nned to retreat to the cultivation chambers of Tianqi Martial Arts Academy to break through to higher realms, "The management of the Four Symbols Legion is in your hands now!"


    "It''s all for the Tianqing Kingdom!" the two said in unison.


    After discussing a bit more, Xiao Yi then set off.


    He was really too busy now.


    Since returning from Iron Mountain City, he had gone to the sky prison, then arrived at Jing Mountain, and now he was heading to the Tianqi Martial Arts Academy.


    He was practically non-stop.


    Gu Junhe sighed softly, watching as Xiao Yi disappeared, "He keeps himself so busy, probably also to avoid having idle moments that would make him remember every bit and detail about Qingzhu..."


    It could be said that Gu Junhe had watched Xiao Yi and Fang Qingzhu grow up step by step, respecting and admiring each other, until they were ultimately forced to part.


    Yu Huaxian said solemnly, "With Xiao''s talent and strength, one day he will be the most paramount being under these stars. And then, no one in this world will be able to stop him from being with Miss Qingzhu!"


    These days, he too had heard quite a bit about Xiao Yi from Gu Junhe.


    And he admired him even more for it.


    Every time Xiao Yi''s talent was mentioned, Gu Junhe couldn''t help but nod in agreement, "You''re right, with his talent, in the future under these stars, he will surely be the most dazzling existence. He might even be like the resplendent sun at high noon..."

 Chapter 196 The Ghost Gods Soldiers

    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The war drums of the Great Jin Kingdom sounded in the distance.


    Rumbling, rumbling, rumbling!


    The ground shook as if a dragon were turning over beneath it.


    A troop of one hundred thousand soldiers split from the enemy''s formation, forming ten square units that advanced neatly toward the front.


    Each of these hundred thousand soldiers was d in golden armor, wielding a long sword and bearing a war shield on their shoulders.


    An icy, deadly aura emanated from each of them.


    Just from the uniformity of their footsteps, devoid of any other noise, one could tell this was an elite force!


    At the very front of these one hundred thousand, there were two figures in white battle armor from the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    "They are the Eastern War King and Western War King from among the Four Symbols Kings. Every one of them is a strong practitioner above the Fifth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, and behind them are the hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards,"


    Yu Huaxian said with a grave voice, "This is General Qin Yu''s usual tactic, to strike the enemy down with the Golden Crow Guards in the front. Then the cavalry, half a million strong, will swoop down topletely break the enemy, followed by the infantry..."


    "A hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards?"


    Xiao Yi nodded and gave an order, "Gu Junhe, Yu Huaxian, hear mymand, I order the two of you to lead fifty thousand from the Four Symbols Legion each to meet the enemy!"


    "Your subordinate obeys!"


    Gu Junhe clenched his fists, full of an overwhelming desire to fight.


    With the help of Xiao Yi''s elemental stones, he too had stepped into the Third Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm.


    He was fully capable of dealing with a practitioner of the Fifth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm.


    As for Yu Huaxian, he had reached the Seventh Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, and a great battle was just what he needed to exhibit his power.


    After the two had left,


    Xiao Yi continued, "Jiang Weisheng, Huangpao, hear mymand... You two immediately organize the Beast Riders. Once Generals Gu and Huaxian break through the Golden Crow Guards, the Beast Riders will charge. If Qin Yu wishes to ughter all the people of the Tianqing Kingdom, then I will bury his army of over a million right outside Tanng City!"


    "Yes!"


    The two immediately withdrew.


    ng!


    The city gates flung open.


    Yu Huaxian and Gu Junhe led the one hundred thousand of the Four Symbols Legion and charged out, heading straight for the one hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards.


    In front of the Golden Crow Guards,


    The Eastern War King in white battle armor, expressionless, said, "Yu Huaxian, that eunuch, has indeed defected to the Tianqing Kingdom. When His Majesty appointed him to manage the Eastern Factory, I vehemently opposed it. Eunuchs are truly unreliable!"


    "The soldiers behind them are not simple either!"


    Coming from a military background, the Four Symbols Kings could see at a nce how exceptional the Legion was. The Western War King spoke in a deep voice, "Send the order down, tell the men not to take this lightly, they must hit them hard. Ideally, we should annihte these one hundred thousand before the cavalry even makes a move!"


    They hadplete confidence in the Golden Crow Guards of the Great Jin Kingdom.


    The one hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards struck their shields with their swords.


    Boom! Stay tuned for updates on empire


    Boom!


    Boom!


    The sound resonated through the sky, fierce as wolves and aggressive as tigers.


    Gu Junhe pointed with his Longsword and roared, "Four Symbols Legion, be unstoppable! Kill..."


    "Kill!"


    "Kill!"


    "Kill..."


    The shouts from the Four Symbols Legion were thunderous, rivaling the Golden Crow Guards.


    Boom!


    The two sides collided in an instant.


    The Western War King and Eastern War King were respectively held up by Yu Huaxian and Gu Junhe.


    The remaining Golden Crow Guards and the Legion shed like two giant waves meeting each other.


    The sounds of fierce battle filled the sky.


    Within the military formation,


    The Southern War King nodded slightly, saying, "No wonder the four major kingdomsbined could not trouble the Tianqing Kingdom; their military strength is truly not weak!"


    Qin Yu''s face was cold, his sneer continuous, "They are but grasshoppers after the autumn, not able to bounce around for much longer. The Golden Crow Guards of my Great Jin Kingdom are unstoppable, how can theypare with such a tiny country?"


    "Of course!"


    The Northern War Kingughed, his figure immensely bulky, to the extent that the low-level six-stage beast he was riding seemed to struggle under his weight. "General Qin, after we break the Tianqing Kingdom, do you truly intend to ughter the entire nation?"


    Qin Yu nodded, "Only by exterminating the Tianqing Kingdom can we truly avenge His Highness!"


    The Southern and Northern War Kings looked at each other, and there was not a hint of pity in their eyes, but rather a nod of agreement, "You speak sense, the dignity of our Great Jin Kingdom cannot be tarnished!"


    "The Golden Crow Guards should be about to crush the opposition, we can let the cavalry..." the Southern War King was saying when his expression abruptly changed, his pupils shrinking dramatically, "What, what is this situation?"


    On the battlefield.


    The Eastern War King had already been in by Yu Huaxian.


    The Western War King was also entangled by Gu Junhe and could not extricate himself.


    But what shocked them even more was the Golden Crow Guards who had been invincible...


    They were actually on the verge ofplete copse under the onught of the one hundred thousand Four Symbols Legion.


    In just a brief moment.


    Over half of the one hundred thousand Golden Crow Guards had been lost!


    "Impossible!"


    "How, how could the Tianqing Kingdom possibly have such elite troops?" The Southern War King''s face changed wildly, looking to Qin Yu, "General Qin, what should we do?"


    Qin Yu''s face was ashen.


    He had also not anticipated that the Golden Crow Guards, who had previously been invincible, would face such a setback against the Tianqing Kingdom, which he had never taken seriously!


    With a gloomy face, Qin Yu snapped angrily, "A hundred thousand magical beast cavalry charge the enemy ranks, followed closely by the remaining four hundred thousand cavalry. Tianqing Kingdom, a small and insignificant country, these one hundred thousand elites must be all their military strength, as long as we annihte these one hundred thousand men, Tianqing Kingdom will have no more power to resist..."


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The war drums thundered, and the earth trembled.@@novelbin@@


    One hundred thousand magical beast cavalry, along with four hundred thousand regr cavalry, burst out of the military ranks and charged towards the Four Symbols Legion.


    The vast army of five hundred thousand, like a ck tide, left no grass growing or tile intact wherever it passed.


    The Western War King and Gu Junhe, trembling with excitement, showed a look of wild joy on their faces, "Haha, Gu Junhe, you''re doomed!"


    "Is that so?"


    Gu Junhe simply gave a cold, mocking smile, suddenly retreated, and along with Yu Huaxian, led the hundred thousand Four Symbols Legion away from Tanng City.


    "Charge, don''t let them get away!"


    "Wipe them out!"


    The Western War King, having been suppressed by Gu Junhe, who was of a lower cultivation level than him, was already frustrated to no end. Seeing the Southern War King and the Northern War King leading the cavalry to pursue, and the Four Symbols Legion in ''disorganized retreat'', how could he miss this chance to regain his honor? Immediately taking the lead, he chased after them with the remaining Golden Crow Guards.


    However...


    As Gu Junhe and Yu Huaxian neared Tanng City, they did not flee into the city but scattered to both sides.


    Almost simultaneously.


    The ground trembled with a series of terrifying quakes.


    The earth shook as if stricken by an earthquake.


    "That, what is that?"


    From within Tanng City, suddenly a ck iron torrent swelled forth, each one d in tungsten iron armor, holding a tungsten iron spear.


    Their bodies shone with a dim ck light.


    Underneath them were hulking and powerful magical beasts.


    One hundred thousand.


    Two hundred thousand.


    Three hundred thousand...


    A full million magical beast cavalry charged out from Tanng City.


    Leading them were none other than Jiang Weisheng and Xue Bufan.


    Jiang Weisheng roared loudly, "Kill!"


    The rumble of a million magical beast cavalry was like an iron torrent, like the army of specters.


    The terrifying momentum stunned the five hundred thousand cavalry of Great Jin Kingdom. The Western War King''s eyes burst with madness, "Flee, flee for your lives!"


    "Retreat, retreat!"


    The Southern War King and the Northern War King, faces filled with terror, reined their horses to retreat.


    But their battle formation was such that the magical beast cavalry were in front, with the regr cavalry behind. Now that they had to turn around, how could the regr cavalry outrun the magical beasts? They were directly crushed by their own side''s magical beast cavalry, thoroughly disorganizing the entire battle formation. Along with the onrush of a million magical beast cavalry from Tianqing Kingdom, the million-strong army of Great Jin Kingdom copsed like andslide.


    Across the ins, blood flowed into rivers, and a sea of corpses piled high.


    Of the Great Jin Kingdom''s million-strong army, only a fifth escaped in all directions, fleeing desperately for their lives.


    The Western War King was pierced through by Xue Bufan and trampled to death by magical beasts.


    The Southern War King and the Northern War King were also gravely injured and managed to flee to Qin Yu''s side.


    The few of them looked out over the ins, where a million magical beast cavalry stood in a line, eyes bursting with madness, "We''ve lost... we have lost..."

 Chapter 198 Xiao Yi Battles Qin Yu

    ```


    "You, all of you shall die!"


    Qin Yu hovered in the air, his eyes a deep blood red.


    Suddenly, his body turned into a streak of red light, stretching a hundred meters across the sky, instantly appearing in front of Yu Huaxian and the others.


    "Storm Pear Blossom!"


    Yu Huaxian''s expression changed slightly as he flicked his hand, sending out countless fine needles.


    Qin Yu sneered coldly, "Blood Demon Transformation!"


    Whoosh!


    A surge of blood light swirled around him, gathering on the surface of his body, turning into a huge blood-colored demon shadow. Opening its gaping maw, it swallowed all the fine needles in one gulp, and then with a shake of its head, the needles flew out in reverse, the sound of them tearing through the air targeted squarely at the Four Symbols Legion.


    Puff puff puff!


    Streaks of blood soared into the sky.


    In that swift exchange of moves, thousands had fallen into pools of blood.


    The Qi-Blood of thousands rushed into Qin Yu''s body. His scarlet tongue licked his lips, showing a thirst for blood: "Delicious, hahaha, indeed, the Qi-Blood of the strong is the most savory!" His gaze turned to Yu Huaxian and the others, "Yu Huaxian, this general has yet to taste what the Qi-Blood of a eunuch is like..."


    "You''re probably not going to get the chance!"


    With that calm statement, Xiao Yi''s figure appeared in front of Qin Yu.


    "Xiao Yi?"


    Qin Yu''s blood-red eyes fixed on Xiao Yi, and his tongue involuntarily slipped out at the surging Qi-Blood beneath his gaze, his voice sinister, "Your blood must taste exceedingly fine. I had nned to save you forst so you could watch them die before you, to slowly savor your Qi-Blood. But since you''ve willinglye to me, then this general shall oblige you!"


    "Indulge me? We''ll see if you have the ability!"


    Xiao Yi''s palm surged with Wind Thunder. He nced over at Gu Junhe and the others, "Principal Gu, you must lead the people back to the city quickly. I''ll hold him off!"


    "Be careful!"


    Gu Junhe deeply understood that if Qin Yu turned his attention to the Four Symbols Legion, it would result in a terrible ughter.


    And...


    Qin Yu''s Blood Demon Battle Body only grew stronger with every life it took.


    They must not allow the Four Symbols Legion to be his "Human-shaped Elixir" to advance his cultivation.


    Several of them organized the Four Symbols Legion to retreat.


    "Do you think that can stop this general? Useless, even after I kill you, they''ll still not escape death. But don''t worry, I won''t kill you right away. I''ll let you watch first hand how I ughter everyst one of your Tianqing Kingdom people."


    Qin Yu sneered, "Heh, your Tianqing Kingdom''s billions of citizens will serve as the stepping stones for this general to ascend to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, they should feel proud even in death!"


    Xiao Yi pointed to the towering city behind him, "If you can step past Tanng City, then consider it my loss."


    Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Tremble in endless fear!"


    Qin Yu''s arms shook, and with a crackling sound from his chest, it swelled violently, only to copse instantly, letting out a roar: "Die!"


    Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!@@novelbin@@


    Waves of sound burst forth from his mouth.


    The circr sound waves rolled in, growingrger andrger, deafening to the ear.


    Anyone caught within the waves would be overtaken with splitting headaches and stars before their eyes.


    Whoosh!


    Qin Yu turned into a blood rainbow, appearing in a sh right in front of Xiao Yi, his fingers tipped with nails like scythes, shing down towards Xiao Yi''s head: "Five-Colored Blood w!"


    Crackling!


    The ws had not yet touched Xiao Yi when they were engulfed by thunder.


    ```


    ```


    Ao!


    Qin Yu let out a wretched scream as he was flung backward.


    On his ten fingers, the scythe-like nails all exploded into ck carbon, with streaks of purple lightning floating above them before falling off.


    Shock appeared on his face, "Thunder? Howe there''s thunder on you?"


    "Sorry, you''re not the only one with a special physique!"


    As soon as his words ended,


    lightning covered Xiao Yi''s body, and a wild wind rose around him.


    Thunder wrapped around his body, each hair standing on end as lightning surged in and out.


    With every move he made, he resembled a giant of wind and thunder.


    Swish!


    The Fire Qilin Sword appeared out of thin air, his figure stepping through the void. As he grasped the hilt, the sword came out like a dragon: "A Stroke That Surprises the Wind and Rain!"


    In his hands, the Fire Qilin Sword was like a brush soaked with ink, its tip decorating the void, apanied by a roaring wind and startling thunder. Amidst the fusion of wind and thunder, a torrential rain of thunderous sword energy formed, drizzling down. The everywhere sword rain shone brightly, disying extraordinary power. Just a touch would paralyze one with thunder and sweep them away with violent winds.


    The blood light that made countless strong individuals wary around Qin Yu now seemed like a campfire in a storm.


    The blood light was pushed back, step by step.


    The sword struck Qin Yu''s shoulder with a ''pfft,'' piercing through it.


    Wa!


    A stream of fresh blood spurted from Qin Yu''s mouth.


    He struck out at the void with both hands, creating waves of blood-red Qi-Walls in front of him, and only then did he manage to withdraw a hundred yards away.


    He red at Xiao Yi from across the distance.


    Their gazes locked in confrontation.


    As tangible as substance, their stares collided in the void, sparking brilliant shes of light.


    A vacuum zone formed between the two.


    The blood light on Qin Yu surged, flowing into the wound on his shoulder, where the sword cut was rapidly healing before his eyes. Qin Yu squinted, "One of the ten Sacred Bodies, the Wind Thunder Holy Body?"


    "You do know a bit!" Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.


    "Unexpected, really, that such a long-lost Sacred Body would reappear in the world!"


    Qin Yu took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly sharpening as he sneered, "Pity though! If I''m not mistaken, your Wind Thunder Holy Body is merely in its initial stage. If it were fully developed, I would stand no chance against you. But now, the distance is far for you to defeat me with it."


    Xiao Yi said, "You can try!"


    "Heh heh, spare me the bluster here. Xiao Yi, if you tell me how to cultivate the Wind Thunder Holy Body, I can spare your life. Furthermore, once I''ve ughtered the citizens of the Tianqing Kingdom and stepped into the Dharma Manifestation Realm to seize the throne of the Jin Emperor, I could even make you the Comrade King of Great Jin, equal to me. What do you think?" Qin Yu''s eyes were aze as he stared greedily at Xiao Yi.


    The Wind Thunder Holy Body is the only one among the ten Sacred Bodies that can be cultivatedter in life.


    His Blood Demon Battle Body, though strong, did not rank among those ten Sacred Bodies.


    If he could get the cultivation method for the Wind Thunder Holy Body,bined with the special trait of his Blood Demon Battle Body to consume Qi-Blood for improvement, hisbat power would surely make a qualitative leap!


    He might even be able to rival the top entities of the Great Qian Dynasty!


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "You want the cultivation method for the Wind Thunder Holy Body?"


    Qin Yu, with a fervent face, "Exactly!"


    Xiao Yi said, "No problem, but you''ll need to exchange something for it!"


    "What thing? As long as I possess it, I can give it to you!" With his crimson tongue licking his lips, Qin Yu stared at Xiao Yi with greed.


    He thought that as long as he could obtain the cultivation method for the Wind Thunder Holy Body, he would even agree to give up the Jin Emperor''s throne to Xiao Yi if asked¡ªsince he could simply kill Xiao Yi after advancing to the Dharma Manifestation Realmter on!


    Xiao Yi cracked a smile and said, "Exchange it for your life!"


    ```

 Chapter 199 Beyond the Limits

    "Your life for mine!"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze was ice cold as he looked at Qin Yu, speaking every word deliberately.


    Huh?


    The greedy smile on Qin Yu''s face suddenly froze, slowly twisting into a venomous hue. He ground his teeth and spat out, "You dog-like thing, dare to y with me? Go to hell!"


    "Blood Demon Hand!"


    Blood-red Qi surged wildly, pouring out like breaching floodwaters.


    Before him, it transformed into a huge blood-colored w, resembling a sky-covering blood cloud, reaching out for Xiao Yi.


    This blood-red Qi possessed an extremely strong corrosiveness.


    Once caught,


    even with the Wind Thunder Holy Body, he would probably notst long.


    After all,


    his Wind Thunder Holy Body was only at the first stage.


    If he had cultivated it to a more advanced level, he could repel Qin Yu''s blood demon power with a single shake of the surrounding wind and thunder.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi kept retreating.


    But the blood-colored palm missed him and regathered for another grab, relentlessly pursuing.


    "A heron divides the billowing waves amidst the two rivers!"


    "A separate realm unlike the human world!"


    "A thousand miles back to Jiangling within a single day..."


    With his sword moves emerging in rapid session, Xiao Yi''s Green Lotus Sword Song was exquisite beyond measure. Fortified by the power of wind and thunder, it shattered Qin Yu''s attacks time and again.


    This further infuriated and exasperated Qin Yu.


    His speedgged significantly behind Xiao Yi''s, and he was being led by the nose. Qin Yu fiercely pped his chest, "Blood Demon Wings!"


    Crack crack!


    Sounds of bones shifting could be heard from within his body.


    He bent his torso.


    Bulges on his back writhed continuously, then burst through the skin with two popping sounds, forming two blood-colored bony wings. With a wingspan of ten meters, red blood veins ran along the bones, and numerous vein-like structures writhed like worms, entwined with each other, forming flesh. Eventually, they became two bright blood-red meaty wings.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    The flesh wings beat the air, whipping up a foul wind.


    "Let''s see where you can run now!"


    With the Great Aplished Blood Demon Battle Body, one can transform into a blood demon.


    At this moment, Qin Yu, having deployed the Blood Demon Wings, could travel tens of thousands of li in a day with such speed that Xiao Yi was somewhat caught off guard.


    "Blood Demon Sword!"


    Utilizing the speed granted by the Blood Demon Wings, Qin Yu maneuvered behind Xiao Yi, and with a forward thrust of his right hand, a blood-colored light congealed into a longsword. The blood-colored longsword traced a semicircr arc in the air, a perfectbination of speed, angle, and power, representing the pinnacle of Qin Yu''s skill.


    Xiao Yi''splexion shifted slightly as he raised the Fire Qilin Sword behind him.


    ng!


    The swords collided with a piercing ring.


    However, the Blood Demon Sword suddenly went limp, coiling around Xiao Yi like a serpent wrapping around a tree.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted. If he was entangled, he would struggle to break free. He smacked the hilt of his sword, using the rebound force to plunge towards the ground. Almost the moment he escaped, the Blood Demon Sword had formed a cage, but it closed on empty air.


    "Blood Demon Sea!"


    Qin Yu bellowed from above.


    Whoosh!


    His Blood Demon Wings beat frantically behind him, shedding countless blood droplets that fell below, swiftly covering a hundred zhang in all directions with a sea of blood.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Amidst the churning of the blood sea''s massive waves, numerous gigantic blood-colored hands emerged, grasping at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi, drawing upon the Wind Thunder Holy Body, conjured a shield with wind and thunder, warding off the relentless blood hands.


    "Blood Demon Sky Net!"


    Qin Yu brought his hands together in front of him, and strands of blood-red silk shot out, weaving a vast blood-colored in the air, plummeting towards the ground.


    Below was the sea with its gigantic blood hands, above was the blood-colored.


    No matter where Xiao Yi tried to escape, he couldn''t avoid being caught between the two. In this crisis, a glint of cold light shed in Xiao Yi''s eyes as he channeled the power of wind and thunder into the Fire Qilin Sword. A mix of different forces coalesced on the sword¡ªwind, thunder, and fire¡ªthreatening to overwhelm its capacity. But Xiao Yi had no other choice. With both hands on the sword, he swung upwards against the heavens, "Green Lotus Reincarnation!"


    One of the two ultimate moves of the Green Lotus Sword Song.


    It was supposed to be used only at the Dharma Manifestation Realm, but he had no choice but to use it now.


    Boom!


    A green lotus formed in front of the sword''s tip, with cyan wind, purple-gold thunder, and crimson mes. The tri-colored forces intertwined on the sword lotus hovering above his head.


    The tri-colored petals spun continuously.


    Life inexhaustible!


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Under the intertwined crushing of the Three-Colored Sword Lotus, the crimson was forcibly torn open, creating arge hole. Freed from its constraints, the Sword Lotus suddenly burst forth. The tricolor sword light soared into the sky, and before Qin Yu could react, it pierced through his chest with a ''puh'' sound. Blood spurted out like a fountain, and Qin Yu screamed in agony.


    His face twisted with ferocity as he, without any hesitation, once again gathered therge to envelop everything below.


    Boom!


    He forcefully pushed Xiao Yi back.


    "Hehehe, I never imagined you could break through this general''s Blood Demon Sky Net, but you will definitely not seed a second time. Xiao Yi, you are bound to die today!" Qin Yu said with a sinister tone.


    While being pushed back by the mighty Blood Demon Net, Xiao Yi''s legs were also seized by the massive hands made of blood.


    In a rush.


    His hands were also bound.


    With hands and feet restrained, he couldn''t move at all.


    He could only watch helplessly as his body was engulfed in bloodlight.


    He raised his head to look at Qin Yu, whose chest was still hemorrhaging, "You are also seriously injured. As soon as Yu Huaxian and the others take action, you will have only one path left¡ªdeath!"@@novelbin@@


    "Hahaha, do you think the Great Aplished Blood Demon Battle Body is so easy to defeat? I''m not afraid to tell you that the Great Aplished Blood Demon Battle Body possesses terrifying regenerative abilities. As long as the Qi-Blood remains, even the gravest of injuries can heal back to normal..." Qin Yuughed triumphantly, his Qi-Blood surged, covering the ferocious gap in his chest.


    Strands of blood wove together, visibly repairing the fatal wound at a speed noticeable to the naked eye.


    "How is this possible?" Xiao Yi''splexion changed abruptly.


    Patting his chest with pride, Qin Yu said, "Give up struggling, you''re doomed!"


    "Blood Grinding Disc!"


    Qin Yu brought his hands together in prayer.


    The Blood Demon Sky Net and the Blood Demon Sea, one above and one below, morphed into a massive blood-red grinding disc.


    It began rotating to the left and right.


    Attempting to grind Xiao Yi into oblivion!


    Caught between the two opposing forces tearing at him, Xiao Yi''s body seemed ready to be ripped apart and ground into pieces at any moment.


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, you''re done for! Once the Blood Grinding Disc shreds your body, your Qi-Blood power will be mine... You do not possess the Blood Demon Battle Body, you can''t recover from injuries like I can and heal back to normal... Just die obediently!" Qin Yuughed boastfully.


    However, Xiao Yi, entrapped within the Blood Grinding Disc, shuddered.


    A buzzing filled his mind, "Heal back to normal? Heal back to normal? Wait, I understand now, I finally see the path that lies beyond the Limitless Golden Elixir!"


    "Hahaha, Qin Yu, I thank you!"


    Xiao Yi roared to the sky.


    Qin Yu looked perplexed: "Thank me? Has this guy''s brain been mashed by the Blood Grinding Disc?"


    "Since forty-nine halos is the limit, then I shall do the opposite. By fusing the halos and refining them anew, I am also breaking the limit!"


    The Golden Core within Xiao Yi vibrated intensely as countless amounts of heavenly and earthly energy surged into it.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    As seas of heavenly and earthly energy converged.


    Xiao Yi no longer focused on condensing a Golden Core Halo; he chose fusion instead!


    Hum! Hum! Hum!


    The forty-nine Golden Core Halos collided fiercely, trembling violently. The energy they produced was so intense that it nearly caused Xiao Yi''s Golden Core to break apart. Excruciating pain almost caused Xiao Yi to faint, but his iron willpower kept him conscious. His teeth clenched tight enough to bleed, veins throbbed as if they would burst, and his fists clenched so hard his nails dug into his flesh.


    Pain!


    Endure!


    Agony!


    Endure!


    Finally...


    After countless collisions, the forty-ninth and forty-eighth halos smashed into each other on Xiao Yi''s Golden Core, bursting loudly and then merging together.


    Spurt!


    Xiao Yi spewed a mouthful of blood, but a brighter smile appeared on his face: "Break for me!"


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!


    One halo after another collided and fused with each other.


    The number of halos on the Golden Core diminished.


    Forty-eight.


    Forty-seven.


    Forty-six...


    Until there were only thirty left, the Golden Core trembled violently, releasing a mysterious power that enveloped his body. Suddenly, the scene before Xiao Yi''s eyes changed. He saw a vast and immense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Pool suspended in the depths of infinite space, with boundless heavenly and earthly forces pouring madly into his body.


    Tao Tribtion Realm,prehending the power of heaven and earth.


    With these heavenly and earthy powers infusing him, patterns started to appear on Xiao Yi''s Golden Core!


    These were the Dao patterns that only those in the Tao Tribtion Realm could condense.


    Yet, he had already formed them while still in the Golden Core Realm.


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    At the same time...


    The number of God Sealing Seeds within Xiao Yi''s body skyrocketed, reaching a staggering six hundred thousand.


    Thirty Golden Core Halos, patterns one after another, six hundred thousand God Sealing Seeds!


    When Xiao Yi reopened his eyes, the Blood Demon power that had been an insurmountable obstacle seemed incredibly frail. A cold and grim smile curled on the corner of his mouth, "Qin Yu, your time of death hase!"

 Chapter 201 The Counterattack

    "You''ve lost!"


    Xiao Yi''s face bore a cold hue, as the sharp point of the Fire Qilin Sword rested against Qin Yu''s throat.


    A mere sweep of the de.


    And Qin Yu would be no more than a corpse.


    Gurgle!


    Qin Yu swallowed spit, his Adam''s apple moving slightly against the tip of the Fire Qilin Sword, easily splitting open his skin¡ªboth a chilling sensation and the scalding of fresh blood fused together, sweeping over him with the breath of death.


    "Don''t, don''t kill me¡­" Qin Yu stammered.


    Now that he had lost the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, he was nothing more than a cripple.


    Even the Blood Demon Battle Body could no longer repair his physique.


    Xiao Yi, having used the Blood Explosion Skill, looked somewhat pale but regarded him coldly, "Give me a reason not to kill you!"


    Qin Yu''splexion changed repeatedly, "I, I can serve you like Yu Huaxian, be your dog..."


    The higher one climbs, the more afraid of death one bes.


    He was once the esteemed Minister of War in the Great Jin Kingdom, the mighty Great General.


    Even now, with his cultivation destroyed, he still did not want to die.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I don''tck such a dog, especially not one that could bite back!"


    "You¡­"


    Qin Yu''splexion fluctuated between green and white, his survival instincts pushing him to abandon all dignity, "You could use me as a trophy; I could spread word of your power everywhere, so that everyone knows you have defeated me, defeated the Great Jin Kingdom. Truly, I am willing to help you, just let me live..."


    "That reason is still not enough!" Xiao Yi dered.


    Qin Yu racked his brains and hastily added, "I''ve just remembered, I know a secret about the Great Jin Kingdom..."


    "What secret?" Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes.


    Qin Yu said, "You, you must swear not to kill me before I''ll tell you the secret. It''s a matter of life and death for the Great Jin Kingdom..."


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes flickered, "I swear, I will not kill you!"


    Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.


    Gathering his thoughts in a rush, he said, "The Great Jin Kingdom''s Dharma Manifestation Realm protector ancestor left the kingdom a hundred years ago, and it''s highly likely that he has fallen."


    "Hm?"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils slightly constricted.


    This was indeed a very important piece of news.


    His greatest concern at present was the Dharma Manifestation Realm protector ancestor of the Great Jin Kingdom.


    If he had indeed died.


    Then Xiao Yi was certain that he could lead the Tianqing Kingdom to overthrow the Great Jin Kingdom, truly bing the foremost kingdom under the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "Do you have any evidence?"


    "Ten years ago, I was stuck at the peak of the Golden Core Realm and couldn''t break through. The Jin Emperor granted me a month inside the Dragon Vein Spirit Cave for cultivation. In the cave, the soul tablet of the ancestor was enshrined, and I saw with my own eyes that the soul tablet was shattered..." Qin Yu, desperate to save his life, did not hold back any secrets.


    Soul tablet.


    Many powerful forces would create a soul tablet for their top experts.


    Once that person died, the force would be the first to know.


    If the protector ancestor''s soul tablet of the Great Jin Kingdom was shattered, then there was a ny-nine percent chance that he had perished.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze sharpened, "Are you sure his soul tablet is shattered?"


    "I am sure!"


    Qin Yu nodded vigorously, "I can swear on my life! Xiao, I, I have now told you the secret, you can let me go, right?"


    Xiao Yi nodded and retracted the Fire Qilin Sword.


    "Thank you, Xiao, for sparing my life!"


    Qin Yu hastily expressed his gratitude, though inwardly he vowed: Damn mongrel, I, Qin Yu, will return this debt a hundredfold, a thousandfold in the future!


    In that moment...


    Yu Huaxian and the others approached, puzzled to see Xiao Yi letting Qin Yu go.


    Yu Huaxian said anxiously, "Xiao, you absolutely cannot let him go!"


    Gu Junhe also spoke gravely, "A tiger returning to the mountain will eventually be a threat!"


    Qin Yu''s face shifted subtly, his gaze flickering toward Xiao Yi with trepidation.


    Xiao Yi shrugged, "I promised I wouldn''t kill him!"


    Relief washed over Qin Yu as heughed heartily at Yu Huaxian and the others, "Hehe, Xiao has already promised not to kill me. Surely you don''t want to make him break his word? I suggest you step aside and let this general leave..."


    ```


    However...


    He had just finished speaking.


    Xiao Yi''snguid voice then came from the side, "But, I never said you couldn''t kill him!"


    "What?"


    Qin Yu''s body trembled, and he looked at Xiao Yi with a ferocious face, "Xiao Yi, how dare you y me?"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders, "I''m ying you, what are you going to do, bite me?"


    "I..."


    Qin Yu''s face was filled with despair.


    In a turn of his head.


    He saw Yu Huaxian, Gu Junhe, Jiang Weisheng, Xue Bufan and others had already surrounded him.


    One after another, Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses threw punches and kicks.


    "I''ll teach you to be arrogant!"


    "Keep being arrogant now! Damn it..."


    Amidst the screams.


    This Minister of War from the Great Jin Kingdom, the owner of the Blood Demon Battle Body, was beaten into a pile of mush, so much so that even his mother couldn''t help bute over.


    Hu!


    Jiang Tai had also taken the opportunity to kick a few times, exhaling a satisfied breath, "Hahaha, I have now kicked a Tao Tribtion Realm expert too!"


    Yu Huaxian, standing by with a wistful look on his face, "Your Majesty, you just kicked me..."


    He pointed at the tworge footprints on his face.


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    Jiang Tai: "..."


    Everyoneughed heartily.


    Yu Huaxian was also speechless, touched his face, and began tough.


    This battle had been weighing on everyone''s hearts for far too long.


    Today''s battle.


    Completely released the pent-up frustrations of this period.


    Killing was satisfying!


    Fighting was exhrating!


    Winning was invigorating!


    Jiang Tai looked towards Xiao Yi and said solemnly, "Xiao, after this battle, the most elite Golden Crow Guards and the hundred thousand beast cavalry of the Great Jin Kingdom have been annihted; they probably won''t dare to send troops against us again. What do you think we should do next?"


    Everyone''s eyes turned to Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi, with narrowed eyes, said, "Your Majesty, what do you want to do?"


    The two locked eyes with each other.


    Suddenly...


    Their mouths both curled up at the same time, and in unison, they said, "Counterattack!"


    "Counterattack?"


    Yu Huaxian eximed with a grave voice, "Xiao, absolutely not! The Great Jin Kingdom has indeed suffered heavy losses this time, but they still have a guardian ancestor, a Dharma Manifestation Realm existence..."


    Gu Junhe also pondered, "Think thrice about this!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, "Qin Yu said that the guardian ancestor of the Great Jin Kingdom has fallen!"


    "What?"


    "Fallen? If this is true, then with our strength, perhaps we really can counterattack the Great Jin Kingdom..."


    Xue Bufan said in a deep voice, "But can we take Qin Yu''s words for truth?"


    Yu Huaxian asked, "Xiao, how did Qin Yu say it?"


    Xiao Yi recounted what Qin Yu had said.


    Yu Huaxian pondered, "If that''s the case, then it is most likely true! To my knowledge, every Royal Road Tribtion Realm and above strong person in the Great Jin Kingdom makes a soul stele to be enshrined in the Dragon Vein Spirit Cave!"


    "If so, then we''ll counterattack the bastards!"@@novelbin@@


    "The Great Jin Kingdom has been overbearing for years, it''s time they paid the price!"


    The opinions of everyone were surprisingly in agreement.


    Xiao Yi and Jiang Tai exchanged nces, and Jiang Tai said solemnly, "Then it''s decided, we''ll regroup our troops and counterattack the Great Jin!"


    Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed with fighting spirit soaring to the heavens, "After this battle, below the Great Qian, Tianqing reigns supreme!"


    ```

 Chapter 203 Unstoppable Force, Straight to the Capital!

    "The city has fallen!"


    Xiao Yi''s voice brought He Xing back to reality, as if waking from a dream.


    Looking at the steaming cup of hot wine in Xiao Yi''s hand, he swallowed reflexively.


    This Luoyan Pass, which cost a fortune and was guarded by a million-strong army and three Tao Tribtion Realm masters, had been breached just like that? Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    With a single sword?


    Gulp!


    He Xing swallowed hard, looking at Xiao Yi with deep fear and awe, his voice trembling, "I, I''ve lost..."


    "Since you''ve lost, you should know the consequences," Xiao Yi said.


    He Xing''s face twitched.


    He didn''t want to die!


    It had taken him most of his life to cultivate to the Tao Tribtion Realm, and he had finally climbed to his current position.


    He really didn''t want to die.


    After a moment''s hesitation, He Xing fell to his knees with a thud, his tone filled with fright, "Xiao, I am willing to submit to you, please spare my life!"


    "Submit?"


    Xiao Yi''s face showed a hint of amusement.


    He neither agreed nor refused.


    This silence made He Xing feel even more helpless and powerless. Clenching his teeth, he said in a deep voice, "Xiao, I know the way from Luoyan Pass to the royal capital like the back of my hand, and the hardest to conquer is surely Jinmen City. Now that Luoyan City has just fallen, as long as you kill the other two Tao Tribtion Realm masters in the city and prevent the news from spreading, I can lead you to take Jinmen City without wasting a single soldier..."


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "How can you make me believe that you won''t set traps in Jinmen City to kill me?"


    He Xing''s heart skipped a beat.


    Indeed, he had contemted just that¡ªfeigning surrender, leading Xiao Yi and his people to Jinmen City. Meanwhile, he would collude with the defenders there, capturing Xiao Yi and his men in one fell swoop, trapping and killing them alive.


    Clearly, Xiao Yi was not so easily deceived.


    After much hesitation.


    He Xing realized that in the face of Xiao Yi, who was watertight, he couldn''t find any opportunity to execute his schemes and finallyughed dejectedly, "Xiao, what must I do for you to trust me?"


    Xiao Yi looked back at Xue Bufan.


    The Undying Ghost Doctor Xue Bufan, besides his medical skills, was best at making people beg for life and unable to beg for death.


    This title of his, the Undying Ghost Doctor, camergely from this!


    Xue Bufan took out a red elixir the size of a red bean, grinning, "This is the Nine Leaves Nine Worms Elixir. Once ingested, an antidote must be taken every half an hour, and it must be taken continuously for a month to detoxify. Without the antidote, the nine toxic herbs in the elixir will stimte a toxic worm to awaken and start burrowing into your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. If you don''t take the antidote for four consecutive half-hours, the nine toxic worms will leave your body riddled with holes, yet curiously, they won''t let you die, and you''ll be forced to watch your own body being prated..."


    "You, don''t try to scare me; how could there be such a vicious poison in this world?" He Xing''s face turned pale.


    Xue Bufan chuckled, "Don''t believe it? Then give it a try!"


    He stepped forward, grabbed He Xing''s chin, and forced the Nine Leaves Nine Worms Elixir into his mouth.


    Whimper!


    The elixir melted as soon as it touched his tongue.


    No matter how much He Xing tried to force it out, he couldn''t expel it from his body.


    An hour passed quickly.


    By then, Luoyan City had been thoroughly cleared by the monster cavalry; a million defenders had been executed, and the two mighty Tao Tribtion Realm masters had fallen at the hands of Yu Huaxian and Huang Bo.


    "Ah..."


    He Xing convulsed, curling up on the ground in a frenzied struggle.


    He gripped at his abdomen desperately, the location of his liver.


    He felt as if someone were relentlessly stabbing his liver with a needle, creating countless tiny holes, leaving him in excruciating pain that tore through his heart and lungs, unbearable to endure.


    He Xing, his face a savage snarl, saliva dripping from his mouth, bellowed, "Antidote, give me the antidote... "


    Xiao Yi watched with detached interest.


    Xue Bufan and the others paid him no attention, simply allowing two soldiers from the Dragon Elephant Legion to prop him up and continue forward. This round of poison tormentsted for the duration of an incense stick, leaving the formidable He Xing from the Tao Tribtion Realmpletely drained. His face was ashen, and the look he gave Xue Bufan and Xiao Yi was filled with nothing but fear and awe.


    Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "Take us to Jinmen City, you know what to do!"


    "Understood!" He Xing quickly nodded.


    Fearing ate response might lead to not receiving the antidote from Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi turned to Xue Bufan, "Elder Xue, give him an antidote."@@novelbin@@


    "Alrighty!"


    Xue Bufan handed him a green elixir, saying, "Be sure to use it sparingly, one antidote can onlyst for half an hour!"


    "I, I understand..."


    He Xing carefully stored away the antidote, his life hanging on it.


    Jinmen City wasn''t far from Luoyan Pass.


    The city was defended by three hundred thousand troops, and itsmander was even more powerful than He Xing, having reached the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    However, this city was built against a mountain, which made it difficult even for the beast cavalry to effectively charge; as He Xing had said, even beast cavalry couldn''t get through, truly making it an impregnable fortress.


    The group took their positions in a dip between hills.


    Hiding their presence.


    He Xing suggested, "Xiao, as long as you send men in the armor of the Great Jin Kingdom, pretending to be defeated soldiers from Luoyan Pass, they will surely open the gates! Once the gates are open, I will join you in killing theirmander, and we can take down the city doors, allowing the army to march straight in!"


    "Yu Huaxian, Huang Bo, you two lead ten thousand Dragon Elephant Legionnaires to follow him into the city," Xiao Yi instructed.


    "Yes!"


    Huang Bo and Yu Huaxian changed into the Great Jin Kingdom''s armor along with He Xing and headed towards Jinmen City.


    Now that He Xing had tasted the effects of the Nine Leaves Nine Worms Elixir, he dared not entertain any other thoughts. He sessfully fooled the gatekeepers and, alongside Yu Huaxian and the others, managed to overwhelm themander in Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Subsequently, they destroyed the city gates from the inside out.


    Xiao Yi and his forces entered swiftly and took the final barrier standing before the capital of the Great Jin Kingdom; the remaining cities that led to the capital were no longer a concern.


    Inside Jinmen City.


    He Xing looked at Xiao Yi with utmost respect, "Xiao, I have not failed in my duty!"


    Now that there was no turning back, he wholeheartedly submitted to Xiao Yi.


    "You''ve done well," Xiao Yi nodded in approval.


    Xue Bufan brought out a bottle of antidote, "This shouldst you ten days;e find me after it''s gone!"


    "Thank you, Elder Xue!" He Xing, as if receiving a treasure, carefully epted the antidote.


    The army moved in an unstoppable mighty wave.


    In merely five days.


    They had conquered thirteen cities and arrived before the capital of the Great Jin Kingdom.


    The capital of the Great Jin Kingdom was known as Jindu!


    Like a behemoth sprawling across thend, the massive city was square-shaped, with gray walls standing a hundred meters tall, facing from north to south. The southern wall boasted eight massive gates, now tightly shut; the battlements swarmed with people, with every powerful individual''s face stern.


    Standing before Jindu.


    As Xiao Yi''s army began to establish camp behind him, his gaze pierced through the void,nding on the imposing figure atop the city walls, who watched them with icy indifference.


    This individual was the ruler of the Great Jin Kingdom¡ªJin Emperor!


    Xiao Yi, riding on his Tianqing savage bull, slowly approached Jindu. Positioned beneath the city gates, he smiled faintly, "Jin Emperor, atst we meet!"

 Chapter 205 I Am Xiao Yi!

    "Could it be him?"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted sharply as he stared at the neer.


    In the midst of the sky.


    Three figures broke through the air, and the leader bore a resemnce to the Jin Emperor, with a red mole between his brows and a radiant yet sinister appearance.


    He was the crown prince of the Great Jin Kingdom, Liu Qin.


    But what caused Xiao Yi to react was another identity he held.


    He was one of the one hundred and eight generals under Xiao Tianjiao!


    Xiao Tianjiao, considering himself the reincarnation of a Heavenly Emperor, had emted the ancient Heavenly Emperor and created one hundred and eight generals to follow him, and Liu Qin was among them.


    At the same time...


    Liu Qin was also one of the powerful individuals originally arranged by Xiao Tianjiao to monitor Xiao Yi in that secluded courtyard.@@novelbin@@


    It was unexpected that their next encounter would be under such circumstances.


    Whoosh!


    Liu Qinnded on the ramparts, ncing indifferently at Xiao Yi as he passed by and walked up to the Jin Emperor, bowing his hands and saying, "Father, your son iste!"


    "Notte at all, hahaha, it''s good that my son has returned!" The Jin Emperorughed heartily, turning to look at the two people beside him.


    Liu Qin said in a stern voice, "Father, these two are the war ves bestowed to me by my master, you may call them Liu Yi and Liu Er."


    "Master?"


    The Jin Emperor''s face stiffened.


    The crown prince of the Great Jin Kingdom had a master?


    An Imperial Censor by the side rebuked angrily, "Your Highness, please choose your words carefully, you are an exalted prince, who in this world has the right to be your master?"


    "Die!"


    Liu Qin said dispassionately.


    With a point of his finger, Liu Yi Yi caused the Imperial Censor''s head to burst with a bang, and amidst the spray of fresh blood, Liu Qin ced his right hand over his left chest, his face filled with fervor and adoration, "My lord is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor, the strongest genius under this starry sky. Anyone who dares to oppose my lord has but one path¡ªto die!"


    Hisss!


    Everyone was taken aback.


    The Jin Emperor couldn''t help but swallow, never having imagined that his usually fearless crown prince would show such reverence towards his master.


    An image formed in the Jin Emperor''s mind.


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    It was of the hottest talent in the entire Great Qian Dynasty, who was also one of the most powerful beings in the Great Qian Dynasty at present. Containing his excitement, the Jin Emperor asked, "My son, is the master you speak of that Xiao Tianjiao, Lord Xiao, who is known as the number one genius in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty?"


    "Correct, my master is Xiao Tianjiao!" Liu Qin said proudly.


    Hisss!


    The Jin Emperor drew in a sharp breath, then burst into ecstaticughter, "It''s really him, hahaha, to think that my son could have Xiao Tianjiao as his master. With this, my son will surely be able to protect our Great Jin Kingdom!"


    "Father, rest assured, with your son here, even if a prince from the Great Qian Dynasty were here, he would have to show me some respect!"


    Liu Qin smiled confidently, then turned to look in Xiao Yi''s direction, his expression icy as he said, "Is it you who wishes to destroy our Great Jin Kingdom?"


    Xiao Yi smiled, "That''s right! If you hadn''t appeared, the Great Jin Kingdom would have changed hands by now!"


    Liu Qin actually hadn''t recognized him.


    But that was also to be expected...


    Back when Liu Qin was guarding him, Xiao Yi was only ten years old, and afterwards Liu Qin was called away by Xiao Tianjiao.


    Moreover.


    Perhaps Liu Qin and the others had never truly looked at him with open eyes from beginning to end; in their eyes, Xiao Yi was nothing more than an ant that could be squashed at will, a stain upon their supreme and wless lord. Plus, given the great changes in Xiao Yi, it was not surprising that he hadn''t been recognized.


    Standing with his hands behind his back, Liu Qin said indifferently, "You think you have the ability to destroy our Great Jin Kingdom? You,mit suicide!"


    Commit suicide?


    These one hundred and eight generals really follow the same style as Xiao Tianjiao.


    So domineering!


    Xiao Yi said, "Won''t you ask me why I want to annihte your Great Jin Kingdom?"


    "Is it important?"


    Liu Qin said with an impatient face, "No matter the reason, I want you dead, and you will die."


    Xiao Yi revealed a smile and said, "You might want to ask your father emperor what my name is first!"


    Liu Qin frowned and scrutinized Xiao Yi with sharp eyes before coldlyughing, "It doesn''t matter what your name is, nor the power or backing behind you. I want you dead, and you will die!"


    Xiao Yi said, "You should really ask, otherwise you''ll regret it!"


    "Hmm?"


    Liu Qin was startled.


    He hadn''t expected Xiao Yi to be so insistent on his name. Upon looking at Xiao Yi more closely, he couldn''t shake a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, so he turned toward the Jin Emperor.


    The Jin Emperor said hastily, "My son, his name is Xiao Yi, from the Tianqing Kingdom!"


    "Xiao Yi? Tianqing Kingdom?"


    Liu Qin''s expression suddenly changed, his incredulous gaze fixed on Xiao Yi as if to confirm his identity. But he quickly shook his head, "Impossible, this person cannot be the Xiao Yi I know. That one was nothing but trash, how could they be the same person?"


    The entire Xiao Family knew that Xiao Yi was trash.


    A trash that even his own father and brother despised.


    He had been imprisoned in separate quarters since childhood.


    Over a year ago,


    Xiao Tianjiao, to breed his mount, had kicked Xiao Yi out of the family and sent him to a minor family in Nanhuang of Tianqing Kingdom as a live-in son-inw. Back then, Xiao Yi wasn''t even in the Physical Body Realm, yet the man before him was at the peak of the Golden Core Realm. Even his master, Xiao Tianjiao, whom he thought omnipotent, couldn''t possibly have stepped from the Physical Body Realm to the peak of the Golden Core Realm in just over a year!


    Xiao Yi''s lips curled up with a hint of amusement, "General Liu, it''s only been a few years since west met, don''t you recognize me anymore?"


    Hum!


    Liu Qin''s mind went nk.


    His breathing became hurried, his eyes staring nkly, disbelievingly at Xiao Yi, "Really, really, you?"


    Xiao Yi grinned, "Back then, it was General Liu himself who escorted me to the Yn Court! I remember, even when my mother wanted to send me some food, it had to go through General Liu''s thorough inspection. It seems you''re a person who forgets things once you''re in power, forgetting me so soon!"


    Thump thump thump!


    Liu Qin staggered back several steps, his face growing pale.


    It really was him!


    This youth before him was indeed the Xiao Yi he knew!


    A disgrace of the Xiao Family.


    Xiao Tianjiao''s brother he refused to acknowledge!


    "Impossible... the master said you were trash, that you''d never achieve anything in the martial path in your lifetime, how could this be possible?"


    Liu Qin shook his head repeatedly, unable to believe that the genius who nearly destroyed the Great Jin Kingdom was Xiao Yi.


    Even less could he believe...


    That Xiao Yi, who was merely in the Physical Body Realm a year ago, was now at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak!


    Just over a year''s time!


    Even the miracle that Xiao Tianjiao, whom he deemed omnipotent, couldn''t aplish!


    "You are not wrong, I am indeed the Xiao Yi whom Xiao Tianjiao mentioned as a failure who is so shameful that even the blood flowing within me, the same as his, is deemed a disgrace by him. He would rather send me away as a live-in son-inw to someone else, to breed his mount!"


    Xiao Yi''s mouth twisted with a cold sneer, his mocking eyes fixed on Liu Qin''s shocked face, "Surprised? Or were you not expecting this?"

 Chapter 207 One Man Destroys a Country

    "The 108 Heavenly Generals are nothing more than this!"


    Xiao Yi''s face bore a thickyer of mockery as he sized up Liu Qin with an amused gaze.


    His right hand slowly lifted.


    With two fingers, he pinched the three-meter-long sixth rank Yuan weapon saber, and as the force of Wind Thunder circted within his palm, a series of crackling sounds ensued, and he actually ttened the de of the saber.


    Hisss!


    The crowd inhaled sharply, looking at Xiao Yi as if he were a monster.


    This was a sixth rank Yuan weapon, after all,


    incredibly sturdy.


    And he managed to tten the de with his bare hands?


    "That is a Yuan weapon granted by my master, and you dare to destroy it? You''re seeking death!"


    Liu Qin looked at the ttened de, his eyes nearly splitting with rage as he roared, his arm muscles tensed in an instant while bulging veins coiled like dragons along his arms. A savage power swept down the saber in the blink of an eye, like an endless torrent of river water, furiously aiming to chop at Xiao Yi''s neck.


    One force to ovee ten meetings.


    Though the de edge was now t, under the overwhelming suppression of absolute strength, even a piece of wood could be a lethal weapon.


    Faced with Liu Qin''s storm-like assault,


    Xiao Yi just snorted coldly and flicked his finger on the saber.


    Boom!


    Amidst the piercing boom,


    the saber bent violently, and with it, Liu Qin''s body was sent flying.


    Xiao Yi stepped forward and reached out to grab the saber''s hilt from the air, "Let go!"


    Whoosh!


    As Xiao Yi twisted his wrist sharply, the saber span wildly like a spinning top, stirring up fierce winds, and he forcefully snatched it from Liu Qin''s grasp. Leaping into the air, the saber descended from the heavens, "whoosh" it pierced through Liu Qin''s chest, and with a "thud" half of the saber embedded itself into the city wall, nailing Liu Qin firmly to it.


    Blood dripped down the hilt.


    Xiao Yi floated down, standing over Liu Qin with the edge of the saber, looking down disdainfully at the struggling man, "To die by the Yuan weapon given by your master is quite an honorable end!"


    Back then, Xiao Yi had been confined to a separate courtyard.


    His mother, in her attempts to see him, had been obstructed by Liu Qin on numerous asions.


    Now,


    the tables have turned.


    Liu Qin had finally fallen into his hands.


    Liu Qin spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his eyes filled with horror, and he looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief, "Impossible, this can''t be¡­ You are just at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, how can you be this strong?"


    At this moment,


    Liu Qin''s unwavering beliefs began to waver.


    Was Xiao Yi really a waste?


    Really a blot on Xiao Tianjiao''s life?


    Even at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, Xiao Tianjiao couldn''t possibly have easily defeated a Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse, could he?


    Xiao Yi squatted down, the cold wind blowing through, stirring his ck hair, his robes billowing messily, "Do you think I''m strong? Do you think even Xiao Tianjiao wasn''t as good as I am when he was at this level? Do you feel like I''m not the waste you all imagined me to be, am I not?"


    His barrage of questions rendered Liu Qin speechless.


    He desperately wanted to say no!


    But the reality was right before his eyes!


    This time¡­


    The invincible Xiao Tianjiao had really made a mistake.


    Xiao Yi was not a stain on his life, nor a worthless waste; he was actually a peerless genius with more talent than Xiao Tianjiao!


    However,


    that thought was only momentary before Liu Qin fiercely banished it from his mind, staring hideously at Xiao Yi and screaming hysterically, "No, my master is the strongest, the Xiao Family is enough with just my master. No matter how strong your talent is, you''ll never surpass my master, it''s impossible!"


    Each of the 108 Heavenly Generals was Xiao Tianjiao''s absolute confidant.


    Utterly loyal to him.


    Even if reality shook his faith, he would never admit it.


    Even in death,


    he would never acknowledge it!


    Liu Qin clenched his steel teeth and said hysterically, "Don''t be so smug, you will always be nothing but an ant in front of the master. With just the flick of his finger, he could crush you, this insignificant ant!"


    "Is that so? Sadly, you won''t live to see that day!"


    Xiao Yi slowly rose to his feet.@@novelbin@@


    Puff!


    Xiao Yi''s foot stomped down.


    He crushed Liu Qin''s head into his chest cavity, and blood sprayed wildly from his shoulders.


    Xiao Yinded back on the city wall, his cold gaze turned to the Jin Emperor who was looking on in dumbstruck horror, "Killing you means the end of the Great Jin Kingdom, doesn''t it?"


    "Xiao Yi, I am the Jin Emperor, enfeoffed by the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty. If you dare kill me, the Great Qian Dynasty will never spare you!" The Jin Emperor clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "Whatever benefits Tianqing Kingdom has offered you, I can give you the same, tenfold, a hundredfold..."


    Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "As long as it does not shake the rule of the Great Qian Dynasty, he will not care about the life and death of a subordinate nation. If the Great Qian Dynasty really cared about the survival of your Jin Country, my army wouldn''t have been able to get here."


    "You..."


    The Jin Emperor''s face turned ashen.


    He knew full well the mindset of the Great Qian Dynasty. Just as Xiao Yi had said, as long as their rule wasn''t shaken.


    As for who upied the seat of this superior subordinate nation, the Great Qian Dynasty didn''t care at all!


    "The national protector ancestor of my Great Jin Kingdom is a high-level master of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, if you dare to kill me, he will surely not spare you..." The Jin Emperor threatened.


    Xiao Yi scoffed, "If your Jin country''s ancestor was still alive, why would he not have shown up by now? Stop bluffing, Jin Emperor, let me send you on your way!"


    "No..."


    The Jin Emperor''s face was the picture of despair as he turned to flee into the sky.


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    Puff!


    A fiery-red sword light shed across his neck.


    The mighty Jin Emperor fell at that moment.


    This also marked the end of an era for the Great Jin Kingdom, now over for good.


    From this day forward...


    Under the Great Qian, Tianqing reigns supreme!


    Xiao Yi, holding the severed head of the Jin Emperor in one hand, hovered in the air and called out towards the inside of the royal capital, "The head of the Jin Emperor is here, those who surrender will not be killed!"


    "Those who surrender will not be killed!"


    "The Jin Emperor is dead, those who surrender will not be killed!"


    For a moment.


    Mourning was widespread within the royal capital.


    Countless strong individuals chose to surrender, while the stubborn ones were brutally suppressed.


    This splendid and powerful Great Jin Kingdom, after a thousand years of glory, had met its downfall today.


    And the one who had personally buried and obliterated this colossal entity was Xiao Yi!


    A youth who had created miracle after miracle, ascending from the Physical Body Realm to the peak of the Golden Core Realm in just over a year!


    Within the luxurious royal pce.


    In front of Yu Huaxian, a line of royal orphans, the queen, and various princes kneeled, all bound and kneeling on the ground.


    In their midst was Yu Huaxian''s sworn enemy, the third prince, responsible for the death of his sister. At this moment, the faces of these princes and grandsons were pale with despair.


    Xiao Yi nced at the people, patted the shoulder of Yu Huaxian, who was biting her lip tightly, her fists clenched, and shoulders trembling, "I leave them to you."


    "Th-thank you, Xiao!"


    Yu Huaxian''s eyes were bloodshot with excitement, and her gaze, filled with the intent to devour, fell upon the third prince, "Did you ever imagine this day woulde? I swore that I would grind your bones to dust, and today, today is when I fulfill that promise..."


    "No..."


    The third prince screamed in utter despair.


    The sound of flesh being torn apart by hand was enough to make one''s skin crawl.


    As for Xiao Yi...


    He walked alone through the ravaged royal capital post-battle. The bustling capital was no longer as vibrant as before, with signs of war everywhere.


    Along the way.


    Everyone who saw Xiao Yi stepped aside from afar, their expressions a mix of respect, fear, and curiosity.


    It was this young man...


    Who alone, brought down an entire nation!

 Chapter 209 A Visitor from the Xiao Family!

    Great Jin Kingdom, within the capital city.


    A month had passed since the Great Jin Kingdom was destroyed, and during this month, Xiao Yi had been staying in the Dragon Vein Spirit Cave within the Great Jin Kingdom''s royal pce.


    The Tianqing Kingdom would soon relocate its capital here.


    Naturally, Xiao Yi could notpletely consume the Dragon Vein of this ce, but fortunately, the Dragon Vein Spirit Cave of the Great Jin Kingdom stored an enormous amount of heavenly and earthly energy. Over the month of cultivation, Xiao Yi hadpressed his Golden Core to only twenty rings, and the number of God Sealing Seeds he possessed had reached eight hundred thousand. Even Little Lin had ascended to a high-level sixth order,parable to the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Even so,


    only thirty percent of the heavenly and earthly energy in the Dragon Vein Spirit Cave had been consumed.


    "Xiao, people from the Xiao Family of the Great Qian Dynasty havee!"


    While Xiao Yi was in cultivation, he heard the voice of Yu Huaxian from outside.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes snapped open. "The Xiao Family?"


    Two substantial beams of cold light burst forth from his pupils.


    He had thought that it should be the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty sending people over, but to his surprise, it was the Xiao Family who hade first.


    "Have them wait, I''ll be over shortly!" Xiao Yi said.


    Yu Huaxian bowed respectfully. "Understood!"


    "Xiao Zhengde, sending people over at this time, what exactly is your game?" While dressing, Xiao Yi called for Little Lin and left the Dragon Vein Spirit Cave.


    Inside the front hall,


    General Po Jun, Zhao Ying, and Hai Fu were seated boldly within the hall.


    These two were experts left by Xiao Tianjiao at Xiao Zhengde''s side. However, Xiao Yi had not seen them much, after all, his movements within the Xiao Family were confined to a secluded small courtyard.@@novelbin@@


    "Greedy Wolf, the reports say that waste only took a year and a half to rise from the Physical Body Realm to the Peak of the Golden Elixir Realm. How much of that do you believe?" General Po Jun asked.


    Hai Fu narrowed his eyes, speaking indifferently, "Once we see him, we''ll naturally know if it''s true or not!"


    "That''s also true!"


    Zhao Ying nodded, his face wearing an odd expression, "It''s strange to say, that waste actually managed toe this far!"


    As the two conversed,


    Xiao Yi''s figure appeared in the hall.


    "Hmm?"


    The two looked at Xiao Yi, their sharp gazes scrutinizing him back and forth. When they realized that Xiao Yi truly was at the Peak of the Golden Core Realm, they couldn''t help but exchange nces, "Indeed, he is at the Peak of the Golden Core Realm¡­"


    Both could see the shock in the other''s eyes.


    A year and a half!


    From Physical Body Realm to the Peak of the Golden Core Realm, this rate of cultivation was far superior to even Xiao Tianjiao.


    Xiao Yi swept a nce at the two, speaking faintly, "Is this how Xiao Tianjiao teaches his subordinates, not even a greeting when they see me?"


    Zhao Ying replied indifferently, "Our master told us, some people deserve respect and therefore ought to be greeted. As for wastes, they need not be bothered with!"


    "Heh, that''s truly Xiao Tianjiao''s style!"


    Xiao Yi scoffed, then walked straight to the main seat and sat down, fiddling with the cup on the tea table without a word.


    Silence fell over the hall.


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    Zhao Ying and the other exchanged looks.


    Hai Fu took a deep breath, stood up and said, "By the order of Xiao Zhengde, head of the Xiao Family, I havee to read out the family decree, Xiao Yi, will you not kneel to receive the order?"


    Xiao Yi still leaned back in his chair, rxed, and uttered indifferently, "Speak!"


    "Hmm?"


    Hai Fu''s expression darkened, and a cold light shed in his eyes as he stared at him, "I told you to kneel down and receive the order!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Hai Fu, saying nothing.


    Tangible gazes collided in the air.


    The piercing eyes that seemed capable of prating one''s heart made Hai Fu feel somewhat dazzled, his momentum unconsciously weakened. He took a deep breath and said, "The family head has ordered you to secretly transfer control of the Tianqing Kingdom to us. From now on, the Tianqing Kingdom will be secretly controlled by the Xiao Family. At the same time, the family head has heard that you have reached the Golden Core Realm and orders you to present your cultivation technique and breakthrough method to the family. Furthermore, one Xiao Tianjiao in the Xiao Family is enough. You, Xiao Yi, are ordered to cripple your own cultivation. If you defy this, you will be executed without mercy..."


    "Ha ha, ha ha ha... Interesting, interesting... Xiao Zhengde, oh Xiao Zhengde, you really have some nerve!"


    Xiao Yiughed in anger.


    The order in his palm burst into mes with a bang, turning into ashes that scattered all around.


    Xiao Zhengde actually intended to control the Tianqing Kingdom from the shadows and even wanted Xiao Yi to secretly hand over the reins to someone from the Xiao Family.


    He was also demanded to hand over his cultivation technique and the secret to his breakthrough...


    Even worse...


    Xiao Zhengde actually wanted Xiao Yi to cripple his own cultivation!


    The underlying reason was simply that he didn''t want Xiao Yi to outshine and thus affect Xiao Tianjiao.


    Any of these demands alone would be enough to drive Xiao Yi to murder, let alone all three!


    Each one was a statement of heart-shing cruelty.


    Sigh!


    Xiao Yi exhaled a long breath of turbid air, his icy gaze fixed on the two men in front of him, "Roll back and tell Xiao Zhengde that I, Xiao Yi, am no longer a person of the Xiao Family. His dog-shit family head order has nothing to do with me."


    Zhao Ying was furious, "Xiao Yi, are you nning to defy the family head''s order?"


    Xiao Yi leaned slightly forward, "Are you talking to me?"


    "Who else could it be? Even though you have been expelled from the Xiao Family, you still carry the Xiao Family''s blood in your veins. All that you have obtained was bestowed upon you by the Xiao Family. You should unconditionally contribute everything back when the family head demands it..."


    Zhao Ying didn''t finish his words.


    A chill suddenly locked onto him, making Hai Fu feel as if he had fallen into an ice cer, and with a thump, his legs gave out, and he knelt rigidly on the ground.


    A weight as heavy as a towering mountain seemed to press down on Zhao Ying, preventing even a single thought of resistance¡ªan icy feeling spread throughout his body.


    He was at the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Xiao Yi had, with a casual gesture, forced him onto his knees, unable to rise; such skill was indeed terrifying.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "If you refuse to speak standing, then speak kneeling!"


    "You..."


    Zhao Ying opened his mouth, but under Xiao Yi''s dangerous gaze, he could only steel himself and say, "Xiao Yi, do not be obstinate. Offending the Xiao Family, you won''t be able to move a step. Only by obeying the family head''s orders do you have a path of survival, just, just, just..."


    Toward the end, Zhao Ying''s voice began to tremble.


    He felt the surrounding temperature dropping lower and lower, to the point that his blood seemed about to freeze solid.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi reached out into the air with his right hand, and the order stamped with the Xiao Family head''s sealnded in his hand. The contents were exactly as Hai Fu had described. With a flick of his wrist, mes enveloped the letter, burning fiercely in his palm. Xiao Yi squinted at the two men, "Go back and tell Xiao Zhengde, I, Xiao Yi, have debts to settle and vengeance to im. It won''t be long before I visit the Xiao Family to take back what is mine!"


    "Xiao Yi, don''t be willful!"


    "The master has already broken through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Once he learns that you dare to defy the family order, he will never let you go!"


    The two men Zhao Ying threatened.


    "He won''t let me go?"


    Xiao Yi slowly stood up, his figure suddenly vanishing from the spot, and when he reappeared, he was behind the two men. Hai Fu and hispanion were kneeling on the ground, clutching their stomachs. Each had a bloody hole in their lower abdomen, and the Martial Dao Divine Fruit had been taken by Xiao Yi. The icy voice sent a bone-chilling coldness through them, "There''s no need for him to look for me. It won''t be long before I go looking for him!"

 Chapter 211 The Princes Mouth, Deceiving Ghost!

    Xiao Yi waspletely baffled as he looked at Yang Ling, "You want me to be the dean?"


    Yang Ling gave a light cough, "ept the decree first!"


    Jiang Tai hurried forward, "Jiang Tai epts the decree with gratitude!"


    Yang Ling handed the sacred decree to Jiang Tai, smiling as he said, "Monarch Jiang, my father is aware that you''ve lost an arm and has specially bestowed upon you a six-star Resurrection Elixir. As long as you consume it, your severed limb will regrow."


    "Resurrection Elixir?"


    Jiang Tai''s face changed, he had never expected the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty to bestow upon him such a precious elixir, and he gratefully said, "Jiang Tai deeply thanks Emperor Qian, may His Majesty live forever!"


    Yang Ling took out a brocade box and handed it to Jiang Tai, "Try taking it now and see!"


    "Okay, okay!"


    Jiang Tai, fighting back his excitement, opened the brocade box.


    Insidey a pea-sized, emerald green pill, its surface etched with mysterious patterns and the scent of the medicine was intoxicating.


    Gulp!


    Jiang Tai swallowed the pill in one gulp.


    Hisss!


    His face went deathly pale asrge beads of cold sweat continuously broke out on his forehead, and suddenly, he let out a scream as a spurt of fresh blood sprayed from the stump of his arm. Then, wisps of blood intertwined, and lo and behold, a brand new arm formed at a visible rate. The Resurrection Elixir indeed could regenerate lost limbs. Jiang Tai looked at the newly grown arm, his face full of excitement and gratitude, "Your Highness Yang Ling, I cannot thank you enough!"


    "No need for such formalities, Monarch Jiang!"


    Yang Ling smiled, looking at Xiao Yi, who was still in a baffled state, and said, "Dean Xiao, it seems you do not wish to be the dean of Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, saying speechlessly, "What is Emperor Qian thinking, actually letting me manage Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    All he wanted was to improve his cultivation as soon as possible.


    Only by possessing sufficient strength,


    could he prove to everyone that he was stronger than Xiao Tianjiao, disowning him was the Xiao Family''s biggest mistake.


    What''s more important is...


    he wanted to return to the Xiao Family to pay homage to his mother openly and honorably.


    After settling the grudges with the Xiao Family, the next step would be to go to Baiyu and take back Fang Qingzhu.


    He had never thought about being any dean!


    Yang Ling had long investigated Xiao Yi''s various deeds and also knew that not long ago the Xiao Family had sent people to find him, resulting in two experts of the Tao Tribtion Realm being crippled and the loss of Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    If it weren''t for Yang Ling''s timely appearance, presenting rewards and simultaneously revealing the news that Xiao Yi would be the dean of Xiaoshanhe Institute,


    the Xiao Family''s retaliation would have arrived much earlier.


    Yang Ling said gravely, "Xiao Yi, do you know what Xiaoshanhe Institute is?"


    Xiao Yi frowned, "I''ve heard of it, it was once one of the top ten sects but waster annexed by the Liyang Sect."


    Before he was imprisoned by Xiao Tianjiao, he had some understanding of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    "You''re right,"


    Yang Ling nodded, speaking softly, "Xiaoshanhe Institute, unlike the top ten sects, is a sect under the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty. My father hopes that you can lead Xiaoshanhe Institute, revitalizing its glory and returning it to the ranks of the top ten sects. Even more, to reach a level that can rival Tianjian Sect!"


    "Rival Tianjian Sect?"


    Xiao Yi was stunned, thoughts racing through his mind; he quickly understood the Emperor''s intentions.


    Today''s royal family wanted to consolidate imperial power, but the top ten sects and the four great ns stood in the way.


    They desperately needed a game-changer.


    Xiaoshanhe Institute was the perfect choice to disrupt this bnce.


    As for Xiao Yi...


    Given his rtionship with Xiao Tianjiao, it was impossible for him to join forces with the top ten sects, and with the Xiao Family on the verge of bing the fifth great n, Xiao Yi could not side with the great ns either.


    It was most suitable for him to take charge of Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    What''s more important is...


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    Xiao Yi was certainly heading to the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Whether it was for cultivation resources or a stronger environment, the Great Qian Dynasty was undoubtedly more expansive than the Tianqing Kingdom.


    But with the influence of Xiao Tianjiao and the Xiao Family,


    The ten major sects would never ept him, and even if they did, they would give him endless trouble and make things difficult at every turn.


    But if Xiao Yi were to take up the position of head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, first of all, the Xiao Family and Xiao Tianjiao would hesitate to make a move against him, at least not overtly, as that would be a public p in the face of the royal family. Secondly, backed by the royal family, the Institute would have ess to a multitude of resources, which would be a huge advantage, whether for his personal cultivation or for building his own power base.


    This is a mutually beneficial cooperation!


    Seeing Xiao Yi showing interest, Yang Ling continued, "In fact, my father had other options, but in the end, he still chose you, primarily because we value your character!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi looked at him, puzzled.


    Character?


    Yang Ling spoke earnestly, "We have investigated everything about you; you are a partner we can trust!"


    This point genuinely came from Yang Ling''s own feelings.


    If it were someone else...


    After Jiang Tianchen''s fall, they probably would have already taken the opportunity to seize the position of Monarch.


    Where would they have gone to such lengths to assist Jiang Tai?


    Xiao Yi fell silent for a moment, then gave a wry smile, "It seems I don''t have a better option... However, if I am to be the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, there is one condition that you must agree to!"


    "Speak!" said Yang Ling.


    Xiao Yi said in a deep voice, "The royal family must not interfere in the management of the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    Yang Ling frowned; Emperor''s Mind Art is about bnce, and his original idea was to ce another royal expert as the deputy head of the Institute.@@novelbin@@


    He hadn''t expected Xiao Yi to cut off this possibility directly.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "This is my only demand. If you can''t agree, then there''s no need to discuss further!"


    After pondering for a moment, Yang Ling responded, "Alright, I agree!"


    "Pleasure doing business!"


    "Congrattions, Director Xiao!"


    Yang Ling smiled, looked around, then lowered his voice, "To be honest with you, I really dislike Xiao Tianjiao too!"


    Xiao Yi simply smiled nonmittally.


    The mouth of a prince is a lying ghost!


    I trust you -- as if!


    That night...


    Jiang Tai held a grand feast in the pce, with toasts andughter all around.


    It wasn''t until noon the next day that everyone gradually awoke.


    Outside the pce.


    Jiang Tai handed a storage ring to Xiao Yi, "You''ll find many ways to spend money in the capital. Inside is fifty billion silver, and if this isn''t enough, I can send more!"


    "Alright!"


    Brothers don''t need to thank each other, Xiao Yi epted it naturally.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    In the sky above, a massive shadow swept down. It was a Sixth-Layer High-Grade Fiend, Liyang Jade Sculpture, a beingparable to a Tao Tribtion Realm Peak. With a wingspan of a hundred meters, it could carry a hundred people on its back, and could travel tens of thousands of miles a day. It was the flying fiend that the Great Qian Dynasty''s delegation was riding. Yang Ling boarded the back of the Liyang Jade Sculpture and looked towards Xiao Yi and the others, "Xiao Yi, we can set off now!"


    "Hold on a moment!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Jiang Tai and said, "Take care!"


    "Take care!" Jiang Tai said solemnly.


    Then...


    Jiang Tai, Yu Huaxian, Yan Mingli, Lin Bingxin, and Xue Bufan all boarded the Liyang Jade Sculpture, the people Xiao Yi was taking to the Xiaoshanhe Institute as instructors.


    Chirp, chirp!


    The Liyang Jade Sculpture spread its wings and soared into the sky.


    Watching the Liyang Jade Sculpture disappear from sight, Jiang Tai took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "I will make Tianqing Kingdom stronger and be the strongest support for you!"

 Chapter 212 The Imperial Capital

    The fierce sun jade sculpture travels ten thousand li in a day.


    Such speed cannot be said to be slow.


    But the Great Qian Dynasty was really too vast; even at the pace of the fierce sun jade sculpture, it took a full seven days and nights to reach the destination.


    Sitting on the back of the fierce sun jade sculpture.


    Passing through the thick clouds, the fierce sun jade sculpture was rapidly descending, and the scene below also appeared before everyone. Yang Ling said with a smile, "The imperial capital is up ahead!"


    Everyone looked in that direction.


    They could see on the horizon...


    A massive city that upied nearly half of the horizon, akin to a ck dragon lying across thend, stretching for hundreds of miles. Yang Ling''s voice resonated in everyone''s ears, "Our Great Qian Dynasty''s imperial capital is eight hundred sixty-nine kilometers long, seven hundred eighty-five kilometers wide, with a permanent poption exceeding one billion..."


    Hisss!


    Everyone couldn''t help but gasp in amazement.


    As they drew closer to the imperial capital, dark shadows flew out from within the royal city.


    At least ten dark shadows grew closer.


    "No need to worry, those are the Imperial Guards of the imperial capital!" Yang Ling said.


    Momentster.


    The dozen or so dark shadows appeared before them, indeed ten Golden Core Realm experts, with the leading person being a First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm. He obviously recognized Yang Ling and saluted, "Subordinate Ye Chao, greets Your Highness!"


    "General Ye, you have worked hard!"


    Yang Ling smiled and, pointing at Xiao Yi and the others, said, "They are Father Emperor''s honored guests; please allow them to pass, General Ye!"


    Ye Chao nced at Xiao Yi and the others and nodded, "Please, follow me!"


    Ye Chao led the way with ten men, and the fierce sun jade sculpture closely followed behind.


    The fierce sun jade sculpture was a flying beast exclusively used by the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty and was also the only one allowed to fly over the royal city. Nearing the city gate, Ye Chao said, "Your Highness, everyone, I still need to patrol, so I shall leave you here!"


    "Thank you, General Ye!"


    Everyone saluted him.


    Whoosh!


    The fierce sun jade sculpture flew swiftly past, entering the imperial capital andnding at the post house.


    Crackle and pop!


    As soon as Xiao Yi dismounted from the fierce sun jade sculpture, he couldn''t help but stretch his limbs, producing a series of crisp sounds.


    After continuous travel for seven days and nights, he was truly a bit tired.


    Yang Ling twisted his neck, said helplessly, "The fierce sun jade sculpture is very fast, but sitting on it is indeed ufortable. If there''s a chance in the future, I''ll get a suspended carriage ¨C that would befortable!"


    Xiao Yi looked at him, "Being a prince, don''t you have a suspended carriage?"


    In their days together, they had be much more casual with each other.


    Yang Ling rolled his eyes, "A suspended carriage is worth ten billion silver, and although I am a prince, my fortune isn''t as great as yours!"


    While it''s true that a prince is indeed noble, he still had his father above him!


    After handing over the fierce sun jade sculpture to the post house, Yang Ling led Xiao Yi and the rest towards the outside, "You all rest here today, I will go to report to Father Emperor. Probably by tomorrow, Father Emperor will summon you, and then I will take you to the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    This post house was intended for entertaining state guests.


    The decoration was indeed luxurious.


    After assigning an individual room to each person, Yang Ling then left the post house.


    Everyone gathered in Xiao Yi''s room.


    Yu Huaxian, Xue Bufan, Yan Mingli, and Lin Bingxin sat before him as Xiao Yi spoke solemnly, "Having you all apany me to the Xiaoshanhe Institute this time is an uncertain journey, I''m afraid it''s going to be tough on you!"


    "What are you saying, Xiao!"


    Yan Mingli hurriedly waved his hand; with Xiao Yi''s help, he had also stepped into the Golden Core Realm, bing even younger, "It''s an honor for Mingli to follow Xiao!"


    Xue Bufan stroked his walking stick and said with a chuckle, "As long as Xiao can give me more guidance in the art of alchemy, even serving you in your chamber is no problem at all!"


    "..."@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes.


    Yu Huaxian said, "Xiao, what do you n for us to do? I can train troops, but if I''m to be a mentor in the Shanhe Court, I have no experience at all!"


    Xiao Yi replied, "Lack of experience can be gradually umted. For now, I only have some rough ideas; we''ll have to see the state of the Xiaoshanhe Institute before I can be certain!" He looked at Yan Mingli and took out the Storage Ring that Jiang Tai had given him, containing fifty billion silver, "Elder Yan, keep this silver with you, you''ll manage it!"


    Yan Mingli''s face was flushed with excitement as he took the storage ring with trembling hands, "Mingli will definitely not disappoint Xiao!"


    That was five billion silver taels!


    If he weren''t considered one of their own, how could they entrust him with such a responsibility?


    Xiao Yi smiled, "Don''t be nervous, everyone. It''s also my first time serving as the dean, so let''s grope our way forward together!" He paused, then said, "Emperor Qian won''t summon us until tomorrow, so after dinner, you can all take a stroll through the capital city!"


    Yu Huaxian was about to speak when Xue Bufan tugged at his sleeve.


    ncing at Yan Mingli and squeezing his eyes, Xue Bufan cleared his throat lightly, "Xiao, we''ll skip dinner, the three of us have some matters to discuss. How about this, you take Bing Xin for a stroll, it''s rare for her toe to the capital city anyway..."


    Realization dawned on Yan Mingli, and he also said, "Bing Xin, you should go with Xiao then!"


    The two of them quickly took Yu Huaxian, who was still in a daze, and hurried away.


    "Teacher, Master¡­"


    Lin Bingxin''s cheeks were bright red; she couldn''t even dare to lift her head to look at Xiao Yi along the way. She hadn''t anticipated that Xue Bufan and the others would just leave her with Xiao Yi. Her head hung low, fingers pinching the corner of her clothes nervously, and she said timidly, "Xiao Yi, if you don''t want to go, that''s okay too!"


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    Xiao Yi smiled helplessly.


    How could he not know Lin Bingxin''s feelings?


    It was just that he had Fang Qingzhu in his heart and truly had no desire to start another romance.


    But seeing Lin Bingxin''s hesitant look, he sighed lightly, "After dinner, we can take a walk together!"


    "Huh?"


    Lin Bingxin was stunned, then nodded joyfully, "Then I''ll go back and change my clothes, and my hair is a mess too¡­"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    He feared it would be a long wait indeed!


    True enough...


    By the time Lin Bingxin emerged dolled up and ready, the sky had darkened.


    Lin Bingxin was somewhat embarrassed, "I''m sorry¡­"


    Xiao Yi waved it off, "It''s fine, let''s just go get somete-night snacks instead. There''s a food street in the east of the city that''s very lively at night!"


    "Okay! I''ll listen to you!" Lin Bingxin said, beaming sweetly.


    She was deliberately dressed in a fiery red long dress, with a white embroidered sash tied around her waist, entuating her slender figure, irresistibly captivating.


    After washing up, her hair emitted a faint fragrance, as intoxicating as orchids, stirring hearts and inciting desires, the handsome man and beautiful woman looking like a match made in heaven!


    The two made their way to the food street in the east of the city.


    Nearly a decade had passed.


    The food street hadn''t changed much, it was still as bustling as it had been in his memories.


    Xiao Yi had always loved this ce when his mother used to bring him here as a child.


    "Fresh out of the oven, golden donkey meat here!"


    "Dragon blood tofu made from this morning''s fresh dragon blood,e and try it..."


    "Freshly sliced Eight Treasure Dragon Fish, delicious and beautifying..."


    "Roasted Tianqing wild ox meat skewers..."


    Amongst the cries of the vendors, the entire street was filled with tantalizing aromas.


    With a plethora of delicacies on disy, it was a feast for the eyes sure to whet anyone''s appetite.


    Lin Bingxin was looking around with excitement, ncing left and right, holding two skewers in one hand and a bag in the other, her happiness in to see.


    Xiao Yi followed closely behind her with a smile on his lips.


    As they walked...


    Suddenly, a figure burst out from the crowd and with a ''plop'',nded in Xiao Yi''s arms. Frowning, Xiao Yi asked, "Are you alright?"


    "I''m, I''m fine¡­"


    The girl was dressed in a white gown, about to say something, when suddenly several voices cursed from behind her, "Damn it, where do you think you''re running to!"


    "You little wench, why don''t you hand it over?"


    Four menacing-looking men emerged from the crowd, eying the girl in the white dress with malicious intent.


    The girl''s eyes darted about, then suddenly she pointed at Xiao Yi and shouted, "Brother, give them what they want, I''ll be going first¡­"

 Chapter 214 Dont Drag Me into Your Mess!

    Lin Bingxin''s face was full of self-reproach, "Xiao Yi, it''s all my fault..."


    Xiao Yi smiled and consoled, "It''s just a trivial matter. By the way, how did you end up here?"


    Lin Bingxin''s pretty face blushed, and she whispered, "I, I saw that the clothes here were pretty, and wanted to secretly buy one for you. Little did I know that before I even touched the dress, she used me of damaging it and demanded apensation of a hundred thousand taels of silver..."


    "Buying clothes for me?"


    Xiao Yi was startled and had not expected Lin Bingxin toe to the clothing store to buy clothes for him.


    Looking at the fresh red palm print on her face, Xiao Yi let out a light sigh, "Silly girl, does it hurt?"


    Lin Bingxin shook her head like a rattle-drum.


    Just then...


    The middle-aged woman sneered, "Hahaha, you dog couple, now there''s no chance for you to run away!"


    Whoosh!


    A gang of fierce and evil-looking men swarmed in from outside the door.@@novelbin@@


    There were at least twenty of them.


    Each one was holding a longsword or a dagger, their ferocious gaze fixated on Xiao Yi and Lin Bingxin: "Daring to stir up trouble in the territory of the ck Hawk Gang, are you tired of living, kid?"


    Among the twenty-odd ck Hawk Gang members...


    There was that man with the cocked head, his face red from the scald of a hot pot, maliciously pointing at Xiao Yi and shouting to the man with one eye beside him, "One-Eyed Brother, it''s this brat that beat us!"


    The cultivation of One-eyed Dragon was at the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    He was a steward of the ck Dragon Gang.


    Tasked with collecting protection money on Food Street, he had a fierce reputation, and people on Food Street would normally stay far away from him. His one eye nced over Xiao Yi, thennded on Lin Bingxin, as he gulped down saliva, his one eye zing with desire, "What a beautiful girl... Brothers, beat that brat to death for me, and bring that little beauty back for my enjoyment!"


    "Yes!"


    "Big Brother, after you''re tired of her, let your brothers have a taste too!"


    The One-eyed Dragonughed heartily, "No problem, when the timees, I will let you taste the vor of this beauty!"


    As the twenty or so ck Hawk Gang members crowded around, Xiao Yi sighed, "Isn''t it good to live peacefully? Why look for death!"


    His figure flickered suddenly.


    He left a trail of afterimages in ce as he weaved through the crowd of twenty people.


    When Xiao Yi returned to Lin Bingxin''s side...


    Only then did the twenty men let out a synchronized scream, clutching their bellies as they fell to the ground, curled up and shivering.


    Their dantians had all been destroyed by Xiao Yi, with no possibility of repair.


    Gurgle!


    The One-eyed Dragon, scared witless, dropped his longsword to the ground, his face filled with terror: "You, you''ve got trouble now, kid. The ck Hawk Gang is not something you can mess with..."


    "Still nning to call for backup?"


    Xiao Yi''s face turned cold as he said indifferently, "Go ahead, call them. Today, I shall act as an agent of heaven and exterminate your damned ck Hawk Gang."


    "Goodd, you''ve got guts. You just wait..." the One-eyed Dragon was about to leave.


    Xiao Yi flicked his fingers.


    Puff!


    A burst of vital energy pierced through his abdomen,pletely shattering his dantian as he said coldly, "Crawl out of here!"


    The One-eyed Dragon, a formidable practitioner at the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, had his cultivation ruined in the blink of an eye.


    He was so terrified that he fled, tumbling and scrambling.


    The middle-aged woman was even more frightened, kneeling on the ground and sobbing: "Please spare my life, young hero, please..."


    "You should be grateful I don''t like hitting women!" Xiao Yi said coldly.


    "Phew..."


    The middle-aged woman had just breathed a sigh of relief, only to be smacked away with a crisp p, crashing into the wall with a thud. Lin Bingxin''s angry voice followed, "Xiao Yi does not hit women, but that doesn''t mean I don''t! How dare you try to extort me? And you even thought about selling me to a brothel? I''ll p you to death..."


    p! p! p!


    Lin Bingxin''s palm, like a shadow, struck the middle-aged woman''s face over and over, eventually knocking her unconscious.


    Her face was swollen like a pig''s head.


    Looking at the unresponsive middle-aged woman, Lin Bingxin then shook off her hand, "This woman''s face is so thick, it made my hand hurt from pping..."


    Xiao Yi nced at the middle-aged woman who was nearly unrecognizable and then at Lin Bingxin''s slightly reddened palm, the corner of his eyes twitching, "A woman in rage is indeed terrifying..."


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside, and the onlookers at the door had already dispersed on their own.


    A crowd of more than a hundred people surged into the Clean Clothes Tower.


    Looking at the twenty or so people lying on the ground wailing, their Dantians destroyed, three powerful individuals walked out from the crowd.


    From left to right, a trio of varying heights and builds.


    These three were the leaders of the ck Hawk Gang¡ªck Falcon, ck Dog, and ck Tiger. Both ck Dog and ck Tiger were at the Golden Elixir Peak, while ck Falcon was at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm. Having the capability to establish the ck Hawk Gang in the imperial capital and collect protection money, they did indeed have some strength.


    Cyclops, following at ck Shadow''s side with a pale face, pointed at Xiao Yi, "Boss, it''s this little bastard who injured me and the brothers..."


    "Kid, give me your name!"


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    ck Tiger, with a machete slung over his shoulder, sneered, "I, ck Tiger, don''t kill the nameless!"


    ck Dog licked his lips, "Kill the men, chop them up to feed the dogs. Take the women back for the brothers to enjoy!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking.


    Both men made their move.


    Cries of shock came from the crowd, "All three leaders of the ck Hawk Gang are here? That man and woman are definitely dead!"


    "How pitiful, they offended the ck Hawk Gang and didn''t even run!"


    "That man probably wanted to show off, not expecting to hit rock bottom..."


    Just when everyone was waiting to see Xiao Yi chopped to death by the chaotic des, ck Dog and ck Tiger suddenly halted in their tracks, as Xiao Yi stepped on their heads, one foot each, smashing them brutally into the ground. Their heads burst open, brains sttering, as Xiao Yi spun with a kick, hitting the arms ck Falcon used to block in front of his chest.


    Crack!


    Bones shattered, and ck Falcon screamed as he fell to the ground.


    Hiss!


    The onlookers, who had just been posturing and making bold derations, fell silent.


    The crowd watched in disbelief at the scene before them.


    Two at the Golden Elixir Peak and one at the First Layer of the Cmity Realm, all brought down to two dead and one injured in just an instant?


    The members of the ck Hawk Gang looked at each other, at a loss.


    St!


    ck Falcon spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at Xiao Yi with horror.


    "What''s going on?"


    "How dare you cause trouble in the imperial capital, do you not want to live?"


    A voice of authority sounded from the outside.


    A squad of city guards in battle armor walked in, looking at the wailing members of the ck Hawk Gang on the floor, and the corpses of ck Dog and ck Tiger. The city guards raised their weapons in unison, eyeing Xiao Yi fiercely.


    "Hahaha, you little bastard, you''re done for!"


    Upon seeing the city guards, ck Falcon appeared as though he had found a life-saving straw, limping over, he shouted, "General, I am ck Falcon of the ck Hawk Gang. I''ve met you before, brought by Li. General, this little bastard killed my two brothers and hurt so many people, you must bring him to justice!"


    Having established the ck Hawk Gang in the imperial capital to collect protection money, ck Falcon naturally had powerful backing.


    The general of the city guard before him was good friends with his backer.


    ck Falcon looked smugly at Xiao Yi, "You little bastard, you''re done for!"


    The city guard general said coldly, "Take him down!"


    ck Falconughed heartily, "Kid, you think you''re strong? Go ahead and resist, attacking city guards is a capital offense... hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Not me, him, get him..."


    ck Falcon looked dumbfounded as he was bound by the city guards, and he shouted hysterically, "General Ye, you got the wrong one... I''m with Li, you''re supposed to get him..."


    "I''m seizing your ass, you''re trying to get me killed too?"


    This General Ye was none other than Ye Chao.


    Upon entering, he recognized Xiao Yi at once; Yang Ling had said that Xiao Yi was a guest of Emperor Qian. He looked coldly at ck Falcon, "I had long heard that your ck Hawk Gang was acting atrociously,wlessly. Seeing it today, it is indeed true. To dare to strike against His Majesty''s guest is simply courting death. Guards, seize everyone from the ck Hawk Gang!"


    ck Falcon stood dumbfounded.


    A guest of Emperor Qian?


    Ye Chao approached Xiao Yi, and with a cupped fist salutation, said, "My sincerest apologies for startling you, sir!"


    "It''s alright," Xiao Yi waved his hand, saying, "But it would be best to purge such a malignant tumor."


    Ye Chao replied earnestly, "Rest assured, I will immediately eradicate this tumor..."


    Hearing this, ck Falcon''s face was the picture of despair as he slumped down like mud, "It''s over, it''spletely over for me..."

 Chapter 216 Xiaoshanhe Institute

    Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao''s faces were ck as coal.


    Yang Ling only felt a cold sweat on his forehead and wished he could go up and cover Xiao Yi''s mouth himself.


    If you can''t win an argument, just start a fight!


    This was the Imperial Library, and sitting before them was the mightiest existence of the entire Great Qian Dynasty, those three ministers were even more powerful in the dynasty.


    Xiao Yi was about to start a fight at the drop of a hat.


    However, considering Xiao Yi''s past military exploits, his threat was not without foundation.


    If Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao continued to be oblivious to what was good for them, he might indeed start a fight right in front of Emperor Qian!


    "Cough cough!"


    Emperor Qian coughed lightly and red at Xiao Yi, pretending to be displeased, "This is my Imperial Library, what kind of decorum is this?"


    Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yi retracted his Wind Thunder power and cupped his hands towards Emperor Qian, "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"


    "Enough, considering this is your first offense, I will spare you this time, but do not let there be a next time!"


    Emperor Qian said indifferently, "Since the courtiers have no objections, then the position of head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute is yours, Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi, you must not let me down, you must manage the Xiaoshanhe Institute well, do you understand?"


    Xiao Yi nodded earnestly and said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty!"


    Emperor Qian waved his hand, "Everyone, withdraw!"


    All the officials left in session.


    Outside the door.


    Li Shengtian''s face was dark, and he looked at Xiao Yi with a mockingly sinister expression, "Director Xiao, managing the Xiaoshanhe Institute is not so easy, Li wishes you good luck!"


    Xiao Yi nced at him and said, "Keep squawking and see if I don''t smack you, believe it or not?"


    Li Shengtian''s face twitched, his anger rising, turning his eyes bloodshot red, "You''re too insolent to conspire with!"


    With a fierce flick of his sleeve, Li Shengtian strode away.


    Tian Xiao quickly followed after him, "Mr. Li, wait for me..."


    Yang Ling watched Xiao Yi with a mix of tears andughter, "Xiao Yi, didn''t you promise to keep yourself in check?"


    "I am keeping in check. Otherwise, you''d be arranging his funeral right about now!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Yang Ling seriously, with a corner of his eye ncing in the direction of the Imperial Library and a slight smile on his lips, "Besides, don''t you think that what I''m doing aligns more with Emperor Qian''s expectations?"


    "Hm?"


    Yang Ling paused, pondering.


    Meanwhile.


    Inside the Imperial Library, Emperor Qian picked up ancient texts and put them down several times, unable to help but burst intoughter, "Interesting, very interesting, Xiao Yi... Xiao Zhengde, are you blind or mad? To cast aside such a prodigy, hahaha..."


    The old eunuch standing by rarely saw Emperor Qian so amused and asked out of curiosity, "Your Majesty, that Xiao Yi was so reckless, daring to threaten a minister in the Imperial Library, yet why are you so pleased with him?"


    "Reckless?"


    Emperor Qian shook his head andughed, "Old Dog, do you really think that young man is reckless?"


    The old eunuch asked in confusion, "Is he not?"


    "The kid is quite shrewd!"


    Emperor Qian stood up slowly, his eyes shining like a rainbow as if he could see through everything, "He knows that by handing him the Xiaoshanhe Institute, besides bncing the ten major sects and the noble families, I''m also weighing the court... If he were to try to please everyone, to cringe and bow, I would have to be wary and guard against him everywhere. His seemingly reckless behaviour has offended Li Shengtian to death, leaving himself isted, surrounded by enemies. As a result, I will naturally trust himpletely..."


    The old eunuch had a sudden realization, "I did not expect someone of his young age to be so thoughtful!"


    Emperor Qian gazed ahead, "Xiao Yi, Xiao Tianjiao... Things are getting more and more interesting!"


    ......


    Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Located at the eastern side of the imperial capital was Imperial Dragon Peak.


    Legends say...


    The first emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty had once tamed a true dragon here. After Xiaoshanhe Institute pledged allegiance to the royal family, they were granted Imperial Dragon Peak as their sect''s entrance.


    One, to manifest the royal family''s regard for Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Two, to have Xiaoshanhe Institute guard Imperial Dragon Peak, as the royal family''s ancestral and heavenly worship ceremonies were always held here.


    However,


    With the decline of Xiaoshanhe Institute, Imperial Dragon Peak gradually became deste.


    Aside from the annual ancestral ceremony, it was mostly unvisited.


    Even with the once flourishing institute that had tens of thousands of disciples and countless experts, now there were only over a thousand disciples left, and only about twenty or thirty instructors, a severe decline in talent.


    Indeed, due to the decline of Xiaoshanhe Institute, the royal family had not been able to bring any other sect under their wing.


    Yang Ling, leading Xiao Yi and the others, arrived at Imperial Dragon Peak and, looking down at the buildingplex that nearly covered the entire peak and wasparable in size to the former pce of Tianqing Kingdom, everyone couldn''t help butment the past prosperity of the Great Qian Dynasty. Even a fallen Xiaoshanhe Institute had such a magnificent scale.


    As for those high above¡ªthe glorious ten great sects¡ªwhat must their grandeur be like?


    Yang Ling said in a deep voice, "Xiao Yi, for the past ten years, Xiaoshanhe Institute has not appointed a dean, and all of the institute''s matters have been managed by Mr. Chen Shuiwen, the vice dean. He''s not an easy character to deal with; you must be very careful!"


    Although Xiaoshanhe Institute had fallen, the royal family still came here for the ancestral rites every year.


    The funding allocated to Xiaoshanhe Institute was also substantial.


    Moreover, there was the status of an official title.


    Chen Shuiwen, holding the position of vice dean for over a decade, had long viewed himself as the dean. With Xiao Yi suddenly parachuted into the role of his superior, Chen Shuiwen would certainly feel disgruntled.


    Xiao Yi nodded to show his understanding.


    Whoosh!


    The fierce sun eagle sculpture swooped down,nding on the vast square of Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Therge square was devoid of anyone.@@novelbin@@


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    Yang Ling slightly frowned, "Strange, I had already sent someone to inform Chen Shuiwen yesterday. Why is there not a single person here?"


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Here theye!"


    "Hmm?"


    Yang Ling was startled, only to see a bald figure approaching from the distance, strolling over leisurely with a beaming smile, "Ah, Your Highness Yang Ling, my apologies for the dy. Something came up, and I only managed to rush over now."


    Yang Ling raised his eyebrows, "Mr. Chen, this is Xiao Yi, the new dean of Xiaoshanhe Institute. And these are the instructors that Dean Xiao has brought along¡ªXue Bufan, Yu Huaxian, Yan Mingli, Lin Bingxin!"


    "Hahaha, Dean Xiao, I''ve long heard of your great reputation, and seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary!"


    Chen Shuiwenughed heartily as he nodded to Xiao Yi and the others, clicking his tongue andmenting, "Dean Xiao truly has an imposing presence. I''ve heard that you alone eradicated the Great Jin Kingdom. Such a young age yet with such achievements, you are truly remarkable! Wee to Xiaoshanhe Institute¡ªtreat this as your home from now on!"


    This was a smiling tiger.


    Xiao Yi was inwardly on alert. Better to face an honest scoundrel than a smiling tiger!


    All smiles to your face, but ready to stab you in the back.


    Despite the warm words Chen Shuiwen had expressed, he essentially positioned himself as the host and treated Xiao Yi and his party as guests.


    Furthermore...


    Yang Ling had already sent a message previously. Logically, Chen Shuiwen should have brought the institute''s instructors and disciples to wee them, but no one was present.


    This was his way of intimidating Xiao Yi.


    It was as if he was telling Xiao Yi in an intangible manner: This is my turf, Chen Shuiwen''s!


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "Interesting. It seems my days at Xiaoshanhe Institute won''t be boring..."

 Chapter 217 Double-faced and treacherous

    "Mr. Chen, haven''t I already sent someone to notify you that today is the day Xiao takes office? Why hasn''t a single person shown up?"


    It was clear that Yang Ling had also noticed something amiss and spoke with veiled hints.


    His status meant he couldn''t say some things outright.


    Chen Shuiwen exactly seized on this point, rubbed his bald head, and smiled, "Unfortunately, today happens to be the disciples'' time for quiet cultivation. Everything must prioritize their practice. I believe Xiao shares this sentiment, don''t you think so, Xiao?"


    Quiet cultivation?


    The entire Xiaoshanhe Institute, thousands of people cultivating quietly at the same time?


    Are you fucking kidding me?


    Xiao Yi sneered inwardly, but his face showed agreement, "Mr. Chen is right, we should indeed prioritize the disciples'' cultivation."


    Hearing Xiao Yi stress the words "Mr. Chen" with particr emphasis made Chen Shuiwen''s eyelids twitch abruptly.


    His smile also showed a moment of stiffness.


    But he quickly concealed it.


    Chen Shuiwen responded with a chuckle, "I''m truly grateful that Xiao can be so understanding!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and said, "After all, this is my Xiaoshanhe Institute, and as the headmaster, it''s only natural to look after the teachers and disciples, including Mr. Chen, as my own! What do you think, Mr. Chen?"


    As my own?


    He''sparing them to his children and grandchildren!


    Chen Shuiwen gritted his steel teeth, which ground together audibly. He had intended to make Xiao Yi ufortable, but Xiao Yi, in just a few words, not only turned the situation around but also belittled him by a generation. With a forced smile on his face, Chen Shuiwen swiftly changed the subject, "Prince Yang Ling, Xiao, I''ve already had food and drinks prepared in the back garden to wee and refresh you!"


    "I shall not go, and you take good care of Xiao and the others. Remember to hand over the work to Xiao as soon as possible!"


    Yang Ling gave Xiao Yi a meaningful look and said, "Xiao, I leave the Xiaoshanhe Institute in your hands. Also, the Emperor asked me to tell you that in three months, it will be this year''s ancestor worship ceremony, and he hopes to see a different Xiaoshanhe Institute then!"


    "Three months, you say? Tell His Majesty he won''t be disappointed!" Xiao Yi smiled and nodded.


    This was more than just an ancestor worship ceremony.


    It was also Emperor Qian''s test for Xiao Yi, to prove his abilities within three months.


    The greater the ability, the more privileges and resources one has.


    To receive greater support from Emperor Qian, one must demonstrate one''s capabilities.


    Yang Ling mounted the back of the fiery sun jade sculpture and began to ascend leisurely, looking at Chen Shuiwen, "Mr. Chen, I hope you will fully support Xiao''s work!"


    "Rest assured, Prince, I will certainly cooperate well!"


    Chen Shuiwen nodded with a smile, watching Yang Ling rise into the sky, as the smile on his face slowly faded to be reced by a hint of coldness.


    Xiao Yi looked at Chen Shuiwen, "Mr. Chen, didn''t you say there was food and drink prepared? Shall we eat and talk?"


    "Ah? Food and drink? Oh dear, look at my poor memory. I forgot everyone is in quiet cultivation, and there''s no one to cook!" Chen Shuiwen pped his bald head, looking self-reproachful, "I''m really sorry, Xiao; it''s all my oversight. Please punish me as you see fit!"


    Xiao Yi watched Chen Shuiwen with an amused smile in the corner of his mouth, silently observing his performance.


    When Yang Ling was here, you volunteered to have food and drinks ready in the back garden.


    No sooner had Yang Ling left,


    than you changed your story, saying no food or drinks were prepared?


    Truly a duplicitous character!


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "No matter, if there''s no food and drink prepared, then I''ll just take care of lunch myself!"


    Chen Shuiwen nodded and said, "For now, your amodations will be arranged in the east wing''s side rooms. There are many vacant rooms there, but the Xiaoshanhe Institute is short on manpower, so you, Xiao, will have to tidy up by yourself. I still have matters to attend to, so I will be leaving now. If there''s anything you need my help with, Xiao, you can find me in the west wing''s side rooms!"


    "Sure, you go ahead and take care of your business!"


    Xiao Yi watched as Chen Shuiwen left.


    Yu Huaxian frowned and said, "Xiao, that old jerk is really hateful..."


    Xiao Yi smiled and replied, "No worries, we have all the time in the world to y his little games slowly!"


    Meanwhile.


    Inside the west wing''s room, when Chen Shuiwen returned, a table full ofvish dishes and drinks was already waiting.


    Several instructors from the Xiaoshanhe Institute had long been there, waiting.


    As soon as they saw Chen Shuiwen arrive, they stood up hastily, "Mr. Chen!"


    Chen Shuiwen gestured with his hand for everyone to sit down.


    Looking at each other with puzzled expressions, the instructors asked, "Mr. Chen, has His Highness Yang Ling not med us?"


    "Why would anyone me you? It''s understandable that instructors and disciples in quiet cultivation couldn''t spare the time to wee him."


    "I heard it was His Highness Yang Ling who suggested handing over the Xiaoshanhe Institute to that damned Xiao Yi. It''s beyond me why the Emperor Qian would entrust the Institute to such an inexperienced kid..."


    The people around chimed in.


    Chen Shuiwen took a sip of his wine and said indifferently, "Who canprehend the Emperor''s mind? But I, Chen Shuiwen, have worked diligently at the Xiaoshanhe Institute for many years. The idea that he can juste in and take over is pure fantasy." Squinting his eyes, he dered coldly, "Listen up, all of you. The ancestral worship ceremony is in three months. If he fails to handle it properly, I''ll have ways to drive him out. Inform all the instructors and disciples that anyone who cooperates with Xiao Yi will be my enemy!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Chen!"


    "The brothers know what to do!"


    "And as for the disciples... we''ll withhold their cultivation resources. Who would dare to oppose us then?"


    They all said,ughing.


    With a smug smile, Chen Shuiwen raised his cup, "Now, let''s feast and enjoy ourselves!"


    Looking at the sumptuous food in front of him, the corners of Chen Shuiwen''s mouth turned up slightly, revealing a cold smile, "Xiao Yi? Nothing more than a stray dog driven out of the Xiao Family, daring to scavenge from the tiger''s maw? He truly doesn''t know he''s courting death!"


    Nobody noticed...


    In that corner, a faint golden figure quietly slipped away.@@novelbin@@


    In the east wing''s room.


    Xiao Yi and the others were organizing the disorderly room, which was filled with dust and a musty smell, having been long abandoned.


    "Boss!"


    Little Lin hade back,nding on his shoulder, "Just as you expected, Chen Shuiwen is in the west wing, eating and drinking with a dozen instructors. That bastard, he even imed there was nothing prepared to eat, he''s really hateful!"


    Xiao Yi said, "Did you remember who all were there?"


    Little Lin nodded its little head, "I remembered."


    As Xiao Yi continued to tidy up the room, he looked at the dusty table beneath the windowsill and bent down slightly, "Indeed, this is a fine table; both the material and the craftsmanship are exceptional. However, covered with so much dust, it''s treated like trash. To restore this table to its former glory, we need to sweep away all this dust!" Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    Whoo!


    He blew out a breath.


    Swish!


    The thickyer of dust covering the table was blown away in an instant...

 Chapter 219 Fist and foot have no eyes

    "Who the hell do you think you are?"


    Xiao Yi looked at Zou with an indifferent gaze and spoke coldly.


    Err...


    Zou''s face stiffened, and a sh of anger flickered deep in his eyes as his fists suddenly clenched with a grating sound.


    But upon recalling Chen Shuiwen''s instructions not to initiate any attack and avoid giving Xiao Yi any leverage, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and suppress his anger. He forced a smile and said, "Director Xiao, my name is Zou Zheng, and I am an instructor at the Xiaoshanhe Institute. It''s normal that Director Xiao, being new here, wouldn''t recognize me!"


    Zou Zheng turned around and said to Zheng Dongsheng, "Zheng Dongsheng, hurry back and stop causing trouble!"


    "Hmph!"


    Zheng Dongsheng snorted in dissatisfaction and turned to leave.


    Zou Zheng was an expert of the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, and he was not a weak presence among the many instructors at the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    "Wait!"


    Xiao Yi called out to Zheng Dongsheng. His detached gaze fell upon Zou Zheng as he said indifferently, "Are you the head of the institute, or am I?"


    Zou Zheng was taken aback and said, "Naturally, you are, Director."


    Xiao Yi uttered an "oh" and said, "Anyone who didn''t know better would think you were the head of the institute. I hadn''t even spoken, yet you''ve already taken it upon yourself to decide for me."


    Zou Zheng''s face darkened. He had always been arrogant and overbearing thanks to his good rtionship with Chen Shuiwen. But now, with Xiao Yi questioning him repeatedly, the anger in his heart was increasingly hard to control. Taking a deep breath and with a dark face, Zou Zheng said, "Director Xiao, do you have an issue with me? If you do, you''re free to state it openly. Why the insinuations and sarcasm?"


    "Me, insinuations and sarcasm?"


    Xiao Yiughed heartily, leaning slightly forward. The piercing look in their locked eyes nearly forced Zou Zheng to look away. "Instructor Zou Zheng, if I did have an issue with you, you''d be dead by now."


    Zou Zheng retorted angrily, "Director Xiao, are you threatening me? I, Zou Zheng, am an upright and honorable man. I''vee here with the best of intentions to help you settle this conflict, yet you fail to appreciate my goodwill and even go as far as to give me a hard time at every turn. And now you dare threaten me?"


    "A threat? Who do you think you are to deserve a threat from me?" Xiao Yi''s mouth curled up in a mocking smile.


    He was provoking Zou Zheng.


    If Zou Zheng were to strike first, he''d fall right into Xiao Yi''s trap.


    It would be the breakthrough he needed!


    Zou Zheng''s fists were tightly clenched, with a cold re shing in his eyes, and the vital energy on his palms surged, ready to make a move.


    But just then...


    A cold shout came from behind, "Zou Zheng, what are you ying at?"


    "Hm?"


    Zou Zheng''s face changed as he looked at the stern middle-aged man with sword-like eyebrows by his side. A deep reverence shed in his eyes, and with a wronged expression, he said, "Elder Sun, you''ve arrived just in time. You must stand up for me!"


    "Shut up!"


    Sun Zhengyi snorted coldly, his frosty aura putting out Zou Zheng''s fiery temper like a bucket of ice water. Sun Zhengyi then looked at Xiao Yi, "You must be the new Director Xiao here, right? I am Sun Zhengyi, the third elder of the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Without waiting for Xiao Yi to speak, Sun Zhengyi turned to Zou Zheng and asked with a frown, "What''s going on here?"


    As Xiao Yi was about to speak, he narrowed his eyes and touched his nose, watching the two men with interest.


    Sun Zhengyi saw him ready to speak, but chose to ignore him, instead fixing his gaze on Zou Zheng. It seemed he was another one of Chen Shuiwen''s people!


    Zou Zheng, with a look of grievance, repeated the events that had just taken ce.


    "This is outrageous!"


    Sun Zhengyi coldly snorted but directed thement at Xiao Yi, adding unnecessarily as if to rify, "Director Xiao, please don''t take it the wrong way, I wasn''t speaking about you."


    Xiao Yi remained silent with a smile.


    However, Sun Zhengyi turned to Zou Zheng and said, "Director Xiao is the new head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute and, as such, has the responsibility to advise all the disciples and instructors of the institute. Since Zheng Dongsheng wanted to challenge Director Xiao, and Director Xiao being the head of the institute is in some way his instructor, Xiao can''t just ignore it. Yet you interfered, how could Director Xiao not be upset?"


    Zou Zheng, catching the frantic signals from Sun Zhengyi, quickly revised his story with an aggrieved voice, "I¡ªI was just worried about the risks of physical confrontation. What if Director Xiao got hurt by Zheng Dongsheng!"


    "What nonsense are you spouting?"


    Sun Zhengyi''s heart burst with joy, but his face showed righteous indignation, "How could Director Xiao possibly be injured? If he couldn''t take care of a Zheng Dongsheng, then what face would he have to continue as the head of our Xiaoshanhe Institute? Even if Director Xiao is no match for Zheng Dongsheng, you shouldn''t have refused on his behalf! Don''t you owe Director Xiao an apology?" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Zou Zheng looked towards Xiao Yi, "I''m really sorry, Director Xiao. It was all my oversight!"


    The two of them went back and forth.


    They coordinated quite well with each other.


    Seizing the moment, Sun Zhengyi spoke up, "Listen here, disciples, Director Xiao is new to our institute, and no one is allowed to challenge him from below their station, understand?"


    However...@@novelbin@@


    These words only provoked strong dissatisfaction among the disciples, "Why not? We can usually spar with our instructors; does our esteemed Director not even have the courage for that?"


    "If that''s the case, why is he still the director? He might as well just roll back home!"


    Zheng Dongsheng''s voice thundered, "Elder Sun, I want to challenge Director Xiao!"


    "Right, right, right, keep pushing him..."


    Sun Zhengyi''s heart was overjoyed, but he wore a troubled expression as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Director Xiao, what do you think about this?"


    Xiao Yi smiled, looking at the excited crowd of disciples, "So you all think I should ept Zheng Dongsheng''s challenge, is that right?"


    "Exactly!"


    "ept the challenge!"


    "Or just get lost..."


    With a smile still on his face, Xiao Yi looked at Zheng Dongsheng, "Zheng Dongsheng, let me ask you a question first, between you and Instructor Zou Zheng, who is stronger and who is weaker?"


    Zheng Dongsheng hesitated, "I am but at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, and even though I have greater strength, Instructor Zou Zheng is a genuine First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm power. I am no match for him!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and said with augh, "My fellow disciples, you don''t know much about me, and there are some things you may not be clear about. Most of my cultivation has improved through fighting, and I don''t really pull my punches. If I really were to spar with Zheng Dongsheng, I might hurt him by ident, and then it would look like I, the Director, am beating up a student!"


    "Pfft, you''re just afraid to fight!"


    "Stop with those grandiose excuses..."


    "I think you should just roll out of Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    The disciples shouted one after another.


    Sun Zhengyi''s face was full of smug satisfaction, and he winked at Zou Zheng.


    "You''re much more cunning!"


    Zou Zheng stealthily gave a thumbs up, snickering, "This way, if Xiao Yi refuses to ept the challenge, his reputation will be ruined, and if he epts, regardless of win or loss, he''ll acquire the disgrace of bullying the weak..."


    Xiao Yi caught a glimpse of the two men from the corner of his eye and took note of their little schemes, his lips lifting slightly in a smile, "Everyone, please calm down. I only said that it''s inappropriate to ept Zheng Dongsheng''s challenge. However, Zheng Dongsheng just admitted that Instructor Zou Zheng is stronger than him. If I were to defeat Instructor Zou Zheng, that would mean I could also defeat Zheng Dongsheng, wouldn''t it?"


    "Huh?"


    "That could work!"


    "If Director Xiao can really beat Instructor Zou Zheng, then that means his power is indeed above that of Zheng Dongsheng, and he is genuinely concerned about injuring a student, not cowardice in battle!"


    The disciples nodded one after another, agreeing with Xiao Yi''s reasoning.


    "Instructor Zou, since everyone agrees, please ept my challenge!"


    Xiao Yi smiled at the bewildered Zou Zheng and made a weing gesture, "But I must say before we begin, fists and feet are blind¡ªso if I identally injure youter, I hope Instructor Zou will forgive me!"


    The disciples were excited, "Instructor Zou, hurry up and ept the challenge!"


    "Go Instructor Zou!"


    "If you win, you''ll be the man who defeated the Director..."


    Zou Zheng: "..."


    Sun Zhengyi: "..."

 Chapter 222 Men Cant Be Cowards, Fight If You Disagree!

    "You''re the one who should be rolling out!"


    Xiao Yi''s voice came from outside the door, bringing silence to the Zen Martial Hall.


    An Rujing''s brows slightly furrowed as she looked towards Xiao Yi with a hint of confusion in her eyes, "Who are you? This is a critical area of the Zen Martial Hall. The likes of you have no ce here, roll out at once!"


    "Mr. An, you sure carry an imposing aura!"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly and shed his headmaster''s waist badge, "Are you sure you can drive me out?"


    "A headmaster''s waist badge? Are you the new headmaster?"


    An Rujing was taken aback for a moment and somewhat surprised but showed no reverence as she said indifferently, "So, it''s Headmaster Xiao. My apologies for not greeting you from afar. However, this is my ssroom, and it''s hardly appropriate for Headmaster Xiao to barge in like this, is it?"


    An undeniable authority radiated from Xiao Yi, enveloping An Rujing as he sneered, "I am the headmaster of Xiaoshanhe Institute; there''s nowhere I cannot go. Besides, had I not happened toe here today, would I have had to watch impassively as a genius student from my Xiaoshanhe Institute was destroyed by your hands?"


    "Genius student?"


    An Rujing was taken aback again and pointing to Ye Heng in the corner she asked, "Is he the one Headmaster Xiao refers to?"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Correct!"


    "Hahaha..."


    "The new headmaster actually says Ye Heng is a genius?"


    "Headmaster, are you sure you''re not mistaken about the person?"


    Ye Tian looked at Ye Heng with contempt, "This person is called Ye Heng, and at fifteen he''s only at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, hardly different from trash. How could he possibly be a genius?"


    An Rujing watched with a cold gaze, her eyes thick with provocation as she looked at Xiao Yi.


    Even the disciples think Ye Heng is trash.


    And you, the grand headmaster, im he''s a genius?


    I''d like to see how you get yourself out of this one!


    Xiao Yi, however, was staring at An Rujing and asked, "Mr. An also thinks Ye Heng is trash?"


    An Rujing shrugged her shoulders, "The facts speak for themselves!"


    Xiao Yi''s gaze swept across all those present as he asked, "In your view, who in this Zen Martial Hall is a genius?"


    An Rujing pointed at Ye Tian, who straightened up cooperatively, and she continued, "This person is called Ye Tian, he''s Ye Heng''s kinsman and even half a month younger than Ye Heng. Yet he is now at the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, while Ye Heng is merely at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm..."


    "Ye Tian? Fifteen and in the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, indeed not bad. However..."


    Xiao Yi gestured for Ye Heng toe over to his side and said lightly, "I still think Ye Heng is the one with the highest talent here!"


    An Rujing scoffed, "You''re the headmaster, whatever you say goes!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "You disagree?"


    "Heh heh..."


    An Rujing pointed at the people inside the Zen Martial Hall, "The headmaster can ask them if they agree with your opinion!"


    "Ye Tian is the strongest!"


    "What''s a Ye Hengpared to Ye Tian? Does he even deserve to bepared?"


    Hearing the words of the crowd, An Rujing smiled sarcastically, "Headmaster, you''ve heard it. It seems no one shares your opinion!"


    "Ye Heng, how do you think youpare to Ye Tian?" Xiao Yi asked, looking down at Ye Heng who only reached his chest.


    Ye Heng was startled, then looked up at Xiao Yi, his clear eyes sparkling with emotion.


    From a young age...


    He had always been the least regarded in his family, and even aftering to the Xiaoshanhe Institute it was the same. Whether it was family members, fellow disciples, or teachers, everyone focused on Ye Tian and habitually ignored him.


    This was the first time someone had ced such trust in him!


    Ye Heng took a deep breath, and said emphatically, "I am stronger than him!"


    "Hahaha, that''s hrious, Ye Heng, oh Ye Heng, who gave you such courage?"


    "Your skin is really thick!"


    Ye Tian''s face was full of mockery as he gave Ye Heng a thumbs-up and then slowly turned it downward, haughtily saying, "Ye Heng, you will never catch up to me in this lifetime!"


    Ye Heng clenched his teeth tightly.


    Xiao Yi patted Ye Heng''s shoulder and said, "Ye Heng, I have a way to help you surpass Ye Tian within seven days, but it''s extremely painful. Are you willing to try it?"


    "Surpass Ye Tian in seven days?"


    Ye Heng was stunned, recalling all the years he had been oppressed by Ye Tian, how everyone had discarded him like a worn-out shoe. Clenching his fists tightly, he nodded firmly and said, "I am willing! My mother used to say, ''To be superior, one must endure hardship.'' I am not afraid of suffering!"


    "Good!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, looked at An Rujing, and said, "Mr. An, didn''t you say that talent determines everything? Starting today, I''ll be guiding Ye Heng, and you will mentor Ye Tian with all your might. Let them face off after seven days. Do you dare?"


    Ye Heng looked up at Ye Tian, "Ye Tian, do you dare ept my challenge?"@@novelbin@@


    Ye Tian, full of self-confidence, sneered, "What''s there to fear? It wouldn''t matter if you had seven days, seven years, or even seventy years, you could never catch up to me!"


    "Since the headmaster is interested, I am happy to oblige to the end!" An Rujing narrowed her eyes, revealing a yful smile, "But since it''s apetition, there naturally should be stakes. If Ye Tian wins, I want you to publicly apologize to me!"


    Xiao Yi replied, "No problem! And if you lose, you''ll have to apologize to Ye Heng!"


    "Mr. An, don''t worry, I can''t possibly lose!" Ye Tian said confidently.


    An Rujing nodded and said, "Agreed. After seven days, at the martial arts field, we will see who is better!"


    "Ye Heng, let''s go!"


    Ye Heng followed closely behind, and the two of them strode away.


    Ye Tian stepped forward and confidently said to Mr. An, "Don''t worry, I won''t let you down!"


    "Hmm!"


    An Rujing nodded, then squinted her eyes and muttered to herself, "Hasn''t Chen been looking for an opportunity to deal with him all this time? Isn''t this a perfect opportunity?"


    At the same time.


    Xiao Yi took Ye Heng back to his residence.


    The two stared at each other.


    Feeling somewhat uneasy, Ye Heng said, "Head, Headmaster, can I really defeat Ye Tian in seven days?"


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Weren''t you very confident just now? Howe you''ve lost faith in yourself?"


    Ye Heng replied with a bitter smile, "Wasn''t I provoked by Ye Tian? My mother always said that a man should never show weakness, and if you can''t ept it, just fight it out! But... I''m only at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, while he''s at the Third Layer of the Shentong Realm, and there are only seven days..."


    What can you really get done in seven days?


    Even with the help of medicinal pills, at most he could advance to the Eighth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, right?


    How could he possibly defeat Ye Tian?


    Xiao Yi patted his shoulder and said, "Take on the spirit you had at the Zen Martial Hall. It''s just the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, isn''t it? If you can''t even defeat Ye Tian, how can you talk about surpassing Xiao Tianjiao..."


    Ye Heng bit his teeth and nodded, "Right, what''s there to fear? A man should never back down, if you can''t ept it, just fight it out!"


    "Hahaha, well said!"


    Xiao Yi patted his shoulder in satisfaction, his lips curling slightly upward as he looked in the direction of the west wing, "Chen Shuiwen, I''ve made my move, now it''s your turn!"

 Chapter 224 Four Symbols Spiritual Blood

    Great Liang Mountain.


    This ce was located a thousand and three hundred miles from the imperial capital; even with Xiao Yi''s speed, it took a full three hours.


    Within the vast mountains.


    Xiao Yi looked at Ye Heng in front of him and said, "For the next seven days, we will be spending our time here."


    "Principal, what should I do?" Ye Heng asked with burning eyes.


    Just a moment ago, Xiao Yi had taken him to soar through the sky, and that feeling of looking down upon the world had left him utterly captivated.


    Xiao Yi said, "You just need to do as I tell you, without needing to know too much!"


    "Yes!"


    Ye Heng nodded heavily.


    For fifteen years.@@novelbin@@


    Apart from his mother, Xiao Yi was the first person, and the only one, who truly cared for him.


    In Ye Heng''s heart, he had long epted Xiao Yi.


    Even if Xiao Yi now told him that he needed to exhaust all his potential and fight Ye Tian in seven days, he would agree without any hesitation.


    Xiao Yi spoke in a serious tone, "You should be aware of the gap between yourself and Ye Tian, which is why I have tailored a cultivation n just for you in the next seven days. This cultivation n will be extremely brutal for you. I''ll ask you one more time, are you really willing to try it?"


    "I am!"


    Ye Heng said solemnly.


    His clear eyes were filled with an unwavering will to fight.


    Xiao Yi nodded, took out a set of specially made clothes and shoes from the storage ring; these were treasures obtained from the treasury of the Great Jin Kingdom.


    The entire set was made from silkworm threads infused with Xuan Heavy Stone.


    It seemed light and thin but was actually quite hefty.


    This set of clothes and shoes together weighed a full thousand pounds.


    Xiao Yi threw this set of Xuan Heavy clothing to Ye Heng. Caught off guard, Ye Heng almost knelt to the ground under the weight of the clothes, his face filled with astonishment and shock: "Prin... Principal, what material is this clothing made of? Why is it so heavy?"


    "This is Xuan Heavy clothing. Starting now, unless I tell you to take it off, you cannot remove it¡ªwhether you''re eating, sleeping, or training!" Xiao Yi said gravely.


    This set of Xuan Heavy clothing was worth a fortune.


    Don''t be fooled by its weight of over a thousand pounds; it was soft andfortable due to the weaving of silkworm thread, warm in winter and cool in summer.


    Ye Heng quickly changed into the Xuan Heavy clothing.


    This Xuan Heavy clothing was extremely heavy; even with Ye Heng''s Seventh Layer of Qi Gathering Realm cultivation, he felt as if he was filled with lead when wearing this set of clothes. Even the most routine movements became incredibly difficult. Ye Heng, with a face as if on the verge of tears, said, "Principal, this Xuan Heavy clothing is truly too heavy."


    "You''ll gradually get used to it!"


    Xiao Yi looked up at the depths of Great Liang Mountain deep; Little Lin followed his arm down to the ground, "Little Lin, from now on, you supervise Ye Heng and make sure hepletes all the training tasks I have given him!"


    "Don''t worry, Big Boss, I''ll keep a close eye on him!" Little Lin''s tail lifted, pointed at Ye Heng, and then at its own eyes.


    Xiao Yi was very assured with Little Lin watching over this ce.


    Xiao Yi then left quickly and headed toward the depths of Great Liang Mountain.


    Little Lin perched on Ye Heng''s shoulder, sticking out its tongue and said, "Kid, from now on, you''re in Little Master''s hands; we''ll start with the first training item, run around this valley for me! Listen up, if you''re too slow, watch out for a whipping from me!"


    Smack smack!


    Little Lin suddenly flicked its tail, sending out two bursts of air that chiseled two dozens-of-meters-long cracks into the rock face.


    Hiss!


    Ye Heng was so scared that his scalp tingled and he hurriedly broke into a run.


    Only...


    He was now wearing the Xuan Heavy clothing, equivalent to carrying a thousand pounds of weight. For Ye Heng, who was only at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, the burden was still enormous. His pace was uneven and slow, but luckily, Ye Heng''s will was extremely tenacious. Having been despised and bullied since childhood, he valued every opportunity to grow stronger greatly.


    He didn''t need Little Lin''s urging; he would give it his all regardless.


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    The valley was more than a thousand meters in circumference.


    Ye Heng ranps around the valley.


    Onep.


    Twops.


    Threeps...


    By the end, even Ye Heng himself didn''t know exactly how manyps he had run; his face had turned pale, stars danced before his eyes, and his will nearly copsed, holding on through sheer determination. With each lift of his legs, pain tore through him as if ripping his heart and lungs out,rge beads of sweat rolled down, having already soaked his clothes through and through.


    Panting! Panting! Panting!


    The only sounds left in Ye Heng''s ears were his heartbeat and heavy breathing.


    Little Lin perched on a rock nearby, nodding slightly, "No wonder the boss values him so highly. Just by this will alone, it''s destined that this kid''s future achievements are boundless!"


    If martial artists are likened to an army,


    cultivation is the soldier, but will is themander.


    Though the number of soldiers can decide the oue of many battles, as long as themander is strong enough, there''s still a chance to stage aeback from the weaker side against the strong.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi''s figure returned to the valley, with a corpse of an armored boar on his shoulder. He nced at Ye Heng who was still persistently running, one step shallow, one step deep, "How long have you been running?"


    "Since you left, he hasn''t stopped; by now, it''s already over one hundred and sixtyps!" Little Lin cocked its head, thinking and speaking.


    Onep is over one thousand meters, meaning that Ye Heng had continued to run for over a hundred thousand meters, even with over a thousand catties weighing in his belly.


    Even though his speed was not fast, the fact that he had held on until now was already very impressive!


    Xiao Yi tossed the beast to Little Lin, "You roast it; I''m going to apply medicine to the kid first!"


    This extreme training was highly effective but the training content and intensity were still secondary; the biggest reason Xiao Yi had confidence that Ye Heng would defeat Ye Tian within seven days was due to Ye Heng''s special physique and a way in Xiao Yi''s inheritance from the Wind Thunder Venerable to stimte Ye Heng''s potential.


    "Ye Heng, you can stop now!" Xiao Yi said.


    "..."


    As if he heard nothing, Ye Heng continued to run forward.


    Xiao Yi was stunned, then realized that Ye Heng''s eyes had already lost focus, relying entirely on will to keep going; he couldn''t help but admire, "Goodd, just as said in the Wind Thunder Venerable''s medical canon, those with this kind of physique have unexpectedly strong wills. Kid, stop for me!"


    With a wave of his hand through the air, Xiao Yi stopped Ye Heng and tossed him into theke on one side of the valley.


    Hissss!


    The coldke water stimted him, gradually bringing back Ye Heng''s consciousness, but he was exhausted to the point of being unable to move his arms. The profound heavy clothing made him especially heavy, and his body involuntarily sank towards the bottom of theke.


    Luckily, Xiao Yi promptly reached out and pulled him up, looking at the weakened Ye Heng, Xiao Yi took out four jars.


    They contained the blood of beasts previously hunted deep within Great Liang Mountain: Green-eyed White-foreheaded Tiger, Purple Crowned Golden Python, Camel Mountain Tortoise, and Red-bellied Brocade Chicken. These four beasts were descendants of Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and ck Turtle, the Four Symbols Divine Beasts, each carrying a trace of Divine Blood.


    Mixing the blood of these four beasts together, it was known as Four Symbols Spiritual Blood. Although it was not as potent as the fabled Divine Blood of the Four Symbols Divine Beasts, it was still ample for Ye Heng, who was only at the Seventh Layer of Qi Gathering Realm.


    Of course.


    Apart from the Four Symbols Spiritual Blood, Xiao Yi had added a multitude of medicinal herbs for healing and recovery into the mixture.


    Only through this could he stimte the awakening of Ye Heng''s physique while negating the fatigue from a day of strenuous cultivation.


    "Master... Master..."


    Ye Heng opened his mouth, squeezing out a forced smile.


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "It''s going to hurt a bit; bear with it."


    "Mm!"


    Ye Heng weakly nodded his head.


    Xiao Yi applied the Four Symbols Spiritual Blood mixed with the medicinal herbs onto his body.


    At first, the reaction was mild, eliciting only a slight feeling of heat.


    But before long...


    As the Four Symbols Spiritual Blood began to take effect, Ye Heng''s eyes suddenly widened, his hands and feet desperately pushed back, veins pulsating wildly, eyes bloodshot, and he opened his mouth wide but was utterly unable to make a sound.


    Little Lin gasped, "Boss, isn''t this too painful?"


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, "This is just the beginning. Whether he can withstand it or not is up to him now..."

 Chapter 226 Battle War Holy Body

    The setting sun descended, and the red glow set the sky aze, enveloping the entire Great Liang Mountain.


    Above the sky, a gigantic eagle with massive wings skimmed the air, its sharp talons drawn up into its belly as its eagle eyes, capable of seeing through dozens of miles, rotated smoothly.


    Within its golden pupils reflected the image of a mountain valley.


    A young man d in ck armor tightly bound by two iron chains, each as thick as an arm and dozens of meters long, was tied at the other end to four armored boars. Each boar weighed over a thousand jins, covered in ck armor with tusks like spears. These tough-skinned and formidable beasts were unusually docile at the moment.


    They were desperately running in the opposite direction to the young man.


    These four armored boars were lower tier second realm monstrous beasts,parable to the firstyer of the Divine Passage Realm in strength, with incredibly tough hides and supernatural strength.


    When charging at full speed, even warriors of the thirdyer of the Divine Passage Realm couldn''t stop them.


    But now¡­


    Despite the four armored boars frenziedly sprinting, they still couldn''t impede the young man''s progress and were forcibly dragged behind.


    The young man''s speed kept increasing. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    This caused the four armored boars to scream continuously as their iron hooves carved deep trenches into the ground.


    Cheep cheep!


    The eagle''s gaze swept over the valley and spotted a person and a snake sitting to the side, causing its entire body to tremble as it hurriedly pped its wings to fly away into the distance.


    Within the valley.


    Ye Heng, dragging the four armored boars, sprinted wildly with an iron chain in each hand.


    Merely four days'' time.


    Ye Heng''s body had undergone earth-shattering changes. Although his cultivation was only at the Tenth Layer of the Qi Gathering Realm and he had not yet broken through to the Divine Passage Realm, the muscles on his body bulged conspicuously. Compared to his slightly leaner appearance before, the transformation was drastic, even sharpening the features of his face.


    The muscles on the arms that pulled the chains were particrly pronounced.


    In the midst of running, the muscles on his legs were chiseled and nearly perfect as well.


    Bang Bang Bang!


    Ye Heng''s speed continued to elerate, and when all four armored boars had been dragged into unconsciousness, copsing softly on the ground, he remained full of vigor and vitality.


    Xiao Yi stood up.


    Seeing this, Ye Heng also stopped, conscientiously carrying the armored boars to the side and methodically skinning and butchering them before setting them over a campfire. Then, with a leap, he plunged into ake to let the icy water wash over his body before returning to Xiao Yi, his eyes brimming with excitement, "Principal, I''m ready!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and with a wave of his hand tossed four barrels of Four Symbols Spiritual Blood in front of him, "Today is the critical moment. The quantity of materials used is the sum of the past few days, and of course, the pain you will endure is tens of times that of the previous days. If you can withstand it, you will awaken the Battle War Holy Body. If you fail, you will never be able to awaken it in this lifetime!"


    "Ye Heng understands!" Ye Heng said solemnly.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Begin!"


    Ye Heng took a deep breath and clenched his fists.


    These four days had been longer than the fifteen years he had lived prior, but for Ye Heng, they were the days that would change his destiny.


    Every day, he could acutely feel the changes within himself.


    All this was thanks to Xiao Yi.


    "I absolutely cannot let the Principal down!" Gritting his teeth, Ye Heng rubbed the Four Symbols Spiritual Blood on his body and suddenly coiled the two chains tightly around himself, sealing his own body within them.


    After a moment...


    Ye Heng''s entire body tensed up, covered in a red glow.


    Half an incense stickter...


    Ye Heng''s body was trembling with bulging veins, drenched in a cold sweat, yet he gritted his teeth and held fast.


    After one incense stick of time...


    The two arm-thick iron chains were strained to their breaking point and snapped, and there he was, kneeling on the ground, repeatedly pounding his hands and head against the earth.


    The thudding echoed throughout the valley.


    The suppressed screams and roars of agony caused the monstrous beasts within a hundred miles to be terror-stricken, all fleeing in panic.


    Roar!


    Roar!


    Roar...


    Ye Heng kept screaming miserably, his roars shaking the heavens and making one''s scalp tingle.


    At the ce where he knelt, the ground had already sunk deeply by four or five meters.


    Bloodied head, broken fingernails, shattered fingers.


    An image of extreme wretchedness.


    "Hold on..."


    "Ye Heng, hold on..."


    His voice had be incredibly hoarse, screaming to the point of exhaustion.


    "Hang in there!" Little Lin shouted softly.


    Xiao Yi''s face was expressionless, but his gaze never left Ye Heng.


    One hour.


    Two hours.


    This intense painsted for three full hours. As the blood-red glow on Ye Heng''s surface gradually faded, there was still no sign of him awakening the Battle War Holy Body, prompting Xiao Yi to sigh and say, "It seems like it''s still a failure..."@@novelbin@@


    Little Lin looked at Xiao Yi with concern: "Boss..."


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and smiled, "It doesn''t matter! Although he still hasn''t awakened the Battle War Holy Body, however..."


    Before he finished speaking.


    Ye Heng''s body suddenly shook, and as he finished absorbing the Four Symbols Spiritual Blood, a series of red glows suddenly burst forth from his body.


    The red light became more and more intense, already covering his entire body.


    "Break! Break! Break!"


    Ye Heng suddenly straightened his back, shuddered his arms behind him, let out a long howl to the sky, red beams burst from his seven apertures stretching towards the heavens, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"


    A series of low growls, deafening.


    Boom!


    The red light emanating from his body all converged into a soaring red pir of light, connecting the heaven and earth. Within that red light pir, the energy of heaven and earth surged madly towards Ye Heng, and his aura continued to rocket, climbing ever higher.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    His body made thunderous booming sounds as if he was beating a drum.


    Humm!


    The red glow around Ye Heng suddenly converged, and at the same moment, a gigantic blood-colored figure leaped out from within his body.


    This figure was towering and majestic, pitch ck, with eyes a fiery red.


    Its massive body was like a mountain.


    "This is... the legendary Battle Saint Ape!" Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly constricted, "This is the Innate Divine Ability of the Battle War Holy Body, the manifestation of the Battle Saint Ape! We''ve seeded, we did it!"


    Little Lin looked at the ck giant ape and swallowed: "Boss, I think this monkey is really strong!"


    "The real Battle Saint Ape is an existence that stands shoulder to shoulder with the Four Symbols Divine Beasts like Azure Dragon and White Tiger!" Xiao Yi nodded, unable to hide his excitement.


    The imposing giant ape entered Ye Heng''s body.


    Ye Heng slumped in the deep pit.


    Little Lin''s expression changed: "He''s alright, isn''t he?"


    Xiao Yi said, "He''s just extremely tired. Let him have a good rest tonight, for now, he has awakened the Battle War Holy Body, and from tomorrow on, he can start the second round of actualbat training. The Battle War Holy Body is born for battle, and it can grow fastest inbat. I wonder what their faces will look like in seven days when they find out that Ye Heng is the Battle War Holy Body among the ten great sacred bodies!"

 Chapter 227 A Man Should Commit Murder!

    As the seven-day appointment between Ye Tian and Ye Heng drew near,


    news of this battle had already spread throughout the imperial capital, from high-ranking nobles down tomon peddlers, almost everyone was talking about this fight.


    After all¡­


    everyone knew that this battle was not just between two disciples, but also a contest between Xiao Yi and Chen Shuiwen.


    Whoever won


    would gain an advantage in the uing struggle for control over Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    "Have you heard? Chen has been cultivating Ye Tian with all his might, and it seems he has already broken through to the Sixth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, with a very likely chance of entering the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm before the duel!"


    "It''s unbelievable, in just six days, Ye Tian has broken through from the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm to the Sixth Layer. Advancing oneyer every two days, such a speed of cultivation, we couldn''t catch up even if we were on horseback!"


    "Is there any news from Xiao Yi''s side?"


    "Not a single word¡­"


    "Could it be that he''s afraid of losing face and has run off?"


    "Hahaha¡­"


    The crowdughed together.


    On the wide street, a luxurious carriage slowly passed by, and sitting inside, Li Shengtian smiled coldly as he listened to the passersby''s conversations, "Tian Xiao, it seems that this Xiao, whom His Majesty holds in high esteem, is going to take a fall this time!"


    Tian Xiao stroked his beard, chuckling, "I heard that His Majesty will be sending Prince Yang Ling to supervise the battle at Xiaoshanhe Institute tomorrow. We shall have quite a show to watch!"


    "Indeed!"


    Li Shengtian said with a gleeful smile, "These past few days, this official has been tossing and turning in bed, all for the sake of witnessing Xiao Yi''s embarrassment!"


    Tian Xiao spoke solemnly, "What about this official? When I heard the news, I was so angry that I punished my newly taken concubine!"


    "Hahaha¡­"


    Meanwhile¡­


    Within the grand imperial pce,


    Emperor Qian nced over the memorial, without looking up, and said indifferently, "In tomorrow''s battle, your duty is to oversee, not to intervene!"


    Yang Ling replied respectfully, "Your child obeys the order!"


    "You may withdraw now!"


    After sending Yang Ling away, Emperor Qian ced the memorial on the desk and, ying with the ring on his thumb, muttered, "Xiao Yi, how will you break the situation this time?"


    ......


    In the depths of Great Liang Mountain,


    Monstrous beasts roamed rampant, and Ye Heng traveled through the forest.


    Ever since awakening the Battle War Holy Body, his cultivation speed had increased by dozens of times. In just two days, with Xiao Yi''s elixirs and the constant battles with beasts, Ye Heng had already broken through to the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    Ye Tian''s method of rushing cultivation at the expense of potential, advancing oneyer every two days, had been highly praised.


    If people knew about Ye Heng advancing oneyer a day, they would probably be dumbfounded!


    These two days, he continuously hunted monstrous beasts, and each was specially prepared by Xiao Yi; every beast required his full effort in a life-and-death struggle to defeat. Between life and death, there was great terror but also great opportunity, and it was in these life-and-death battles that Ye Heng''s actualbat experience skyrocketed.


    With his current strength, even without invoking his Innate Divine Ability, the Battle Saint Ape, he could easily defeat a Sixth Layer of Divine Skill Realm opponent.


    Roar!


    A Yin-Yang Leopard suddenly appeared in front of Ye Heng, disying a mix of ck and white. The Yin-Yang Leopard, a third-tier junior monstrous beast, wasparable to the Seventh Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Especially adept at sneak attacks, it pounced like a starving tiger toward Ye Heng, who seemed to be unprepared, but Ye Heng suddenly contracted his body at thest moment, avoiding the Yin-Yang Leopard''s sharp teeth.


    In the instant the Yin-Yang Leopard and he brushed past each other, Ye Heng''s hands shot out, grabbing the hind legs of the leopard.


    He threw his arms forcefully toward the ground!


    Thud!


    Amidst a loud crashing noise, the Yin-Yang Leopard was fiercely mmed to the ground, Ye Heng flipped onto the back of the leopard, holding tightly to its ears, and then his fists hammered down hard on its head.


    Thump thump thump!


    After a dozen punches, the Yin-Yang Leopard''s head burst open, dead for certain.


    Ye Heng wiped the blood on his hands onto the fur of the Yin-Yang Leopard, and as his stomach growled loudly, he couldn''t help but touch his belly and decided to start a bonfire to roast meat on the side.


    Ever since awakening the Battle War Holy Body, Ye Heng''s appetite had be even more frightful.


    He now consumed over five hundred pounds of meat each meal!


    Moreover, all the meat he consumed was perfectly transformed into strength; although he was eating, it was actually akin to cultivating whilst eating.


    Roast meat on the rack.


    Suddenly...


    Urgent footsteps sounded from ahead, and a bloodied young man ran out. Upon seeing Ye Heng, a look of ecstasy appeared on his face, and he rushed towards Ye Heng, "Brother, save me, please save me..."


    The young man ran straight to Ye Heng''s side and moved behind him.


    At the same time.


    Four figures followed closely, each fierce and vicious, staring at them with greedy eyes and sneering, "Kid, I advise you mind your own business and hand him over to me. Otherwise, this big brother will kill you too!"


    The nervous young man behind Ye Heng said, "Brother, you mustn''t believe them. I went into the mountains with the vige hunting team, and these guys coveted our game. They killed all the people in our vige and wanted to silence me as well. Please, help me..."


    "Murder for loot?"


    Ye Heng frowned and looked up at the four men, "Get lost quickly, or don''t me me for being rude!"


    "Hahaha, you wet-behind-the-ears brat, you haven''t even grown all your hair yet, dare to meddle in this big brother''s business?"


    "Brothers, let''s ughter him!"


    The four charged at Ye Heng.


    Among them, the strongest was only in the Fifth Layer of the Divine Skill Realm; they naturally stood no chance against Ye Heng. After several rounds of fighting, the foury on the ground wailing. Ye Heng spoke indifferently, "Get lost!"


    "You little punk, just you wait..."


    The four red at him with resentment.


    The young man''s eyes rapidly shifted as he seized the opportunity toe close to Ye Heng, saying excitedly, "Thank you for rescuing me, brother. If it weren''t for you, I would surely be dead under their knives."


    "No need to be polite..."@@novelbin@@


    As Ye Heng was speaking, he suddenly caught a sh of silvery cold light in the corner of his eye.


    Whoosh!


    The young man''s face still wore a smile, but his eyes were filled with ferocity and coldness. He thrust a dagger towards Ye Heng''s waist.


    "Not good!"


    Ye Heng''splexion turned pale.


    He waspletely unguarded, and at such close distance, the stab could not be avoided.


    Just when he was in despair...


    A st of vital energy shot forth.


    ng!


    It shattered the dagger, sending the young man''s entire arm bursting apart, and hey on the ground alongside the four robbers, wailing in agony.


    Ye Heng, still shaken, looked at the figure that appeared before him, "Director... Director..."


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Do you realize that if it wasn''t for me, you would be dead by now!"


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    "Director, I..."


    Ye Heng bowed his head in shame.


    Xiao Yi, with an icy expression, said, "You made two mistakes in this battle. Do you know which two?"


    Ye Heng nodded, "First, I shouldn''t have trusted a stranger so easily; second, I didn''t kill those four immediately to prevent future troubles, giving him an opportunity to exploit..."


    "Ye Heng, remember the lesson of today. As a man in this world, you should kill. Treating your enemies with mercy will only be a weapon for your enemies to use against you!" Xiao Yi said solemnly.


    He had sensed the presence of the five individuals as soon as they appeared.


    But he did not make a move.


    It was to let Ye Heng understand the perilous nature of the human heart.


    Xiao Yi said, "You know what to do now, right?"


    "I know!"


    Ye Heng nodded firmly, stepped forward boldly, and disposed of the five people one by one under their terrified gazes.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "That''s enough cultivation for today. Go home, take the medicinal pills, and try to break through to the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. Return to Xiaoshanhe Institute early tomorrow..."

 Chapter 230 You Deserve to Die!

    "Ye Tian, what have you done to my mother?"


    Ye Heng''s pupils suddenly constricted with a furious change of color, contorting his face so much that it was unrecognizable from its original form, fixating on Ye Tian with the intensity of a hellish Asura.


    His eyes flickered with a dangerous red glow, the cold edge of a de ready to strike.


    It made Ye Tian''s heartbeat falter sharply in front of him.


    Gulp!


    Ye Tian instinctively swallowed, his face taking on a venomous tinge to mask his inner turmoil and fear, "Don''t worry, your mother is fine, at least for now. However, if you dare to fight back in the uing battle, I can''t guarantee your mother will live to see tomorrow''s sun!"


    Feeling Ye Heng''s grip on his hand instinctively loosen, Ye Tian also breathed a sigh of relief.


    At the same time, he became increasingly brazen.


    Bang!


    Ye Tian threw a punch, sting Ye Heng ten meters away and tumbling to the ground. Twisting his neck, he rubbed his stinging cheek and sneered, "Ye Heng, I never imagined that in a short seven days, you could be this terrifying. I must admit, Xiao is somewhat skilled, but it''s a pity, in the end, it''s still me, Ye Tian, who will have thestugh."


    Bang!


    Ye Tian unleashed a kick, striking Ye Heng in the abdomen.


    Wow!


    Ye Heng let out a muffled groan, skidding ten meters across the ground and raising his head, his icy, angry gaze locked tightly on Ye Tian.


    The brocade pouch was a personal item of his mother''s.


    It had never left his mother''s hand.


    Ye Heng had never imagined that this pouch would end up in Ye Tian''s hands.


    "Ye Tian, if you dare harm a single hair on my mother, I will grind you to dust¡­" Ye Heng gritted his teeth.


    "Tsk tsk, still daring to threaten me after all this?"


    Ye Tian charged forward abruptly, throwing a punch at Ye Heng.


    Ye Heng instinctively dodged while also catching the punch.


    Having awakened the Battle War Holy Body, Ye Heng''s strength far surpassed Ye Tian''s, and having spent his days under Yi''s guidance, fighting life-and-death battles against powerful beasts, hisbat awareness and experience were iparable to Ye Tian''s, who only increased his power through pills. One fullymitted strike would be enough to break Ye Tian''s arm.


    But as he prepared to act, Ye Tian''s voice rang in his ears: "You dare fight back? It seems you don''t want to see your mother again!"


    "Despicable¡­"


    Ye Heng''s eyes turned blood-red, he bit his teeth, but ultimately, he had no choice but to let go.


    Bang!


    Taking advantage, Ye Tian spun around andnded a heavy hook on Ye Heng''s face, sending him crashing away. Blood sprayed from Ye Heng''s mouth as he soared like a kite with its string cut, and Ye Tian followed closely, grabbing Ye Heng''s ankle and starting to spin in ce, whipping up gusts of wind.


    Whoosh!


    Ye Tian suddenly released his grip, flinging Ye Heng high into the air.


    "Ye Heng, you are destined to be trampled under my feet your whole life. You are merely a pitiful ant, an absolute failure, while I am a genius, exalted above all. For a ruin like you to defy me is to go against heaven¡ªgo to your death!"


    Whoosh!


    Ye Tian roared, ascending rapidly to catch up with Ye Heng.


    He twisted mid-air, delivering a leg whip from above, fiercely striking Ye Heng''s back.


    Wow!


    Ye Heng''s body arched backward from the force, plummeting from the sky like a falling star, and crashed to the ground with a whoosh.


    Boom!


    Ye Hengnded hard on the stage.


    The whole martial arts field shook violently, while dust and smoke billowed on the stage, lines of cracks spreading across it.


    Cracks spread in all directions, resembling a spiderweb.


    The arena fell silent before erupting into terrified cheers, "Holy shit! What on earth happened? Wasn''t Ye Heng in the lead? How did he suddenly end up being the one getting thrashed?"


    "I guess Ye Tian must have been pulling his punches before, otherwise, it''s hard to exin such a huge contrast!"


    In the VIP seats.


    Li Shengtian clicked his tongue and chuckled strangely, saying in a mocking tone, "Director Xiao, it seems the Ye Heng you advised isn''t so great after all! At this rate, he''s going to lose!"


    Yang Ling frowned, and although he didn''t speak, his eyes, full of worry, fell on Xiao Yi.


    If Ye Heng lost today, it would be a tremendous blow to Xiao Yi''s reputation.


    If someone used this as an excuse to propagate the idea, even Yang Ling and Emperor Qian, who advocated for Xiao Yi to take over as head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute would be affected, facing immense pressure.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes; he didn''t know what had happened to Ye Heng, but he saw everything clear as day¡ªit all started when Ye Tian took out that brocade bag. Xiao Yi''s eyebrows knitted tightly, and all of a sudden, he turned to nce at the smugly smiling Chen Shuiwen beside him, "Director Chen, truly clever tactics!"


    "Ah?"


    Putting on a surprised look, Chen Shuiwen said with an innocent face, "Chen doesn''t know what Director Xiao is referring to. If it''s about advising disciples in their cultivation, after all, Chen has been a vice director for many years and has mentored no small number of students. Director Xiao, after all, is still young. To be able to guide Ye Heng to such a level ofbat strength in just seven days is indeedmendable!"


    The brocade bag in Ye Tian''s hands was, of course, his masterpiece.


    Although he spent a fortune to buy the Jade Fetal Elixir for Ye Tian, just in case, he had someone kidnap Ye Heng''s mother and handed the brocade bag to Ye Tian.


    It was just a precaution.


    Now looking at it...


    If it weren''t for his shrewd move, today he would have likely taken the fall here.


    With this thought.


    Chen Shuiwen, amidst his triumph, grew even more wary of Xiao Yi.


    He never expected Xiao Yi to be able to train Ye Heng, a mere Seventh Layer of Qi Gathering Realm, to such strength in just seven days. If it weren''t for Ye Tian holding the brocade bag, Ye Heng would have already won the victory!


    Xiao Yi''s expression became slightly tense.


    Watching Ye Heng continuously suffering Ye Tian''s relentless beating without being able to fight back, Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and suddenly said to Yang Ling beside him, "Your Highness Yang Ling, Ye Heng possesses one of the top ten Sacred Bodies, the Battle War Holy Body. I think he should be cultivated with emphasis. If he wins this battle, I hope Your Highness can secure a reward for Ye Heng!"@@novelbin@@


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    "Battle War Holy Body?"


    Yang Ling eximed with surprise.


    Chen Shuiwen, Li Shengtian, and others were also baffled.


    The Battle War Holy Body, ah!


    Ranked high among the top ten Sacred Bodies, although not as formidable as Xiao Tianjiao''s Supreme Overlord Holy Body, it was still extremely powerful.


    Within the entire Great Qian Dynasty, strong individuals possessing a Sacred Body were rarities, pirs of the major sects.


    If Ye Heng indeed possessed the Battle War Holy Body, his future would be boundless, and even the royal family would treat him as a treasure, investing limitless resources to nurture him.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Yes, it is the Battle War Holy Body!"


    Yang Ling said gravely, "If Ye Heng truly has the Battle War Holy Body, on behalf of my Emperor Father, I can promise to bestow upon him the title of a first-ss earl, and moreover, until he reaches the Tao Tribtion Realm, all resources will be borne by the royal family!"


    Xiao Yi asked, "What about his family?"


    Yang Ling replied, "His family will naturally also be rewarded, and his parents will also be ennobled, receiving the protection of the royal family. Whoever dares to harm his family will be making an enemy of the Great Qian royal house!"


    Whir!


    Yang Ling''s words turned Chen Shuiwen''s face pale.


    Xiao Yi nodded, then shouted towards the arena, "Ye Heng, stop holding back, as long as you win this fight, His Highness promises you the title of a first-ss earl, and your family will also be protected; no one will dare to threaten them!"


    On the arena.


    As Ye Heng''s head was bombarded relentlessly by Ye Tian, his expression dramatically changed and a fierce battle light shone in his eyes. With his body shaking, he let out an angry roar that sent a terrible surge around him, flinging Ye Tian away.


    Ye Heng slowly rose to his feet, his face fierce as he stared at Ye Tian, "Ye Tian, you deserve to die!"

 Chapter 232 Mr. Li, Please Start Your Performance!

    "..."


    The vast martial arts arena was silent as a graveyard.


    All the strong men were dumbfounded, as if invisible hands were gripping their throats tightly, leaving them unable to speak.


    They had all heard of the might of the Sacred Body, but none had ever witnessed it with their own eyes.


    But now...


    Ye Heng showed them what a Sacred Body was!


    Bang!


    The Battle Saint Ape behind Ye Heng returned to his body, tears streaming down its eyes as it fell to its knees with a thud and bowed deeply to Xiao Yi, as if mustering all its strength to shout, "Xiao, I, your disciple Ye Heng, have not disappointed you!"


    This roar released all the frustration he had bottled up over the past decade.


    All his resentment vanished in that moment.


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curved into a smile as he slowly stood up, "Well done!"


    Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Thank you, Xiao!"


    Ye Heng expressed his thanks but remained on the ground, his head continuously knocking against the floor, making a thudding sound, and dered loudly, "Disciple Ye Heng earnestly requests Xiao to ept me as his disciple!"


    Whir!


    The entire martial arts field fell even quieter.


    All eyes turned to Xiao Yi, "Ye Heng is choosing to take a master at this time? He is a Battle War Holy Body after all, and following this battle, his name will spread throughout the Great Qian Dynasty. Soon, not only Xiao Yi, but even the leaders of the top ten sects will be vying to take him as a disciple, there''s surely no need for him to do this now!"


    "That, you probably don''t know, huh? Xiao is his benefactor. If not for Xiao Yi, Ye Heng would still be buried in obscurity!"


    "That''s true, I too felt that Xiao Yi was too young to be head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute. But now it seems he is indeed the most suitable candidate for the position!"


    "Hmph, it''s just good luck! Xiaoshanhe Institute will only flourish under Chen''s leadership!"


    "Good luck? Flourish? Brother, are you Chen Shuiwen''s own son by any chance? If he was really capable of revitalizing the Xiaoshanhe Institute, why has its reputation fallen increasingly over the past decade? If he had the ability, would Ye Heng have remained hidden for so long without being discovered?"


    "I know him, he''s an instructor from Xiaoshanhe Institute, Zou Zheng..."


    "So he''s one of Chen Shuiwen''s dogs..."


    For a time.


    Under the relentless jeering and mockery from the crowd, Zou Zheng fled with his tail between his legs, not daring to stay in the stands any longer.


    People''s gaze returned to Xiao Yi once more.


    Waiting for Xiao Yi to take a disciple.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze flickered; indeed, he had taken a liking to Ye Heng. Over these seven days, Ye Heng''s resilience and circumstances were very simr to his own.


    Just as Xiao Yi was about to agree.


    Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao were secretlymunicating, "Xiao Yifeng is too prominent. If he takes a Sacred Body as his disciple, it will be much harder for us to bring him downter."


    Tian Xiao, "We absolutely cannot let him take a disciple!"


    Chen Shuiwen said, "We must stop it!"


    With that thought.


    Li Shengtian coughed lightly and looked at Yang Ling, "Your Highness, the matter of the Sacred Body taking a master is of great importance; I believe it is best to inform His Majesty and let him decide!"


    Tian Xiao agreed, "Indeed, this decision cannot be made lightly!"


    Chen Shuiwen made a show of nodding, "Xiao is indeed excellent, but as for whom Ye Heng should take as a master, I think that is still up for discussion!"


    "This..."


    Yang Ling furrowed his brows, as he naturally wouldn''t hinder Ye Heng from bing Xiao Yi''s disciple.


    But with Li Shengtian and the others exerting significant influence and adamantly objecting, even invoking Emperor Qian,


    it wasn''t his ce to overstep.


    This matter must be reported to Emperor Qian.


    Yang Ling took a deep breath and cast an apologetic nce at Xiao Yi before saying, "Mr. Li''s words make sense. Let''s discuss this matterter. Xiao, what do you think?"


    Xiao Yi gave Li Shengtian and the others a deep look filled with conceit, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Then let''s follow His Highness''s wishes."


    Yang Ling nodded and turned to Ye Heng on the stage, "Ye Heng, you''ve heard what Mr. Li and the others said as well. Let''s talk about the matter of epting disciples another day!"


    Ye Heng was unmoved and just looked at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi smiled, "Ye Heng, please get up first!"


    "Yes!"


    Ye Heng immediately stood up, swept his gaze over the crowd, and fixed it on An Rujing, "Mr. An, does our bet still stand?"


    An Rujing''s face stiffened.


    Have her apologize to a disciple in public?


    How would she continue to stay at Xiaoshanhe Institute after that?


    An Rujing looked at Chen Shuiwen with a pleading gaze, hoping that he would intervene to extricate her from the situation. However, at this moment, Chen Shuiwen was thinking of currying favor with Ye Heng, hoping Ye Heng would eventually ept him as a mentor. How could he help her and offend Ye Heng?


    "Ahem!"


    Chen Shuiwen cleared his throat and spoke righteously, "Mr. An, a bet is a bet. Won''t you apologize to Ye Heng?"


    "..."


    Faced ashen, An Rujing knew she wouldn''t be able to leave the training field today unless she apologized, and so she reluctantly walked up to the stage. Biting her lips tightly, her delicate hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into the palms of her hands, blood flowing through her fingers, she gritted her teeth and said, "Ye Heng, it was my fault for not recognizing talent and causing you to be hidden in the dust. I beg for your forgiveness!"


    Swish!


    An Rujing made a meticulous bow at ny degrees as she apologized.


    Now her heart was filled with regret.@@novelbin@@


    If only she had known, she wouldn''t have been biased against Ye Heng.


    But s, there''s no such thing as a regret medicine in this world.


    Ye Heng looked at An Rujing, who had insulted him several times and even sided with Ye Tian when he was bullying him. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Mr. An, I hope you remember this saying, ''Never bully the young and poor!''"


    An Rujing clenched her teeth, "An Rujing has learned her lesson!"


    Thereupon...


    An Rujing turned around and bowed deeply to Xiao Yi and Yang Ling. She said solemnly, "Your Highness Yang Ling, Headmaster Xiao, I am aware that I am notpetent enough for the position of an instructor, and I voluntarily resign!"


    How could she face staying at Xiaoshanhe Institute now?


    Better to leave right away.


    Xiao Yi and Yang Ling exchanged nces, and Yang Ling said, "Granted!"


    An Rujing bowed to everyone, then walked towards the exit of the training field. As she walked, whispers entered her ears: "It''s for the best that such a harmful instructor is gone!"


    "Indeed, who would dare to send their child to her anymore?"


    An Rujing''s delicate frame trembled, and she bit her teeth firmly, only letting out a mouthful of fresh blood after she had left the training field.


    Her eyes were full of resentment and hatred: "Xiao Yi, Ye Heng, Chen Shuiwen... I will not let you off..."


    In the VIP seating area.


    Chen Shuiwen''s eyes flickered as he tentatively asked, "Your Highness, since the fight today is over, should we let everyone disperse?"


    Tian Xiao also spoke up, "Your Highness, there are important matters to deal with in the court. Let''s call it a day!"


    Yang Ling was taken aback, about to speak, but was interrupted by Xiao Yi.


    "Have you gentlemen forgotten so quickly? It has only been a short while, and you''ve already forgotten about the bet between Mr. Li and myself!"


    Xiao Yi lifted the red silk covering the table, tapped his finger on the cyan-inkstone table producing a dull thud, and looked at Li Shengtian, whose face was ashen, with a smile, "Mr. Li, please begin your performance!"

 Chapter 233 Stirring All Directions

    "Mr. Li, please begin your performance!"


    Xiao Yi pointed at the green oak stone table in front of him and made a weing gesture.


    Yang Ling: "..."


    Tian Xiao: "..."


    Chen Shuiwen: "..."


    The expression on Li Shengtian''s face kept changing, and he squinted his eyes as he measured up Xiao Yi, pronouncing each word carefully, "Principal Xiao, are you sure you want to be so aggressive?"


    "Me, aggressive?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, then couldn''t help butugh, "When you snatched the principal position from me in the imperial pce, why didn''t you say it was aggressive? Before Ye Heng and Ye Tian fought, when you were everywhere trying to set up a wager with me, why wasn''t that considered aggressive? When Ye Heng became a disciple and you intervened to stop it, why didn''t you find that aggressive? Now you have the nerve to use me of being aggressive¡ªdo you think the higher your office, the thicker your face bes, expecting everyone to show you respect?"


    There was no direct conflict between him and Li Shengtian.


    If we''re talking about grievances...


    It was just that the ck Hawk Gang under themand of Li Shengtian''s son, which bullied and oppressed themon people, had been wiped out by him.


    Because of this... Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Shengtian had targeted him at every turn.


    A gentleman avenges his grievances, does he not?


    And who more so than Xiao Yi?


    "You..."


    Li Shengtian''s face turned shades of green and white with rage, his moustache puffing as his eyes bulged in anger, staring fixedly at Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, very well, this matter¡ªI, Li Shengtian, will remember it!"


    Bang!


    Li Shengtian mmed his palm down on the table, and the entire green oak stone table was smashed into powder.


    He snorted coldly and strode away.


    This old rogue had opted to y dirty!


    Xiao Yi called out loudly, "Yu Huaxian, pack up this green oak stone table powder and send it to Mr. Li''s residence, to nourish his body!"


    "Yes!"@@novelbin@@


    Yu Huaxian responded loudly.


    Li Shengtian, who was walking ahead, stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, but did not dare to stop and fled in a panic.


    Yang Ling gave a wry smile as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Why push so hard? Mr. Li has many followers, and his father-inw is even an elder of the Tianjian Sect. Offending him like this, I fear there will be much trouble ahead."


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, "Do you really think that if I hadn''t done this, he would be grateful to me?"


    "Uh..."


    Yang Ling was taken aback and shook his head helplessly.


    With Li Shengtian''s domineering character, who couldn''t tolerate even the slightest dissent, how could he just let it go?


    Yang Ling sighed and then said, "I''ll report back to Emperor Qian immediately. As for the matter of Ye Heng bing a disciple, you needn''t worry; it''s just a formality. Both Emperor Qian and I definitely support him bing your disciple!"


    Emperor Qian had entrusted Xiaoshanhe Institute to Xiao Yi because he wanted to support the Institute to restrain the ten major sects and the four great ns and to help empower the imperial family.


    He would naturally support Xiao Yi wholeheartedly.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Let''s have a good gathering at the discipleship banquetter!"


    "Good, I''ll swipe a few jars of fine wine from Emperor Qian''s wine cer for you!" Yang Ling grinned and went on his way.


    Xiao Yi nced at the crowd in the martial arts field that had not yet dispersed.


    When he first arrived, many people were extremely indifferent towards him, and many even thought he waspletely incapable of managing Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    But now...


    The looks many people gave him had undergone aplete transformation.


    From initial indifference, it had turned fervent, even to the point of adoration.


    Clearly, he had already garnered the recognition of many people.


    Xiao Yi lightly coughed to get everyone''s attention and then spoke loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, as the new head of Xiaoshanhe Institute, I will soon be opening our doors to recruit both students and mentors. Anyone who believes they possess a unique skill or is willing to join the Xiaoshanhe Institute is wee to try out. I trust that no one will be disappointed!"


    In the previous decade, Chen Shuiwen had been using his power for personal gain and amassing influence.


    He mostly treated the Xiaoshanhe Institute as a tool for his own power and benefits, to the point where the reputation of the institute had deteriorated, leading to its gradual decline.


    Now that Xiao Yi had taken over the Xiaoshanhe Institute, he had broken the stalemate, using Ye Heng as a breakthrough point.


    The Xiaoshanhe Institute was bound to face a brand new situation.


    "Principal Xiao, rest assured, we will definitely support you!"


    "My younger brother originally wanted to go to the Kuangdao Sect, one of the top ten sects, but now I think it''s worth letting him try out the Xiaoshanhe Institute¡­"


    "Principal Xiao has only been here a few days and already identified a Sacred Body such as Ye Heng. With your discerning eye for talent, I believe the Xiaoshanhe Institute will be stronger and stronger under your leadership¡­"


    "Principal Xiao, when is the Xiaoshanhe Institute next recruiting students and mentors?"


    The crowd responded one after another.


    Xiao Yi said with a smile, "The n is to hold it three days from now. As long as you pass the assessments and join the Xiaoshanhe Institute, all disciples'' cultivation resources will be fully covered by us. In addition, if anyone bes a mentor in the Xiaoshanhe Institute, I, Xiao Yi, guarantee to provide all necessary resources until they break through to the Tao Tribtion Realm. After that, each person will be provided with a fourth-grade Yuan weapon!"


    Hisss!


    A gasp of astonishment rose from the crowd.


    Cultivation resources, fourth-grade Yuan weapons!


    Each was worth a fortune!


    The crowd was stunned by Xiao Yi''s generous offer.


    For a moment,


    Countless powerhouses were secretly tantalized.


    Since ancient times, there has been a saying of the poor schr and the rich warrior. For the cultivation of martial arts, talent is indeed important, as is a good mentor, but what truly stumps the vast majority is theck of resources!


    Ever since Ye Heng had defeated Ye Tian, Chen Shuiwen, whose face had been extremely unsightly, suddenly showed a look of wild joy when he heard Xiao Yi''s announcement. Over the years, Xiaoshanhe Institute had almost been hollowed out by him, and even the recently audited ount books by Yan Mingli and others had been destroyed.


    The Xiaoshanhe Institute''s avable resources couldn''t even suffice for the monthly cultivation of a single Golden Core Realm expert.


    In such a situation,


    Xiao Yi was actually nning arge-scale recruitment of students and mentors, andmitting to cover the cultivation resources. This seemed like a road to ruin in Chen Shuiwen''s eyes!


    Once the recruitse and there''s no money to be had,


    Not only Xiao Yi''s reputation would be ruined, but if those students and mentors made an uproar, even his position as head of the institute would be in jeopardy!


    "Hahaha, this is truly Heaven helping me!"


    Chen Shuiwen was ecstatic in his heart, yet his face disyed a look of concern as he feigned advice, "Principal Xiao, with the current state of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, I''m afraid it will be difficult to support the cultivation resources for too many students and mentors!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Chen Shuiwen intently and smiled, "No matter, I will find a way!"


    "Find a way? What can you possibly do? Go ahead, recruit more. When you can''t provide the necessary resources, I''ll see what you do!"


    Chen Shuiwen sneered internally but maintained a solemn appearance, "Principal Xiao is truly a man valued by Emperor Qian, I believe that under your stewardship, the Xiaoshanhe Institute will certainly regain its former glory!"


    "I believe so too!"


    Xiao Yi said, smiling.


    The two of them were cordial on the surface, but each harbored their own devious motives!


    The atmosphere was quite awkward!


    A short whileter¡­


    The crowd gradually dispersed, and the news of Xiao Yi massively recruiting mentors and students for the Xiaoshanhe Institute, as well as the revtion that Ye Heng was a Battle War Holy Body, spread like wildfire throughout the Great Qian Dynasty.


    For the first time, the name Xiao Yi sent shockwaves in all directions!

 Chapter 235 Only a Fool Would Not Take Advantage of a Bargain

    Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Ye Heng, dressed in a profound garb, carried tworge cauldrons on his shoulders as he ran rapidly around the martial arts field.


    His speed was incredibly fast, each cauldron weighing several thousand pounds, yet he carried them with ease. His tiptoes touched the ground as if he were a dragonfly skimming water, barely making contact before taking off again.


    His swift pace kicked up clouds of dust behind him.


    He had been persisting in his training since before dawn.


    The martial arts field measured a couple thousand meters in circumference, and only after fiftyps did he stop, cing the two cauldrons back in the corner of the field.


    Thud, thud!


    The cauldronsnded with a resonant sound.


    "Ye Heng!"


    A clear voice suddenly came from behind him; a graceful youngdy approached him, her white dress flowing as she moved.


    Ye Heng paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and said, "Nangong!"


    Nangong Liuyun.


    Thedy of a coteral branch of the Nangong n, one of the Great Qian Dynasty''s four main noble families, and also the goddess in the hearts of all male disciples in Ye Heng''s cohort.


    In the past...


    Nangong Liuyun rarely even gave him a second nce.@@novelbin@@


    He hadn''t expected her to initiate a greeting today.


    With a gentle smile on her face, Nangong Liuyun took out a handkerchief attempting to wipe Ye Heng''s sweat, but he dodged her, looking at her questioningly, "Nangong, do you need something from me?"


    Seeing that Ye Heng refused to let her wipe his sweat, Nangong Liuyun showed no displeasure, simply putting the handkerchief away. A radiant smile appeared on her face, which was as beautiful as a portrait, "Ye Heng, actually, from the first time I saw you, I already liked you."


    Ye Heng was taken aback, raising an eyebrow, "Nangong, don''t joke with me. You are the pride of heaven, how could you possibly have taken a liking to me?"


    "I knew you wouldn''t believe me, which is why I didn''t know how to tell you!"


    Nangong Liuyun looked hurt, sighed, and said, "But now I''m afraid, if I don''t speak my feelings, I may never have another chance. I don''t want to miss out on you, Ye Heng. Would you be willing to be with me?"


    Nangong Liuyun tilted her head slightly, blinking her wateryrge eyes.


    Her exquisite face bore an expression of slight grievance and expectation, truly mesmerizing.


    Gulp!


    Ye Heng swallowed, after all, she was once his goddess!


    Ye Heng hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Nangong Liuyun''s hands, rubbing them in his palms, and said, intoxicated, "Nangong, actually, I have always liked you too. Can, can I hug you?"


    "Ah?"


    Nangong Liuyun was stunned.


    Ye Heng looked injured, "Forget it, just pretend I never said anything. I know, it was indeed too presumptuous of me!"


    "Oh, no, it''s not that."


    Nangong Liuyun''splexion changed, she quickly embraced Ye Heng, saying hurriedly, "I''m not unwilling, it was just... a bit sudden!"


    Ye Heng''s lips curled up slightly, his hands gliding across Nangong Liuyun''s body.


    She felt extremely ufortable, twisting her body continuously.


    Ye Heng said, "Nangong, since we''re both willing, why don''t youe to my room?"


    "Ah?"


    Nangong Liuyun was shocked, unable to break free from Ye Heng''s embrace, his body rubbing against hers. She steeled herself and said, "Ye Heng, we can''t be like this. You, if you want to have me, you must at least marry me in a proper ceremony!"


    Ye Heng said, "But... I have no power or influence, would the Nangong Family be willing to let you marry me?"


    "This, this might be a bit difficult, but..." a sh of anticipation and excitement crossed Nangong Liuyun''s eyes as she said, "If you are willing to marry into my Nangong Family, I am sure I can persuade my parents!"


    At this moment, Nangong Liuyun''s heart was filled with excitement.


    She had received a message from her family instructing her to win over Ye Heng at all costs and preferably have him join the Nangong Family.


    That''s why...


    Nangong Liuyun had braced herself to find Ye Heng, this insignificant person who had never caught her attention before.


    If Ye Heng hadn''t awakened the Battle War Holy Body and be the target of contention among various powers, she, Nangong Liuyun, would never have had anything to do with such a small character in her entire life.


    Upon hearing Nangong Liuyun''s words, Ye Heng''s lips curved slightly, and he sneered in his heart: As expected, no one visits a temple without a cause!


    He took a deep breath and agreed outright, "Nangong, I am willing to marry into your Nangong Family, but... I need to find a master, and I want to prepare a gift for my future mentor... I''ve heard that the master of the Tianjian Sect also intends to take me as a disciple, and the gift must not be taken lightly..."


    "What? The master of the Tianjian Sect?" Nangong Liuyun was bbergasted.


    Her first reaction was that Ye Heng was lying.


    But then she thought...


    Ye Heng had awakened the Battle War Holy Body, which, although inferior to Xiao Tianjiao''s Supreme Overlord Holy Body, was also not much different.


    It wasn''t impossible for the master of the Tianjian Sect to want to take him as a disciple.


    If she could win over Ye Heng and help the Nangong Family forge a connection with the Tianjian Sect, that would be a great achievement!


    With that thought...


    Nangong Liuyun clenched her teeth and said, "You will marry into our Nangong Family sooner orter, so let the Nangong Family prepare the gift for the master for you. But Ye Heng, you are sure you will marry into our Nangong Family, right?"


    Ye Heng nodded, cradling Nangong Liuyun''s cheeks in his hands, and said sternly, "Nangong, my admiration for you flows like the endless rivers and shines like the sun and moon that never fall..."


    Nangong Liuyun was very confident in her own charm and nodded, "I will go back to my family now to fight for you, wait for my good news!"


    "Nangong, I''ll wait for you!"


    As Ye Heng watched Nangong Liuyun leave, the smile on his face gradually vanished and looking at his hands, he murmured, "They do smell rather nice!"


    "Cough, cough!"


    A series of light coughs made Ye Heng''s body shake, and he quickly stood up straight, turning to look at Xiao Yi leaning casually against the corner of the wall, wearing a strange expression as he looked at him; Ye Heng chuckled, "Master, what brings you here?"


    Although they hadn''t officially be master and disciple yet, in Ye Heng''s heart, Xiao Yi was already his master.


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, "Did I interrupt you?"


    "No, not at all!" Ye Heng scratched his head.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, gesturing towards the direction Nangong Liuyun had left, "What''s going on?"


    Ye Heng curled his lips and disdainfully said, "What else but knowing I''ve awakened the Battle War Holy Body and thinking about winning me over!"


    Xiao Yi''s face showed amusement, "Did you agree?"


    "No way!"


    Ye Heng quickly shook his head and sneered disdainfully, "Back when I was worthless, she couldn''t avoid me fast enough. Now she suddenlyes up and says she likes me, how could I possibly believe her?"


    Xiao Yi uh''d, "So you still let her help you prepare the master''s gift? When has anyone from the Tianjian Sect contacted you?"


    Ye Heng touched his nose and grinned sheepishly, "Master, please don''t misunderstand! Not to mention the master of the Tianjian Sect hasn''t looked for me, even if he really came to me, I wouldn''t ept him as my master. In my eyes, there is only one master, and as for Nangong Liuyun... heh heh, didn''t you say we needed money? The four great aristocratic families are all very rich, so I thought, why not take advantage of it and get some..." Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    Take advantage of it and not be a fool?


    Xiao Yi''s eye twitched, looking at Ye Heng''s naive and earnestughter, speechless: "Who the hell did you learn this from?"

 Chapter 237 One Hundred Million Chips!

    The entire Combat Pavilion was protected by a formation.


    Each of the four sub-pavilions had its own Protective Formation, capable of withstanding a sh from warriors at the Peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, so there was no need to worry about damaging the Combat Pavilion or endangering innocent bystanders or the audience in the stands.


    Despite it being morning...


    There were still many people inside the Combat Pavilion.


    In the circr duel arena, iron gates on the east and west sides respectively opened slowly, and two figures emerged from within.


    The person from the east was extremely muscr, with a blood-red tiger tattoo on his chest, and his cultivation had reached the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    He was the Tiger King!@@novelbin@@


    On the west was Azure Dragon, wearing a ck mask and wielding a Green Cloud Coiling Dragon Spear, his cultivation also at the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm.


    If one were to look solely at cultivation, the two men were evenly matched.


    "Tiger King, snap thatd''s neck, I''ve ced a wager of five million heavyweight on you!"


    "Azure Dragon, kill the Tiger King..."


    "Kill him!"


    Shouts and roars echoed above the duel arena.


    Inside the duel arena.


    Azure Dragon and Tiger King both let out furious roars and charged at each other with murderous intent. Killing the other would allow them to gain a certain percentage of the wagered chips. Given the reputation of Tiger King and Azure Dragon, this battle attracted stakes that started from at least one billion, and even one ten-thousandth of that was a hundred thousand silver.


    The Tiger King had immense strength and was poor; his fighting style was fierce and dominant.


    He continuously suppressed Azure Dragon.


    Gaining the upper hand.


    Those who had ced bets on Tiger King were all yelling excitedly at the top of their lungs.


    As for those who had wagered on Azure Dragon, they clenched their fists tightly with foreheads dripping with cold sweat.


    Xiao Yi watched for a while but soon found it rather dull, and turning to Ye Heng beside him, he asked, "Who do you think will win?"


    Ye Heng was taken aback for a moment and furrowed his brows, saying, "Master, I think it should be Azure Dragon!"


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Why?"


    Ye Heng rested his chin on his hand and spoke in a deep voice, "Although it looks like Azure Dragon is at a disadvantage and is beingpletely suppressed by Tiger King, I see that Azure Dragon''s battle does not show any hint of panic. On the contrary, it seems as if he is deliberately putting himself in an unfavorable position... It feels like he''s digging a pit, waiting for Tiger King to jump in!"


    "Your little brat''s hair hasn''t even grown fully, what do you know?"


    "Didn''t you see Tiger Kingpletely suppressing Azure Dragon? When narrow paths meet, the brave wins, and the winner will definitely be Tiger King!"


    A few people beside Ye Heng mocked him with their remarks.


    Ye Heng''s brow furrowed deeper, and just as he was about to speak, a wave of shocked gasps cascaded down from the stands like rolling waves, "What just happened? How did Tiger King die?"


    "What?"


    "Tiger King is dead?"


    "That''s impossible... My money... I bet my wife and daughter''s dowry and just lost it like that, how am I supposed to redeem my wife and daughter now..."


    All those who had ced bets on Tiger King were collectively stunned.


    Just a moment ago, Tiger King waspletely dominating Azure Dragon, yet suddenly, he was dead?


    Several warriors seated next to Xiao Yi and Ye Heng had bloodshot eyes; their gazes fixed dead on the two, infuriatedly roaring, "Dammit, it must be you two jinxed bastards. Before you opened your mouths, Tiger King waspletely suppressing Azure Dragon, but as soon as you say Tiger King''s going to lose, he dies. You two,pensate us for our losses!"


    "I bet five hundred thousand silver on him, you have topensate us!"


    "I staked a million silver..."


    Facing a crowd of people with fierce gazes fixed on them, Xiao Yi and Ye Heng exchanged a nce, speechless.


    Were they supposed to take the me for this, too?


    Xiao Yi touched his nose, and said yfully, "This isn''t fun! Are you ming us for your wrong bets?"


    "Go to hell, are youpensating or not?"


    "If not, watch your backs trying to leave this Combat Pavilion!" The five men across from them bore malicious expressions as they red at Xiao Yi and Ye Heng.


    The five had already encircled them.


    Their fists clenched, making crackling noises.


    Ye Heng looked to Xiao Yi, "Master, what should we do?"


    "Mix it up!"


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes and said, "If anyone dares to make a move, break their arms and legs and throw them out!"


    Having said that.


    He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as if nothing concerned him.


    Ye Heng stood by his side like a statue.


    The surrounding spectators all drew back a distance, watching them with interest; such conflicts were verymon in the Combat Pavilion and no longer surprising: "That youngster is unlucky, to have provoked those five gambling addicts."


    "I rememberst time there was a bald guy who just because he sat next to them, and when these five guys lost money, they med that bald guy for bad luck and beat him to death!"


    "Young man, you might as wellpensate them with the money! It''s not worth losing your life over money!"


    Faced with the crowd''s advice, Ye Heng smiled and said, "Thank you all for your concern, but five flies are no trouble at all!"


    "This brat actually dares to call us flies?"


    The five men exchanged nces and said ferociously, "Damn it, kill him!"


    Whoosh!


    The five men charged at once.


    Bang bang bang!


    After a series of muffled sounds of fists meeting flesh, calm was restored.


    It was all over in the space of three breaths.


    The crowd: "..."


    They saw the five fierce men already scattered on the floor, with broken hands or feet,pletely incapacitated.


    Ye Heng searched the men and took out five purses, counted the silver notes inside, and said speechlessly, "Five grown men together have only a hundred thousand silvers? You''re really too poor, aren''t you?"


    The five men rolled their eyes together and passed out: "..."


    Rustle rustle!


    The guards of the Combat Pavilion arrived one after another, carrying the five men away without even asking about the cause and effect.


    The Combat Pavilion does not prohibit fighting between guests.


    For any damages caused, pay tenfoldpensation!


    If you don''t pay?


    Throw them directly into the dueling arena, let them out when they''ve made enough money, and if they die, just throw them onto the pauper''s grave.


    After this disturbance, it became much quieter around Xiao Yi.


    At that moment...


    A girl in a red dress appeared in the center of the dueling arena, her delicate voice echoing in the Combat Pavilion: "The next duel will be between the neer, Blind Swordsman, with cultivation in the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. The other is Liu Meng with a broadsword, at the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm."


    ng!


    ng!


    Two iron gates opened.


    The man from the east was the tyrannical Liu Meng, with eyes like lightning and a burly figure, holding a nine-ring saber, exuding an impressive aura.


    The swordsman from the west was thin and wore ragged clothes; his eyes were hollow, revealing he was blind.


    "Eh?"


    Xiao Yi suddenly opened his eyes, looking towards the direction of the Blind Swordsman.


    The Blind Swordsman seemed to sense something, his hollow gaze wandering before itnded in the direction of Xiao Yi. His grey and white eyes moved around, then he lowered his head once more, a deathly stillness emanating from him, as if his life was nearing its end.


    The iron gates were open for about a hundred breaths before closing again, and the girl in the red dress announced loudly: "You all have half an incense stick''s time to ce your bets!"


    "Do we even need to choose? It''s obviously free money for us, with Liu Meng suspected to be a disciple of the Kuangdao Sect and with a higher cultivation than the other; of course, I choose him!"


    "The odds for Liu Meng are 1.5 to 1, while the Blind Swordsman is 3 to 1; clearly, even the Combat Pavilion thinks Liu Meng has a higher chance of winning!"


    "Look at that Blind Swordsman, scrawny and blind, no way he could win..."


    Ye Heng looked at Xiao Yi: "Master, which side should we bet on?"


    Xiao Yi exhaled a deep breath and said, "Blind Swordsman!"


    "Okay!"


    Ye Heng nodded, then asked, "How much?"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes and said solemnly, "One billion!"

 Chapter 238 A Loss of Ten Billion

    "A hundred million?"


    Ye Heng stared at the stack of silver notes Xiao Yi handed to him,pletely bbergasted.


    This was a hundred million taels of silver!


    Actual, tangible silver!


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "Go ahead!"


    When he saw the blind swordsman, he had a peculiar feeling, an intuition that exists between swordsmen.


    Xiao Yi was certain that the blind swordsman must have mastered the power of Sword Intent.


    In contrast, the overbearing Liu Meng disyed no hint of de intent. Even if the blind swordsman''s mastery was only the first stage of Sword Intent, he was more than capable of defeating someone at the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm!


    Xiao Yi''s bet of a hundred million taels of silver truly shocked many people.


    You have to understand...


    Bets starting at a hundred million usually took ce in the Earth Character Pavilion or even the Heaven Character Pavilion!


    There weren''t many inside the Mysterious and Yellow Pavilions who could ce a bet of a hundred million taels of silver.


    Someone kindly advised, "Brother, betting a hundred million on that blind man is simply throwing your money away! Liu Meng the Overbearing Swordsman has nine consecutive wins. Even facing a master at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm, he can easily deal with them!"


    "Yeah, you should change your bet while your disciple hasn''t ced it yet!"


    The crowd urged.


    Xiao Yi smiled and replied, "It''s fine, it''s just a hundred million. If I lose it, then so be it!"


    "..."


    The crowd exchanged nces, speechless.


    To him, a hundred million was nothing!


    The crowd''s gaze at Xiao Yi carried a tinge of envy, of course, that was also because of Ye Heng''s previously demonstrated strength, which prevented them from harboring other thoughts.


    Otherwise...


    There would likely be many more who would set their sights on him!


    It didn''t take long for Ye Heng to return, holding the betting slip in hand. He asked, "Master, can that blind swordsman really win?"


    Xiao Yi indifferently answered, "In this world, there is no such thing as absolute certainty, the battle will begin shortly!"


    Ye Heng instantly closed his mouth.


    Boom! Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Boom!


    Two iron gates opened at the same time.


    The blind swordsman and Liu Meng the Overbearing Swordsman appeared on the dueling ground, facing each other. The blind swordsman held a long bamboo cane, gently tapping it on the ground as he fumbled forward, his grayish-white eyes moving left and right without focus. In contrast, his opponent Liu Meng wielded a big nine-ring saber, muscles like lead, radiating a domineering presence.


    Liu Meng forcefully imnted his nine-ring saber into the ground, opened his arms wide, and repeatedly pped his hands over his head, calling out loudly, "Cheer,e on!"


    "Overbearing Swordsman!"


    "Victory to the Overbearing Swordsman!"


    Liu Mengughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying the sensation of being the center of attention. With a tip of his foot, he kicked up the nine-ring saber, grasping the hilt midair with one hand.


    ng, ng, ng!


    The rings on the saber collided, producing a series of crisp sounds.


    Liu Meng''s gaze was ice-cold as he addressed the blind swordsman, "Blind man, you take the first move. I''ll let you have ten strikes!"


    The blind swordsman cocked his head, his grayish-white eyes wandering aimlessly.


    He made no reply.


    All that could be seen was his right hand gripping one end of the long bamboo cane, followed by a buzzing sound that resonated sharply. A streak of silver light shed along the cane and then vanished.


    The blind swordsman, leaning on the long bamboo cane, tapped it around and stumbled toward the iron door on the east side.


    The crowd was puzzled, "What''s going on? Is he forfeiting?"


    "The fight hasn''t even started, why is he leaving?"


    Just as everyone was brimming with confusion, a soft sigh suddenly arose, "He has already won."


    All eyes turned in unison towards Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, a sharp light swirling within: "What swift swordy¡ªjust now, in that instant, he actually unleashed nine swords!"


    "Nine swords?"


    Ye Heng was shocked.


    Just then...


    In the middle of the dueling arena, Liu Meng suddenly trembled, a speck of blood spurting from his neck followed by fountains of blood gushing forth like geysers, nine jet streams instantly dyeing the ground red.


    Bang!


    Liu Meng fell into the pool of blood.


    Hiss!


    A dead silence fell around the dueling arena, which after a brief pause, erupted like a sh flood: "Holy shit! Can someone tell me what the hell just happened? How did Liu Meng die without me seeing anything?"


    "Incredible, the Bling Swordsman''s sword is just too fast!"


    "In that split second, Liu Meng was hit by nine swords, this, this..."


    Several strong individuals next to Xiao Yi were shocked by the Blind Swordsman''s power, and they also remembered that Xiao Yi had ced a bet of one hundred million silver on the Blind Swordsman; envy appearing on their faces: "Congrattions, the Blind Swordsman was at three-to-one odds, you just made two hundred million with that bet!"


    "Brother, who are you nning to bet on in the next match? We''ll follow your lead..."


    Everyone was excitedly looking at Xiao Yi.


    In two consecutive duels, Xiao Yi had urately predicted the oue.


    Especially in the match with the Blind Swordsman.


    When almost everyone was doubting the Blind Swordsman, Xiao Yi resolutely ced a heavy bet of one hundred million silver on him, earning two hundred million silver in one go.


    This truly made people envious and at the same time, won their admiration.


    They all wanted to follow his bets.


    To Xiao Yi, this was of little concern, after all, the Combat Pavilion was backed by Blood Shadow Tower; to carve a slice from the enemy, why not revel in it?


    And so...


    The third match.


    The fourth match.


    The fifth match...


    Xiao Yi urately predicted the oue of nine consecutive matches, his wealth now umting to twelve billion. This was despite the odds not being as rare as the three-to-one seen in the Blind Swordsman''s match; otherwise, his profits from nine consecutive victories would have far exceeded this number.


    Even so, Xiao Yi was quite satisfied.


    In just a couple of hours, he had earned what Xiaoshanhe Institute spent in a month.


    "Combat Pavilion, indeed a right ce toe!" Xiao Yi muttered to himself.


    If he were to engage in alchemy and marketing, just gathering the herbs would take a significant amount of time!


    Meanwhile...


    In the very center of the Combat Pavilion, within an area standing alone, where outsiders were not permitted...


    "Pavilion Master, there''s a big problem!" A powerful individual from the Combat Pavilion rushed in, frantic, facing a figure in a blood robe.@@novelbin@@


    "What''s the issue?"


    The figure in the blood robe frowned.


    The urgent individual said, "There''s a major problem from the Mysterious Character Pavilion''s side; a young man has been precisely predicting the oue of each match. He has now won nine consecutive matches and earned more than ten billion silver."


    The figure in the blood robe impatiently responded, "So he won, just ten billion, we can afford to lose that much!"


    "It''s not that, Pavilion Master..."


    The person with a distressed face said, "Now, everyone in the Mysterious Character Pavilion is betting with him, and everyone''s making a killing. A rough estimate, in just one or two hours, we''ve lost over one hundred billion silver."


    "What?"


    The figure in the blood robe suddenly opened his eyes wide.


    One hundred billion silver!


    Even if the Combat Pavilion was a goldmine, that''s still a substantial amount.


    The figure in the blood robe narrowed his eyes, speaking gravely, "Go invite him here... no, I will see him personally. I want to see who is so audacious as to cause trouble in my Combat Pavilion!"

 Chapter 239 Are You Threatening Me?

    After Xiao Yi had won nine consecutive battles.


    The Mysterious Character Pavilion temporarily halted the next fight.


    As everyone was puzzled, Xue Wuhen, d in a blood robe, approached Xiao Yi with a gentle smile on his face and said, "My name is Xue Wuhen, I am the Pavilion Master of the Combat Pavilion, may I inquire as to your esteemed name?"


    Xiao Yi nced at him and replied indifferently, "Does my name really matter?"


    "Indeed, it does not!"


    Xue Wuhen smiled, sat down next to Xiao Yi, and spoke softly, "You''ve won quite a bit, why not quit while you''re ahead?"


    Xiao Yi looked at him amusingly, "What? Can the mighty Combat Pavilion not afford to lose?"


    "The strength of our Combat Pavilion is far beyond what you can imagine, how could we not afford to lose? However, greed is an insatiable snake that swallows elephants, and those who are overly greedy tend to meet bad ends. I''m merely considering your well-being. Take the money you''ve won and leave; you can still enjoy it greatly once you return. If you continue, it''s very likely you''ll lose everything..." The smile never left Xue Wuhen''s face, but the chill in his eyes grew ever more piercing.


    Not only was Xue Wuhen the Pavilion Master of the Combat Pavilion, he was also the lord of Xue Yilou.


    His cultivation had reached the Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm.


    An air of icy coldness emanated from him, prompting the surrounding crowd to scatter and avoid getting too close.


    Xiao Yi sized up Xue Wuhen, noting an aura simr to that of Xue Mantian¡ªclearly, both had cultivated the techniques of Xue Yilou.


    Such an aura was exactly the kind Xiao Yi detested the most.


    If not for Xue Mantian, would he and Fang Qingzhu have been separated?


    Xiao Yi spoke calmly, "Wealth is but an external possession; loss is simply loss."


    "Are you determined to oppose my Combat Pavilion to the bitter end?" Xue Wuhen squinted and asked.


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders.


    Xue Wuhen chuckled, stood up, and straightened his clothes, saying, "Very well, then I wish you continued good luck!"


    Before his voice had faded.


    He stroked his sleeve and strode away.


    Ye Heng looked at Xiao Yi with worry, "Master..."


    "It''s alright!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, revealing a serene smile, "I want to see what tricks he has up his sleeve!"


    Shortly after.


    The tenth battlemenced, this time a Blind Swordsman would face a bald young man of the same realm.


    "The Blind Swordsman is the one who slew Liu Meng of the Third Layer of the Divine Passage Realm with a single sword strike; isn''t this bald kid of the First Layer of the Divine Passage Realm seeking death?"


    "I''m betting on the Blind Swordsman this round!"


    As they watched the Blind Swordsman in the arena, the crowd had fresh memories of his swift swordsmanship andmented one after another.


    Ye Heng asked, "Master, should we put all our silver on the Blind Swordsman?"


    "No!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, and watching the crowd ce heavy bets on the Blind Swordsman, he said in a serious tone, "ce everything on the bald kid!"


    Several people around were startled, "On the bald kid?"


    "Young master, the Blind Swordsman is definitely stronger than the bald kid..."


    Xiao Yi said calmly, "I haven''t forced you to believe me!"


    While the people hesitated, someone spoke up, "Gentlemen, in my opinion, he''s been bluffed by the Pavilion Master of the Combat Pavilion. He''s thinking of intentionally losing the money back to them. We shouldn''t trust him!"


    "Exactly, anyone can see that the Blind Swordsman will win. Yet he insists we bet on the bald kid, for sure he''s chickened out!"


    "Don''t listen to him!"


    The crowd ced their bets on the Blind Swordsman.


    Ye Heng looked at Xiao Yi worriedly, "Master, this..."


    Xiao Yiughed, "It''s their own money!"


    Ye Heng fell silent.


    Thump!


    The battlemenced.


    Just as Xiao Yi had said, the blind swordsman indeed lost, losing in a somewhat inexplicable manner.


    Xiao Yi''s 1.2 billion turned into 1.5 billion.


    The others, however, suffered a crushing defeat.


    Less than a tenth had followed Xiao Yi''s bet.


    For a moment¡­


    The crowd looked at Xiao Yi as if he were an enemy, "It''s all your fault, you yourself bet on the bald kid, yet you made us bet on the blind swordsman¡­"


    "I really hate you, how could you harm us like this?"


    "I bet all my fortune on this, and now you''ve ruined me¡­"


    "You must have colluded with the Combat Pavilion to swindle our money¡­"


    Faced with the crowd''s usations and provocation, someone even charged towards Xiao Yi, "Give us back our hard-earned money!"


    A chill shed through Xiao Yi''s eyes, and with a casual wave of his hand, a torrent of vital energy surged out.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    One strong fighter after another was sent flying, sprawling across the ground in all directions. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xiao Yi''s face remained expressionless.


    Ye Heng burst into a furious rage, "Have you no conscience? My master never asked you to follow his bets. When you make money, you forget his goodwill, but when you lose, youe to me him? Besides, my master already said he would bet on the bald kid. It was you who thought you knew better and bet on the blind swordsman. Now that you''ve lost everything, it''s your own fault. Anyone who talks nonsense again, be careful lest I tear your mouth apart!"


    Looking at the few people wailing on the ground, everyone exchanged nces, not daring to utter another word.


    The eleventh pair of fighters made their appearance on the dueling stage.


    However¡­


    This time, Ye Heng returned, smiling bitterly, "Master, Xue Wuhen at the betting station, he won''t ept our chips."


    "Hm?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and stood up, making his way to the betting station.


    Xue Wuhen, with his legs crossed and an air of nonchnce, looked amused, "Oh, what brought you here?"


    Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "My disciple says you won''t take my chips?"@@novelbin@@


    "We won''t!"


    Xue Wuhen spoke defiantly, "Even if you calcte it urately, I still won''t ept your chips. You also don''t need to think about predicting the oue and letting others bet. I can change the oue at any time." He slowly raised his right hand and clenched it lightly, "No matter how powerful you are, you will never be able to escape from the palm of my hand!"


    Xue Wuhen looked at Xiao Yi, smugly.


    He didn''t care about losing ten or so billion.


    After all¡­


    Thetest round with the blind swordsman had allowed him to recoup a hundred billion.


    But Xiao Yi had previously disrespected him, which irritated Xue Wuhen, prompting him to deliberately make things difficult for Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "You mean to say, today it''s impossible for me to bet at the Combat Pavilion?"


    "Not just today, tomorrow, the day after¡­ for the rest of your life, don''t even think about cing a bet at my Combat Pavilion again, don''t even think about earning a single silver tael from my Combat Pavilion. Of course¡­"


    Xue Wuhen leaned forward slightly, a radiant smile on his face as he spoke ominously, "If you have the courage, you can directly participate in the duels. If you win, you will get a share of the bets. Moreover, the more consecutive victories at my Combat Pavilion, the higher the share. Ten consecutive victories entitle you to a tenth of the share, twenty consecutive victories a fifth¡­ If you can win a hundred consecutive matches, then congrattions, all the earnings are yours! However, if you participate in the duels, you could very well lose your life in the process!"


    Xiao Yi stared intently at Xue Wuhen with narrowed eyes, "Are you threatening me?"


    Xue Wuhen shrugged his shoulders confidently, "I am threatening you. What can you do about it?"


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath and said, "I only wanted to make some money quietly and leave, but since you insist on pushing me, so be it!"

 Chapter 240 Who Can Withstand My Unbeatable Punch?

    "As I wish?"


    Xue Wuhen was taken aback, his eyes narrowed into slits as he looked at Xiao Yi with a yful expression, "Kid, you''re not actually thinking about participating in the dueling arena, are you?"


    In his eyes, Xiao Yi must have lost his mind.


    The duels within the Combat Pavilion were a matter of life and death.


    However...


    All of this, in Xiao Yi''s view, was exactly what he desired.


    Wasn''t this a great opportunity to make money?


    Winning ten consecutive matches would yield one-tenth of the prize, and winning a hundred matches in a row would grant him all the wagers.


    Such a streak of victories may be difficult for others.


    But to Xiao Yi, it seemed as simple as reaching into a bag and taking what he needed.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Don''t you just wish for me to join the duel in the Combat Pavilion?"


    Xue Wuhen frowned and said, "Kid, do you really prefer to die rather than yield to me? Don''t forget, this is my turf, and if you really get on the dueling ground, killing you wouldn''t be any harder than crushing an ant!"


    "I''ll also tell you, you''re forcing me into the duel now, butter you will be kneeling and begging me to leave!" Xiao Yi said with a coldugh.


    "Hahaha..."


    Xue Wuhen straightened his body, his tangible gaze fixed on Xiao Yi as he said deliberately, "Little bastard, since you''re so bent on courting death, I''ll grant your wish!" Xue Wuhen shouted to someone behind him, "Bring someone here, prepare a token for this foolhardy kid, and take him to the Earth Character Pavilion!"


    Among the four pavilions of Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang, the Earth Character Pavilion is where the Golden Core Realm powerhouses fight.


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation level was of the Golden Core Realm; naturally, he was directed to the Earth Character Pavilion.


    A strong member of the Combat Pavilion approached, took out a token, and said, "Please state your name, or you may use a nickname as a substitute!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and said, "One Punch!"


    "One Punch?"


    The servant was momentarily startled, looking at him in confusion, "Does this name carry any special meaning?"


    Xiao Yi nced at Xue Wuhen behind the servant and said deliberately, "Who can withstand my undefeated punch?"


    With those words...


    A sense of arrogance and confidence was like an invisible storm, crushing everything.


    Hiss!


    The servant holding the token trembled violently, and the token almost fell to the ground.


    "Who can withstand your undefeated punch? That''s quite the bold im. You''re not considering yourself Xiao Tianjiao, are you?"


    Xue Wuhen mocked incessantly, his face full of disdain and impatience, as he waved to the servant, "Take him to the Earth Character Pavilion and arrange his fight!"


    "Yes!"


    The attendant immediately led Xiao Yi to the Earth Character Pavilion.


    As for Ye Heng, he was taken by Xue Wuhen to the VIP area and was not allowed to ce bets on the way.


    This left Ye Heng quite helpless.


    Meanwhile...


    Xiao Yi had already been led by the servant to the prep area of the Earth Character Pavilion, where hundreds of powerhouses were meditating with their eyes closed.


    Each of these people was a Golden Core Realm existence, and every one of them was exceptionally indifferent, only giving Xiao Yi a nce when he appeared before slowly withdrawing their gaze.


    "Please prepare a mask for me!" Xiao Yi said. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Please wait a moment!"


    Shortly after, the servant brought over a silver mask.


    As soon as Xiao Yi put on the mask, the servant said, "The Pavilion Master has given special instructions that as long as you don''t cry halt, we can keep arranging opponents for you. He regards this as a special favor to you!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, stood up, and walked toward the dueling arena.


    Within the VIP area.


    Xue Wuhen sat in a bold manner, with his legs crossed and rxedly tasting his fine wine, his eyes narrowing into slits as he gazed at Ye Heng beside him who seemed somewhat apprehensive, "Kid, if you hand over those billions to me now and have your master kneel and apologize to me, I might consider sparing you both!"


    Ye Heng gave him a look and said, "You better think about how you''re going to beg my master to leave the dueling groundter on!"


    "Oh? It seems you have quite the confidence in your master!" Xue Wuhen said with augh.


    Ye Heng replied, "My master is invincible in battle!"


    "Invincible? Hahaha..."


    Xue Wuhen shook his head, chuckling disdainfully, "Then let''s just wait and see!"


    Xue Wuhen snapped his fingers.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The grand gates on both sides of the dueling arena burst open, and at the same time, a graceful woman appeared in the center of the arena and announced loud and clear, "Thebatants for this battle: on the left side, our Barbarian King. The other is a neer; his name is quite unique, called One Punch. ording to him, the meaning behind this name is ''Who can withstand my punch undefeated''!"


    The rules of Earth Character Pavilion are different from those of Huang Xuan''s pavilions.


    Here, they don''t publicize thebatants'' cultivation levels, but rather let people guess based on their feelings.


    "..."


    The vast Earth Character Pavilion fell silent.


    Then a burst of roaringughter erupted, "Hahaha, isn''t this kid way too arrogant? Who gave him the courage?"


    "I''ve seen the arrogant, but never this arrogant!"


    "Barbarian King, beat him to death!"


    In the middle of the dueling arena.


    The Barbarian King snickered continuously, standing at a towering height of three meters, reportedly a strong man from a barbaric tribe living in remote forests. His hands kneading each other, producing a crackling sound that was loud and clear, he said coldly, "Kid, I''ll let you have the first punch!"


    "Oh!"


    Xiao Yi nodded agreeably.


    He threw a punch that seemed casual and light.


    Full of mockery, the Barbarian King remarked, "Your punch is so slow, and your power so weak, are you trying to tickle me?"


    However...


    The smile on his face suddenly vanished.


    It wasn''t that the fist had hit him, but just the force of the punch approaching.


    Whoosh!


    The Barbarian King didn''t even have time to scream before being sted away by the force of the punch, without even being touched by the fist itself!


    Thud!


    The Barbarian King mmed hard against the Array and rebounded back onto the ground,pletely knocked out cold.


    Hiss!


    The strong ones who were previously mocking Xiao Yi collectively fell silent.


    They all stared stupefied at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi looked up at the graceful girl and said, "Next!"


    The graceful girl had already received instructions, to continuously provide him with opponents as long as Xiao Yi didn''t call a stop.


    Previously, the Barbarian King was only at the fifthyer of the Golden Core Realm; this time, the challenger was at the sixthyer.


    And then...


    Bang!


    The Seventh Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    Bang!


    The Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.


    Bang...


    Even when a fighter of the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm stood before Xiao Yi, he was brutally smashed away, with none even capable of forcing Xiao Yi to throw a second punch.


    Just like the name he chose¡ªWho can withstand my punch undefeated?


    As Xiao Yi continued to challenge.


    His winning streak was rapidly increasing.


    Ten rounds.


    Twenty rounds.


    Thirty rounds...


    Without realizing it.


    Xiao Yi''s consecutive victories had reached fifty, meaning that Xiao Yi could now take half of the total bets ced in each of his following battles.


    You should know...


    Due to his continuous victories, and so far no opponent being a match for even one of his punches, Xiao Yi''s reputation soared. More and more powerful figures came to ce bets in his name. Now, for every battle of Xiao Yi''s, the Combat Pavilion had to pay out at least two to three billion Silver, and that''s not even including the half of the chips Xiao Yi now imed with each battle.


    Inside the VIP room.


    Xue Wuhen was drenched in cold sweat, his hands tightly gripping the armrests, his face pale, listening to the reports from his subordinates: "What did you say?"


    "P-Pavilion Master, now with every battle One Punch fights, we have to pay out around one hundred and fifty billion total. Moreover, as his share of the winnings grows greater, more and more peoplee to bet on him. If this continues, we''re doomed..." The attendant''s face was full of despair and bitterness.@@novelbin@@


    "You little bastard, you''re forcing my hand!"


    Xue Wuhen''s face turned an iron blue, his eyes filled with fierce light, he gritted his teeth and ordered, "You, go fetch Ghost General immediately..."

 Chapter 243 Father and Son Reunion

    Combat Pavilion.


    This has always been one of the liveliest ces in the imperial capital.


    But today, the Combat Pavilion was exceptionally bustling, filled with a cacophony of voices, as countless officials and nobles converged toward it.


    "Why won''t you sell to me? Is two or three hundred million not enough to qualify my worth?"


    "You think two or three hundred million is a lot? My master has eight hundred million, and they still won''t sell to him..."


    "It''s said that there are too many peopleing to watch this time, the Combat Pavilion has temporarily raised the threshold. Without a worth of ten billion, you can''t even buy a ticket..."


    "Is it that exaggerated?"


    "Nonsense... It''s said that people from the top ten sects, the four major noble families, and the royal family have all sent people..."


    The entrance to the Heaven Character Pavilion was a surging sea of people.


    In the past, those with a worth of one billion could enter the Heaven Character Pavilion by spending only one million Silver, but now the requirement has been raised to a ten billion worth, and each ticket has been scalped to a price of ten million Silver.


    Those buying tickets were swarming like moths to a me.


    Just from this one ticket sale, the Combat Pavilion could earn hundreds of billions of Silver.


    Xue Wuhen looked at the sea of people outside, with many crushing their heads in their eagerness to buy tickets, a yful smile appeared on his face, "Xiao Tianjiao''s reputation really is useful, just hearing that someone wants to challenge Xiao Tianjiao''s record, and so many people have rushed over!"


    "After all, he is the number one talent of the Great Qian Dynasty, the current Saint Heir of Tianjian Sect, and he has just recently broken through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, he''s really in the limelight!"


    "Pavilion Master, all the tickets have been sold out!"


    "The top ten sects, the four major noble families, the royal family, the Xiao Family... basically, anyone in the imperial capital who is qualified to buy a ticket is here!"


    Listening to the continuing stream of good news from his subordinates, Xue Wuhen nodded, squinting his eyes, "How are the personnel arrangements going?"


    "As per your orders, personnel from the First Layer to the Ninth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm have all been arranged."


    A Golden Elixir Realm Peak expert revealed a sinister smile, "I''ve also discussed it with them, the first eight will intentionally lose to Yi Punch, then we''ll defeat him with the ninth!"


    Xue Wuhen squinted his eyes, speaking indifferently, "Remember to have them perform convincingly, don''t let any ws be detected."


    "Pavilion Master, rest assured! They are all experienced at this!"


    Xue Wuhen nodded in satisfaction, gesturing, "Send Yi Punch to the Heaven Character Pavilion then!"


    "Yes!"


    Several people immediately withdrew.


    Xue Wuhen took a gentle sip of the drink in his hand, clucking in admiration, "Good wine must be savored slowly... All these fellows are supremely shrewd, it really takes a big bait to coax the money out of their pockets!"


    On the way to the Heaven Character Pavilion duel arena.


    Xiao Yi, his face covered by a ck mask, paused in his steps as a figure appeared before him.


    That figure was so familiar.


    Their four eyes met.


    Xiao Yi recognized the other party at a nce, but it seemed as though the other party did not recognize him at all.


    This person was Xiao Zhengde, the head of the Xiao Family!


    The Combat Pavilion strongman guiding the way respectfully said, "Xiao Family Head!"


    "Mhm!"


    Xiao Zhengde nodded, his face disying arrogance as he sized up Xiao Yi with a nt eye, "Kid, are you the one boldly iming to challenge the record set by my son?"


    Xiao Yi''s body went rigid, his fists clenched involuntarily.


    Even though he kept telling himself that that family had nothing to do with him anymore, that the man before him was not his father,


    when truly facing him, he still inevitably held some expectation, hoping that Xiao Zhengde would recognize him. However, reality once again disappointed him. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yi nodded, "Yes, it''s me!"


    Tsk!


    Xiao Zhengde scoffed, his arms crossed as he circled Xiao Yi, shaking his head, "I can''t see what''s so special about you. You don''t look like a fool, so how could you have such an unrealistic idea? Young man, I''d advise you to give up. My son Tianjiao is the number one talent of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Saint Heir of Tianjian Sect, a tremendous expert in the Dharma Manifestation Realm at just twenty-four years old. What gave you the courage to challenge his record?"


    Indeed.


    Nothing has changed at all!


    In his eyes, there is only Xiao Tianjiao.@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi let out a long breath of foul air and struggled to calm himself, speaking lightly, "There''s always someone better, how can one know without trying?"


    "Hahaha, what a sayings, ''There''s always someone better.'' While it''s true, it''s meant for ants like you. My son Tianjiao, is the ''someone better'' you speak of..." Xiao Zhengde stated confidently, full of mockery.


    Xiao Yi''s tightly clenched fist quietly rxed and he said, "I might not be inferior to Xiao Tianjiao, how would I know without trying?"


    This sentence had been buried in Xiao Yi''s heart for a very long time!


    During those eight years of imprisonment, when Xiao Zhengde coldly announced that Xiao Yi should go to the Fang Family to be a live-in son-inw, he had longed to say these words to Xiao Zhengde. However, Xiao Zhengde had never given him the chance.


    Today, he finally said them.


    Although...


    Xiao Zhengde did not recognize him at all.


    Xiao Zhengde was stunned, then shook his head and sighed, "Well, let us wait and see!"


    The two passed by each other.


    The sliver of hope in Xiao Yi''s heart, already so faint, waspletely extinguished at this moment.


    What reced it was a trace of icy coldness and determination.


    ...


    The Heaven Character Pavilion was ten times the size of the Earth Character Pavilion, after all, those who fought here were practitioners of the Tao Tribtion Realm, and the scale of their battles was countless times greater than that of Golden Core Realm fighters. The protective arrays around were also stronger.


    Just maintaining this protective array for an hour would consume elemental stones worth over a hundred million silver.


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    It could easily withstand the battles of those at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    The seats for spectators had already been filled.


    The highest level on each of the four corners, east, south, west, and north, contained rows of VIP rooms, and each VIP room ticket started at ten million silver. Today, they had sold for as much as one hundred million silver. Anyone who could enter the VIP rooms was either a regional powerhouse or a merchant wealthy enough to rival nations.


    Inside the VIP room on the east.


    Yang Ling''s face was cold. Sitting next to him was a man in a luxurious robe who bore some resemnce to Yang Ling.


    This was Yang Ling''s imperial brother, the sixth son of Emperor Qian, Yang Jin.


    Yang Lin, a disciple of the Tianjian Sect and also in charge of the sect''s division in the imperial capital, sat there boldly, one leg crossed over the other, a mocking smile on his face, "Imperial brother, did I hear it was you and our father who rmended that Xiao Yi take charge of the Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    Yang Ling nodded expressionlessly.


    Yang Jin clicked his tongue and said, "Foolish! Don''t you know about Xiao Yi''s rtionship with Xiao? You let him sit as the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute; isn''t that just offending Xiao for no reason?"


    Yang Ling replied indifferently, "Whether it''s Xiao Yi or Xiao Tianjiao, they are all subjects of the Great Qian Dynasty. What''s wrong with my rmendation of Xiao Yi?"


    "Even if you rmended a beggar or even a cat or a dog, there would be nothing inappropriate. But you specifically rmended Xiao Yi, which is pping Xiao in the face, stirring up trouble between Xiao and the royal family..."


    Yang Jin scoffed coldly, fully aware he had no qualifications topete for the throne and always supporting the eldest prince Yang Kun, he naturally did not show goodwill towards Yang Ling, "Once this matter is over, immediately submit a petition to our father to dismiss Xiao Yi, and go to the Tianjian Sect to find Xiao and apologize to him in person, begging for his forgiveness. That is the eldest prince''s wish!"


    "Dismiss Xiao Yi? Apologize to Xiao Tianjiao?"


    Yang Ling caught his breath, then sneered and shook his head, "Go back and tell the eldest prince that if he wants to ingratiate himself with Xiao Tianjiao, that''s his business. Expect me, Yang Ling, to bow to him? Sorry, I can''t do that!"


    "You..."


    Yang Jin''s face turned alternately pale and flushed, his eyes instantly turned cold, and he huffed, "Very well, I hope you can still be so defiant when Xiao''s wrath descends!"


    Yang Ling responded coolly, "You needn''t worry yourself, Imperial Brother!"


    "Hmph!"


    Yang Jin snorted and stormed off.


    Yang Ling''s palm clenched the armrest so hard it burst apart, and as the wood chips fluttered, his gaze turned toward the dueling arena, "Xiao Yi, you better not disappoint me!"

 Chapter 245 One Punch, Still One Punch!

    Xue Wuhen hovered in midair and dered loudly, "For the second fight, Yi''s opponent is a Second Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm master, who boasts a fifty victories streak record in my Combat Pavilion''s Earth Character Pavilion¡ªGeziyi with the Green Edge Sword!"


    "Geziyi?"


    "This is a born female swordsman, wielding the Green Edge Sword that moves with the wind, not to be underestimated!"


    "However, I find that Yi interesting. He could explode the Moonshadow Demon de with a single punch. I''m nning to bet on him and see..."


    Ten breathster, betting ends.


    The total bet amount reached fifty billion, of which eighteen billion was ced on Xiao Yi, yet still the vast majority believed he would lose.


    In the dueling arena.


    Geziyi, d in a green-tight fitting garment with a white silk veil covering her face and gem-like bright eyes, appeared before Xiao Yi.


    They looked into each other''s eyes.


    Geziyi smiled slightly, "Three swords!"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, "Hmm?"


    Geziyi said, "It will take only three swords to defeat you!"@@novelbin@@


    "Oh!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, gestured to her with his hand, "Stop talking, let''s get on with it!"


    "Hmm?"


    Geziyi''s expression stiffened. As a beautiful female swordsman, this was the first time she had encountered such a cold reception. She snorted coldly, "You''ve thoroughly angered me. With one sword, I shall disable you!"


    Whoosh!


    Breezes swirled around Geziyi.


    The sound of rushing wind was incessant.


    In an instant.


    The breezes merged into a storm, which then turned into a violent wind, concealing Geziyi''s figure within, making it difficult to capture her silhouette. This was the power of mastering the elemental wind of heaven and earth, applied to swordsmanship.


    The wind conceals the sword, the sword bes the wind!


    Unpredictable!


    Swish, swish, swish!


    A series of spine-chilling whooshing sounds as sword shadows disappeared in the violent wind, unseen, yet the ice-cold intent to kill was palpable.


    Xiao Yi''s robe fluttered loudly as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "ying with wind? I''m your forefather in that!"


    Wind Thunder Holy Body.


    Mastery over the power of wind and thunder.


    Xiao Yi merged instantly with the wind, and suddenly he threw a punch into the invisible violent wind: "Vajra Subdues Demons!"


    Whoosh!


    A golden Wrathful Vajra phantom condensed behind him, his arm shining like cast gold, swinging his fist that seemed to tear through the void, instantly disappearing within the dueling arena.


    Hum!


    The violent wind pervading the entire dueling arena came to a sudden halt.


    A streak of blood traced a graceful arc across the sky, followed by numerous tornadoes condensing and forming the figure of Geziyi being blown away in retreat.


    Thud!


    She crashed heavily against the Defensive Array, bounced, and fell to the ground.


    Shepletely lost consciousness.


    Xiao Yi conquered another battle!


    This battle, still just one punch!


    The Second Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm''s Green Edge Sword Geziyi was defeated.


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    At this moment...


    Some of the strong figures who hade just to watch the excitement began to look serious, some who thought Xiao Yi was overestimating himself in challenging Xiao Tianjiao''s record started to change their minds, and some who had already been looking forward to Xiao Yi performing a miracle felt increasingly excited.


    With two battles, Xiao Yi resolved both with single punches, and was slowly beginning to change everyone''s opinion.


    Inside the VIP room.


    Yang Lingughed heartily, the light shing in his eyes, "Good job, Xiao Yi, I knew you wouldn''t disappoint me. How could a man who annihted numerous strongmen from the Great Jin Kingdom at the peak of Golden Elixir Realm be simple? Perhaps, he really has a chance to break Xiao Tianjiao''s record!"


    Yang Ling was taken aback by his own thoughts as he calmed down.


    That was Xiao Tianjiao!


    Universally recognized as the number one prodigy of the Great Qian Dynasty!


    Every record he created was said to be unmatched, unparalleled, unbreakable by anyone!


    Could this immortal legend really be broken?


    Yang Ling was excited and anticipatory, in contrast to Yang Jin, Xiao Zhengde, and others.


    Yang Jin snorted coldly, narrowing his eyes with disdain, "He has only defeated a Second Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse. Eachyer of the Tao Tribtion Realm is like a different heaven. I want to see how long he can keep winning!"


    Xiao Zhengde had smashed two cups in front of him, and the maidservant beside him, with a bloody palm print on her face, looked at him in terror.


    Bang!


    Xiao Zhengde hurled another cup, his gaze icy cold. "This damned brat indeed has some skill. But to break Tian''er''s record? You''re still far from it!"


    No matter what everyone thought, Xiao Yi''s battles did not stop.


    And as he won two consecutive battles, the betting amounts grewrger, and the odds on him grew higher.


    The third battle.


    The betting amount reached eighty billion, with thirty-five billion on Xiao Yi.


    In the end, Xiao Yi still resolved his opponent with a single punch.


    The fourth battle.


    The betting amount broke one hundred billion for the first time, reaching one hundred twenty-three billion and five hundred million, with the first time over fifty percent on Xiao Yi¡ªsixty-six billion.


    The fifth battle.


    The sixth battle.


    The seventh battle...


    Xiao Yi maintained his unbeaten record for eight consecutive battles, exploding his opponents with one punch every single time.


    Those present were regrs of the Combat Pavilion, but when had they ever seen such satisfyingbat?


    No matter your cultivation level!


    No matter your streak of consecutive victories!


    All blown apart with one punch!


    This aggressive, dominant Xiao Yi had conquered most of the strong fighters.


    By the ninth battle, Xiao Yi''s opponent became an ace assassin from Xue Yilou, a Nine-fold Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm. He was a superstar who had achieved sixty-five consecutive victories in the Heaven Character Pavilion, known as the Thousand-Handed Blood Butcher, Xue Asura.


    Thud, thud!


    Xue Asura''s steps were heavy as he entered the dueling arena.


    He tilted his head back slightly, opened his arms, and his eyes were slightly closed.


    In past battles...


    As soon as he took this stance, everyone would cheer for him, shouting his name.


    Today was no exception.


    Only, echoing through the Heaven Character Pavilion, the roaring cheers were not calling his name: "Wudi with one punch!"


    "Explode him with one punch!"


    "One punch..."


    The crowd was frenzied, chanting Xiao Yi''s title within the Combat Pavilion.


    As for Xue Asura...


    Indeed, there were a few loyal fans shouting his name, but they were quickly drowned out by the resounding cheers.


    "Huh?"


    Xue Asura opened his eyes, looking bewildered around him as the familiar faces were not only failing to chant his name but were also calling for Xiao Yi to blow him away with one punch!


    This made Xue Asura''s face turn extremely ugly; his eyes coldly fixed on Xiao Yi.


    High above.


    Xue Wuhen''s expression was not pleasant either. ording to his n, Xiao Yi would have been defeated in the eighth battle.


    However, that Eightfold Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouse he had put his hopes on was still blown away by Xiao Yi with one punch.


    This had Xue Wuhen feeling stuck!


    Now, Xiao Yi''s poprity was skyrocketing, and the betting amount for the ninth battle had reached more than fifty-three trillion, with over forty trillion ced on him. If Xiao Yi won this battle, he would not only cause the Combat Pavilion to pay out over forty trillion, but he would also equal Xiao Tianjiao''s record!


    He absolutely could not allow this to happen.


    Xue Wuhen narrowed his eyes and transmitted his voice, "Xue Asura, at all costs, kill him!"


    Whoosh!


    Xue Asura let out a long breath, his cold gaze fell on Xiao Yi, "Leave it to me!"

 Chapter 247 Battle with Xue Wuhen

    No one can break it?


    Then let me be the one!


    Before this...


    This sentence had been the butt of many jokes, with people thinking Xiao Yi was overrating his own abilities.


    But now.


    Xiao Yi had actually done it.@@novelbin@@


    At least.


    In the Combat Pavilion, under the same conditions of being at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak as Xiao Tianjiao was at the time, he reached the same level as Xiao Tianjiao.


    Ny-nine consecutive victories!


    He had equaled Xiao Tianjiao''s record!


    "Impossible, how could this be possible? My son Tianjiao''s record has been equaled? No, it can''t be..." Xiao Zhengde waspletely enraged, venting like a madman in the VIP room, smashing tables and chairs, beating maidservants.


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    The floor gained a few more cold corpses.


    All beaten to death by him.


    The guard was trembling with fear, hiding in the corner and watching the hysterical Xiao Zhengde with a sense of dread.


    "My son Tianjiao is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor, unique through the ages... The record he set was unprecedented and unmatched; how could it be equaled? Why has ite to this..."


    Xiao Zhengde''s eyes were bloodshot.


    In his heart, Xiao Tianjiao was perfect; no blemish could be tolerated.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi''s equaling Xiao Tianjiao''s record was like a ck blemish on a pure and wless piece of jade, tarnishing the beautiful gem, utterly ruining that perfect jade pendant.


    "Bastard, damn it all!"


    Suddenly, Xiao Zhengde, like a man possessed, looked at the guard and grabbed him by the neck.


    He needed to vent his frustration and anger through killing.


    The guard''s face turned red, struggling desperately, he yelled with all his might, "Master, I have a way..."


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Zhengde paused, loosening his grip a little, he frowned and said, "What did you say?"


    The guard gasped for breath, disregarding his narrow escape from death and said hastily, "He, he has not quite equaled the young master''s record yet. In the young master''s hundredth fight back then, he withstood two moves from Xue Wuhen before showing signs of defeat, and he also seriously injured Xue Wuhen. As long as he dies at the hands of Xue Wuhen, the record will still belong to the young master!"


    Xiao Zhengde''s eyes lit up, heughed and said, "You''re right, if Xue Wuhen kills this boy in one move, the record will still be my son Tianjiao''s. Go, tell Xue Wuhen that if he kills that boy within one move, I will grant him a breakthrough opportunity to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, and besides, the Xiao family will owe him a favor."


    "I will go immediately!"


    The guard let out a long sigh of relief and quickly left the VIP room.


    A momentter.


    He found Xue Wuhen through the Combat Pavilion.


    Xue Wuhen was preparing to take the field himself; he didn''t care whether Xiao Yi could break Xiao Tianjiao''s record, what mattered to him was that he absolutely could not let Xiao Yi achieve a hundred consecutive victories.


    At this time, the guard of the Xiao family actually came to him.


    Xue Wuhen squinted and said, "He?"


    The guard hastily said, "Pavilion Master Xue, my master asked me to inform you... if you can kill that boy within one move, our Xiao family will grant you a breakthrough opportunity to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, additionally owing you a favor!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Wuhen was startled, a trace of burning desire shed in his eyes.


    A favor from the Xiao family meant a favor from Xiao Tianjiao.


    That was worth a fortune!


    Moreover...


    There was the opportunity for a breakthrough to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    If it had been anyone else who made such an offer, he might have had doubts, but the Xiao family, with a monster like Xiao Tianjiao, indeed had the ability to offer such an opportunity.


    Plus, Xue Wuhen already intended to stop Xiao Yi from getting a hundred consecutive victories.


    To go with the flow, why not?


    Xue Wuhen nodded and said, "Go back and tell Xiao, I ept this matter!"


    "Then I hereby wish Pavilion Master Xue a triumphant victory in advance!" The guard also breathed a sigh of relief.


    No sooner had the guard left.


    Yang Jin appeared in front of Xue Wuhen. Xue Wuhen dared not treat Yang Jin as lightly as he did the guard, he saluted with his hands and said, "Your Highness!"


    Yang Jin nodded and said indifferently, "I want you to kill him!"


    "Rest assured, Your Highness!"


    Xue Wuhen bared a ferocious and cold smile, "I will execute him!"


    "Hmm!"


    Yang Jin left with an indifferent expression on his face.


    Xue Wuhen took a deep breath, his eyes glinting with a cold, knife-like light, "Kid, you can''t me me for this. Too many people want you dead!"


    ...


    In the dueling arena.


    Xiao Yi sat cross-legged, with his eyes closed, gathering his strength.


    Whoosh!


    He suddenly opened his eyes to see Xue Wuhen appearing not far in front of him.


    Their eyes locked.


    Xue Wuhen spoke indifferently, "I didn''t want to kill you, but someone came to me, wanting your life!"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "The Xiao Family?"


    "Not just the Xiao Family!"


    "Tianjian Sect?"


    Xue Wuhen nodded, not surprised that Xiao Yi could guess the Xiao Family and the Tianjian Sect. Within the vast Great Qian Dynasty, probably only these two powers wouldn''t want to see the legend of Xiao Tianjiao shattered.


    With firm steps approaching Xiao Yi, Xue Wuhen said with an indifferent expression, "To make it this far at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, you are truly strong, even giving me the impression that you''re stronger than Xiao Tianjiao in his early days. If it were me back then, even if I could beat you, it would be extremely difficult. But now, killing you would be as easy as flipping my hand!"


    The murderous aura on his body became more and more concentrated, chilling to the bone.


    A cold breath enveloped the entire Heaven Character Pavilion.


    Everyone subconsciously tightened their cors.


    The chill was bone-piercingly cold.


    It was the concentration of a supreme killing intent.


    Tao Tribtion Realm Peak!


    Even if the great battle back then had damaged his foundation, after many years of healing, his injuries had long since recovered. Even without stepping into the Dharma Manifestation Realm, he was much stronger than before. Xue Wuhen beckoned, "Sword,e!"


    Whoosh!


    A flood of blood erupted from within his body, spreading up his arm, ultimately condensing in his palm.


    A blood-colored longsword appeared.


    The sword was coiled with a blood snake; its scales were lifelike, as if it were alive.


    "A Sixth-Layer Primal Soldier Bloody Mang Sword?"


    "Who would have thought Xue Wuhen would bring out this sword ¡ª he''s going to slice that man with a single strike!"


    "It''s over, it''s over, I, I actually ced a hundred billion on him! If he loses now, won''t I be ruined?"


    "Idiot, we knew from the start that the Combat Pavilion wouldn''t let him win easily. We all bet on Xue Wuhen to win. You dared to ce a bet on him; if you lose, who can you me?"


    A low shout drowned out the murmured discussions.


    "Blood Python Swallowing the Dragon!"


    Xue Wuhen thrust out the Bloody Mang Sword in his hand.


    Whoosh!


    The blood snake on the sword seemed toe to life, its eyes emitting a dim, cold light, and a blood snake over ten meters long opened its huge mouth.


    A blood-colored glow instantly covered the entire dueling arena.


    The ground of the tform thundered and roared wherever the blood sword light passed, like a dragon turning over, shattering the ground with loud noises. Everything seemed to be on the verge of destruction, even the protective Array surrounding the dueling area was violently trembling, appearing as if it might shatter.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly contracted, as he struck against the tide with his Fire Qilin Sword, "Azure Lotus Rebirth!"


    Whoosh!


    A Three-Colored Sword Lotus condensed.


    However...


    Xue Wuhen''s strength was ultimately far too much for him, as a giant blood python swallowed the Three-Colored Sword Lotus in one bite.


    With a booming sound.


    Xiao Yi''s figure flew backward, vomiting fresh blood,nding staggeringly.


    The Fire Qilin Sword in his hand shattered into pieces amidst crackling sounds, and fresh blood continuously spilled from Xiao Yi''s mouth.


    After all, he was only at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak.


    Even though the Golden Elixir Halo had been reformed and had shrunk back to twentyyers, and even though he was bolstered by the Wind Thunder Holy Body, he was onlyparable to an ordinary Tao Tribtion Realm Peak. Faced with Xue Wuhen, who was among the top warriors of the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak, Xiao Yi''s current cultivation was still not enough.


    "You lost!"


    Xue Wuhen said expressionlessly, "In consideration of your talent, I will leave you a whole corpse!"


    "Heh, heh-heh..."


    Xiao Yi, however, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and let out a series of low chuckles, slowly raising his head and staring intently at Xue Wuhen. On his body, ayer of blood-colored light continued to spread as he said, word by word, "This is just the beginning!"

 Chapter 249 Xiao, Please Wait!

    "You, lost!"


    Xiao Yi stood proudly in the middle of the duel arena, with a blood-colored light converging at his fingertips, forming a de pressed against Xue Wuhen''s throat.


    A drop of blood fell from his neck.


    Just a little further and he would sever his throat and decapitate him.


    A look of confusion shed across Xue Wuhen''s face.


    He was the master of Xue Yilou, the Pavilion Master of Combat Pavilion, a towering presence at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak.


    Today...


    He had actually lost!


    And to a junior at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak?


    A deep sense of defeat swept over him, and Xue Wuhen''s face turned pale. He wanted to activate his profound energy and fight again. But as the thought urred to him, the energy de in Xiao Yi''s hand had already cut through his neck.


    The sharp pain and the hot blood flowing from his neck made Xue Wuhen shudder.


    After much hesitation.


    The profound energy inside him subsided.


    With a forced smile, he defeatly said, "I lost!"


    Boom!


    With those three words, the entire Heaven Character Pavilion erupted: "Damn, won? Just like that?"


    "A hundred consecutive victories! A Golden Elixir Realm Peak junior actually defeated a Tao Tribtion Realm Peak powerhouse, achieving a hundred consecutive victories..."


    "Xiao Tianjiao''s record wasn''t just tied, it was broken!"


    "Being at the same Golden Elixir Realm Peak and facing the same Xue Wuhen, Xiao Tianjiao took two moves and was defeated, but this man directly overcame Xue Wuhen. The difference is clear, at least within the same realm, Xiao Tianjiao is no match for him!"


    "My money... it''s all gone..."


    "Hahaha, I tripled my billion silver, hahaha..."


    The odds for Xiao Yi''s victory were set at three to one, while Xue Wuhen''s were at two to one, and nearly everyone believed Xue Wuhen would have thestugh before the end of the fight.


    Reality proved...


    Reality and fantasy have a huge gap.


    In the VIP seats.


    "Useless trash."


    Yang Jin''s face was incredibly grim as he stared at Xiao Yi with a deadly gaze, "This man, he must not remain!"


    Strong representatives from several other sects saw potential: "With such talent, even if he''s notparable to Xiao Tianjiao, the difference is slight. If cultivated well, he could possibly be the next Xiao Tianjiao. We must pull him into our sect!"


    "If he doesn''t submit, then we should eliminate him before he grows!"


    Among the Four Great ns.


    Nangong Jingtang, patriarch of the Nangong Family, narrowed his eyes and stroked his mustache: "My Nangong Family has sessfully recruited Ye Heng. If we can bring this young man under our wing, who then can stop the Nangong Family''s rise?"


    Dongfang Yuechu, the head of the Dongfang Family, and Ximen Yijian, the head of the Ximen Family, exchanged a nce. These two families had close bonds: "We must discover this man''s identity. If he can''t be a friend, we must eliminate him as soon as possible!"


    Representing the Beitang Family was the young master, Beitang Yu, who meanwhile stroked his chin with a pondering smile: "Interesting, really interesting... Xiao Tianjiao, your legend has been broken, and I can''t wait to see the expression on your face when you hear this news! Hahahaha..."


    In the VIP room where Xiao Zhengde was.


    The guard was once again gripped by the throat and pinned against the wall by Xiao Zhengde, who furiously punched him, "Scum, scum, scum..."


    His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing as rough as a wolf''s howl, and he was radiating a fierce killing intent.


    Xiao Tianjiao''s record had been broken.


    The undefeated legend of Xiao Tianjiao had been broken.


    This once pure and wless jade now bore an indelible blemish.


    No matter how powerful Xiao Tianjiao was, he would no longer be like before, almost a deity, unparalleled among his peers.


    Whenever anyone mentioned Xiao Tianjiao, they would surely think of Xiao Yi!


    This man, also at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, broke the sealed record of Xiao Tianjiao...


    Some are happy, some are in despair.


    Upon seeing Xiao Yi im the final victory and create a new record surpassing Xiao Tianjiao''s hundred consecutive wins,


    Yang Ling abruptly sprang up from his chair, his face awash with ecstatic joy as he murmured to himself, "Truly worthy of being the one who nearly destroyed the entire Great Jin Kingdom single-handedly, he actually did it..."


    It was Yang Ling''s idea to rmend Xiao Yi as the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    The initial scheme of Yang Ling and Emperor Qian was to let Xiao Yi seed the position as institute head in order to bnce the powers of the four major noble families and the ten great sects.


    But he never expected...


    That Xiao Yi would be so strong!


    His growth rate was so fast!


    What surprised him even more was that Xiao Yi''s talent was in no way inferior to that of Xiao Tianjiao, the top genius of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Narrowing his eyes, Yang Ling''s face showed excitement, "I''ll go meet Xiao Yi first, then go back and tell my father this news. He will definitely be very pleased!"


    Xiao Tianjiao is incredibly proud, not even regarding the royal family in his eyes.


    In contrast to Xiao Yi...


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    He is amicable, and especially values loyalty!


    When Jiang Tianchen was willing to exert his nation''s full strength to confront Xue Yilou for his sake, Xiao Yi single-handedly ttened Tian, crushed Qingyun, defeated the Four Seas, broke through the White Whale, and ultimately annihted the Great Jin Kingdom.


    He propelled Tianqing Kingdom, once ranked at the bottom among the 100+ vassal nations of the Great Qian Dynasty, to be the strongest subordinate nation.


    Under Great Qian, Tianqing reigns supreme.


    "As long as we treat Xiao Yi sincerely, I believe he will definitely stand on the side of our royal family..." Yang Ling thought, bing even more firm in his decision to forge a genuine bond with Xiao Yi.


    At the same time...


    In the duel arena, Xue Wuhen closed his eyes in despair, waiting for Xiao Yi to take his life.


    But what he got instead was Xiao Yi''s impatient voice, "How long do you n to lie there?"


    "Huh?"


    Xue Wuhen was taken aback, opened his eyes, and looked incredulously at Xiao Yi, "You, you''re not going to kill me?"@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Do you really want to die? I can oblige you if you wish!"


    He never had a strong intent to kill Xue Wuhen, especially since during their previous encounter, Xue Wuhen had insisted that no one should defile his corpse, which in itself gained Xiao Yi''s respect and led him to decide to spare his life.


    Xue Wuhen: "..."


    His face changing, he finally let out a deep breath and said with a wry smile, "Losing to you is not a disgrace."


    Xiao Yi said lightly, "But you can''t owe me a single cent of the money you lost to me!"


    "..."


    With a bitter smile, Xue Wuhen said with pained expression, "Don''t worry, you won''t be shortchanged!"


    A hundred consecutive wins, no less!


    Just from thest match alone, Xiao Yi would take away thirteen trillion silver.


    Add to that the various other shares from previous matchups.


    This time, Xiao Yi could im thirty-seven trillion silver from the Combat Pavilion, which in real gold and silver and based on the Xiaoshanhe Institute''s monthly expenditures of ten billion, would suffice to fund the institute for more than three thousand years.


    "It seems like the scale of Xiaoshanhe Institute can be expanded a bit more this time!" Xiao Yi''s lips curved into a slight smile.


    All of a sudden...


    He caught a glimpse of Xiao Zhengde leaving the VIP room from the corner of his eye. Xiao Yi fell silent for a moment, then turned to Xue Wuhen beside him, "Do me a favor!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Wuhen was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi said in a low voice, "Arrange a room for me. Have Xiao Zhengdee see me!"


    "Xiao Zhengde?"


    Xue Wuhen blinked in surprise but didn''t overthink it and nodded, "I''ll get to it right away!"


    A momentter...


    At the exit of the Heaven Character Pavilion, Xiao Zhengde walked out with a dark expression. Just then, he heard the voice of Xue Wuhen from behind, "Pavilion Master Xiao, please wait a moment!"

 Chapter 252 Apologize, or Die

    "I want to see who dares to touch him today!"


    The icy voice came from Xiao Yi.


    Ye Heng had already reached the side of the blind swordsman, propping up the swordsman, whoy on the ground with a lifeless face, and straightening his body. After a brief check, Ye Heng''s expression changed slightly, "Master, the blind swordsman''s dantian has been destroyed..."


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils contracted slightly.


    He never expected Dongfang Bai and his people to be so ruthless.


    Not satisfied with merely severing the tendons of his hands and feet, they had now even destroyed his dantian.


    Xiao Yi looked expressionlessly at Dongfang Bai, "Who did it?"


    Dongfang Bai nced at him indifferently then looked away. In his view, Xiao Yi was just at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, and within the Dongfang Family, there were even strong individuals in the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Why would he take Xiao Yi seriously?


    Even facing Yang Ling, the prince, Dongfang Bai just gave a perfunctory hand sp and said with a proud expression, "Prince Yang Ling!"


    Yang Ling frowned. The power of the four great n families was extremely terrifying, and they generally stood together against outsiders, often disrespecting the royal family. Naturally, he didn''t show a good face either and said lightly, "Dongfang Bai, did you not hear Pavilion Master Xiao ask you a question?"


    "Pavilion Master Xiao?"


    Dongfang Bai was slightly startled and looked Xiao Yi up and down with narrowed eyes, chuckling scornfully, "Oh ho, so you''re the new head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi? You look quite the part, so why were you kicked out of the Xiao Family by Xiao Tianjiao? Oh, my apologies, I forgot Xiao Tianjiao doesn''t recognize you as part of the Xiao Family. So, that means you..."


    p!


    The words were cut off by the crisp sound of a p.


    "..."


    Everyone was dumbfounded.


    They all turned to look at Xiao Yi''s indifferent face. This was the Dongfang Family''s young master he had just pped in public.


    Dongfang Bai''s eyes were crimson, exhaling a chilling light that seemed ready to devour someone, and he stared dead at Xiao Yi, "You little bastard, you dare to hit..."


    p!


    Another p.


    Xiao Yi still stood there with his hands behind his back, as serene as a gentle breeze and soft clouds.


    "Holy shit..."


    p!


    "You..."


    p!@@novelbin@@


    No one could see how Xiao Yi made his move, but everyone knew these ps had to be his doing.


    Looking at Dongfang Bai again...


    His cheeks were swollen like a pig''s head, blood streaming from the corners of his mouth, leaving him unable to speak. In his bloodshot eyes, there was resentment and rage, and more noticeably, a shade of fear.


    "Young master, are you alright?" asked several strong men of the Dongfang Family tentatively.


    Bang! Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    Dongfang Bai kicked them to the ground viciously, roaring in anger, "Do I look alright to you? Don''t just stand there, kill him! Whichever hand he used to hit me, I want you to chop it off and feed it to the dogs..."


    Five Golden Elixir Realm strong men immediately stepped forward, eyeing Xiao Yi with predatory gaze.


    "Pavilion Master Xiao, you can''t just hit our young master and expect things to end like this. I advise you to surrender without a struggle and not to resist," one of them said.


    "The Dongfang Family is not afraid of your little Xiaoshanhe Institute..."


    The five of them surrounded Xiao Yi.


    Yang Ling frowned and looked at Dongfang Bai with concern, "Dongfang Bai, I advise you to pull your men back!"


    "Prince Yang Ling, this matter doesn''t concern you," said Dongfang Bai venomously. "I know this kid is your rmendation for head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, but since he dared to hit me, he''s pped the Dongfang Family in the face, and no one can help him!"


    Yang Ling sighed, "I''m trying to help you!"


    Dongfang Bai sneered, "Help me? Does Dongfang Bai look like he needs your help?" His face twisted hideously as he stared at his men, "Kill him for me!"


    "Kill!"


    "First cripple his cultivation..."


    Five men advanced at the same time.


    Among them, two were at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak, and the other three were also experts of the Seventh Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm.


    Dongfang Bai was the most cherished grandson of Dongfang, the head of the Dongfang Family.


    Even his bodyguards were at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak.


    Five men teaming up could even put up a fight against a warrior of the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Faced with the onught of five assants, Xiao Yi merely waved his hand casually. Cold light fluttered at his fingertips, exploding out like dazzling light rainbows. Amidst muffled sounds, the five figures trembled violently, blood spraying wildly as they fell to the ground.


    On their brows and fingertips were points of red.


    A one-strike kill!


    Hiss!


    Complete silence surrounded the area.


    With an expressionless face, Xiao Yi approached Dongfang Bai. "You just said you wanted to break my hands, right?"


    "You, you, you... don''te any closer..."


    Dongfang Bai''s face turned deathly pale. He had never imagined that Xiao Yi would be so terrifyingly powerful, instantly ying his five major bodyguards in a blink.


    Feeling the cold Evil Qi emanating from Xiao Yi.


    Dongfang Bai felt his legs go weak, stumbling back tremulously: "I am the eldest young master of the Dongfang Family. If you dare to hurt me, you will make an enemy out of the Dongfang Family. You... ah..."


    A sudden scream burst forth from Dongfang Bai''s mouth.


    Blood arrows shot from his hands and feet, and among the torn flesh, one could vaguely see severed tendons twitching slightly.


    Dongfang Bai slumped to the ground like a pile of mud.


    Xiao Yi acted quickly and decisively.


    By cutting the tendons in his hands and feet, and shattering thempletely, he left Dongfang Bai crippled for life unless a magical elixir was used to reattach his limbs. Lying on the ground, wailing, Dongfang Bai looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of terror, not daring to threaten wildly as before, but instead pathetically begged for mercy. "Spare me, Director Xiao, spare my life. I won''t dare to do it again..."


    In the face of life and death, even those who hold high positions and have powerful backing will still be humble.


    Xiao Yi walked up to Dongfang Bai, slightly bent over, grabbed his hair, and pointing to the deathly still blind swordsman said, "You as well as he, both are born of mothers and fathers, have only one life, and are not necessarily more noble than the other. If you don''t want to die, apologize to him immediately by kowtowing!"


    "I, I should kowtow to him?"


    Dongfang Bai looked astonished; the blind swordsman was just a fighting dog he owned, no more than a dog in his eyes!


    Xiao Yi actually wanted him to apologize to the blind swordsman by kowtowing?


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, "Apologize, or die. Choose for yourself!"


    "..."


    Under the threat of death, Dongfang Bai''s head thudded to the ground with tears of humiliation on his face as he gritted his teeth and said, "I''m sorry..."


    Those three words seemed to drain all his strength.


    He copsed to the ground in defeat.


    A cold glint shed in Xiao Yi''s eyes; he believed in utterly rooting out problems. Crippling Dongfang Bai would surely not be forgotten by the Dongfang Family, so it might be better to finish him off once and for all.


    However...


    Yang Ling, who was standing by, said in a low voice, "Do me a favor and spare him this time!"


    After all, he was a prince, and if he could be the Crown Prince and seed the Great Qian Dynasty, it wouldn''t be good to fall out with the Dongfang Familypletely.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Fine!"


    Discarding Dongfang Bai aside as if tossing away trash, Xiao Yi walked toward the blind swordsman and, with Ye Heng on one side and another on the other, helped the blind swordsman walk outside.


    "Dongfang Bai, I hope this ends here!"


    Yang Ling looked toward Xue Wuhen, who had been silent all along, "Please, Pavilion Master Xue, take him back to the Dongfang Family."


    "Leave it to me!" Xue Wuhen nodded.


    Yang Ling chased after Xiao Yi, who was already heading outside...

 Chapter 254 Revenge for the Smallest Grievances

    "Your Highness, people from the Dongfang Family havee knocking at our door!"


    The expression of the guard outside the door was uneasy as he spoke.


    Yang Ling''s eyebrows knitted together, and a cold light shed through his eyes as he let out a cold snort, "What an audacious Dongfang Family, they really don''t take me seriously!"


    Although he had not yet be the Crown Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, he was still a prince!


    For the Dongfang Family to dare bring trouble to his residence was nothing short of a public p in the face, and Yang Ling''splexion turned extremely ugly.


    Tian Mang''splexion changed slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Director, this matter started because of me, it would be better to just hand me over..."


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Since you have joined Xiaoshanhe Institute, it is my responsibility to ensure your safety! Just stay here at ease, even if the Dharma Manifestation Realm ancestor of the Dongfang Family itselfes today, they can forget about taking you away!"


    Dharma Manifestation Realm, living over a thousand years.


    In any power, they are the pinnacle of existence.


    Now, even though Xiao Yi knew that Dongfang Bai was the great young lord of the Dongfang Family, he still reached out to save Tian Mang with the confidence of being able to fight even against a beginner of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    On the aged face of Bian Yihong, the shock gradually subsided, but his gaze at Xiao Yi still carried heat and admiration.


    He coughed lightly and said, "Director Xiao, why must you take action personally? I have some acquaintances with the ancestor of the Dongfang Family, and they will certainly give me some face!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Mr. Bian, I appreciate your kindness, but..."


    Before he could finish.


    Lin Qian, a disciple of Bian Yihong, spoke up and scolded, "My master is willing to help you, and that''s your honor. With my master''s status and position, even the head of the Dongfang Family would have to show him some respect!"


    All this time.


    He had always taken great pride in being a disciple of Bian Yihong.


    But earlier...


    The incurable Tian Mang, who had been diagnosed by Bian Yihong, had miraculouslye back to life in Xiao Yi''s hands, and even his shattered dantian had been restored.


    This made him feel as if he had lost face, like he had been pped dozens of times.


    Now, seeing the Dongfang Family actually pressuring them at their door, if his master could resolve this matter, it would definitely turn the tables. In his view, one of the reasons Bian Yihong volunteered to step forward was precisely this.


    Little did he know.


    Bian Yihong was astounded by the Transferring Flowers and Connecting Trees Skill disyed by Xiao Yi, it was miraculous, and he thought of currying favor with Xiao Yi in order to learn this long-lost Secret Technique of the Underworld Doctor lineage from him.


    "Shut up!"


    Bian Yihong red at him fiercely, fearing he would anger Xiao Yi, and said with nerves, "Director Xiao, my foolish disciple is ignorant, I hope you won''t hold it against him!"


    "Master..."


    Lin Qian was utterly bewildered.


    He thought he was helping Bian Yihong; how did it turn into a scolding?


    "Speak another word of nonsense, and I''ll expel you from the sect!" Bian Yihong turned and pped him across his face, scolding him in anger.


    Lin Qian''s face stiffened, and he dared not say anything more.


    But in those downcast eyes, there was a flicker of hatred and resentment.


    Xiao Yi looked at Bian Yihong''s ingratiating face and sighed, "Then you may try!"


    "Don''t worry, Director Xiao, I will not let you down!"


    Bian Yihong''s heart leapt with joy.


    Yet his aged body moved with agility, quickly making his way outside to meet the people from the Dongfang Family.


    At this moment...


    Over a hundred Dongfang Family powerhouses were surrounding a carriage, on whichy Dongfang Bai, wrapped up like a zongzi. The person leading them was one of the five great elders of the Dongfang Family, Dongfang Mu.


    "Elder Mu, you must stand up for me!" Dongfang Bai said with a face full of grievance.


    Dongfang Mu nodded, his face darkening as he said, "Young Master, rest assured, even if Xiao Yi is protected by Yang Ling, he can''t injure my Dongfang Family''s people over a mere fighting dog. Today, I will make him hand over Xiao Yi to kowtow and apologize to you!"


    Dongfang Mu crossed his arms over his chest, a green light circting around his body, his cultivation reaching the nine-foldyer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Creak!


    The gates swung open wide.


    Standing before him was Bian Yihong, with his immortal-like demeanor, causing Dongfang Mu to pause and frown, "Bian Yihong? What is he doing here?"


    Bian Yihong approached Dongfang Mu and greeted him with a fist-and-palm salute, "Elder Mu, long time no see, how have you been recently?"


    "So it''s Mr. Bian, indeed it''s been a while!"


    Dongfang Mu returned the gesture to Bian Yihong, but he made sure not to be too cold, considering Bian had a not inconsiderable rtionship with the head of the Dongfang Family, and asked, "What brings Mr. Bian here?"


    Bian Yihong replied, "I came to His Highness''s residence to treat a good friend of his. But as for Elder Mu, what brings you here?" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Dongfang Mu saw no reason to doubt him and said, "Yang Ling''s friend, Xiao Yi, has severely injured our family''s young master. I havee here to seek justice."


    "Xiao Yi?"


    Bian Yihong raised an eyebrow and said, "Elder Mu, your timing is not good. Xiao Yi has already left; he went back to the Xiaoshanhe Institute. If you go there now, you might be able to find him!"


    "He''s gone?"


    Dongfang Mu was taken aback.


    If Xiao Yi had left Yang Ling''s residence to return to the Xiaoshanhe Institute, then it wouldn''t be easy for him to seek revenge directly.


    Imperial Dragon Mountain.


    That is the site chosen by the royal family for offering sacrifices to the heavens and ancestors.


    Furthermore, with the Xiaoshanhe Institute''s special status, even the great ns like theirs cannot simply set foot there.@@novelbin@@


    Just when Dongfang Mu found himself in a precarious situation.


    Lin Qian, standing beside Bian Yihong, curled the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a trace of maliciousness, and feigned surprise, "Master, are you mistaken? Didn''t we just part ways with Mr. Xiao and the others? They are now inside the residence!"


    Boom!


    Bian Yihong''s body suddenly trembled, disbelievingly looking at his disciple beside him.


    He had not at all expected his beloved disciple to trip him up at such a moment.


    Dongfang Mu''s face turned an ashen blue as his cold gaze fixed on Bian Yihong. He sneered with a sinisterugh, "Mr. Bian, the Dongfang Family always had a decent rtionship with you, yet you do this for an outsider. Isn''t that quite inappropriate?"


    Bian Yihong stared intently at Lin Qian and said in a deep voice, "Elder Mu, could you do me the honor of letting this matter go?"


    "Let it go?"


    Dongfang Mu pointed to Dongfang Bai inside the carriage and roared, "Open your eyes and see for yourself, what condition has my young master been beaten into? This is a p in the face to my Dongfang Family! Bian Yihong, I, Dongfang Mu, have treated you with respect because of our past affiliations, yet you have yed me for a fool. From this day onward, you, Bian Yihong, are forever barred from setting foot in my Dongfang Family!"


    Whoosh!


    Bian Yihong''splexion instantly turned pale.


    He never imagined that because of a single sentence from Lin Qian, he would be cklisted by the Dongfang Family.


    And furthermore...


    The four great noble families are branches of the same tree.


    Once shunned by the Dongfang Family, it meant the other three great families, any rted families, officials, and citizens would no longer wee him, Bian Yihong. For Bian, who made his living as a doctor, this was akin to having his limbs cut off and his eyes gouged out!


    And the mastermind behind it all was his cherished disciple!


    Bian Yihong''s body shook with fury and, in his extreme anger, he spat out a mouthful of blood, pointing at Lin Qian, "You, you unfilial disciple..."


    "Unfilial disciple? Humph, old man, you should have thought of today when you pped me in public to please Xiao Yi."


    Lin Qian gave him a cold nce. He had always been the type to hold grudges. Bian Yihong had pped him in public to appease Xiao Yi, and how could he swallow such an insult? With a fawning expression, he walked up to Dongfang Mu and pointed to therge estate: "Elder Mu, Xiao Yi and the others are inside!"

 Chapter 256 The Strength of Xiao Tianjiao

    The Dongfang Family.


    One of the four major noble houses of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    These four major noble families were the closest trusted aides to the founding emperor when the Great Qian Dynasty was first established, each one being the most loyal supporter of the founding emperor.


    After the founding emperor united the Great Qian Dynasty, he also bestowed upon them generous rewards and power.@@novelbin@@


    However...


    As time passed and dynasties changed,


    the heads of the four noble families rotated and, coupled with the rise of the ten great sects challenging their authority, the imperial family gradually became weaker, and their bond with the royal house began to disintegrate.


    At least for now, the four major noble families still stand by the side of the royal family.


    But as their ties with the ten great sects grow closer, they have been showing signs of slipping out of the royal control.


    This point was crystal clear in both Emperor Qian''s mind and Yang Ling''s heart.


    And yet, there was nothing they could do about it.


    After all.


    Although the royal family was powerful, it couldn''tpletely fall out with the four major noble families.


    Precisely for this reason,


    when Xiao Tianjiao emerged from the Xiao Family, Emperor Qian supported the Xiao Family with all his might. What he hadn''t expected was that Xiao Tianjiao''s ambition and rate of growth were far beyond his expectations, and now he had exceeded his control.


    If this continued,


    a fifth major noble family would emerge.


    On the road,


    Dongfang Bai was being carried by several guards of the Dongfang Family, looking woefully at the carriage in front of him.


    That should have been his carriage!


    But...


    Dongfang Mu had directly thrown him off the carriage, letting Xiao Yi and others sit inside.


    However,


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    the five great elders hold significant power within the Dongfang Family, and he didn''t dare to disobey, only growing more resentful and sorrowful in his gaze.


    To think that he, the grand young master of the Dongfang Family, was not only beaten and had his limbs broken, but couldn''t even keep his own carriage.


    Truly a sad plight!


    Inside the carriage,


    Xiao Yi curiously asked the slightly nervous Dongfang Mu, "Elder, may I ask who in your residence has encountered trouble?"


    With a bitter smile, Dongfang Mu nced over the others and finally sighed, "I will not conceal it from you, the person who is in trouble is my eldest brother, Dongfang Jin!"


    The five great elders of the Dongfang Family were named after the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.


    Dongfang Jin was the leader of the five great elders.


    And...


    He was also the strongest among them, having entered the Dharma Manifestation Realm fifty years ago. Since then, he has mostly kept to himself, rarely taking action, but his status is second only to the Patriarch and the old ancestor of the Dongfang Family.


    "Dongfang Jin?"


    Bian Yihong was startled and frowned, "How could it be him? When our side met with him recently, he seemed fine!"


    Dongfang Mu responded with a wry smile, "Mr. Bian, when I arranged for you to meet with Elder Jin, it was actually to see if you could detect anything unusual about him."


    Bian Yihong''s face froze.


    Dongfang Mu hadn''t stated it explicitly, but his meaning was clear.


    Obviously, Bian Yihong hadn''t noticed anything unusual about Dongfang Jin, which proved his medical skills were not up to par, and the Dongfang Family naturally wouldn''t tell him voluntarily.


    Each of the four noble families has two individuals in the Dharma Manifestation Realm. If the news of Elder Jin of the Dongfang Family having his dantian destroyed were to get out, the Dongfang Family would fall to the lowest ranks among the four noble houses.


    If it weren''t for hearing from Lin Qian that Xiao Yi could heal a shattered dantian, and having witnessed Tian Mang''s shattered dantian restored to its original state with his own eyes, he would not have taken the initiative to expose this secret that could potentially plunge the Dongfang Family into an abyss.


    Yang Ling had not expected it to be Elder Jin, he frowned and said, "Second Elder, as far as I know, after Elder Jin broke through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm fifty years ago, he has rarely shown himself. When was his dantian damaged?"


    Dongfang Mu''s face showed a hint of hesitation.


    Xiao Yi said, "The reasons for a shattered dantian are varied and so are the methods of healing. It''s best not to conceal anything."


    Upon hearing this,


    Dongfang Mu gave a bitter smile, his expression tinged with barely concealed rage and hatred, he gritted his teeth and said, "My elder brother stepped into the Dharma Manifestation Realm fifty years ago, and he has been in seclusion ever since. A few years ago, he had already broken through to the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm and had found a quiet ce to manifest his Dharma. Unfortunately, he disturbed a young genius making a breakthrough to the Tao Tribtion Realm. A conflict erupted between them, and my brother''s dantian was shattered by a single blow from that person..."


    "Hmm?"


    "A young genius?"


    "A single blow from someone in the Tao Tribtion Realm shattered the dantian of a fifth level Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouse? This..."


    The others exchanged nces.


    This Dongfang Jin, who had stepped into the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, had his dantian crushed by a blow from someone who had just broken through to the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    How formidable must that strength be?


    And moreover...


    That was a youth?


    Yang Ling''s face revealed a look of shock, "Who was that person?"


    "I think... I might guess who it is!"


    Seeing everyone looking towards him, Xiao Yi let out a long breath, his fists involuntarily clenched, "If I''m not mistaken, that person should be Xiao Tianjiao!"


    "Xiao Tianjiao?"


    "How is that possible? Even for Xiao Tianjiao, to be that strong seems unlikely, right?"


    All eyes uniformly turned to Dongfang Mu.


    Dongfang Mu gave another bitter smile and nodded, "Dean Xiao has not spoken wrongly, that person is indeed Xiao Tianjiao." Fear flickered in his eyes, "This person is truly the reincarnation of a Heavenly Emperor, unmatched in this world. ording to my brother, Xiao Tianjiao had just stepped into the Tao Tribtion Realm and was still not stable..."


    When one has just broken through a realm, the energy within the body is most turbulent, and the mastery over one''s own realm is not yet proficient.


    Xiao Tianjiao dared to engage inbat with a fifth level Dharma Manifestation Realm expert at such a crucial moment, and it took only one move to shatter the opponent''s dantian?


    What a terrifying power!


    Everyone instinctively looked at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi closed his eyes slightly, his fists quietly clenched under his sleeves.


    Until now, they had known that Xiao Tianjiao was strong, but they had never imagined he would be strong to this extent.


    Barely entering the Tao Tribtion Realm, he could kill a fifth level Dharma Manifestation Realm expert with one strike.


    Now, having been in the Dharma Manifestation Realm for over half a year, with his speed of cultivation, what realm has he reached now? And what kind of strength does he have?


    The name Xiao Tianjiao, to countless people, is an insurmountable mountain.


    One could only look up to it, unable to climb it!


    But for Xiao Yi...


    This mountain must be climbed, must be surpassed!


    "Xiao Tianjiao... One day, I will definitely catch up to you, surpass you..." Xiao Yi took a deep breath, calming the restlessness in his heart.


    Meanwhile,


    The carriage came to a slow stop, and they had arrived at the Dongfang Family''s estate.


    Dongfang Mu took the lead in getting off, lifted the carriage curtain, and his tone carried a trace of respect, "Your Highness Yang Ling, Dean Xiao, please!"


    They got off one after another.


    The Dongfang Family''s residence in front of them upied nearly half the street, grand and luxurious, ornate and solemn

 Chapter 257 Quietly Watching You Show Off!

    "Is this the Dongfang Family''s grandeur? It seems rather unimpressive!"


    Zhang Yang''s voice carried arrogance and a sense of superiority, instantly drawing the focused gaze of Xiao Yi and the others.


    There stood a man dressed in garish clothes, with a palm-sized Buddha amulet around his neck, a string of shiny ck Buddha beads in his left hand, and in his right hand he held a g that read: "Miraculous Hands Rejuvenation Skill, the medicine that won''t let you die!"


    Apanying him was a young man, his face brimming with ttery: "Mr. Liu speaks the truth, our Dongfang Family''s estate has indeed been constructed many years ago and has certainly aged a bit!"


    Dongfang Mu''s face darkened as he said in a low voice, "Dongfang Qing, what are you doing?"


    The Dongfang Family was one of the four major noble families.


    The magnificence and luxury of their estate were top-ranking throughout the Great Qian Dynasty. When had they ever been humiliated like this?


    The young man was startled, looking up to see Dongfang Mu looking at him with an angry expression. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Dongfang Qing pays his respects to the Second Elder!"


    Dongfang Mu nced at Mr. Liu and asked with a gloomy face, "What''s the meaning of this?"


    Dongfang Qing hurriedly replied, "Second Elder, please keep your voice down, we wouldn''t want to anger Mr. Liu. He is a reclusive expert whom I managed to find with great difficulty, a sacred hand in the field of medicine, capable of returning the dying to life, mending flesh and bones, rejuvenating with miraculous hands. There''s no ailment in the world he can''t cure!"


    Dongfang Mu: "..."


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    The crowd: "..."


    Returning the dying to life, mending flesh and bones, an ailment-free world.


    Such titles were quite resounding!


    "Hmmph!"


    Mr. Liu let out a displeased snort, tapping his g against the ground, producing a thudding sound, "Dongfang Qing, time is extremely precious to me. Aren''t you going to take me to see the patient?"


    "Please wait a moment, Mr. Liu. I''ll take you there immediately!"


    Dongfang Qing hastily responded and led Mr. Liu forward, saying, "Second Elder, this Mr. Liu, the miraculous healer, is indeed powerful. I personally witnessed him reviving someone from the dead."


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by Liu the miraculous healer: "He can even revive the dead?"


    "Doubtful?"


    Liu the miraculous healer swept his indifferent gaze over Xiao Yi and the rest, with a slightly raised chin he haughtily said, "But how could you ordinary mortals possiblyprehend the wonders of such a lost art? As long as I take action, there is no disease that cannot be healed!"


    Xiao Yi revealed an amused expression: "Does the gentleman possess such abilities?"


    "Naturally!"


    Liu the miraculous healer snorted coldly, pridefully adding, "Have you ever heard of thest chief Imperial Physician of the Imperial Pharmacy, Mr. Bian Yihong?"


    "Uh¡­"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, ncing at Bian Yihong standing beside him with an equally puzzled expression, and said with a smile, "I have heard of him, but I''ve never met the man himself!"


    Dongfang Mu, Ye Heng, and the others wore expressions of disbelief.


    Bian Yihong was right beside them; how could Xiao Yi say he never met him?


    Liu the miraculous healer held his chin high, full of pride as he said, "I won''t hide it from you, Bian Yihong and Ie from the same master. He is my senior brother. However, his medical talent was so poor, he failed to inherit the master''s mantle and was expelled from the sect. I, on the other hand, was the apple of our master''s eye and received his true heritage. In terms of medical skill, a hundred Bian Yihongs couldn''tpare to me!"


    Xiao Yi and the others looked at Bian Yihong with peculiar expressions.


    Bian Yihong''s face twitched, and he rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking: "When did I have such an experience?"


    Liu the miraculous healer sighed and continued, "Actually, my senior brother''s medical skills are just passable! Though he''s far from my level, he''s enough to be the chief Imperial Physician of the Imperial Pharmacy!"


    Xiao Yi struggled to stifle augh and asked, "May I know who your master is?"


    "My master is a reclusive expert, beyond the reach of your level. However, I can let slip that our lineage is under the tutge of the venerable Wind Thunder," Liu the miraculous healer dered proudly, puffing out his chest. "Master once said that my medical talent isparable to that of Wind Thunder''s own master. With my current medical expertise, there is no one in the vast Qingtian Realm to match me; it is indeed the lonely plight of a great master. Oh well¡­ such loneliness and solitude are well beyond the grasp of you ordinary mortals!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    The crowd: "..."


    Dongfang Mu''s face was ashen.


    He had already concluded that this man before them was most certainly a fraud.


    And that wasn''t all...


    The most tant giveaway was Liu the miraculous healer iming Bian Yihong was his senior brother.


    Can''t you see Bian Yihong right there, giving you a forlorn look?


    Liu, seeing everyone''s eyes on him, wore a look of smug satisfaction and said, "Well, I have already wasted enough time here, so hurry and bring me to the patient! But let me make it clear beforehand, my fees are quite steep!"@@novelbin@@


    Dongfang Qing hurriedly responded, "Rest assured, Mr. Liu, we will meet whatever conditions you propose!"


    Dongfang Mu, with a dark expression on his face, was about to expose Liu, but then Xiao Yi shook his head at him.


    With a yful tone, Xiao Yi said, "Second Elder, today we are fortunate enough to witness the disciple of Mr. Bian, the sessor of the renowned Wind Thunder. It''s a rare opportunity to see him in action. Could we possibly observe from the sidelines?"


    Dongfang Mu''s mouth twitched. Observe his technique, huh? You just want to watch him show off, don''t you?


    He coughed lightly and said, "Mr. Liu, what do you think about this..."


    Liu feigned difficulty, then took on an air of mystery: "Allowing you to observe is not a problem, but my profound medical skills might be tooplex for you to understand. Moreover, my deep knowledge of medicine cannot be disclosed lightly, so you will have to pay a hefty tuition fee!"


    Dongfang Mu suppressed the urge to hit him and said, "No problem, we will pay this fee along with the visiting fee!"


    "That''s very good!"


    Liu nodded in satisfaction.


    The group then entered into the Dongfang estate.


    Momentster.


    They saw Dongfang Jin, whoseplexion was slightly pale, yet he moved like a dragon and a tiger, showing no sign of ailment.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes slightly as he assessed Dongfang Jin and realized with understanding, "It seems there''s a force of Dharma Manifestation clinging to his body, which conceals the abnormality of his dantian. This must be the work of that old ancestor from the Dongfang Family!"


    "Big brother!"


    Dongfang Mu helped Dongfang Jin to take a seat.


    With respect, Dongfang Qing said, "Elder!"


    Yang Ling also bowed to Dongfang Jin, for even as a prince he must show the courtesy due to a junior when facing such a stalwart of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, "Elder Jin, it has been a long time since west met. I hope you''ve been well!"


    "Why, it''s Prince Yang Ling. Indeed, it''s been some time. Please forgive me for anyck of hospitality!" Dongfang Jin said with a cheery demeanor.


    Yang Ling replied with a smile, "You are too kind, Elder Jin!"


    Dongfang Mu gestured towards Xiao Yi as he introduced, "Big brother, this is the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi!"


    "Oh? Head Xiao, I''ve long admired your great reputation, and indeed, seeing is believing, a true case of a young hero!" Dongfang Jin''s demeanor towards Xiao Yi was obviously much colder, and his eyes held a trace of animosity.


    After all, he was the one crippled by Xiao Tianjiao.


    How could he possibly show a friendly face to someone from the Xiao Family?


    Dongfang Jin''s gaze swept over the attendees and, upon seeing the forlorn Bian Yihong, his eyes lit up with interest, "Mr. Bian, what brings you here? Have you perhaps thought of a way to assist this old man?"


    Bian Yihong replied with a wry smile, "Elder Jin, I am incapable and have thought of no solution."


    "This¡­"


    Dongfang Jin''s face fell slightly, but then he shook his head with a bitter smile, "It''s not your fault, Mr. Bian..."


    At that moment.


    Dongfang Qing spoke up, "Elder, I have invited a distinguished hermit on your behalf, iming he has the means to cure you!"


    "Oh?"


    Dongfang Jin''s eyes brightened as he looked towards Liu, "And who might you be?"


    Liu cleared his throat and said with arrogance, "I am Liu, the most outstanding sessor of the Wind Thunder lineage. Surely, I am not yet famous as I have just left seclusion. But you must have heard of my senior brother, Bian Yihong!"


    "What did you say?"


    The smile on Dongfang Jin''s face froze as he looked at Liu, "Your senior brother is Bian Yihong?"


    Liu, with chin held high, asserted, "Correct, though my senior brother''s natural talent in medicine is mediocrepared to mine, which is why our master expelled him long ago. As for me, I have fully inherited my master''s true teachings..."


    "Wait, hold on a moment!"


    Dongfang Jin frowned and pointed to Bian Yihong, asking, "Do you recognize him?"


    "With my status and position, how could I possibly recognize some obscure individual? This person is simply an admirer of my great name,ing here to witness my profound medical skills!"


    Liu nced at Bian Yihong curiously and added, "Oh? But from what you''re saying, Elder Jin, you also share the surname Bian?" Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "If I remember correctly..."


    Bian Yihong coughed lightly and said with an odd expression, "I am indeed Bian Yihong..."

 Chapter 259 Full of Loopholes

    "Deal!"


    Xiao Yi''s face was adorned with a radiant smile as he epted the Dragon Blood and the inverse scales from Dongfang Jin''s hands.


    Even if Dongfang Jin had not offered treasures tempting enough to stir his heart, he would have chosen to lend a hand to him anyway.


    After all.


    The fact that Xiao Tianjiao had destroyed Dongfang Jin''s Dantian, and the prospect of restoring what Xiao Tianjiao had damaged back to its original condition, promised a most entertaining reaction from Xiao Tianjiao when he next saw Dongfang Jin!


    Dongfang Jin, of course, had no inkling of Xiao Yi''s thoughts and was somewhat nervous when he offered the two treasures.


    Though Dragon Blood and inverse scales were indeed very precious, repairing a damaged Dantian was a feat unmatched by anyone in the Great Qian Dynasty. Even had Xiao Yi demanded an exorbitant price, he would have had no choice but toply.


    Luckily, Xiao Yi was not greedy, which allowed Dongfang Jin to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Dongfang Jin asked in a grave tone, "Dean Xiao, may I know what I need to prepare?"


    "This list contains the medicinal ingredients you need to get ready!"


    Xiao Yi handed Dongfang Jin a list, "In addition to the items on this list, you will also need to find a monster core from a beast of at least the sixth order with the Metal attribute."


    Now that Dongfang Jin had reached the Dharma Manifestation Realm, and considering his desire to repair his Dantian, a monster core of a sixth-order beast was necessary as the foundation. Naturally, Xiao Yi did not disclose to him that the biggest drawback of the transnt method was that once the monster core reced the Dantian,


    If he wished to advance his cultivation in the future, he would need to find a stronger monster core as a substitute.


    After all.


    He did not have any deep ties with the Dongfang Family, and if they managed to earn his approval someday, he would naturally think of a way to help Dongfang Jin rece the monster core.


    Otherwise...


    Dongfang Jin would be resigned to the Dharma Manifestation Realm for the remainder of his life.


    "A sixth-order Metal attribute monster core?" Dongfang Jin''s expression faltered slightly; such a core was not something the Dongfang Family had!


    Elder Dongfang Mu spoke with a heavy tone, "The Ximen Family killed a Six-Armed Sky-Climbing Ape tenth year ago, and its core should still be in the hands of our family''s elder. I will ask the elder to secure that monster core for us!" Elder Dongfang Mu dered solemnly.


    Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Dongfang Jin said, "I should be the one to speak with the elder. You go ahead and take Dean Xiao and His Highness Yang Ling to the back garden to rest for a while, and meanwhile get the medicinal ingredients on the list ready. I believe that once the elder steps in, obtaining the monster core will be swift!"


    "Alright!"


    Elder Dongfang Mu nodded.


    Then he arranged for Xiao Yi and the others to be amodated in the backyard and had people prepare avish spread of fruits and wines.


    The Dongfang Family''s backyard was vast, with an artificialke at its center and a Lake Heart Pavilion erected on theke.


    It was in this Lake Heart Pavilion that Xiao Yi and the others rested. Ye Heng took a bite of a Spirit Fruit, savouring the refreshing taste as he gazed at the lush green waters surrounding him and mused, "The life of the wealthy is indeed blissful. If one were to raise some spirit fish in thiske, to catch a few leisurely for grilling and dining, how delightful that would be!"


    Xiao Yi teased, "Would you like a few beauties to attend to you as well?"


    "Uh..."


    Ye Heng''s face twisted in embarrassment, "That won''t be necessary, right?"


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes and turned his gaze to Tian Mang, who sat quietly to the side, chuckling, "Tian Mang, are you troubled by something?"


    Tian Mang shook his head, replying, "I was just imagining what this back garden looks like from your descriptions."


    Ye Heng nced at Tian Mang''s sightless grey-white eyes and his expression darkened. He turned to Xiao Yi, "Master, your medical skills are unparalleled; is there a way to heal Tian Mang''s eyes?"


    Tian Mang tensed up, an evident hint of hope in his demeanor.


    Xiao Yi shook his head, dering, "Tian Mang''s blindness is congenital. There''s nothing I can do."


    Tian Mang''s facial expression dimmed for a moment before he forced a smile, "It''s okay, I''m used to it!"


    "There''s no need to be like this, Tian Mang. In truth, having sight does not necessarily mean seeing the world clearly. Though youck physical eyes, you can cultivate the Heart Eye Skill. It is with the Heart Eye that one can truly perceive the essence of this world!" Xiao Yi exined.


    "The Heart Eye?"


    The group was taken aback, their gazes filled with confusion as they looked towards Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi''s mind conjured up the swordsmanship he had seen Tian Mang executing during a match in the Combat Pavilion, and he spoke in a deep voice, "Think back to when you were fighting someone. How did you judge your opponent''s moves and their position?"


    Tian Mang replied subconsciously, "I can''t exin it clearly, but during battle, even though I can''t see the enemy, I can somehow picture their moves and positions in my mind..."


    "That is the power of the Heart Eye Skill. You just didn''t know the proper method to cultivate it before. When we return, I will teach you the ''Heart Eye Skill.'' Use the sword as your heart, and your heart as your sight. Then, you will be able to see the world with your heart eye..." Xiao Yi said.


    This ''Heart Eye Skill'' was also one of the inheritances he had acquired from the ancient tomb.


    Use the sword as your heart, and your heart as your sight.


    The Heart Eye can observe all things in heaven and earth, and see through the true essence of the world.


    It is even more powerful than the naked eye!


    It is indeed most suitable for Tian Mang to cultivate.


    While they were speaking...


    Suddenly...


    A crisp voice came from not far away, "Who are you? Who gave you permission to stay at Lake Heart Pavilion? Don''t you know this is my personal sword training spot?"


    The group looked toward the source of the voice.


    Aboard a small boat that followed the waves, a girl in blue dress stood with a sword at her waist, frowning at them. Beside the girl was a middle-aged man who held a longsword, with a red mole between his eyebrows, his face expressionless and arrogant.


    Whoosh!@@novelbin@@


    The middle-aged man jumped up, bringing the girl with him tond in the center of Lake Heart Pavilion.


    Yang Ling said with a smile, "We are friends of Elder Dongfang Mu, resting here!"


    "Mr. Mu? Since it''s arranged by Mr. Mu, then you may stay here. However..."


    The girl uttered an "Oh," then continued indifferently, "Mr. Bai will soon be instructing me in my sword practice. You best keep away and not try to secretly learn!"


    The middle-aged man swept them a nce and snorted arrogantly, "No need for such concern, my disciple. My mastery in the way of the sword has already transcended the ordinary, even if they watch, they wouldn''t understand!"


    Xiao Yi and the others: "..."


    This fellow''s cultivation had also reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm, but the fluctuation of his Sword Intent was extremely weak, clearly only having a rudimentary understanding of the first stage of Sword Intent. Such a mediocre talent, and yet he dared to snub them?


    The group watched with interest.


    The girl was performing a sword technique, the moves stiff and unpolished.


    However, the middle-aged manmented with satisfaction, "Not bad, very good. It''s just that the angle of your ''Sand Falling, Geese Landing'' move isn''t quite right. Let your master demonstrate it for you!"


    The middle-aged man leaped into the air, his longsword drawn from its sheath in a sh, and with a piercing ring of the de, a silvery light streaked before their eyes.


    As the middle-aged man raised his arm, silver sword light ripped through the air, tracing brilliant shadows in the sky, like a flock of geesending.


    Even after he sheathed his sword, the sound of it still hummed in the air.


    If an ordinary person witnessed this sword technique, they would find it exquisitely peerless, but to Xiao Yi and hispanions, it was full of ws.


    The girl in the white dress pped her hands excitedly, "Mr. Bai truly is a master of swordsmanship, it would take me decades of hard work to reach your level!"


    "The pursuit of swordsmanship is indeed not something that can be achieved overnight!"


    The middle-aged man looked coldly at Xiao Yi and others with a smirk of faint mockery saying, "You all have been secretly observing, have you figured out the essence of my sword technique?"


    Xiao Yi and hispanions exchanged looks and smiled, "We really did not see any essence!"


    "Hmph, a bunch of rotten wood!" The middle-aged man''s face showed an expected expression.


    The girl in the white dress also shook her head and said, "My master is the great swordsmanship master Bai Zuotang, you are fortunate enough to have witnessed him personally demonstrate swordsmanship, and yet you do not take the chance to humbly learn. It''s truly a pity!"


    The middle-aged man, Bai Zuotang, proudly said, "Disciple, my swordsmanship is profound, its essence is difficult for even a sword expert to grasp, let alone thesemoners."


    Seeing Bai Zuotang''s haughty demeanor, Xiao Yi couldn''t help but feel helpless and shook his head, "Indeed, we didn''t see the essence of swordsmanship, only a sword technique full of ws and ipetence..."

 Chapter 261 You, finally came!

    When Dongfang Mu arrived at the Lake Heart Pavilion and saw the unconscious Bai Zuotang, as well as the white-dressed young girl serving Xiao Yi tea and water with a fawning expression, he too was utterly confused.


    This girl in the white dress was Dongfang Ying, the youngest daughter of the patriarch of the Dongfang Family.


    She was indeed the pearl of the Dongfang Family.


    Among the younger generation of the Dongfang Family, she was the only girl!


    Greatly pampered.


    For this reason...


    The Dongfang Family had spared no expense in hiring Bai Zuotang to teach her swordsmanship one-on-one.


    All along.


    Dongfang Ying had always greatly respected and wholeheartedly followed Bai Zuotang in learning swordsmanship. But now, seeing her not caring about Bai Zuotang lying on the ground and instead following closely behind Xiao Yi, Dongfang Mu couldn''t help but feel utterly confused, "Ying, what... what is going on here?"


    "Grandpa Mu!"


    With a brilliant smile on her face and hugging Dongfang Mu''s arms, Dongfang Ying gently shook them, "Grandpa Mu, this Bai Zuotang is just a swindler leading people astray. His swordsmanship is nothingpared to big brother''s. From now on, I want to learn from big brother!"


    "Ah?"


    Dongfang Mu''s eyelids twitched, his face full of puzzlement.


    He remembered how much Dongfang Ying had adored Bai Zuotang''s swordsmanship before!


    Dongfang Ying quickly recounted what had happened earlier.


    Dongfang Mu looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of astonishment, his shocked gaze sweeping over him.


    While he wasn''t surprised that Xiao Yi could perform the Falling Goose Sword Skill and the Subduing Tiger Sword Skill, what truly astounded him was that Xiao Yi had merely watched Bai Zuotang''s sword technique once, and improved upon it, outdoing the master.


    This ability to learn was nothing short of terrifying!


    "Grandpa Mu, please agree to it!" Dongfang Ying swayed his arm.


    "Stop fooling around. He''s Xiao, the headmaster of Xiaoshanhe Institute, not just some ''big brother''," Elder Mu scolded with a voice, seeing Dongfang Ying pursing her lips with a longing look. He couldn''t help but rub his forehead with a headache, chuckling bitterly, "Grandpa can''t decide this. You''ll have to ask your dad!"


    "Hmph!"


    Dissatisfied, Dongfang Ying snorted and pouted, "I will ask the old ancestor!"


    As she spoke.


    Dongfang Ying boarded a small boat and paddled towards theke''s edge, looking back at Xiao Yi and waving, "Headmaster brother, I will definitely convince the old ancestor to let me study at Xiaoshanhe Institute with you!"


    Dongfang Mu looked at Xiao Yi with a peculiar expression, "Headmaster Xiao, Ying has been spoiled. Please forgive her!


    "It''s alright!"


    Xiao Yi awkwardly touched his nose, pointing to Bai Zuotang on the ground, "Elder Mu, about this..."


    Dongfang Mu sighed, "I will have someone send him back to True Martial Hall!" He paused for a moment, then said, "Headmaster Xiao, everything is ready. We will rely on you for the next part!"


    "Lead the way!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Under the lead of Dongfang Mu, everyone came to the underground chamber of the Dongfang Family.


    This chamber was a thousand meters below the ground.


    The chamber was exceptionally quiet.


    It had a Spirit Gathering Formation, making the spiritual energy here much denser than that on the surface.


    Dongfang Jin was already waiting inside the chamber. Upon seeing Xiao Yi arrive, he hurriedly greeted him, unable to hide the excitement on his face, "Headmaster Xiao, we entrust everything to you!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Yang Ling and the others stood guard outside the chamber.


    Dongfang Jin sat cross-legged in front of Xiao Yi, staring at the young man whose appearance bore a resemnce to Xiao Tianjiao, Dongfang Jin seemed hesitant to speak.


    Xiao Yi asked curiously, "Elder Jin, do you have something to say?"


    "Headmaster Xiao, my question may be a bit abrupt, and it''s fine if you don''t wish to answer..." Seeing that Xiao Yi didn''t mind, Dongfang Jin asked, "With your talent and strength, even though you may not be on par with Xiao Tianjiao, you''re still a top-tier genius. Why did the Xiao Family expel you?"


    Xiao Yi briefly paused, then smiled and said, "That''s something you''ll have to ask Xiao Tianjiao about!"


    His grudge with the Xiao Family didn''t need to be openly discussed with everyone.


    Dongfang Jin started in surprise, then pondered for a moment before sighing softly, "I was indeed too abrupt!"


    "No harm done!"


    Xiao Yi smiled and proceeded to use the Transferring Flowers and Connecting Trees Skill.


    The destruction of Dongfang Jin''s dantian was thorough¡ªif it weren''t for Xiao Yi''s proficiency in the Transferring Flowers and Connecting Trees Skill, there would''ve been no chance for recovery.


    The demon core entered his body.


    Guided by Xiao Yi''s vital energy, it continuously repaired Dongfang Jin''s damaged dantian, merging it with his body.


    Dongfang Jin, being a strong practitioner from the Dharma Manifestation Realm, indeed exhausted Xiao Yi as he restored his dantian.


    "Congrattions, Elder Jin, your dantian has been fully restored! However, it would be wise not to use your vital energy too much for the next half month," Xiao Yi said gravely.


    The vital energy of a Dharma Manifestation Realm practitioner was immensely powerful.


    The newly integrated demon core was still very fragile and needed to be gradually nurtured. All connections had to be thoroughly solidified before it could withstand the flow of vital energy. Dongfang Jin understood this point well and nodded vigorously, his gaze filled with gratitude as he looked at Xiao Yi: "Thank you, Director Xiao. If there''s anything the Dongfang Family can do for you in the future, my family will spare no effort to help!"


    There was a distinct change in Dongfang Jin''s attitude.


    Previously, he had pledged to repay Xiao Yi only in his personal capacity, but now he was making amitment on behalf of the entire Dongfang Family.


    The two left the secret chamber.


    In just six hours, witnessing the restoration of vital energy cirction within Dongfang Jin''s body, Dongfang Mu''s face lit up with ecstatic joy.


    The Four Great Noble Families each had two practitioners from the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    If the loss of Dongfang Jin''s dantian became known, the Dongfang Family would certainly face suppression from other forces. Without exaggeration, Xiao Yi was the savior of the entire Dongfang Family. Dongfang Mu said solemnly, "Director Xiao, the patriarch wishes to meet with you!"


    "Dongfang Patriarch?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    Even Yang Ling beside him showed a look of surprise.


    The Dongfang Patriarch, known as Dongfang Kuang.@@novelbin@@


    This man was a Dharma Manifestation Realm master from five hundred years ago, a peer to the patriarchs of the ten major sects.


    In the history of the Great Qian Dynasty, he too had left a significant mark as a legend.


    Xiao Yi said in a deep voice, "Lead the way!"


    "Please follow me!"


    Dongfang Mu immediately guided Xiao Yi toward the deepest part of the secret chamber.


    Dongfang Kuang was the Calm Sea Divine Needle of the Dongfang Family.


    He rarely appeared in public.


    Very few knew that he actually resided at the most recondite part of this underground chamber.


    At the end of the secret chamber, a ce brightly lit bymps.


    In the middle, a massive bronze door slowly opened, revealing a dark entrance. Dongfang Mu spoke with a respectful face, "Director Xiao, the patriarch awaits you inside!"


    Xiao Yi frowned, "Just the two of us?"


    "The patriarch did not instruct us to enter; we cannot set foot in this forbidden ce," Dongfang Mu quickly replied.


    Xiao Yi nodded and then entered the pitch-ck secret chamber alone.


    ng!


    The heavy bronze door slowly shut.


    Scrape, scrape, scrape!


    One after another, torches were lit in the dark chamber.


    The Tongtian mes illuminated the entire chamber.


    At the same time¡­


    A hoarse and deep voice echoed within the chamber, "You have finally arrived!"

 Chapter 263 Breaking Xiao Tianjiaos Record Again!

    ```


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Xiao Yi felt his heartbeat quickening, his breath grew short and rapid as he approached the second Wood Tower before him.


    Ever since the establishment of the Great Qian Dynasty,


    Xiao Tianjiao had set countless records, and Xiao Yi never expected that even in the Dongfang Family''s Yin Yang and Five Elements Tower, records left by Xiao Tianjiao would exist. Ever since the day he was expelled from home, Xiao Yi had vowed to let the world know he was stronger than Xiao Tianjiao.


    So...


    The countless records left by Xiao Tianjiao naturallyy before him.


    "The records in the Combat Pavilion are just the beginning, not the end!" Xiao Yi took a deep breath, now standing before the Wood Tower.


    Hum!


    A green glow shed from the token in his hand, and he stepped inside.


    Hiss!


    Dongfang Kuang inhaled sharply, his body tensing suddenly, "He actually went in? Can this kid reallyprehend both the Golden and Wood elemental powers? What kind of dumb luck has the Xiao Family stumbled upon, first with an exceptional genius like Xiao Tianjiao, and now another, Xiao Yi..."


    Even after seeing Xiao Yi enter the Wood Tower,@@novelbin@@


    Dongfang Kuang still didn''t believe that Xiao Yi could break the record left by Xiao Tianjiao.


    After all,


    Someone wielding the power of the five elements of heaven and earth alone was an incredibly rare talent, not just in the Great Qian Dynasty, but in the entire Qingtian Realm.


    Simultaneously,


    Inside the Wood Tower, the first wooden puppet appeared before Xiao Yi.


    It was a tree-man, wrapped in bark, exuding vigorous vitality. With a lift of its hand, green tendrils shot out like hundreds of twisting green snakes.


    Confronted with this tree-man puppet, Xiao Yi used only a single palm.


    Bang!


    The puppet shattered.


    The Wood elemental power of heaven and earth surged into his body.


    Xiao Yi looked up towards the entrance to the second level...


    The third level.


    The fourth level.


    The fifth level...


    Just as before, ten hourster, Xiao Yi emerged outside the Wood Tower.


    Upon topping the Wood Tower, he had mastered ten percent of the Wood Attribute elemental power of heaven and earth, shattered two more Golden Elixir Halos, solidified a second dao pattern, and the quantity of his God Sealing Seed had climbed to one million two hundred thousand.


    But he still had not stepped into the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Dongfang Kuang''s face twitched, "He topped it again?"


    "Hmm!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, looking towards the third.


    Gulur!


    Dongfang Kuang swallowed nervously, "Are you going to keep trying?"


    Xiao Yi hummed in affirmation, "Xiao Tianjiao conquered five towers, I will not be weaker than him!"


    Dongfang Kuang gave a wry smile, "Xiao Tianjiao''s situation is different from yours; he is an unparalleled Tianjiao..."


    "Are you certain I am not?" Xiao Yi asked.


    Dongfang Kuang: "That..."


    Xiao Yi smiled and stepped toward the third Water Tower.


    "It can''t be¡ªdamn..."


    Dongfang Kuang hadn''t finished speaking when Xiao Yi had already set foot inside the third Water Tower.


    After ten hours.


    Xiao Yi stood before the fourth Fire Tower.


    With only fourteen Golden Elixir Halos remaining, having solidified three dao patterns of gold, wood, and water, the quantity of his God Sealing Seed soared to one million four hundred thousand.


    Watching Xiao Yi step into the Fire Tower.


    ```


    At this moment, Dongfang Kuang could no longer remain seated and stood up abruptly, his fists clenched tightly. On his usually impassive face, a strong shock surfaced along with deep anticipation, "This kid, he, he might really have a chance at catching up to Xiao Tianjiao''s record!"


    He had never thought that, in his lifetime, he would see someone catching up to Xiao Tianjiao''s record.


    As for breaking this record?


    He didn''t even dare to entertain such a thought!


    After all.


    Controlling five kinds of elemental forces was already considered miraculous.


    Ten hourster.


    Xiao Yi made his way to the fifth tower, which was also thest of the Five Elements Tower in the Yin Yang Five Elements Tower, the Tower of Earth.


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Dongfang Kuang, with clenched fists, held his breath, and even closed his eyes at the moment when Xiao Yi was about to enter the Tower of Earth, hardly daring to open them, "Did he seed? Has he entered? Xiao Yi? Xiao Yi?"


    "..."


    All was silent in front of him, no one responded.


    Gurgle!


    Dongfang Kuang cautiously opened a slit in his eyes, but Xiao Yi''s figure was nowhere to be seen. Sweat had soaked through his clothes, his fists clenched, his veins throbbing wildly, "He, he actually seeded? My heavens, this is unbelievable, he''s really done it, matching Xiao Tianjiao''s record, it''s just too inconceivable!"


    Ten hourster.


    When Xiao Yi appeared before him again, Dongfang Kuang disyed a look of wild joy and burst outughing as he approached, "Xiao Yi, youd are truly beyond expectations! Hahaha, congrattions, you''ve matched Xiao Tianjiao''s record. In terms of talent alone, you are definitely no lesser than Xiao Tianjiao!"


    "Senior, please make way," Xiao Yi said unruffled.


    Dongfang Kuang was startled and blinked, "You still want to attempt the sixth? Alright, there''s no harm in trying... However, throughout the history of the Qingtian Realm, there have been legendary figures who could simultaneously control either Yin and Yang or the Five Elements of nature. But to simultaneously master both Yin Yang and the Five Elements, the seven forces of nature, that''s never happened before. Even if you fail, you don''t need to feel dis...dis...dis...holy shit..."


    Dongfang Kuang leapt up abruptly.


    "He really seeded? This breaks Xiao Tianjiao''s record? Martial God above, this can''t be real, I must be hallucinating..."


    He swung his palm fiercely, pping his own face again and again, at least a dozen times, yet his expression was still one of bewilderment, "The Xiao Family must be blind to have expelled such a monster from their home..."


    Inside the Tower of Yin.


    Xiao Yi''s battle was not as easy as before, the battle puppets in the Tower of Yin were clearly much stronger, and even with Xiao Yi''s strength, the fight took many times longer.


    One hourter.


    Xiao Yi reached the ninthyer and sessfully broke through the five Golden Elixir Halos, condensing the Yin Dao patterns.


    The count of God Sealing Seeds climbed to three million three hundred thousand!


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    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi returned to the secret chamber, ignoring the stunned Dongfang Kuang, and went straight into thest Tower of Yang.


    "Yin Yang and the Five Elements forces of nature," Dongfang Kuang murmured, his fists clenched, his eyes bloodshot, his entire body trembling, "He, he''s defying the heavens!"


    Throughout the history of the Qingtian Realm.


    There had never been an existence that simultaneously mastered the seven forces of Yin Yang and the Five Elements.


    Today...


    He was fortunate enough to witness the birth of such a prodigy.


    However.


    This time, Dongfang Kuang waited for two full hours, yet he still hadn''t seen Xiao Yi emerge from the Tower of Yang.


    He was growing anxious.


    Three hours.


    Four hours.


    Ten hours...


    "What''s going on? Could something have happened?" Dongfang Kuang''s face was filled with worry as he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.


    Only when ten hours had passed, just as Dongfang Kuang was about to forcibly enter the Tower of Yang, a dazzling light suddenly burst forth from within the Tower. The light contained terrifying energy, its grandeur like a wild storm, which hurled Dongfang Kuang away.


    Within the brilliant, multicolored light, a vague figure could be seen, approaching through the air¡­

 Chapter 265 Terrifying Heavenly Tribulation

    Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Is it finallying?"


    Suspended in the void, Xiao Yi suddenly lifted his head, staring at the dark oppressive tribtion clouds above, a hint of solemnity in his gaze.


    Back when Xiao Tianjiao broke through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, it had only drawn a tribtion that spread out for a hundred miles around.


    But now...


    He was merely stepping into the Tao Tribtion Realm and yet the tribtion it induced already faintly exceeded a hundred miles.


    The dark, oppressive tribtion clouds were thick and gloomy, floating above the firmament like an all-epassing hand as if to take control of this world within the grasp of a palm. Inside the ck cloud mass, there was lightning and thunder.


    Violet-gold thunder lit up heaven and earth.


    Within the vastness of Great Liang Mountain, countless monster beasts were still desperately running amok.


    Trying to escape to the skies.


    Under the majesty of the heavens, all beings submit.


    The one closest to Xiao Yi was doubtlessly Dongfang Kuang, his forehead streaming with cold sweat: "This kid... what kind of monster is he? Just for breaking through to the Tao Tribtion Realm, he actually drew such a terrifying heavenly tribtion..."


    When he had broken through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, the tribtion he had attracted had only covered a ten-mile radius.


    At that time, it had nearly destroyed a city.


    Whenever Dongfang Kuang recalled the terrifying scene of surviving that tribtion, he couldn''t help but shiver with fear, his hair standing on end.


    Until recently...


    When Xiao Tianjiao stepped into the Dharma Manifestation Realm and elicited a tribtion that spanned a hundred miles, Dongfang Kuang had been astounded.


    And now.


    Not only had Xiao Yi broken Xiao Tianjiao''s record, but he had also mastered the seven powers of Yin Yang and the Five Elements, and even upon stepping into the Tao Tribtion Realm, he had already attracted a heavenly tribtion, leaving Dongfang Kuang at a loss for words to describe his current feelings.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The wild winds sweeping through heaven and earth grew ever stronger, and where the storm passed, not a de of grass remained.


    Countless creatures failed to escape in time and were swept up high into the sky.


    There, they were torn apart by the omnipresent ferocious winds.


    It was truly terrifying!


    Boom! Boom!


    Within heaven and earth, numerous wild winds coalesced into a massive tornado storm, linking heaven and earth with tornadoes that twisted their colossal columns of wind, lifting rocks and uprooting grass and trees, and even small mountain peaks were being swept up into the sky.


    The tempestuous wind and rain, in an instant, spread across most of Great Liang Mountain!


    Terrifying!


    Despair!


    The end of days!


    These were the thoughts shared by the countless beings within Great Liang Mountain.


    Even some high-ranking monster beasts that had thought to wait for Xiao Yi''s tribtion to fail and then take advantage of the chaos were now running madly towards the outskirts of Great Liang Mountain.


    The might of the heavenly tribtion had not yet descended, and yet it had already struck fear into all living things.


    "We''ve got to run... This kid is envied by the heavens!" Dongfang Kuang had intended to help Xiao Yi by preparing the sword array, but under the apocalyptic scene, he dared not linger any longer and turned to run towards the outskirts of Great Liang Mountain.


    Along the way.


    The monster beasts that normally fought upon sight now ran shoulder to shoulder with him.


    Whether human or monster beast, there was only one thought at the moment¡ªrun!


    By the time they reached the edge of Great Liang Mountain.


    Yang Jin, the old eunuch, and other powerful beings arrived in quick session, and their eyes immediately fell on Dongfang Kuang.@@novelbin@@


    A sh of cold light flickered in the old eunuch''s eyes, his face wearing a grim smile: "Dongfang, is this tribtion passer from your Dongfang family?"


    Dongfang Kuang, upon seeing the look in the old eunuch''s eyes, showed a hint of wariness.


    This inconspicuous old eunuch was none other than one of the strongest warriors of the Great Qian Dynasty''s royal family, a Peak Dharma Manifestation Realm existence.


    Dongfang Kuang spoke gravely, "Old fellow, there''s no need for you to fish for information here. I also felt the tribtion''s fluctuations and rushed over, but..." ncing at the tribtion clouds that almost covered half of Great Liang Mountain, he said with a wry smile, "This heavenly tribtion is just too terrifying!"


    With these words spoken.


    All eyes turned eagerly towards the tribtion clouds, with everyone nodding in agreement.


    Even the few demonic beasts by his side looked on with faces full of shock, speaking in human tongue, "This king has never witnessed such a terrifying heavenly tribtion!"


    "The person undergoing tribtion, if not a Great Demon inciting the wrath of heaven and the hatred of people, must be an unparalleled genius!"


    Yang Jin squinted his eyes, sizing up the high-level demonic beasts, and said solemnly, "Gentlemen, have any of you seen clearly the one who is undergoing the tribtion?"


    Dongfang Kuang shook his head and said, "Can''t see clearly!"


    The several demonic beasts also shook their heads, "Too terrifying, we simply can''t see!"


    Yang Jin and the others all frowned.


    If it had been Dongfang Kuang, they might have suspected he was lying.


    But since even these powerful demonic beasts said so, it obviously meant they had not seen clearly the person undergoing the tribtion, nor did they know the identity of that person.


    "With such a terrifying heavenly tribtion, could it be that someone is breaking through the secret realm of immortality?"


    "Impossible, the heavenly tribtion of the secret realm of immortality is far more terrible than this, it is said to be apanied by the five disasters of heaven and man..."


    "When Xiao Tianjiao underwent his tribtion, the Tianjian Sect set up a ny-nineyered sword array for him, and Xiao Tianjiao, with the power of the sword array, forcefully shattered the heavenly tribtion. The scene was truly terrifying. This person suddenly appeared at Great Liang Mountain and does not have a grand array to assist; it is unknown how he will ovee the tribtion!"


    "He chose Great Liang Mountain probably to make use of the mountain''s numerous peaks to offset the power of the tribtion thunder. However, these ordinary mountains might not be able to withstand the thunder, and he is likely to die under it..."


    Just as everyone was talking...


    Boom!


    A thunderous roar came from within the tribtion clouds.


    In the sky above, within those ck tribtion clouds that stretched over a hundred miles, a column of purple-gold thunder descended like a pir of water. Amidst the rumble, the space where the thunder light passed seemed to be torn apart.


    All of heaven and earth were shaken, and all beings were subdued.


    Great Liang Mountain, which looked as dark as night under the press of the ck Cloud, was transformed into a sea of purple-gold under this sh of thunder.


    The thunder struck directly at Xiao Yi.


    Crackle and pop!


    Xiao Yi shook violently, his body instantly turned charred ck, and blood spurted from his mouth.


    The first thunder alone was as powerful as a full blow from a peak Tao Tribtion Realm expert.


    Of course.


    If Xiao Yi had resisted with force, the thunder would not have made him spit blood.


    But he did not defend, instead hepletely opened up, calmly bearing the baptism of the tribtion thunder.


    Under the heavenly tribtion...


    He was actually cultivating the Wind Thunder Holy Body!


    The Wind Thunder Holy Body requires the baptism of the heavenly thunder to temper the physical body and the Heaven and Earth Gangfeng to polish the body.


    At this moment, under the heavenly tribtion, the Heaven and Earth Gangfeng was raging, and the thunder was the fearsome tribtion thunder.


    It was indeed the perfect opportunity to cultivate the Wind Thunder Holy Body!


    "With my body, baptized by heavenly thunder, tempered by Gangfeng, Wind Thunder Holy Body¡ª"


    Xiao Yi suddenly looked up, letting out a thunderous roar.


    Enshrouded with a radiance of myriad colors, in the watchful eyes of numerous horrified experts, he not only did not dodge the thunder, but instead rose against the heavens and charged toward the rolling clouds of tribtion thunder, where dragons of lightning danced.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye.


    The experts who had previouslymented that Xiao Yi could not possibly seed in his tribtion were stunned, "Has he gone mad? Instead of hiding, he heads straight towards the tribtion clouds?"


    "Mad, truly mad!"


    "Perhaps he knows that he cannot sessfully get through the tribtion and has given up on himself?"


    "Look quickly... the second thunder ising down, and each one is stronger than thest. The power of the ninth thunder is a hundred times that of the first. Charging directly into the tribtion clouds, he might not even withstand the second thunder..."


    At that moment...


    The radiance of the thunder, many times thicker than the first, enveloped Xiao Yi with a boom.


    There was silence between heaven and earth.


    In the minds of the onlookers, the same thought arose simultaneously: "It''s over..."

 Chapter 267 Heaven and Earth Shattering

    "Since we are cooperating, when the timees to act, none of you can hold back any longer!"


    Yang Jin''s eyes glinted with an icy sharpness as he spoke in a heavy tone, "This person has already withstood the Sixth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder, and there are three more¡­ If he can withstand the Eighth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder, we shall all strike together!"


    "No problem!"


    "Many of us are at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, as long as we stimte our profound skills together to impact the Dharma Manifestation Realm, it will be sensed by the heavenly tribtion and thus amplify its power!"


    "Nearly twenty peak Tao Tribtion Realm experts triggering the heavenly tribtion simultaneously, even if this person has extraordinary talents, there''s no way he can withstand it¡­"


    "He is certain to die!"


    A smug look appeared on everyone''s faces.


    Dongfang Kuang''s expression was indecisive, but he couldn''t make a move.


    He was very clear about the nature of Xiao Tianjiao and the Tianjian Sect.


    They would never tolerate any factors that could shake their status.


    Given the rtionship between Xiao Yi and Xiao Tianjiao, once Xiao Yi''s identity was exposed, the Tianjian Sect would be the first to go all out to destroy him. Even with Xiao Yi''s great talent, he was still too weak in the face of the Tianjian Sect and Xiao Tianjiao.


    "Damm it¡­ Under the heavenly tribtion, I am simply unable to send a message¡­" Dongfang Kuang wore an anxious look, though willing to help, he found himself incapable.


    Meanwhile.


    The seventh wave of the heavenly tribtion had already descended.


    Xiao Yi still charged into the midst of the thunder, eagerly devouring the power of the lightning.


    Devouring the previous six waves of tribtion thunder had already brought his Wind Thunder Holy Body to the third stage.


    As long as he fully absorbed these Nine-Heavy Tribtion Thunders, Xiao Yi was confident that he could step into the fourth stage.


    Once the Wind Thunder Holy Body was cultivated to the fourth stage, Xiao Yi alone, with just the power of his physical body, would be able to easily defeat those at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    The most noticeable change was in Little Lin.


    After undergoing the Heavenly Thunder Tempering, he had refined two-thirds of the dragon blood within his body; his hundred-zhang body had already swelled to three hundred zhang, and his entire body was covered in scale armor that flickered with gold light. Intricate patterns subtly marked the scales, while two protuberances rose from the top of his head.


    These protuberances were like dragon horns and still growing.


    If this trend continued¡­


    Little Lin might very well evolve into a true dragon.


    But what puzzled Xiao Yi was that Little Lin had a pair of flesh wings growing on his back; the wings were not particrlyrge for the time being but were undeniably growing. Dragons could growrge enough to soar through the heavens, swallowing stars and moons, or shrink to hide within mud and dwell upon a single leaf.


    Yet among true dragons, none had flesh wings!


    Boom!


    The seventh wave of tribtion thunder dissipatedpletely.


    In the heavens above.


    The ck tribtion clouds churned wildly, and purple-gold lightning, taking the form of thunder dragons and serpents, zigzagged through the cloud masses. The Eighth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder suddenly descended, and Xiao Yi, defying the heavens, rose again to forcibly devour this robe of tribtion thunder.


    The Wind Thunder Holy Body made further progress toward the fourth stage.


    Watching the Ninth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder already churning and taking shape inside the tribtion clouds.


    But just at that moment¡­


    Startling waves of energy suddenly converged from all directions.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank abruptly, following the energy fluctuations, he saw that led by Yang Jin, experts from ten major sects as well as, the Nangong Family and the Beitang Family, these twelve forces had simultaneously had over twenty peak Tao Tribtion Realm experts emerge.


    Every one of them began attempting to break through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    They had not yet reached the Dharma Manifestation Realm themselves, but their grand attempts to break through under the heavenly tribtion still provoked a response from it.


    Rumble!


    The Ninth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder that was about to fall was suddenly halted.


    A purple-gold spherical orb, as if a gigantic gem embedded within the ck clouds, burst forth with dazzling light that shot into the sky; its brilliance spanned ten thousand zhang, pulsing and flickering. The surrounding hundred li of tribtion clouds furiously gathered, with countless energies converging toward the orb.


    The energy within the tribtion thunder was umting swiftly, climbing higher.


    The force increased at a rapid pace.


    Tenfold.


    Twentyfold.


    Thirtyfold¡­


    The hundred li tribtion clouds condensed into a ten-li radius, all other energies congregating into that Ninth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder.


    The suppressed thunder, which had yet to be released, radiated a terrifying pressure that made the creatures within hundreds of li shudder in fright.


    Especially powerful beings like Yang Jin, who were scared out of their wits.


    Their legs could not help but tremble.


    Bowing in reverence to that heavenly might!


    "How terrifying the tribtion lightning is..."


    "Hahaha, we seeded, the power of this tribtion lightning has increased by dozens of times, the one undergoing tribtion is doomed to die without doubt!"


    Yang Jin clenched his fists tightly, his face filled with malevolence, "The Saint Heir also underwent tribtion no more than a hundred miles away, who do you think you are topare with him? No matter who you are, under such a terrifying heavenly tribtion, there is absolutely only the path to death, hehehe..."


    Xiao Tianjiao was the face of the Tianjian Sect.


    His position on the throne as the number one talent within the Great Qian Dynasty brought immense benefits to the Tianjian Sect.


    Theplexities of the interests involved are beyond words.


    In short...


    Apart from the Tianjian Sect, the top ten sects and the four great families actually didn''t want to see such an uncontroble variable emerge frequently.


    This was also why, when Yang Jin proposed the idea of borrowing the power of the heavenly tribtion to destroy Xiao Yi, he immediately gained everyone''s agreement.


    Boom!


    A thunderous beam of lightning, eclipsing the sun, fell from the sky, so fierce that it shattered a part of the tribtion clouds upon impact. Lightning bolts and electric snakes rolled incessantly, with a hissing sound that was deafening, and a storm of destruction rushed towards them.


    Above Xiao Yi''s head, the Golden Core floated, with nine Dao patterns erupting into brilliant light simultaneously.


    The Wind Thunder Holy Body was fully unleashed.


    Little Lin stayed by his side, his massive body shrouded in golden light circting like a gold-carved dragon, opening its huge mouth, with specks of blue light converging into a round light orb.


    Whoosh!


    A blue light pir gathered from Little Lin''s mouth, shooting straight into the sky, colliding with the lightning head-on.


    Boom!


    The terrifying Ninth-Heavy Tribtion Thunder crashed down.


    Like a sky-covering waterfall, it enveloped and devoured everything.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi and Little Lin were engulfed by the lightning pir in an instant, violently pushing them towards the ground in a rapid descent.


    Boom!


    The light pirnded in the midst of Great Liang Mountain.


    A massive roar echoed from the point of contact between the lightning pir and the ground, followed by a thud, as the earth trembled and the sky shattered. A circr shock wave emanated from the lightning pir above.


    The shock wave came quickly, but it also subsided quickly.


    Everything seemed frozen in time.


    Until several breathster.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom...


    Terrible tremors followed by earth-shattering explosions resounded, mountains copsed, the earth cracked, and everything was destroyed, pulverized, and leveled by the impact of the thunderous st.


    At the epicenter of where the lightning struck, a gigantic circr mushroom cloud soared into the sky, reaching for the clouds.


    As this cloud shot up.


    When everything dispersed...


    In the midst of where Great Liang Mountain once stood, there was now a huge circr in with a diameter of twenty miles...


    Thick tribtion clouds above slowly cleared away.


    Golden sunlight gradually fell down.


    All the strong beings held their breaths, not daring to utter a single sound, all looking towards the heart of the lightning strike.


    One breath.


    Two breaths.


    Three breaths.


    After a full ten breaths, the crowd saw no sign of any living being in the in.


    Yang Jin suddenly clenched his fists tightly, "Hahaha, we did it!"


    "Those who cannot be controlled should not exist in this world!"


    "The Great Qian Dynasty has the royal family, the top ten sects, and the four great families, that''s more than enough!"


    Dongfang Kuang''s face turned pale, his clothes soaked in cold sweat. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    In despair, he slowly closed his eyes.@@novelbin@@


    But just as his eyes were about to shut, he suddenly opened them wide, staring intently at the center of that in, at a pile of rubble, where a pebble the size of a thumb trembled slightly and rolled down from the pile of stones...

 Chapter 268 How Do You Want to Die?

    Crack!


    Crack crack!


    As one piece of rubble fell away, stone after stone followed suit.


    Indistinctly...


    Inside that mountain of rocks, a series of intense rumbling sounds echoed without end, as massive boulders burst apart, scattering in all directions, or else falling and smashing into the ground.


    Boom!


    With a loud noise, rocks pierced through the air.


    Two figures shot up from the midst of the stone debris.


    In the blink of an eye.


    The two figures were now suspended in midair, Little Lin still transformed into a hundred yards in size, his body shimmering with golden light, his head crowned with dragon horns, his dragon whiskers fluttering, his dragon scales dazzling with brilliant light, emitting an unparalleled majesty.


    A pair of golden wings grew from his back, stirring up gusts of wind with their slight quiver.


    Below his belly, his four ws reached into the void, creating ripples in the air.


    The aura of the Beast King seeped out.


    It made all of the surviving beasts around them kneel on the ground, quivering in fear.


    A sixth-rank Beast King!


    Comparable to the human Dharma Manifestation Realm!


    Above Little Lin''s head, Xiao Yi sat cross-legged between two dragon horns.


    The power of Wind Thunder circted around his body, obscuring his features.


    The ninth lightning strike, bolstered by the likes of Yang Jin and others, held a power that was dozens of times stronger than a normal ninth lightning strike; had he not cultivated the Wind Thunder Holy Body and swallowed the majority of the lightning''s power, that recent strike would have sufficed to erase both him and Little Lin from this world.


    Even so...


    The Wind Thunder power inside him was still violent beyond measure, hindering the condensation of the Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    Xiao Yi was exerting his entire strength to suppress the tumultuous power of Wind Thunder, enabling the Wind Thunder Holy Body to officially step into the fourth realm, and in turn, to solidify the Martial Dao Divine Fruit.


    "He... he''s not dead?"


    "Impossible! Such a powerful Heavenly Tribtion, and they still didn''t die?"


    The smug expressions on the faces of Yang Jin and the others abruptly solidified.


    Each of them stared dumbfounded at the person and beast hovering in the sky.


    Dongfang Kuang clenched his fists tightly with a flicker of excitement in the depth of his eyes, silently breathing a sigh of relief, "I knew it... With a talent far surpassing Xiao Tianjiao, how could you possibly die under that Heavenly Tribtion?"


    The facial expressions of Yang Jin and other prior attackers changed in unison.


    Could it be that the Heavenly Tribtion triggered by the unrestrained outbreak of twenty Tao Tribtion Realm experts still failed to kill them?


    "He has just ovee the Heavenly Tribtion and must be at his weakest, this moment is the best opportunity to eliminate them..." Ye Lun, the chief officer of True Martial Hall in the imperial city, narrowed his eyes and spoke gravely.


    Yang Jin''s face was expressionless, "This child cannot be spared, he''ll be a continuous threat, make your move!"


    The crowd mutually exchanged nces, silently forming a consensus.


    Swoosh swoosh swoosh!


    One by one, powerful beings soared into the sky, streaking towards Xiao Yi.


    In the void.


    Little Lin shook his head; thest wave of Heavenly Tribtion had been almost entirely devoured by Xiao Yi, so he wasn''t greatly affected. Suddenly seeing Yang Jin and othersing to kill, a hint of cold light passed through his eyes, "Was it not these guys who almost killed my boss just now, still harboring ill intentions, intent on putting me and the boss in danger?"


    Little Lin remembered very clearly, it was these people who burst forth with their energy at the critical moment, igniting the Heavenly Tribtion, that led him and Xiao Yi into a life-and-death crisis.


    Now...


    These people were thinking of attacking Xiao Yi at the critical moment of condensing the Martial Dao Divine Fruit, how could Little Lin not be furious?


    Roar!


    As Little Lin roared, his huge body flickered with golden light, his mouth forming a purplish-ck orb of light that shot towards Yang Jin and the others with a swish. This purplish-ck orb was surrounded by lightning, and serpentine bolts churned around it, containing a destructive force.


    Yang Jin and the others changed expressions, simultaneously raising their hands to form barriers of Yuan energy.


    Hum!


    The purplish-ck orb struck the Yuan energy barrier, and both forces stuck against each other like a needle to wheat.


    Suddenly...


    Boom!


    Crack!


    With a gigantic boom,


    the purple-ck orb exploded violently, causing cracks to spread over the energy barrier like a spider web, covering the entire barrier.


    Crack, a crisp sound echoed.


    The energy barrier shattered instantly, and the purple-ck energy orb flew into Yang Jin and others, exploding with a loud bang.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Countless ck chains flew out from within the purple-ck energy orb.


    Yang Jin and the others couldn''t have anticipated a second attack hidden inside the ck energy orb. In an instant, four Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses were toote to dodge, caught by the ck chains, and rendered immobile. As the chains wrapped around them, Little Lin suddenly burst out, opening its huge bloodthirsty maw, and bit into the two nearest True Martial Hall Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses.


    St! St!


    Two streams of blood shot out.


    Little Lin swallowed both powerhouses whole and chewed with a crunching sound that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    In the blink of an eye,


    both of the True Martial Hall''s Tao Tribtion Realm experts stationed in the imperial capital had be a feast in Little Lin''s belly. Its pair of cold eyes swept over Yang Jin and the others, "You''re next!"


    "Damn it!"


    Yang Jin''s heart skipped a beat, a sh of horror crossed his dark eyes, and he gritted his teeth, "This beast is ferociously cruel. If we let it escape alive, it will be a disaster for the world. Dongfang, Ancestor Nangong, Qi, please assist me in capturing this monster!"@@novelbin@@


    The ten great sects had not stationed any Dharma Manifestation Realm experts in the imperial capital.


    With Little Lin having stepped into the Dharma Manifestation Realm, they, who were mere Tao Tribtion Realm experts, could not contend with it.


    Yang Jin was hence appealing to the likes of Dongfang Kuang and others.


    Among the Dharma Manifestation Realm experts present,


    Qi and Dongfang Kuang, both at the Peak of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, were the most revered. Nangong Shengtian was not far behind, with the cultivation of the sixth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    If the three of them made a move,


    it was certain that Little Lin could only be captured.


    However, Qi simply said indifferently, "Your Highness Yang Jin, please forgive me, His Majesty has not permitted this old servant to take action!"


    Emperor Qian had only sent him to be present in case the person undergoing the Heavenly Tribtion was from the four great families or one of the ten major sects; only then should he take the opportunity to eradicate them. But clearly, Little Lin was not a powerhouse from either of these forces, and naturally, he would not rashly act and make an enemy for the royal family.


    "You wretched old dog... when my elder brother ascends the throne, I will have you executed!"


    Yang Jin red fiercely at Qi, deeply dissatisfied. Even as a prince, Qi did not take him seriously at all, and he thought maliciously to himself, then turned to look at Dongfang Kuang, "Dongfang, you..."


    Dongfang Kuang said with an expression of difficulty, "Your Highness Yang Jin, please forgive me, I have recently encountered a problem with my cultivation and really should not exert myself!"


    "You..."


    Yang Jin''s eyes were filled with ruthless venom, a problem with cultivation? As if he was trying to fool ghosts!


    He could only turn to Nangong Shengtian.


    At this moment...


    The twenty-two Tao Tribtion Realm experts from the ten great sects had already lost three more members in the battle against Little Lin. Tie Yun of the Kuangdao Sect had been bitten in half by Little Lin, with his upper body falling to the ground, his hands struggling to crawl forward as a trail of blood was dragged behind him. If no one from the Dharma Manifestation Realm stepped in to suppress Little Lin soon, all these people might be killed by it.


    Nangong Shengtian narrowed his eyes, having also yed a part in luring the Heavenly Tribtion earlier, and with a gleam shing in his eyes, he said in a deep voice, "Kill it, the beast''s corpse belongs to the Nangong Family!"


    This was the corpse of a rank-six Beast King.


    Every part of it was a treasure!


    Yang Jin nodded, "As long as Ancestor Nangong is willing to make a move and kill this beast, its corpse is all yours!" Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Good!"


    Nangong Shengtian burst intoughter, leaping into the air. He pped down from above, and a huge energy palm descended like a mountain peak, shaking heaven and earth with his cold voice, "You demon, surrender now!"


    Boom!


    The massive peak mmed hard onto Little Lin''s body.


    Little Lin, being a novice at the sixth rank, how could it be a match for Ancestor Nangong of the Dharma Manifestation Realm with six levels of cultivation?


    Sputter!


    Little Lin trembled all over, crushed by the energy palm and fell with a crash into the Great Liang Mountain. The massive energy palm in the sky condensed into a cold sword light and shed down towards Little Lin.


    This strike aimed to split Little Lin in two!


    Just as the moment was at its most critical...


    An icy voice suddenly pierced through heaven and earth, "Harm my brother, how do you wish to die?"

 Chapter 269 Are You Worthy?

    "How do you wish to die?"


    The icy voice suddenly arose.


    Meanwhile...


    In front of Little Lin, an invisible palm gradually became visible to everyone''s eyes. The light of wind and thunder slowly dissipated, and it was Xiao Yi, who had been sitting cross-legged above Little Lin''s head. He now grasped the qi de single-handedly.


    The five fingers tightened quietly.


    Bang!


    The qi de burst into explosion.


    Xiao Yi slightly lifted his head and looked toward Nangong Shengtian, Yang Jin, and the others who were not far away.


    "Hmm?"


    Everyone was startled.


    At the beginning of the descent of the heavenly tribtion, they instinctively assumed the person undergoing tribtion was Xiao Yi.


    Yet now...


    Looking at Xiao Yi standing in front of Little Lin, it was clear that he merely possessed the aura of the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    "Could it be that the one who actually underwent the tribtion was that beast?"


    "This guy is just at the Tao Tribtion Realm, and he has just broken through not long ago. There''s no way he could have induced such a heavenly tribtion. The only possibility is that beast. However, for a beast to draw a tribtionparable to when Xiao Tianjiao advanced, its bloodline must also be incredibly strong..."


    "It seems like a dragon but has wings... Such a beast is unheard of; it could very well be a mutant!"


    "If we could subdue this creature, its future would be boundless!"


    The gazes of the strong beings towards Little Lin became fervent, while Xiao Yi was instinctively overlooked by them.


    In their eyes...


    Xiao Yi was merely basking in Little Lin''s light.


    A youngster who had just broken through to the Tao Tribtion Realm, in front of these giants at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm or even the Dharma Manifestation Realm, indeed seemed as insignificant as an ant.


    Of course.


    Dongfang Kuang and Qi from the crowd did not see it that way.


    Listening to everyone''s discussion, Dongfang Kuangughed scornfully, "A bunch of idiots... How could you know that the heavenly tribtion was induced by Xiao Yi? Tsk tsk, to trigger a tribtionparable to the one Xiao Tianjiao faced when breaking through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm upon advancing to the Tao Tribtion Realm, this kid''s talent is definitely far beyond Xiao Tianjiao''s. It''s limitless! Now, only I know that it was Xiao Yi who brought about the tribtion. This is an opportunity for the Dongfang Family!"


    Although the sarcasm and triumph on his face were subtle, they were still caught in the eyes of Qi.


    Qi also recognized Xiao Yi''s identity and, seeing Dongfang Kuang''s various expressions, suddenly transmitted his voice, "Old Dongfang, it seems you share a close rtionship with President Xiao!"


    "Naturally, he... uh..."


    Dongfang Kuang subconsciously retorted and immediately thereafter, his expression changed. Angrily ncing at Qi, he said, "You old man, how dare you trick me into speaking?"


    "Hmph!"


    Qi snorted coldly and said solemnly, "Old man, we have known each other for hundreds of years, you should know my temperament. What should be hidden from me and what should not, you ought to be clear on that, right?"


    Dongfang Kuang''s face slightly changed.


    He did not want to expose Xiao Yi''s talent but only wished for the Dongfang Family to be on good terms with Xiao Yi alone.


    But then he thought...@@novelbin@@


    After all, Xiao Yi was the President of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, and at least for now, the royal family seemed to have a good attitude towards him. With this thought, Dongfang Kuang gave Xiao Yi a deep look and transmitted back, "The tribtion just now was induced by Xiao Yi." He didn''t care about the astonishment on Qi''s face and continued, "Xiao Yi has passed through my seven Yin Yang Five Elements Towers!"


    Hiss!


    Qi couldn''t help but inhale sharply.


    He knew all too well what it meant to have passed through seven Yin Yang Five Elements Towers!


    Back then...


    Xiao Tianjiao had only traversed five of the Five Elements Towers when he entered the Tao Tribtion Realm, and even so, he had already be the most talented individual in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Could Xiao Yi be even stronger than Xiao Tianjiao?


    Was that Heavenly Tribtion really brought about by Xiao Yi?


    Qi said in a heavy voice, "He is merely at the Tao Tribtion Realm..."


    Dongfang Kuang scoffed, "Who told you that someone at the Tao Tribtion Realm can''t trigger a Heavenly Tribtion?"


    Hiss!


    Qi looked at Xiao Yi, his eyes filled with disbelief. Before this, the royal family had already ced great emphasis on Xiao Yi, especially after learning that he, under the alias One Punch, had broken Xiao Tianjiao''s consecutive victory record at the Combat Pavilion. Emperor Qian''s attention to Xiao Yi had reached new heights. Now it seemed that the royal family''s understanding of Xiao Yi was still too limited.


    "With talent surpassing Xiao Tianjiao,bat strength beyond that of Xiao Tianjiao at the same realm, and capable of drawing a Heavenly Tribtion upon breaking through to the Tao Tribtion Realm... this boy must be firmly recruited!"


    Qi, who had spent his life loyally serving the royal family, had a sh of thought in his mind and made a decision, transmitting his voice solemnly, "Dongfang, we must protect Xiao Yi with all our might!"


    "Rest assured!"


    Dongfang Kuang nodded his head.


    Their conversation, all through voice transmission, took but a moment.


    Meanwhile...


    Nangong Shengtian''s intense gaze shifted from Little Lin to speak in a heavy tone, "Boy, in consideration of your young age and ignorance, I forgive your disrespect. However, while death may be avoided, punishment cannot be escaped. Kneel before me now and swear loyalty to the Nangong Family, and I shall spare you both!"


    Yang Jin''s eyes, too, burned with eagerness as he looked at Little Lin. Even the Heavenly Tribtion triggered by Xiao Tianjiao''s fire dragon''s breakthrough to the sixth rank was no more than half as intense as Little Lin''s. If he could bring Little Lin back and present it to Xiao Tianjiao, it would definitely be a tremendous achievement. He immediately said in a deep voice, "Although the Nangong Family is strong, it still does notpare to our Tianjian Sect. As long as you join our sect, I will secure a position as a Core Disciple for you¡ªan opportunity countless people dream of!"


    "Come to our Vast Righteousness Pavilion!"


    "Our Yin Yang Dao Arena is not bad either..."


    One after another, people began to speak up, attempting to recruit.


    Before this.


    They all thought it was Xiao Yi who was undergoing the tribtion, and so a human strongman, with talent not inferior to Xiao Tianjiao and beyond their control, was naturally someone they desired to deal with swiftly.


    But now...


    They thought the one undergoing the tribtion was Little Lin.


    This was a mythical creature!


    To recruit it would be akin to possessing a mythical beast to protect their sect!


    Compared to the ambitious and difficult-to-control human strongmen, such a talented mythical creature was naturally easier to control, and at the same time, an immediatebat force that all major sects and powers were eager to obtain!


    As several peoplepeted to recruit.


    Xiao Yi''s lips curled up slightly as he looked at Little Lin on his shoulder, "Little Lin, what do you think?"


    Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    Little Lin grinned, "Wherever big brother goes, I go!"


    "You all heard him!"


    Xiao Yi smiled, his expression yful as he leisurely said to the crowd, "However, I have no intention of joining any of your sides!"


    "Hmm?"


    All of them frowned.


    Nangong Sheng''s face was as dark as water.


    Yang Jin sighed, his expression turning cold and sinister as he said, "Boy, if you know what''s good for you, you''ll make your beast recognize me as its master. As long as you hand it over to our Tianjian Sect, I not only spare you from death, but I will also rmend you to Brother Xiao Tianjiao, so that you can be a servant under hismand and care for this creature. Otherwise, don''t me me for being ruthless... It''s not difficult to simply kill you and then make this beast recognize a new master!"


    Yang Jin''s gaze was icy, aggressively pressing.


    Facing Yang Jin''s coercion.


    Xiao Yi let out a light sigh, his body leaning forward slightly as he locked eyes with Yang Jin, "Have Little Lin recognize you as master? You''re not even fit to ask¡ªlook in the mirror before you say such things."

 Chapter 270 Come at me all together!

    "You''re not even fit to speak,"


    Xiao Yi''s face was thick with scorn and disdain, as his slightly leaning figure loomed like a towering mountain about to copse, bringing with it an oppressive heaviness.


    Even Yang Jin, at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, felt a shiver in his heart under Xiao Yi''s intense gaze.


    A clench gripped Yang Jin''s heart; when he met Xiao Yi''s icy stare, he had the feeling of being utterly seen through. It was as if he stood naked before Xiao Yi,pletely exposed. Such a sensation, he had only felt in the presence of some Dharma Manifestation Realm masters.


    But...


    Upon reflection, Yang Jin sneered, "Kid, you''re the most arrogant one I''ve ever seen among our peers!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders, "Thanks for thepliment!"


    "Hmph!"


    Yang Jin snorted coldly, his smile turning cruel, "Arrogance requires capital, and without sufficient strength, such arrogance is simply a death wish. Since you refuse to hand over the monster obediently, I''ll just have to take it myself!"


    The robed elder from Yin-Yang Dao said in a deep voice, "Yang Jin, everyone who sees has a share, this monster cannot be yours alone!" Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    "That''s right!"


    "Although your Tianjian Sect is powerful, if this monster is well nurtured, in the future it might be a being not the least bit inferior to Xiao Tianjiao!"


    "When ites to nurturing monsters, my Ten Thousand Beasts Sect is the true expert. Better hand it over to me!"


    One after another, the powerhouses started to speak up.


    Theypletely disregarded Xiao Yi, discussing the ownership of Little Lin.


    After all.


    In their eyes, Xiao Yi, merely at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, was far too weak.


    As insignificant as an ant.


    Could be crushed with a single finger.


    Yang Jin''splexion went from pale to flushed, never expecting that others would dare to vie with Tianjian Sect for the beast. His expression was dark as he said, "Shut up... Since everyone wants this monster, let''s take matters into our own hands! Whoever captures this young man first gets the monster, how about that?"


    Although Tianjian Sect was powerful, they did not wish topletely offend the other nine major sects.


    Left with no choice.


    Yang Jin could only make a concession, allowing everyone to make their move simultaneously, and whoever captured Xiao Yi first would effectively own the monster.


    The crowd exchanged looks.


    This was the fairest method at the moment.


    "Swish!"


    A powerhouse from the Vast Righteousness Pavilion, at the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, suddenly made a move, instantly appearing before Xiao Yi. Looking at the unguarded Xiao Yi, his face revealed an excited expression, "Haha, gentlemen, this monster shall belong to my Vast Righteousness Pavilion!"


    "Damn it!"


    "The scoundrels of Vast Righteousness Pavilion are as cunning as ever..."


    "Stop right there!"


    Yang Jin and the others were furious.


    The Vast Righteousness Pavilion had a name that suggested righteousness, but their actions often ran contrary to their name.


    Seeing one of their members already in front of Xiao Yi, Yang Jin and the others were seething with anger as if Little Lin was already slipping away from them.


    After all.


    The one who had made a move was at the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Xiao Yi was merely at the First Layer!


    The gap was too great!@@novelbin@@


    Crack!


    The Vast Righteousness Pavilion''s powerhouse''s handnded on Xiao Yi''s shoulder without impediment, his face alight with excitement as heughed heartily, "Boy, give yourself up and hand over the monster to my Vast Righteousness Pavilion. Otherwise, don''t me me..."


    Before he could finish.


    His voice was cut off abruptly.


    Xiao Yi had, at some point, broken his wrist, and while following the motion, he sped the assant''s throat with a w-like grip. Tightening his fingers, a crisp snap sounded, and the Vast Righteousness Pavilion''s strong man shuddered, spewing out a gush of blood. His head twisted to one side, his neck broken by Xiao Yi, dead before he could finish his threat.


    Hiss!


    Yang Jin and the others, who were originally furious, were now dumbfounded.


    This was a powerful being from the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Logically speaking...


    With his strength, taking on Xiao Yi, who was merely at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, should have been a walk in the park.


    How could he have died just like that?


    Another Vast Righteousness Pavilion martial artist from the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, who had been obstructing the crowd, suddenly saw hispanion killed. His eyes instantly turned blood red, and he bellowed, "You dog, how dare you kill my junior brother? You''re dead for sure, no one can save you now!"


    Whoosh!


    The martial artist from the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm soared into the air.


    Whoosh!


    Behind him, three silver Sword Qi burst forth, and in the midst of boundless light, three longswords, shimmering with silver luminescence, hovered in mid-air.


    "Vast Righteousness Qi!"


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Three streams of Sword Qi transformed into three silver streaks, stretching across heaven and earth like falling silver meteors, and in an instant, they appeared before Xiao Yi. This attack contained the power of Gold, sharp without equal, and also iparably swift, a speed that not even ordinary martial artists at the Peak of the Golden Core Realm could evade.


    "Not good, Xiao Yi is in danger!" eximed Dongfang Kuang, his face changing rapidly.


    But Qi knew that Xiao Yi had defeated Xue Wuhen from the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak when he was at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak, and he shook his head at Dongfang Kuang, saying, "Don''t worry, if he can''t even block an attack of this level, he doesn''t deserve our protection."


    "Huh?"


    Dongfang Kuang was taken aback.


    At that moment...


    Facing the three sharp Sword Qi hurtling towards him, Xiao Yi yawned and casually swung his hand.


    Whoosh!


    As he pped his hand down.


    Brilliance circted upon his palm as dazzling light swirled around it, the p growingrger andrger.


    Just in an instant...


    Bang!


    The palmnded on the three streams of Sword Qi.


    The Sword Qi trembled violently.


    And then, under the force of the palm, burst explosively apart.


    "What?"


    "Those were high-grade fifth-tier spiritual weapons, even sixth-tier spiritual weapons would not easily break them, he, he shattered those three high-grade fifth-tier spiritual weapons with just one p?"


    "How is that possible?"


    All the martial artists were agape with astonishment.


    A casual p had shattered three high-grade fifth-tier spiritual weapons!


    It was simply unbelievable.


    Little did they know...


    Xiao Yi had cultivated his Wind Thunder Holy Body to the fourth realm, his physical strength alone wasparable to a sixth-tier spiritual weapon, and with the power of the Seal of Divinity refined in his body, his vitality far surpassed martial artists of the same realm. Even against a primary sixth-tier spiritual weapon, he could withstand it with his flesh, let alone a high-grade fifth-tier spiritual weapon?


    After crushing the three spiritual weapons.


    Xiao Yi reached out and grabbed a broken sword fragment, thrusting it forward.


    Whoosh!


    The thrust was incredibly fast.


    So fast that the martial artist from Vast Righteousness Pavilion was unable to react, as the sharp broken sword pierced his brow with a ''puff'' sound.


    And with a thunderous explosion, burst out from the back of his skull.


    His entire back of the head split apart, fresh blood instantly saturated his entire body, his face still wore an expression of deep shock and disbelief, as heid straight in a pool of blood.


    After ying two martial artists from the Vast Righteousness Pavilion in the Tao Tribtion Realm, Xiao Yi shook his hands lightly and looked at Yang Jin and the others, crooking his finger, "One by one is too slow,e at me all together!"

 Chapter 272 My Name is Xiao Yi!

    Xiao Yi stood suspended in the air, seizing one of the flying swords that had been struck down by a de of elemental energy.


    His Fire Qilin Sword had already shattered.


    He had no handy weapon at the moment.


    With the flying sword in hand, he became one with the sword.


    His body as the sword, the sword as his weapon.


    "A Stroke That Surprises the Wind and Rain!"


    Xiao Yi pointed forward slightly, and sword light surged around him, carrying the supreme sharpness of sword energy, transforming into a beam tens of meters long. This beam of sword light stood across the sky like a pir holding up the heavens, its dazzling brilliance making it impossible for one to open their eyes. As Xiao Yi''s gaze moved, the sword''s edge swiftly shot out toward the spot he pointed at.


    It was as if a pen that writes the universe of ck and yellow descended upon the firmament.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Where the sword lightnded, elemental energy exploded, turning into a sky filled with sword rain.


    A violent storm erupted, and the sword rain poured down.


    This torrential sword rain fell, crushing the dozens of flying swords before it to pieces, like a terrifying river of swords opening its gaping maw and swallowing the swords in its path.


    Yang Jin''s face split with rage, filled with shock, "How can this be? My Sword Control Technique can''tmand the flying swords..."


    Sword Control Technique.


    Controlling swords with one''s mind.


    Where his thoughts went, the flying swords followed.


    But...


    Under the assault of Xiao Yi''s elemental energy sword river, his thoughts were abruptly cut off from the flying swords, as if they had been severed.


    Yang Jin had never seen such an eerie sight, but Dongfang Kuang and Qi had!


    The two exchanged nces, each seeing the shock in the other''s eyes, "Sword Intent at the thirdyer, unifying man and sword? This is the power of Sword Intent, honed to perfection, using it to shatter the telekinesis attached to the flying swords by Yang Jin... We never expected that Xiao Yi, so young, has already advanced his power of Sword Intent to such a realm..."


    "With Sword Intent this strong, he''s probably not far from the fourthyer, where the sword moves at will!" Dongfang Kuang said gravely.


    The deeper they understood Xiao Yi, the more terrifying they found him to be!


    Initially...


    They thought Xiao Yi had managed to break through from the Physical Body Realm to the Golden Elixir Realm Peak in just one or two years, astonishingly fast in his cultivation.


    But then...


    They realized that Xiao Yi''sbat power was also terrifyingly strong.


    Combat Pavilion, breaking Xiao Tianjiao''s winning streak!


    Afterward.


    Xiao Yi also passed through seven Yin Yang Five Elements Towers, even condensing nine Dao patterns, and with the cultivation at the initial stage of the Tao Tribtion Realm, he triggered the heavenly tribtion.


    This was like an unfathomable treasure!


    With continuous excavation, there were always new discoveries.


    Boom!


    A thunderous noise suddenly disrupted their thoughts.


    They saw Xiao Yi breaking through Yang Jin''s Sword Control Technique, and his figure turned into a streak of light in mid-air, with unrivaled speed, rushing past, and appearing in front of the old Daoist from the Yin Yang Dao Arena. The Daoist had earlier fired several talismans, which contained Profound Mysteries Formation, with raging mes and freezing ice.


    They kept hitting Xiao Yi.


    Had his Wind Thunder Holy Body not reached the fourthyer, he would also have suffered greatly under these stealthy talisman attacks.


    Now that his hands were free, it was natural to deal with the powerful ones from the Yin Yang Dao Arena first. Read thetest on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Damn it!"


    The old Daoist''s face drastically changed, waving the horsetail whisk in his hand.


    Whoosh, whoosh!


    The horsetail whisk shone with white light, constantly extending in length, simr to a white dragon, twisting its huge body in the air, rolling towards Xiao Yi.


    This was no ordinary item.


    It was made from the Heavenly Profound Silkworm Silk, harvested from a Sixth-Layer High-Level Monster Heavenly Profound Silkworm, extremely tough, and once it entangled someone, even a master of the First Layer of Dharma Manifestation Realm would struggle to get free in a short time.


    Whoosh!


    The horsetail whisk entangled the flying sword in Xiao Yi''s hand, and began to spread towards his arm.


    Xiao Yi instinctively let go.


    And at the same time, he retreated.


    "Come down to me!"


    The old Daoist''s face turned icy as he lifted his arm, and the whisk aggressively followed.


    Behind Xiao Yi...


    The woman in white from the Feixue Temple had her face set like still water, cold as an iceberg, as she pped the air with her slender palm. The falling snow condensed into a world of white ice and snow, and under its cover, it formed into a giant hand that blotted out the sky.


    As the giant hand reached across the sky, it aimed a strike at Xiao Yi''s back.


    Bang!


    Xiao Yi''s body trembled as he was forcefully halted by the giant hand, and at the same time, the horsetail whisk tangled around his waist.


    The old Taoist burst intoughter, "Attack quickly, he''s bound by my horsetail whisk and cannot break free..."


    Two Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sectmanded two monsters to charge at him simultaneously.


    These were two Fifth Layer High-Level Monster ck Wind Wolves, known for their incredible speed, akin to dark night gales, appearing in an instant before Xiao Yi, one biting at each of his legs, left and right.


    "Hahaha, ck Wind Wolves, bite off his legs!" the two proud powerhouses from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect eximed.


    However...


    Beneath the sharp fangs of the ck Wind Wolves, instead of seeing Xiao Yi''s legs bitten off, they emitted a series of spine-chilling, brittle cracks.


    "How is this possible?"


    The two Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses from Ten Thousand Beasts Sect looked at each other in disbelief.


    The ck Wind Wolves were infamous for their razor-sharp fangs, yet they couldn''t pierce through Xiao Yi''s flesh?


    "Seeking death!"


    Xiao Yi shook his legs, and with a snap, the fangs of the ck Wind Wolves shattered, their mouths gushing with blood, and they looked at Xiao Yi with terrified eyes before they turned and fled in panic. But Xiao Yi wasn''t about to let them escape so easily. His figure darted forward, catching up with the two ck Wind Wolves and grabbing them by their necks.


    Crack!


    With two crisp sounds, he broke the necks of the ck Wind Wolves.


    And then he leapt into the air.


    Chasing after the two powerhouses from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.


    The woman in white from the Feixue Temple''s face changed, and a blizzard swirled from her sleeves, producing a fierce storm of snow in an instant. It formed a barrier of wind and snow in front of the two powerhouses from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and the old Taoist from the Yin Yang Dao Arena, enclosing all three of them.


    The three heaved a sigh of relief and looked towards the woman in white, "Thank you!"


    The woman in white nodded slightly, about to speak, when suddenly Yang Jin''s voice, filled with shock and rage, came from behind, "Get out of the way, quickly!"


    "Hm?"


    In their daze, they suddenly heard Xiao Yi roar from behind the snowy barrier, "Er Shui Zhong Fen Bai Lu Zhou!"


    Whoosh!


    A sky-shocking de of sword light split the snowy wall in front of them in two, the terrifying sword light whistling past, cutting the four, who werepletely unprepared, into halves.


    In that instant.


    Seventeen Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses, four more fell.


    Xiao Yi remained calm and collected, surrounded by raging Wind Thunder, his icy gaze fixed on Yang Jin and the others, "Your turn now!"


    Gulp!


    Yang Jin and the others swalowed hard, their faces filled with terror.


    Seventeen Tao Tribtion Realm powerhouses, nearly half at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak, this array of true strength could even stand up to those in the Dharma Manifestation Realm!@@novelbin@@


    And the result...


    They were so easily defeated by Xiao Yi, merely at the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm?


    "Who, who are you really?"


    "I''ve never heard of such a powerful being within the Great Qian Dynasty..."


    To possess such strength at the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, even more terrifying than Xiao Tianjiao of the same realm!


    How could such a person exist without renown?


    Suddenly...


    Yang Jin''splexion drastically changed as he recalled the mysterious powerhouse he had seen at the Combat Pavilion, who bore a striking resemnce to the man before him. His face showed disbelief as he stared intently at Xiao Yi, "You, you are ''One Punch'' from the Combat Pavilion?"


    "What?"


    "He is ''One Punch''?"


    "Despite our inquiries, Xue Wuhen refused to reveal the identity of that ''One Punch'', could it really be this man before us?"


    All were disying looks of utter astonishment.


    Ever since Xiao Yi surpassed Xiao Tianjiao''s record, all factions had been exhaustively searching for the mysterious "One Punch," naturally to no avail.


    But now...


    That enigmatic, even imed to surpass Xiao Tianjiao, powerhouse was right before their eyes?


    "Yes, I am the ''One Punch'' you''ve been searching for. However, you might be more familiar with another name of mine..."


    Xiao Yi''s lips curled into a peculiar smile, and he spoke deliberately, "My name, is Xiao Yi!"

 Chapter 274 Beat Up the Beast King, A Battle to Gain Fame!

    Roar!


    Roar!


    The two Purple me Brown Qilin Lions simultaneously let out fierce roars, their blood-red eyes filled with chilling light seeking prey, sending shivers down people''s spines.


    Purple light flowed around their bodies, like mes burning fiercely in a purple hue.


    The scale-like mane on their necks resembled royal crowns, adding an air of majesty to their presence.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The two Purple me Brown Qilin Lions charged from the left and the right with extreme speed; their hefty bodies moved nimbly. As they rushed forth, they trailed twin ribbons of purple light. Their figures intertwined, withyers of purple light coiling around each other. In an instant, they appeared before Xiao Yi.


    The one from the left suddenly raised its w, and beneath the fluffy fur, sharp w des shot out with two metallic sounds.


    The silvery ws were incredibly sharp, their ringing sound chilling to the bone.


    Xiao Yi summoned the power of Wind Thunder around him, his movements exuding vital energy that he directed to his arms, forming a pir-like barrier at his side.


    Boom!


    Amidst the thunderous noise,


    Xiao Yi''s figure was forcefully knocked sideways.


    After all, the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion was a sixth-tier Beast King;bined with the innate physical superiority of mythical beasts over humans, it was able to temporarily suppress Xiao Yi.


    Meanwhile,


    The other Purple me Brown Qilin Lion had already been waiting aside.


    As Xiao Yi was sent flying, this lion opened its mouth wide, and the air around it swirled as the essence of heaven and earth converged into its maw. It formed a dazzling golden orb, condensed to the extreme, and its surface flickered with purple mes breathing in and out.


    Whoosh!@@novelbin@@


    The golden light orb shot out at an incredible speed, tearing through the void like a bolt of golden thunder.


    Striking Xiao Yi square on.


    Boom!


    In an explosion, the golden light orb burst apart.


    Amidst the blinding gold light, clusters of purple mes raged fiercely.


    The purple mes formed a sea of fire engulfing Xiao Yipletely; this was the Innate Divine Ability of the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion, the Purple Heavenly Fire.


    Forged from the absorbed essence of the sun and the moon,


    Capable of burning all things!


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, now let''s see how you die!" Yang Jin gloated, "The Purple Heavenly Fire of the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion can burn all things. Even those in the Dharma Manifestation Realm find it hard to resist, let alone you, merely at the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm. Keke, this is the fate of those who oppose the Saint Heir..."


    No sooner had he finished speaking,


    A violent wind suddenly appeared within the zing purple mes.


    A cyan storm lifted the fiery purple ze, forming a fire tornado that spiraled into the sky.


    Within the storm,


    Crackle and pop!


    Streaks of purple-gold thunderbolts emerged, and under their assault, the Purple Heavenly Fire released by the Purple me Brown Qilin Lions was forcefully dispersed.


    When all settled,


    Xiao Yi walked out from the scorched earth, unharmed.


    His hands were sped behind his back, the corner of his mouth raised slightly, and his zing gaze fell upon the two Purple me Brown Qilin Lions, "Not bad at all. The two stone beasts at the gates of my Xiaoshanhe Institute are somewhat damaged. Capturing you two to stand guard would be just perfect!"


    "How dare you!"


    "We are esteemed Beast Kings; how could you think of having us stand guard? You''re courting death!"


    Both Purple me Brown Qilin Lions roared in anger.


    They were the Beast Kings of the Great Liang Mountain, beings of the sixth tier, on par with the giants of the Dharma Manifestation Realm among humans.


    Even when Yang Jin recruited them, he had promised them the lofty position of guardian divine beasts.


    And now Xiao Yi dared to suggest they should stand guard?


    "For you to stand guard for me is already giving you too much credit!"


    Xiao Yi licked his lips, his hands rubbing together with a snapping sound. As he stepped forward, a series of afterimages were left behind, and with a piercing swoosh, Xiao Yi abruptly appeared in front of the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion to the left. "Vajra Subdues Demons!"


    Hum!


    Behind him, it was as if a Wrathful Vajra had opened its eyes.


    Those majestic, ice-cold eyes exuded a sharpness that made one''s heart tremble with fear.


    Boom!


    A massive golden palm descended from the sky like an imposing mountain, fiercely pressing down upon the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion.


    Roar!


    With a pained cry, the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion was struck by Xiao Yi''s palm, its legs buckling before it mmed into the ground with a thud. The ground caved in with a loud crash, cracks spreading in all directions like a spider''s web, as chunks of rock shot through the air. Xiao Yi stomped his foot, and the power of the earth surged below.


    Rumbling!


    As the ground trembled, stgmites burst forth, crisscrossing to trap the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion beneath.


    "Big brother, save me..."


    The Purple me Brown Qilin Lion roared in anger, it was the younger of the two Beast Kings.


    "Let go of my second brother!"


    The other Purple me Brown Qilin Lion abruptly opened its mouth, a golden light orb condensing within.


    Xiao Yi''s figure shed, suddenly appearing in front of it.


    With a reach of his right hand, golden light dots converged in his palm, a vast aura of vitality forming an enormous hand that seemed to cover the sky. This golden-cast hand swiftly mped over the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion''s mouth. Its eyes widened in shock as the energy orb continued to condense, swelling its mouth round and taut.


    And then...


    Boom! Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    The energy orb exploded right inside its mouth.


    The terrifying energy nearly killed the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion on the spot.


    Its body violently trembled before crashing to the ground, ck smoke billowing from its seven orifices.


    Its tongue hung limply to the side.


    It had already passed out.


    Hisss!


    The onlookers were absolutely stunned by the scene before them. The two sixth-rank Beast Kings, unable to hold out even a mere quarter-hour against Xiao Yi.


    Looking at the two Beast Kings...


    One had passed out, while the other was immobilized by the earthen spikes.


    The crowd felt a chill run down their spines.


    "Is this Xiao Yi really just at the Tao Tribtion Realm?"


    "Why do I feel like he''s even stronger than a typical Dharma Manifestation Realm expert?"


    "The Xiao Family and Xiao Tianjiao really blinded themselves. Such a powerful being was driven out of his own family as if he were trash? If my n had such a descendant, we would worship him like an ancestor..." Ximen Jianxue said, shocked.


    Dongfang Kuang: "..."


    The crowd felt their minds go nk.


    Yang Jin was swallowing nervously, constantly backing away, his gaze filled with awe when looking at Xiao Yi, "How can the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm be this powerful? It''s simply impossible..."


    He looked utterly dispirited.


    His world had crumbled.


    In Yang Jin''s world, there was only a distinction between Xiao Tianjiao andmoners; no other genius wasparable to Xiao Tianjiao.


    But now...


    He realized that even Xiao Tianjiao, whom he thought was unrivaled in his heart, didn''t possess the battle prowess Xiao Yi had when he was at the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm!


    "Yang Jin, it''s your turn now!"


    Xiao Yi''s voice suddenly interrupted Yang Jin''s train of thought.


    Following the sound,


    He saw Xiao Yi standing on the Purple me Brown Qilin Lion, gesturing towards him with a hooked finger.


    Gulp!


    Yang Jin instinctively took a few steps back, looking pleadingly at the people around him for help, but they all averted their gaze. Having witnessed Xiao Yi''s formidable strength, no one was willing to face him anymore. It was no exaggeration to say that Xiao Yi had made a name for himself with this battle. Although he might not be at Xiao Tianjiao''s level yet, it was believed that soon, the Great Qian Dynasty''s list of Saint Heirs would include another name!


    Another peerless genius on par with Xiao Tianjiao!

 Chapter 277 Take your paws off!

    "Xiao, what are you nning to do?"


    Dongfang Kuang looked at the cold light in Xiao Yi''s eyes and couldn''t help but feel a shiver run through him as he asked.


    Just as the Nangong and Beitang Families were as close as branches on the same tree, the Ximen and Dongfang Families were also tightly knit.


    Ximen Jianxue said in a deep voice, "Xiao, if Xiaoshanhe Institute needs materials for Yuan weapons, my Ximen Family can provide them at half price." He paused, then continued, "As for pills and medicinal materials, I advise you to think it over. Nangong Shengtian''s words were unpleasant, but he has his confidence. If the Nangong Family does not give the nod, no one dares to sell you pills and medicinal materials!"


    Dongfang Kuang nodded in agreement.


    The Nangong Family and Beitang Family had been rooted in the medicinal pill and material trade for centuries.


    They almost had control over all the channels.


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Don''t worry, I won''t be reckless!"


    Seeing this, the two men didn''t press further.


    Xiao Yi said, "Dongfang, Ximen, regarding Yuan weapons and the materials for forging them, we must rely heavily on both of your cooperation!"


    "Of course!"


    Dongfang Kuang nodded, then said, "Henceforth, for any Yuan weapons and materials supplied to Xiaoshanhe Institute, we will give them to you at fifty percent of the market price!"


    Xiao Yi smiled and shook his head.


    Dongfang Kuang was taken aback and exined, "Xiao, you know that the difficulty of forging Yuan weapons is extremely high, and the material waste is great. The profits are not as high as that of medicinal pills. Fifty percent of the market price is already the limit we can afford!"


    "Dongfang, don''t be so formal and call me ''Xiao''," Xiao Yi said with a smile, "Just call me by my name!"


    Xiao Yi chuckled and then said, "I, Xiao Yi, don''t like to take advantage of my own people. Whatever the market price is, let''s just trade at that rate!"


    "This..."


    Dongfang Kuang and Ximen Jianxue looked at each other.


    They had thought Xiao Yi was haggling for a lower price, but he didn''t want any discount at all.


    Xiao Yi said, "We''re all family here!"


    "Right, right, right, we''re all family!" Dongfang Kuangughed.


    Ximen Jianxue also smiled and nodded his head.


    With the strength Xiao Yi had shown, as long as he didn''t fall, his future achievements would be boundless.


    This was greatly beneficial for both their families as well.


    Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xiao Yi said, "I will have someone take over the cooperation matters!"


    "Shall we head back then?"


    "Hmm!"


    The three of them left, piercing through the air.


    Dongfang Kuang and Ximen Jianxue headed straight for the imperial capital, while Xiao Yi made his way toward Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Now, with the funds for rebuilding Xiaoshanhe Institute secured¡ªa whopping trillion taels of silver¡ªhe could support an expansion of the institute''s scale by tenfold for decades. The most pressing issue was recruiting new disciples and instructors, and Xiao Yi also had aprehensive reform n in mind for Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    All these needed to be set in motion.


    ......


    Imperial Dragon Mountain, Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Xiao Zhengde sat in the guest hall with great authority, his leg propped up arrogantly as he said, "This Xiaoshanhe Institute really isn''t up to much, is it? This ce used to beparable to the top ten sects, and yet there isn''t even onerge-scale Spirit Gathering Array. This is far too modest. Mr. Chen, it''s time you made some serious improvements..."


    Chen Shuiwen stood by his side with a sycophantic smile on his face, wringing his hands as he said, "Xiao is right, Xiaoshanhe Institute has truly fallen on hard times."


    Nowadays, the Xiao Family was on the rise.


    Ever since Xiao Tianjiao stepped into the Dharma Manifestation Realm, the Xiao Family had been showing signs of bing the fifth great noble family.


    Compared to Xiao Yi, who had been expelled from the Xiao Family, Chen Shuiwen dared not show any pretense in front of Xiao Zhengde.


    Xiao Zhengde was very pleased with Chen Shuiwen''s attitude.@@novelbin@@


    He was about to speak.


    Catching a glimpse of a figure passing by the doorway in the corner of his eye, Xiao Zhengde''s interest was piqued, and he called out, "Stop there!"


    ```


    "Hm?"


    Lin Bing Xin was startled.


    As she happened to be passing by the guest hall, she suddenly heard Xiao Zhengde''s voice and subconsciously looked back.


    Xiao Zhengde''s gaze swept over her, a hint of lust passing through his eyes. Lin Bing Xin''s figure and appearance were exceptional, igniting lustful thoughts in Xiao Zhengde. A faint smile on his face, he said, "Mr. Chen, who is thisdy?"


    Chen Shuiwen knew all too well what Xiao Zhengde was thinking.


    He quickly said, "This is Lin Bing Xin, a teacher from the Xiaoshanhe Institute!" Chen Shuiwen turned to Lin Bing Xin and said, "Lin Bing Xin, this is the head of the Xiao Family, the father of Xiao Tianjiao, the number one genius of the Great Qian Dynasty, Xiao Zhengde. Aren''t you going toe over and pay your respects?"


    "Mr. Chen, how can you speak to a beautiful woman like that?"


    Xiao Zhengde pretended to be displeased as he nced at Chen Shuiwen, but the smile on his face remained bright. He adjusted his clothes and approached Lin Bing Xin: "Teacher Lin, I am Xiao Zhengde!"


    He couldn''t help but straighten his back.


    In his eyes...


    Any woman who learned of his identity would naturally flock to him.


    This was an opportunity to rise to the top.


    However.


    Lin Bing Xin''s face was expressionless, and even a deep disgust shed in her eyes as she nced at him.


    She was well aware of Xiao Yi''s status. It was this man before her who had expelled Xiao Yi from the family and sent him to the Fang Family to be a son-inw. Of course, she wouldn''t show any courtesy to Xiao Zhengde and said to Chen Shuiwen, "Mr. Chen, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now!"


    "Hm?"


    Xiao Zhengde''s face stiffened, his eyes narrowing to slits.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face darkened as he rebuked, "Lin Bing Xin, did I give you permission to leave?"


    However, Lin Bing Xin ignored him and continued to walk towards the exit.


    "Mr. Chen, your teachers from the Shanhe Institute do carry themselves with quite the air!" Xiao Zhengde said sarcastically, with a Yin-Yang tone.


    Chen Shuiwen quickly said, "Please forgive her, Xiao. I''ll have here back immediately!"


    Chen Shuiwen immediately chased after her, shouting at Lin Bing Xin, "Lin Bing Xin, did I permit you to leave? Get back here!"


    "Idiot!"


    Lin Bing Xin looked back at him, sneered coldly, and continued on her way out.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face alternated between green and red.


    As he was caught in his dilemma...


    Xiao Zhengde''s voice echoed in his ear, "Mr. Chen, it seems the quality of your Shanhe Institute''s teachers is trulycking. Let me, the head of the household, discipline her on your behalf!"


    Whoosh!


    A surge of vital energy burst forth.


    A colossal hand of energy formed in the air and with a swish, it grabbed Lin Bing Xin. Amidst her screams, Lin Bing Xin''s body was yanked back by Xiao Zhengde. He held her throat with one hand and took a deep whiff from her hair, the faint fragrance making his eyes shine. Smugly looking at Chen Shuiwen, he said, "Mr. Chen, one must use forceful measures to deal with disobedient people. See, now she''s being obedient, isn''t she?"


    Chen Shuiwen ttered him with a reply, "What you say is absolutely right, Xiao!"


    Xiao Zhengde, still smiling, looked at the pale-faced Lin Bing Xin and said, "My beautifuldy, my son Xiao Yi is the dean of the Shanhe Institute, which essentially makes it mine. As you''re a teacher of the Shanhe Institute, you belong to me. Serve me well, and I guarantee you''ll get to live in luxury..."


    Lin Bing Xin''s eyes were filled with despair.


    Her throat was seized, and she couldn''t utter a word.


    Tears of desperation sparkled in her eyes.


    Xiao Zhengdeughed heartily, "That''s right, that''s right, I like that look of desire in your eyes..."


    As he spoke,


    Xiao Zhengde''s hand reached out towards Lin Bing Xin''s body.


    At that moment...


    A chilling voice boomed like thunder, "If you don''t want to die, take your filthy paw off her now!"


    ```

 Chapter 278 Born but Not Raised, Cut Off a Finger to Make Amends!

    "Bring your dog paw here!"


    The icy voice made Xiao Zhengde''s movements abruptly stiffen.


    Whoosh!


    As Xiao Zhengde lifted his head, he followed the sound and squinted his eyes into slits, ring at the neer with an eagle''s vignce and a wolf''s wariness.


    At the entrance of the meeting hall.


    Dressed in ck, with eyebrows sharp as des and eyes shing like lightning, stood Xiao Yi, exuding a chilling aura.


    Xiao Yi stood at the doorway, his eyes fierce like a tiger''s, emanating a chilling light as he stared at Xiao Zhengde, who was choking Lin Bingxin by the neck and about toy his hands on her. A murderous intent began to build intensely around him.


    "Who are you?"


    Xiao Zhengde suddenly spoke.


    Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    Chen Shuiwen, who had just opened his mouth, also stiffened, his puzzled gaze sweeping back and forth between Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Yi.


    His eyes filled with confusion, he subconsciously said, "Xiao, isn''t this Xiao Yi, the head of Xiaoshanhe Institute? You... you don''t recognize him?"


    This is your son!


    Although more than a year had passed and Xiao Yi had changed conspicuously in temperament, cultivation, and even height, his appearance had hardly altered. How could you not recognize him?


    Xiao Zhengde was also startled. For nearly a decade, he had only seen Xiao Yi once, the day he had announced that Xiao Yi would go to the Fang Family. Moreover, on that day, all of Xiao Zhengde''s attention had been on Xiao Tianjiao; how could he have noticed Xiao Yi''s appearance? That was why he did not recognize Xiao Yi at the moment.


    Watching the fleeting confusion on Xiao Zhengde''s face, Xiao Yi felt suffocated and agitated, an indescribable restlessness stirring within him.


    Despite continually telling himself,


    he had no rtionship with the Xiao Family anymore.


    But standing in front of Xiao Zhengde, his biological father who couldn''t recognize him, the sensation still struck at the core of his soul.


    Hu!


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and said with a firm voice, "Let her go!"


    Xiao Zhengde''s brows knitted, anger appearing on his face as he rebuked, "Is this how you speak to your father? Since you are the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, I am the institute head''s father. Everything within this institute belongs to me. I am merely asking for a woman from your institute, and you dare to speak to me this way? Your guts have truly grown fat!"


    Seeing this, Mr. Chen thought to himself: No wonder the rumors say that tensions run high between father and son in the Xiao Family. It seems all of it is true. Heh, Xiao Yi, how will you handle your father, no matter how powerful you are?


    With that thought.


    Mr. Chen fanned the mes, saying, "Xiao, it''s your fault here! Not to mention Xiao is your father, just his status as the head of the Xiao Family means that Lin Bingxin is honored by his attention. Not only should you not obstruct this, but you should also facilitate it, for this could be Lin Bingxin''s opportunity to soar from the branch to the phoenix''s perch!"


    Xiao Zhengde slightly raised his chin, very pleased with Mr. Chen''s statement, "Did you hear that? Mr. Chen here knows the ways of the world. And look at you... not even knowing how to respect your own father. I should have listened to your elder brother back then and had you killed and thrown into the mass graves. All the care I''ve wasted on you..."


    Hum!


    Xiao Yi''s head buzzed.


    Back then...


    If not for his mother, who had threatened her own life to save him, he would have died ten years ago.


    Where would there have been eight years of imprisonment?


    Seeing the profound disgust on Xiao Zhengde''s face, Xiao Yi let out a breath of foul air, pronouncing each word, "When you sent me to the Fang Family to be a son-inw, I told you that our ties of kindness and righteousness were severed. I, Xiao Yi, owe you nothing. And now you speak to me of parental grace? Ha ha ha, Xiao Zhengde, don''t you feel ashamed saying these words?"


    During those eight years of imprisonment...


    In the entire Xiao Family, aside from his mother, had anyone given him a nce?


    Had anyone brought him a meal?


    Had anyone offered him clothes?


    No!


    Nothing at all!


    "Bastard!"


    Xiao Zhengde was enraged, tossing the unconscious Lin Bingxin to the side and furiously red at Xiao Yi, "You unfilial, forgetful wretch, I brought you into this world, and that is the greatest kindness. No matter how I treat you, I am still your father. Imand you to kneel right now!"


    "Kneel?"


    Xiao Yiughed heartily, leaning forward and asking coldly, "Are you worthy?"


    Am I worthy?


    Deserve to have me kneel before you?


    Throughout my entire life...


    in Xiao Zhengde''s eyes, there was only Xiao Tianjiao. When had he ever spared a thought for this younger son of his?


    Every birthday, Xiao Tianjiao would have grand banquets, while I didn''t even receive a single word of blessing.


    Recalling my childhood efforts to capture my father''s attention, to no avail¡ªnever earning even a word of praise¡ªXiao Yi''s heart grew gradually cold. Yet before that, he still harbored hope that once he became stronger, once he was outstanding enough, Xiao Zhengde would surely look his way.


    And the result?


    My efforts ultimately served only as a bargaining chip to procure a mystical beast for Xiao Tianjiao''s mount, sending me off to the Fang Family as a despised son-inw.


    Does such a father even deserve my kneeling?


    Under the calmly intense gaze of Xiao Yi, Xiao Zhengde frowned and said condescendingly, "I came today to inform you that I will summon your elder brother back. Once he returns, you will be notified toe back home, and as long as you obediently offer an apology to your brother by kowtowing, with me by your side speaking in your favor,bined with your current achievements, I believe he will allow your name to re-enter the family records!"


    Looking at Xiao Zhengde''s pride, as though bestowing a favor for which I should be profoundly grateful.


    Xiao Yi''s fists clenched quietly, rage boiling within him as he sneered, "Kneel to him? By what right? Because he imprisoned me for eight years? Because he sent me to the Fang Family to be a live-in son-inw, just so his mount could mate? Or because he disowned me and deprived me of the right to pay respects to my own mother?"


    Xiao Zhengde, so furious that smoke could have billowed from his ears, raised his right hand to strike Xiao Yi''s face. "I''ll beat you to death, you unfilial son!"


    p!


    Xiao Yi neither dodged nor evaded, taking the p head-on.


    Half of his face turned bright red, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.


    Xiao Yi''s face was calm, his eyes coldly fixed on him.


    Xiao Zhengde bellowed, "Giving you life is the greatest kindness. Whether I kill you or sell you, you have no right to defy me."


    "Giving me life is a kindness?"


    Xiao Yi let out a bitter, mournfulugh, filled with destion, "Xiao Zhengde, ask yourself, did you ever look at me as I grew up? Did you ever fulfill the responsibilities of a father? If not for my mother, I''d have been erased from this world long ago in shame by you all. Now how can you so self-righteously stand before me and say these things? Go back. Since the moment you cast me out, I''ve had no rtion to the Xiao Family!"


    "You scoundrel!"


    Xiao Zhengde wasn''t able to contain his fury. He had thought that with his appearance and offer to let Xiao Yi return to the Xiao Family, Xiao Yi would be grateful and willinglye back with him. Not expecting a rejection, Xiao Zhengde''s face turned a deep shade of red as he roared, "You ungrateful cur, I should have listened to Tian''er back then and killed you, saved myself the trouble of dealing with your defiance now! No, I should have thrown you out to the mass graves the moment you were born..."


    Thud, thud, thud!


    Xiao Yi involuntarily took three steps back. Such cruel words, so venomous!


    "Haha, hahaha..."


    Amidst Xiao Yi''sughter tinged with sorrow, the look in his eyes towards Xiao Zhengde became unflinchingly steady.


    Whoosh!


    A silver gleam surged forth, and with a st, severed a thumb. Xiao Yi tore off a piece of his clothing to wrap the severed finger, and looking at a stunned Xiao Zhengde, he spoke deliberately, "If unbred yet nourished, gratitudests a lifetime; if bred but not nurtured, breaking a finger settles the debt! Take back this finger, from now on, all ties of father and son between us arepletely severed!"


    "You, you, you..."


    Xiao Zhengde''s eyes leaped wildly at the sight of the severed finger, his face alternating shades of anger and pallor. He bellowed like a furious lion, "You insolent brat, you''re nothing! Only I, the Xiao Family, can disown you, since when can you sever ties with me?"


    Whoosh!


    He raised his right hand high, intending to strike at Xiao Yi''s face once more.


    p!@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi raised his right hand and firmly caught his palm, speaking coldly, "I no longer have any ties with you. If you dare to raise your hand again, I will cripple you!"


    Boom!


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    Xiao Zhengde was forcefully sted away by the frigid aura emanating from Xiao Yi.


    With a loud crash, hended in the front courtyard.


    Watching Xiao Yi, with a face as cold as frost, Xiao Zhengde''s expression underwent several rapid changes, but recalling Xiao Yi''s strength that even defeated Xue Wuhen, he gritted his teeth and viciously said, "Alright, alright, Xiao Yi, good show! You just wait, I''ll make you regret ever being born..."


    "Get out!"


    Xiao Yi roared furiously.


    Xiao Zhengde, terrified, plopped down on the ground, the icy killing intent making him feel chilled to the bone, and he no longer dared to linger, quickly scrambling outside.


    Gazing at that ignominious retreat, Xiao Yi calmly withdrew his gaze and turned tond on Chen Shuiwen who stood beside him, dumbfounded...

 Chapter 280 Those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish!

    "Are you done talking?"


    Xiao Yi watched the two of them exchanging words, speaking slowly and methodically.


    Chen Shuiwen and the other person were startled.


    Xiao Yi fiddled with the cup in his hands, his face wearing a faint smile, "If you''re finished, then it''s my turn!"


    Chen Shuiwen frowned, "Mr. Xiao, what exactly do you want?"


    Xiao Yi said, "Actually, whether this is about trumping up charges or you getting what you deserve ¡ª none of that truly matters..."


    "Mr. Xiao, what do you mean by that?" Chen Shuiwen looked at him, puzzled.


    Xiao Yi stood up, stretching his limbs, and smiled, "Since Emperor Qian has handed Xiaoshanhe Institute over to me, everything within it is at my disposal. If I say you are guilty, then you are guilty; if I say you are innocent, then you are innocent. Whether there is evidence or not is beside the point!"


    "You..."


    Chen Shuiwen''s face went through a series of changes, showing a hint of horror in his eyes.


    In his view...


    Xiao Yi would surely not dare to confront him head-on if he wanted to control Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Otherwise...


    If he and a group of instructors and disciples banded together to resist, not to mention revitalizing Xiaoshanhe Institute, even the most basic management would be problematic for Xiao Yi.


    Then he would incur severe punishment from Emperor Qian.


    Moreover...


    Having managed Xiaoshanhe Institute for over a decade, Chen Shuiwen had turned it into an impregnable fortress, beyond the reach of others. It was precisely for this reason that Chen Shuiwen was so confident and fearless, confronting Xiao Yi head-on, intending to make Xiao Yi''s life difficult until he had no choice but to leave, and the control of Xiaoshanhe Institute would once again fall into his hands.


    As for forcefully removing them?


    Chen Shuiwen had never thought Xiao Yi would do such a thing, or to put it another way, in his view, Xiao Yi absolutely wouldn''t dare to do so.


    After all...


    He had deep roots in Xiaoshanhe Institute, and should Xiao Yi forcefully oppose him, he could simply take all instructors and disciples and leave. What then, with Xiao Yi alone, could be said about revitalizing Xiaoshanhe Institute?


    If it were under normal circumstances, anyone else taking Xiao Yi''s position indeed wouldn''t dare to do so.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi had already resolved to expand Xiaoshanhe Institute, and once new disciples and instructors were recruited, Chen Shuiwen''s departure, along with that of his cadre of parasites, would have absolutely no impact on Xiaoshanhe Institute. In addition, Xiao Yi held a capital of a trillion two of silver and had also formed alliances with the powerful Dongfang and Ximen families.


    As long as the issue of the elixirs was resolved, apletely new Xiaoshanhe Institute could be established.


    Why would a Xiao Yi, who had no concerns for the consequences, fear them?


    "Mr. Xiao, stop posing and posturing here. Xiaoshanhe Institute can do without you, Xiao Yi, but it can''t do without me, Chen Shuiwen!" Chen Shuiwen said confidently.


    Chen Xing nodded from the side, "Mr. Chen has devoted all his efforts to Xiaoshanhe Institute; without him, there would be no Xiaoshanhe Institute today! If you dismiss Mr. Chen without any evidence, all the teachers and students of Xiaoshanhe Institute will not stand for it, and we will surely petition to Emperor Qian about your actions!"


    "Very well, since you want evidence, I will give you evidence!"


    Xiao Yi reached out with one hand.


    Whoosh!


    The vitality was like a sea, instantly binding Chen Xing.


    Chen Xing''s body involuntarily hung in midair, his hands clutching at his neck desperately, his face full of shock, his limbs iling wildly, "Let me go... Xiao, Xiao Yi, what are you doing? Let me go..."


    Chen Shuiwen''s face was extremely unsightly, and he gritted his teeth, "Xiao Yi, are you really going to tear our faces apart?"


    Vitality fluctuated around him.


    Hiss, hiss!


    A series of low hissing suddenly echoed in his ears; Little Lin had unknowinglynded on his shoulder, its sharp fangs glinting a cold light.


    Gulp!


    Chen Shuiwen''s body trembled all over.


    The arrival of Little Lin sent a chill throughout his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cer.


    This was the feeling of death!


    It made him dare not move.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, staring at Chen Xing. Under the powerful pressure that crushed down, Chen Xing''s face turned extremely pale,pletely bloodless, his voice icy, "Chen Xing, if you confess truthfully, I can spare you from death. Otherwise, I will make you understand what it means to neither live nor die at will!"


    "I, I don''t know what you''re talking about..." Chen Xing gritted his teeth.


    "Is that so?"


    Xiao Yi gave a faint smile.


    Thud!


    A streak of silver light shed by, severing Chen Xing''s right arm at the shoulder.


    The severed arm flew high into the air and fell to the ground.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Speak? Or not?"


    "I don''t know..."


    Thud!


    His left arm was cut off.


    Chen Xing screamed in agony, his eyes reddening, "Xiao Yi... you are framing me, I..."


    Thud!


    Both legs were severed.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "If you confess honestly, not only will I spare your life, but I will also procure a Jade Fetal Elixir for you, allowing your severed body to be reborn. If you remain deluded, the next thing to part from your body will be this head of yours!"


    "I, I..."


    Chen Xing''s face was filled with terror as he watched the silver light dancing on Xiao Yi''s fingertips. Hisplexion shifted constantly until the silver light reached in front of his eyes, when he quickly bellowed, "I''ll talk, I''ll talk... I have backups of all the ledgers in my Storage Ring. Over the years, Chen Shuiwen has been embezzling imperial funds. He has swallowed nearly a hundred billion by himself, for all of which I have evidence..."


    "Chen Xing, how dare you betray me?" Chen Shuiwen''s eyes were about to split with fury.


    Chen Xing said with a bitter smile, "Mr. Chen, I, I had no choice..."


    "You..."


    Chen Shuiwen''s face was as ck as coal.


    Xiao Yi took the ledger that Chen Xing handed over, his eyes narrowing, "Mr. Chen, do you have anything to say?"


    Chen Shuiwen''s face alternated between green and white, his eyes filled with venomous hatred as he gnashed his teeth, "Xiao Yi, you''re ruthless. I admit my loss today. Yet, over these years at Xiaoshanhe Institute, I have endured hardships even if I haven''t made meritorious deeds. So what if I embezzled this money? Do you really dare to kill me?"


    Over these years.


    Although Chen Shuiwen was insatiably greedy, he had indeed cultivated many strong individuals.


    Among these strong individuals, many held high positions, or were powerful figures in their own right.


    Even if the evidence was conclusive and all submitted to Emperor Qian.


    Emperor Qian would not kill him!


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I will not kill you, but Xiaoshanhe Institute can no longer amodate you. Leave!"


    Xiao Yi''s aim had never been to kill Chen Shuiwen but to simply expel him from Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Chen Shuiwen sneered, "Xiao Yi, as the saying goes, ''The mountains do not turn, but the waters do.'' Today, I, Chen Shuiwen, have underestimated you and fallen into your hands. But don''t get toofortable. There wille a day when I will im back today''s humiliation with interest!"


    A cold snort.


    Chen Shuiwen stalked off with a flick of his sleeve.


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    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.@@novelbin@@


    A momentter...


    Little Lin flew in from outside,nding on his shoulder: "Boss, that old guy is gathering instructors and students..."


    "If those parasites choose to leave with him, it saves me the effort of weeding them out one by one."


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, then narrowed his eyes, speaking indifferently, "Little Lin, you tell those people, if they want to leave, I won''t stop them, but if they stay, they must abide by my rules."


    Little Lin blinked, "Boss, what rules?"


    Xiao Yi enunciated each word, "Those who follow me will prosper, those who oppose me will perish!"

 Chapter 281 Name Remains, Essence Gone?

    Xiaoshanhe Institute, Martial Arts Field.


    Chen Shuiwen stood on the high tform, with thousands of people standing before him.


    These were all the current instructors and disciples of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, and over the more than a decade that Chen Shuiwen had been in charge, they had be his steadfast supporters.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I, Chen Shuiwen, have exhausted all my efforts for the Xiaoshanhe Institute for decades, but ''when the hare is dead, the hound is cooked...''"


    With a sorrowful expression, Chen Shuiwen spoke in a heavy voice, "Now that Xiao Yi has ascended to the position of head of Xiaoshanhe Institute, I, Chen Shuiwen, have lost my usefulness. Just a moment ago, Xiao Yi asked me to resign from the position of Deputy Head. I, Chen Shuiwen, cannot bear to leave and cannot bear to part with all of you; I was unwilling to resign. Xiao Yi then coerced Elder Chen Xing into ndering me by using me of embezzling more than a hundred billion taels. If I do not leave, he will use this crime of embezzlement against me. I have no other choice but to resign from the position of Deputy Head of Xiaoshanhe Institute effective immediately..."


    Boom!


    As soon as this was said,


    The entire Martial Arts Field boiled over.


    Thousands of people widened their eyes in shock and bewilderment.


    Chen Shuiwen looked toward Sun Zhengyi, Zou Zheng, and others in the crowd.


    Sun Zhengyi, in stark anguish, cried out, "Ladies and gentlemen, over the years, Mr. Chen has given his all for the Shanhe Court. Xiao Yi has barely arrived at the Xiaoshanhe Institute and is already trying to eliminate dissidents, repressing Mr. Chen. Can you tolerate this?"


    "We cannot!"


    Zou Zheng shouted, "Mr. Chen has worked tirelessly for our benefit. What is Xiao Yi? What contributions has he made to the Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    "Right, we support Mr. Chen!"


    "If Xiao Yi wants to drive Mr. Chen away, he has to drive us all away together!"


    "It should be him leaving, why should you be the one to go?"


    "We support having Xiao Yi resign from the position of Head..."


    The crowd shouted one after another.


    The unified shouting of thousands of people was like thundering war drums reverberating in the skies above the Martial Arts Field.


    The corners of Chen Shuiwen''s mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile of sessful intrigue. He sped his hands together in front of his chest, tears glistened in his bloodshot eyes: "Ladies and gentlemen, there is no need for this. Xiao, the Head of the Institute, has the Emperor Qian''s instructions and is the rightful leader of Xiaoshanhe Institute. And what am I, Chen Shuiwen? I have treated the Xiaoshanhe Institute as my home, and for over a decade I have diligently and unswervingly worked without a moment''sziness... but none of that matters anymore. Since Xiao the Head cannot amodate me, then let me depart! Ladies and gentlemen, you should stay at the Xiaoshanhe Institute, I trust that Xiao the Head will certainly lead you to a glorious future!"


    His words were earnest and touched the heart of every hardship and difficulty he had faced over the past decade.


    It brought pain to those who heard it, and tears to those who saw it.


    The instructors of Xiaoshanhe Institute had long received Chen Shuiwen''s instructions and began to speak one after another: "Ladies and gentlemen, we absolutely cannot let Mr. Chen''s years of hard work be wasted!"


    "We support Mr. Chen; if Xiao the Head insists on driving Mr. Chen away, we will leave with him!"


    "Right, we will advance or retreat together with Mr. Chen!"@@novelbin@@


    The disciples, who usually spent more time with their instructors than the newly arrived Head Xiao Yi, began to speak up, "We are willing to advance or retreat together with Mr. Chen!"


    "If Xiao the Head wants to drive Mr. Chen away, then drive us all away!"


    "Advance or retreat together!"


    Sun Zhengyi raised his arms and shouted. Seeing a sea of disciples worked into a fervent state, their spirit fully ignited, a look of pride appeared on his face as he looked toward Chen Shuiwen.


    In Chen Shuiwen''s eyes shed a hint of satisfaction. Feigning emotion, he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for your recognition and support of me. Since you all wish to follow me, I will certainly not let you down! I will find a way to establish a new Xiaoshanhe Institute. If you trust in me, Chen Shuiwen, then leave with me, and I, Chen Shuiwen, promise that you will not be treated unfairly!"


    "I am willing to follow you!"


    "Mr. Chen, we will always support you!"


    For a moment.


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    All the instructors and two-thirds of the disciples chose to follow Chen Shuiwen as he left.


    Those who remained were students with mediocre talents coupled with ack of ttery. They received scant resources usually and were extremely dissatisfied with Chen Shuiwen and the various instructors. In Chen Shuiwen''s eyes, these people were trash that couldn''t be helped up, and he naturally did not care about their departure,ughing as he said, "Everyone, please believe in Chen, I definitely won''t let you down!"


    "Long live Dean Chen!"


    "Following Dean Chen''s lead is indeed the correct choice!"


    Oozing with pride, Chen Shuiwen turned his gaze to Xiao Yi, who appeared on the edge of the training field, his face wearing an arrogant look, and he proimed loudly, "Dean Xiao, if a ce does not wee me, I will find one that does. Today, due to your stubbornness, you forced us to leave the Xiaoshanhe Institute. I believe it won''t be long before you regret today''s decision!"


    Xiao Yi''s shoulder was home to Little Lin.


    Standing behind him were Yu Huaxian and others, their gazes towards Chen Shuiwen and his people icily sharp.


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curled up slightly, ncing at the crowd before him, excited, with each person standing behind Chen Shuiwen¡ªboth instructors and disciples¡ªwith an indifferent look, "If you step out of the Xiaoshanhe Institute today, you will never be employed again, having no further ties with my Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    "Who wants to have anything to do with you?"


    "Since we''ve chosen to leave with Dean Chen, we naturally won''te back!"


    "Dean Xiao, you can stay here and y the lonemander..."


    Sun Zhengyi wore a mocking smile,ughing derisively.


    All the instructors and disciples felt the same.


    Nobody was optimistic about Xiao Yi.


    A top powerhouse in a sect is indeed important, but the true foundation lies in the disciples and the strength of various instructors. Without them, one is but a lonemander, of what use is strength then?


    "Everyone, follow me and leave!"


    Chen Shuiwen made a grand sweeping gesture, and everyone closely followed him.


    As he brushed past Xiao Yi, Chen Shuiwen''s step faltered slightly, revealing a smug smile, "Xiao Yi, there''s just over two months until the ancestor worship ceremony, I''d like to see how you exin yourself to Emperor Qian!"


    "You needn''t worry yourself over that!" Xiao Yi replied indifferently.


    "Truly a case of not crying until seeing the coffin!"


    Chen Shuiwen shook his head, leading Sun Zhengyi, Zou Zheng, and the rest of the instructors and disciples away, striding off with great steps.


    For a moment.


    On the training field, only Xiao Yi''s party remained, along with the bottom third of disciples from the Xiaoshanhe Institute who had not left.


    They looked at each other, their faces a picture of bewildered uncertainty.


    Although they were unwilling to follow Chen Shuiwen, staying in the Xiaoshanhe Institute, they also saw no hope.


    After all.


    Compared with the experienced and renowned Chen Shuiwen, Xiao Yi was indeed far less famous in managing a sect.


    Moreover...


    Now that almost all instructors and disciples of the Xiaoshanhe Institute had left, with the Institute in name only, how could it return to its former glory?


    The vast training field was cast in dreary gloom.


    Xiao Yi''s sharp gaze swept over everyone, how could he not understand their thoughts? His mouth rose slightly, and he was about to speak astonishingly, "..."

 Chapter 284 The Twin Star Taoist

    ```


    Twin Star Taoist.


    His life was legendary.


    This man was born into a martial arts family. His martial arts talent was mediocre, not valued by his n.


    Thus, he took a different path and delved into the study of formation arts.


    It is said¡­


    Throughout his life, Twin Star Taoist created over 63,000 formations, virtually epassing all conceivable arrays.


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    Though he wasn''t hailed as the Medicine Saint like the Wind Thunder revered one, nor considered the pioneer of the path of alchemy, his status in the realm of formations was no less than that of the Wind Thunder revered one in alchemy. The most famous battle in Twin Star Taoist''s life was against Zhao Wuji, during which heid down over 13,800 killing formations and 21,056 trapping formations.


    He had trapped Zhao Wuji for an entire century.


    To break free from that world of formations, Martial God Zhao Wuji had forcibly shattered the once whole Qingtian Realm into bits and pieces.


    This resulted in the current five continents of north, south, east, west, and central Qingtian Realm.


    And the former world of formations, as the main battlefield, was directly sunk into the depths of the ocean.


    The path of formations, the path of alchemy, the martial path.


    Mastering any of these could grant power to rival the gods.


    If Zhao Wuji was considered the pinnacle of the martial path, then Twin Star Taoist was the dominant force in the world of formations!


    In terms of being troublesome, he was undoubtedly the first in all ages throughout Qingtian Realm!


    It was for this reason...


    Xiao Yi had held back from making his move until now.


    "Once I''ve excavated Twin Star Taoist''s grave, the only other tomb that seems promising is Zhao Wuji''s¡­" Xiao Yi looked around, even though there were many tombs here, there weren''t many that caught his eye!


    However¡­


    The Wind Thunder revered one''s consecutive warnings had made Xiao Yi more cautious and wary of Zhao Wuji''s tomb.


    He was determined not to touch it until he truly broke through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Swish!


    Inside Xiao Yi, tens of millions of God Sealing Seeds furiously converged, forming a pitch-ck palm that fiercely struck toward Twin Star Taoist''s tomb.


    Boom!


    The tomb exploded.


    Suddenly, countless formation gs shot out, with up to a thousand of themnding around Xiao Yi.


    The surrounding space twisted, revealing a piece of tranquilnd.


    It was an ancient vige.


    The vigers wereing and going, their faces bearing happy smiles. They looked at Xiao Yi with very gentle eyes.


    "May I ask¡­"


    Xiao Yi saw a girl appear ahead of him. The girl was exquisite, as if carved from jade.


    Her pigtails on either side were especially cute, and she held a tanghulu in her plump hands, hopping past Xiao Yi. When she heard Xiao Yi speak, the girl stopped, curiously sizing him up with her head tilted, her voice as pleasant as an oriole''s, "Big brother, howe I''ve never seen you before? Are you new to our vige?"@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi subconsciously nodded, "Little sister, what''s your name? Where is this ce?"


    The girl tilted her head and said with a beaming smile, "My name is Qingzhu, Fang Qingzhu!"


    "Huh?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    Fang Qingzhu?


    How could she be Fang Qingzhu?


    While Xiao Yi was stunned, he saw the girl suddenly thrust the tanghulu in her hand forward, stabbing at a young boy passing by her side. The candied hawthorn stick was as sharp as a knife, and with a ''puff,'' it sliced off the young boy''s head. His fresh blood sprayed onto the tanghulu, making the string of candied fruits even more vividly red.


    The surrounding vigers continued to go about their business with happy smiles on their faces.


    As if they hadn''t seen any of it.


    The girl pped her hands, her face beaming with excitement and joy, "My tanghulu is sweeter now! Big brother, do you want to try some?"


    In front of Xiao Yi¡­


    The girl''s appearance began to change, her body transforming to look exactly like Fang Qingzhu.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly contracted, disbelief in his eyes, "How can you kill people at will?"


    "Big brother, my tanghulu wasn''t sweet anymore, but after killing them, it''s sweet again!" said the girl innocently.


    She stuck out her blood-red tongue and licked the tanghulu.


    ```


    The sugar coating on the hawthorn fruit skewers gradually faded.


    The girl frowned in dissatisfaction, looking at the vigersing and going around her, "How annoying! The candied hawthorn isn''t sweet anymore, big brother, wait for me, okay? I''m going to add some sugar to the skewers!"


    Swish!


    Swish!


    The girl''s smile remained on her face, as beautiful as Fang Qingzhu''s, while the candied hawthorn in her hand turned into a deadly weapon.


    One life after another was imed by the candied hawthorn.


    Blood added to the bright red color on the skewers.


    The taste became increasingly sweet.


    "Stop!"


    Xiao Yi shed in front of her, staring at the girl, "You can''t just kill people at will!"


    The girl''s eyes brimmed with longing, looking at Xiao Yi with a look of grievance, her slender palm covering her heart, "Big brother, don''t you like me anymore? I just wanted to eat the candied hawthorn, why must you stop me?"


    "You..."


    Xiao Yi looked at that familiar face, filled with a sorrowful expression, and his heart twisted in pain.


    For a moment...


    It was as if it really was Fang Qingzhu standing before him.


    The girl said with a look of grievance, "You promised that you would do anything for me, are you going back on your word now? You don''t love me anymore?"


    Every word the girl spoke, every character was filled with a magic power.


    Striking directly at Xiao Yi''s heart.


    An alluring voice appeared in his mind, "It''s just killing a few people, isn''t it? She is the one you love the most; what''s the big deal?"


    Xiao Yi''s heart wavered.


    On one side was the person he loved the most; on the other, strangers who meant nothing to him.


    Suddenly...


    Xiao Yi gritted his teeth, shook his head forcefully, and the confusion and hesitation in his eyes vanished as he snorted coldly and seized the neck of the Fang Qingzhu in front of him.


    "Big brother, you... are you going to kill me? You said you''d love me and protect me for a lifetime, will you really kill me for their sake?" The girl''s eyes welled up with longing tears, her aggrieved appearance almost irresistibly stirring the impulse to protect her.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi exhaled a long breath, his voice sinking, "The real Qingzhu would never ughter the innocent like you... You can''t influence me!"


    His state of mind was ascending.


    As firm as iron, unbreakable.


    No matter how the girl in front of him tried to beguile or look aggrieved, she could not shake his spirit.


    The look of grievance on the girl''s face disappeared in an instant, transforming into a strange smile. Everything around him shattered. The vigers vanished; the vige disappeared. In front of Xiao Yi, the girl turned into a middle-aged man dressed in starry Daoist robes.


    He had somehow broken free from Xiao Yi''s grasp, his hands behind his back, and a warm smile on his face as he looked at Xiao Yi and nodded, "To break the Dream-Entering Formation of this old man in such a short time,d, you''ve done well!"


    "Are you... the Twin Stars Daoist?" Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank slightly as he took in the Ancient Heavenly Tomb reappearing around him, "Was that just a formation? How could a formation feel so real..."


    "Real? Unreal? What''s the difference? If the false resembles the true, then the true also bes false, and if the true is taken for the false, then the false also bes true. As long as you hold steadfast to your original heart, there''s no need to distinguish between reality and illusion!"


    The Twin Stars Daoist chuckled, then continued, "Lad, I sensed the aura of the Wind Thunder Holy Body on you! What is your rtionship with that fellow Wind Thunder? And what is this ce?"


    Xiao Yi said, "This is the Ancient Heavenly Tomb. I am the Celestial War General, the master here. You share the same fate as the venerable Wind Thunder, buried within the Ancient Heavenly Tomb. As its keeper, once I subdue you all, I can obtain your inheritances..."


    "The Ancient Heavenly Tomb? The Celestial War General?"


    The Twin Stars Daoist seemed taken aback, clearly unfamiliar with the Ancient Heavenly Tomb, a look of foreignness on his face, then he shook his head and said, "Well, if that old fellow Wind Thunder has also been subdued by you, and you were able to break my formation, I won''t make it difficult for you. Come, let''s see, how does the master of this Ancient Heavenly Tomb subdue us?"


    "Senor, forgive my offense!"


    Xiao Yi''s God Sealing Seed vibrated, transforming into a colossal ck hole, swallowing the Twin Stars Daoist with a swish.


    A momentter...


    Inside it, another statue appeared within the God Sealing Seed.


    At the same time...


    All knowledge of the Twin Stars Daoist regarding formations flowed into Xiao Yi''s mind, deeply imprinted within his soul, indelible!


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi exhaled deeply, finally obtaining the inheritance of the Twin Stars Daoist, and then instantly vanished from the Ancient Heavenly Tomb.


    When he reappeared in his bedroom, the anxious voice of Ye Heng came from outside the door, "Master, the people from Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi have arrived! They''ve also brought two formation masters with them, and their intentions aren''t friendly..."

 Chapter 285 Im not targeting anyone!

    Xiaoshanhe Institute, in the guest hall.


    Representatives from Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi, Hai Wei and Li Jinjun, stood with bowed heads. Before them sat a man and a woman.


    These two had considerable reputations.


    The man was known as the Purple-robed Daoist. Although he was only at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak, his status within Wendao Vi was by no means inferior to that of any cultivator in the Dharma Manifestation Realm. After all, he was a six-star Array Master.


    The woman hailed from Three Seas Mountain: Li Youruo.


    Li Youruo''s cultivation was also at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak, and like the Purple-robed Daoist, she was a six-star Array Master, holding a significant position within Three Seas Mountain.


    Yu Huaxian stood to the side, chest out, head held high, vigntly watching the four of them.


    The Purple-robed Daoist said impatiently, "Your Director Xiao sure puts on quite the air. Even meeting with Emperor Qian wouldn''t have us waiting this long!"


    Yu Huaxian responded indifferently, "Director Xiao is preupied with important matters and cannot get away at the moment. I''ve sent someone to notify him, and I believe he will be here shortly!"


    "Hmph!"


    The Purple-robed Daoist snorted coldly, nced around, and then turned to Li Youruo by his side and said, "I''ve always heard that the Xiaoshanhe Institute has fallen into disrepair for quite some time now, but I never knew to what extent. Now that I''ve seen it with my own eyes, it indeed is in a sorry state! Despite being a former presence among the top ten sects, you don''t even have a Spirit Gathering Array¡­"


    Li Youruo nodded, her words dripping with sarcasm, "In the vast Great Qian Dynasty, aside from the Tianjian Sect, which other sect''s formations canpare to ours? Before, when I heard that Xiao Yi requested a hundred thousand array stones, I thought the Xiaoshanhe Institute had some grandmaster of formations, which is why I went out of my way toe by. But now, it seems we might be returning disappointed!"


    Among the top ten sects.


    Every sect possessed a Spirit Gathering Array, of which Tianjian Sect''s was the most effective, boasting a fivefold increase in gathering efficacy.


    Immediately following were Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi.


    Both sects'' Spirit Gathering Arrays achieved a fourfold increase in efficacy.


    The condensed spiritual energy from heaven and earth transformed their respective sects into holy grounds for martial cultivation.


    Hai Wei and Li Jinjun disyed a smug look on their faces, their gaze toward Yu Huaxian growing more disdainful by the moment.


    Yu Huaxian clenched his teeth in anger yet had no words to refute.


    At that moment...


    Xiao Yi''s voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Rest assured, the two of you will not make this trip in vain!"


    "Oh?"


    The group was taken aback and looked towards the entrance.


    Xiao Yi entered the guest hall, led by Ye Heng.


    Yu Huaxian quietly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and said with pride, "The two of you, this is our Director of Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi!"


    "So you are Xiao Yi? Having the cultivation of the Tao Tribtion Realm at such a young age is indeed not weak!" Li Youruo squinted her eyes, scrutinizing Xiao Yi from head to toe, then nodded slightly. She followed up with ridicule, "You say we won''t be disappointed? Yet in my opinion, that''s unlikely! I heard that all the instructors of Xiaoshanhe Institute, including Chen Shuiwen, have left. Does anyone else among you understand formations?"


    Formation arts are easy to start but extremely difficult to truly master.


    Before this...


    Xiaoshanhe Institute had Chen Shuiwen, who was a four-star Array Master himself.


    Now that Chen Shuiwen had left the Xiaoshanhe Institute, in the eyes of Li Youruo and the Purple-robed Daoist, there was no longer anyone who understood formations.


    Xiao Yi smiled faintly and said, "Xiao has some understanding."


    "Some understanding?"


    Li Jinjun, who stood behind the purple-robed Daoist, snickered with contempt, "Headmaster Xiao, do you know who these two are before you? This purple-robed Daoist and Senior Li Youruo are both illustrious Array Masters of the Meteor Formation. Within the Great Qian Dynasty, there are hardly a handful of people who excel beyond them in the art of formations."


    Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, his face taking on a strange expression as he looked at Li Youruo and the purple-robed Daoist and saluted, "So the two seniors grace us with their presence, I''ve long admired you! May I know what brings the two seniors here today?"


    Li Youruo said coldly, "Is it you who made our two families deliver a hundred thousand array stones?"


    Xiao Yi nced at Li Jinjun and Hai Wei, who averted their gazes briefly, and he smiled, "Indeed! I believe they''ve also told you the reasons why you should deliver the array stones to me. Have the two seniors personallye here intending to go back on your word?"


    "Go back on our word? Three Seas Mountain is not so low as to renege on a hundred thousand array stones, however..."


    Li Youruo''s face, resembling old tree bark, carried an indifferent tone, "Array stones are extremely precious, and as Array Masters, we will never allow anyone to waste them."


    The purple-robed Daoist nodded and said, "If your Xiaoshanhe Institute can make good use of these array stones, we naturally won''t interfere. However, your institute most likelycks the capability!"


    The sole Array Master of Xiaoshanhe Institute had left.


    Who else had the ability to use array stones?


    Xiao Yi smiled.


    If they hade before, he indeed wouldn''t have had a retort.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi said, "You needn''t worry about that, seniors. Since I''ve requested these array stones, naturally I have the ability to make them serve their purpose without wasting a single one."


    "Is that so?"


    Li Youruo examined Xiao Yi with a mocking gaze and scoffed, "What big talk, Headmaster Xiao! Even when we are setting up formations, they can hardly avoid some damage. Yet, you im to have such confidence that you won''t waste a single array stone. I wonder which master you n to invite for the task? Surely it''s not the Headmaster Xiao who has ''some understanding'' of formations himself?"


    The purple-robed Daoist burst intoughter and said, "Li Family''s youngdy, why do you speak such harsh truths? Aren''t you embarrassing Headmaster Xiao?"


    Li Youruo snorted coldly, "Embarrass him? Wasting those hundred thousand array stones for nothing would be the true embarrassment!"


    Hai Wei smiled with irony and said, "Headmaster Xiao, if you can''t find someone to set up the formation, you could ask Elder Li to step in! Of course, Elder Li''s services don''te cheap!"


    The purple-robed Daoist said with a smile, "Xiao Yi, as long as you sincerely ask me, I can also set up the formation for you!"


    In their eyes, Xiao Yi clearly had no one to set up the formations, which is why they were so brazen.


    Faced with their teasing and mockery,


    Xiao Yi shrugged yfully and said with a sly smile, "There''s no need for the seniors to trouble themselves. Just setting up a few simple formations, Xiao can manage that!"


    "What? You''re going to do it yourself?"


    "That''s just nonsense, the ways of the formation are not like martial arts. Without sufficient time for understanding and practice, how can you possibly set up a formation?"


    "Do you understand how to set up formations? Don''t think reading a few books on formations makes you impressive!" Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "You needn''t concern yourselves with that, my institute doesn''t need to set up any sophisticated formations; just a simple Spirit Gathering Array with tenfold effect is enough for Xiao to handle. Moreover, when ites to understanding and crafting formations, you are all but trashpared to me!"@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi looked at the furious Li Youruo and the purple-robed Daoist, and with a smile, he said, "I''m not targeting anyone, but when ites to formations, you all present are trash!"

 Chapter 287 Formation Path Overwhelm

    "How would the two of you like topare? Propose a set of rules!"


    Xiao Yi said with a smile.


    He carried the double-star Daoist''s Array heritage, not to mention Li Youruo and the Purple-robed Daoist, these two mere six-star Array Masters. Even if he searched the entire Qingtian Realm, no one could surpass him in Array mastery!


    Of course...


    What he mentioned was only mastery of Array theory, not the setting up of Formations.


    After all.


    Many Formations require strong cultivation as support. Otherwise, it is simply impossible to set them up.


    With Xiao Yi''s current strength, he was more than capable of setting up any Formation below nine stars.


    Li Youruo spoke in a deep voice, "For an Array contest, it is natural to use the Formation as the standard of judgment. We won''t bully you. You requested Array stones to set up a Spirit Gathering Array, didn''t you? Let''spete in setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays. Whoever sets up the Spirit Gathering Array with the best effect will naturally be the winner!"


    The Purple-robed Daoist nodded, agreeing with the proposed method ofpetition: "Just as the Li family''s youngdy said, let''spete in setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays!"


    Spirit Gathering Array.


    It is an extremely peculiar Formation.


    The weakest is the One-star Gathering Spirit Formation, while the strongest can even exceed nine stars, bing a Divine-level Gathering Spirit Formation.


    It is said that the Divine-level Gathering Spirit Formation can achieve a ten-thousand-fold Spirit gathering effect.


    However...


    This Divine-level Gathering Spirit Formation had already been lost to history.


    Existing only in legend.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays was just a small test for him, and so he said, "Let''s do it the way you said, but I have one more condition!"


    "Speak!"


    The two were brimming with confidence.


    Xiao Yi said, "A Spirit Gathering Array can be big or small. Let''s limit it to one hundred Array stones and see whose Formation has the better effect!"


    "One hundred stones?"


    Li Youruo and the Purple-robed Daoist exchanged nces, both seeing a hint of hesitation in each other''s eyes.


    Limiting the number of Array stones greatly increased the difficulty.


    When they set up Spirit Gathering Arrays at Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi, they used a million Array stones to achieve a four-fold Spirit gathering effect.


    One hundred!


    At most, they could set up a One-star Gathering Spirit Formation, and an increase of fifty percent in Spirit gathering effect was already the limit.


    "What? Are you afraid?" Xiao Yi taunted with a smile.


    The two had never been so belittled.


    They snorted coldly and nodded, "What would we be afraid of? We''re just worried that Director Xiao might not even be able to form a Spirit Gathering Array, making a fool of himself!"


    "Then there''s no need for the two of you to worry!"


    Xiao Yi said,ughing.


    "Hmph!"


    The two snorted coldly.


    They took out three hundred Array stones, and each person took a hundred.


    The crowd moved to the martial arts field.


    Xiao Yi divided the area into three sections, each a hundred meters long and wide, a perfect square, with each person upying one.


    Themotion here naturally attracted the attention of the disciples from Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Hundreds of disciples gathered at the martial arts field.


    Some recognized Li Youruo and the Purple-robed Daoist and couldn''t help but be anxious for Xiao Yi, "Those are the six-star Array Masters, Li Youruo and the Purple-robed Daoist from Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi. Director Xiao is going topete with them in setting up Formations? Isn''t this asking for trouble?"


    "Keep it down, be careful that Director Xiao hears you!"


    "Sigh... our Shanhe Court really faces constant troubles..."


    The crowd discussed among themselves.


    Li Youruo sneered, "Director Xiao, even your own disciples have no faith in you!"


    Xiao Yi shrugged his shoulders and replied with augh, "So I''ll have to rely on the two distinguished guests to give me a boost, so these disciples can regain their confidence in their Director!"


    Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hmph!"


    The two of them snorted coldly.


    The Purple-robed Daoist spoke ndly, "We have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, let''s begin!"


    Swish!


    Yu Huaxian lit an incense stick and ced it in the censer in front of the three of them.


    Swish! Swish!


    Li Youruo and the Purple-robed Daoist had their vital energy swirling around them, with the Array stones flying up and encircling their bodies. As their fingers continuously pointed to different spots, the Array stones fell into their corresponding positions.


    Their movements were fluid and graceful.


    "Such an impressive Array setting technique!"


    "It''s so fast! They don''t even need to draw an Array diagram first, they can set up the Formation from thin air. Worthy of being six-star Array Masters!"


    "Why is Director Xiao still watching them? Director Xiao, please focus, it would be too embarrassing to lose like this..."


    The disciples shouted one after another.


    However, Xiao Yi waspletely unfazed, his arms crossed as he watched the two setting up their Formations. He nodded and shook his head from time to time, as if a teacher guiding his students: "The Array setting technique is indeed proficient, and your control of the Array stones is perfect. Worthy of being six-star Array Masters. However, your understanding of the Formation is stillcking!"


    The Purple-robed Daoist''s mouth twitched, almost wishing he could tear Xiao Yi''s mouth apart.


    What does he mean by ''understanding of the Formation iscking''?


    Did he not see their wondrous Array setting technique? In what way is itcking?


    Li Youruo spoke sternly, "Don''t be influenced by him, focus on setting up the Formation!"


    Time kept slipping away.


    Half an incense stick''s burn time.


    Two-thirds of an incense stick''s burn time...


    As time passed, already two-thirds gone, the purple-d Daoren and Li Youruo''s formations were beginning to take shape, yet Xiao Yi remained utterlyposed, without making a single move. All the disciples from the Xiaoshanhe Institute had lost hope, "It seems that Xiao has given up!"


    "Had we known it would be like this, he shouldn''t havepeted at all!"


    "It''s truly humiliating..."


    The crowd sighed with these sentiments.


    At that moment.


    The purple-d Daoren and Li Youruopleted their formations one after another, leapt up, and stepped out of the Spirit Gathering Array, roaring in unison, "Activate the Array!"


    Boom!


    Boom!


    The array stones burst into radiant light at the same time, connecting with one another; a series of light beams linked together to form two dazzling arrays. Within the arrays, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth continuously converged, and the spiritual energy within them escted.


    One part.


    Two parts.


    Three parts...


    In just a few breaths'' time, the formations had reached their peak.


    "A fifty-five percent Gather Spirit effect, not bad at all!" the purple-d Daoren said with a face full of pride. One hundred array stones had achieved a fifty-five percent Gather Spirit effect, which was an extraordinary performance from him!


    Li Youruo''s face was brilliant with a smile, "A sixty percent Gather Spirit effect, it seems I still have the upper hand!"


    The purple-d Daoren nodded; indeed, Li Youruo was more aplished in the Spirit Gathering Array. Both turned to look at the motionless Xiao Yi, sneering, "Xiao, there''s not much time left, yet you haven''t begun to set up your formation. It looks like the oue of this wager is settled, you''ve lost!"


    The purple-d Daoren said, "Kneel down and offer apologies to both of us with your head to the ground!"@@novelbin@@


    "Don''t rush! There''s still time left!" Xiao Yiughed as he nced at the quarter of the incense stick left.


    Li Youruo scoffed, "With so little time left, you couldn''t possiblyplete the formation!"


    "Even if you did, it would just be a useless formation, I''m afraid it wouldn''t even have a ten percent Gather Spirit effect!" the purple-d Daoren shook his head, confidently critiquing.


    Xiao Yi smiled, "There''s plenty of time!"


    Crack crack crack!


    He rubbed his hands lightly, causing a series of crisp sounds, and the smile on his face suddenly vanished as he intensely focused his energy. In that moment, Xiao Yi seemed like a different person altogether, his brows slightly furrowed, utterly serious, and with each movement of his hands, array stones shot out and the crisp sounds embellished as theynded around him.


    Every array stone that fell traced a strange path,pletely unlike the two purple-d individuals.


    "Such a messy array stoneyout could never possibly seed!"


    "If that formation works, I would willingly be his disciple..."


    The two purple-d individuals shook their heads in unison.


    At that time...


    Thest bit of the incense burned out.


    Yu Huaxian announced, "Time''s up!"


    Simultaneously.


    Xiao Yi leaped backward, standing outside of the formation, and eximed while smiling, "Looks like I haven''t practiced enough, but fortunately I made it in time!" He looked at the two challengers with a smile and snapped his fingers, "Gentlemen, please open your eyes wide and observe what a real formation is!"


    Boom!


    Above those array stones, beams of light soared, miraculously transforming into columns of light.


    The columns of light connected to each other, and chains of light interlocked, actually creating a formation!


    A vast white merging took ce, and a gentle breeze began to swirl in the martial arts field.


    Whoo!


    Whoo whoo!


    Whoo whoo whoo!


    The wind picked up in strength.


    And above Xiao Yi''s formation emerged a vortex, with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth continuously converging, and the internal energy of the formation soaring.


    Three parts.


    Five parts.


    Seven parts...


    In the blink of an eye, it had surpassed the Gather Spirit Array of the two purple-d Daorens.


    "This, this is impossible..."


    "How could this be? He, he was clearly acting recklessly, such a messy formation could never possess such immense power..." Li Youruo and hispanion were dumbfounded, their faces etched with shock.


    The disciples of the Xiaoshanhe Institute also shared a look of disbelief.


    This gathering of spiritual energy continued for a full fifty breaths of time, far exceeding the other two''s ten breaths.


    When everything settled!


    Inside the Gather Spirit Array, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had actually formed a thinyer of white mist, achieving a staggering effect of one and a half times its original strength!


    Thump!


    Thump!


    The purple-d Daoren and Li Youruo copsed to the ground, staring incredulously at the Gather Spirit Array before them.


    With the same one hundred array stones, they had exerted their utmost power to produce a Gather Spirit effect of sixty percent, which was already astounding.


    But what about Xiao Yi?


    His Gather Spirit Array reached one and a half times the effect, which was already at the level of a three-star Gathering Spirit Formation!


    One hundred array stones forming a three-star Gather Spirit Formation!


    No one had seen, let alone heard of such a thing!


    The thought of their earlier mockery and disdain for Xiao Yi made their faces burn; this wasn''t a contest in the way of the Array, it wasplete domination by Array! This Xiao Yi, whom they had never taken seriously, had utterly crushed them in Array prowess, reduced them to dustpletely.


    Xiao Yi looked at the two challengers with a smile, "It seems, I have won!"

 Chapter 288 Suing Xiao Yi!

    "It seems I have won!"


    Xiao Yi smiled as he looked at the two people slumped on the ground.


    Li Youruo and the purple-robed Taoist exchanged looks, finding it difficult to ept the reality before them.


    They had always been proud of their deep mastery of Formation Path and never took Xiao Yi seriously. In their eyes, Xiao Yi''s challenge in Formation Path was like an ant shaking a tree, a tiny spark trying to outshine the bright moon.


    But reality had pped them hard!


    In the end...


    They were the tiny sparks and Xiao Yi was the true bright moon.


    His brilliance overwhelmed thempletely.@@novelbin@@


    They both felt as if they had lived theirst hundred years in vain.


    "Enough is enough, I admit defeat without resentment!"


    The purple-robed Taoist let out a resigned smile, looking at his own Array that he had been so proud of for its 55% Spirit Gathering effect, then at Xiao Yi''s whichpletely crushed his with a 1.5 times multiplier, and he suddenly came to terms with it, "Xiao... no, Master above, please ept your disciple Chen Ziyi''s bow!"


    The purple-robed Taoist''s real name was Chen Ziyi.


    It was just that after bing an Array Master, people had grown ustomed to his Taoist name.


    Chen Ziyi bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle in front of Xiao Yi, meticulously, obviouslypletely convinced by Xiao Yi.


    Li Youruo''s face twitched.


    Although she was impressed by Xiao Yi''s mastery of Array Path, the thought of actually taking him as her master was still somewhat hard to ept when she looked at his youthful face.


    But seeing Chen Ziyi keeping his word, she hesitated for a moment and then, with a wry smile, said, "Master above, please ept your disciple Li Youruo''s bow!"


    Li Jinjun and Hai Wei looked at each other with cold sweat dripping down their faces, pale and bloodless.


    Hai Wei''s hands trembled, "It''s over... we''re finished..."


    Chen Ziyi and Li Youruo were pivotal figures in Wendao Vi and Three Seas Mountain, with high status and significant influence.


    They had thought to bring these two to regain some prestige.


    But now...


    Not only did they lose their wives, but also their soldiers!


    These two had be direct disciples of Xiao Yi and even joined Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    The ten great sects absolutely did not allow anyone to be part of two sects, which meant that Chen Ziyi and Li Youruo would be expelled from their sects. This was an immeasurable loss for Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi. Hai Wei and Li Jinjun could almost foresee the massive shock this news would cause their sects.


    At that time, they would inevitably suffer the consequences, with a very high probability of being executed!


    Li Jinjunmented with a wretched face, "What are we to do? I, I really don''t want to be nailed to death on Wen Dao Stage..."


    "I don''t want to cross the Sea of Knives and mes either..." Hai Wei also looked desperate.


    Within Three Seas Mountain, there was a punishment called the Sea of Knives and mes, which was truly a fate worse than death, an ordeal where one could neither live nor die!


    Yu Huaxian, who stood beside them, raised an eyebrow with a teasing look, "Why don''t the two of you join Xiaoshanhe Institute? With Xiao''s protection, I believe your sects won''t be able to do much to you!"


    "Uh..."


    The two men were stunned, looking at each other.


    They were about to rebuke Yu Huaxian, but then they thought about it, and this seemed to be the only way out!


    Although Xiaoshanhe Institute had fallen, it was still backed by the royal family, and the ten great sects had to give face to the royal family.


    "Can we really do this?" Hai Wei asked tentatively.


    Yu Huaxian smiled and called out to Xiao Yi, "Xiao, these two also wish to join Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at the two men with awkward and strained expressions, and said with a smile, "Xiaoshanhe Institute is indeed in need of people. As long as you are sincere in joining, I naturally wee you with open arms!"


    "Damn it, since it''s a dead end either way, I''ll take the plunge!"


    Li Jinjun clenched his fists tightly, gritted his teeth, and stepped forward, "Li Jinjun pays respects to Head Xiao; I''m willing to serve you loyally!"


    Hai Wei hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward as well, "To meet Head Xiao, Hai Wei is willing to toil like a dog and horse!"


    "Hahaha, wee both of you to Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    His gaze turned to Chen Ziyi and Li Youruo in front of him, "Chen Ziyi, Li Youruo, starting today, you two are my, Xiao Yi''s, named disciples. Would you like to join Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    "Do we have any other choice?"


    The two exchanged a nce and revealed a bitter smile, "Disciples are willing to follow teacher''s lead!"


    "Very good!"


    With a heartyugh, Xiao Yi waved his hand, and two scrolls fell into their hands. He said, "These are the ''Hundred Volumes of Array Path.'' You two should study them carefully. It should be no problem to enter the Seven Stars Array Master within a month."


    Hiss!


    Chen Ziyi and Li Youruo held the scrolls, looking at each other in disbelief.


    Breaking through to Seven Stars Array Master within a month?


    The two of them quickly opened the ''Hundred Volumes of Array Path,'' which detailed the path of cultivation from a Six Stars to a Seven Stars Array Master. Just as Xiao Yi had said, as long as they studied the formations recorded on the scrolls, they would definitely be able to reach the long-desired realm of Seven Stars Array Master in a short time. It must be noted that the shackles between Six and Seven Stars had stymied them for several decades.


    Within the Great Qian Dynasty, only that person from Tianjian Sect knew how to break through to Seven Stars Array Master.


    They never expected...


    That Xiao Yi would casually give them hope for a breakthrough.


    Any hint of grievance and dissatisfaction in their hearts towards Xiao Yi vanished in that moment, reced by sincere joy and obedience.


    "Disciple thanks teacher!"


    "We will not disappoint teacher. We will do everything in our power to assist teacher!" said Chen Ziyi and Li Youruo with the utmost respect.


    The corners of Xiao Yi''s mouth curled slightly.


    He knew how to wield both grace and authority.


    To him, the ''Hundred Volumes of Array Path'' was nothing more than doodles made in passing, yet it managed to secure the heartfelt submission of the two Six Stars Array Masters. Xiao Yi helped them to their feet,ughing, "As long as you two are loyal to me, being a Seven Stars Array Master is certainly not the end!"


    Gulp!


    The two swallowed hard. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    If Xiao Yi had spoken this way before, they would have scoffed.


    But now...


    They werepletely convinced by Xiao Yi and, considering that his achievements in the Array Path far exceeded Seven Stars, they naturally harbored no doubts at all.


    Chen Ziyi said gravely, "Teacher, I have some trusted aides and belongings in Wendao Vi. Please allow me to go back and bring them to join Xiaoshanhe Institute."


    "I also have some people I wish to bring into Xiaoshanhe Institute!" Li Youruo added.


    Xiao Yi felt a surge of joy.


    Since they were their trusted aides, they were bound to be the elite of Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi.


    With Xiaoshanhe Institute in need of manpower, his policy was naturally to wee all who came.


    Li Jinjun also spoke up, "Principal, I''ve also cultivated some aides in the capital..."


    "And I still have some subordinates..." Hai Wei added.


    The two had been in charge of the capital and had managed to build up some power of their own.


    Xiao Yi burst into heartyughter, "Good, good, good. I await your good news!"


    This was truly an unexpected joy!


    Not only did he acquire two disciples about to break into Seven Stars Array Master, but also two peak warriors of the Tao Tribtion Realm. Moreover, he had swept up all their direct followers in one fell swoop.


    Once this news spread out...


    It would be enough to offset the negative impact caused by the departure of Chen Shuiwen and the others.


    After handing over two hundred thousand array stones to Xiao Yi, Chen Ziyi and Li Youruo hurried back to pack their bags, intending to bring their people to Xiaoshanhe Institute before the news leaked out.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand to disperse the formation in the training ground, ready to begin setting up the Spirit Gathering Formation throughout Xiaoshanhe Institute. Just then, the figure of Qi appeared in the training ground. He looked at Xiao Yi and said, "Principal Xiao, His Majesty summons you!"


    "Qi? May I ask what it''s regarding?" inquired Xiao Yi.


    Qi spoke gravely, "Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao are lodging aint against Principal Xiao before His Majesty..."


    "Li Shengtian? Tian Xiao?"


    Xiao Yi paused, his eyes narrowing into slits, his gaze emanating two chilling beams, "Those two old men are indeed persistent ghosts!"

 Chapter 289 Confrontation in Court

    The imperial pce, the imperial study.


    Li Shengtian was filled with righteous indignation, "Your Majesty, Xiao Yi has gone too far. He has the audacity to drive Mr. Chen out of the Xiaoshanhe Institute; this is already undermining the very foundation of the institution!"


    At his side, Tian Xiao added fuel to the fire, "Your Majesty is unaware, when Chen Shuiwen left, nearly all the instructors and over two-thirds of the disciples at the Xiaoshanhe Institute voluntarily followed him. One can imagine how unpopr Xiao Yi is. To monopolize power, he actually drove the hardworking and meritorious Chen Shuiwen away, it is truly disheartening!"


    On one side of them.


    Chen Shuiwen was kneeling on the ground, his face filled with grief and despair, his shoulders twitching, unable to cry out, "Your Majesty, this subordinate is not coveting the position of deputy director. It is truly because over the years, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Xiaoshanhe Institute. I havee to regard it as my own home. Xiao Yi expelled me from the Xiaoshanhe Institute for no reason, my heart aches..."


    Li Shengtian spoke with righteous indignation, "How can such a person be in charge of the Xiaoshanhe Institute? I implore Your Majesty to rescind the order, and let Chen Shuiwen continue to manage the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    Tian Xiao dered loudly, "I implore Your Majesty to rescind the order!"


    Emperor Qian sat upright behind the desk.


    Squinting his eyes.


    Listening quietly as the three of them argued back and forth, he remained silent and showed no sign of any emotional change.


    After hesitating for a moment, Li Shengtian said gravely, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Xiao Yi even crippled His Highness Yang Jin. This man is simplywless, showing absolutely no regard for Your Majesty!"


    "Exactly, he even dared to cripple a prince, isn''t this an act of rebellion?" Tian Xiao said.


    "Rebellion? The two of you are cing a heavy usation upon me; I really can''t bear such a charge!"


    Xiao Yi''s voice came from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Xiao Yi seeks an audience!"


    Emperor Qian raised an eyebrow, his squinted eyes opening slightly, and said, "Enter!"


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Yi entered the imperial study with his head held high and chest out.


    Head held high, chest out.


    His stature as upright as pine and cypress, his backbone like a piercing heavenly sword.@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi bowed to Emperor Qian, "Xiao Yi pays respects to Your Majesty!"


    "Hmm!"


    Emperor Qian, neither joyous nor sad, with an unreadable expression, said indifferently, "Xiao Yi, Mr. Li and Tian, along with Chen Shuiwen, use you of clinging to power for your own personal gain, forcing Chen Shuiwen to leave the Xiaoshanhe Institute. Is there truth to this?"


    Xiao Yi, with a detached gaze, nced at the three men and said, "There is!"


    "Your Majesty, see, he has admitted it!" Li Shengtian said.


    Tian Xiao followed up, "How brazen, Xiao Yi! Chen Shuiwen is the deputy director appointed by Your Majesty. Who gave you the authority to dismiss him?"


    Emperor Qian remained silent.


    Xiao Yi, calm andposed, looked at the two men and spoke neither humbly nor haughtily, "The authority granted to me by Your Majesty, is that sufficient?"


    "The authority given to you by His Majesty?"


    Li Shengtian scoffed, "Xiao Yi, oh Xiao Yi, do you dare spout nonsense in front of His Majesty? His Majesty is a wise ruler, how could He grant you such authority?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "Are you suggesting, Mr. Li, that if this authority really were granted by His Majesty, He would be a negligent ruler?"


    "Of course..."


    Li Shengtian nodded subconsciously, immediately regretting his words as soon as they left his mouth. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    "How audacious!"


    Xiao Yi already had raised his voice to rebuke, his roar like thunder, causing Li Shengtian''splexion to suddenly turn stark white, "Li Shengtian, what are you worth? How dare you insult His Majesty by calling him a negligent ruler?"


    Li Shengtian''s face turned pale, and he quickly denied, "You, you, you''re farting, when did I ever say that His Majesty is a muddle-headed ruler?"


    Xiao Yi bowed respectfully towards Emperor Qian and said, "When His Majesty initially appointed me as head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, he mentioned that the institute would be under my full responsibility. Since it is full responsibility, then not to mention expelling the institute''s parasites, even if I decided to kill them, outsiders could not fault me. You say His Majesty is a wise ruler, and wouldn''t endow me with such power. Now that I have been granted this power by His Majesty, are you not implying that His Majesty is a muddle-headed ruler?"


    "I, I..."


    Li Shengtian, sweating profusely, quickly turned to Emperor Qian.


    Emperor Qian spoke solemnly, "Indeed, it is a power I gave him."


    Thump!


    Li Shengtian fell to his knees, his head banging against the floor, "Your Majesty, forgive me, your servant... your servant never had such intentions, this is all Xiao Yi''s misinterpretation of your servant..."


    "Enough, Li, there is no need for this, you are my trusted official, and I naturally trust you," said Emperor Qian.


    Emperor Qian waved his hand, signaling Li Shengtian to stand up. He turned to Xiao Yi and said, "Xiao Yi, although I have given you the authority, you are in charge of the Xiaoshanhe Institute. I should not intervene, but since Mr. Li and Mr. Tian have filed aint against you, you should tell them why you expelled Chen Shuiwen from the Xiaoshanhe Institute."


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "The royal family allocates ten billion silver to the Xiaoshanhe Institute every year, but ording to my investigations, the institute''s monthly expenditure is merely three hundred million silver. There should be a surplus of over sixty billion silver each year. Chen Shuiwen has been in charge of the Xiaoshanhe Institute for over a decade, which by reasoning should have resulted in a fund of no less than one hundred billion silver, yet now the treasury only holds a few million silver..."


    "What?"


    "A few million silver?"


    Even Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao were taken aback, ring at Chen Shuiwen.


    This information was something Chen Shuiwen had not told them!


    But Chen Shuiwen was prepared, and with a sinister smile, he drew out from his bosom a thick ount book that appeared aged. He thought to himself with silent glee: Thank goodness I was clever enough to prepare a true and a false set of ount books.


    The true ount book had already been burned away.


    The false ount book was the one in his hands.


    Xiao Yi''s eyebrows tightened.


    Chen Shuiwen gave him a provocative look.


    Emperor Qian flipped through the ount book. Indeed, inside were detailed records of all expenses, including nearly seventy billion spent on just one ancestral worship ceremony. Emperor Qian frowned and said, "An ancestral worship ceremony requires seventy billion?"


    "Your Majesty may not know, the ceremonial standards for the ancestral worship are the highest and naturally the expenses are a bit more!" Chen Shuiwen cried out with an anguished face, "Oh, Your Majesty, I have been wholeheartedly loyal to you! Not only have I not embezzled a single penny, the yearly allocation isn''t even sufficient to support the institute''s expenses. I have been dipping into my own pockets to cover them. But as a servant of the emperor, it is my duty to relieve Your Majesty''s worries, and I have neverined to Your Majesty about my hardships. Yet Xiao Yi uses this as a threat, even so far as to burn the treasury to destroy the ount books and to wrongly incriminate me. I am truly wronged!"


    Li Shengtian said harshly, "Your Majesty, how can such a loyal official be defamed and framed by others? Please, Your Majesty, stand up for Chen Shuiwen!"


    "Please, Your Majesty, stand up for justice!"


    Tian Xiao also said.


    Emperor Qian frowned slightly and looked towards Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, what is your view?"


    Gazing at the united front presented by Chen Shuiwen and the others, Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed slightly and the corners of his mouth lifted up subtly. He said, "Your Majesty, I have a way to prove innocence!"

 Chapter 291 Undercurrents Surge

    Screams echoed within the royal study.


    As for Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao, the two who kept troubling him, Xiao Yi showed no mercy. Although the beatings weren''t fatal, he aimed for the most humiliating and painful spots.


    A thorough thrashing.


    He beat Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao until their faces were swollen and bruised, leaving them in a pitiful state, screaming in agony, yet their lives were spared.


    "Cough cough!"


    Emperor Qian coughed lightly, and Xiao Yi kicked Li Shengtian once more before satisfyingly ceasing his actions and bowing toward Emperor Qian, "Your Majesty, please forgive my impropriety!"


    Emperor Qian rolled his eyes.


    Impropriety?


    You actually know the meaning of impropriety?


    This is practically perverse! Since the enthronement of Emperor Qian, this was the first time someone dared to beat a minister in the royal study!


    However...


    Seeing the miserable state of Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao, Emperor Qian felt quite pleased as they had often caused him headaches. But due to his status, it wasn''t appropriate for him to act personally. Watching Li Shengtian and the others wailing, Emperor Qian touched his nose and called out to Qi, who was outside the door, "Why haven''t you taken them to the Imperial Pharmacy yet?"


    "Yes!"


    Qi walked in from outside and motioned for several guards to carry Li Shengtian and the others away.


    For a moment.


    Only Xiao Yi and Emperor Qian were left in the royal study.


    Emperor Qian looked at Xiao Yi, who seemed disengaged and nonchnt, and coughed lightly, "Feel better now?"


    Xiao Yi cracked his neck, producing a snapping sound, and grinned, "I feelpletely relieved!"


    "..."


    Emperor Qian was speechless.


    Qi looked at Xiao Yi with a strange expression on his face.


    Emperor Qian waved his hand, stood up, walked up to Xiao Yi, and said gravely, "Although you have driven Chen Shuiwei away, his methods are not simple, and he will not let this go so easily."


    "No matter, ''When soldierse, a general will block them, when the water rises, the earth will cover it!''" Xiao Yi smiled and didn''t borate further.


    Emperor Qian looked deeply at Xiao Yi and nodded, "Since I''ve entrusted the Xiaoshanhe Institute to you, I naturally trust your methods. The process is not important; I only care about the results!"


    "Your Majesty, just wait and see," said Xiao Yi.


    Emperor Qian nodded, strolled over to the desk, and began idly flipping through the books, speaking indifferently, "You may leave now. If there''s anything you need in the future, you cane directly to the pce to see me!"


    "Xiao Yi takes his leave!"


    Xiao Yi immediately departed.


    With his back to Xiao Yi, Emperor Qian didn''t turn around until long after he had gone. He then slowly turned, squinting his eyes at the closed door, and said leisurely, "Old dog, what do you think of this young man?"


    Qi, with his head bowed, voiced faintly, "Your Majesty has already made a decision, why need you ask this old servant for more words?"


    Emperor Qian nced at him and chuckled, "You old dog, when did you learn to protect yourself with such prudence?" He paused, then added mysteriously, "Are you sure the heavenly tribtion wasn''t brought upon by him?"


    "It shouldn''t be!"


    After thinking for a moment, Qi continued, "At that time, the demonic beast he carried with him had been hidden all along, only revealing itself when the heavenly tribtion struck. However, it''s indeed strange for Xiao Yi to withstand several strikes of the heavenly tribtion with just the cultivation of the Tao Tribtion Realm!"


    Emperor Qian hummed without any expression, revealing no emotion, "It''s best that way... Otherwise, a single Tao Tribtion Realm being able to summon a heavenly tribtion, a genius even more fearsome than Xiao Tianjiao, might not necessarily be a good thing!"


    Qi remained silent.


    ......


    Inside the Imperial Pharmacy.


    After being treated, the three people including Li Shengtian had finally woken up.


    Xiao Yi hadn''t hit their vital spots, but the pain wouldst for several days. The threey in their sickbeds, grimacing in agony. Especially Chen Shuiwen, who had suffered quite a few underhanded blows from Xiao Yi, now found even talking to be excruciatingly painful.


    Li Shengtian, enduring the intense pain, his eyes filled with hatred and venom, gnashed his teeth and said, "That bastard Xiao Yi, this official will never let him off!"


    "Mr. Li, do you have any strategies?" Tian Xiao asked with difficulty as he turned his body.


    Li Shengtian narrowed his eyes and looked towards Chen Shuiwen, whose head was bandaged like a pig''s head. "Chen Shuiwen, didn''t you say you wanted to create a new Shanhe Court to challenge Xiao Yi?"


    Chen Shuiwen said, "I did have this idea before, but Xiao Yi has recruited four masters at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak in such a short time, and even has two Array Masters¡ªZiyi Daoist and Li Youruo. I''m not confident inpeting with him now¡­"


    He was acutely aware of the caliber of Xiaoshanhe Institute''s instructors and students.


    Ziyi Daoist or Li Youruo alone would be stronger than the group of instructors he had taken with him.


    Li Shengtian sneered and said, "What''s there to fear? It would naturally be impossible with just you and your people, but rest assured, this official will support you with all his might. Plus, since Xiao Yi dared to undermine Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Vi, they certainly won''t let things slide. Not to mention my rtionship with the Nangong Family, we canpletely cut off the supply of elixirs to the Xiaoshanhe Institute. With our support, what do you have to fear?"


    Tian Xiao, with narrowed eyes, said, "Actually¡­ we could also rope in that person!"


    "Which person?" Chen Shuiwen appeared puzzled.


    Li Shengtian showed a shocked expression, "You mean that person?"


    "Exactly!"


    Tian Xiao nodded emphatically.


    Li Shengtian hesitated, then looking at the confused Chen Shuiwen, he said in a deep voice, "The one behind Xue Yilou¡­"


    Hss!


    Chen Shuiwen gasped in shock, his heartbeat doubled in an instant, and he swallowed hard before saying, "Can we really invite that person?"


    "Don''t worry, Tian Xiao is on good terms with that person!"


    Li Shengtian''s face held a malicious expression as he sneered coldly, "Xiao Yi, oh Xiao Yi, I will make you understand the consequences of offending this official. You wish to revive the Xiaoshanhe Institute? I will specifically prevent your wish froming true. In two months'' time, it is the Ancestral Worship Ceremony, and at that time, we will utterly trample your New Shanhe Court underfoot¡­"


    Ferocity flickered in the three men''s eyes.


    At this moment, Xiao Yi was unaware that Chen Shuiwen and his group had already formed an alliance.


    After leaving the pce, he headed straight for the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Only¡­


    Before Xiao Yi could return to the Xiaoshanhe Institute, he encountered the carriage of Yan Mingli and Xue Bufan on the way. While Xiao Yi had gone to the pce, Yan Mingli and Xue Bufan had also gone to the Nangong Family, attempting to seek a partnership. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "How did they return so quickly?"


    Xiao Yi frowned, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes.


    In the air around the carriage, there was a faint hint of the scent of blood.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yinded in front of the carriage.@@novelbin@@


    Hush¡­


    Ye Heng was the carriage driver; he abruptly pulled on the reins, and upon recognizing the appearance of Xiao Yi, the bruised Ye Heng cried out with a wronged look, "Master, you must stand up for us!"


    Xiao Yi nced at Ye Heng''s appearance, who had clearly been beaten up, and with the faint smell of blood wafting out from the carriage.


    Xiao Yi''s demeanor grew terribly somber as he said in a deep voice, "What exactly happened?"

 Chapter 294 Disciple pays respect to the Master!

    "Master, quickly avenge your disciple!"


    Nangong Jian, like a drowning man who had found a life-saving straw, had an ecstatic look on his face as he bellowed toward the middle-aged man who stepped out from the crowd.


    The middle-aged man was dressed in luxurious brocade.


    He wore a white cloud belt around his waist, his long hair tied behind him, holding a folding fan in his hand.


    Upon hearing Nangong Jian''s shout, the middle-aged man was first startled, and his fan paused. He then followed the sound and saw Nangong Jian''s pitiful state, his face suddenly contorted, and he snapped the fan shut with a loud p.


    Whoosh!


    The middle-aged man was, in a sh, standing right in front of Nangong Jian.


    Looking at Nangong Jian, whose arms were severed at the shoulders.


    The middle-aged man''s eyes were blood-red.


    This person was none other than Lu Chen, a martial arts expert of Three Seas Mountain, with a cultivation that reached the Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, only slightly more powerful than Nangong Jian. But he was an Array Master, and Nangong Jian was studying the art of formations under hismand.


    This Nangong Jian was his prized disciple, and also his cash cow!


    Backed by the Nangong Family, every month, Nangong Jian provided Lu Chen with innumerable benefits. The medicinal pills and precious herbs he presented as a tribute during holidays alone were worth several hundred million Silver a year.


    Now that Nangong Jian had fallen to such a state, it was as if someone had destroyed his source of wealth!


    "Master, you must take revenge for me!" Nangong Jian roared fiercely.


    "Rest assured, my disciple, I absolutely will not let the murderer go unpunished!"


    Lu Chen nodded solemnly, his cold eyes looking toward Xiao Yi''s direction. Seeing the Nangong Family guards lying all around Xiao Yi in disarray, Lu Chen sneered, "No wonder you dared to cripple my disciple''s arms, kid. You indeed have some skill! However, running into me, Lu Chen, is your ultimate misfortune today!"


    Boom!


    A powerful surge of energy suddenly burst from Lu Chen''s body.


    The surge soared into the sky.


    It formed a cyan tornado, which with a roar, transformed into a column of wind connecting heaven and earth.


    Lu Chen slowly ascended within the column of wind, his aura of the Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm unveiled without reservation, so intense that it could be felt for tens of miles around, filled with a terrifying intent to kill.


    Within the imperial city, many a formidable person sensed this powerful aura.


    "Is thating from the direction of the Nangong Family?"


    "Who could be so bold as to initiate a conflict within the territory of the Nangong Family?"@@novelbin@@


    "This seems to be Senior Brother Lu''s aura..."


    Within the Three Seas Mountain''s division in the imperial city, a young man''splexion changed, and looking at an olddy beside him, he said, "Master, Senior Brother Lu Chen might be in trouble!"


    The olddy squinted, huffing coldly, "I want to see who dares to mess with my disciples. Follow me!"


    Whoosh!


    Behind the olddy, more than twenty formidable individuals stood up together, quickly following her towards the Nangong Family''s location.


    In a quiet courtyard.


    Nangong Shengtian was sitting inside, toying with a Jade Pendant in his hands, muttering, "Go back and tell your master, our Nangong Family epts their proposal of cooperation. However, the details of the cooperation will have to wait until we meet in person to discuss further!"


    "This subordinate will return and ry your message!" the young man responded respectfully.


    "Hm!"


    Nangong Shengtian nodded, suddenly raising his head to look in the direction of the Nangong Family, his brows furrowed and a cold light shing in his eyes, "Who dares to cause trouble in my Nangong Family''s territory?"


    Whoosh!


    Nangong Shengtian tore through the sky.


    Meanwhile...


    At the main entrance of the Nangong Family''s estate.


    The cyan storm forced the surrounding strong individuals to retreat, and those guards who were bound by the earth and rocks, were violently pulled out from beneath the ground, tossed into the air.


    The fearsome tempest left many strong individuals with astonished expressions: "Is this the power of the Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm? Truly, as an expert of Three Seas Mountain, such strength, indeed, even themon peak powers of the Tao Tribtion Realm cannot match him!"


    "Xiao Yi has really kicked an iron te this time!"


    "Who would have thought that Lu Chen would suddenly appear here?"


    "But... even if Lu Chen hadn''t shown up, Xiao Yi would have been doomed with the Nangong Family''s influence. After all, they are one of the four grand n families..."


    Amidst the chatter.


    Lu Chen stood suspended in the air, looking down on Xiao Yi from on high: "Kid, you injured my disciple and even dared to confront me. Won''t you kneel and kowtow in admission of your guilt?"


    Xiao Yi looked up at Lu Chen, his neck slightly craning, and said impatiently, "I don''t like looking up to people."


    "Hm?"


    Lu Chen was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi continued to speak, "Get down here!"


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    "You''re looking for..."


    Lu Chen had just opened his mouth when suddenly, countless spiritual energies of heaven and earth began to wildly coalesce in the void. They actually tore open the wind column, and amidst the raging winds, they transformed into chains of wind.


    They bound Lu Chenpletely within them.


    Tightly trussed up.


    Lu Chen couldn''t move an inch and could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yi''s palm pressed towards the ground. Then, with a whooshing sound breaking through the air, Lu Chen''s body plummeted from the sky.


    Like a falling star.


    Bang!


    Lu Chen smashed hard onto the ground, creating a human-shaped crater.


    With his face toward the dirt, Lu Chen was embedded in it, his limbs twitching slightly.


    "..."


    There was dead silence all around.


    When Lu Chen appeared, everyone thought Xiao Yi was certainly doomed.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi had taken down the imperious Lu Chen with just one move.


    Considering the several hundred meters he fell from the sky, even smashing a huge pit into the ground, even a mighty practitioner of the Tao Tribtion Realm would probably find it unpleasant!


    Spurt!


    Lu Chen was hoisted up by Xiao Yi with one hand, spitting out a mouthful of dirt; his face was swollen and bruised, staring at Xiao Yi in utter bewilderment, "You, you, who on earth are you?"


    In his eyes, Xiao Yi was just a practitioner of the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm. In front of him, a proud Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm master, Xiao Yi was like an ant, easily crushed.


    But now...


    Xiao Yi''s strength far exceeded his expectations.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi!"


    "Hmm?"


    Lu Chen was taken aback, then frowned, "You''re the new head of Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi?"


    "Guaranteed genuine!" Xiao Yi nodded.


    Lu Chen shouted angrily, "I don''t care if you are real or fake, you dared to break my disciple''s arms and cause me such humiliation; you''re on a path to death!"


    "A path to death? By your hand?" Xiao Yi said with amusement.


    Lu Chen sneered, "I admit I underestimated you. But don''t forget who I am. I am a four-star Array Master, and my master is none other than Li Youruo from Three Seas Mountain, the number one Array Master. My master is a respected six-star Array Master. If she knows I''ve been injured by you, she will definitely not let you off. Just with a trap or killing array set by my master at your Xiaoshanhe Institute, your whole institute would be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Scared now?"


    A six-star Array Master, whose status wasparable to a practitioner of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    As long as Li Youruo was willing to personally set up a formation for someone, even practitioners of the Dharma Manifestation Realm would be willing to take action.


    This was where Lu Chen''s confidence and assurancey.


    "Li Youruo is your master?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, showing a strange expression, "Are you sure, she will avenge you?"


    "Of course... she is my master. If she knows I''ve been injured by you, she will never let it go. Just one formation by my master at your Xiaoshanhe Institute, and your entire institute will be annihted in an instant. Feeling fear now, aren''t you?"


    Lu Chen sneered, "So, why don''t you put me down and kneel before me, begging for my forgiveness? If I personally plead for you to my master, considering my face, my master might spare you a way to live!"


    Looking at the haughty Lu Chen, Xiao Yi''s expression grew even more peculiar.


    Suddenly.


    He felt something and turned to look at the crowd.


    He saw a group of figures rushing over, led by the expressionless Li Youruo.


    "Master?"


    Lu Chen was startled, then burst intoughter, "Xiao Yi, you''re done for. My master hase..." he shouted towards Li Youruo, "Master,e save me!"


    Whoosh!


    Li Youruonded with a leap in front of Xiao Yi.


    With a venomous look on his face, Lu Chen gazed at Xiao Yi, "Hahaha, you''re like a dog now. It''s toote for regrets. Kneel down now and beg for my forgiveness!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Li Youruo with amusement, "Li Youruo, your disciple says that with your arrival, my end is certain?"


    However...


    In the full view of everyone.


    Li Youruo suddenly knelt before Xiao Yi, loudly saying, "Disciple pays respects to master! I earnestly beg for master''s forgiveness. I have failed in disciplining, and I must punish this wicked disciple severely..."


    For a moment.


    Everyone was utterly baffled, "..."

 Chapter 295 So What If I Bully You?

    "..."


    In front of the Nangong Family''s gates, everyone was staring dumbfounded, their faces a picture of utter confusion.


    Lu Chen was the most baffled of all.


    His eyes were wide open, his mouth agape, and his face was filled with bewilderment. His ck pupils, thick with shock and iprehension, shifted back and forth between Xiao Yi and Li Youruo.


    His pupils slowly dted, and his gaze was reced by rm and fear.


    Who was Li Youruo?


    An elder of Three Seas Mountain, a Peak Tao Tribtion Realm existence, and also the only six-star Array Master of Three Seas Mountain.


    Any of these identities, even on their own, could make a person''s name resound throughout the Great Qian Dynasty and hold a pivotal status.


    It''s no exaggeration to say that apart from the Dharma Manifestation Realm ancestors, Li Youruo, the Purple-d Daoist Chen Ziyi were among the very top existences.


    Yet such a being...


    Was now kneeling before Xiao Yi, addressing him as master?


    Gulp!


    Lu Chen swallowed hard, his eyelid twitched, and with a face as if at a funeral, he tentatively asked, "Mas, Master, are, are you mistaken about the person?"


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    "Shut up!"


    Li Youruo red daggers at him and backhanded him across the face with a p.


    She was acutely aware of how terrifying Xiao Yi was!


    With the cultivation of the First Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, he had in numerous Tao Tribtion Realm Peak existences on Great Liang Mountain. He was even able topletely overwhelm her and Chen Ziyi on the path of formation mastery with his power alone.


    Most importantly...


    The "Hundred Volumes of Array Path" Xiao Yi gave her had left her utterly astounded.


    For many reasons...


    Li Youruo had beenpletely won over.


    Willingly, and even proudly, she took Xiao Yi as her master.


    Now, she would have done anything to please Xiao Yi, yet Lu Chen dared toy hands on him publicly, even attempting to put Xiao Yi in mortal danger?


    How could Li Youruo tolerate that?


    "Master, you, you hit me for that kid..."


    Lu Chen looked at Li Youruo with a face full of grievance.


    He was Li Youruo''s proud disciple, deeply favored and trusted by her; she had never even scolded him before. When Li Youruo first appeared, he thought his backing had arrived!


    In his mind...


    Li Youruo would definitely stand up for him and fiercely teach Xiao Yi a lesson!


    But now Li Youruo was not only kneeling before Xiao Yi, calling him master, but she also pped him hard across the face?


    Lu Chen felt his world was shattering.


    "Shut up!"


    Li Youruo pped him again, a series of ps that made Lu Chen''s head spin with stars, and she scolded with a huff, "Talking about ''that kid'' this, ''that kid'' that, the person standing before you is your grandmaster!"


    "Ah?"


    Lu Chen was bbergasted, his face full of shock, "Mas, Master, you''re not joking, are you?"


    "Could Master Li have gone mad?"


    "Impossible, right as Master Li appeared, she addressed Xiao Yi as master!"


    "What on earth is going on here? What merits or abilities does Xiao Yi have to be Master Li''s master?" Not only could Lu Chen not ept it, but all the onlookers were also utterly baffled, feeling as if they were hallucinating.


    Speaking of cultivation, Xiao Yi was just at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, whereas Li Youruo was at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak.@@novelbin@@


    Age-wise, Li Youruo was old enough to be Xiao Yi''s grandmother!


    How did she be his master?


    Li Youruo did not exin but turned around and respectfully saluted Xiao Yi, pleading for her disciple, "Master, please spare his life for my sake!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Li Youruo''s face lit up with joy, and she red fiercely at Lu Chen, "Aren''t you going toe over and kowtow to apologize to your grandmaster?"


    A spasm twitched at the corner of Lu Chen''s eye, "..."


    Just moments ago.


    He was thinking about making Xiao Yi kneel down and beg for mercy, but in the blink of an eye, he was forced by Li Youruo to kneel and kowtow to Xiao Yi, even referring to him as grandmaster.


    How fortunes turn.


    But when it turned to him, it was simply too fast!


    Lu Chen was extremely bitter in his heart, but he was helpless, unable to defy Li Youruo''s wishes. His head banged repeatedly on the ground as he said with a mournful face, "Grandmaster above, please forgive your disciple''s utter disrespect!"


    "Get up!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and said earnestly, "Remember to keep a low profile in the future when you behave."


    "Grandmaster''s lesson is well taken!" Lu Chen hurriedly replied.


    From the side...


    Nangong Jian waspletely dumbstruck.


    He felt that today was just the pinnacle of bad luck.


    When Xiao Yi appeared, he relied on the backing of the Nangong Family, thinking Xiao Yi wouldn''t dare to touch him.


    Then his arms were broken.


    When Lu Chen appeared, he relied on having Lu Chen as his support, believing he could take revenge and wash away his humiliation.


    As a result, Lu Chen too was beaten up by Xiao Yi!


    Finally, with Li Youruo''s arrival, Nangong Jian thought he saw light through the clouds, the light of hope finally descending upon him.


    Hopes of vengeance seemed attainable!


    Yet...


    This grandmaster, who was equivalent to a Dharma Manifestation Realm ancestor in Three Seas Mountain, actually kneeled before Xiao Yi, calling him master!


    "What sins have Imitted?" Nangong Jian wore a face of misery, a strong sense of regret welling up inside him.


    If he had known earlier.


    Why did he have to act so arrogantly at that time, insisting on breaking the hands of Yan Mingli and the others?


    "Xiao Yi, who gave you the courage to cause trouble within the Nangong Family?" Just then, a roar like thunder came from the sky, as a figure descended from above.


    Boom!


    The figure was surrounded by roiling energy, with a terrifying pressure that weakened the others'' legs, nearly bringing them to their knees.


    The person was none other than the patriarch of the Nangong Family, Nangong Shengtian!


    "Ancestor... You''ve finallye. That dog bastard Xiao Yi broke my arms, I beg you to take revenge for me!" Just as Nangong Jian was losing all hope, he once again found hope and shouted loudly.


    Nangong Shengtian was stunned for a moment, scrutinizing Nangong Jian for a long time, and frowned, "Who are you?"


    Nangong Jian: "..."


    Now with a swollen face beyond recognition, and his arms severed, sitting slumped on the ground, he was indistinguishable from a beggar. It took Nangong Shengtian a moment to recognize him, as Nangong Jian said with a bitter face, "Ancestor, I... I''m little Jianjian..."


    "..."


    Nangong Shengtian looked baffled, studying Nangong Jian up and down, and finally recognizing his identity, "You... you''re Nangong Jian? Damn, how did you end up like this?"


    Nangong Jian, with a pitiful face, exaggerated his story, "Ancestor, it was all Xiao Yi''s doing. Following your instructions, I refused the person from Xiaoshanhe Institute who came to discuss cooperation. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yi came knocking. He beat me into this state and even severed my arms, you must avenge me..."


    "Alright, alright, what a Xiao Yi!"


    Nangong Shengtian''s eyes zed with a blood-like red, his teeth cking with rage, and his ferocious gaze fell on Xiao Yi, he ground his teeth and said, "Xiao Yi, you''ve gone too far!"


    Hum!


    A terrible surge of energy formed a fierce wind that rushed towards them.


    Among the flying sand and rolling stones.


    Theyers of tiles on the ground rose and shot towards Xiao Yi.


    Bang bang bang!


    An invisible barrier formed in front of Xiao Yi, blocking the wind and debris. His eyes slitted, he stared unabashedly at Nangong Shengtian, "So what if I bully you?"

 Chapter 297 All the World Rushes for Profit

    "Agreed!"


    A glint shed through Nangong Shengtian''s eyes.


    He simply did not believe that Xiao Yi could shut down all of the pill shops owned by the Nangong Family within a month.


    After all...


    The Nangong Family had dominated the medicinal pill industry for many years.


    Just in the imperial capital alone, they owned over a hundred pill shops, and throughout the vast Great Qian Dynasty, the number surpassed ten thousand. Even if Xiao Yi sought the royal family''s help, it was impossible for all his pill shops to be forced to close!


    "Xiao Yi is too impulsive, this is simply an impossible task!"


    "In the end, he is just too young!"


    The murmuring discussions that vaguely came from the crowd made Li Youruo''s face turn a bit unsightly. She looked at Xiao Yi worriedly, "Master, we have no chance at winning this bet!"


    "No matter, I have my ns!" Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed into slits.@@novelbin@@


    The Nangong Family was indeed strong!


    Especially in the medicinal pill industry, they held a pivotal position.


    But...


    When it came to medicinal pills, who could Xiao Yi fear?


    "Li Youruo, are these your close confidants?" Xiao Yi looked at the twenty or thirty people behind Li Youruo. Among them, six were in the Tao Tribtion Realm, and the rest were in the Golden Core Realm or the Shentong Realm, each with a decent posture and robust physique.


    Although there were only about thirty people, their quality wasparable to the group of instructors that Chen Shuiwen had taken away.


    Li Youruo nodded, pride also evident in her expression, but thinking of her departure being known by Three Seas Mountain, a trace of bitterness appeared on her face: "Master, when I left, the Deputy Sect Master of Three Seas Mountain came to intercept me. I trapped him with a formation. But knowing Three Seas Mountain''s way of doing things, they will absolutely not let this go..."


    "Let theme!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand to signal Li Youruo not to worry and said indifferently, "At least before the ancestral worship ceremony, they would not dare to openly deal with us. There are still more than two months left, enough for us to build up strength. Once the ceremony is over, it will be toote for them to start dealing with us!"


    Li Youruo opened her mouth to speak but then hesitated. Looking at Xiao Yi''s confident face, she ultimately swallowed her words.


    Xiao Yi said, "You take people back to Xiaoshanhe Institute first, I will make a trip to the pce!"


    "Yes!"


    Li Youruo promptly led the people away.


    Lu Chen was even dragged by her, like an injured puppy, his face full of despair.


    Momentster.


    Xiao Yi arrived at the imperial pce. Before even seeing Emperor Qian, Qi was already waiting at the entrance. Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and stepped forward with a cupped-fist salute: "Eunuch Qi!"


    "Director Xiao, His Majesty is aware of your purpose foring, and he instructed this old servant to wait for you here!" Qi said with a smile.


    Xiao Yi nodded, not surprised in the least.


    The incident with the Nangong Family was not a small matter, and with the means of the royal family, if they could not control what happened within the imperial capital, then Emperor Qian would not be sitting where he was.


    "These are two Jade Fetal Elixirs, enough to regrow the severed limbs of the two people under yourmand. Besides..."


    Qi handed a clear jade vial to Xiao Yi, his eagle-like eyes nced around, and he lowered his voice, "His Majesty instructed me to tell you that the royal family cannot help you deal with the Nangong Family, and you must resolve the matter of the bet yourself!"


    Xiao Yi epted the jade vial and smiled, "Please tell His Majesty that the Nangong Family is just a trivial matter. If I can''t even handle them, how can we talk about revitalizing Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    A look of surprise crossed Qi''s face as he gazed at Xiao Yi.


    That was the Nangong Family!


    Even he and Emperor Qian, upon learning of Xiao Yi''s bet with Nangong Sheng, felt that Xiao Yi was too arrogant.


    That bet had no chance of sess!


    But now...


    Seeing Xiao Yi so confident, Qi couldn''t help but be curious. What means did Xiao Yi have? Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    However, he also knew Xiao Yi would not tell him.


    Qi chuckled, "Then this old servant will wish Director Xiao a swift and resounding sess in advance!"


    ```


    "Thank you!"


    Xiao Yi sped his hands together, "Xiao Yi shall take his leave now!"


    "Go ahead!"


    Qi smiled, watching as Xiao Yi strode away with long steps. He raised his hand to stroke his chin, muttering to himself, "He really is an unfathomable young fellow¡­ It''s great to be young, even this old man is somewhat excited to see what the oue will be in a month!"


    Pedaling swiftly away from the capital, Xiao Yi then took to the air, flying towards Imperial Dragon Mountain.


    With his current speed.


    It was only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn from the capital to Imperial Dragon Mountain. When he returned to the Xiaoshanhe Institute at Imperial Dragon Mountain, Li Youruo and the others had not yet arrived. Xiao Yi went straight to find Elder Yan and Elder Xue.


    The two had already awakened, lying on their beds.


    Seeing Xiao Yi''s arrival, they struggled to sit up, their pale faces filled with deep self-reproach, "Xiao, we have failed your trust¡­"


    "Why should you say so?"


    Xiao Yi, with a gesture of his palm, helped the two of them up, saying, "This matter arose because of me, and if anyone should apologize, it is I who should be apologizing to you. Right, I have requested two Jade Fetal Elixirs from His Majesty, which after taking, will allow you to regrow your severed limbs!"


    "Jade Fetal Elixir?"


    "This, this¡­"


    The two faces were filled with excitement as they received the jade vials.


    With trembling hands, they both took the elixir one after another.


    Hiss!


    A wave of intense pain made their scalps tingle, their foreheads'' veins throbbing, and cold sweat poured out. Where their arms had been severed, streaks of blood spread out, and at a visible rate, new arms began to grow.


    Momentster.


    The two had their severed arms regenerated.


    "Thank you, Xiao, for granting us new life!" The two tested their new arms. Though they still felt somewhat unfamiliar, with some time they could easily master their function, both faces filled with gratitude.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, saying, "You two should focus on recovering for a day. Tomorrow, Elder Yan, you will need to apany me on a trip to the Treasure Pavilion!"


    Afterward.


    Xiao Yi informed everyone about his wager with Nangong Shengtian.


    Yan Mingli and Xue Bufan looked at each other.


    Being the most knowledgeable about the Great Qian Dynasty''s elixir industry, they were also acutely aware of how terrifying the Nangong Family''s hold on the elixir industry was, with one Beitang Family controlling the medicinal resource and the Nangong Family controlling the elixir resource.


    Overthrowing them seemed as difficult as scaling the heavens!


    Yan Mingli said with a wry smile, "Xiao, if it were just about getting the Treasure Pavilion to provide elixir resources, I might have some confidence, but with your current wager with Nangong Shengtian, I fear the Nangong and Beitang households will certainly do everything to block us. I''m afraid that the Treasure Pavilion¡­"


    The Treasure Pavilion held a powerful position throughout the Qingtian Realm.


    But in the Great Qian Dynasty¡­


    The Treasure Pavilion was suppressed by the four big families'' joint effort, only upying a small part of the market,pletely unable topete with them!


    After all.


    Everything that the Treasure Pavilion could offer, the four big families could too.


    And because the four big families were on their home ground, their costs were lower and their prices morepetitive. Even in the price wars, which the Treasure Pavilion was best at, they couldn''t beat them!


    For that reason¡­


    The Great Qian Dynasty''s elixir and Yuan weapon industries were firmly controlled by the four big families.


    The Treasure Pavilion could only struggle to survive in the cracks!


    They certainly couldn''t afford to offend both the Nangong and Beitang families to death just to aid Xiao Yi!


    "Don''t worry, I have my ways to make the Treasure Pavilion cooperate with us!"


    Xiao Yi smiled, narrowing his eyes, "All under heaven are attracted to profit, I do not believe the Treasure Pavilion is willing to settle for being beneath others¡­"


    ```

 Chapter 299 The Dying Man

    The next day, early in the morning.


    Xiao Yi, Yan Mingli, and Lin Bingxin went together to the Imperial Capital Treasure Pavilion.


    Treasure Pavilion.


    This was an iparably vast organization, its influence spread throughout the entire Qingtian Realm. There were rumors that behind the Treasure Pavilion was an enormously powerful force, many times stronger than the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Even though the four great noble families could suppress the Capital Treasure Pavilion, they dared not drive it into a corner.


    Otherwise, once they incited the wrath of the force behind the Treasure Pavilion, even the four great families couldn''t withstand the consequences.


    "Xiao, Master Nn Qianqiu is a close friend of my mentor, but they were also contenders in the past. I''ve had some disputes with his disciples, and I fear we might encounter some of them this time. If they are impolite in their speech, please, teacher, for my sake, let it slide!" Standing in front of the Treasure Pavilion, Yan Mingli said.


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    The three of them entered the Treasure Pavilion.


    This Imperial Capital Treasure Pavilion was far fromparable to those in the Tianqing Kingdom; it was simrly divided into an Inner Cab and an Outer Cab.


    The Outer Cab was primarily made up of street stalls, a dazzling array of items, everything avable, but it was a mix of good and bad, with no guarantee of quality. However, if one were lucky, it was possible to find precious treasures at extremely low prices.


    Just as Xiao Yi had found the Golden Radiance Stone Spirit in the Outer Cab of the Treasure Pavilion in Nanhuang.


    The Inner Cab dealt in high-end products, but the values were extremely expensive; even a single piece of clothing could cost over a hundred taels of silver, enough to cover amon family''s expenses for a year. Few ordinary people would spend in the Inner Cab.


    Xiao Yi and hispanions made their way to the Inner Cab.


    "May I help you with something?" A good-looking young man stepped forward, his gaze subtly sweeping over the three of them, the smile on his face growing more brilliant and enthusiastic upon seeing the quality of their attire.


    Yan Mingli said, "Brother, we are here to see Master Nn!"


    "To see our Pavilion Master?"


    The young man was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "May I know who you are?"


    Yan Mingli said, "My name is Yan Mingli. Please notify the Master; I believe he will want to see us!"


    "Alright... please wait here!" The young man promptly left.


    After a short while.


    The young man came back with a haughty-looking youth.


    The young man pointed at Xiao Yi and his group: "Steward Ning, it is they who wish to see the Pavilion Master!"


    "Hmm, you can go now!"


    Ning, the steward, waved his hand dismissively and slightly lifted his chin, his indifferent gaze sweeping over Xiao Yi and the others. His eyes paused briefly when theynded on Lin Bingxin, a sh of sharpness passing through them before he stepped forward and asked, "May I know how to address this miss?"


    Lin Bingxin''s brows creased slightly: "Lin Bingxin!"


    "Lin Bingxin? A name as pure as ice; indeed, a fine name!"


    Ning, the steward, chuckled, presumptuously flicking his hair, "I am Ning Kang, a first-level steward at the Treasure Pavilion!"


    There were three levels of stewards at the Treasure Pavilion.


    The first level was the highest, just below the Pavilion Master.


    The second and third levels were subordinate to the first.


    Ning Kang, being a first-level steward at such a young age, must have a formidable background. His face carried a radiant smile. Just as he was about to speak, Yan Mingli said, "Young brother, we came today to see Master Nn. Is he currently avable?"


    "And you are what exactly? Didn''t you see that I was speaking with Miss Lin?" Ning Kang rebuked loudly, displeasure showing on his face.


    Yan Mingli''s expression changed slightly.


    Ning Kang snorted, turning back to Lin Bingxin with a radiant smile: "Miss Lin, I infer from your ent that you are new to the Imperial Capital. There are quite a few interesting ces here in the capital. If you''re interested, I could show you around!"


    "No need!"


    Lin Bingxin looked at Ning Kang with disgust and shook her head.


    Ning Kang hadn''t given up yet, and continued, "Miss Lin..."


    Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Yan Mingli took a deep breath, "Ning, we have something to discuss with Master Nn, please..."


    p!


    Ning Kang turned around and pped Yan Mingli across the face, fuming, "How can you be so clueless, old man? Don''t you see that I am talking to Miss Lin? Why don''t you take a look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are, thinking you have the right to see the Pavilion Master? Do you think you''re worthy?"


    "You..."


    Yan Mingli''s face turned a ghastly shade.


    Bing Xin''s eyes were aze with fury. Yan Mingli was not only her master but also her only family member. She red at Ning Kang, "Who gave you the right to hit someone?"


    Whoosh!


    Lin Bingxin raised her delicate palm to strike his face.@@novelbin@@


    p!


    Ning Kang quickly caught Lin Bingxin''s wrist, his face full of disdain, "Giving you face, huh? I''ve seen plenty of women like you, virtuous and righteous in public, but who knows how wanton you are behind closed doors. You want to see the Pavilion Master? As long as you serve me well, I will surely arrange a meeting for you with the Pavilion Master!"


    He sneered malevolently, eyes ncing over Lin Bingxin''s chest.


    A scarlet tongue licked his lips.


    His hand, resembling a scious pork trotter, was about to reach out.


    But then there was a snap.


    Ning Kang''s smile abruptly disappeared from his face, reced by shock, then overtaken by horror and paleness, "Ah... my hand, my hand is broken..."


    Ning Kang''s entire arm was dangling lifelessly in pieces at his side.


    His face contorted in excruciating pain.


    Clutching his broken arm, he staggered back repeatedly.


    Xiao Yi''s cold gaze fell upon him, he said indifferently, "If you dare to make another move, I''ll twist off your neck!"


    "You, you..."


    Ning Kang''s face turned ashen.


    Though his cultivation was at the Golden Elixir Realm Peak, Xiao Yi had broken his arm effortlessly, an indication of strength far surpassing his own.


    Ning Kang eyed Xiao Yi warily, with boundless hatred ming in his heart, he gritted his teeth, "Just you wait... How dare you cause trouble in the Treasure Pavilion, I won''t rest until I make you beg for life and death!"


    ng, ng, ng!


    The sound of metal shing heralded the arrival of an eleven-person team rushing in.


    The leader was a formidable Third Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm expert.


    This person was Ning Luo, the deputy master of the Imperial Capital Treasure Pavilion, and a favored student of Nn Qianqiu.


    He was also Ning Kang''s father!


    "Kang''er, how did this happen to you?" Ning Luo, upon seeing Ning Kang''s shattered arm, his eyes filled with ferocity.


    With a vengeful look, Ning Kang turned to Xiao Yi and hispanions, "Father, it was them who broke my arm. Capture them for me; I want the woman to be a ything under me, and as for the men, chop them into pieces and feed them to the dogs¡­"


    "Don''t worry, your father will not let them off!"


    Ning Luo nodded his head, his savage eyes turning to Xiao Yi and his group. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed Yan Mingli among the three, revealing a look of astonishment, which quickly morphed into ferocity and bitterness, "How dare someone cause trouble at the Treasure Pavilion? So it''s you? Yan Mingli, you dared to abet someone to harm my son, I will ensure you are torn to pieces!"


    At that moment...


    A deep voice caused Ning Luo to freeze abruptly, "A man about to die still dares to talk of tearing people to pieces?"

 Chapter 302 Have You Ever Seen Alchemy with a Single Finger?

    "I was sessful in my mission!"


    Xiao Yi cupped one hand in the other before his chest toward Nn Qianqiu with a smile.


    Ning Luo also opened his eyes at this moment, subconsciously looking at his own hands. A fierce me surged up in the palm of his hand. This was the Pill Fire condensed from the fiery attribute of his vital energy.


    During the time when he was poisoned by the Three-Flower Seven-Leaf Herb, let alone condensing Pill Fire, even being near mes would make him feel unbearably ufortable.


    But now...


    He could once again clearly sense the familiarity emanating from the Pill Fire.


    "Master, I am healed, I ampletely healed..."


    Excitement and ecstasy covered Ning Luo''s face as he ran to Nn Qianqiu''s side.


    Nn Qianqiu''s eyes were red-rimmed, with tears threatening to spill, for he had been restless and losing sleep over Ning Luo''s poisoning these past months. This was not only his direct disciple but also a loved one he regarded as his own kin.


    But after searching through ancient tomes, he found absolutely no way to cure the poison of the Three-Flower Seven-Leaf Herb.


    Now.


    The poison afflicting Ning Luo was finally cured.


    Nn Qianqiu cupped his hands toward Xiao Yi, full of gratitude, "Thank you, Master Xiao, for saving his life!"


    Ning Luo also came back to his senses, hurriedly paid respects to Xiao Yi, and said respectfully, "Thank you, Master Xiao, for saving my life!"


    "There''s no need for such formalities. As I said, consider this a token of penance for not having been able to disclose the full truth," Xiao Yi waved his hand, then looked at Nn Qianqiu, "Pavilion Master Nn, I wonder if the Treasure Pavilion is willing to coborate with my Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    Nn Qianqiu was stunned, showing a hesitant look, "This..."


    He never liked to be indebted to someone.


    Xiao Yi had just saved Ning Luo, so he really couldn''t refuse.


    But...


    To directly confront the Beitang and Nangong families to the point of a life-and-death struggle, Nn Qianqiu also couldn''t make up his mind. After all, it could potentially send the Imperial Capital Treasure Pavilion into an abyss with no return.


    Nangong Shoucheng quickly said, "Pavilion Master Nn, you must think this through. If you coborate with him, you will be making enemies of both the Nangong and Beitang families, to the bitter end!"


    "Think thrice before you act!" Beitang Kong also spoke up.


    The two families controlled one the channels for medicinal ingredients, and the other the channels for pill elixirs.


    The pill elixir industry of the Great Qian Dynasty was in their hands.


    Even if the Treasure Pavilion wanted to purchase medicinal ingredients and pill elixirs within the Great Qian Dynasty, it would have to go through them. As for the Treasure Pavilion bringing in resources from outside the Great Qian Dynasty, given the four major families'' control over the Great Qian Dynasty, they definitely had the ability to make those transported resources mysteriously disappear en route.


    This kind of incident had indeed happened before!


    With righteous indignation, Nangong Shoucheng looked at Xiao Yi, "Master Xiao, if you seek your own end, don''t drag others down to die with you!"


    Beitang Kong nodded, saying, "Master Xiao, one mustn''t be so selfish in life!"


    Nn Qianqiu looked towards Xiao Yi with a troubled expression.


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Pavilion Master Nn, I will only ask you one thing..."


    Nn Qianqiu frowned at him.


    Xiao Yi spoke slowly, emphasizing each word, "Are you, willing to remain beneath others?"


    Whoom!


    Nn Qianqiu shuddered all over.


    Willing to remain beneath others?


    Of course not!


    Treasure Pavilions were spread across all corners of the Qingtian Realm, and except for a few of them, nearly ny percent of the Treasure Pavilions were the absolute rulers of their respective localities. But what about him?


    Since the foundation of the Treasure Pavilion in the Great Qian Dynasty, it had always been suppressed by the four major families.


    And with that, Nn Qianqiu also faced scorn at the headquarters of the Treasure Pavilion.


    Those who were once no better than him, or even slightly inferior, now held power and status in the Treasure Pavilion that surpassed his own. All this was due to the awkward position of the Imperial Capital Treasure Pavilion of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Facing the oppression of the four major families.


    He was powerless to turn the tide!


    Nn Qianqiu thought of turning his fortunes around at all times, but after several failed attempts, he had long since lost his fighting spirit.


    "Easier said than done..." Nn Qianqiu sighed.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Master Nn, I naturally understand that this matter is not easy. You only need to tell me, are you willing to be subordinate to others?"


    Nn Qianqiu hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said word by word, "No!"


    "That''s enough!" Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xiao Yi rxed, his biggest worry being that Nn Qianqiu had lost all will to fight. As long as he still had the desire to turn the tables, there was still a chance, "Master Nn, I''d like to borrow your alchemy room."@@novelbin@@


    "Hmm?"


    Nn Qianqiu was stunned.


    Weren''t they discussing cooperation?


    Why did he suddenly want to go to the alchemy room?


    Although he was puzzled, he still nodded and said, "Please follow me."


    Nangong Shoucheng and Beitang Kong exchanged nces and followed as well.


    Nn Qianqiu''s alchemy room was extremelyrge, containing four pill furnaces in total. Each one was of the sixth-order Yuan weapon level, each worth more than a hundred billion Silver.


    "Xiao Yi, what on earth are you trying to pull?" Nangong Shoucheng frowned.


    Beitang Kong said coldly, "ying mysterious."


    Xiao Yi paid no attention to the two men and instead walked toward the medicine cab where the herbs were stored. He took some herbs and said as he walked, "Thepetition in the elixir industryes down to efficacy and price. For the same efficacy, the cheaper one is superior; for the same price, the one with better effects is superior. If the effects are outstanding and the price is low, then that elixir will be invincible, without any opponents!"


    "Everyone knows that, but if you want to lower the price, you need to control costs. And how can you improve the efficacy of the elixirs once you control the costs?" Nangong Shoucheng said with a face full of scorn.


    Beitang Kong sneered, "My Beitang Family controls the medicinal resources, and the Nangong Family controls the elixir resources. United, we are invincible."


    "What you call united is actually collusion!"


    Xiao Yi''s face was scornful then he looked at Nn Qianqiu seriously, "Master Nn, what are the best-selling elixirs on the market now? And what is the cost?"


    Nn Qianqiu said, "The bestseller is Qi Gathering Elixir with a cost of ten Silver, Qi and Blood Elixir with a cost of a hundred Silver, Divine Passage Elixir with a cost of a thousand Silver, Gold Cloud Elixir with a cost of five thousand Silver..."


    Ning Luo continued, "These four types of elixirs nearly upy seventy percent of the market."


    "Let''s take these four elixirs then!"


    Xiao Yi suddenly made a statement.


    The crowd had not yete back to their senses.


    They saw Xiao Yi throwing batches of herbs into each of the four pill furnaces, then with a flick of his finger, his elemental energy transformed into a pill me, pure azure in colournding on the furnaces.


    Boom!


    Underneath the four pill furnaces zed the pill mes forcefully.


    "What? He''s going to concoct four types of elixirs at the same time?"


    "Isn''t he too arrogant? Even as six-star alchemists, we can''t manage to multitask to such an extent!"


    "Don''t mention you... Even I cannot multitask in this manner, let alone concoct four different types of elixirs at the same time..." said Nn Qianqiu, shocked.


    Different elixirs require different strengths of pill mes, steps in their concoction, and timing for the pills to form.


    The difficulty of concocting four different elixirs at the same time even exceeds that of concocting eight furnaces of the same elixir.


    "Drawing the crowd to show off!"


    "Absolutely impossible to seed!"


    Nangong Shoucheng and Beitang Kong confidently said.


    They had been immersed in the art of alchemy for a hundred years. Xiao Yi, even if he had started alchemy from the womb, had only been at it for twenty years. How could he seed with the difficulty increased by dozens of times when they themselves could not?


    Just as everyone was full of doubt and surprise, Xiao Yi turned around and looked at them, "Have you ever witnessed single-finger alchemy?"


    "Ah?"


    "What, what is single-finger alchemy?" The crowd was baffled.


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curved slightly upwards, with a yful arc, "Open your eyes wide and watch carefully, the moment of witnessing a miracle has arrived!"

 Chapter 304 Black Market News

    Outside Treasure Pavilion.


    Two figures supported each other, but their legs were still weak and wobbly, like those of a soft-shelled shrimp. Even clinging to each other, they seemed on the verge of copsing.


    They looked up at the somewhat piercing sunshine, their faces growing paler.


    With his mind filled with those dazzling arrays of pills, Nangong Shoucheng''s pale lips quivered, "It''s over, what kind of existence have we provoked?"


    "We must inform the family head immediately..."


    Beitang Kong said hastily.


    With each step as soft as thest, they headed towards their respective family estates.


    Meanwhile...


    Xiao Yi in Treasure Pavilion was signing a contract with Nn Qianqiu.


    The contract specified:


    Treasure Pavilion would supply the medicinal materials, while Xiao Yi would advance the training of Treasure Pavilion''s alchemists, ensuring that their pill sess rate would increase at least twofold, and all pill production costs would be reduced to one-third of the average baseline.


    Afterward, Treasure Pavilion would handle the sales.


    Just think about it.


    When these pills, stronger in effects but priced at only one-third or even lower appear on the market, what business could the Nangong Family''s pill shops possibly have left? Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    By then, they would be unable to sell their stockpiled medicinal materials and pills.


    Their financial chain would break.


    Not to mention a month...


    It would be troublesome for them even to hold out for half a month.


    "Xiao, our Treasure Pavilion indeed has some stockpiled medicinal materials, butpared to the scale of the Beitang and Nangong families, it is stillcking, enough for at most ten days," Nn Qianqiu said, now that they had decided on a partnership, he no longer had any reservations to hide.


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes and said, "Ten days is definitely not enough, we still need to resolve the issue of medicinal materials. Master Nn, where does the Beitang Family get their medicinal materials from?"


    Nn Qianqiu spoke in a deep voice, "It''s not a big secret. The medicinal materials for the Beitang Family and indeed the entire Southern State are actually supplied by Medicine King Valley."


    "Medicine King Valley?"


    Xiao Yi was startled, as he had never heard of this ce.


    Nn Qianqiu exined, "Medicine King Valley is located within the Medicine King Mountain Range of the Nantian Dynasty. The Nantian Dynasty is incredibly far from us; even for Dharma Manifestation Realm experts crossing the void, it would take several years."


    "That far?" Xiao Yi said in surprise, "How does the Beitang Family conduct trade with them?"


    After pondering, Nn Qianqiu said, "Medicine King Valley has outposts in every dynasty, and our Treasure Pavilion also cooperates with them. However, before we came to the Great Qian Dynasty, the Beitang Family had already struck a deal with them. Moreover, it seems that the old ancestor of the Beitang Family has some rtionship with an elder in Medicine King Valley, so we cannot snatch the supply channel from their hands!"


    Squinting his eyes, Xiao Yi asked, "Is there any other way?"


    "Actually..."


    After a moment''s hesitation, Nn Qianqiu said, "Apart from Medicine King Valley, there''s a ck market on Beast Emperor Ind within the Beast Emperor Sea to the east, which is no less potent than Medicine King Valley, where we could also purchase medicinal materials. However, the ck market is a ce of mixed repute, and if one doesn''t have sufficient strength, they might be swallowed whole without a trace!"


    The ck market, a marketce hidden in the shadows.


    It''s naturally an uwful ce!


    There...


    Strength is respected, and it''s thew of the jungle.


    Without sufficient strength, going to the ck market can mean noting back, let alone buying medicinal materials. That''s why, even though Treasure Pavilion is aware of the ck market, they have not sourced goods from there.


    After all.


    The risks are simply too great!


    Squinting his eyes, Xiao Yi said, "First, gather all of Treasure Pavilion''s alchemists, I''ll give them a round of training. At the very least during these ten days, we''ll bring down the market price of pills, and leave the rest to me to resolve!"


    "We have no other choice!"


    Nn Qianqiu nodded, then ordered Ning Luo to summon all of Treasure Pavilion''s alchemists.


    In the following two days.


    While Xiao Yi was instructing the group of alchemists, he was also concocting some pills for the Xiaoshanhe Institute, which he gave to Lin Bingxin to take back to the Institute.


    On this day.


    Xiao Yi looked at the hundreds of alchemists in front of him and, under the adoring gaze of the crowd, spoke in a deep voice, "After two days of intensified training, each of you should at least be able to refine two furnaces of medicinal pills simultaneously. In theing time, it will be hard on you all! Should we win this bet, Xiao guarantees to teach you the method to refine three, even four furnaces of pills at once!"


    "Pavilion Master Xiao, rest assured, we will give it our all!"


    "We definitely won''t let you down!"


    The crowd shouted in unison.


    "Elder Xue, Elder Yan, I''ll have to trouble you two to keep an eye on things here!"


    After giving instructions to the two, Xiao Yi turned to Nn Qianqiu, "Master Nn, we need you to put in more effort regarding our previous agreement for the Treasure Pavilion and the Xiaoshanhe Institute to join forces in preparing for the talent battle!"


    "Don''t worry, you won''t be disappointed!"


    Nn Qianqiu patted his chest. His alchemy skills had skyrocketed before Xiao Yi, and he had almost reached the threshold of an eight-star alchemist; he was sincerely impressed with Xiao Yi, "Xiao, please be extra careful on your trip to the Beast Emperor Sea!"


    Xiao Yi nodded solemnly, "I''m taking my leave first!"


    After the time it takes to burn a joss stick had passed.


    Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    In front of the mountain gate, where two stone lions used to stand, now sat two sixth-order Beast Kings of Dharma Manifestation Realm. Upon seeing Xiao Yi''s arrival, the two magical beasts immediately straightened up, "Wee back, Institute Head!"


    "Hmm!"


    Xiao Yi gave them a nce and said, "You''ve done quite well, take these two pills as a reward."


    They were two sixth-grade medicinal pills.


    They could potentially double the effectiveness ofprehending the forces of heaven and earth, with the effectsting a full ten days.


    The two beasts'' eyes shone brightly, "Thank you, Institute Head!"


    "Guard the mountain gate well; substantial rewards will follow in the future!" Xiao Yi said.


    "Yes!"@@novelbin@@


    The beasts'' voices thundered like rolling thunder.


    Xiao Yi nodded slightly, feeling a sense of expectation, "When the Ancestral Ceremonyes and everyone sees that the gatekeepers of my Xiaoshanhe Institute are Beast Kingsparable to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, I wonder what their expressions will be?"


    As he mused, Xiao Yi returned to the interior of Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    He summoned Hai Wei, Li Jinjun, Zhou Jing, and Yu Huaxian, and instructed, "I have already discussed the details of the talent battle with Nn Qianqiu. Three days from now, while we release the new type of medicinal pills, we will also announce the talent battle. The battle will begin in ten days, and it''s crucial to the revival of our Xiaoshanhe Institute that nothing goes wrong."


    "Institute Head, rest assured, we will not fail our mission!"


    "We guarantee toplete the task!"


    The four said, thumping their chests.


    After dismissing the four, Xiao Yi then went to the secret chamber to look at Li Youruo and Chen Ziyi, who were still in seclusion. However, their aura seemed ever more profound, "It seems by the time I return, they might already be in the Dharma Phase Sutra. If that''s the case, my Xiaoshanhe Institute will have five Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouses, which should give us enough standing to set foot in the Great Qian Dynasty''s capital."


    A momentter.


    Xiao Yi arrived at the back mountain of Xiaoshanhe Institute, amid a flurry of sword lights and shadows.


    Ye Heng was engaged in fiercebat with Little Lin.


    Ye Heng''s strength was growing daily, with advances in his Battle War Holy Body¡ªthe most important thing for him was to fight!


    Non-stop fighting.


    Fighting to nourish warfare!


    Only after half the time it takes to burn a joss stick did Ye Heng get beaten down by Little Lin once again,ying on the ground unable to rise, and that''s when Xiao Yi finally made his appearance.


    "Master..." Ye Heng struggled to get up, speaking respectfully.


    "Very good, you haven''t beenzy these past days!"


    Xiao Yi nodded in satisfaction and tossed him several bottles of pills, "These are for you. Strive to reach the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core Realm or higher by the Ancestral Ceremony!"


    "I will not let down your high expectations, Master!" Ye Heng replied respectfully.


    "Hmm, you continue your cultivation for now, and if there''s anything you don''t understand, ask Yu Huaxian and the others!"


    After giving somest instructions, Xiao Yi then looked at Little Lin perched on his shoulder, "Little Lin, apany me to the Beast Emperor Sea..."

 Chapter 305 The Legend of the Sea Demon!

    Under the cover of night.


    A figure quietly entered the Nangong Family''s premises, heading straight to the backyard.


    At this moment, the backyard was gathered with top figures, each capable of causing the Great Qian Dynasty to tremble with a mere stomp of their feet.


    Ancestor Nangong, Nangong Shengtian, and Nangong Ye, the patriarch of the Nangong Family.


    Ancestor Beitang, Beitang Zun, and Beitang Feng, the patriarch of the Beitang Family.


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    The first-rank officer of the current court, Li Shengtian, and Tian Xiao.


    Yun Ruowang, the Deputy Sect Master of Three Seas Mountain.


    Sword Inquiry Taoist, the Deputy Master of Wendao Vi.


    In front of these people¡­


    A young man stood somewhat nervously among them. Facing the array of powerhouses, Ning Kang''s face turned pale and he swept his uneasy gaze over them before lowering his head.


    Sitting high above, Nangong Shengtian said, "Ning Kang, just think of it as if you are at home, there''s no need to be so nervous!"


    "Yes, Ancestor Nangong..." Ning Kang feigned calmness, but the fear and trepidation in his heart were still hard to conceal.


    This caused several of the top figures to shake their heads involuntarily.


    Nangong Shengtian spoke in a deep voice, "Ning Kang, you said you have urgent intelligence, what exactly is it?"


    Ning Kang hurriedly said, "Reporting to the ancestors, I... I heard that Xiao Yi is about to leave the Great Qian Dynasty, heading for the Beast Emperor Sea!"


    "Beast Emperor Sea? What is he doing there at this critical time?"


    "Beast Emperor Sea... Could it be that he''s going to the ck market?" Beitang Kong''s eyes gleamed as he spoke.


    "What? To the ck market?"


    "With the medicinal herbs hoarded by Treasure Pavilion, they simply cannot sustain for long, the only possibility is that he is going to the ck market of Beast Emperor City to purchase medicinal materials."


    "Hahaha, truly heaven is aiding us!"


    "In the imperial capital, we fear being discovered by His Majesty, and we cannoty hands on him. But now that he''s headed to the Beast Emperor Sea, a ce known for being unforgiving, even if His Majesty were to find out he died and it was rted to us, there would be no evidence!" Joy was apparent on everyone''s faces.


    Ever since learning from Nangong Shoucheng and Beitang Kong that Xiao Yi could actually reduce the cost of elixirs to one-fifth or even lower while maintaining their quality,


    the Nangong and Beitang families became anxious.


    If these elixirs were to flood the market, their market share would be squeezed to the limit.


    But Xiao Yi was, after all, the head of Xiaoshanhe Institute selected by the royal family, and they could not just attack him directly. Now, they had finally waited for an opportunity!


    "Ning Kang, you have made great contributions. Shoucheng, take Ning Kang down and give him a hundred million silver!" Nangong Shengtianughed heartily, his face radiant as he spoke.


    Nangong Shoucheng nodded, "Yes!"


    "Thank you, ancestor!"


    Ning Kang was overjoyed.


    Just for a piece of information, he had obtained a hundred million silver!


    His eyes narrowed into slits, "Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, who made you so arrogant? To think you dared to break my hand? This is the consequence of provoking me, hehehe¡­"


    Within the backyard.


    The group of top figures continued their discussion. Nangong Shengtian said, "Gentlemen, although Xiao Yi''s strength is not weak, we can''t kill him in the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Since our goal is the same, let''s discuss how to proceed."


    "Three Seas Mountain is willing to dispatch a secondyer Dharma Manifestation Realm expert!" Yun Ruowang spoke up.


    Sword Inquiry Taoist narrowed his eyes and said, "Xiao Yi dared to poach the couple Chen Ziyi and Li Jinjun from my Wendao Vi, I absolutely cannot forgive him. However, His Majesty will surely notice if we make a move. Wendao Vi will also send a secondyer Dharma Manifestation Realm expert then!"


    "Nangong Family and Beitang Family are currently fully engaged in handling Treasure Pavilion and cannot be freed."


    Nangong Shengtian narrowed his eyes and turned to Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao, "Mr. Li, Mr. Tian, if you want our support for Chen Shuiwen, you can''t simply stand by without doing anything, right?"


    "Right, why hasn''t Chen Shuiwene? Does he look down on us?" Sword Inquiry Taoist asked.


    "Sword Inquiry Taoist, you misunderstand. Chen Shuiwen received some opportunities from that person and is attempting to break into the Dharma Manifestation Realm. He is preparing for the establishment of the new Martial Arts Institute!"


    Li Shengtian exined hurriedly, then said, "Our side is ready to dispatch a master at the tower leader level to make a move!"


    "Tower leader?"


    "May I know which one?" The people asked.


    If it were just Li Shengtian and another person, they wouldn''t qualify to sit with them.


    The reason there were seats for two was because of the person behind them!


    It was an imposing presence who controlled Xue Yilou, with over a dozen followers in the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Li Shengtian grinned, "Xue Mantian, the master of Xue Yilou!"


    Hiss!


    The crowd gasped in astonishment.


    "If Xue Mantian makes a move, Xiao Yi is bound to die beyond a doubt!"


    "I''ve heard that Xue Mantian and Xiao Yi have a deep grudge, it''s only appropriate that he takes action!"


    Nangong Shengtian squinted and said, "Remember to instruct the person making the move, before killing him, he must hand over his profound alchemy skills. Right, and his Cultivation Technique is also very peculiar, both must not be missed!"


    One by one, their eyes gleamed with blood, as if they had already seen Xiao Yi dead....


    ......


    Linhai City.


    This was the city where the Great Qian Dynasty''s ports to enter the Beast Emperor Sea were located, and it was a day and a half''s journey from the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty.@@novelbin@@


    The entire Linhai City was built along the coastline, stretching for hundreds of kilometers. As it faced the constant onught of the Beast Emperor Sea''s giant waves and attacks from Sea Beasts, Linhai City''s walls were exceptionally high.


    They stood over five hundred meters tall and were more than a hundred meters wide.


    Upon the pitch-ck walls, there were fierce w marks from beasts, as well as dark bloodstains.


    These were the medals earned from long years of resisting the assault of demonic beasts!


    The port was built inside Linhai City.


    When the tide was high, the dock''s gates would open, and ships could freely enter and exit. When the tide was low, the gates were closed to prevent Sea Demons from getting inside. And if one missed the time when the gates opened, then they could only stay on the Beast Emperor Sea.


    If you were lucky, wait until the next day to enter the city.


    If you were unlucky,


    in the dead of night, you would be devoured by countless marine Sea Demons.


    Under the bright sunshine,


    Xiao Yi walked through Linhai City, looking at the countless ships docked at the port, the smallest of which were a hundred meters long, and thergest stretched for ten thousand meters. Hundred-meter vessels could only sail in the near seas, to go to Beast Emperor City, one must board the ten-thousand-meter giant ships.


    Otherwise, a single giant wave or a slightly strong Sea Demon could overturn the ship.


    Xiao Yi spent one million Silver to buy a boat ticket, but he had to wait until the next day to depart. With time to spare, he strolled around the dock, where the air was filled with the cries of vendors selling all sorts of wares.


    There were those selling Sea Demon Beasts, those selling so-called treasures from overseas, and even ve traders.


    Regrly voyaging on the Beast Emperor Sea was akin to betting one''s life, and the people here were more uninhibited, with a mix of the good and the bad, and conflicts could erupt at any time.


    After wandering around, Xiao Yi stopped in front of a blind old man''s stall.


    A crowd had gathered in front of the stall.


    "You''ve never seen it before, but the Sea Demon is more beautiful than the most beautiful woman in the world. Moreover, their singing voices are incredibly captivating. Whenever a Sea Demon appears, it''s apanied by a fog that covers the sky, and within that fog, a beautiful song can be heard."


    The old man''s voice was a bit hoarse, sending a chill down one''s spine, "If you encounter such a situation, you must not leave the cabin, approach the water, or seek out the source of the voice; it''s the Sea Demon luring souls and iming lives! If you really get enchanted by a Sea Demon and cannot extricate yourself, you must poke out your own eyes to escape this disaster..."


    "Tsk, old man, you''re fooling people again!"


    "The legends say Sea Demons kill on sight. If you''ve really seen one, how could you have survived to return?"


    The old man was furious, "You bunch of little brats, why would I deceive you? I poked out my own eyes to avoid being captured by a Sea Demon; look at this ne, I took it from a Sea Demon..."


    "Tsk, you just want to trick us into buying your ne!"


    "Old man, we''ve seen these tricks before, we won''t fall for it!"


    Laughing, the crowd dispersed.


    The old man was frustrated but helpless.


    He clutched at a ne made of colorful, speckled seashells. Xiao Yi''s gaze fell upon the ne for a brief moment before he nned to leave, but suddenly, a crisp and pleasant voice reached his ears: "..."

 Chapter 306 Beast Emperor Sea

    "Save me... save me..."


    The clear and melodious voice suddenly rang in his mind.


    Xiao Yi was startled and looked around, but there was not a single woman nearby. He couldn''t help but frown, "Could it be an illusion?"


    "Save me..."


    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    That clear voice sounded again.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly shrank as his gaze turned towards the ne in the old man''s hands. It was at that moment he sensed a strange fluctuation emanating from the ne.


    It seemed to be calling out to him.


    "Could it be this ne?"


    Xiao Yi couldn''t help but recall the old man''s previous tale about the Sea Demon legend. His eyes flickered slightly as he squatted in front of the old man, "Old man, how much for this ne?"


    "Hmm? Young man, do you believe what I said?" the old man asked excitedly.


    Xiao Yi smiled, "In this vast world, nothing is too strange to exist. Why wouldn''t I believe?"


    "Good, good, good, finally someone believes me!"


    The old man''s milky white eyes rolled around, revealing a sly smile. He said, "Young man, you fancy this ne? If you really like it, I''ll sell it to you ¨C just for one million taels of Silver!"


    Xiao Yi stood up, "Keep it for your own amusement!"


    "Don''t go..."


    The old man hastily called out to Xiao Yi, showing a struggling expression with difficulty on his face, "How about this, half a million... no no no, one hundred thousand¡­"


    Xiao Yi replied indifferently, "One hundred taels of Silver!"


    "..."


    The old man pursed his lips, his face darkened as he said, "Get lost, I''d rather it rot in my possession..."


    Xiao Yi uttered an "oh" and stood up, ready to leave.


    The old man quickly shouted, "Enough, enough, one hundred taels then. Who made me so fated to meet you?"


    Xiao Yi curled his lip.


    He paid one hundred taels of Silver and took the ne into his hands.


    Xiao Yi fiddled with the ne in his hand, trying to infuse it with his vitality, but still, there was no effect. It was as if that faint fluctuation he had just felt was merely an illusion.


    "Could it really have been my illusion?"


    Xiao Yi frowned in puzzlement, unable to figure it out, so he simply put the ne away.


    As he was distracted, a figure collided head-on into him. Xiao Yi''s Wind Thunder Holy Body was at the fourth realm, hitting him was like crashing into a city wall.


    Xiao Yi didn''t budge an inch.


    The person opposite him cried out in pain, flipping backward and falling to the ground.


    Xiao Yi snapped back to reality and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"


    "Are you blind? Can''t you walk with your eyes open? Didn''t you see me walking here? You motherless bastard, pay me money. Today, this matter won''t be settled without ten to eighty thousand!" the person retorted, flipping up to his feet, ring angrily at Xiao Yi, and cursing at him.


    Xiao Yi''s brow furrowed tighter, "Watch your mouth!"


    Anything about his mother was his Achilles'' heel.


    The young man sneered, rolled up his sleeves to reveal his muscr arms, and said ominously, "Little bastard, I just have a dirty mouth. What can you do about it? Have the guts to hit me,e on, do you dare?"


    The young man stretched his face forward, challenging him defiantly.


    "I''ve never seen such a shameless request..."


    Xiao Yi shook his head, not wanting to escte the situation further.


    However, the young man was relentless, reaching out with a grab toward Xiao Yi''s shoulder.


    "Scram!"


    Xiao Yi sidestepped the young man''s grab while a low growl escaped his lips. With a sonic boom erupting from his mouth, the young man was sted away by the force.


    Whoosh!


    The young man was sent flying for a good thirty meters, thudding to the ground with a roll.


    Xiao Yi gave him a cold nce, then turned and vanished into the crowd.


    The young many on the ground for quite a while, and after struggling for some time, he finally got up. As he searched around and did not see Xiao Yi anywhere, a fierce look crossed his face, "Damn it, you little bastard, you better hope I never run into you again!"


    ...@@novelbin@@


    An uneventful night passed.


    At dawn, the sound of the tide was roaring as it poured through the open floodgates and into the harbor.


    Ships floated on the surface of the sea while the wharf bustled with people, all of whom became busy. Some were moving goods; others were setting sails out to sea.


    Besides merchant vessels, there were many ships dedicated to hunting sea demons.


    After all.


    The number of sea demons in the sea was simply too vast, and their flesh was delicious; once it was sold ind, the price could multiply by dozens of times.


    Xiao Yi, holding his ticket, boarded the colossal ship that stretched ten thousand meters and was d in azure-gray.


    The ship''s hull was inscribed with dozens of Formations, including the Wave Breaking Formation, Wind Riding Formation, and so on. Even if hundred-meter-high waves struck, they wouldn''t be able to shake the ship in the slightest.


    "Cabin number ny-eight, first-ss, at the topmost level!" The crew member checked Xiao Yi''s ticket and pointed to the topyer of the massive ship.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Thank you!"


    The cabins on this giant ship were divided into four sses: A, B, C, and D. The first-ss cabin that Xiao Yi chose cost a million taels of Silver. The cheapest, ss D, only cost a few hundred taels of Silver. However, Xiao Yi decisively gave up on the idea of squeezing into a room with dozens or hundreds of people.


    Money was no object!


    It was all about caprice!


    As they say, you get what you pay for. The first-ss cabins were for two persons each.


    In cabin number ny-eight, first-ss, a graceful woman who had arrived before Xiao Yi was sitting inside. She wore a long blue dress with a wide hem that tightly wrapped her legs. A pale blue veil covered her face, and she held an ancient zither in her hands.


    Upon seeing Xiao Yi enter, the enchanting woman nced at him with her phoenix eyes, then swiftly looked away.


    Xiao Yi touched his nose, "Sorry, I didn''t know there were coed amodations here..."


    The melodious voice from beneath the woman''s veil sounded light and pleasant, like a warbling oriole, "It''s fine!"


    "Hm."


    Xiao Yi nodded and sat down on another bed.


    A screen separated the two, giving them a measure of privacy and reducing the awkwardness.


    "Set sail!"


    About half an hourter, a series of resonant shouts woke Xiao Yi.


    Through the window, he saw the giant ship''s Formations shining brightly as the vessel trembled and leisurely left the harbor. While imposingly vast within the harbor, once it entered the Beast Emperor Sea, it became as insignificant as a grain of sand in the Azure Sea.


    Utterly minuscule.


    Whoosh!


    The ship cut through the wind and waves, speeding up as it went.


    Under the support of the Formations, the ship was especially stable, without a hint of rocking.


    Xiao Yi noticed more people had emerged on deck, all admiring the seascape.


    "I wonder how long it will take to reach Beast Emperor City from here!" Xiao Yi mused as he walked out of his cabin, intending to ask someone.


    The decks for cabins of sses A, B, C, and D were separated and interconnected, but only passengers from higher-ss cabins could enter the decks of lower sses. Those from the lower-ss cabins were not allowed to ess the areas designated for the higher ss.


    There''s always a hierarchy, a division between the noble and themon, no matter where you are.


    Standing on the deck.


    The sea breeze blowing in his face carried a faint saltiness, giving one a sense of the boundless ocean.


    Just as Xiao Yi was about to approach a crew member ahead with his questions, he heard a brash voice from behind, "Hahaha, you little wretch, it truly is a small world. Never thought I''d run into you here!"

 Chapter 307 Cutting the Sea with a Single Strike

    "You little bastard, I didn''t expect to run into you here, really, enemies do cross paths!"


    In the midst of Zhang''s wildughter.


    The youth Xiao Yi bumped into yesterday emerged from behind him, his face tainted with a vengeful grimace, followed by a bald strong man with a heavy saber on his back.


    The gazes of the two mennded on Xiao Yi, filled with a cold evil qi.


    Xiao Yi furrowed his brows and cursed his bad luck under his breath, then said indifferently, "Indeed, I didn''t expect to bump into someone spewing crap like you here!"


    "Who are you calling a crap-spouter?"


    The youth flew into a rage, pointing at Xiao Yi and cursing, "You bastard who''s born without upbringing, I..."


    Crack!


    A streak of silver light shed by.


    Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    His finger broke off cleanly and he fell to his knees in front of Xiao Yi with two thuds.


    Xiao Yi looked down with an icy face, "Dare to curse me again, and the next thing to break will be your head!"


    "You bastard, let go of my brother!"


    The bald strong man''s face darkened as the heavy saber on his back hummed, ready to make a move, when an icy rebuke came, "Who allowed you to start a fight here? If you want to fight, get off my ship and do it!"


    A group of sailors closed in.


    At the forefront was a one-eyed man in arge coat, his sole surviving eye sharp as an eagle''s, resting on the trio. Around him, the sailors were full of killing intent, grinning maliciously at them.


    "Cyclops?"


    The youth''s face changed, and he quickly called out, "Boss Cyclops, this isn''t my fault! It was, it was him who struck first!"


    "Shut up!"


    Cyclops sneered coldly, "Don''t think I didn''t see what just happened. Trouble should not extend to family, nor insults to parents. You cursed his mother, so him breaking your finger is only just and fair!"


    Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, casting a curious look at Cyclops.


    He hadn''t expected Cyclops to say something like that.


    The youth''s face turned from pale to green, but he didn''t dare to retort, pressing down the resentment in his heart and said to Xiao Yi, "Earlier, it was indeed my fault. Please forgive me!"


    "Get lost!"


    Xiao Yi flicked his arm and gave a cupped fist salute towards Cyclops.


    Cyclops nodded and limped towards the cabin, his left leg below the knee a pitch-ck short sword.


    The youth red at Xiao Yi viciously, "You little bastard, since Boss Cyclops has spoken, I''ll spare your life today. If you dare to leave the ship, I''ll make sure to avenge this day''s disgrace!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I''ll be waiting!"


    "Hmph!"


    The youth huffed coldly and left with the bald strong man.


    Only then did Xiao Yi find a sailor to ask, "How long will it take to reach Beast Emperor City from here?"


    "We should arrive by early morning the day after tomorrow!" said the sailor.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Thank you!"


    "Think nothing of it!"


    Seeing that Xiao Yi''s aura was profound, and his cultivation far exceeded his own, plus the fact that only a few who could stay in a first-ss cabin were ordinary people, the sailor was quite polite.


    If it were in the lowest ss cabin, even asking a simple question would cost you!


    Sea voyages are extremely tedious and dull.


    But they are also full of change and danger.


    Morning might shine with zing sunshine and clear skies, but by afternoon it has be a torrential downpour with fierce winds and towering waves. The huge ship''s formations were buzzing intensely, pushing to their limits.


    Doing everything possible to stabilize the vessel.


    Without these formations, the ship, even a hundred meters long, would have no fate other than sinking into the vast ocean under such severe weather.


    Boom!


    Rumble!


    Through the window, Xiao Yi saw the pitch-dark world outside, lined with sessive thunderbolts connecting heaven and earth, and huge waves a kilometer tall crashing down as if a colossal beast was opening its maw to swallow the lightning.


    "Come out and look, there''s someone on the sea!"


    "Look, that person is daring to cross the sea in this weather; is he exceptionally skilled and brave, or just ignorant of death?"


    "No, he''s practicing with a saber..."


    Shouts of surprise reached Xiao Yi''s ears.


    He arched an eyebrow.


    In such harsh weather, with driving rain, fierce winds, towering waves, and thunder striking the world, even warriors at the Peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm would not dare to cross the sea.


    And yet someone was practicing with a saber at sea now?


    Xiao Yi left his cabin and headed for the deck.


    He did not notice...


    ...that the veiled woman opened her eyes as he left, a hint of azure light shing through her pitch-ck pupils. A persistent sadness lingered between her brows.


    Above deck, despite the protection of the formation, the storm raged on.


    Raindrops, as big as beans mixed with sea spray, struck the face with a tearing pain.


    In the boundless thunder ahead.


    A figure stood proudly upon the pinnacle of the wind and waves, his feet stepping on kilometer-high waves, holding a ck long knife in hand. His body stood tall like a pine, his spine arrogantly erect like a sword, facing the descending purple-gold thunder without flinching or avoiding.


    Suddenly...


    He swung his knife down.


    Boom!


    The ck knife light rose shockingly into the sky, a thousand-zhang de aura tearing through the void, the terrifying ck light actually obscuring all the brilliance between heaven and earth, plunging this area into darkness.


    Suddenly.


    The ck de aura ferociously shed down, and with a thunderous boom, the knife light passed, shattering thunder and dispersing the wild wind.


    Only the massive wave beneath his feet continued to surge relentlessly.


    "Wrong!"


    Xiao Yi''s pupils suddenly contracted.


    He saw that the kilometer-high waves beneath that person''s feet were like a piece of silk, torn apart by force. Starting from the crest of the wave, a crack spread along the direction where the de aura vanished.


    A hundred meters.


    A kilometer.


    Ten thousand meters...


    On the sea surface stretching for ten thousand meters, the water was literally split in half.


    A single strike severed the sea.


    A ten-thousand-meter-long trench appeared on the sea surface, the water walls on both sides stood tall, and the sea water kept pouring into the trench, the thunderous sound even drowning out the shocking thunder and the storm.


    The figure who had shattered the Azure Sea then sheathed his long knife, broke through the air, and disappeared into the horizon.


    "This one strike..."


    Xiao Yi stared at that terrifying stroke, his mind exploding like a thunderp.


    He suddenly closed his eyes.


    Repeating that one stroke over and over in his mind.


    The stroke swift as thunder, the sh that shattered the Azure Sea.


    "Speed, speed pushed to the extreme¡­ The speed of that one strike has surpassed the wind and the thunder, that''s why it could shatter them, even splitting the sea with one strike¡­" Xiao Yi closed his eyes tightly, his pores opening freely.


    He was feeling the wind, feeling the thunder, feeling the storm and the thunderp.


    Suddenly...


    Xiao Yi''s eyes snapped open, as he pointed a sword finger forward.


    Whoosh!@@novelbin@@


    Without using any elemental qi, just a single finger thrust, but Wind Thunder was only dispersed, not shattered.


    "Still not fast enough!"


    Xiao Yi continued making his moves.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Time after time, each move met with Xiao Yi''s own rejection.


    Many onlookers also noticed Xiao Yi''s actions, including that young man from the morning who was among the crowd, sneering over and over, "Has that guy gone mad? Does he think he''s the one who can sever the sea with a single strike? Ridiculous..."


    "If just by watching someone else perform a move, one could learn it, what''s the point of martial arts heritage?"


    "He''s way out of his league!"


    People around shook their heads andughed.


    Only the one-eyed man, looking at Xiao Yi, revealed a trace of amazement.


    "No, that''s not right..."


    He kept recalling that one strike in his mind. Suddenly, a glint of understanding swept across Xiao Yi''s eyes, "Right... Wind, thunder... Wind Thunder are elemental forces of nature, going against them naturally meets great resistance, but what if one follows their path? Going with the wind, with the thunder..."


    Xiao Yi carefully felt it out, and then suddenly unleashed a sword finger strike.


    Whoosh!


    A single sword finger point created a vacuum zone within ten feet in front of him.


    The wind was broken.


    The rain extinguished.


    The thunder disappeared.


    This finger actually carried a hint of the essence of that one strike!


    "How, how is this possible?"


    "Damn, he actually learned it?"


    "Is he even human?"


    Amid the shocked cries, the young man''s face alternated between green and white, feeling as if he had been pped hard across the face, he red at Xiao Yi viciously, grinding his teeth, "Motherfucker, this brat has just lucked out..."


    He angrily returned to the cabin of the ship.


    At this moment, Xiao Yi waspletely immersed in the sensation of thatst finger strike, the corners of his mouth slightly curved upward, "Sword Intent at the fourthyer, the sword moves at will, I never expected to encounter such a marvelous adventure on this sea voyage!"

 Chapter 308 Midnight Knocking

    Above the deck.


    The fierce wind was raging, the storm vtile.


    Xiao Yi stood amidst the wind and rain, he slowly opened his arms, his Sword Intent at the fourth stage responding to his will. He was perceiving the force of heaven and earth, acting with the flow, capable of surpassing the wind, surpassing the power of lightning and thunder.


    Riding the waves might be exhrating, but it''s not as effortless as drifting with the current.


    Defying the heavens indeed has its ir, but it''s not asfortable as acting in harmony with them.


    This is the fourth stage of Sword Intent.


    Generally speaking¡­


    Only upon reaching the Dharma Manifestation Realm and fully mastering a force of heaven and earth could one attain this level. Even many masters of the Dharma Manifestation Realm had not grasped the fourth stage of Sword Intent.


    Yet Xiao Yi had reached this realm while still in the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    His talent in the way of the sword was certainly extraordinary.


    He opened his arms and slightly closed his eyes.


    Feeling the clear sensation of wind and rain falling on his body, Xiao Yi''s figure didn''t seem to move at all, even the crowd around him didn''t notice any change in his position.


    But if one observed carefully, a shocking discovery could be made.


    "Look, the wind and rain are not falling on him!"


    "It''s not that they''re not falling on him, but he''s actually avoiding the wind and rain? How, how did he do that?"


    Astonished cries filled the deck.


    In this torrential downpour, where the raindrops nearly formed a curtain, Xiao Yi, without using his elemental power to create a barrier, relied on extremely subtle movements to cleverly avoid all wind and rain.


    In the remaining eye of the one-eyed dragon, a spark of sharpness flickered.


    Even with his vast experience, he had never seen such a terrifying movement technique.


    "Thisd, he''s not simple!" said the one-eyed dragon, his facial expression reflecting his amusement. His leg, braced by a short sword, gently tapped the deck, seemingly eager to try.


    After a long time.


    Xiao Yi slowly opened his eyes, having just entered the fourth stage of Sword Intent.


    The act of avoiding the wind and rain was an application of Sword Intent in motion.


    Moving with the wind, with the thunder, with the rain. Going with the wind and rain created a trajectory that perfectly avoided the storm. Such mastery, if applied to the sword, would be extraordinarily powerful.


    Imagine this...


    Two people moving at the same speed, one needing to ovee the resistance of the wind, while Xiao Yi could move with the wind, not only unimpeded by the wind but also able to use it to his advantage.


    Who is stronger, who is weaker?


    It''s obvious at a nce!


    Heading straight back to his cabin, Xiao Yi found the veiled woman tightly embracing her ancient zither with her eyes closed, seemingly unaware of his entrance.


    Xiao Yi shook his head lightly, and sat down cross-legged on his bed.


    This trip to the Beast Emperor Sea had allowed his Sword Intent to step into the fourth stage, an unexpected joy.


    It also increased hisbat strength.


    At the very least, facing a secondyer master of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, he would have the strength to fight!


    With his eyes closed, Xiao Yi immersed himself in cultivation, and before long night had fallen. The storm outside had stopped, but there was no light from stars or moon. The huge ship entered into a patch of fog, surrounded by dense whiteness.


    In the deep silence of the night.


    Xiao Yi heard a captivating song, ethereal as if descendent of heaven.


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi opened his eyes, the crisp and pleasing songing into his ears, momentarily causing him to lose focus. But at that moment, the ne he had bought the day before suddenly radiated a warm wave of energy, flooding into his mind.


    This strange energy wave wiped the nkness from Xiao Yi''s eyes, bringing back rity.


    Thump!


    Thump, thump!


    Suddenly, an increasingly urgent knock came from outside the cabin door.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils constricted instantly, but before he could speak, a pale, icy hand covered his mouth¡ªit was the woman embracing the ancient qin, her azure blue eyes shing with fear and solemnity as she shook her head at him, signaling him to be silent.


    Thud! Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Thud thud!


    Thud thud thud!


    The relentlessly urgent knocking was hair-raising, especially deep in the middle of the night, out on the vast ocean. The sudden rise of fog and the intermittent singing were unsettling enough, and now this relentless knocking.


    It was enough to make one''s heart pound with terror.


    The knocking persisted for a moment before gradually fading away.


    Xiao Yi looked at the girl beside him and asked, frowning, "What on earth is going on?"


    The girl shook her head lightly, the panic in her eyes not receding, and pointed outside the window.


    Xiao Yi carefully lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside, and saw in the midst of the thick fog, figures moving like walking corpses, walking out from the cabins.


    They ambled about on the deck, each holding a torch in their hand.


    ring and dimming in the mist, they resembled numerous fireflies.


    Plunk!


    Plunk!


    Xiao Yi was horrified to discover that quite a few people walked straight to the edge of the sea, then leaped up and plunged into the icy waters below.


    In the sea,


    Xiao Yi caught glimpses of green figures flitting by, quickly dragging those who jumped into the water into the depths, disappearing from sight.


    The seductive singing still sporadically reached his ears, and Xiao Yi couldn''t help but recall the old man''s tale of Sea Demon legends. He turned to the graceful woman beside him, "Are these the doings of a Sea Demon?"


    "No, not a Sea Demon!"


    The graceful woman shook her head emphatically.


    Xiao Yi, frowning, said, "I heard when Sea Demons appear, they bring dense fog and singing. Once you hear the singing, you get bewitched and controlled by the Sea Demon. Doesn''t this coincide with what''s happening here?"


    "It really isn''t a Sea Demon. Sea Demons don''t harm people!"


    The woman was extremely certain in her response. As she spoke, a dark shadow suddenly passed by the window. The figure paused abruptly by the window, a pair of blood-red eyes looking into the cabin.


    Staring straight at the graceful woman.


    At that moment,


    beneath the blood-colored figure, a ck face cracked into a grin, revealing rows of serrated fangs, and a ghastly, hoarse voice sent shivers down the spine, "So you''re here..."


    Boom!


    The shadow violently thrust out a wed hand, shattering the window with a bang, reaching for the graceful woman.


    "Be careful!"


    Xiao Yi yanked the graceful woman back to his side and reached out reflexively with his hand, seizing the wrist of the ck-wed hand. Then, gripping tightly, he broke off the ck w with a series of crisp snaps.


    Awooo!


    The shadow let out an agonized scream, piercing to the ear.


    Almost at the same time,


    numerous mighty figures on the deck shuddered as if under a Binding Spell, rooted to the spot, while among the crowd, shadow after shadow leaped into the air, converging swiftly towards Xiao Yi''s cabin.@@novelbin@@


    Under the thick fog, their faces were indiscernible.


    "The target is here, hurry up!"


    "Heh heh, don''t even think about escaping..."


    Among the spine-chilling, sinisterughter, the sound of rushing air kept drawing nearer.


    Mostly, the presence was that of beings with the aura of the Golden Core Realm, and there were many at the level of the Tao Tribtion Realm. The number was astonishingly high, densely packed, swiftly encircling the cabin where he was located, trapping him with no way out.


    A pair of blood-colored eyes fell upon Xiao Yi and the girl, and a grating voice emanated from the throats of the dark figures: "Kill him..."

 Chapter 310 Three Strikes

    ```


    "I know what happened!"


    This sudden voice drew everyone''s attention.


    The speaker was the young man who had a conflict with Xiao Yi yesterday, and behind him was still the bald muscr man carrying a ck heavy sword.


    Seeing the crowd''s gaze converging on himself, the youth''s face shed with excitement, and he strode forward to stand before the One-Eyed Dragon. With a cold expression, he said, "Boss One-Eyed Dragon, my name is Ren Wu, and I know what happenedst night!"


    "Hmm?"


    One-Eyed Dragon squinted at him and said coldly, "Do you know what will happen if you lie?"


    Ren Wu promptly patted his chest and said, "Who doesn''t know of Boss One-Eyed Dragon''s fame? How could I possibly deceive you?"


    One-Eyed Dragon nodded and said, "Speak then, what exactly happened?"


    "When I woke up this morning, I saw everyone on the ship was outside, except for one cabin whose door was closed." Ren Wu said with a malicious look, "That was cabin number ny-eight ''A'' ss, the door was closed, and nobody from inside came out!"


    Hiss!


    Everyone''s expressions changed in unison.


    To know...


    Even the captain, the One-Eyed Dragon at the peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, appeared on deck without anyone noticing. And now someone was still hiding inside their own cabin?


    "Cabin number ny-eight ''A'' ss? Who was staying there?"


    "Now that you mention it... I remembered, when I passed by there just now, I noticed that the window of cabin ny-eight was shattered..."


    "Who lives in cabin number ny-eight? We must have hime out..."


    Everyone was saying.


    With a cold expression, Ren Wu''s mouth curled slightly and he whispered to himself with a sneer, "Heh heh, you little bastard, this is what you get for provoking me. You''re not dead yet?"


    One-Eyed Dragon''s remaining eye narrowed slightly, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Gentlemen, please follow me to cabin number ny-eight!"


    The group set off together.


    They arrived at the cabin where Xiao Yi was staying.


    Knock knock knock!


    The cabin door was knocked.


    Xiao Yi opened the door and saw One-Eyed Dragon standing with a crowd blocking the doorway. He couldn''t help but frown, "Is there something you need?"


    One-Eyed Dragon scanned the inside of the cabin, indeed noticing the shattered window.


    The cabin was also a mess.


    Clearly, a fight had urred.


    In the cabin, aside from Xiao Yi, there was a masked girl lying asleep on the bed. One-Eyed Dragon and others felt even more suspicious of Xiao Yi, and One-Eyed Dragon asked in a deep voice, "Where were youst night?"


    Xiao Yi answered frankly, "I was inside the cabin."


    But considering those shadows seemed to be after the masked girl, he didn''t reveal anything further.


    Ren Wu, standing on his tiptoes among the crowd, called out, "See... I didn''t lie, did I? We were all mysteriously on the deck, yet he was safely in his cabin. If you say this matter has nothing to do with him, I wouldn''t believe it even if you beat me to death!"


    "Young man, you bettere clean. What exactly happenedst night?"


    "Is this incident rted to you?"


    "So many people have mysteriously disappeared, yet you are unharmed. You owe us an exnation!"


    Everyone was speaking.


    One-Eyed Dragon stared at Xiao Yi, enunciating each word, "You''d better not hide anything, otherwise, don''t me me for being impolite!"


    He was extremely angry at the moment.


    An eerie incident had urred on the ship, and even his first mate had mysteriously disappeared.


    He was currently brimming with fury.


    Eager to find an outlet for his wrath.


    Looking at One-Eyed Dragon without a hint of subservience, Xiao Yi said in a steady voice, "As I said, I was asleep in the cabinst night. It was your knocking that woke me up just now!"


    "Sleeping? Then what happened here?" Ren Wu spoke with an eerie tone, "Don''t tell me this was from your tossing and turning in sleep?"


    ```


    The one-eyed Long Yi remained silent, but the cold light in his eyes grew increasingly icy.


    Xiao Yi swept a disdainful nce at Ren Wu. That guy was causing a ruckus here, leading everyone to direct their hostility towards him. Xiao Yi snorted coldly, "It''s the third time now!"


    "Hmm?"


    The crowd was startled.


    Xiao Yi stared intently at Ren Wu and said coldly, "This is the third time you''ve provoked me. There won''t be a fourth because you can die now!"


    Ren Wu was taken aback, then burst intoughter, arrogant and fearless, "Kid, who do you think you are? You think just because you say I should die, I will? You don''t even realize the situation you''re in, and you''re still thinking about killing..."


    Before he could finish speaking.


    Xiao Yi''s figure had already moved past Long Yi and the others, appearing in front of him.


    With a single hand raised, he directly grasped Ren Wu''s neck and lifted him up.


    "Save... save me..." Ren Wu grabbed desperately at Xiao Yi''s hand, his legs iling, his face filled with terror.


    How Xiao Yi had appeared next to Ren Wu without anyone noticing was beyond them all.


    The bald strongman was furious, "Let go of my brother!"@@novelbin@@


    Hum!


    The heavy sword shed down towards Xiao Yi, edgeless but with enormous force.


    ng!


    Amidst a crisp sound.


    Xiao Yi casually lifted his left hand, and with just two fingers, he firmly mped the heavy sword, his icy gaze falling onto the bald strongman, "Die!"


    Bang!


    With a tightening of his two fingers.


    The heavy sword shattered, with countless fragments flying backwards, piercing through the bald strongman''s body in a series of thuds, leaving him lying in a pool of blood.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes, cold as ice, looked at Ren Wu in his grasp, "You''ve provoked me several times, and now you even try to frame and harm me. I cannot tolerate you!"


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    "No, don''t..."


    Ren Wu was filled with regret.


    He had thought that with Long Yi and the others present, Xiao Yi would surely be unable to do anything to him, hence he had instigated others and sowed discord. But now, facing a dominant Xiao Yi, none of the bystanders stepped forward to stop him.


    Regret filled his heart.


    But s...


    There is no medicine for regret in this world.


    Crack!


    Xiao Yi''s palm clenched, and he crushed Ren Wu''s neck, tossing him to the side. Only then did he turn back to Long Yi and the others, "Believe it or not,st night''s affair has nothing to do with me."


    The crowd exchanged nces.


    Long Yi stared deeply at Xiao Yi; the bald strongman was a powerhouse of the Third Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm, yet he couldn''t withstand a single move from Xiao Yi and was easily killed on the spot.


    This was enough to discern that Xiao Yi''s strength was far beyond what he showed, not merely at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Long Yi squinted his eyes and said coldly, "You had better be honest. If I find outst night''s incident is rted to you, I will surely cut you down without mercy!"


    Thud!


    Xiao Yi closed the cabin door directly.


    Long Yi and the others also left one after another. After all, with Xiao Yi''s show of strength, they had no evidence and indeed could not continue to press him.


    Inside the cabin.


    Xiao Yi sensed that Long Yi and the others had left, waved his hand casually, and a burst of vital energy formed a barrier sealing the cabin. Xiao Yi patted his chest, and Little Lin emerged. Xiao Yi instructed, "Keep a watch on our surroundings!"


    "Roger that, boss!"


    Little Lin nodded its head and swam around the cabin.


    Only then did Xiao Yi turn to the unconscious girl and said in a deep voice, "Since you''re awake, stop pretending. Get up and let''s talk. What exactly happenedst night?"

 Chapter 311 Beast Emperor City

    "Get up and let''s talk about what exactly happenedst night!"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, staring at the veiled girl who was lying down, seemingly still asleep.


    The veiled girl kept her eyes tightly shut, appearing as if she were still deep in slumber and hadn''t woken up.


    Xiao Yi sneered, "If you don''t wake up, then don''t me me for taking apart your zither!"@@novelbin@@


    The veiled girl remained unmoved.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi reached for the zither.


    It was only then¡­


    ¡­that the girl finally opened her eyes, grabbed the zither, and curled up in the corner, her blue eyes warily watching Xiao Yi.


    Sigh!


    Xiao Yi exhaled a turbid breath. The girl''s blue eyes were like an endless ocean, their depth making one feel as if they couldn''t extricate themselves. He said in a deep voice, "Who are you, really? And what were those thingsst night?"


    The wariness in the veiled girl''s eyes did not dissipate.


    She was still clutching the zither nervously.


    Xiao Yi sighed, "If I had wanted to harm you, I wouldn''t have helped youst night, and I wouldn''t have concealed your presence just now when they came over!"


    The veiled girl''s gaze flickered a few times, her hands rxing slightly around the zither. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Her guard against Xiao Yi wasn''t as strong as before.


    She hesitated for a moment and then a melodious voice like that of an oriole came from beneath the veil, "They were underlings of Sha Kun, the deputy city lord of Beast Emperor City."


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, a strange expression on his face, "The deputy city lord of Beast Emperor City? Then who are you? Don''t tell me you are the city lord?"


    The veiled girl shook her head, "My name is Huang Yuwei. The city lord of Beast Emperor City, Huang Baitao, is my father. When I was very young, my father sent me to my mother''s family. Not long ago, I received news that my father was gravely ill, so I rushed back."


    Xiao Yi wondered, "You''re the princess of Beast Emperor City? If that''s the case, those peoplest night indeed came for you. Isn''t Sha Kun one of your father''s subordinates? But those men didn''t seem like they were there to escort you back!"


    "They were ck Shark Guards under Sha Kun. Sha Kun is my father''s sworn brother, but they have been at odds for a long time. It''s because of him that my father sent me to my mother''s family,"


    Huang Yuwei hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Sha Kun wants to capture me and threaten my father to pass on the city lord''s position to him¡­"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes.


    He was considering the truth of Huang Yuwei''s story and asked, "Do you have any proof to back up what you''re saying?"


    Huang Yuwei hesitated, then took out a token from her bosom.


    The token glittered with gold light.


    It was carved with beast ws all around. The front bore the character for ''beast'', and the back had the character for ''emperor''.


    Huang Yuwei''s voice was firm as she said, "This is one of the five city lord tokens of Beast Emperor City. I hold one of them. If you don''t believe me, when you get to Beast Emperor City, you can verify if this token matches the city''s g!"


    "Fine, I''ll take your word for now,"


    Xiao Yi nodded and then said solemnly, "We are still a day and a night''s journey from Beast Emperor City. Will those people appear again tonight?"


    The tactics of the ck Shark Guards were too strange.


    If it weren''t for his ne that activated just in time, he too would''ve been bewitchedst night.


    If they n toe again tonight, they must be prepared in advance!


    "They shouldn''t!"


    Huang Yuwei shook her head, "The ck Shark Guards never strike the same target twice. Moreover, we''re not far from Beast Emperor City now. They wouldn''t dare to be too obvious."


    "Let''s hope so,"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    But in his heart, he remained on guard, believing only half of what Huang Yuwei said.


    It''s better to be wary than to be harmed.


    In this world where the strong prey on the weak,


    being naive and without guile,


    one would likely die without even knowing how!


    Just as Huang Yuwei had said, the ck Shark Guard did not appear again, and the next morning, a gigantic ind appeared on the surface of the sea.


    This ind was suspended above the sea, and atop it sat an immensely huge city.


    This was Beast Emperor City.


    A powerful faction owning countless wealth, situated above the Beast Emperor Sea.


    Even the Great Qian Dynasty, when faced with the Beast Emperor City, dealt with it on an equal footing. After all, Beast Emperor City, apart from sitting deep in the Beast Emperor Sea and being iparably wealthy, was also a ce where powerful figures were asmon as clouds.


    It was not any weaker than any of the top ten sects!


    "Beast Emperor City is almost upon us, everyone prepare your entrance fee!" The voice of the one-eyed dragon spread throughout the entire vessel.


    The entrance fee for Beast Emperor City is determined by one''s strength.


    For the Qi Gathering Realm, one hundred taels.


    For the Shentong Realm, one thousand taels.


    For the Golden Core Realm, ten thousand taels, and for the Tao Tribtion Realm, one hundred thousand taels.


    Of course...


    If a warrior of the Dharma Manifestation Realm were to enter Beast Emperor City, they would not be charged any fee and would even receive treatment befitting a VIP. After all, even the powerful Beast Emperor City would have a headache if it provoked the existence of someone from the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Xiao Yi had known these rules since he boarded the ship and handed over one hundred thousand taels of silver to the sailor.


    Boom!


    The ship entered the port of Beast Emperor City, the enormous dock of Beast Emperor City was several timesrger than that of Linhai, and there were four such docks in Beast Emperor City.


    Just think...


    The entrance fee for a vessel like this one could amount to tens of millions of taels of silver.


    A single port could amodate tens of thousands of such vessels, and just the entrance fees from the four major ports constituted a vast wealth. It''s a glimpse into the extent of Beast Emperor City''s affluence.


    After leaving the ship.


    Huang Yuwei put on a cloak and waved at Xiao Yi, "Let''s part ways here. If you run into any trouble, you can find me at the city lord''s mansion!"


    "Alright!"


    The two parted ways.


    No sooner had Xiao Yi stepped off the dock than he saw several carriages in front of him, all avable for rent. One thousand taels of silver a day, and the coachmen were all residents of Beast Emperor City.


    They were extremely familiar with Beast Emperor City.


    "My lord, do you wish to rent a carriage? I am Lei Sanwang, my ancestors have been in this business for three generations, there''s no ce in the whole of Beast Emperor City I don''t know about..." A middle-aged man with a pointed face and a goatee below his nose approached with a smile.


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "Take me to the ck market!"


    "Right away!"


    Lei Sanwang''s face was glowing with a bright smile as he skillfully ushered Xiao Yi onto the carriage and then, whipping the reins, drove the carriage towards the city.


    Beast Emperor City was simply toorge.


    Even while sitting in the carriage,


    they traveled for a full hour before arriving at the location of the ck market, Lei Sanwang''s voice came from outside, "My lord, we''ve arrived at the ck market!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi stepped out of the carriage and looked at the ck market, which covered the entire East City, showing a puzzled expression, "This entire ce is the ck market?"


    "Yes!"


    Lei Sanwang smiled proudly, "Our Beast Emperor City''s ck market is thergest in Southern State, the whole East City is the ck market. However, carriages are not allowed inside the ck market, we will need to go on foot. What are you nning to purchase? I can take you there!"


    Xiao Yi said, "I want to buy medicinal materials..."


    "Medicinal materials?"


    Lei Sanwang spoke with practiced familiarity, "Then you''vee to the right ce. I know all the medicinal material merchants in the ck market, big and small. But there''s no need to bother with the smaller ones, I''ll take you to the three major medicinal material merchants!"


    "That works!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, about to speak when suddenly, an urgent shouting and curses came from behind, "Move aside, all of you move aside for me!"


    Xiao Yi frowned and turned around.


    But what he faced was a streak of ck that swooped towards him with the sound of the air being torn apart...

 Chapter 313 A Punch to the Head

    ```


    After the bidding for the medicine concluded.


    The powerful members of the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce opened each sphere in sequence, starting with number one, and the herbs within each sphere were promptly revealed to the audience upon their opening.


    "Number one, a strand of Qingluo Root!"


    "Number two, a piece of Monk Fruit..."


    Seven spheres were opened in session, and all contained extremely cheapmon herbs.


    The person who got sphere number one fared the worst.


    He had bet a hundred thousand to win this number one sphere, only to end up with a Qingluo Root worth a hundred silver, and then sphere number eight was opened, to which Xiao Yi also looked forward with some anticipation.


    Crack!


    The sphere opened.


    A fragrance of herbs wafted through the air.


    Instantly, it prompted a wave of gasps, "This, this seems to be a fifth-grade Spiritual Medicine Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng!"


    "Looking at its quality, it must have a hundred years of maturity. Brother, for this herb I offer one million..."


    "One million for a Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng of such fine quality? You must be joking. I bid five million, sell it to me!"


    "I bid six million..."


    In no time, Xiao Yi found himself surrounded by a throng of people, each eagerly bidding to acquire the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng.


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Seeing Xiao Yi remain unmoved, a middle-aged man stepped forward and said, "Young man, my mother is gravely ill and in dire need of the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng to survive. I''m willing to pay ten million silver, could you please sell it to me?"


    Ten million?


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    Xiao Yi blinked, marveling at how he had spent only ten thousand silver but had gained an herb worth ten million.


    A ten thousand percent profit!


    "Young man, please..." the strong man begged with a piteous face.


    Xiao Yi sighed and said, "All right, I''ll sell it to you."


    "Thank you, thank you so much!"


    The middle-aged man''s face lit up with ecstasy, as he took out a stack of silver notes from his Storage Ring, ready to make the transaction. But at that moment, an arrogant voice cut through the crowd, "Eh? This Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng looks good. Taking it back for soup would be highly nourishing; I''ll take it, young master!"


    "Hm?"


    The middle-aged man''s face slightly changed as he looked over to the source of the voice.


    A young man named Zhang Yang, hands sped behind his back, appeared before the crowd with an air of aloofness.


    The middle-aged man''s expression turned ugly as he said in a deep voice, "Brother, I saw this herb first and I hope..."


    Smack!


    A burly man standing behind the young man backhanded the middle-aged man across the face, sending him tumbling to the ground while saying coldly, "Who do you think you are? Worthy to call our young master brother?"


    "You..."


    The middle-aged man''s face turned ashen.


    The young man looked up at Xiao Yi, his lips curling with amusement, "Kid, it''s a small world, isn''t it? I didn''t expect to bump into you so soon!"


    Wasn''t this young man Tan Huajian?


    The cultivation of the burly man beside him was at the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm. His muscles were like heavy bs of metal, intricately outlined, stands next to Tan Huajian like a chunk of solid iron.@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi frowned as he helped the middle-aged man to his feet, saying, "Keep the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng for yourself."


    "This..."


    The middle-aged man was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi handed back the silver notes to him and said with a smile, "Better for you to take it to save your mother, than to let it be wasted by some beasts unworthy of it!"


    "Brother, thank you!"


    The middle-aged man took the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng gratefully, shooting a nce filled with gratitude at Xiao Yi, and whispered, "Please be careful, they''re dangerous."


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively, "Don''t worry, they''re just annoying flies."


    As Xiao Yi handed over the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng to the middle-aged man, Tan Huajian''s face turned livid as he said coldly, "Kid, are you deaf? Didn''t you hear me? I said I wanted the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng, how dare you give it to someone else?"


    Xiao Yi nced at him, "And you are? Do I know you?"


    "You..."


    Tan Huajian''s face contorted with displeasure.


    He had no use for the Purple Jade Dragon King Ginseng himself; his intention had been merely to spoil Xiao Yi''s deal. And now, Xiao Yi had the audacity to give the ginseng away right in front of him.


    In Tan Huajian''s eyes, it was an utter affront to his own dignity!


    Tan Huajian turned to the burly man beside him, "Ah Long, cripple his cultivation, break his arms and legs!"


    "Understood!"


    Ah Long cracked his neck, producing a series of crisp sounds.


    He stepped forward.


    Ah Long was now in front of Xiao Yi, his right hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles crackling like thunder. With a punch thrown, the whistling of his fist carried the fury of wind and thunder, heading straight for Xiao Yi.


    This punch was infused with the essence of fist intent.


    ```


    A cage of condensed fighting intent had formed, trapping Xiao Yi within its confines.


    An immense pressure bore down from all directions.


    "This is the Tan Family''s Iron Fist Ah Long. It is said that he was once a ve, but was kept by the Tan Family due to his exceptionalbat talent..."


    "The strongest aspect of Iron Fist Ah Long is his pair of fists, which are said to have reached the third stage of fighting intent, extremely terrifying!"


    "That youngster is in danger!"


    Mastering the third stage of fighting intent at the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, hisbat power could rival someone at the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm; even among the top ten sects, a being like Ah Long could be considered a genius.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes sharpened, a glint of cold light shing through them like thunder.


    All that could be seen was a sh of ck light before him.


    Xiao Yi''s right hand formed a palm and blocked in front of him; with a crisp snap, that mocking, iron fist was steadied firmly in his grasp.


    Hiss!


    Sparks flew from under Xiao Yi''s feet as he slid backward two meters, fist and all.


    The power of that punch was imaginable.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "At the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, you can make me retreat? If I were to bring this man back, my Xiaoshanhe Institute could gain another remarkable warrior!"


    Amazement painted Ah Long''s face, shock overwhelming his heart, "A mere First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm blocked my Invincible Iron Fist?"


    His expertise was in boxing.


    The name Iron Fist Ah Long was already famous throughout Beast Emperor City.


    Even among those desperados on the ve Battlefield who licked the edges of des, there were few who could withstand more than three moves from him. Xiao Yi was only at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm, yet he had so easily blocked his punch.


    This level of strength was truly terrifying!


    Tan Huajian, unaware of Ah Long''s shock, assumed Ah Long had not put forth his full strength. He raised his ck whip andshed toward him, and with a crisp snap, the piercing sound of flesh being torn followed.


    A sinister streak of blood appeared on Ah Long''s back, soaking his clothes red in an instant.


    Tan Huajian bellowed, "Useless thing, why haven''t you killed him for me yet?"


    Ah Long grimaced in pain, a sh of hatred and resentment crossing the depths of his eyes, but as a mere ve, defying his master would mean being hunted by the entire Beast Emperor City.


    Grinding his teeth, Ah Long could onlysh out again with his fists, "Invincible Iron Fist!"


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Fists rained down like a torrential downpour.


    Xiao Yi''s figure moved with ease, dodging the overwhelming barrage of fists from Ah Long and whispered, "Your name is Ah Long, right? Would you like to follow me?"


    "Huh?"


    Ah Long''s punches faltered.


    Xiao Yi continued whispering, "If you follow me, we will be partners. I''ll give you your freedom; you''ll no longer be a ve!"


    Hum!


    Ah Long''s expression changed dramatically.


    Freedom!


    That word could only appear in his dreams.


    Ah Long''s punches did not lessen; he whispered back begrudgingly, "Stop talking nonsense... I am but a ve; the Tan Family would never let me leave."


    "Don''t worry, as long as you''re willing to follow me, I''ll handle the Tan Family!" Xiao Yi said with a smile.


    Ah Long halted his assault, frowning, "You''ll handle the Tan Family? What makes you think I can trust you?"


    Tan Huajian, seeing Ah Long stop, was instantly furious, "You dog, did I tell you to stop? Kill him for me, get to it¡­"


    Snap! Snap! Snap!


    The ck whip continued to strike Ah Long''s body relentlessly.


    Even with Ah Long''s strong physique, he was covered in wounds from the whip''sshes.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, shed past Ah Long, grabbed the whip with a fierce yank, pulling Tan Huajian in front of him. The whip coiled around Tan Huajian''s neck as he looked at Ah Long with amusement: "This is the proof!"


    "What are you doing? Let go of me¡­"


    Pinned to the ground by Xiao Yi, Tan Huajian was a picture of humiliation and fury, roaring at Ah Long, "Bastard, you see me being held down here and do nothing? Kill him for me or I swear I will kill you..."


    Roar!


    Ah Long''s eyes zed red, his fists clenched tightly, veins pulsing on his arms.


    Whoosh!


    He threw a punch forward.


    Xiao Yi remained smiling, not moving an inch.


    Tan Huajian''s face showed a smug satisfaction, "You bastard, you''re done for..."


    Before he could finish.


    His expression of satisfaction turned to horror and disbelief; the punch was not meant for Xiao Yi, but headed straight for his head. With a loud bang, Tan Huajian''s head exploded, leaving his body beyond recognition.


    Huffing! Huffing!


    Ah Long gasped for air, his reddened eyes filled with exhration and a sense of liberation, staring intently at Xiao Yi, "You said, you would give me freedom!"


    Xiao Yi smiled broadly, "Wee to Xiaoshanhe Institute!"

 Chapter 314 Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce

    Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce, within the main hall.


    A dead silence filled the area, as everyone stared dumbfounded at Tan Huajian, who had be a headless corpse lying in a pool of blood.


    This was the young master of the Tan Family.


    To have been publicly killed like this was a major incident!


    The look in people''s eyes when they turned to Xiao Yi was full of deep awe and shock. Of course, there were quite a few who gazed at him and Along with schadenfreude and mockery, "You two are dead meat, the Tan Family is a giant in Beast Emperor City!"


    "They control the ve market and have many powerful followers under theirmand. Killing Tan Huajian will surely bring about the Tan Family''s retribution!"


    "Especially that big guy, he''s a ve! To dare turn on his master, he''s going to be dismembered..."


    Murmurs ran through the crowd.


    Along looked at Xiao Yi with a worried expression.


    He had also been seduced by the promise of freedom that Xiao Yi talked about, and had killed Tan Huajian in a rage after being humiliated over and over again by him. Now that he had calmed down, he was filled with regret.


    A ve turning on his master was a serious offense.


    Xiao Yiughed and said, "Afraid of what? They are talking about a ve turning on his master, but you are not a ve!"


    "I¡ªI''m not a ve?"


    Along paused, looking incredulously at Xiao Yi.


    Ever since he could remember, he had been a ve, and countless of his tribe members were ves as well.


    Along had forgotten when was thest time he hadn''t been branded with a ve mark.


    Xiao Yi patted his shoulder,ughing, "Don''t worry, from now on you are mypanion. Since you are apanion, you are naturally free. How could you possibly be a ve?"


    "But the Tan Family..." Along hesitated.


    He was acutely aware of how terrifying the Tan Family was!


    His people had once lived carefree on a remote ind above the Beast Emperor Sea.


    It was the appearance of the Tan Family, like demons, ughtering, looting, and capturing... that nearly wiped out his tribe. Many of his fellow tribesmen, who had suffered the same fate, were still in the Tan Family''s ve market.


    Xiao Yi patted his shoulder again and smiled, "We can''t stay here long; let''s go somewhere else to look around."


    The strongest of the Tan Family was only a Dharma Manifestation Realm level-one strongman, and with Xiao Yi''s current strength, even if a Dharma Manifestation Realm level-three expert were toe after him, he was confident he could escape unscathed.


    That was the confidence that had emboldened him to behead Tan Huajian!


    The two of them had just left.


    A group of powerful warriors d in battle armor appeared within the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce.


    Looking at the headless corpse, this group ofw enforcers felt a tingling on their scalps. Killing fights were forbidden in Beast Emperor City, yet someone from the Tan Family had died, and a ve of the Tan''s was taken away.


    This was a major incident.


    The leader of the Law Enforcement Team rubbed his brow, feeling a headacheing on, "Send Tan Huajian''s body back to the Tan Family. This is no longer something we can intervene in; let the Tan Family deal with it themselves!"


    ......


    Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    Xiao Yi looked at Along, who had changed into a new set of clothes and was holding a roasted beast leg, savoring it deliciously, speechlessly asking, "Is that thing really so tasty?"


    Along rolled his eyes, his mouth greasy, and mumbled indistinctly, "I can''t remember thest time I ate meat!"@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi paused mid-step, frowning, "Along, are there many ves in this Beast Emperor City?"


    "Hmm!"


    Along nodded, his eyes red as he spoke, "All under the control of the Tan Family. Just from my tribe alone, more than ten thousand of our people have been made ves by them."


    Xiao Yi frowned, "How are these ves in terms of talent?"


    "Talent?"


    Along paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Those who are kept by the Tan Family as ves generally have some talent. However, those with truly high talent are all in the ve Battlefield, kept by various powers as tools for gambling and entertainment!"


    At the mention of the ve Battlefield, Along involuntarily exuded a terrifying Evil Qi.


    That was the ughterhouse of ves.


    A paradise for the high and mighty!


    Countless ves battled for their lives on the ve Battlefield, and freedom from very was theirs if they could secure a hundred victories. But how many could achieve a hundred wins?


    Even the mighty Along had only won sixty-five battles so far.


    Xiao Yi stroked his chin and said, "The Tan Family has such a vast ve resource in their hands. If I could find more people with Along''s talent to bring back and make them disciples of my Xiaoshanhe Institute, why should my institute worry about not prospering?"


    At this thought.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes gleamed brighter, but he was well aware that behind the Tan Family stood Sha Kun, who was a sixth-level expert in the Dharma Manifestation Realm. With his current strength, confrontation was not an option. "It seems I must find a way to enhance my realm first. The matter of the ves can wait!"


    "Institute Head, the people from the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce have arrived!" Along''s voice rang in his ear.


    Xiao Yi looked ahead and saw a beautiful figure in a red dress with a curvaceous and graceful silhouette approaching. A beauty mark sat by her lips, and she smiled charmingly, "Shi Feiya pays respects to the young master. I hear you''re looking for me for a big trade?"


    Shi Feiya had striking beauty and a natural allure.


    Every frown and smile seemed to stir the heart.


    "Xiao Yi has met President Shi!"


    Xiao Yi, with a mind unmoved, sped his hands toward her and said, "I wish to purchase arge quantity of medicinal materials. May I inquire if President Shi is interested?"


    Shi Feiya was startled and raised her eyebrows. "Mister Xiao, may I ask just how rge'' is the volume you speak of?"


    Xiao Yi threw out a list. "As stated in the list!"


    Shi Feiya took the list and couldn''t help but gasp.


    Even though her Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce was one of the three major medicinal material chambers in Beast Emperor City, it was rare to see an order of such magnitude. ording to the list, the annual transaction amount was over a hundred billion.


    However...


    Shi Feiya furrowed her brows slightly and said gravely, "Mister Xiao, our Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce can certainly handle this order, but the problem is your Xiaoshanhe Institute is located within the Great Qian Dynasty. That''s the territory of Medicine King Valley. Aren''t you afraid of offending them by working with us?"


    "What? Is President Shi afraid of Medicine King Valley?" Xiao Yi said with a hint of jest.


    "Yes indeed, I''m just a defenseless woman, and Medicine King Valley is the overlord of the Southern State. How could I not be afraid?" Shi Feiya raised her eyebrows with a seductive and vulnerable look that could not help but provoke a protective instinct in others.


    Xiao Yi smiled. "If so, I''ll just find someone else!"


    Watching Xiao Yi turn to leave.


    Shi Feiya''s enticing and vulnerable expression froze. Stamping her foot in vexation and gritting her teeth, she called out, "Please wait a moment, Mister Xiao..."


    "Hm?"


    Xiao Yi looked at her with amusement.


    Shi Feiya said helplessly, "This order is also a great opportunity for the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, but it requires further discussion. Pleasee back to this ce after three days, and I promise to give you an answer. How does that sound?"


    Xiao Yi shook his head. "Noter than tomorrow!"


    "This..." Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Shi Feiya hesitated and, seeing Xiao Yi''s firm demeanor, relented, "Alright, I''ll have an answer for you tomorrow!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and then asked, "President Shi, may I ask if there''s any ce worth visiting in Beast Emperor City?"


    "A ce worth visiting?"


    Shi Feiya''s brows slightly furrowed and her eyes lit up. "Mister Xiao must have just broken through to the Tao Tribtion Realm, right? In the west of the city, there is a Cave of Desire. You might want to try visiting it; perhaps you''lle across an unexpected gain!"


    "Cave of Desire?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and sped his hands toward her. "Thank you for the suggestion, President Shi. I''ll be back tomorrow to discuss the matter!"


    Watching the retreating figure of Xiao Yi.


    Shi Feiya''s lips curled slightly at the corners, revealing a dimple near the beauty mark, "What an interesting young man..."

 Chapter 316 Breaking Records Again, The 18th Layer!

    "Within half an incense stick''s time, killing any one person will let you pass this round!"


    A cold voice echoed in his mind.


    On the left, Fang Qingzhu wore a serene smile, in the prime of her youth; on the right, a pregnant Fang Qingzhu, her belly swollen, was speaking to Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, our child will be born soon!"


    Two Fang Qingzhus.


    They were the most important people to Xiao Yi.


    However, the one on the left was alone, while the one on the right was with child, carrying Xiao Yi''s baby.


    Within half an incense stick''s time!


    He must kill one!


    As time dripped away, Xiao Yi sighed, walked towards the two Fang Qingzhus, and gently caressed their faces, as real as any, "Qingzhu, are you doing well now? Wait for me; I will definitelye find you!"


    The cold voice sounded again: "Time''s up, please make your choice!"


    "Choose my ass!"


    Xiao Yi curled his lip, "Even if they''re fake, I refuse to make any choice between them!"


    The cold voice fell silent for a while, its tone chilling and threatening, "If you don''t choose, you will be expelled from the Cave of Desire. You should know, with your talent and strength, it is very likely you will surpass Xiao Tianjiao and gain the power of the demon spirit!"


    "I do crave power, but if it means exchanging it for the people I treasure, I''d rather not have that power!" Xiao Yi''s voice was calm, but his resolve was unwavering.


    The cold voicepletely disappeared.


    The two "Fang Qingzhus" in front of him vanished at the same time, turning into stars that merged into his body.


    Hum!


    Xiao Yi''s whole body shook.


    The Martial Dao Divine Fruit emerged from his body, gathering above his head, and with a crisp "pop," nine more Dao patterns condensed on it.


    The power of the Five Elements reached twenty percent.


    The power of Yin and Yang reached thirty percent.


    Xiao Yi''s cultivation officially stepped into the Second Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    "Just twoyers, and I''ve already broken through a minor realm? What kind of power is hidden in this Cave of Desire? Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!" Xiao Yi absorbed the Martial Dao Divine Fruit back into his body and stepped into the thirdyer.


    Then the fourthyer.


    The fifthyer.


    The sixthyer...


    Xiao Yi advanced unobstructed.


    The choices he faced became increasingly bizarre, but Xiao Yi always kept his initial resolve and pressed forward decisively.


    In the blink of an eye.


    Xiao Yi had already reached the seventeenthyer, and the forty-five Dao patterns on his Martial Dao meant that his cultivation had reached the Fifth Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    With his current strength, even if he faced an expert at the Fifth Layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, he had the confidence to fight!


    "The seventeenthyer, Xiao Tianjiao stopped at thisyer. When you reached this step, Xiao Tianjiao, you were already at the Peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, yet I am merely at the Fifth Layer..."


    Xiao Yi licked his lips, his eyes shining as he stared at the two pirs of light that had appeared in front of him, "As long as I get through this, I will have broken another one of your records!"@@novelbin@@


    This journey.


    The Combat Pavilion, the Yin Yang Five Elements Tower, the Tribtion of Heaven in the Tao Tribtion Realm!


    Xiao Yi had already consecutively broken three records that Xiao Tianjiao took pride in!


    Now...


    The fourth record was right in front of him!


    Hum!


    The two pirs of light paused.


    In front of Xiao Yi, two figures appeared; on the left was Xiao Tianjiao, but he was in a sorry state, tied to a wooden stake. In front of him, a cursed demon sword enveloped in runes, its ck aura swirling.


    On the right was a low grave, with a tombstone standing over it.


    The tombstone read¡ªThe grave of Mrs. Liu from the Xiao n!


    It was the grave of Xiao Yi''s mother!


    The cold voice sounded at the same time, "The sword on the left is the Cursed Demon Sword, use it to y Xiao Tianjiao, and the curse will manifest in reality; Xiao Tianjiao will die from the curse, and killing Xiao Tianjiao will let you pass. On the right is your mother''s grave, kneel and worship, and you may also pass!"


    This voice was utterly calm, yet held a strange magic power within it.


    Xiao Yi could clearly hear his own heart pounding.


    It was as if a million mouths were whispering in his ear, tempting him, "Kill Xiao Tianjiao, and no one will be able to threaten you anymore!"


    "Once you kill Xiao Tianjiao, the Xiao Family will lose their support, and they will have to beg you to return. Then you can worship your mother; why waste the opportunity here?"


    "Kill Xiao Tianjiao..."


    Wave after wave of seductive voices arose in his ears.


    Xiao Yi involuntarily walked towards Xiao Tianjiao, his palm already gripping the demon sword.


    Xiao Tianjiao!


    This was one of Xiao Yi''s heart demons, which he vowed to y!


    Hum!


    The demon sword had been pulled out from the ground, the de enveloped in ck demonic Qi and the runes shimmered with dazzling light. With just a slight thrust forward, he couldpletely eradicate the heart demon that was Xiao Tianjiao.


    Afterward, his martial path would be unimpeded.


    He could even use a curse to kill Xiao Tianjiao.


    The sword''s tip moved constantly forward.


    Just as he was about to behead Xiao Tianjiao, a buzzing sounded in Xiao Yi''s mind.


    "My heart is as iron, unbreakable; my heart is as a sword, peerlessly sharp!"


    Mysterious sounds emanated from Xiao Yi''s mouth, dispelling the countless beguiling voices around him. He abruptly flung his arm, tossing the demon sword aside, and began to gasp for breath.


    In that instant, he was already drenched in a cold sweat.


    Huff! Huff!


    Xiao Yi gasping heavily, stared at Xiao Tianjiao tied to the wooden post and snorted coldly, "I, Xiao Yi, will deal with you myself..."


    He promptly turned around.


    Xiao Yi kneeled before the lowly grave with a thump, respectfully kowtowed three times, and spoke solemnly, "Mother, please forgive your unfilial son for not being able to worship at your grave. But believe me, it won''t be long before I can pay tribute to you openly and honorably!"


    Hum!


    The image of Xiao Tianjiao and the lowly grave vanished before him.


    An extremely terrifying surge of energy madly flooded into Xiao Yi''s body.


    The Martial Dao Divine Fruit left his body once more, hovering above his head as the Dao patterns continued to climb. It increased to fifty-four Dao patterns, and his cultivation formally stepped into the Sixth Layer of Tao Tribtion Realm!


    At the same time...


    The heavenly and earthly energies within Xiao Yi''s body surged into the God Sealing Seed, increasing their number by tens of millions, reaching a total of sixty million!


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi''s figure darted into the eighteenthyer.


    He...


    Once again broke the record set by Xiao Tianjiao!


    Moreover.


    Xiao Yi also became the only one since ancient times to enter the eighteenthyer of the Cave of Desire.


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    And just moments before Xiao Yi stepped into the eighteenthyer...


    Outside the Cave of Desire.


    Sha Ying''s figure appeared before everyone, his mouth slightly curving upwards, enjoying the adtion and gazes of the crowd with a proud face.


    "Young Master Sha Ying, have you broken Xiao Tianjiao''s record this time?"


    "Is that even a question? Last time Young Master Sha Ying reached the fifteenthyer, and now that his cultivation has ascended to the Peak of Tao Tribtion Realm, he''s definitely stronger than Xiao Tianjiao!"


    The crowd ttered him.


    Sha Ying''s eyes twinkled with pride, but he maintained a nonchnt facade and waved his hand, "Xiao Tianjiao is, after all, the strongest genius in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty. I still have some distance to cover. This time, I barely reached the sixteenthyer, just one step away!"


    "The sixteenthyer?"


    "That''s terrifying as well. Since the emergence of the Cave of Desire, there have been no more than nine individuals who have reached the sixteenthyer. Young Master, you are the youngest among them. Once you''re on the ranking, you will definitely be second only to Xiao Tianjiao!"


    The crowd remarked one after another.


    Sha Ying feigned difficulty, nodded his head, and said, "So be it, I shall leave my name then!"


    Sha Ying, with a smile, turned to the elder, "Elder, please inscribe my name on the ranking board!"


    "Hmm!"


    The elder nonchntly wrote down Sha Ying''s name.


    Watching his name ced second, just behind Xiao Tianjiao, Sha Ying''s mouth curved upward, bearing a proud demeanor.


    However...


    The elder suddenly let out a sound of surprise.


    His gray eyebrows furrowed tightly, then rxed as his palm gently swept over the ranking board. Xiao Tianjiao''s name moved back a step, and Sha Ying''s name also fell to the third position.


    Sha Ying''s face stiffened with self-satisfaction, and he looked puzzled at the elder, "Elder, what does this mean?"


    The elder let out an "Oh" and spoke in a haunting tone that left Sha Ying''s face resembling a liverish hue, "Someone has reached the eighteenthyer. Xiao Tianjiao is now historically second, and you, third..."

 Chapter 319 Youre the one seeking death!

    Body Possession!


    Xuan had actually used Xiao Yi to refine the Longevity Cauldron, and in the moment when he released his mind, he entered Xiao Yi''s forehead in an attempt to take over Xiao Yi''s body.


    Little Lin''s face showed humanized signs of anxiety, circling back and forth in desperation, "Xuan... you old thief, if you dare to hurt my boss, I will fight you to death and drag you to hell... "


    A smug voice from Xuan came out of Xiao Yi''s mouth, "Little one, if you dare to hurt me, you would be hurting your master."


    "Aaaargh..."


    Little Lin roared furiously.


    He was anxiously circling like an ant on a hot pan.


    Meanwhile...


    Xuan had already entered Xiao Yi''s soul, his face brimming with excitement, "To have passed the trial of the Cave of Desire, this boy''s willpower is strong enough to endure my soul. Coupled with the fact that his talent is not the slightest bit inferior to Xiao Tianjiao, even stronger, it seems that missing Xiao Tianjiao back then turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Hahaha... "


    In Xuan''s eyes, this body was already within his grasp.


    After all.


    He was the mighty Beast Emperor,parable to the existence of the Longevity Secret Realm.


    And he had lived for countless years.


    His soul was exceptionally strong, by no meansparable to a mere twenty-year-old youth; to possess Xiao Yi''s body with his soul was as easy as taking something from one''s pocket.


    However...


    When Xuan entered Xiao Yi''s soul, he did not find Xiao Yi''s soul there.


    Xuan was baffled, "What''s going on? Where''s his soul? Without a soul, how can I devour it? How can I possess the body?"


    "Are you looking for me?"


    Suddenly, a yful voice came through.


    "Hmm?"


    Xuan was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.


    On that nce.


    His pupils suddenly dted, and his eyes revealed intense shock and disbelief, "How, how, how is this possible? What, what exactly is that thing behind you?"


    In front of him...


    Xiao Yi''s soul stood suspended in mid-air, but behind him stood a vast graveyard.


    This was a graveyard floating in the midst of the stars, with countless stars falling like rain, giant celestials whizzing by, creating space ripples that stretched for billions of miles.


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    The entire ck graveyard, set amidst the stars, was encircled by four exceptionally dark dragons, as if cast from ck iron, massive in size and connected head to tail around the graveyard.


    Like pirs supporting the heavens, they seemed to pierce through the entire starry sky.


    No fewer than eighty-one gigantic ck chains hung from the tops of the pirs, on one end, extending deep into the depths of space, and on the other end, they hung upon eighty-one suns zing with iparably bright and hot light.


    The burning mes from each of the eighty-one suns could incinerate a realm, but they were firmly held up under the constraint of the ck chains, upholding this mysterious pitch-ck graveyard.


    Xiao Yi was currently standing at the entrance of the graveyard.


    To his left and right stood two cyan stone pirs, inscribed with two lines of blood-red characters, framing a couplet.


    A thousand cmities, a hundred lifetimes of hardship, pass in the blink of an eye throughout eternity.


    An immortal body, an indestructible soul, who can rival across ancient and present times?


    Above his head...


    Four towering characters emitted a despair-inducing aura¡ªEternal Heavenly Tomb!


    "Who exactly are you? What ce is this?" Xuan felt as if his countless years of life had been lived in vain; he had never heard of such a terrifying existence.


    Xiao Yi stood proudly before the Eternal Heavenly Tomb, his hands slowly opening, a hint of a cold smile on his lips, "I am Xiao Yi, the Heaven-Suppressing Divine General. This is my Eternal Heavenly Tomb!"


    Boom!


    As Xiao Yi spread his arms.


    The gates of the Eternal Heavenly Tomb burst open.


    Xuan''s eyes nearly exploded, his scalp going numb.


    What did he see?


    The tomb of Martial God Zhao Wuji?


    The tomb of Medicine Saint Feng Lei?


    Each of these figures had made a name for themselves through the ages, and yet they were all buried here.


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Xuan''s heart pounded wildly, his soul nearly fleeing, his eyes no longer daring to look at Xiao Yi, with only one thought in his mind¡ªescape!


    Whoosh!


    Xuan transformed into a golden stream of light, attempting to escape from Xiao Yi''s soul.


    Xiao Yi''s lips curled up slightly, "Do you think you can escape?"


    Xiao Yi reached forward with his right hand.


    Boom!


    Within the Ancient Tomb of All Ages, there suddenly came a loud rumbling, as chains of ck shot out frenziedly. These chains, like ck Azure Dragons, twisted their massive bodies, shaking heaven and earth, startling even time and space.


    sh!


    In an instant, numerous chains wrapped around Xuan, who tried to flee.


    Xuan could not break free at all.


    As he watched himself being dragged toward the Ancient Tomb of All Ages by the ck chains, his eyes were filled with terror and despair, "Let me go, Xiao Yi, release me... I am willing to submit to you, I acknowledge you as my master, no..."


    Boom!


    The ck chains yanked him into the Ancient Tomb of All Ages, enveloping and turning him into a low, small mound.


    Xiao Yi raised his palm, "Bring forth the stele!"


    Swish!@@novelbin@@


    A tombstone appeared in Xiao Yi''s hand, upon which he swiftly inscribed, before casting it in front of the small mound.


    It read: Tomb of Xuan, the Eternal Beast of Longevity!


    Staring at the small grave before him, Xiao Yi fell into contemtion. The moment Xuan invaded his soul and tried to possess it, he discovered that he could control the Ancient Tomb of All Ages and seal it.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze swept over the vast Ancient Tomb of All Ages, "Are all the graves here simrly sealed by the Heaven Seal Divine Generals themselves? It cannot all be soul possessions... Could it be that in the future, the Ancient Tomb of All Ages might appear in the world again, sealing the strong from all realms?"


    Just thinking about standing among the heavens and earth one day, facing innumerable strong foes, and summoning the Ancient Tomb of All Ages.


    Are you a descendant of Martial God?


    Your ancestor''s grave is in my hands!


    Are you a disciple of Medicine Saint?


    Your master''s grave is in my hands!


    Tsk, tsk...


    "It feels exhrating just to think about it..." Xiao Yi muttered to himself, regaining control of his body.


    Almost at the same time.


    The Longevity Cauldron before him had alsopleted its refinement.


    With a flip of his palm, the Longevity Cauldron entered his body.


    "Who exactly are you?" Little Lin asked Xiao Yi cautiously.


    Xiao Yi burst intoughter and ruffled his head, "Who do you say I am?"


    Little Lin ventured, "Boss?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, his gaze turned to the towering peak and said, "Xuan had just taken the Beast Emperor''s heartblood from there; I wonder if there''s more left! Little Lin, go and see if you can find any treasures and bring them back!"


    Little Lin had a unique talent for treasure hunting!


    Swish!


    Little Lin dashed towards the towering peak, and momentster, he excitedly returned with a storage ring in front of Xiao Yi, proudly proiming, "Boss, look what I found!"


    Xiao Yi was startled, then took the storage ring and bound it to himself.


    He checked the treasures inside.


    Ecstasy spread across Xiao Yi''s face as he discovered not only ten drops of the Beast Emperor''s heartblood and a pitch-ck magic sword within but many other treasures as well. Especially this pitch-ck magic sword was the same one he had seen on the seventeenthyer.


    The seventh-tier magic sword, Moon yer!


    "A seventh-tier magic sword... must not be used until a critical moment!" Xiao Yi''s mind was clear as a mirror. Such a weapon was a treasure of the Longevity Secret Realm level, and its revtion would surely tempt even the leaders of the top ten sects to act impulsively.


    "Little Lin, it''s time for us to go back!"


    This trip to the Cave of Desire had brought him peerless treasures; it was time to return.


    ...


    At the entrance of the Cave of Desire.


    Along was covered in blood, impaled firmly on the ground by a ck, blood-stained spear. A middle-aged man, who bore a slight resemnce to Tan Huajian, stood before him with an expressionless face, "Along, quit stalling and tell us, who killed my son?"


    This man was Tan Huajian''s father, the current head of the Tan Family, Tan Zheng.


    "Ptui!"


    Along spat a mouthful of blood at the man, his voice fierce, "Don''t dream of making me betray Xiao!"


    "You''re courting death!"


    A sh of cold light passed through Tan Zheng''s eyes as a frigid sharpness smashed towards Along''s head.


    At that moment.


    An ice-cold voice, booming like thunder, exploded, "The one courting death is you!"

 Chapter 320 Its My Honor

    "You''re the one seeking death!"


    The cold voice was filled with ghastly murderous intent.


    Xiao Yi burst forth from the Cave of Desire, bringing with him a gale that with a bang, pounced directly upon Tan Zheng.


    "Hmm?"


    Tan Zheng''s face changed, his body radiating light for a hundred yards.


    Vast amounts of vital energy converged in front of him, forming an energy shield that gleamed with the luster of gold, as if forged from the metal itself. It was immensely solid, such that even themon warriors at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak would dream of shattering it.


    However...


    Under the sweep of this ferocious wind.


    This powerful energy shield exploded with a bang.


    The violent wind enveloped Tan Zheng, hurling his form viciously through the air.


    Wow!


    Tan Zheng let out a scream, his body flying backward like a kite with its string cut, bright red blood spraying wildly from his mouth. It traced a beautiful arc in the air and then crashnded dozens of meters away with a thump.


    Hiss!


    Before the Cave of Desire, a deathly silence prevailed.


    Everyone was staring, dumbstruck at the scene before them.


    Tan Zheng was a warrior at the Tao Tribtion Realm Peak, yet the mere air disturbance caused by Xiao Yi''s rush was able to destroy his vital energy shield?


    How terrifying must that strength be?


    Even amon master at the firstyer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm would likely find it difficult to manage this feat, wouldn''t they?


    Gulp!


    Sha Ying involuntarily swallowed, his arms which were previously crossed in front of his chest with an indifferent spectator''s gaze, unconsciously loosened and fell to his sides.


    Xiao Yi helped Along up and pulled out the long spear from his body.


    He threw him a pill to consume.


    Xiao Yi said with a dark face, "Are you alright?"


    Along forced a weak smile on his pale face, "I won''t die!"


    "That''s good. You rest here; the rest is up to me."


    Xiao Yi''s icy gaze turned to the trembling Tan Zheng as he struggled to stand up, fresh blood continuously pouring from his mouth and his pale face with a pair of pitch-ck eyes ring fixedly at Xiao Yi, "Who on earth are you?"


    Xiao Yi coldly said, "Weren''t you looking for the culprit who killed Tan Huajian? It is I!"


    "You..."


    Tan Zheng''s face changed slightly, and with a somber expression, he said, "With your strength, why would you have to deal such a ruthless hand to my son?" Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire@@novelbin@@


    Xiao Yi replied, "Your blind son wanted to kill me; if I don''t kill him, should I just stretch out my neck for him to do the deed?"


    "..."


    Tan Zheng was left speechless, his expression changing uncertainly, and he said sternly, "Even if my son was wrong, you could have spared his life, and I would have made him apologize to you. That would have been the end of it. Yet you cruelly took his life..."


    Xiao Yi responded with an "Oh," and said, "I''m sorry!"


    "Ah?"


    Tan Zheng was stunned.


    The surrounding crowd was equally bewildered.


    What was going on?


    Xiao Yi clearly had the absolute upper hand, so why had he suddenly apologized?


    While Tan Zheng was still in a daze.


    Xiao Yi indifferently said, "I apologize to you first, then I shall kill you, and that will be the end of it!"


    Tan Zheng stared, dumbfounded: "..."


    Just as he was about to speak.


    He suddenly felt the world spin, and before his progressively blurring vision, his own body appeared.


    It turned out...


    His head had taken off on its own.


    Flying towards the ground behind him.


    Bang!


    Tan Zheng''s headnded firmly on the ground, while Xiao Yi shook his head, looking at Along, "I''ve never heard such a peculiar request before, that an apology could permit killing..."


    Along: "..."


    Sha Ying: "..."


    Everyone: "..."


    Xiao Yi, toozy to pay attention to the crowd, walked straight to the elder and said, "Senior, please trouble yourself to write my name up there!"


    "Alright!"


    The elder, facing Xiao Yi again, no longer acted as casual as before and his expression became more solemn. He said, "May I ask for your name, young master? To which level of the Cave of Desire did you reach?"


    Xiao Yi enunciated each word, "Xiao Yi! The eighteenth level!"


    Boom!


    Even though everyone had a premonition when they saw Xiao Yi make a move, they still couldn''t help but gasp in shock when they heard Xiao Yi himself speak of reaching the eighteenth level.


    The elder''s hand trembled slightly as he meticulously wrote Xiao Yi''s name on the leaderboard.


    A full eighteen dazzling gold stars.


    All were incredibly brilliant.


    Like a zing sun, they outshone all other lights in the world.


    The one most directly affected...


    ...was none other than Xiao Tianjiao, who once topped the list as the idol and target of everyone''s pursuit!


    Those once highly glorious seventeen stars.


    In front of Xiao Yi, became dim andcklustre!


    Looking at the name Xiao Tianjiao beneath his own, Xiao Yi''s lips curled up slightly, "Xiao Tianjiao, I''m getting closer and closer to you!"


    After the elder had written Xiao Yi''s name on the leaderboard, it seemed he remembered something and looked towards Sha Ying: "Sha Ying, didn''t you say earlier that you wanted to be notified immediately if anyone reached the eighteenth level? His name is Xiao Yi, this young master right here!"


    Sha Ying, who had been preparing to sneak away, felt a shiver down his spine and cold sweat ran down his back; he wanted to curse that old man to death!


    His mouth twitched into a smile uglier than a cry as he cupped his hands towards Xiao Yi: "Xiao, Xiao Yi, congrattions on breaking Xiao Tianjiao''s record."


    Xiao Yi''s face showed a hint of amusement: "You''ve been waiting here to congratte me?"


    "That, that of course!"


    Sha Ying nodded hastily, having witnessed Xiao Yi ughtering Tan Zheng like a pig or dog, he dared not entertain any other notions.


    The onlookers looked at Sha Ying with thick disdain: "Just now, we didn''t know who was spouting bold ims, saying something about letting the person who broke into the eighteenth level know why the flower is so red!"


    "Now he''s chickened out..."


    "But Xiao Yi is indeed powerful, killing Tan Zheng as if crushing ants. Speaking of which, he also has the surname Xiao; since when did the Xiaos have so many geniuses..."


    Sha Ying''s face turned green.


    The whispered conversations of the crowd felt like thorns in his back.


    Damn it!


    Shut your mouths!


    Sha Ying looked towards Xiao Yi and, seeing the mocking look in his eyes, hurriedly said: "Brother Xiao''s talent is astonishing, and his martial prowess is unmatched. I am utterly in awe. I would like to offer you a banquet at Dragon Phoenix Tower, Brother Xiao, and wonder if you would honor me with your presence?"


    "Xiao, I''m hungry..." Along suddenly said.


    Little Lin in his arms: "Boss, I''m hungry too!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    He looked at Sha Ying and shrugged his shoulders, "Then I''ll trouble you!"


    Sha Ying was dumbstruck.


    He was just being polite, trying to change the subject.


    But who would have thought that Xiao Yi would actually agree?


    Sha Ying wanted to cry but had no tears: I really don''t want to spend another moment with you!


    Still, he could only manage a forced smile and said humbly, "It''s no trouble, it''s my honor..."


    The party of three headed straight for the Dragon Phoenix Tower.


    Dragon Phoenix Tower in Beast Emperor City is a top-tier restaurant where even a casual meal costs several thousand silver, and the most extravagant Dragon Phoenix Banquet is worth a hundred million silver.


    Today, Sha Ying had reserved the Dragon Phoenix Banquet to celebrate reaching the sixteenth level of the Cave of Desire.


    He also invited many friends.


    As Sha Ying stepped into Dragon Phoenix Tower, a group of friends greeted him, congratting him one by one: "Hahaha, Brother Sha, congrattions on your new achievement!"


    "Now, aside from Xiao Tianjiao, you''re the one on the Cave of Desire leaderboard, right?"


    "Today, we''re definitely going to have a good time at your expense..."


    Listening to his friends'' congrattory words, Sha Ying''s eyes twitched, and he felt like crying but couldn''t. Just as he was about to reply, he heard one of them, a sly-looking young man, step forward and say: "Brother Sha, we''ve gone to great lengths to celebrate for you, even tricking the youngdy from the city lord''s manor toe here..."

 Chapter 322 Huang Yuwei, Ive Got Your Back!

    "Don''t fill it up for me, and you drink with such gusto yourself?"


    Xiao Yi''s voice echoed in the private room, and the faces of all the strongmen present changed.


    Especially Sha Ying, who stiffened on the spot.


    In front of him¡­


    Huang Yuwei, holding the wine jug, paused slightly and subconsciously looked towards Xiao Yi, with a hint of gratitude in her eyes.


    However, Lin Bo was furious, "Bastard, what do you count for? Do you even have a say here?"


    "Hm?"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes and leaned forward slightly, about to rise.


    But Sha Ying suddenly spoke up, "Xiao is right, you''re a guest, how could we not fill your cup?" Having witnessed Xiao Yi''s terror firsthand, the instantaneous ying of Tan Zheng at the Peak of the Tao Tribtion Realm, he dared not provoke Xiao Yi and looked towards Huang Yuwei immediately, "Why don''t you fill up Xiao''s cup?"


    Huang Yuwei took a deep breath and stood up, walking over to Xiao Yi''s side.


    However¡­


    Just as she was about to pour the wine, Xiao Yi raised his hand to stop her.


    While Huang Yuwei was puzzled,


    Xiao Yi gently tapped the table with his finger, pointing at Lin Bo, and said, "I want him to pour it!"


    Bang!


    Lin Bo mmed his hand onto the table, causing the dishes to rattle loudly. With bloodshot eyes, he stared fixedly at Xiao Yi, grinding his teeth, "Kid, who do you think you are? You want me to pour wine for you? You must be dreaming!"


    He was the son of the vice-chairman of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    In the entire Beast Emperor City, he was a person of standing.


    Among his peers.


    Apart from a few like Sha Ying, no one else had the qualifications to make him pour wine.


    Xiao Yi squinted at Sha Ying, "Your friend doesn''t give me face, huh!"


    Two cold shes shot from his eyes, directly onto Sha Ying, giving him a chilly feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cer.


    Hiss!


    Sha Ying inhaled sharply, and gave Lin Bo meaningful looks, saying, "Lin Bo, for my sake, let''s not spoil the harmony!"


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    "Sha¡­"


    Lin Bo looked at Sha Ying incredulously.


    They had been best friends since childhood, as close as brothers.


    Now, seeing him humiliated, Sha Ying did not stand up for him but was instead helping Xiao Yi?


    Sha Ying had his own difficulties and said with a bitter smile, "I''m sorry to wrong you!"


    Whoosh!


    Lin Bo let out a long sigh and stared at Xiao Yi with icy eyes, gritting his teeth, "Fine, for Sha Ying''s sake, I''ll pour the wine for you!"


    Lin Bo picked up the wine jug and walked over.


    Just as he was about to pour,


    Xiao Yi tapped his toes, retracted backward, and the cup bounced up from the table and flew into his hand. With his legs crossed, Xiao Yi nonchntly pointed at the wine cup in his hand and said, "As for you, you''re not qualified to stand and pour for me, kneel down!"


    Hiss!


    Inside the private room, a sudden sound of sharp inhtions arose.


    Having the son of the vice-chairman of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce pour wine was already seen as a great insult to Lin Bo by everyone, and now they were asking him to kneel to pour wine?


    This was simply humiliation, a provocation!


    Bang!


    Lin Bo violently smashed the wine jug onto the floor, with wine and fragments of the pot scattering everywhere. He looked ferociously at Xiao Yi, "You little bastard, no one has ever dared to humiliate me like this!"


    He turned back to Sha Ying and said through gritted teeth, "It''s not that I don''t give you face, Sha Ying, it''s just that this kid is too arrogant."


    Sha Ying''s face was full of bitterness.@@novelbin@@


    The moment Lin Bo smashed the wine jug, he knew something bad was about to happen.


    Before Sha Ying could open his mouth, Lin Bo moved swiftly, already seizing a dish basin and smashing it toward Xiao Yi''s head.


    "It''s over..."


    Sha Ying''s face instantly turned pale.


    Bang!


    The dish basin burst apart with a loud crash.


    But it did notnd on Xiao Yi; instead, it smashed directly onto Lin Bo''s face.


    The person who acted was not Xiao Yi, but Along beside him.


    Along held Lin Bo''s neck with one hand, lifting his body and pressing him against the wall. In his other hand, he held a golden roasted beast leg, gnawing on it as he turned his head to look at Xiao, "Xiao, how should we deal with this?"


    Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "This room is a bit empty; itcks decorations!"


    "Oh!"


    Along nodded.


    With a slurp, he sucked the meat off the beast leg in his hand, and with a probing motion of the two bones, a double sound of flesh being pierced could be heard as the bones directly prated Lin Bo''s shoulders.


    Impaling him onto the wall.


    Blood nearly flowed down the bones.


    Only then did Along let go of his grip.


    With a face flushed red from struggle, Lin Bo was finally able to scream, wailing pitifully with bloodshot eyes fixed on Xiao Yi, "Ah... you scoundrels, how can you treat me like this? My father is Lin Yuejin, the Vice President of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce. You treat me this way, I will surely have you torn to pieces..."


    Xiao Yi, annoyed, dug at his ear, "It''s a bit noisy!"


    "Oh!"


    Along picked up a ball of carpet from the ground and stuffed it into Lin Bo''s mouth with a ''pfft.''


    Lin Bo''s eyes nearly burst with rage, but he could only make muffled ''wuwuwu'' noises.


    All this happened in a sh.


    The onlookers all had shocked expressions on their faces as they looked at Xiao Yi and Along, filled with both awe and fear. Their backgrounds might be formidable, but except for Sha Ying, their own cultivation levels were quite ordinary.


    Like that Lin Bo, he was merely at the First Layer of the Tao Tribtion Realm.


    Gurgle!


    The crowd turned their eyes to Sha Ying.


    Sha Ying''s face was full of bitterness, but he knew all too well that if he did not stand up now, his prestige within this group would be utterly swept away. He said gravely, "Xiao, doing this might not be quite appropriate, right?"


    Xiao Yi nced at him, "What''s inappropriate about it?"


    "This..."


    Sha Ying frowned and, sensing the stares of everyone on him, felt as if he were on pins and needles. He steeled himself and said, "We were merely asking Princess Yuwei to pour wine, and yet you fly into such a rage, pinning Lin Bo to the wall like this. Such an action seems rather overbearing!"


    "Overbearing?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, and without any visible movement from him, the chair came to Sha Ying''s side on its own.


    The two men locked eyes.


    They could even feel each other''s breath.


    A sense of oppression stronger than anything Sha Ying had felt before caused his face to change slightly, his gaze dodging as he dared not meet Xiao Yi''s eyes. Xiao Yi then spoke leisurely, "This is how I, Xiao Yi, have always acted. If you''re notfortable with it, you can try to be more overbearing than me!"


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Under Xiao Yi''s gaze, sharp as a de, Sha Ying''s face alternated between shades of green and white.


    Since birth,


    This was the first time he had felt so embarrassed in front of a peer.


    Xiao Yi slowly withdrew his gaze, turning to the disoriented Yuwei beside him and pulling her to his side. His cold eyes swept across the people in the private room, and he spoke with a deliberate cadence, "Huang Yuwei is under my protection. Whoever dares to bully her, this will be their fate!"


    Following the direction of his finger,


    The crowd saw Lin Bo, with a carpet stuffed in his mouth and his shoulders impaled by bones, pinned to the wall in pain...


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 323 Seeing Shi Feiya Again

    Watching Lin Bo''s miserable state, everyone couldn''t help but gasp in shock.


    At the same time, the looks they gave Huang Yuwei were no longer filled with mockery and ridicule as before.


    Sha Ying''s pupils shrank slightly, and he hadn''t expected that Xiao Yi would do this for Huang Yuwei. He looked at Huang Yuwei deeply and said solemnly, "I didn''t expect that Yuwei actually knew Xiao!"


    Huang Yuwei nodded, not saying much.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "I can see that everyone here doesn''t seem to welcome me much. Yuwei, let''s find another place."


    "Okay!"


    Huang Yuwei nodded obediently.


    This made Sha Ying''s mouth twitch slightly, and a deep jealousy and resentment flashed through the depths of his eyes.


    He and Huang Yuwei were betrothed.


    But Huang Yuwei had always been indifferent to him, and even her few invitations were mercilessly rejected by Huang Yuwei, which had caused him resentment and the urge to humiliate her severely.


    He never imagined...


    Not only did the humiliation fail, but it turned into a severe slap in his face.


    Now.


    The Huang Yuwei, who had been indifferent to him, was so compliant and obedient to Xiao Yi. Sha Ying''s eyes nearly popped out; he felt as if there was a glaring greenness above his head, with the wind blowing and waves of green surging!


    "Along..."


    Xiao Yi called out, but then he heard slurping noises. Turning his head, he saw Along enjoying a large basin of food. Xiao Yi''s face darkened, "Along, we''re leaving!"


    "Ah? Oh!"


    Along tore off a piece of beast leg from the table and, holding a jug of wine in his right hand, followed along.


    Not until they had all left.


    Bang!


    Sha Ying suddenly flipped the table, scattering the dishes and cups, and nobody dared to make a sound.


    Panting!


    Panting!


    Sha Ying''s chest heaved violently, his eyes smoldering with toxic resentment; it was as if something was choking him, making his voice hoarse and gravelly, "Xiao Yi, Huang Yuwei...what a pair of treacherous lovers, if I don''t avenge this, Sha Ying swears I won''t be human!"


    "Sha, we..."


    A group of strong men tentatively consoled the furious Sha Ying.


    "Get lost! Get lost!"


    Sha Ying roared furiously with bloodshot eyes.


    No one dared stay any longer, and they scattered, fleeing like birds and beasts.


    For a moment, only Sha Ying and Lin Bo remained in the private room. Sha Ying took deep breaths to calm down slightly before finally letting Lin Bo down from the wall. Lin Bo had a pale face, his eyes filled with as much venomous resentment as Sha Ying''s.


    Enduring the severe pain from his shoulder, Lin Bo gritted his teeth and said, "Sha, who exactly was that man just now?"


    Sha Ying, with a gloomy face, replied, "He''s called Xiao Yi, the first person to reach the eighteenth level of the Cave of Desire." He paused briefly before continuing, "Tan Huajian and Tan Zheng, they were both killed by him!"


    Hiss!


    Lin Bo inhaled sharply. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zheng was the head of the Tan Family, his status was not unlike Lin Bo''s father.


    No wonder Sha Ying didn''t dare to provoke such a person lightly.


    "Sha, are we really going to let this go?" Lin Bo hesitated, then asked in a deep voice.


    Sha Ying angrily replied, "Do you think I''m willing to let it go? Right now, my father is at a critical juncture, and I definitely can''t afford to cause any distractions. If it affects my father''s fight for the position of city lord, even death won''t let me escape responsibility!"


    "No, there''s no need for Deputy City Lord to take action!"


    Lin Bo said with a sinister smile, "Didn''t Xiao Yi kill Tan Zheng and Tan Huajian? Naturally, the Tan Family will deal with him. As for that Huang Yuwei...hmpf, her brothers are nothing but good-for-nothings. With a bit of intimidation and temptation, I believe they will cooperate with us willingly!"


    Sha Ying''s eyes lit up.


    These insidious schemes were always Lin Bo''s specialty.


    He squinted his eyes and touched his chin, nodding, "Alright, we''ll do as you say!"


    ......


    Upon the carriage.


    Xiao Yi furrowed his brow at Huang Yuwei before him and said, "How is your father doing?"


    With a bitter smile, Huang Yuwei replied, "My father''s illness is getting worse... I have sought help throughout the entire Beast Emperor City, but most are Sha Kun''s people, and nobody is willing to help me. That''s why I turned to Lin Yuejin, the vice president of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce and a six-star alchemist, but..."


    She did not continue, but Xiao Yi could guess the rest.


    Huang Yuwei must have failed to enlist Lin Yuejin''s help, hence she thought of reaching out through Lin Bo to get in touch with Lin Yuejin.


    After pondering for a moment.


    Xiao Yi asked, "What exactly is wrong with your father?"


    Huang Yuwei looked hesitant.


    Xiao Yi spoke indifferently, "Perhaps I can help!"


    "Oh?"


    Huang Yuwei was startled, she furrowed her brows and contemplated for a moment before speaking, "My father has been poisoned, and no one knows what poison he has been afflicted with. It''s just that Lin Yuejin has a Hundred Tribulations Elixir, which is said to cure all poisons in the world, so..."


    "Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow; he was familiar with this medicine.


    The process of making the Hundred Tribulations Elixir was extremely complex and painstaking, requiring over one hundred and eighty different herbs, and the details down to the age of each ingredient could not be off by even the slightest.


    Moreover, during the concoction, it was also necessary to find a place where lightning was densest on a stormy day with thunder and lightning.


    One had to refine the elixir while facing the tempering of the thunder.


    Therefore...


    Each Hundred Tribulations Elixir was extremely valuable and rare.


    Xiao Yi said, "I need to make a trip to the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce. After things here are finished, I will go to the city lord''s mansion with you to see your father. Maybe, I can be of assistance!"


    "This..."


    Huang Yuwei fell silent for a moment, then biting her lip, she said, "Okay!"


    Before long.


    Along''s voice came from outside the carriage: "Xiao, we''ve arrived at the Hundred Herbs Chamber!"


    "Mm!"


    The trio stepped into the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce and stated their purpose.


    After a short while.


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    The enchantingly attractive Shi Feiya appeared before them, twisting her waist, with a radiant smile on her face. She had come to know of Xiao Yi breaking the record of Xiao Tianjiao in the Cave of Desire, reaching the unprecedented eighteenth level.


    Now, her treatment of Xiao Yi was even warmer.


    "Xiao, you''ve finally come!" Shi Feiya said with a beaming smile.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and said, "President Shi, we agreed that today you would give me an answer. How did your discussions go?"


    "Naturally, we would not let Xiao down!"


    Shi Feiya grinned coyly, her gaze swept subtly over Huang Yuwei and Along, and said, "This isn''t the place to talk. Shall we discuss the details upstairs?"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    The group followed her to the top floor, to the office of Shi Feiya.


    The entire room was very large, decorated in an elegant and solemn style, filled with a faint fragrance.


    Shi Feiya, twisting her waist, brought two contracts and placed them on the table, saying, "After our discussions, we decided that the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce will sign a cooperation agreement with your Xiaoshanhe Institute. For the next ten years, we will supply you with the listed medicinal herbs annually at thirty percent of the market price."


    "Thirty percent?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    He had been expecting fifty percent, yet Shi Feiya was only asking for thirty percent of the price?


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and said, "If I''m not wrong, there must be conditions behind this price, right?"


    "Indeed, you can''t be fooled!"


    Shi Feiya smiled faintly, then she opened the second contract, "The condition is this!"


    With an amused smile, Xiao Yi''s gaze fell on the contract, and as he read it, his expression suddenly changed: "..."

 Chapter 324 The Tan Family Visits

    Xiao Yi''s face changed slightly.


    His gaze fell on the contract, which indeed stipulated the terms Shi Feiya had mentioned.


    It was to assist the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce in annihilating the Tan Family!


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and sized up Shi Feiya, "President Shi, what do you mean by this?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shi Feiya smiled charmingly, leaning forward slightly, her ample bosom exposed in an enticing way, her seductive voice causing a wave of restlessness, "Xiao has already become known for his deeds, Feiya has heard. You cut down Tan Huajian, slaughtered Tan Zheng, and braved through the eighteen levels of the Cave of Desire. Now, Xiao is at the point of no return with the Tan Family. By agreeing to the terms of this contract, not only can you eliminate a powerful enemy, but also acquire medicinal materials at a third of the market price. Why would you refuse such an offer?"


    Xiao Yi leaned back slightly, resting against the chair.


    His eyes narrowed into slits, scrutinizing Shi Feiya through them.


    This woman was extremely dangerous.


    A wasp''s sting comes from its tail, and the most venomous is a woman''s heart.


    Especially someone like her who had made her way in the commercial world and even managed to become the president of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce in a place like Beast Emperor City, she was definitely not as simple as she appeared on the surface.


    A stream of thoughts ran through Xiao Yi''s mind, and he figured out the crux of the matter, leaning forward almost to touch Shi Feiya, "Are you trying to enter the Slave Market?"


    "Xiao is truly formidable, nothing can be hidden from you! The medicinal materials market in Beast Emperor City has long been clear-cut, with the three major guilds occupying about eighty percent and none able to do anything about the others," Shi Feiya said, her face showing a hint of surprise and amazement at how quickly Xiao Yi had caught on to the key point. She shrugged her shoulders and moved back a bit, "If the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce wants to grow, we must find a new path. The Slave Market is exactly what we need. And these medicinal materials are what you need as well. It''s just mutual benefit. Xiao, what do you think?"


    Xiao Yi''s fingers tapped lightly on the table surface.


    Just then...


    A hurried voice came from outside the door, "President, it''s bad news. The Tan Family patriarch Tan Feng is coming here with his men."


    Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, observing the calm on Shi Feiya''s face, and frowned, "I''m afraid that the Tan Family could find this place so quickly because President Shi also put in a lot of effort, don''t you think?"


    "You''ve caught me," Shi Feiya didn''t deny it, nodding with a smile.


    Xiao Yi sighed.


    He slowly rose to his feet.


    Xiao Yi, looking at Shi Feiya, said, "Pleasure doing business with you!"


    "Pleasure doing business with you!"


    Shi Feiya was about to stand, smiling, but Xiao Yi stopped her with a hand, Shi Feiya blinking in confusion, "Xiao, do you not want Feiya to cover your flank?"


    "No need!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and turned to look at Along and Huang Yuwei, "Wait here for me, I''ll be right back!"


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi shook his sleeve and strode out towards the outside.


    Shi Feiya looked at Along in astonishment, "Aren''t you going to follow him out? The Tan Family hasn''t just sent one person, and that Tan Family patriarch Tan Feng is a Dharma Manifestation Realm expert!"


    "No need, Xiao said it''s not a problem, then it''s not a problem."


    Along burped contentedly, saying, "President Shi, could you get me a bowl of warm wine? I just ate too much!"


    "Uh..."


    Shi Feiya blinked her eyes and snapped her fingers, signaling someone to bring a bowl of warm wine.


    The wine was steaming hot.


    Meanwhile.


    At the entrance of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    Mounted on a horned demonic beast, the formidable and fierce Tan Feng held a square halberd high as he stood in front of the gate, flanked by hundreds of murderous-looking warriors.


    There were over fifty just from the Tao Tribulation Realm alone.


    The strongest among them was naturally Tan Feng!


    Dharma Manifestation Realm, at the first layer.


    "Let Xiao Yi come out and die!" Tan Feng demanded with a sullen face.


    "Please calm down, Patriarch Tan Feng. I''ve already sent for the president..." A member of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, drenched in cold sweat and with a face pleading for mercy, said.


    Tan Feng snorted coldly, "Hurry up and get him out here, or else don''t blame me for not giving face to the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce!"


    "Why is Tan Feng clashing with the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce?"


    "It''s said that someone killed Tan Huajian and Tan Zheng, and the murderer is within the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce..."


    "Hiss! Someone actually killed Tan Zheng and his son? They were the ones Tan Feng cherished the most; this is a blood feud that won''t end until death!"


    Tap tap tap!


    A series of crisp footsteps came from inside the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce as Xiao Yi looked at Tan Feng, "Are you the one looking for me?"


    Tan Feng narrowed his eyes, looking down on Xiao Yi from a superior position, "You are Xiao Yi?"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Tan Feng snorted coldly again, thunder faintly rumbling around him¡ªa sign of a Dharma Manifestation Realm expert, whose anger could change heaven and earth, "Since you''re Xiao Yi, then I''ve found the right person. Men, kill him for me and avenge my son and grandson!"


    "Yes!"


    Hundreds of the Tan Family''s experts pressed towards Xiao Yi.


    Fifty from the Tao Tribulation Realm, several hundreds from the Golden Core Realm.


    The Tan Family, being the biggest slave trader in Beast Emperor City, commanded a multitude of fighters, each one a desperate reprobate who licked blood off the edge of the blade in the Slave Battlefield. Faced with the siege of hundreds of experts, Xiao Yi, calm and collected, stared directly at Tan Feng.


    Capture the king to defeat the enemy!


    As long as Tan Feng was slain, the fighters would naturally fall apart!


    "Boy, prepare to die!"


    A Nine-fold Layer of Tao Tribulation Realm expert leaped high, his longsword cutting across the sky, its silver radiance like a falling Milky Way, reaching Xiao Yi in the blink of an eye. Facing the sword that tore through the air, Xiao Yi stretched out his flesh and blood palm into the void.


    Bang!


    His palm collided with the tip of the sword, and amidst a piercing shattering sound,


    The sword light exploded.


    Xiao Yi grasped the longsword and shouted lowly, "Release it!"


    Swish!


    The longsword flew out of the opponent''s hand, his arm bones shattered by the force, and Xiao Yi, gripping the longsword, lightly tapped his toes on the ground.


    His figure moved like a fish through water.


    Gliding among the hundreds, untouchable as if moving through a dense thicket without a leaf sticking to him, in the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Tan Feng. A piercing sound through the air made one''s scalp tingle, and Tan Feng''s face turned from initial complacency to sheer surprise.


    Swish!


    He thrust his legs fiercely and shot upwards into the air.


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    Almost at the same time.


    Xiao Yi''s sword had transformed into a thirty-foot sword beam that cut the sixth-order high-level beast beneath Tan Feng into two halves. Amid the gushing blood, Xiao Yi leaped into the sky.


    His body was like an arrow released from the bowstring.


    Fast!


    Astonishingly fast!


    In just a moment...


    Xiao Yi had already caught up with Tan Feng.


    Tan Feng''s face twisted with ferocity and ice, and he roared lowly, "Direct assault to the core!"


    Hum!


    The Fangtian huaji in his palm spun continuously, generating a fierce storm that came head-on. The tempest roared, stirring up the clouds above the sky, enveloping the space around Xiao Yi.


    Turning it into a vacuum zone.


    At the same time.


    At the center of that storm, a gleam of cold light suddenly appeared.


    It was Tan Feng''s Fangtian huaji, taking advantage of the storm for cover, striking unexpectedly. By the time the cold light appeared in his field of vision, the sharp point of the Fangtian huaji had already touched Xiao Yi''s body¡­

 Chapter 325 Warm Wine Beheads Tan Feng

    Whoom!


    The halberd''s edge shone like a glint of cold light, piercing through the layers of storms, and in an instant, appeared before Xiao Yi.


    It aimed directly at his face.


    This edge was incomparably sharp; a single strike could shatter a small city.


    The swirling gusts contorted Xiao Yi''s facial features, as the knife-like wind blades seemed to tear at his skin at any moment.


    Cries of alarm rose from the ground: "The victor will be decided now!"


    "As expected of a Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouse, whether it is speed or strength, every aspect is completely suppressing Xiao Yi!"


    "Xiao Yi has been too reckless. How dare he, merely from the Tao Tribulation Realm, challenge the Dharma Manifestation Realm?"


    Whoosh!


    The halberd''s cold light thrust forward, piercing through Xiao Yi''s head.


    Tan Feng''s face revealed a trace of ecstatic joy, but in the next instant, that joyful expression vanished, replaced by shock: "Not good!"


    Almost at the same time.


    A chilling sharpness assaulted him from behind.


    A fleeting glimpse in the corner of his eye left Tan Feng with a cold feeling all over.


    It was a sword shadow.


    This sword was shockingly fast yet silent, wielded by Xiao Yi, who had mastered the fourth tier of Sword Intent. The sword followed his intention, moved with the wind, and without the wind''s obstruction, its speed increased several times.


    At the same time¡­


    The sword strike was utterly silent.


    A silent sword strike meant that by the time one''s opponent noticed it, it was already too late to react.


    Thud!


    A streak of blood soared to the sky.


    The sharp sword edge grazed Tan Feng''s neck, a trail of blood surging open, while the Xiao Yi in front of him, pierced by the halberd, was slowly dissipating like a reflection in rippling water.


    It was but an afterimage!


    Whoosh!


    Tan Feng dodged repeatedly in mid-air, reappearing hundreds of meters away in a blink.


    He touched his neck.


    The fresh, thick blood had a pungent odor, and his eyes twitched: "An Eighth Layer of Tao Tribulation Realm, and yet such terrifying speed and swordsmanship. I didn''t even notice how he appeared behind me. Who exactly is this young man?"


    Xiao Yi stood suspended in midair.


    With his sword held high, the wild winds blew against him, making his robes flutter loudly.


    He was like a peerless swordsman!


    In his hand¡­


    From the fifth-order longsword, droplets of fresh blood trickled down, plinking onto the ground and sending plumes of dust into the air. At that moment, Xiao Yi''s figure abruptly vanished.


    Whoosh!


    Like a fish diving into the sea, an Azure Dragon breaking free and soaring into the heavens!


    Around Xiao Yi, there seemed to be an invisible barrier of air currents, merging with the winds and air around him without hindering his movement.


    "This, this is¡­ Sword Intent following his will? He''s on the Eighth Layer of Tao Tribulation Realm, and he has mastered the fourth tier of Sword Intent? How is this possible?" Tan Feng''s pupils shrank suddenly, shock written all over his face.


    The fourth tier of Sword Intent.


    Even among the sword masters in Dharma Manifestation Realm, very few could comprehend this level of understanding.


    Within the vast Beast Emperor City, the strongest in swordsmanship was none other than Sha Kun''s eldest son, Sha Diao. Sha Diao was currently in the third stage of Dharma Manifestation Realm, but he too only comprehended the third tier of Sword Intent.


    He was still far from stepping into the fourth tier. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Yi was merely an Eighth Layer of Tao Tribulation Realm!


    And yet, he had already grasped the fourth tier of Sword Intent¡ªsomething unheard of.


    "Damn it, this kid was able to break into the eighteenth layer of the Cave of Desire. It seems he''s not just mentally resolute, but his martial talent is also no weaker than Xiao Tianjiao from back then. If let to grow, he will surely become a great problem; he must be eliminated!" Tan Feng''s thoughts raced in the split second.


    Boom!


    Tan Feng let out a low roar, his body trembling violently.


    Behind him¡­


    A vast and ancient tree suddenly rose up. The tree was thirty feet tall, glowing with a verdant light and covered with mysterious and profound runes.


    Dharma Manifestation Realm!


    He controlled an entire force of nature and earth.


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    Therefore, with the power of nature and earth, he manifested the Dharma; Tan Feng''s path was one of the five elements, the path of wood, mastering the earthly power of wood. This manifestation was the Dragon Scale Wood, according to legend, the very first piece of Dragon Scale Wood came from a true dragon that sprinkled a drop of Dragon Blood in a forest.


    It grew after being nurtured by the Dragon Blood.


    It grew an inch every thousand years.


    This was an extremely tough divine wood.


    Tan Feng also chanced upon a piece of Dragon Scale Wood and, after visualizing it, formed it with the power of nature and earth. As soon as the Dragon Scale Wood appeared, the leaves on its crown fluttered like the tips of needles.


    Streams of green light enveloped Tan Feng''s body, as Dragon Scale Wood is one of the most solid divine woods.


    Under the shelter of the Dragon Scale Wood Dharma Manifestation, Tan Feng was surrounded by a hundred zhang of green light.


    Defense, invincible!


    Boom!


    Xiao Yi''s sword struck Tan Feng''s body but was met with a thunderous sound, as if lightning had torn through the sky.


    That green light didn''t weaken at all, and his sword hadn''t caused Tan Feng any harm!


    "Hahaha, Xiao Yi, I admit your strength is strong. Being in the Eighth Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm to force me to use the power of Dharma Manifestation, you are the first. But with the protection of my Dragon Scale Wood Dharma Manifestation, you can''t even break through my defense. This battle is destined to be your loss!" Tan Feng said arrogantly, standing between heaven and earth.


    The Dragon Scale Wood behind him rustled, his green light covering the sky, as if mocking and provoking.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed to slits.


    This was the first time he''d faced a Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouse head-on; before this, the only real fight he''d had was with Xue Mantian. But with Xiao Yi''s strength at that time, he couldn''t force Xue Mantian to use the power of Dharma Manifestation.


    "Is this the power of Dharma Manifestation? No wonder it becomes extremely difficult to fight across levels after reaching the Dharma Manifestation Realm. The power of Dharma Manifestation is indeed terrifying!" Xiao Yi carefully looked at Tan Feng, who was enveloped in green light, eyes flickering with a trace of amazement.


    The power of Dharma Manifestation was indeed the command of a complete force of nature and earth, combined with the visualization of powerful living beings in the world.


    The power it possessed was indeed terrifying.


    However...


    Xiao Yi''s longsword trembled in the air, its edge vibrating with a buzzing sound, as sharp as a swift storm. The sword''s edge encircling Xiao Yi condensed into a green lotus.


    "Green Lotus Rebirth!"


    "Eternal Life!"


    Xiao Yi moved, standing upon the green lotus, performing a dance with his sword.


    Gorgeous and smooth as flowing clouds and streaming water.


    Nine sword edges, condensed into green lotus swords, connected with each other, and as they slowly rotated, they shot towards Tan Feng.


    Tan Feng snorted coldly, believing in the nearly invincible defense of the Dragon Scale Wood, and stood on invincible ground. Holding a square halberd in one hand, he cut down at the green lotus swords: "Dragon Slayer Slash!"


    Roar!


    A resounding dragon''s roar filled the air.


    The halberd flashed with light, condensing into a golden Azure Dragon, crushing towards the green lotus swords.


    However...


    What Tan Feng did not expect was that his halberd''s light shattered continuously with a series of bangs under the pressure of the intertwining green lotus swords. In a blink of an eye, the halberd''s light was completely pulverized.


    In an instant, nine green lotus swords surrounded Tan Feng.


    Eternal life, undying.


    Beneath the rotation of the green lotus swords, the green light on his body was continuously compressed, and behind him, the Dragon Scale Wood thundered loudly. A crack spread with a snap, followed by a bone-chilling series of cracking sounds, like beans frying.


    "No. No..."


    Tan Feng''s pupils dilated to the extreme, filled with terror in his eyes.


    He had never imagined...


    that the powerful Dragon Scale Wood, known for its nearly invincible defense, would burst with a bang under the pressure of the green lotus swords. With the Dharma Manifestation shattered, Tan Feng spurted blood violently, and his orifices were filled with blood.


    His pale face showed fear, and as he turned his head sharply, a sword mark flashed before his eyes.


    Xiao Yi leaped up and disappeared into the crowd.


    Only the headless corpse plummeted from the sky with a loud bang, crashing into the crowd, causing screams and shouts of terror.


    At the same time...


    Within the top floor of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    Bang!


    A blood-drenched head rolled in front of the dumbstruck Shi Feiya. She was breathless with shock, her face disbelieving as she looked at the hideous head with blood spurting from its seven orifices, still with eyes wide open.


    "You, you, you really killed Tan Feng?"


    Shi Feiya swallowed hard, unable to stop her gaze from drifting to the table, where a bowl of wine was still steaming¡­

 Chapter 326 Hundred Tribulations Elixir

    Gurgle!


    Shi Feiya gulped down mouthful after mouthful of water, her delicate face adorned with strong shock and disbelief.


    The cup of wine had yet to cool.


    Xiao Yi had already slain Tan Feng.


    This was a genuine Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouse!


    Since when had the existence of the Dharma Manifestation Realm become so fragile?


    Xiao Yi looked at Shi Feiya and spoke indifferently, "Tan Feng has been killed by me, how to control the slave market next will depend on your own capability, Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce!"


    "Ah? Ah!"


    Shi Feiya snapped back to reality, her gaze towards Xiao Yi filled with several shades of reverence as she said solemnly, "Rest assured, our Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce has long been prepared. Now with Tan Feng dead, the slave market will surely be within my grasp."


    Excitement began to replace the shock on her face.


    The slave market of Beast Emperor City was incredibly large, with yearly profits exceeding hundreds of billions of Silver.


    If she could take control of the slave market of Beast Emperor City into her hands, her position in the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce would become even more secure. Shi Feiya immediately brought out two contracts, "Xiao, shall we sign this contract then?"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and said, "Not in a rush, the terms on the contract need to be changed!"


    "Hmm?"


    Shi Feiya was taken aback.


    Xiao Yi leaned forward slightly, smiling as he looked at her, "I will take thirty percent of the profits from the slave market. In addition, I will need a hundred slots per year to select from the slave market in priority. Also, the slave market will cooperate with Xiaoshanhe Institute. In the future, I will send disciples from Xiaoshanhe Institute to the Slave Battlefield to fight and enhance their combat experience."


    Flowers in a greenhouse can never withstand storms.


    Xiao Yi could provide the best cultivation environment and the most abundant resources for the disciples of Xiaoshanhe Institute, but just having cultivation was not enough¡ªcombat experience was equally important.


    Real powerhouses are never created through mere consumption of elixirs.


    Only through battle...


    Especially the battle between life and death, can one''s potential be thoroughly stimulated.


    Shi Feiya''s lovely eyebrows furrowed lightly, the last two conditions were not a problem, but Xiao Yi actually wanted thirty percent of the slave market''s profits, which amounted to over a hundred billion Silver a year.


    At her core, Shi Feiya was still a merchant. She shook her head and said, "I can agree to the last two conditions right now, but the first one... Thirty percent is really too much. You have to understand that controlling and maintaining the slave market requires a huge expenditure. Moreover, you should be aware that behind the Tan Family is Deputy City Lord Sha Kun. Now with Tan Feng dead, we also need to establish connections, and the annual expenses here are not small... "


    This was indeed the truth.


    Just like the Tan Family...


    They had been able to control the slave market of Beast Emperor City for so long, earning so much money each year, but why did the clan only have one Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator? That was why.


    It was because the Tan Family had to give over fifty percent of their profits to Sha Kun every year.


    After deducting all the various maintenance fees and expenses for training powerhouses, having twenty percent left was already considered good.


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "Don''t worry, from now on the slave market will be under my protection, no need to find another backer!"


    "Uhh..."


    Shi Feiya paused, her phoenix eyes flashing with an inexplicable radiance as she said with a wry smile, "Xiao, Feiya knows you are strong, but in Beast Emperor City, to protect such a large piece of juicy meat from being coveted by others, it''s still somewhat insufficient!"


    Beast Emperor City, where might makes right, was a place of rampant strength.


    This place was a jumble of dragons and snakes, full of desperate desperadoes who would lick the edge of a knife for survival.


    No matter how strong Xiao Yi was as an individual, he could not deter everyone.


    In the vast Beast Emperor City, the only people who had the power and status to protect the slave market were the former City Lord and Sha Kun alone.


    Although Shi Feiya didn''t make it explicit, the implication in her words was self-evident.


    Huang Yuwei, who had been silent all this while, said, "What if you add me to the equation?"


    "Hmm?"


    Shi Feiya was startled, she knew full well Huang Yuwei''s identity and laughed ruefully, "Princess Yuwei, with all due respect... If your father were here, indeed there would be no issues. But now, your father is... "


    "My father is only poisoned. As long as President Shi can provide me with the Hundred Tribulations Elixir from Vice President Lin''s hands, I can definitely wake my father," Huang Yuwei said with furrowed brows, biting her lip. "As long as President Shi is willing to help me, once my father wakes up, I will have him protect the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, and in addition to the conditions Xiao Yi has negotiated with you, we will not take any benefits!"


    Shi Feiya''s gaze flickered.


    If she could secure the City Lord''s protection in Beast Emperor City, that would naturally be most desirable.


    However...


    Shi Feiya gritted her teeth and said, "Alright, I''ll go find Vice President Lin and get that Hundred Tribulations Elixir for you!"


    Half an incense stick of time later.


    Shi Feiya returned to everyone, her face wearing a light, relieved smile, "The Hundred Tribulations Elixir is in hand, Princess Yuwei, I hope you will keep your promise."


    "President Shi, please be assured!"


    Huang Yuwei excitedly took the Hundred Tribulations Elixir.


    Xiao Yi said, "President Shi, please prepare the herbs on the list for me, and once we''ve woken up the city lord, we''ll return to sign the contract!"


    "As it should be!"


    Shi Feiya nodded emphatically.


    Xiao Yi called out and left the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce with Along and Huang Yuwei.


    ......


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    City Lord''s Mansion.


    Located in the central city.


    The entire City Lord''s Mansion covered a vast area, with buildings closely packed together in an arrangement resembling the Eight Trigrams. If someone unfamiliar entered, they could easily become lost and unable to find their way out.


    Huang Yuwei led Xiao Yi and Along, heading straight for the Beast Emperor Pavilion where her father resided.


    The Beast Emperor Pavilion was situated at the very depths of the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Huang Yuwei carefully cradled the elixir, and as she arrived at the Beast Emperor Pavilion, she was stopped at the entrance. Two guards crossed their weapons in front of her, saying coldly, "By the young master''s order, without his permission, no one is to enter!"


    "Hmm?"


    Huang Yuwei''s face changed slightly as she rebuked, "Are you blind? Even I can''t go in?"


    "Sorry, young mistress!"


    The two guards spoke coldly.


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    Huang Yuwei''s face went from pale to flushed with anger. She never imagined that after going through so much trouble to acquire the precious medicine, she would be blocked at the door by her own family. She shouted into the pavilion, "Huang Jinghong, get out here!"


    "Who is so bold as to make such a racket in the City Lord''s Mansion? Do they no longer wish to live?"


    An arrogant voice came from inside as a haughty young man who bore a slight resemblance to Huang Yuwei walked out boldly, dressed in brocade clothes and wearing a golden crown.


    This person was Huang Yuwei''s older brother, Huang Jinghong!


    At the Third Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm.


    Huang Jinghong squinted at Huang Yuwei, his eyes filled with deep contempt and ridicule, "So it''s you, you wild girl. Father needs to cultivate in peace, and yet you''re causing a commotion. What sort of decorum is this?"


    Huang Yuwei bit her teeth and said, "Huang Jinghong, have your men stand aside. I have acquired the Hundred Tribulations Elixir for father, which can save his life. If you delay and something happens, can you take responsibility?"


    "Hmm? Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    Huang Jinghong''s face changed slightly.


    He was of course aware of such a medicine; it was a treasure that had been lost to time.


    It could cure all poisons!


    "No, I absolutely can''t let this girl give the elixir to father, or the great credit will be hers..."


    Huang Jinghong''s thoughts quickly turned, and he said, "Hand the Hundred Tribulations Elixir to me, and I will personally administer it to father."


    "No way, I must personally give it to father!" Huang Yuwei said.


    Huang Jinghong huffed, frustrated, and said, "Huang Yuwei, how can you be so selfish? Do you think I, your elder brother, care about such petty credit? I, too, am thinking of father''s safety... What do you think is more important, your credit or saving father''s life?"


    Huang Yuwei''s expression changed, her teeth biting down on her cherry lips.


    After hesitating for a moment.


    Huang Yuwei handed the medicine box to Huang Jinghong, admonishing, "You must administer it to father!"


    "Leave it to me!"


    Huang Jinghong, his face filled with excitement, took the medicine box and ran towards the pavilion...

 Chapter 327 Turning Black into White

    At the Beast Emperor''s Private Gardens entrance.


    Huang Yuwei anxiously paced in circles, occasionally glancing toward the interior of the private garden.


    Xiao Yi reassured her, "Don''t worry, everything will definitely be okay!"


    "Mm!"


    Huang Yuwei squeezed out a forced smile and hesitated before bitterly saying, "Sorry, I must be making a spectacle of myself!"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, the image of his brother, who had imprisoned him for eight years and even sent his own younger brother away as a groom to provide a mating partner for his mount, floated through his mind and he said with a laugh, "I''ve seen even more outrageous siblings, this is nothing!"


    "Mm?"


    Huang Yuwei was taken aback.


    Seeing Xiao Yi''s smile without further explanation, she did not press the issue.


    Meanwhile...


    Inside the Beast Emperor''s Private Gardens.


    A group of City Lord Huang Baitao''s confidants and several elders of the Huang Family were gathered here, Huang Jinghong''s mother Ji Lingluo sat beside the bed, her face full of worry.


    Seeing Huang Jinghong walk in, Ji Lingluo frowned and said, "Is that wild girl making trouble outside again? Your father is already in this state, yet she knows no restraint!"


    "Mother, don''t get upset over that wild girl, I''ve already taken care of it!"


    Huang Jinghong spoke and then turned toward an elderly man with grey hair beside him, "Senior Elder, I have someone fetch a Hundred Tribulations Elixir, supposedly it can neutralize all poisons, I wonder if it could save father?"


    "Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    The Senior Elder Huang Zheng was taken aback, his murky eyes revealing a trace of wild joy, "If it really is the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, there''s a great chance it could save the City Lord."


    Second Elder Huang Yi patted Huang Jinghong''s shoulder, praising, "Jinghong, you truly haven''t let us down! The Hundred Tribulations Elixir has long been lost to history, to think you could actually find it, quickly administer it to your father!"


    Ji Lingluo watched as the two elders, previously unsatisfied with Huang Jinghong, changed their attitude drastically and even praised him unprecedentedly. Her smile grew even brighter as she said, "Jinghong, quickly give the Hundred Tribulations Elixir to your father, if it can revive him, that would be a great service indeed!"


    "Mother, what are you saying? Even if it''s not just the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, even if it''s my life in exchange for father''s, I would not hesitate!"


    Huang Jinghong patted his chest, saying righteous words.


    The gazes of the people turned tenderer and more approving.


    The Second Elder whispered, "Elder brother, it seems we''ve been too prejudiced against this child in the past!"


    "Even if his talent is a bit weak, with us old bones to help him, he should still be able to make something of himself!"


    The Senior Elder nodded, very satisfied with Huang Jinghong for having found the long-lost Hundred Tribulations Elixir to save Huang Baitao, "Once the City Lord recovers, we should propose that Jinghong take over as the successor to the City Lord!"


    At the same time.


    Huang Jinghong carefully fed the Hundred Tribulations Elixir to Huang Baitao, who lay motionless on the bed.


    The Hundred Tribulations Elixir glowed with a golden light.


    It was covered in golden pill patterns, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.


    Everyone felt invigorated: "This is the real Hundred Tribulations Elixir, the City Lord is saved!"


    "The eldest young master has made a great contribution!"


    Listening to the people''s praises, Huang Jinghong slightly tilted his chin, his face brimming with pride, thinking to himself, "Oh, my foolish little sister, I owe you one this time. Don''t worry, once father wakes up, I will make sure to hasten your marriage to Sha Ying. That way, as Sha Ying''s brother-in-law, the Sha Family would surely feel embarrassed to compete for the City Lord''s position with me, hahaha!"


    However...


    Huang Baitao lying on the bed suddenly shivered, convulsing wildly as if he were in agony.


    Thump thump thump!


    Huang Baitao''s body shook uncontrollably, making the entire bed tremble violently as blood began to flow from his nose and mouth. Black blood spurted wildly from all his orifices.


    Spurt, spurt, spurt!


    Huang Baitao''s pale face turned pitch black instantly.


    It was the violent onset of the poison!


    "Damn it, hold him down quickly!" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huang Zheng and Huang Yi acted at the same time, their vital energy transformed into chains that firmly locked Huang Baitao to the bed. Only with their combined efforts pressing down on him did Huang Baitao finally stabilize.


    But the black blood from his seven orifices was a gruesome sight.


    Huang Baitao''s breath grew increasingly fainter and his face dark as death.


    After a brief examination, Huang Zheng''s complexion changed drastically, "Damn it, the lord of the city is suffering from an extremely potent poison, a hundred times more intense than the poison he was originally afflicted with. He, he''s not likely to live through the night..."


    "What?"


    "How did he get poisoned? Didn''t he already take the Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    "Wait, the Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    The Second Elder, Huang Yi''s face suddenly twisted, his eyes sharpening as he stared straight at Huang Jinghong, furiously accusing, "Jinghong, what exactly did you bring? Are you trying to poison your father to death with poison?"


    Huang Jinghong was utterly dumbfounded.


    He too was petrified by the scene unfolding before him.


    His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the floor.


    Facing Huang Yi''s interrogation, Huang Jinghong''s voice shook as he said, "Second Elder, it''s a misunderstanding, I''m wronged..."


    "Wronged? You brought the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, and your father became like this after taking it. What''s so wrongful about that? Fess up, who made you do it?" Huang Zheng bellowed fiercely, his face livid.


    Ji Lingluo was also beside herself with anxiety, desperately saying, "Speak up, quickly!"


    "Thi-this, this Hundred Tribulations Elixir was... was brought back by that wild girl..."


    Huang Jinghong said with a sorrowful face, revealing the truth.


    If it truly was the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, saving Huang Baitao would certainly be a great merit, and it was naturally not something he would let fall into the hands of others.


    A perilous situation...


    This was outright poison!


    Aimed at taking Huang Baitao''s life.


    Let the comrade die rather than the pauper.


    Huang Jinghong promptly shifted all the blame onto Huang Yuwei, "Eldest Elder, Second Elder, listen to me... This must all be Huang Yuwei''s conspiracy. She brought this pill back just now, telling me it was the Hundred Tribulations Elixir that could save our father. I let her come in to deliver the medicine. But she said she wanted to give me credit for it, told me to inform you that I was the one who found the Hundred Tribulations Elixir. I, I didn''t realize it was poison!"


    "What?"


    "Yuwei did this?"


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    Ji Lingluo roared with a distorted face, "I knew it... That wild girl returned with impure motives at this time; she certainly wanted to kill the city lord through Jinghong. How vicious this woman is, Eldest Elder, Second Elder, you mustn''t let her off!"


    Huang Jinghong''s face was a picture of sorrow, his hands clutching his hair, "I get it now... Huang Yuwei must have known she had no hope of succeeding as the city lord, so she thought to poison our father, then marry Sha Ying. For the Sha Family, killing our father would be an immense merit; it must be so... This woman is just too malicious..."


    Listening to the mother and son echo each other''s sentiments.


    The Eldest Elder, Huang Zheng, and Second Elder, Huang Yi, exchanged a glance, their expressions extremely grim.


    Huang Zheng said with a grim face, "Second brother, bring Yuwei in here. We must investigate this thoroughly. If Yuwei really did this, I will kill her myself..."

 Chapter 328 Shut Your Mouth!

    ```


    Huang Yi nodded heavily, his face darkening as he said, "Don''t worry, big brother, I will bring her in right away!"


    Huang Yi, with a gloomy face, walked out of the other garden.


    At the entrance of the other garden.


    Xiao Yi, sensing someone approaching, gently patted Huang Yuwei''s shoulder, "Someone''s coming!"


    "Hmm?"


    Huang Yuwei was taken aback as she saw Huang Yi with a dark expression on his face walking toward her, his gaze filled with wariness and confusion. But Huang Yuwei''s heart was concerned about Huang Baitao''s safety, and she paid no attention to the change in Huang Yi''s expression, hastily calling out, "Second Elder, how is father doing?"


    Huang Yi squinted at Huang Yuwei, "Did you bring back the Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    Huang Yuwei nodded subconsciously.


    Huang Yi''s gaze paused briefly on Xiao Yi and Along, frowning, "Who are they?"


    Huang Yuwei said, "These are my two friends, Xiao Yi and Along! It''s thanks to their help that I was able to obtain the Hundred Tribulations Elixir. Second Elder, my father should have recovered by now, right?"


    "Greetings, Second Elder!" Xiao Yi and the other greeted.


    Huang Yi said, "Come in with me."


    "Okay!"


    Huang Yuwei hurriedly walked toward the inside of the Beast Emperor''s other garden, Xiao Yi and the other following with furrowed brows.


    Upon entering the room.


    Huang Yuwei saw Huang Baitao on the couch, tears filling her eyes instantly, "Father..."


    She tried to step forward.


    But the Second Elder barred the way with an outstretched arm in front of her.


    The atmosphere in the room made Xiao Yi''s brows tighten slightly.


    He noticed that everyone in the room looked at them with wariness and hostility. Especially the First Elder, who, as soon as they entered, waved his hand to close the door.


    There was also a surge of energy, locking onto the three of them.


    Xiao Yi glanced around and saw Huang Baitao on the couch with a blackened face and blood pouring from his seven orifices, and his heart skipped a beat, "This is bad, trouble''s brewing..."


    As if to confirm his conjecture.


    Ji Lingluo was the first to accuse, "Huang Yuwei, did you bring that Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    Huang Yuwei was startled, her eyes full of tears, without taking her gaze off the bed, she nodded, "Auntie, the Hundred Tribulations Elixir was indeed brought by Yuwei."


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    Huang Zheng said in a heavy voice, "Yuwei, the Hundred Tribulations Elixir has been extinct for many years, where did you find it?"


    "I got it from Vice President Lin Yuejin of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce!" Huang Yuwei said through tears.


    Huang Zheng frowned, "The Hundred Tribulations Elixir is extremely valuable, how could Lin Yuejin bear to give it to you?"


    Huang Yuwei''s gaze remained fixed on Huang Baitao, the worry and pain in her eyes not diminishing one bit, "All thanks to Xiao Yi''s help, he knows Shi Feiya from the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, and we got the Hundred Tribulations Elixir through her from Vice President Lin."


    "Oh?"


    Huang Zheng narrowed his eyes into slits, sizing up Xiao Yi, "May I know where this young brother comes from to have such influence, that Shi Feiya would help you get a Hundred Tribulations Elixir?"


    Xiao Yi frowned slightly and said, "I come from the Great Qian Dynasty, with some cooperation with President Shi!"


    "Just ''some cooperation'', and she would give such a precious pill to you, just for your sake?" Ji Lingluo said in a peculiar tone.


    Huang Yuwei was taken aback, too, sensing something amiss in the atmosphere, and frowned, "Auntie, what do you mean by that? Xiao Yi has helped us, and yet you''re questioning him like this..."


    "Helped us? Hmph, I think it''s you, this wild girl, colluding with outsiders, intentionally using poison to harm your father!" Ji Lingluo snorted coldly, her eyes glaring angrily and her voice piercingly sharp.


    ```


    Hum!


    Huang Yuwei''s face turned pale as she looked at Ji Lingluo in disbelief, "Auntie, what are you saying? How could I possibly harm my father?"


    "How could it not be possible?"


    Huang Jinghong snorted coldly from the side. In an effort to exonerate himself, he spared no effort to push all the blame onto Huang Yuwei, "Everyone knows that you were engaged to Sha Ying. Now that father is seriously ill, Sha Kun can hardly wait to seize the position of city lord. I think you want to poison our father to please your future father-in-law, so you can be the young madam of the city lord''s family!"


    "You¡ªyou''re talking nonsense!"


    Huang Yuwei''s forehead pulsed with anger as she glared at Huang Jinghong.


    "I''m talking nonsense? Humph, I think you are the one with a guilty conscience. If the Hundred Tribulations Elixir isn''t poison, why would you hand it over to me, letting me take all the credit for nothing?" Huang Jinghong said with a strange intonation.


    Huang Zheng and Huang Yi squinted their eyes, though they said nothing, they seemed to agree with Huang Jinghong''s words.


    After all,


    the calls for Huang Yuwei to inherit the position of city lord were already strong. If she could save Huang Baitao at this time, those neutral elders would surely switch their support to her.


    Yet, at this critical moment, she had given the Hundred Tribulations Elixir to Huang Jinghong, her competitor¡ªindeed, it didn''t make sense!


    Ji Lingluo''s tone was dark and frosty, each word she uttered was like a dagger piercing Huang Yuwei''s heart, "Huang Yuwei, I didn''t expect you to have such a malicious heart. Just for your own selfish desires, you even wouldn''t spare your own father!"


    "Auntie, I didn''t, I''ve been wronged¡­" Huang Yuwei''s eyes pleaded as she looked at Huang Zheng and Huang Yi, "Elders, I am truly wronged. You must believe me, I couldn''t possibly harm my father, I am innocent¡­"


    However¡­


    Everyone seemed to turn a deaf ear.


    At this moment, Huang Yuwei was like a child lost at a crossroads, with the sky darkened and no light from the sun or moon. She couldn''t find anyone to trust, couldn''t find anyone willing to believe her.


    Loneliness, helplessness, darkness, coldness, and despair.


    It was as if these elements had intertwined into a vast black net, firmly trapping her beneath it.


    Unable to move.


    Unable to struggle. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her heart was already completely shrouded by the darkness.


    It was at this time,


    a gentle voice suddenly pierced her dark world, "I believe you!"


    "Hmm?"


    Huang Yuwei felt the darkness before her eyes tear away, a ray of light shining upon her.


    There stood Xiao Yi beside her.


    With tears in her eyes, Huang Yuwei murmured, "Xiao Yi¡­"


    Xiao Yi gently wiped the tears from her face, his calm gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Huang Jinghong, and spoke coldly, "Let me tell you why Yuwei went to great lengths to obtain the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, yet didn''t bring it in herself!"


    "Shut up, this is the Huang Family, you outsider have no place to speak here!" Huang Jinghong''s face changed as he quickly berated.


    He had only just managed to push the blame onto Huang Yuwei.


    If Xiao Yi revealed the truth now, wouldn''t all his previous schemes be in vain?


    "Shut your filthy mouth! If you dare utter one more word, I will kill you!"


    Two solid beams of cold light shot from Xiao Yi''s eyes, the intensity of his gaze pushing Huang Jinghong back against the wall, his back already drenched in cold sweat.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze swept over everyone, and he began to speak calmly, "¡­"

 Chapter 329 Who Says Hes Been Poisoned?

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    "The moment Yuwei got her hands on the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, she rushed back to the Beast Emperor''s Private Garden to deliver it. But at the entrance, Huang Jinghong''s men stopped us, not allowing us in..."


    Xiao Yi''s gaze was fixed on the crowd, "Even after Huang Jinghong learned that Yuwei had brought the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, he still wouldn''t let us in. Instead, he took the elixir from Yuwei''s hands and insisted on bringing it in himself. Do you think it was Yuwei who wanted to harm him, or was it he who wanted to steal the credit?"


    Everyone was stunned.


    Their eyes involuntarily fell on Huang Jinghong.


    The people of the Huang Family were all too familiar with Huang Jinghong''s character¡ªa selfish and extremely greedy man, with little to no genuine ability.


    Despite the many resources provided by Huang Baitao, he had only achieved the Tao Tribulation Realm through the excessive use of drugs.


    Given the same resources, anyone else would have already reached the peak of the Tao Tribulation Realm.


    They might even have begun attempting to break through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    But Huang Jinghong took no shame in his mediocrity, instead, he took pride in it.


    Such an arrogant person doing these things was indeed understandable.


    "Nonsense!"


    Ji Lingluo''s face twisted with rage, and her makeup-caked face showed a venomous hue, "How could my son be such a person? It must be you setting a trap deliberately, deceiving him into taking the poison to the city lord..."


    Slap!


    Xiao Yi''s hand flew out in a backhand slap across her face.


    Ji Lingluo clutched her face, completely dumbfounded: "You... You dare to hit me?"


    Slap!


    Xiao Yi delivered another backhand slap, his voice cold, "I don''t like being interrupted when I''m speaking. If there''s a next time, I will cut out your tongue!"


    Ji Lingluo''s cheeks swelled up significantly, and her eyes were filled with fear as she looked at Xiao Yi.


    Xiao Yi spoke with deliberate emphasis, "You keep insisting that Yuwei wanted to harm her father, but do you know that on her way here, she narrowly escaped an attack by Sha Kun''s Black Shark Guard?"


    The crowd was shocked.


    The Black Shark Guard were Sha Kun''s loyal death squads, demons that lurked in the night.


    Huang Yuwei never mentioned this incident to them after she returned.


    Xiao Yi continued, "You repeatedly accuse her of wanting to earn meritorious accolades and curry favor with Sha Kun. But do you know she repeatedly rejected Sha Ying''s invitations and refused to meet with him? And yet to obtain the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, she was willing to pour wine and apologize to Sha Ying?"


    The expressions of the people changed, and they looked at Huang Yuwei with softer eyes.


    Huang Yuwei''s character was resolute and unyielding, and this was witnessed by all. Yet such was her temperament, she had actually been willing to pour wine and apologize to Sha Ying?


    With every word he uttered, Xiao Yi took a step forward.


    Huang Jinghong kept stumbling backward.


    Until his back, drenched with cold sweat, was against the wall, and his heels were raised high. If not for the wall behind him, he would probably have continued to retreat.


    "Yuwei did everything within her power to save her father. And you?"


    Xiao Yi''s words weighed heavily, striking his face, "As her family, as her elder brother, instead of understanding her, trusting her, at this time you try to take her credit and, once things went wrong, you pushed the responsibility onto her. Is this the way the people of the Huang Family act? If so, perhaps Huang Baitao is not worth saving..."


    Thump!


    Huang Jinghong''s body trembled, his legs gave out, and he slid down the wall, collapsing to the ground. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His face was deathly pale.


    Seeing his condition, Ji Lingluo''s eyes were filled with pity yet she dared not come close, for fear of angering Xiao Yi and actually having her tongue cut out.


    Like mother, like son.


    When disaster struck,


    Ji Lingluo decisively chose to protect herself, having no regard for her son whom she might shield.


    Huang Zheng and others also lowered their heads.


    Xiao Yi''s words pierced their souls and left them filled with immense guilt.


    Whew!


    Huang Zheng let out a long sigh of relief and bowed deeply to Huang Yuwei, "Yuwei, we misjudged you, we are sorry!"


    Huang Yi looked at Huang Yuwei, his eyes regaining their usual tenderness, "Yuwei, I''m sorry!"


    "Miss, I''m sorry!"


    ```


    People were talking all around.


    Huang Yuwei had long since been in tears, choking back sobs as she shook her head, "It''s okay, I''m fine, please don''t be like this..."


    Her gaze towards Xiao Yi was filled with gratitude.


    In her most desperate moment,


    Xiao Yi appeared before her, tearing through the suffocating despair and bringing her the light of renewed hope. It was also Xiao Yi who vindicated her, making her family understand her true intentions.


    "Xiao Yi, thank you!" Huang Yuwei whispered in a voice only she could hear.


    "Yuwei, go see your father!"


    Xiao Yi walked up to her and said.


    "Okay!"


    Huang Yuwei nodded vigorously.


    Since her return, Ji Lingluo and Huang Jinghong had been preventing her from seeing Huang Baitao; she had only managed to catch a glimpse of him from a distance before Ji Lingluo drove her away.


    This was the first time she was so close to her father.


    Xiao Yi stood by the bedside, gazing at Huang Baitao on the bed, and suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "That''s not right, who said he was poisoned? This is just ridiculous; it''s no wonder that the Hundred Tribulations Elixir not only failed to revive him but made him suffer from severe poisoning. He wasn''t poisoned in the first place..."


    "What?"


    "Not poisoned?"


    Everyone was shocked.


    Huang Zheng said with seriousness, "Xiao Yi, my young friend, are you sure the city lord was not poisoned?"


    Xiao Yi nodded and affirmed, "Of course, I''m certain. The Hundred Tribulations Elixir indeed can counter most poisons, but it does so by using poison to fight poison; it is inherently a highly toxic substance. If one who wasn''t poisoned took the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, it would be a deadly poison. Huang Baitao wasn''t poisoned before, so taking the Hundred Tribulations Elixir is what caused his current condition!"


    "Impossible!"


    "We had the president of the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce, none other than the Seven-Star Alchemist Master Yuan himself, diagnose the city lord. Master Yuan personally said that the city lord was suffering from severe poisoning¡ªhow could he be wrong?"


    The crowd looked at each other, completely befuddled.


    Huang Yi said in a grave tone, "Xiao Yi, my young friend, are you certain the city lord wasn''t poisoned before?"


    "Absolutely certain!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, saying, "Only those poisoned by the Hundred Tribulations Elixir would bleed black blood from all seven orifices and turn black all over, as if struck by lightning. Look at Huang Baitao''s symptoms; it''s solely from the poison of the Hundred Tribulations Elixir itself!"


    "Master Yuan?"


    Huang Yuwei suddenly looked up at everyone, "Elder, I had previously gone to the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce to find Master Yuan, who told me that Vice President Lin had a Hundred Tribulations Elixir that could save my father."


    Boom!


    Huang Zheng and the others felt their minds explode, going blank.


    It was Master Yuan who had diagnosed Huang Baitao, and at that time he had not mentioned anything about the Hundred Tribulations Elixir.


    It was only after Huang Yuwei visited him that he brought up that Lin Yuejin had a Hundred Tribulations Elixir.


    Everyone connected these clues together.


    Master Yuan was the key link in it all.


    Everything seemed to have started because of him.


    But if not for Xiao Yi''s discovery that Huang Baitao had not been poisoned before, nobody would have thought to connect this matter with Master Yuan. He was the one who had instigated everything, yet he had managed to extract himself perfectly from the situation.


    "Could it be that Master Yuan wanted to harm the city lord?"


    "But we have always had no conflicts with the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce..."


    Huang Zheng''s face fluctuated between shades, "If I''m not mistaken, all of this must be Sha Kun''s conspiracy."


    "Sha Kun?"


    The expressions of everyone changed.


    Sha Kun stood to benefit the most from Huang Baitao''s death.


    Furthermore...


    Only someone like Sha Kun had the influence to compel a prestigious Seven-Star Alchemist to act!


    While everyone was filled with anger over this matter, Huang Yi''s eyes shone brightly as he looked at Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, my young friend, since you were able to tell at a glance that the city lord was not poisoned before taking the Hundred Tribulations Elixir, it seems you have profound knowledge in the art of alchemy. I wonder, do you have a way to save the city lord?"


    Whoosh!


    All eyes suddenly fell on Xiao Yi, waiting for his reply...


    ```

 Chapter 330 Sha Kun Visits!

    "Xiao Yi, you can save my father, can''t you?"


    Huang Yuwei looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of hope.


    Under the focused gaze of everyone around.


    Xiao Yi touched his nose and gave a wry smile, "I do have a way, but, it''s just that I don''t know if you would trust me!"


    Huang Zheng said, "Xiao Yi, my friend, of course I trust you!" Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Whatever your demands may be, just state them. As long as we can fulfill them, we will do our utmost!" Huang Yi said gravely.


    Now, they were truly grasping at straws.


    After all.


    The strongest alchemist in Beast Emperor City, Fu Yuan, was suspected of playing an ignoble role in this affair, and they were out of options.


    Huang Yuwei clutched Xiao Yi''s hand, "Xiao Yi, I beg you to save my father..."


    "Enough!"


    Xiao Yi sighed and said, "Bring me paper and ink!"


    "Right this way!"


    Huang Yi gestured invitingly as there was a desk in the room. He went forward to spread out the paper and personally ground the ink for Xiao Yi, "Please."


    Xiao Yi took up a brush and wrote down a list of medicinal ingredients with flourish.


    On that list.


    There were no fewer than three hundred different ingredients.


    The poison of the Hundred Tribulations Elixir was extremely complex; the method of detoxifying it also could not follow the beaten path.


    Xiao Yi handed the list to Huang Yi, "Elder Huang, have all the items on this list ready within three hours."


    "Leave it to me!"


    Huang Yi took the list and immediately left.


    Then.


    Xiao Yi looked at the people and said, "Except for Yuwei, everyone leave the Beast Emperor Villa. I am going to heal Huang Baitao and drive out his poison." He turned to the great elder Huang Zheng, "Great Elder, once Elder Huang has prepared the items, the two of you may bring them in together! During this time, make sure no one disturbs me!"


    "No problem!"


    Huang Zheng solemnly promised, his icy gaze sweeping over Huang Jinghong and the others, "Everyone get out!"


    Huang Jinghong and Ji Lingluo, though reluctant, did not dare linger and left supporting each other.


    A group of people gathered outside the villa.


    Huang Zheng personally guarded the entrance, his cold gaze pausing on Huang Jinghong, "You and your mother, go back to your room and reflect behind closed doors. When the city lord awakens, we will decide how to deal with you!"


    "Yes, Great Elder!" Ji Lingluo quickly agreed, pulling away a resentful and unwilling Huang Jinghong.


    On their way.


    Huang Jinghong''s face was clouded over, "Mother, why are you pulling me away?"


    Ji Lingluo looked around and whispered in a lowered voice, "Hong''er, go find Sha Kun right now!"


    "Hm?"


    Huang Jinghong was startled and frowned, "What do we need him for?"


    Ji Lingluo''s eyes flickered cunningly, carrying a venomous tone, "Given the current situation, if your father wakes up, that wild girl will surely become the heir. What chance of survival would you and I possibly have then?"


    Hiss!


    Huang Jinghong sucked in a breath of cold air, "Mother, you mean..."


    He made a throat-slitting gesture.


    Ji Lingluo nodded, her eyes filled with viciousness, "As long as your father dies and Sha Kun ascends to the position of city lord, we''ll get him to grant you the deputy city lord position. With Sha Kun''s help, we can then eliminate those two meddlesome old fools. The Huang Family will be ours, and we can still enjoy wealth and glory!"


    Upon hearing that the whole Huang Family would be under his command.


    Huang Jinghong''s breathing quickened, and he nodded emphatically, "Okay, I''ll contact Sha Kun right away..."


    Ji Lingluo turned back to look in the direction of the Beast Emperor Villa, her eyes sweeping past a glint of extreme cruelty, "You forced my hand, don''t blame me for being ruthless..."


    ...¡­


    Only an hour and a half had passed.


    Huang Yi had returned with all the items on the list, not just over three hundred kinds of medicinal ingredients but also ten huge wooden barrels.


    "Xiao, the items are all ready!" Facing Xiao Yi, Huang Yi showed a few more signs of respect.


    By now, Huang Baitao was full of silver needles all over his body.


    The black color on his skin had also faded somewhat.


    Huang Zheng said gravely, "Xiao, what else do we need to do?"


    Xiao Yi replied in a deep voice, "Place the wooden barrels inside the house and fill them with water. Use your vital energy to boil the water within. Meanwhile, have someone start preparing the medicine according to the prescription, dividing it into ten separate batches..."


    Huang Yuwei said, "With the two Elders here helping out, I can take care of brewing the medicine!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Remember, you must follow the exact method laid out in the prescription, and not miss a single step."


    "Mhm!"


    Huang Yuwei immediately left.


    Xiao Yi called out to Along, "Along, move Huang Baitao into the first barrel."


    Along stepped forward, hoisting Huang Baitao up and lowering him into the first barrel.


    Huang Zheng and the other man used their vital energy to constantly bring the water in the barrels to a boil.


    Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!


    Bubbles rose one by one, and a layer of white mist filled the room.


    After half an hour.


    Huang Yuwei had finished preparing the first dose of medicine. Xiao Yi poured it into the first barrel, the medicinal liquid clear as water. But upon touching Huang Baitao''s body, the bubbles in the barrel turned a dark purple color.


    The water in the barrel became a dark, murky purple.


    Another half an hour passed.


    Huang Yuwei brought the second batch of medicine.


    "Switch to the second barrel!" Xiao Yi ordered.


    And so it went on.


    The third barrel.


    The fourth barrel...


    In an instant, seven barrels later and after many relentless hours of work, everyone was extremely fatigued. Huang Yuwei''s face was pale, her eyelids fought each other, and she was on the verge of falling asleep.


    She was preparing the eighth batch of medicine.


    At this moment...


    A figure appeared behind her¡ªit was none other than Ji Lingluo. Huang Yuwei was startled, "Auntie, why have you come?"


    Disgust and bitterness flitted through Ji Lingluo''s eyes, but her face wore an expression of worry and guilt, "Yuwei, it was all Auntie''s fault before, I didn''t treat you right. Today''s events have made me realize my past mistakes. From now on, I will treat you well. Let''s be a harmonious family together..."


    "Auntie..."


    Having a soft heart, Huang Yuwei saw the self-reproach and the guilt on Ji Lingluo''s face and smiled, shaking her head, "Don''t be like this, Auntie. Don''t worry, I have no intention of competing with Big Brother for the position of heir. Once Father wakes up, I will go back!"


    "No, Yuwei, you can''t go. Your mother left us too soon, from now on I am your mother, and we''ll be a family together!" Ji Lingluo said.


    Huang Yuwei''s eyes reddened, and she nodded emphatically, "Mhm, we''ll be a family together!"


    A cold sneer played in Ji Lingluo''s mind while she glanced at the medicine being prepared, "Yuwei, it looks like you''re tired. Why don''t you take a rest and let Auntie handle this?"


    "This..."


    Huang Yuwei hesitated, her face showing indecision.


    She clearly remembered Xiao Yi''s instructions; there must not be the slightest mishap. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Impatient in her heart, Ji Lingluo''s face bore a look of self-reproach, "Yuwei, let Auntie do this. I feel guilty, allow me to contribute this small effort as an atonement!"


    Seeing this.


    Huang Yuwei naturally felt it was hard to refuse any longer, and she indeed was very tired, so she leaned to one side, and soon fell into a deep sleep.


    "Yuwei, Yuwei!"


    Ji Lingluo woke Huang Yuwei up, saying, "The medicine is ready!"


    "Ah? Good, I''ll take it now!"


    Huang Yuwei immediately took the medicine and left; she was extra cautious and told Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, this medicine was prepared by Auntie, please check if there''s anything wrong with it!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was surprised but after checking, he shook his head, "No problem!"


    "That''s a relief, it seems Auntie really has learned from her mistakes!" Huang Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief.


    Afterward, the eighth barrel.


    The ninth barrel.


    The tenth barrel was also prepared by Ji Lingluo, and Huang Yuwei personally delivered them to Xiao Yi''s hands.


    About half an hour after the tenth barrel of medicine was sent to the Beast Emperor City annex, a signal arrow suddenly shot across the void from within the city lord''s mansion. Barely a dozen breaths later.


    A grand and domineering voice echoed above the city lord''s mansion, "Huang, Sha Kun has come to visit. Why have you not come out to meet me?"

 Chapter 331 Sorry, I let you down!

    "Lord Huang, Sha Kun has come to visit, and you still won''t come out to meet me?"


    The domineering and thunderous voice rolled like thunder, echoing in the skies above the lord''s mansion.


    For a moment.


    All the powerhouses of Beast Emperor City had heard this voice, and countless strong individuals turned their gazes toward the lord''s mansion.


    Within the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    Shi Feiya stood with her hands clasped behind her back, looking in the direction of the lord''s mansion through the window.


    Behind her, a middle-aged man furrowed his brows and said, "President, you had me deliver the Hundred Tribulations Elixir to Huang Yuwei, but if Sha Kun learns of this, I fear he won''t let us off easily!"


    "Besides you and me, who knows about this?" Shi Feiya said indifferently.


    "Uh..."


    Lin Yuejin was taken aback, then realized, "I understand now, President, your methods are indeed clever. If the Hundred Tribulations Elixir truly manages to save Lord Huang, we will be the heroes and naturally receive the protection of the lord''s mansion. If it fails, no one will be aware of it, and we can still cooperate with Sha Kun!"


    Shi Feiya narrowed her eyes, Xiao Yi''s figure emerging in her mind: "You, can you create a miracle once again?"


    Meanwhile.


    In the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce, at the very top.


    The Seven-Star Alchemist Master Yuan let out a sigh and murmured to himself, "After today, the ownership of Beast Emperor City will probably be changed to Sha!"


    Throughout Beast Emperor City.


    Nearly everyone believed that Sha Kun''s provocation at this moment meant the lord''s mansion would inevitably be unable to resist.


    After today.


    Beast Emperor City will surely change its name to Sha!


    This had almost become a consensus among everyone!


    Not a single person was optimistic about the lord''s mansion...


    ...... S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the lord''s mansion.


    Several figures soared into the air, led by Huang Zheng and Huang Yi.


    Thousands of guards from within the lord''s mansion also rose into the sky, densely packed, standing beside the two''s divine beasts.


    The faces of the few were extremely ugly, staring at Sha Kun and the tens of thousands of Black Shark Guards behind him. They were Sha Kun''s strongest trump cards, the grim reapers who walked in the shadows. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    No one knew how many strong individuals had died at the hands of the Black Shark Guard.


    Today, Sha Kun had brought the Black Shark Guard directly above the lord''s mansion; this was a blatant challenge to the authority of the lord and disregard for the honor of the Huang family''s lord!


    Huang Zheng spoke in a deep voice, "Sha Kun, the lord has strict orders not to allow the Black Shark Guard into Beast Emperor City. Are you trying to rebel?"


    Sha Kun, dressed in a robe with python patterns, stood on a cloud of sand below him, looking down at Huang Zheng and others with disdain, and arrogantly said, "Rebel? Huang Zheng, that''s a heavy accusation you''re laying down there, I, Sha Kun, can''t bear it!"


    "Hmph!"


    Huang Yi snorted coldly, his face gloomy, "Is there anything in this world you, Sha Kun, dare not do?"


    Sha Kun said flatly, "Today, Sha has come here at the behest of someone to support the rightful order of Beast Emperor City. Instead, you few have colluded with outsiders, taken control of the lord, and plotted rebellion, a crime punishable by death. Sha has come here to rescue the lord and defend the safety of Beast Emperor City!"


    "Bullshit!"


    Huang Yi, quick-tempered, cursed outright, "Which damned bastard invited you here?"


    "I did!"


    A venomous voice suddenly came from within the lord''s mansion.


    The expressions on the faces of Huang Zheng and the others all changed at once, as they turned to look in the direction of the voice.


    They saw Huang Jinghong and Ji Lingluo walking on air, flying straight past Huang Zheng and the rest, and arriving in front of Sha Kun.


    Huang Jinghong bowed to Sha Kun and said, "Jinghong greets Uncle Sha, thank you for your help!"


    "This humble woman thanks Deputy Lord Sha!" Ji Lingluo also said, bowing gracefully.


    "Sister-in-law, worthy nephew, please rise!"


    Sha Kun smiled as he pretended to lift the two, his scornful gaze falling on Huang Zheng and Huang Yi. He raised his eyebrows with a mocking expression, "Huang Zheng, Huang Yi, now do you know who invited me here?"


    Huang Zheng''s eyes almost burst with rage as he looked at Huang Jinghong and his mother with contempt. "Huang Jinghong, Ji Lingluo, do you realize what you''re doing?"


    "Damn it," Huang Yi roared, "it''s you two bastards. Do you realize you''re burying the legacy of our Huang Family that has lasted for hundreds of years?"


    Huang Jinghong smiled and said, "Elders First and Second, please calm down."


    "Shut up!"


    Huang Zheng shouted angrily, "I truly regret not slapping you to death just now!"


    Huang Jinghong shrugged, emboldened by Sha Kun''s presence. "Elder First, you should shut up first! Don''t you know why I''m doing this? If you had supported me as the heir to the City Lord, instead of that wild girl, do you think I would have done this? The ruin of the Huang Family''s legacy is not my doing, it''s yours!"


    "Huang Zheng, Huang Yi, you are the eternal culprits of the Huang Family. And my son is the hero who continued the glory of the Huang Family in adversity. Sha Kun has already agreed, as soon as he ascends to the position of City Lord, he will appoint my son as the Deputy City Lord..."


    Ji Lingluo said proudly, "I advise you to surrender without a fight, and stop your futile resistance..."


    "You shut up!"


    Huang Zheng erupted in fury, his gaze icy to its limits, "Ji Lingluo, the City Lord is not yet dead, and you can''t wait to hand over the seat of our Huang Family to others?"


    Ji Lingluo sneered, "Don''t think I don''t know, the City Lord has already been killed by you in collusion with that wild girl."


    "Elders First and Second, my father treated you sincerely and entrusted you with important tasks, hoping you could support me in ascending to the position of City Lord."


    Huang Jinghong''s face was filled with grief as he stared at Huang Zheng and the others with the vengeful look of someone facing his father''s murderer: "And what about you? You colluded with that wild girl and that outsider named Xiao Yi to persecute me and my mother, and you even killed my father. I, Huang Jinghong, swear to the heavens, I will personally execute both of you, to avenge my father and wash away his humiliation..."


    Sha Kun, pretending to be dignified, said, "My dear nephew, do not be sad. Your uncle promises to capture these two treacherous bastards and hand them over to you for disposal!"


    "Thank you, Uncle Sha..."


    Huang Jinghong bowed in gratitude to Sha Kun but heard a snort from Sha Kun. His body trembled slightly, and with a swift glance, he loudly said, "Thank you, Lord Sha, for taking charge for me!"


    "Hahaha, well said, well said!"


    Sha Kun''s face was beaming with a radiant smile.


    Behind him...


    Sha Kun''s eldest son, Sha Diao, led a group of powerhouses, all loudly exclaiming, "Long live the City Lord!"


    "Long live the City Lord!"


    Amidst the ringing shouts, Sha Kun''s face grew even brighter with smiles.


    He lifted his chin slightly, an arrogant gaze falling upon Huang Zheng and the others. With a grand gesture pointing forward, he declared, "Black Shark Guard, listen to my command! The former City Lord, Huang Baitao, has been framed by traitors and now hangs by a thread. Follow me into the City Lord''s mansion and rescue City Lord Huang. Whoever dares to obstruct, kill without mercy!"


    "Whoever dares to obstruct, kill without mercy!"


    "Kill without mercy!"


    The crowd shouted in unison, fervently echoing the command.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    One by one, the Black Shark Guards, shrouded in black clothing with only their blood-red eyes visible, surrounded by thick fog, led by Sha Diao, were ready to launch an attack on Huang Zheng and the others.


    But at that moment...


    A voice full of authority came from within the City Lord''s mansion: "I''d like to see who dares touch anyone from my City Lord''s mansion!"


    "Hmm?"


    Sha Kun''s complexion changed drastically.


    The faces of Ji Lingluo and Huang Jinghong beside him also turned pale with a whoosh, devoid of any color.


    Three figures stepped out of the City Lord''s mansion, walking on air.


    To the left was Xiao Yi, to the right Huang Yuwei.


    The person in the middle, dignified, holding a Golden Trident, landed in front of Huang Zheng and the others.


    Hisss!


    Sha Kun gasped, shock painting his face: "Huang Baitao? Aren''t you supposed to be dead?"


    Huang Baitao smiled coldly, squinting his eyes, "Sorry to disappoint you!"

 Chapter 332 Youre Still Lacking!

    Huang Baitao''s face bore a touch of icy coldness, "Sorry to disappoint you!"


    His eyes were fixed deathly on Sha Kun, as well as the mother and son pair of Ji Lingluo by his side.


    In his gaze was anger, sorrow, and an unprecedented iciness.


    These were his wife and child.


    At the most critical moment...


    They had actually chosen to betray him.


    In Huang Baitao''s heart, Ji Lingluo and Huang Jinghong had already equated to cold corpses.


    Sha Kun''s face was ashen. He turned to Ji Lingluo and Huang Jinghong beside him and bellowed angrily, "Is this your so-called foolproof plan? Didn''t you say that Huang Baitao was already dead?"


    "I, I had no idea..."


    Huang Jinghong''s face was a picture of confusion. Under the threat of death, he played his blame-shifting trick again, pointing at Ji Lingluo, "All this was done by my mother. She told me to do everything according to your orders."


    Hiss!


    Ji Lingluo''s triangular eyes widened in shock as Sha Kun turned to look at her. With a face of mourning, she said, "I did as you instructed and tampered with their last batch of medicine. They didn''t notice at all!"


    Sha Kun''s expression shifted unpredictably.


    He was certain that Ji Lingluo and Huang Jinghong wouldn''t dare deceive him.


    His gaze turned to Huang Baitao, with a cold glint in his eyes, he sneered, "I was truly careless. I never expected that you''d have such a capable person by your side who could even detect the Drunken God Powder."


    Drunken God Powder.


    Colorless and odorless, ranked among the eighth grade.


    In strict terms...


    Drunken God Powder was not a poison, but a special kind of elixir that only alchemists of eight stars and above could concoct.


    As its name implies.


    Once taken, even gods would be overpowered by its effects. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    It was by chance that Sha Kun had gotten his hands on two doses of Drunken God Powder.


    The first was used to drug Huang Baitao, then he had Fu Yuan diagnosed Huang Baitao as poisoned, and calmly arranged his plot, using others to attempt poisoning Huang Baitao with the Hundred Tribulations Elixir.


    Sha Kun''s plan was seamless.


    But now.


    Everything had come to naught!


    "Sha Kun, I always treated you well, yet you plotted to poison me and take over the city lord''s position. I am deeply disappointed in you!" Huang Baitao lamented.


    He and Sha Kun had been as close as brothers, but now they stood on opposite sides, enemies to the death.


    "Hmph!"


    Sha Kun snorted coldly, his eyes shining with a cold light. He scoffed, "Treat me well? That''s just wishful thinking on your part. Over these years, you''ve been ordering me around, always using your position as the city lord to suppress me. If it wasn''t for your constraints, the slave trade would have expanded a hundredfold by now. Beast Emperor City could have opened trade with those inland dynasties and prospered beyond measure compared to its current state. Under your rule, Beast Emperor City can only decline, only I can make it thrive!"


    Sha Kun''s ambition was boundless.


    He wanted to turn Beast Emperor City into a maritime kingdom and even sought to reach into the inland dynasties.


    But Huang Baitao had always been unwilling to stir up war.


    He simply wished to maintain the status quo.


    Their ideologies clashed; Sha Kun had no choice but to take action and eliminate Huang Baitao.


    "Sha Kun, you might as well surrender!"


    Huang Baitao sighed. Although he was conservative, he was not a backward thinker, especially after his recent brush with death had awakened him, "I have recovered, and you cannot take the city lord''s seat. I promise to only take your life and spare your family. If you remain willfully blind, then don''t blame me for totally uprooting the Sha Family!"


    "Surrender? Do you think that''s possible?"


    Sha Kun gave a cold laugh, his hand waved, and a ''whoosh'' echoed as countless grains of sand filled the sky.


    The golden sand gathered together, forming two heavy hammers in his hands.


    Thud, thud!


    These were the Sixth-Layer High-Grade Primordial Vajra Hammers, forged from a millennium of flowing sand, each hammer weighing ten thousand pounds. The hammers swung in his hands, stirring up a fierce wind, kicking up clouds of sand.


    His black hair whipped wildly as his python robe burst open.


    The sandstorm swirled around him.


    Transforming into a suit of golden armor.


    Sha Kun bellowed furiously, "Kill them all for me!"


    "Stubborn fool!"


    Huang Baitao''s eyes spat cold electricity, his wrist twisting as the Golden Trident in his grasp whirred to life, spinning wildly at the hum of its sound, he charged towards Sha Kun with the trident poised for battle.


    Boom!


    The two collided with immense force.


    The terrible clash of energies produced two circular shockwaves that swept outwards in all directions.


    Wherever the shockwaves passed, every building trembled with loud roars, crumbling into a sky-full of dust.


    Huang Baitao roared, "Sha Kun, fight me in the sea!"


    "Afraid of you?"


    Sha Kun, wielding a pair of Primordial Vajra Hammers, stepped across the sky filled with sand and dust, appearing godlike and demonlike as he pursued hotly.


    At the same time.


    Huang Zheng and Huang Yi were also fighting towards Sha Diao and others.


    The city lord''s guards were locked in fierce battle with the Black Shark Guard.


    On the side of the city lord''s mansion, there were Huang Zheng and Huang Yi, both at the Dharma Manifestation Realm, whereas Sha Kun''s side had Sha Diao, Slave King Meng Tuo from the Slave Battlefield with ninety victories, and a sixth-layer intermediate rank beast, the Desert Poison Scorpion, equivalent to the fourth level of Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Two against three.


    Huang Zheng and his companion were being pushed back step by step. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially Sha Diao, whose combat prowess was also extraordinary.


    With his third-level Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivation and mastery of Half-Step Fourth-Order Sword Intent, plus his control over the mist where the Black Shark Guard dwelled. He hid within the mist or suddenly appeared among the Black Shark Guard, making him unpredictable and hard to defend against.


    Wuu wuu wuu!


    Suddenly, the sound of a flute burst forth.


    Huang Yi''s eyes glazed over as he fought the Desert Poison Scorpion. Behind the Scorpion, in the mist, the figure of Sha Diao suddenly emerged.


    He held a flute in one hand and a Longsword in the other.


    Hum!


    In an instant, the sword''s edge appeared at Huang Yi''s back.


    Without a sound.


    This sword would have ended Huang Yi''s life, but at that moment, a fair hand reached out from the void. It caught the Longsword, and Huang Yi came to his senses in that moment, drenched in cold sweat as he fled.


    Looking back, Huang Yi saw Xiao Yi gripping Sha Diao''s Longsword, heaving a sigh of relief, "Thank you!"


    "Leave this to me!"


    Xiao Yi waved it off, looking up at Sha Diao wrapped in the black mist, raised his eyebrows, "The person I encountered on the Beast Emperor Sea, that was you, wasn''t it?"


    Sha Diao squinted his eyes, and two red lights shone through the mist. He quietly retracted his Longsword, his voice dark and chilly, "I didn''t expect to meet again!"


    "Hiding in the shadows, too scared to show your face?" Xiao Yi said.


    The mist around Sha Diao swirled, his voice coming from all directions, elusive as his form, "At the moment when you die, I will let you see me!"


    "That is truly unfortunate, looks like I won''t have the chance to see you in this lifetime!" Xiao Yi chuckled.


    "Is that so?"


    Sha Diao''s voice echoed from every direction.


    Xiao Yi''s pupils slightly constricted.


    A sword finger erected.


    He pointed behind himself.


    Clang!


    A crisp sound rang out from within the mist, and sparks flew. It was Xiao Yi''s sword finger meeting a cold sword tip, clashing like a needle against wheat.


    "Hmm?"


    Surprise tinged Sha Diao''s voice, "You can actually sense my sword?"


    "Half-Step Fourth-Order Sword Intent is indeed strong, but..."


    Xiao Yi''s lips curled up, the genuine aura of Fourth-Order Sword Intent released without restraint, he coldly laughed without regard for Sha Diao''s cry from within the mist, "Compared to me, you''re still lacking!"

 Chapter 333 The Dharma Form Shatters, Sword Slays the Sha Diao!

    "You''re still not quite there compared to me!"


    The energy of the Fourth-Order Sword Intent around him was released without any reservation.


    It was a terrifying presence.


    In an instant, within the black fog, Sha Diao lost his voice, "Fourth-Order Sword Intent? Impossible, you''re just at the Tao Tribulation Realm, how could you possibly understand the Fourth-Order Sword Intent?"


    Sha Diao was acclaimed as the number one sword genius of Beast Emperor City.


    Now at the Third Layer of Dharma Manifestation Realm, he had reached Half-Step Fourth-Order Sword Intent.


    Even when compared to some of the peerless geniuses in the mainland, he was not to be outdone.


    But now¡­


    A youngster a dozen years his junior, who was also only at the Eighth Layer of Tao Tribulation Realm, actually mastered true Fourth-Order Sword Intent, how could he not be shocked?


    "Who exactly are you?" Sha Diao''s voice was unprecedentedly solemn.


    Xiao Yi''s lips curved slightly upward, "Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi!"


    "It can''t be¡­ Xiaoshanhe Institute has long been in ruins; how could they produce a powerhouse like you?"


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    Even though Beast Emperor City was situated in the distant seas, it still kept some contacts with the mainland and was well-aware of the news of powerful geniuses and sects among the various dynasties of the mainland.


    He had never heard of the name Xiao Yi.


    As for Xiaoshanhe Institute, it had declined decades ago.


    How could they have nurtured such genius?


    Xiao Yi said, "I am not a disciple of Xiaoshanhe Institute; I am the current dean of Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    "No matter who you are, today, you must die!" Sha Diao roared repeatedly.


    His voice, besides the cold killing intent, was filled with intense jealousy.


    Even now, he had not mastered Fourth-Order Sword Intent.


    Xiao Yi was just at the Tao Tribulation Realm, what right did he have to wield such power?


    Wuu wuu wuu!


    All of a sudden, a gust of wind swept through the land, the sound of the wind piercing, and Xiao Yi found that the fog around him was getting thicker. The pale fog had severely affected Xiao Yi''s vision.


    Under normal circumstances¡­


    Xiao Yi would have clearly seen an ant on a tree several kilometers away.


    But now.


    With the fog blocking his view, Xiao Yi found he could only see things half a meter away; the energy from the fog obstructing his vision was truly terrifying.


    "There!"


    Xiao Yi turned and launched a sword strike.


    Pu!


    His strike tore through the thick fog in front of him, but he did not find Sha Diao''s figure.


    Xiao Yi paused, "Did he escape?"


    "This!"


    "This!"


    "This¡­"


    Xiao Yi shifted his attack direction time and again but still couldn''t locate Sha Diao.


    Attack after attack missed its mark.


    This made Xiao Yi''s expression rather unsightly.


    Within the fog.


    The cold laugh of Sha Diao came, still coming from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint his location, "Is this all you''ve got? If so, you can die now!"


    Shua!


    Xiao Yi''s pores suddenly exploded as he instinctively brought the longsword to protect his back.


    Dang!


    Amid a crisp sound.


    A ferocious force swept from behind, sending Xiao Yi flying. In that silent moment, Sha Diao''s sword had appeared behind him; Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank suddenly.


    Longsword above his head.


    Dang!


    Another loud noise.


    A longsword slashed out of the dense fog, striking heavily upon Xiao Yi''s longsword, sending sparks flying, and Xiao Yi''s longsword broke apart.


    The violent sword waves continued to force Xiao Yi to retreat explosively.


    At that moment...


    Wuu wuu wuu!


    A flute sound made one drowsy.


    Luckily, the necklace in Xiao Yi''s bosom emitted a wave of warmth; the heat spread into his body, and in an instant, he regained clarity. At the same time, Xiao Yi sensed a subtle fluctuation in the air behind him.


    "Come down!"


    Xiao Yi turned quickly and grabbed at the stabbing longsword.


    Vital energy coursed through his palm, firmly gripping the longsword.


    At the same time, his right hand swung, "A Stroke That Surprises the Wind and Rain!"


    Shua shua shua!


    Sword beams flew out one after another, following the longsword into the dense fog.


    "Awoooo..."


    An hysterical scream suddenly came from within the fog, and a spurt of blood gushed forth, as Xiao Yi withdrew his longsword from the mist. Clasped upon the hilt was a pale hand.


    Severed by Xiao Yi right at the elbow.


    An enraged and venomous howl came from within the fog, "Xiao Yi, for the enmity of my severed arm, we are irreconcilable, I will slaughter you!"


    "A rat that hides its head but shows its tail still dares to threaten my life?"


    Xiao Yi snorted coldly and tossed the severed arm aside, but he took possession of the longsword.


    This longsword was actually a sixth-order high-grade Yuan weapon.


    Now the demonic sword could not be used.


    Having this longsword, however, was enough to use for a period of time.


    Hum!


    A sixth-grade Yuan weapon was not so easily controlled, and it buzzed in Xiao Yi''s hand; he tightly grasped the hilt as the power of Sword Intent enveloped the longsword.


    Sword Intent!


    Commanding the swords of the world!


    Hum!


    The longsword''s vibration slowly subsided.


    In the blink of an eye, this sixth-order high-grade Yuan weapon was suppressed by Xiao Yi; looking at the ''Flowing Cloud'' inscribed on the blade, Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "So your name is Flowing Cloud Sword, you belong to me now!"


    As the Flowing Cloud Sword was subdued, Sha Diao already sensed it.


    Earth-shaking roars came from within the black fog, "Xiao Yi, you broke my arm, and stole my treasured sword, our grudge is irreconcilable!"


    "Such nonsense!"


    Xiao Yi sneered, looking around at the thick fog, his heart growing more composed, "What exactly is this mist? Sha Diao is actually concealed within it, aside from Dharma Manifestation, I have never heard of anyone else capable of utilizing such natural force..."


    Suddenly.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes lit up, "Dharma Manifestation? Could it be, this mist is his Dharma Manifestation?"


    Dharma Manifestation, full of marvels.


    In ancient times.


    It is said that some people used the sun and the moon as their Dharma Manifestations, there was once a clan that used the sun as their Dharma Manifestation.


    Once the Dharma Manifestation was deployed, it was as if the sun was plummeting to earth.


    A barren land for thousands of miles, drought for three years!


    If Sha Diao truly used the mist as his Dharma Manifestation, condensing the mist into a Dharma Manifestation, employing the force of nature to hide himself within it, this would also explain why he could control the mist.


    With this thought.


    Xiao Yi''s eyes shone, the corners of his mouth curved upward with a playful arc, "Sha Diao, you are as good as dead!" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hum!


    Brilliant light swirled around Xiao Yi.


    In his hands, the Flowing Cloud Sword traced sword flowers in front of him, dazzling sword flowers twinkled with silver light, like quicksilver spilling onto the ground. The terrifyingly sharp edge of the sword hummed thunderously, deafening.


    "Unblemished Revolution!"


    "Eternal Life!"


    One blossom.


    Two blossoms.


    Three blossoms...


    Forty-nine Sword Dao lotuses appeared around Xiao Yi, each one containing an unparalleled sharp Sword Qi. The Sword Qi filled the sky, crisscrossing and obscuring the sun.


    "Go!"


    Xiao Yi flicked his fingers.


    Forty-nine Sword Qi lotuses plunged into the fog.


    Boom boom boom!


    Amidst thunderous explosions, the might of the Sword Qi lotuses burst forth without reserve, wherever they struck within the mist, echoed with violent sounds, a constant stream of carnage. The fog that shrouded the entire lord''s mansion was ultimately obliterated under the slaughter of the forty-nine Sword Qi lotuses.


    And just then...


    In front of Xiao Yi appeared a pale-faced young man with a chilling aura, his right arm broken, holding a short flute in his left hand.


    Seemingly bewildered as he stared at Xiao Yi.


    As their eyes met.


    Xiao Yi commanded in a low voice, "Sword, come!"


    Hum!


    The Flowing Cloud Sword spun several times before landing into his grasp, he held the hilt with both hands and slashed forward, "Dividing the Egret Islet amidst the Dual Streams!"


    Whoosh!


    A hundred zhang of sword light, pure and white as driven snow.


    It cleaved through the mist attempting to condense once again, roaring as it swiftly passed over Sha Diao.


    As the sword light faded.


    The mist in the void gradually dispersed.


    Xiao Yi stood in the void with sword in hand, the wild wind swirling around him, his robes snapping in the wind, his black hair dancing with the gusts. And in front of him, Sha Diao''s body slowly split in two...

 Chapter 334 The Majesty of Dharmakaya

    Sha Diao''s corpse fell from the sky.


    Without Sha Diao''s mist to cover them, the Black Shark Guard were like eagles without wings, facing the counterattack of the experts within the city lord''s mansion, and their defeat was as rapid as a landslide.


    Xiao Yi stood amidst the crowd and did not make another move.


    Huang Zheng and Huang Yi were also suppressing their respective opponents, and the battle on the side of the city lord''s mansion was gradually becoming clear.


    Victory was only a matter of time.


    But what truly decided the battle today was not the fight on the side of the city lord''s mansion, but the confrontation in the Beast Emperor Sea between Sha Kun and Huang Baitao. Whoever could have the last laugh between them was the key.


    "Little Lin, stay here and protect Yuwei!" Xiao Yi patted Little Lin''s head.


    Now, Little Lin''s combat power was comparable to that of an Eightfold warrior of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    With his protection...


    Huang Yuwei would definitely be safe.


    Little Lin nodded, "Boss, rest assured, I will take care of this place!"


    Xiao Yi broke through the air and left.


    A moment later.


    He arrived above the vast Beast Emperor Sea, where the endless sea was filled with surging winds and waves. Huge waves, a kilometer high, viciously slapped the sea surface, stirring up ripples that surged in all directions.


    "Where are they?"


    But Xiao Yi couldn''t find Huang Baitao and Sha Kun.


    Suddenly...


    In the calm sea ahead, two huge whirlpools appeared out of nowhere.


    The whirlpools grew larger and larger, swirling countless amounts of water, which they devoured into the bottomless black hole in their midst. The terrifying sound of the water waves was deafening.


    The whirlpools expanded to a diameter of tens of kilometers.


    Suddenly.


    Whoosh, whoosh!


    Two figures burst out of the whirlpools, raising two columns of white water.


    The water columns reached for the sky, hundreds of meters high, like two water dragons. They furiously swallowed the white waves, twisting their bodies as they charged at each other.


    Above the terrifying water columns.


    Huang Baitao, holding the Golden Trident, and Sha Kun, swinging a pair of Primordial Vajra Hammers, stood proudly on the wave crests.


    Boom!


    The two collided above the sea, creating massive waves that crashed into each other, forming a circular water wall. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Countless amounts of water fell from the sky, forming a torrential downpour amid the loud splashing sounds.


    The entire area was sprinkled with rainfall, falling onto the sea surface.


    There were also remains of magical creatures, falling from the water columns.


    Thud!


    The Golden Trident clashed heavily with the Primordial Vajra Hammer, sparks flew in a flash, and fireworks bloomed in the sky. The two combatants crossed weapons, exerting all their strength in a contest of power.


    Their elemental weapons were both high-tier, sixth-order, invaluable and overwhelmingly powerful.


    Like the tip of the needle against the wheat awn.


    Series of terrifying roars sent shivers down one''s spine.


    Sha Kun pressed the attack with his dual hammers, forcing Huang Baitao into a retreat and sneered, "Huang Baitao, it seems your strength is merely so-so!"


    Huang Baitao sneered coldly, gripping the Golden Trident tightly, he began pushing Sha Kun back step by step, "You''re enough to be dealt with!"


    Boom!


    The two of them separated at once.


    Between them.


    Two completely different elemental energies exploded with a bang.


    Whoosh!


    A massive shockwave covered a hundred miles around.


    In its path...


    The water wall soared into the clouds.


    Atop the terrifying energy-infused water wall, azure water thundered down.


    When Xiao Yi''s vision cleared in front of him...


    All he saw above the ocean.


    Were two colossal figures, towering over and facing each other.


    Huang Baitao, holding the Golden Trident, stood on the shoulder of an imposing figure with a fish body and a human head. This imposing figure held a trident, with eyes as vast as the sea and surrounded by tumultuous waves.


    The Sea God Dharma Idol!


    Huang Baitao had visualized the statue of the Sea God to condense the Dharma Idol, as if a true deity had descended to the mortal world.


    Behind Sha Kun, a sky of sandy dust formed a dome of earthy yellow.


    Under that canopy.


    A massive desert scorpion was shaking its huge and formidable tail.


    Its pincers clanged loudly, sparking flames.


    Sha Kun observed the Dharma Idol formed by his desert poisonous scorpion mount. Mounted on the back of the desert poisonous scorpion, half of his body merged into the scorpion''s Dharma Idol.


    The hammers swung and rumbled mightily, like thunder.


    "Wrath of the Sea God!"


    Amid Huang Baitao''s roaring bellow,


    A fierce wind suddenly whipped up over the entire sea surface, stirring up colossal waves. The roaring waves, one after another, rolled towards Sha Kun to crush him.


    Sha Kun stood atop the desert poisonous scorpion, pointing forward with both hands.


    The scorpion''s iron pincers also slammed down on the water, the immense force stirring up huge waves as well, with yellow sand blending into them.


    The earthy yellow water waves burst forth like a mountain torrent.


    As the saying goes, meet the soldier with a general and stem the water with earth.


    This mixture of water and sand created waves far more solid than mere water could ever be.


    Upon collision,


    The water waves shattered continuously, but the wall of sand and water grew ever taller.


    Suddenly...


    The desert poisonous scorpion beneath Sha Kun leaped into the air, plummeting from the sky in an instant, its iron pincers smashing fiercely towards Huang Baitao. Strands of yellow sand spread, enlarging the pincers with each moment.


    The iron pincers, each a hundred zhang in size, crashed down like two small mountains.


    "Sea God''s Protection!"


    Unperturbed, Huang Baitao responded calmly.


    A tremor ran through his trident.


    The Sea God Dharma Idol flickered with blue light as its hands slowly opened, as if summoning the sea itself to awaken.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Countless giant waves coalesced into pillars, soaring into the sky like water dragons.


    One.


    Two.


    Three...


    Over a hundred tremendous waves interlaced, protecting Huang Baitao within their midst.


    Thump!


    Amid the earth-shattering noise,


    The two iron pincers of the desert poisonous scorpion''s Dharma Idol smashed violently on the water wall.


    In that moment...


    The wind stopped, and the water stilled.


    It was as if time itself had frozen.


    Suddenly,


    A series of cracking sounds erupted.


    The iron pincers exploded, and at that moment, a golden light slashed through the water wall. With a swish, it pierced upward through the body of the desert poisonous scorpion''s Dharma Idol.


    Splat!


    The Golden Trident pierced through Sha Kun''s body.


    Wow!


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    Sha Kun let out a miserable scream as blood spewed forth.


    The Dharma Idol shattered.


    A shower of yellow sand fell from the sky, instantly swallowed by the sea.


    The majestic Sea God Dharma Idol also vanished without a trace.


    Only Huang Baitao stood proudly between heaven and earth, holding the Golden Trident single-handedly, skewering Sha Kun''s body in mid-air. Huang Baitao''s face was expressionless, his hair fluttering with the sea breeze swirling around him.


    Huang Baitao looked at the dying Sha Kun with a calm gaze, "You, have lost!"


    "Heh, hehe..."


    Sha Kun coughed out a mouthful of blood, his energy much depleted. Grinding his teeth, he said, "I always knew I was no match for you... No, but you didn''t win this time because of your own skills..."


    His bloodshot eyes turned towards Xiao Yi.


    In those eyes were hatred and resentment, mixed with helplessness.


    Had it not been for Xiao Yi unlocking the Drunken God Powder, how could he have fallen into such a state?


    "I... I hate this..."


    Sha Kun''s eyes rolled back, and he lost all signs of life.


    Huang Baitao''s face remained expressionless as he shook the trident, shattering Sha Kun''s body. Bits of flesh and blood mixed into the slightly salty sea breeze, and Huang Baitao murmured to himself, "I will leave a single bloodline for the Sha Family!"


    Whoosh!


    Huang Baitao stepped into the void and walked towards Xiao Yi, saying solemnly, "I owe you thanks for this assistance, young friend!"


    "No need for formalities, Yuwei is a friend of mine!" Xiao Yi said.


    "Please wait a moment, after I have dealt with the rebels, I will properly express my gratitude to you!"


    After saying so, Huang Baitao teleported away, flying towards the Beast Emperor City.


    Xiao Yi''s lips slightly curved in a schadenfreude smile, "Someone''s in for it now!"

 Chapter 335 Deputy City Lord

    Over the manor lord''s residence.


    The battle was still raging on.


    Huang Zheng was locked in an inseparable fight with the Slave King, a formidable fighter the Sha Family had bought from the slave market, who was also a death warrior.


    Constantly on the line between life and death, a desperado by any name. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Fighting as if he had no regard for his own life.


    Even if his cultivation was inferior to Huang Zheng''s, he still managed to severely restrain his opponent.


    Suddenly,


    a beam of golden light descended from the sky.


    Thud!


    The golden trident pierced through the Slave King''s body, splitting him in twain. Amidst a downpour of blood, Huang Baitao, stood above the heavens, his authoritative voice echoing throughout the entirety of Beast Emperor City, "Sha Kun is dead, surrender and you shall not be harmed!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sha Kun is dead, surrender and you shall not be harmed!"


    "Surrender and you shall not be harmed!"


    The shouts came one after another from the people in the manor lord''s residence, thundering through the air and leaving the powerhouses of the Sha line looking at each other in disbelief.


    Apart from the death warriors of the Black Shark Guard.


    All other powerhouses ceased their assaults, and some even turned their weapons against their former allies, aiding the manor lord''s forces in a massacre of the Black Shark Guard. Blood rained down from the sky.


    Tens of thousands from the Black Shark Guard were spared no mercy, all were slain.


    Outside the manor lord''s residence.


    Huang Baitao stood with his hands behind his back.


    Behind him were Huang Zheng, Huang Yi, Huang Yuwei and Xiao Yi, and before him was a host of powerhouses who had sided with the Sha Family, including influential figures from large clans within Beast Emperor City and merchants with considerable strength.


    At this moment, all the powerhouses were kneeling before Huang Baitao, filled with fear and trepidation.


    Sha Kun was dead.


    They had lost their backbone and could only surrender.


    Huang Baitao''s gaze was icy as he looked down at Huang Jinghong and his mother kneeling at the very front.


    At that moment...


    the mother and son duo were in tears, wailing loudly.


    Huang Jinghong, choking with sobs, cried out in self-pity, "Father, spare my life! It was all mother''s doing, you know it... I would never dare defy you, it was mother who made me harm you..."


    "You, you¡­"


    Ji Lingluo, furious at his lack of resistance and with a face twisted with rage, glared at Huang Jinghong and hissed through clenched teeth, "Husband, you mustn''t believe this traitor. It was he who wanted to claim the throne of the manor lord. He feared you wouldn''t pass the position to him, which is why he plotted with Sha Kun to harm you. He even resorted to threatening his own life; it was all his doing..."


    "Bullshit, you vile woman, all this was clearly your idea!"


    "You''re the one bullshitting. I gave birth to you and raised you, and you dare to harm me?"


    "Since you already gave birth to me and raised me, why can''t you die for me?"


    "I carried you in my womb for ten months, you should be the one to die for me..."


    "You malicious woman..."


    "You unfilial son..."


    The two of them began to tear at each other, hitting one another.


    Xiao Yi''s eyelid twitched. "..."


    What a bizarre pair indeed!


    He glanced at Huang Yuwei beside him, "How could your father have married such a woman... it''s good that you''re not her daughter!"


    Huang Yuwei: "..."


    Huang Baitao: "..."


    Everyone: "..."


    Ahem!


    Huang Baitao coughed lightly, casting Xiao Yi a sharp glare as if to say, ''Kid, do you think I don''t need face?''


    Xiao Yi gave an awkward smile.


    Huang Baitao''s cold gaze lingered on the quarreling pair, his eyes filled with disgust. He turned to Huang Yi beside him and said, "Elder, take these two away and deal with them according to family law!"


    "Yes!"


    Huang Yi stepped forward, grabbed the two of them, and left.


    In the distance, their pitiful pleas for mercy could be heard.


    Xiao Yi whispered, "Dealt with by family law? What''s going to happen to them?"


    Huang Yuwei shook her head.


    Huang Zheng said, "Chop them into pieces and throw them into the Beast Emperor Sea to feed the fish!"


    Hiss!


    Xiao Yi took in a cold breath, the family law was harsh indeed!


    In front of everyone...


    The powerful followers who had rebelled with Sha Kun looked on as Huang Baitao showed no mercy even to his wife and children. They, one after another, were terrified and kowtowed frantically, "City Lord, we were also momentarily blinded by greed and led astray. Spare our lives, please!"


    "We beg the City Lord for mercy..."


    Huang Baitao''s indifferent gaze swept over them as he said calmly, "Take your own lives! I will not involve your families."


    The pleas for mercy ceased abruptly.


    The crime of rebellion.


    It''s not to be taken lightly.


    In the dynasty, it would merit the execution of the entire extended family.


    Huang Baitao was indeed very merciful to only kill them. In that instant, everyone thanked him profusely, "Thank you, City Lord!"


    "Thank you, City Lord..."


    Thump, thump, thump!


    The thousands of powerful individuals present all took their own lives.


    Huang Baitao glanced at Huang Zheng, who nodded and said, "Don''t worry, City Lord, I will have their bodies cleaned up immediately..."


    "Hmm!"


    Huang Baitao nodded, then turned to look at Xiao Yi, softness appearing on his face. He especially swept over Xiao Yi and Huang Yuwei back and forth with a smile, "Xiao Yi, if it weren''t for you, Beast Emperor City would have changed hands. Ask for any reward you desire, and you shall have it!"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback and scratched his head, "I haven''t thought of what benefit I want yet!"


    "How about... marrying my precious daughter to you?" Huang Baitao said jokingly.


    "Father..."


    Huang Yuwei''s pretty face flushed as she chided.


    Her eyes inadvertently stole a look at Xiao Yi. Apart from shyness, there was a hint of expectancy in her gaze.


    Huang Baitao laughed heartily, "The little girl is shy, eh?" He looked at Xiao Yi, "What do you say? She''s my only daughter. If you agree to this marriage, all of Beast Emperor City will be yours one day!"


    Wow!


    Xiao Yi was startled.


    All of Beast Emperor City?


    That dowry was indeed impressive!


    However...


    Xiao Yi shook his head with a wry smile, "Sorry, City Lord Huang, I already have a wife!"


    "Hmm?"


    Huang Baitao''s brows drew together sharply.


    A look of disappointment flitted through Huang Yuwei''s eyes as she forced a smile, "Father, are you really so eager to marry off your daughter? I left your side when I was young and don''t want to be married off so soon. I want to spend a few more years with you!"


    Huang Baitao was well aware of Huang Yuwei''s feelings and sighed inwardly, "How could I bear to marry off my precious daughter? Let''s not talk about this anymore!"


    "Mmm!"


    Huang Yuwei nodded and stood obediently at his side.


    Xiao Yi looked at Huang Yuwei gratefully. If she hadn''t actively defused the situation, things could have become very awkward.


    After pondering for a moment, Huang Baitao said, "In that case, with Sha Kun dead, Beast Emperor City just happens to need a Deputy City Lord. From now on, you will be the Deputy City Lord of Beast Emperor City. Your authority and status will be second only to mine. What do you think?"


    Xiao Yi was surprised.


    The overall strength of Beast Emperor City was comparable to the top ten sects; becoming the Deputy City Lord was no small privilege. Moreover, this would make the cooperation between his Xiaoshanhe Institute and Beast Emperor City in the future even more convenient.


    Beast Emperor City controlled Beast Emperor Sea.


    The resources were immensely abundant.


    This was nothing but beneficial for Xiaoshanhe Institute!


    Xiao Yi gave a respectful bow to Huang Baitao, "I accept your offer with thanks... Xiao Yi hereby expresses his gratitude to the City Lord!"


    "Hahaha, with the relationship between you and Yuwei, there''s no need for such formalities between us. You may call me Uncle..." He paused, then took out a Token¡ªit was the City Lord''s Token¡ªand handed it to Xiao Yi, "From now on, you are the Deputy City Lord of Beast Emperor City. With this Token, you may exercise all the powers of the City Lord!"


    "Thank you, Uncle!"


    Xiao Yi said as he bowed his hands.


    Huang Baitao said with a hearty laugh, "Come on, come on, we must drink well today..."

 Chapter 336 Visiting to Apologize

    The next day.


    Xiao Yi woke up to find himself lying on the bed.


    He smacked his head hard.


    Last night, he was dragged by Huang Baitao and others to drink all night, and those were strong liquors made from spiritual medicine. Even those with deep cultivation couldn''t withstand it.


    Xiao Yi only remembered before he passed out.


    There was not a single person at the table who could stand.


    "Damn, this feeling is so painful, I definitely can''t drink with them again..." Xiao Yi got out of bed, only to feel his legs go soft, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.


    Creak!


    Huang Yuwei pushed open the door, carrying a bowl of hot porridge as she walked in. Seeing Xiao Yi''s state, she covered her mouth and chuckled, "Xiao Yi, you''re finally awake!"


    "Ah? Yuwei, how much did I drink last night? How come I can''t remember anything that happened afterward?"


    Xiao Yi scratched his head, sat at the table, and as he smelled the fragrant porridge, his stomach growled. He gave a thumbs up, "This porridge smells amazing!"


    As Huang Yuwei served Xiao Yi a bowl of porridge, she said with a hint of reproach: "You still have the nerve to talk! Last night, my father, the First Elder, and the Second Elder were knocked unconscious by your heavy drinking, and they were still throwing up this morning. And you, you even dragged my father and the elders to swear brotherhood of a different surname..."


    Xiao Yi''s face turned embarrassed, "Really?"


    Huang Yuwei rolled her eyes and said, "Could it be anything else? My father and they said they don''t hope to be born on the same year, month, and day, but hope to die on the same year, month, and day. Do you know what you said?"


    "What?"


    Xiao Yi managed to swallow a couple of spoonfuls of porridge, and a warm sensation brought him some relief.


    Huang Yuwei covered her mouth and laughed out loud, "You said... a bunch of old farts, and I am still in the prime of my youth, you guys are taking advantage of me. This got my father and the others to drink a few more jars with you..."


    Xiao Yi''s eyes twitched: "..."


    He hadn''t expected that so many embarrassing things happened after he got drunk.


    Huang Yuwei said, "By the way, President Shi came to look for you early in the morning, but since you weren''t awake, I asked her to come back later. However, she didn''t leave and has been waiting in the guest hall!"


    "Oh? Just her alone?" Xiao Yi asked.


    Huang Yuwei replied, "There''s also Deputy President Lin and Lin Bo!"


    "Heh..."


    Xiao Yi continued drinking his porridge, not even lifting his head, and said with a smile, "It seems she''s a bit anxious. Let her wait a little longer, I''ll see her later!"


    "Mhm!"


    Huang Yuwei sat across from Xiao Yi, resting her chin on her hands and quietly watched him.


    ......


    In the guest hall.


    Shi Feiya was meditating with her eyes closed, while Lin Yuejin, who was beside her, shook his leg impatiently, picking up and setting down his cup repeatedly, glancing toward the door now and then, but no one was coming.


    Lin Yuejin glared at Lin Bo, who was kneeling before him with a bruised face, and kicked him hard, "Dammit, kneel properly!"


    Lin Bo looked aggrieved: "..."


    Conscience of heaven and earth!


    He had been kneeling here since this morning without daring to frown!


    And you just keep kicking me now and then.


    Is that really necessary?


    "Enough!"


    Shi Feiya could not help but intervene.


    Lin Yuejin, dissatisfied, said: "President, I think that Xiao Yi is doing this on purpose, just leaving us hanging..."


    Shi Feiya helplessly said, "Even if we know he is deliberately letting us wait, what can we do? It used to be him seeking us, but now it is us who are seeking him..."


    The wheel of fortune turns, she just did not expect it to turn this quickly.


    "President Shi, Deputy President Lin, I''m terribly sorry for drinking too much last night and making you wait," Xiao Yi''s voice came from outside the door as he walked in cheerfully, yet he did not glance at Lin Bo from beginning to end.


    Shi Feiya and her companion quickly stood up, "Deputy City Master Xiao, you shouldn''t say that! We''ve only waited a moment!"


    Xiao Yi chuckled to himself.


    They had arrived early in the morning, and now it was almost lunchtime.


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    A moment?


    Xiao Yi rubbed his head, "Drinking is indeed harmful. The City Master still hasn''t woken up!"


    "We too didn''t know that Deputy City Master Xiao had too much to drink. We should have come later to bother you... truly..." Shi Feiya began to say, hoping to lead into the main topic.


    But Xiao Yi pretended as if he hadn''t caught on.


    He looked at Lin Bo with feigned surprise, "Isn''t that Lin, Young Master Lin Bo? What are you doing kneeling here?"


    Shi Feiya''s eyes twitched.


    Lin Yuejin responded stiffly, "Deputy City Master Xiao, my son lacks manners and caused trouble with Sha Ying, offending you and Princess Yuwei. I have specifically brought him here to apologise." He looked at Lin Bo, "Rebellious child, aren''t you going to apologize to Deputy City Master Xiao?"


    Lin Bo knelt on the ground, moving in front of Xiao Yi, "Vice City Lord Xiao, it was all my fault before, please forgive me!"


    "Hehe, I dare not assume such a role!" Xiao Yi said with a composed expression.


    Lin Yuejin slapped him hard on the head, angrily saying, "Is this the attitude you apologize with?"


    Lin Bo''s fists were clenched tightly, his teeth grinding audibly.


    What humiliation!


    When had Lin, as the young master, ever been subjected to such an insult?


    However¡­


    When he thought about how the powerful Sha Family had already been wiped out.


    He could only submit.


    Bang bang bang!


    Lin Bo''s head hit the ground, striking it repeatedly, his face earnest as he said, "Vice City Lord Xiao, I, Lin Bo, was blind and offended both you and Princess Yuwei. Please forgive me this time!"


    At this moment, Lin Bo was nothing like his arrogant and domineering self at the Dragon Phoenix Tower.


    The circumstances were stronger than the person!


    Even his father had to tread lightly in front of Xiao Yi, what ground did he have to be arrogant and haughty?


    Xiao Yi indifferently said, "Get up."


    Lin Bo was stunned.


    He had thought Xiao Yi would continue to humiliate him, but he was actually letting him stand up?


    Yet Lin Bo didn''t dare to move, cautiously looking towards Lin Yuejin.


    Lin Yuejin said, "Vice City Lord Xiao told you to get up. Why are you still kneeling? Haven''t you thanked Vice City Lord Xiao for sparing your life?"


    "Many thanks for the great kindness and mercy of Vice City Lord Xiao!" Lin Bo quickly stated.


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, and then turned to Shi Feiya saying, "President Shi, regarding the cooperation we talked about before¡­"


    "Vice City Lord Xiao, my visit today is indeed for this matter. After our discussion, we felt that the previous contract was too unfair to you, so we have redrafted the contract."


    Lin Yuejin presented the redrafted contract, and Shi Feiya continued, "Over the next ten years, the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce is willing to provide the Xiaoshanhe Institute with medicinal materials at no cost. You''ll get forty percent of the profits from the slave market, and at the same time, the Slave Battlefield will cooperate fully with the Xiaoshanhe Institute."


    Full cooperation mentioned here was clearly stipulated in the contract.


    Should disciples from the Xiaoshanhe Institute come to the Beast Emperor City, the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce would bear all expenses, and victory rewards in the Slave Battlefield were guaranteed. For example, there were different rewards for ten victories, twenty victories, and so on.


    And the reward standards were quite high!


    Xiao Yi briefly looked over the contract; it was definitely full of sincerity!


    Xiao Yi, narrowing his eyes, asked, "What about the restrictions?"


    "There are no restrictions!"


    Shi Feiya hurriedly said.


    The contract involved a tremendous sacrifice from the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, foregoing billions of silver annually. However, in exchange, they would have Xiao Yi as their powerful backer.


    The slave market would be entirely in the hands of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yi said, "The terms of the contract are mostly fine, even that forty percent profit¡ªI will take just twenty percent. But you must agree to one condition from me!"


    "Hmm?"


    Shi Feiya and Lin Yuejin looked at each other, surprised that Xiao Yi voluntarily proposed to lower his share of the profits; both said, "What condition?"


    Xiao Yi said solemnly, "The targets for capturing slaves in the slave market need to change, prioritizing those who are extremely vicious and felons caught on battlefields, among others."


    He vividly remembered Along''s tribe, which lived on an isolated island in the Beast Emperor Sea.


    Living peaceably and without conflict. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was because of the Tan Family''s slave captures that their whole tribe was uprooted.


    He couldn''t change the world, but at least within his capacity, he could make it better!


    Xiao Yi added, "I will help you liaise with the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty!"


    The royal family had a substantial number of war criminals and extremely vicious felons.


    As slaves, they were most suitable!


    They looked at each other.


    Shi Feiya nodded and said, "No problem!"


    With the new term added to the contract, in duplicate, Xiao Yi smiled, "Pleased to cooperate!"


    "Pleased to cooperate!"


    Shi Feiya smiled as she took the contract, then said, "Vice Institute Head Xiao, the medicinal materials will be ready by tomorrow. Also, our people have already taken over the slave market. There are quite a few outstanding slaves there; would you be interested in taking a look?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback, arching an eyebrow and responding, "Good, let''s take a look!"

 Chapter 337 Shi Feiyas Gift!

    Under the guidance of Shi Feiya, Xiao Yi and his party arrived at the Slave Market.


    The entire Slave Market was filled with noise and despair, with most slaves facing bleak futures.


    The lucky ones, like Along, could become enforcers for powerful forces, and although they lacked freedom, at least they had food and clothing and could stay alive in this world.


    The unlucky ones.


    They might not even know how they died.


    In the countless black cages, numerous slaves curled up inside, each one''s face filled with bitterness, despair, or unwillingness, despair, and darkness, were the main theme of the Slave Market.


    The atmosphere was oppressively terrifying.


    Upon entering the Slave Market, Along''s fists clenched tight, and his breathing lost its steady rhythm.


    His eyes were blood-red.


    There was a time.


    He, too, was like these slaves, locked up in black cages like animals, starving and waiting for buyers to decide their fates.


    Shi Feiya knew Along''s identity and was very cautious with her words, "Xiao, these slaves are mostly brought back by the Tan Family from Beast Emperor Sea, with a few from the inland regions. Depending on cultivation level and talent, the slaves are divided into four grades¡ªA, B, C, and D, each with different prices!"


    Lin Yuejin said in a deep voice, "Grade A, those above the Tao Tribulation Realm; Grade B, above the Golden Core Realm; Grade C is above the Shentong Realm; the Physical Body Realm and Qi Gathering Realm are both Grade C. Those not even in the Physical Body Realm, unless they are very beautiful women, would not even qualify to enter the Slave Market!"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes and asked, "If during the capture process, they encounter someone not even at Grade C, how are they generally dealt with?"


    "This..." Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lin Yuejin and Shi Feiya were taken aback, hesitating to speak.


    Along''s eyes turned blood-red, and he bit his steel teeth tightly, his words punctuated with pauses, "Death, unless it''s a very beautiful woman who could still fetch a price. As for the old, the weak, women, and children, they have only the path of death!"


    When the Tan Family captured Along and his people, they killed all the old, weak, women, and children of their tribe.


    Those were hundreds of thousands of living souls!


    All buried by the Tan Family in the depths of the sea.


    Shi Feiya quickly said, "Xiao, don''t worry, we would absolutely not resort to the Tan Family''s methods, we would never harm those old, weak, women, and children!"


    "Hmm!"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    He couldn''t put an end to the slave trade, nor was he a saint.


    If such a trade existed, it had its own rationale.


    All he could do...


    Was to minimize the harm to innocent people within his power!


    Along looked at Shi Feiya and Lin Yuejin with disdain, "You would be so kind-hearted?"


    Shi Feiya gave a wry smile, "Xiao used two percent of the Slave Market''s profits as a condition to sign a contract with us, how dare we deceive him?"


    Xiao Yi was now the deputy ruler of Beast Emperor City.


    His status was second only to Huang Baitao.


    With just one word, he could shut down the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, how could they dare to deceive Xiao Yi?


    Along was startled, his gaze falling unexpectedly upon Xiao Yi, filled with heartfelt gratitude.


    He was very aware of how terrifying the profits from two percent of the Slave Market were, a colossal fortune of hundreds of billions of silver pieces, which Xiao Yi had chosen to forgo in order to add that condition.


    This made Along even more grateful to Xiao Yi. After a moment of silence, Along said in a low voice, "Xiao, thank you!"


    "No need to be polite, we''re companions, aren''t we?"


    Xiao Yi smiled indifferently, then turned to Shi Feiya, "President Shi, didn''t you say you had a surprise for me?"


    Shi Feiya quickly nodded, "Xiao, please follow me!"


    They walked on.


    Shi Feiya led Xiao Yi to the deepest part of the Slave Market, a place formerly occupied by the Tan Family, which had now been taken over by the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce following the Tan Family''s ousting.


    Shi Feiya said, "Xiao, the surprise I''ve prepared for you is in here!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi looked puzzled as he stared at the large black gate ahead.


    Clap Clap!


    Shi Feiya gently clapped her hands.


    Boom Boom Boom!


    The black gates burst open, and a ray of light, like that of a sliver of sky, shone through. Xiao Yi squinted slightly, waiting for the light to dissipate before finally seeing the scene inside the gate.


    It was a massive duel arena, and at that moment, there were ten carriages within the arena.


    The carriages were draped with black cloth.


    Shi Feiya glanced at Lin Yuejin, who immediately stepped forward with a smile, "Xiao, please look!"


    Boom!


    The black cloth on all ten carriages disappeared at once.


    In their place were cages, each imprisoning ten slaves. These slaves, both men and women, had an impressively profound aura.


    The weakest among them was at the First Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm.


    The strongest were even three powerhouses of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    "This is..."


    Xiao Yi''s pupils shrank slightly, one hundred beings at the Tao Tribulation Realm as the weakest?


    Among those three from the Dharma Manifestation Realm, a man appearing around forty with graying hair exuded a rather eerie presence. Xiao Yi''s eyes narrowed slightly, for this man was at least at the fifth layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Along took a sharp intake of breath, incredulously saying, "How is this possible? How, how could they be here?"


    Xiao Yi turned to Along: "You know them?"


    Gulp!


    Along nodded emphatically, swallowing hard, and said, "These people are all ranked in the top hundred of the Slave Battlefield, especially those three Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouses, each one has achieved over a hundred victories. However, wasn''t it rumored that they regained their freedom? How could they be here¡­"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.


    He had heard from Along about the horrors of the Slave Battlefield, a meat grinder where losing meant death.


    These individuals were ranked among the top hundred on the Slave Battlefield, which was sufficient proof of their strength.


    Especially those three from the Dharma Manifestation Realm¡­


    They had even achieved over a hundred victories.


    "Indeed, those three achieved over a hundred victories. The Tan Family had publicly declared that they regained their freedom and left the Beast Emperor City. In reality, they were taken away by Sha Kun, just like the Slave King. However, unlike the Slave King who chose to submit, these three refused to submit, and thus have been secretly detained in the slave market," Shi Feiya said with a smile as she looked at Xiao Yi, speaking in a low voice, "Xiao, that white-haired man known as Shadow Demon, is an existence that achieved a hundred victories even before the Slave King. Now, his cultivation has reached the fifth layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Yi''s gaze swept over the three individuals, noticing that all of them wore pipa locks on their collarbones.


    These pipa locks could seal their power.


    Making them as ordinary people.


    Unable to exert their powerful combat strength.


    It was for this reason¡­


    That the Tan Family was able to imprison them for so many years.


    Xiao Yi withdrew his gaze, showing great interest as he looked at Shi Feiya: "What does President Shi suggest?"


    Shi Feiya smiled, "This is the surprise I have for you! Your Xiaoshanhe Institute is in the process of rebuilding, it is in need of people, and I believe they can provide great assistance to you!"


    Xiao Yi said playfully, "I''m afraid there''s more to it than just that, isn''t there?"


    "Uh¡­"


    Shi Feiya was taken aback, then she gave a bitter smile, "Nothing escapes you! With the strength of the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce, we truly can''t intimidate those three Shadow Demons, but it would be a pity to kill them. I believe you, Xiao, will certainly be able to subdue them!"


    "President Shi, that is a hard gift to accept! But¡­"


    Xiao Yi smiled, his eyebrows raising slightly, "I do like a challenge!"

 Chapter 338 Hundred Calamities, Three Dharma Aspects!

    "I just love doing challenging things!"


    With an indifferent smile on his face, Xiao Yi walked toward the prisoner carriage where the Shadow Demon and others were.


    Among these more than one hundred slaves, the strongest was the Shadow Demon.


    As long as he subdued the Shadow Demon, why would he worry about other strong ones not submitting?


    Inside the carriage.


    The Shadow Demon sat squarely in the middle, flanked by two other Dharma Manifestation Realm experts.


    One was Zhang Ling of the first level of Dharma Manifestation Realm, and the other was Shu He of the second level.


    The Shadow Demon kept his eyes closed, motionless.


    Shu He looked at Xiao Yi with a playful gaze.


    Boom!


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    Zhang Ling, who had the hottest temper, shook his body violently, slamming against the carriage. His hands desperately clung to the black iron bars, his eyes filled with coldness and resentment, like an enraged lion, "Kid, let us out!"


    Xiao Yi glanced at him but did not respond; his gaze moved past Zhang Ling and fell on the Shadow Demon.


    He whistled at the Shadow Demon.


    Xiao Yi said with a playful tone, "If you''re still alive, squeak!"


    Bang!


    Zhang Ling, shaking the prisoner carriage with rage, glared at Xiao Yi, "You little bastard, who gave you the courage to talk to my brother like that?"


    "If you don''t shut up right now, I''ll make sure you never speak again!" Xiao Yi''s icy gaze fixed on Zhang Ling.


    "With you?"


    Zhang Ling''s face was thick with scorn, and he laughed mockingly, "Kid, don''t think I look down on you. If it wasn''t for this damned pipa lock, one spit from me could drown you. What the hell, a mere Tao Tribulation Realm, and you dare to clamor in front of me?"


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi looked at Zhang Ling with an amused, mocking gaze, "Are you so sure I''m not your opponent?"


    Zhang Ling said proudly, "Isn''t that obvious? You''re just a mere Tao Tribulation Realm, while I am of the Dharma Manifestation Realm. If it wasn''t for this damned pipa lock, I wouldn''t even let you stand in front of me with my power unleashed!"


    "Is that so?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Then let''s give it a try!"


    "Hmm?"


    Zhang Ling was startled.


    At that moment...


    A streak of silver light shot out from between Xiao Yi''s fingers, smashing the pipa lock on Zhang Ling''s shoulder to pieces with a thud.


    Hum!


    The entire prisoner carriage shook violently.


    Following that...


    Countless amounts of qi from heaven and earth gathered crazily, pouring into Zhang Ling''s body.


    "Roar!"


    Zhang Ling was first stunned, then realizing he truly had gained freedom, his face broke into ecstatic joy. He thumped his chest with both arms, emitting hysterical roars as countless qi from heaven and earth furiously gathered.


    His aura also climbed rapidly.


    A fierce wind blew, and the prisoner carriage rattled loudly.


    It lasted for dozens of breaths before finally quieting down.


    Zhang Ling looked at Xiao Yi incredulously, "You, you just set me free, aren''t you afraid I''ll kill you on the spot?"


    "What''s there to be afraid of?"


    Xiao Yi laughed lightly, standing in front of Zhang Ling, he made a welcoming gesture; "The pipa lock has been unlocked, now I''m quite curious to see how you''ll make me unable to stand!"


    "You..."


    Zhang Ling''s face changed colors repeatedly; after hesitating for a moment, he said solemnly, "Kid, considering that you unlocked my shackles, I won''t take your life. If you can''t hold out, just squeak!"


    "Bring it on!"


    Xiao Yi laughed.


    Boom!


    Zhang Ling''s body shook, and an unrivaled oppressive force rolled towards Xiao Yi in an instant.


    This oppressive aura was akin to a great mountain.


    All the Tao Tribulation Realm slaves within the prison cart turned pale, with cold sweat drenching them.


    As for Xiao Yi...


    He remained as calm as a breeze or a gentle cloud.


    Completely unaffected!


    "Hmm? You''ve really got something there. I''ve already used fifty percent of my oppressive power, and you can withstand it? Kid, I''m going to increase it to seventy percent now, you''d better be careful..." Zhang Ling put away his underestimation.


    However...


    Seventy percent still couldn''t shake Xiao Yi.


    "Is this all you''re capable of?" Xiao Yi shook his head and said.


    "Damn it!"


    Zhang Ling''s eyes were a fierce red as he angrily said, "This is what you asked for!"


    Whir!


    The oppressive force climbed again.


    This time, it rose to a full hundred percent, and beads of sweat appeared on Zhang Ling''s forehead: "This time, you won''t be able to resist, right?"


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    Xiao Yi''s calm voice suddenly sounded, causing Zhang Ling''s face to stiffen as he saw Xiao Yi looking relaxed at the Shadow Demon behind him, saying, "Shadow Demon, right? I heard you''re the first to claim a hundred victories on the Slave Battlefield. Don''t you long for freedom?"


    Swish!


    The Shadow Demon, who had been indifferent, suddenly opened his eyes.


    Those were deep and pitch-black eyes, like a night sky without a trace of light.


    His gaze was like an abyssal black hole.


    A single glance could pull you in deep.


    The Shadow Demon stared at Xiao Yi, fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "Freedom? You just want me to submit to you and do your bidding. If I were willing to bow down, I would have already bowed to Sha Kun like that slave king, would I end up in such a state?"


    Xiao Yi calmly said, "I''m different from Sha Kun. If you''re willing to become my companion and join my Xiaoshanhe Institute, just stay at the Xiaoshanhe Institute for ten years. After that, whether you leave or stay, I will not stop you!"


    "Ten years?"


    The Shadow Demon was startled.


    Dharma Manifestation Realm experts lived for more than a thousand years.


    Ten years was merely a fleeting moment.


    He had been imprisoned for several decades!


    The Shadow Demon asked in a deep voice, "How can I trust you?"


    "I am the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute of the Great Qian Dynasty, and I am also the deputy city lord of the Beast Emperor City..."


    Xiao Yi spoke solemnly, "If these titles are not enough for you to trust, I can sign a contract with you, how about that?"


    Listening to their straightforward talk.


    Zhang Ling felt like crying but had no tears: Do I have no dignity at all? We are in the middle of a bet here! You are dealing with my strong oppression, and you just ignore me like this, is that really okay? Do you think this is easy for me?


    Clap, clap!


    Shu He couldn''t stand it anymore, walked forward, patted his shoulder, and sighed, "Third brother, pack up your pitiful oppression!"


    Zhang Ling: "..."


    The Shadow Demon looked at the two, "What about you?"


    Shu He smiled and said, "I listen to big brother!"


    Zhang Ling, with a woebegone face, said, "You call the shots!"


    The Shadow Demon was silent for a moment before stating his condition, "I can sign a contract with you, but my two brothers and I will only follow you for ten years. After ten years, you cannot interfere with our decision to leave or stay. Aside from us three brothers, the same goes for these brothers here; include them in the contract as well, and after ten years, you cannot stop them from leaving."


    "No problem!"


    Xiao Yi agreed readily, summoned Shi Feiya to draft the contract immediately, and also released the zither locks from the two.


    Looking at the nearly a hundred Tao Tribulations and the three Dharmas before him.


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curved slightly upward. With the addition of these people, the Xiaoshanhe Institute finally had the strength to stand up to the top ten sects. As for the ten-year agreement? Xiao Yi didn''t take it to heart at all. With his means, he thought that after ten years, he probably wouldn''t be able to get rid of these people even if he tried!


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes: "The Tournament of Geniuses is about to start; it''s time to go back!"

 Chapter 339 Another Person Joins!

    When Xiao Yi left the slave market,


    a hundred strong followers were trailing behind him, ninety-seven of which were from the Tao Tribulation Realm and three from the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Notably, the Shadow Demon''s cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Fivefold Heaven in the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    He was just one step away from entering the Sixfold Heaven of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    The Shadow Demon''s strength was very powerful.


    However...


    At this moment, the way the Shadow Demon looked at Xiao Yi was filled with reverence.


    Previously, at the slave market, the Shadow Demon had fought with Xiao Yi, and the outcome speaks for itself. This existence, comparable to the so-called Slave King, was forcefully rubbed against the ground by Xiao Yi.


    Since then,


    the Shadow Demon, Zhang Ling, Shu He, and those dozens of ferocious and evil Tao Tribulation Realm slaves dared not underestimate Xiao Yi any longer.


    Let alone challenge his authority!


    "Shadow Demon, you take everyone to the docks to rent a boat, let everyone get on board, order some food, and have a good rest. Later, have Along tell me which boat it is. I''ll make a trip to the city lord''s mansion, and then we can all ride back!" Xiao Yi instructed.


    These slaves had their food and clothing strictly controlled in the slave market.


    Especially these past few days.


    The Tan Family was overthrown, and Sha Kun rebelled; nobody paid any attention to them. They had been starved for days.


    Upon hearing that Xiao Yi was letting them go eat first, their eyes lit up.


    The Shadow Demon nodded, "Thank you, Xiao."


    Xiao Yi waved his hand, gave the Shadow Demon several silver notes, and then went with Shi Feiya to the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce.


    Shi Feiya had already prepared the many medicinal materials, the value of which totaled one hundred billion silver. It took ten storage rings to hold them all. The storage rings alone were worth more than ten billion silver, demonstrating the lengths Shi Feiya went to ingratiate herself with Xiao Yi.


    "Xiao, I heard that in another two months, the Great Qian Dynasty''s imperial family will be holding the ancestral worship ceremony?" Shi Feiya asked.


    Xiao Yi nodded, "What about it? Does President Shi have an interest in taking a trip there?"


    "If Xiao doesn''t mind, Feiya does wish to brazenly go and take a look!" Shi Feiya said with a charming smile, enchanting to anyone who saw it.


    Xiao Yi smiled, "Then I shall await President Shi''s honored visit!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As long as Xiao doesn''t mind Feiya''s bothering you," said Shi Feiya with a smile.


    Xiao Yi exchanged pleasantries for a few moments, then he left.


    Watching his retreating figure,


    Shi Feiya turned to Lin Yuejin standing beside her, her gaze serious, "Send out the order, from now on, any business dealings related to Xiao must go through my approval and be treated with the highest standards!"


    "Understood!"


    Lin Yuejin nodded gravely.


    As he watched Xiao Yi leave, Lin Yuejin replayed the scene from the slave market in his mind.


    With just a slap, Xiao Yi had knocked the Shadow Demon, a fivefold Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator, to the ground. Although the Shadow Demon had been imprisoned for many years and his combat strength had not yet recovered to its peak,


    it was enough to prove the extent of Xiao Yi''s strength and terror.


    What was even more crucial was...


    Xiao Yi had only reached the Eighth Layer Cultivation in the Tao Tribulation Realm!


    What if he broke through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm?


    "Perhaps even Tianjiao can''t compare to him!" Lin Yuejin murmured to himself.


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    Meanwhile,


    Xiao Yi arrived at the residence of the city lord.


    Huang Baitao had already awakened, his whole body reeking of alcohol, listening to Huang Yuwei "educating" him with his head lowered, "Father, you''ve just recovered from a serious illness, and yet you drank so much last night. You even think about becoming sworn brothers with Xiao Yi, can''t you quit drinking?"


    Huang Baitao''s head drooped down.


    The lord of Beast Emperor City, who feared nothing in heaven or earth, only feared this beloved daughter of his.


    Huang Baitao''s eyes lit up, hastily shouting, "Xiao Yi, you''re here?"


    "Ah?"


    Huang Yuwei was momentarily stunned, her pretty face flushed slightly with anger, as she glared fiercely at Huang Baitao. She withdrew her hands from her waist and looked towards Xiao Yi with a gentle smile, "Xiao Yi, how come you''re back?"


    Xiao Yi touched his nose.


    Seeing the way Huang Yuwei scolded Huang Baitao, he felt even more amused and said, "I have come to bid farewell!"


    Huang Yuwei was startled again, and a hint of loss and sadness appeared on her face as she muttered, "So soon, you''re leaving?"


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "The reconstruction of Xiaoshanhe Institute is imminent, and I must hurry back." After a pause, Xiao Yi said with a smile, "Uncle, Yuwei, in two months, it will be the Great Qian Dynasty''s ancestral worship ceremony, which will take place in my Xiaoshanhe Institute. If you don''t mind, you are welcome to come and visit then!"


    "Really? Can we, can we really go?" The gloom on Huang Yuwei''s face vanished in an instant.


    Xiao Yi smiled, "Of course you can!"


    Huang Yuwei quickly turned to Huang Baitao, "Father, we will definitely go then, won''t we?"


    "Naturally, Xiao Yi is our Beast Emperor City''s Vice City Lord. We must go to support him then!"


    Huang Baitao laughed heartily and then cast a mysterious glance at Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, I had guessed that you would be going back, so I arranged for a gift for you!"


    "A gift?"


    Xiao Yi was taken aback.


    Clap, clap!


    Huang Baitao clapped his hands twice, and Huang Zheng and Huang Yi entered from outside the door.


    In front of these two was a white-haired elder.


    This man was none other than the Seven-Star Alchemist Master Yuan from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.


    "This is¡­"


    Xiao Yi looked puzzled.


    Huang Baitao smiled and said, "I have already spoken with Master Yuan. He has agreed to go to Xiaoshanhe Institute to assist you for ten years. After ten years, you can send him back to Beast Emperor City!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi was stunned.


    As he pondered,


    the voice of Huang Baitao echoed in his mind, "Although Master Yuan indeed had dealings with Sha Kun, the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce is not easy to shake, and we cannot kill him. Now that your Xiaoshanhe Institute is being rebuilt, don''t you need more help? Master Yuan is a Seven-Star Alchemist, and his help will be only beneficial to your institute without a single drawback!"


    Xiao Yi looked at Huang Baitao, touched by his gesture.


    A Seven-Star Alchemist! No matter where, such a person is a top-tier existence.


    Huang Baitao could have kept him by his side, but instead, he offered Master Yuan to him. Although it was only for ten years, these ten years could very well bring Xue Bufan into the Seven-Star realm.


    Xiao Yi bowed to Huang Baitao and said solemnly, "Thank you, uncle!"


    "Hahaha, you''re being too polite!"


    Huang Baitao waved his hand dismissively. His gaze fell on Master Yuan, "Master Yuan, once you''re at Xiaoshanhe Institute, follow Xiao Yi''s orders without slackening. I will ensure the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce takes care of you!"


    "City Lord, rest assured, Master Yuan understands what''s important!"


    Master Yuan looked towards Xiao Yi and bowed, "Xiao, I hope for your care in the future!"


    "Master, you''re too courteous!"


    Xiao Yi returned the gesture meticulously.


    The group exchanged pleasantries for a while.


    Along arrived, signaling that the ship was about to set sail.


    Xiao Yi immediately took Along and Master Yuan and headed straight for the docks.


    Before long,


    Xiao Yi was boarding the colossal ten-thousand-meter ship, which was not the same one he had arrived on, but it was just as massive. The Shadow Demons were already resting inside the cabin, and Xiao Yi didn''t want to cause a big stir, so he didn''t call everyone together.


    At this moment, Xiao Yi had not noticed.


    From the moment he appeared on the docks, there were several eyes watching him secretly. When he boarded the ship, two Sky Eagles took off and disappeared into the vast ocean...

 Chapter 340 Meeting with the City Lord!

    Above the endless ocean.


    Huge waves reached for the sky, and the storm raged on ceaselessly, with the blue sea vast and limitless.


    A kilometer-long warship was positioned within the high waves.


    Rising and falling.


    This ship was about half a day''s distance from Linhai City, exactly blocking the essential sailing route for the ships returning from Beast Emperor City. Motionless, it resembled a hunter waiting patiently for his prey.


    On the ship.


    Xue Mantian stood at the bow with his hands clasped behind his back, facing the sea wind without so much as a frown.


    Suddenly.


    His gaze shifted toward the sky, just as a figure glided through the wind and waves, landing on his shoulder.


    Xue Mantian removed the envelope from the eagle''s claw.


    "They''ve already set out?"


    Xue Mantian squinted his eyes, and the envelope in his hand exploded with a bang, "I never imagined that the lad who once seemed no more than an ant could have come this far. However... this time you won''t have the aid of the experts from Baiyu, and I, Xue, will take your head personally!"


    Tap, tap, tap!


    A series of footsteps came from within the cabin.


    It was none other than two experts of the Dharma Manifestation Realm''s second stage, Xu Jinlong from Three Seas Mountain and Ge Ruoyi from Wendao Villa!


    Apart from these three great practitioners of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, on this ship, there were also powerhouses from the Nangong Family, the Beitang Family, and Xue Yilou from the Tao Tribulation Realm. Out of the hundreds of experts, there were as many as thirty from the Tao Tribulation Realm alone.


    Xu Jinlong stepped forward and said, "Xue, we''ve received news that Xiao Yi left Beast Emperor City yesterday and should arrive here in less than half a day!"


    Ge Ruoyi played with a dagger between his fingers and chuckled, "The Nangong Family sure thinks highly of Xiao Yi. The two of us alone could easily dispose of him, yet they even had you, Xue, make a personal appearance!"


    Xue Mantian was at the fourfold peak of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    He was quite a bit stronger than the two of them.


    Xue Mantian said indifferently, "This kid is not that simple; we must not allow any mistakes."


    "Xue, did you once cross paths with Xiao Yi in the Tianqing Kingdom?" Ge Ruoyi asked.


    Xue Mantian glanced at him and said expressionlessly, "It wasn''t quite a confrontation. But, that kid was indeed full of oddities. When I encountered him, he was merely at the Golden Core Realm. But now..."


    A look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.


    Even if he didn''t see Xiao Yi as a threat, Xue was still shocked by his innate talent for cultivation.


    From the Physical Body Realm to the Tao Tribulation Realm in just two short years.


    Such speed of cultivation was utterly astonishing!


    The two men were stunned. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    Ge Ruoyi nodded thoughtfully, "His progression in cultivation is indeed bizarre. The vice villa owner of Wendao Villa personally instructed me to force out his cultivation technique!"


    "And his Alchemy skills are said to be extremely fearsome as well," Xu Jinlong added somberly.


    Xue Mantian said lightly, "Have someone constantly watch the sea, we absolutely can''t let him get away!"


    "Rest assured!"


    "He has no chance of escape!"


    A cold, cruel smile spread across the faces of the three.


    ......


    It would take a full two days to reach Linhai City from Beast Emperor City.


    On the stormy, rain-lashed sea, a ten-kilometer gargantuan ship cut through the waves.


    Boom!


    A deafening roar echoed across the entire ship.


    The tremendously long vessel shook violently and came to an abrupt halt amidst the winds and waves, resulting in a chorus of curses from within the cabin: "What the hell?"


    "Did we hit a reef?"


    "What''s going on? Nearly shook me off the bed..."


    At that moment.


    An icy voice suddenly spread throughout the entire ship: "Xiao Yi, come out and face your death!"


    "Xiao Yi, come out and face your death!"


    "Come out and face your death!"


    The thunderous sounds reverberated through the storm and waves.


    The terrifying presence of the Dharma Manifestation Realm enveloped the ship in an instant.


    The mighty suppressive force of the Dharma Manifestation Realm caused the cursing to cease abruptly.


    People either left the cabin or looked through the windows to see what was happening outside.


    In the midst of the storm.


    Xue Mantian, Ge Ruoyi, and Xu Jinlong, leading a group of three, stood proudly atop the wind and waves, surrounded by hundreds of formidable experts lined up in a row. Just in the Tao Tribulation Realm alone, there were more than thirty people.


    Their momentum was grand, their presence overwhelming.


    The owner of the ship was a lean man, who had also reached the Peak of the Tao Tribulation Realm, but faced with the pressure of the three great Dharma Manifestation figures, his face had gone pale, and he hurried forward, saying, "Jin Yu pays respects to the three seniors, may I ask the esteemed reasons for your visit?"


    "Let Xiao Yi roll out here, or this seat will have everyone on this ship join him in death!" Ge Ruoyi said with an icy expression.


    Jin Yu''s face changed drastically, and he responded quickly, "Seniors, might there be some misunderstanding? There... there''s no one called Xiao Yi on our ship..."


    "Shut up!"


    Xu Jinlong barked, his face full of scorn, "Do you think we have the time to be joking with you?"


    Xue Mantian said indifferently, "Xiao Yi, if you don''t come out now, don''t blame this seat for being ruthless!"


    At that moment.


    From inside the cabin, a series of curses could be heard: "Who is Xiao Yi? Get out there and face death quickly, don''t drag us into this!"


    "Xiao Yi, you get out there yourself, we don''t want to die for you!"


    Amidst the cursing of the crowd.


    Xiao Yi, with his hands behind his back, walked leisurely out from the cabin. Facing the howling wind and pelting rain, Xiao Yi wore an unchanging smile, amusingly watching Xue Mantian and the others suspended in mid-air.


    "Xiao Yi!"


    "You really are here!"


    Xue Mantian''s eyes showed a trace of coldness as he sneered, "Xiao Yi, long time no see, didn''t expect you''d still end up in my hands, did you?"


    Xiao Yi laughed as he glanced at the strong figures surrounding Xue Mantian. Although he was smiling, the killing intent in his eyes was increasingly cold: "Xue Mantian, long time no see! I''ve waited a long time for this day!"


    "Hm?"


    Xue Mantian was taken aback, looking at him puzzled, "You''ve been waiting for this day?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Ever since that day in the Tianqing Kingdom, I''ve been thinking non-stop about personally slaughtering you!"


    "..."


    Xue Mantian was at a loss for words.


    Ge Ruoyi laughed heartily, "Xiao Yi, who gave you the courage to even dream of provoking the Master of Xue Yilou?"


    "Leave aside the Master of Xue Yilou, even we could crush you as easily as crushing an ant!" Xu Jinlong looked at Xiao Yi, shaking his head with a disdainful smile.


    In their eyes...


    Those below Dharma Manifestation are merely ants!


    Xiao Yi wasn''t even at the Dharma Manifestation Realm, how could he possibly be their opponent?


    Xiao Yi cast a glance at Xue Mantian and the others, and said with a smile, "Xue Mantian, to come kill me, this few people you''ve brought just aren''t enough!"


    "Hahaha, that has to be the funniest joke I''ve ever heard in my life!"


    "Xiao Yi, to kill you we have deployed three great Dharma Manifestation figures, more than thirty Tao Tribulation Realm experts, nearly a hundred Golden Core Realm... we''ve already outnumbered you, and yet you say we''re not enough?"


    Xu Jinlong and the others shook their heads with laughter, faces full of mockery.


    Xiao Yi sighed, "This many people and you still talk about overwhelming with numbers? It seems you have a misunderstanding about what overwhelming with numbers truly means!"


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    The group was momentarily taken aback.


    Xiao Yi said with a smile, "Let me teach you what it means to ''overwhelm with numbers''!"


    Snap!


    Xiao Yi slowly snapped his fingers.


    All of a sudden.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    From the cabin, over a hundred figures burst forth at once.


    Leading them were none other than the four Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouses, Shadow Demon, Zhang Ling, Shu He, and Fu Yuan, followed by ninety-eight Tao Tribulation Realm experts, including Along.


    One hundred and two people, lined up behind Xiao Yi.


    Especially the formidable Shadow Demon, at the Fifth Layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm Peak, whose chill seemed to overshadow even Xue Mantian.


    "How, how could there be so many people?"


    "Good heavens! Four great Dharma Manifestations, and all the rest are Tao Tribulation Realm?"


    "Who are all these people?"


    As everyone was in a state of shock and uncertainty.


    Starting with Shadow Demon at the lead, the one hundred and two people turned simultaneously to look at Xiao Yi and spoke in unison, their voices thundering like a storm, eclipsing the sound of the fierce wind and rain, "We greet the Lord of the City!"

 Chapter 341 One Move is Enough!

    "Greetings, City Lord!"


    Over a hundred powerful individuals cried out in unison, their voices thunderous, drowning out the stormy weather.


    Their shouts reverberated between heaven and earth.


    Aboard the giant ship, tens of thousands of strong figures were intimidated by this noise, turning pale and standing agape.


    The three figures of Xue Mantian in the void were also clueless.


    "City Lord?"


    "Where does this City Lord come from? Could it be Huang Baitao, the City Lord of Beast Emperor City?"


    "Is he also on this ship?"


    Everyone looked bewildered, constantly scanning their surroundings, trying to locate this legendary City Lord.


    The three people from Xue Mantian looked at each other in confusion.


    Ge Ruoyi said in a deep voice, "Huang Baitao is a seventh-ranking power in the Dharma Manifestation Realm, and it is said that he had an encounter with the Sea God and condensed the Sea God Dharma Idol. On the ocean, his combat power is nearly on par with a peak Dharma Manifestation Realm expert. If he is here, we must not offend him!"


    "Damn it, who would have thought Huang Baitao would be here. We can''t disturb him. We must make this a quick battle!" Xu Jinlong said, his expression grave.


    Xue Mantian nodded and called out loudly, "I was unaware of Huang''s presence; my offense was unintentional. I, Xue Mantian, am here on orders to capture Xiao Yi, and I had no intention of disturbing the City Lord!"


    "..."


    Yet no one inside the ship responded to him.


    While Xue Mantian was frowning,


    Shadow Demon and the others already stood up, looking at him with strange expressions on their faces.


    Suddenly...


    Xue Mantian''s face violently changed, the corners of his eyes twitching uncontrollably as he looked at Xiao Yi with disbelief.


    Gulp!


    Xue Mantian swallowed hard, a dreadful thought emerging in his mind, and he hastily shook his head: "Impossible, absolutely impossible..." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    At that moment,


    Shadow Demon had already approached Xiao Yi, bowing and saying, "City Lord, this man dares to target your life. Please give the order to execute this criminal!"


    Hum!


    Xue Mantian''s complexion turned ashen.


    Ge Ruoyi and Xu Jinlong stood dumbfounded, their perplexed faces burning as if slapped dozens of times.


    What the hell!


    The City Lord is Xiao Yi?


    Xiao Yi is the City Lord who made the four major Dharma Manifestation experts and nearly a hundred Tao Tribulation experts bow?


    Gulp!


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Ge Ruoyi''s mouth as he tasted bitterness: "I, I must be hallucinating, right?"


    Xu Jinlong glanced at him blankly: "I, I seem to be hallucinating too. They are actually calling Xiao Yi the City Lord? Hehe, isn''t that funny..."


    Xue Mantian: "..."


    Funny my ass!


    Hallucinations my grandpa!


    All of this is real!


    Indeed, they were addressing Xiao Yi as the City Lord, and Xiao Yi was that City Lord whom the four major Dharma Manifestation experts and nearly a hundred Tao Tribulation experts willingly served!


    At this moment...


    Xue Mantian only wanted to flee for his life.


    Even just Shadow Demon alone was enough to make him feel his life was in jeopardy, not to mention the other three high-ranked Dharma Manifestation Realm experts and the nearly a hundred Calamity Realm powerhouses!


    He couldn''t imagine how the young man who could have been crushed by a mere finger not so long ago had in just a little over a year reached a height that he could only look up to.


    Xiao Yi looked on with a playful expression, staring intently at Xue Mantian and said with a smile, "Xue Mantian, Xue, weren''t you going to bully with numbers?"


    "..."


    Xue Mantian felt his face resounding with slaps.


    His face was burning from the metaphorical slaps!


    Xue Mantian said with a dark face, "Xiao Yi, I admit I underestimated you. I never thought that in just over a year, you would have come this far. Today I will take my loss, but the tables will turn. One day, you will fall into my hands!"


    Knowing he was no match, Xue Mantian decisively chose to retreat.


    Just the four major Dharma Manifestation experts were trouble enough for them, let alone nearly a hundred Tao Tribulation experts.


    This time, the attempt to kill Xiao Yi was already impossible!


    "Want to leave now? It''s too late!"


    Xiao Yi gave a cold smile and looked at Shadow Demon, "Leave Xue Mantian for me, kill all the others!"


    "Yes!"


    Shadow Demon nodded vigorously.


    Even he was no match for Xiao Yi, let alone Xue Mantian, a mere fourth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm?


    However...


    Xue Mantian, who was intent on fleeing, stopped in his tracks when he heard this, pointed at himself, and looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief, "What did you say? You want to kill me?"


    Xiao Yi nodded, "Why not?"


    "Interesting, really interesting. Xiao Yi, it seems that not only has your cultivation improved over the years, but you''ve also become completely arrogant. You, a mere Tao Tribulation Realm, think you can kill me? That''s utterly ridiculous. Since you''re determined to seek death, then I shall fulfill your wish!"


    Xue Mantian laughed heartily. He had thought there would be no chance to kill Xiao Yi. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yi was the one who delivered himself to the door. He turned to Ge Ruoyi and the others, "Hold them off, don''t let them get free to help Xiao Yi. Once I''ve killed this lad, we''ll make a quick escape!"


    "Rest assured!"


    "With such arrogance, Master Xue needs to teach him a good lesson!"


    Ge Ruoyi and his companion responded in succession.


    Xue Mantian said with confidence, "Rest assured, within three moves, I will have his head!"


    Looking at the confident Xue Mantian.


    Shadow Demon and the others shook their heads and sighed inwardly, "This idiot!"


    At the same time.


    Xiao Yi had already soared into the sky, confronting Xue Mantian in the air above.


    Xue Mantian said confidently, "Within three moves, I will take your head!"


    "Three moves?"


    Xiao Yi shook his head, a strange expression on his face, "Three moves are too many, one is enough!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xue Mantian was taken aback and then laughed, "It seems you''re not hopelessly arrogant after all, knowing that I only need one move to finish you off!"


    "Wait a minute!"


    Xiao Yi raised his hand to stop the self-satisfied Xue Mantian, saying seriously, "What I mean is, to kill you, I only need one move!"


    Huh?


    Xue Mantian''s face turned from red to white. He was, after all, a formidable fourth-level expert of the Dharma Manifestation Realm and the ninth master of Xue Yilou; even his peers wouldn''t dare claim they could beat him in one move.


    Xiao Yi was merely at the Tao Tribulation Realm.


    And yet he had the audacity to proclaim he could defeat Xue Mantian in one move?


    In Xue Mantian''s view, this was an intolerable humiliation and provocation.


    Xue Mantian laughed angrily, "One move? I shall stand right here, not moving an inch, and see how you can defeat me in one move!"


    "As you wish!"


    Xiao Yi''s smile suddenly vanished from his face.


    Whiz!


    His figure soared into the sky, and as the vital energy within him surged, the sky and earth changed color, and storms raged. Countless gales and thunderbolts fused into the palm of his hand, forming a purple-gold spear out of Wind Thunder.


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi flung his hand.


    The purple-gold spear tore through the void, pulling along a golden trail of light, and headed straight towards Xue Mantian. The terrifying sound, accompanied by booming thunder, approached, and the horror of the energy fluctuation caused Xue Mantian''s smug smile to suddenly freeze.


    His eyes bulged with rage and filled with terror, "This... this power..."


    The might rolling off the purple-gold thunderous spear made Xue Mantian feel the threat of death; light surged around his body, forming a circular energy barrier.


    Shielding himself.


    Simultaneously.


    The purple-gold spear struck swiftly, and with a thunderous explosion, the energy barrier shattered instantly.


    Within the purple-gold light, thunder surged over the spear.


    Splat!


    The spear effortlessly pierced through Xue Mantian''s shoulder.


    Ahhh...


    Xue Mantian screamed miserably as he was thrown backward with the spear, crashing into the sea with a bang. A hundred-foot-high wave rose into the sky, and Xiao Yi hovered in the air, gazing at the sea surface as it returned to calm.


    He reached out with his palm.


    Whoosh!


    A vast whirlpool appeared on the surface of the sea, and a water tornado shot up into the sky. Within that watery vortex, the pale-faced Xue Mantian was grasped by the neck by Xiao Yi and lifted up in front of him, "You, have lost!"

 Chapter 342 My Word Is The Evidence!

    "You lost!"


    Xiao Yi grasped Xue Mantian''s throat with one hand, lifting him to face himself, his expression void of emotion as he spoke.


    The purple-gold lightning spear above Xue Mantian''s shoulder had vanished, but blood continued to gush profusely from the gaping wound.


    His pale face was filled with intense shock and disbelief.


    Staring fixedly at Xiao Yi.


    In his eyes, there was also a hint of sudden realization and confusion.


    Once upon a time...


    Back in the Tianqing Kingdom, Xiao Yi was as insignificant as an ant in his presence, not even capable of resisting. But now, in just a little over a year, Xiao Yi had risen to heights he could only look up to. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pu!


    Xue Mantian''s mouth uncontrollably spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, his eyes crimson as he stared at Xiao Yi, "I, I never imagined that in just a short year, you could become so strong. However, if you dare to kill me, Xue Yilou will never let you off!"


    Xue Yilou, the most formidable assassination organization of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Behind it stood a weighty figure of the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Within the vast ranks of Xue Yilou, even Xue Mantian, who was just the ninth floor''s master, had already reached the fourth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    This meant that there were at least eight others stronger than him.


    It was unquestionably a force that could not be ignored.


    However...


    Xiao Yi, with an expressionless face, said indifferently, "Xue Yilou? If they don''t provoke me, then fine, but if they dare... I''ll kill them one by one, a pair for every pair that comes..."


    Overbearing, confident.


    In this moment, Xiao Yi exuded a disdainful coldness that overlooked everything under the heavens.


    "Xue Mantian, let me send you on your final journey!"


    Xiao Yi''s hand suddenly exerted force.


    Ka-chak!


    Xue Mantian''s head tilted to the side, life extinguished completely.


    At the same time.


    Shadow Demon and the others had also dealt with Zhang Ling and Shu He, as well as the hundreds of strong individuals from various powers.


    Bodies drifted in the sea water, fresh red blood saturating the surrounding area.


    Moving with the waves.


    Stirring up waves of crimson foam.


    Not far away...


    Some beasts eyed them greedily, just waiting for Xiao Yi and his group to leave so they could launch a fierce attack to contest the corpses floating in the water.


    Xiao Yi stepped onto the deck.


    All the powerhouses on the ship shivered, looking at him with awe on their faces.


    Xiao Yi looked at the ship''s master and said indifferently, "Gather up all these bodies!"


    "Yes!"


    The ship''s master, not daring to disobey, immediately sent men to begin collecting the corpses.


    An hour later.


    All the bodies had been retrieved, the ship''s master looked at Xiao Yi uneasily, "Sir, some of the bodies were too fragmented, we could only find some pieces, the rest have been collected!"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, noticing that many of the bodies on the deck were missing arms and legs.


    Zhang Ling touched his nose, his expression awkward, "Xiao, I''m really sorry, I just couldn''t hold it any longer!"


    Zhang Ling had achieved a hundred victories in the Slave Battlefield ten years ago, and after that, he was imprisoned by Sha Kun and spent the last decade in a dark and sunless dungeon.


    Now that he was free, he had finally encountered a fight where he could go all out without any restraint.


    Naturally, he had to vent thoroughly.


    Xiao Yi rolled his eyes and waved his hand, "It''s fine, just remember to be more measured next time!"


    Too much bloodshed is not good!


    Zhang Ling nodded, "Don''t worry, in the future, I''ll try to leave them intact!"


    *Thump*


    The ship''s master''s legs went weak, nearly kneeling on the ground.


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    What the hell!


    What kind of people are these?


    Being more measured means leaving a whole corpse?


    The ship''s master''s head was practically buried in his chest; he dared not lift his eyes to look at these fearsome and threatening figures!


    Xiao Yi glanced at him and ordered, "Tie all these corpses to that small boat; we ourselves will pilot the small boat back!"


    "Ah?"


    The captain was taken aback.


    He had thought that Xiao Yi would ask them to take the small boat and the bodies back, and he was worried about being implicated. To his surprise, Xiao Yi volunteered this request, leaving the captain utterly grateful; he knelt on the ground and said, "Thank you, sir, for your mercy!"


    "This matter has nothing to do with you; there is no need for such actions!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively.


    Then, the group took the bodies of Xue Mantian and the others to the small boat, hanging them around the small ship before sailing towards Linhai City.


    That vast ship, however, followed far behind.


    Half a day later.


    Linhai City appeared in their sight.


    Shu He steered the boat mightily towards Linhai City.


    Linhai is the only port of the Great Qian Dynasty that leads into Beast Emperor City. Countless ships come and go every day; among them are gigantic ships thousands of meters in length.


    Their thousand-meter-long small ship was unremarkable in the port of Linhai City.


    But now...


    As soon as Xiao Yi''s ship appeared, it caused a sensation.


    This sensation spread through the entire Linhai City harbor like a plague: "Look over there, why is that ship tied with so many bodies?"


    "Wait, I recognize that person; he is a strong warrior from Three Seas Mountain!"


    "That is the Taoist robe of Wendao Villa..."


    "Is that person tied at the bow wearing clothes from Xue Yilou? Isn''t that Xue Mantian, the ninth master of Xue Yilou? My heavens, how could he also be dead?"


    The entire dock was boiling over with excitement.


    Astonishment and terror were written all over the faces of countless powerhouses as they looked at each other.


    Fearing they were caught in an illusion.


    Clang clang clang!


    Amidst the sound of clashing metal, a troop of over a thousand people surged into the dock - it was Linhai City''s enforcement military.


    Leading them was none other than the city lord of Linhai City, the second-ranked General Li Bin.


    Li Bin was clad in silver battle armor and riding a Sea Dragon Horse, his eyes filled with gravity. He had only received news of a ship full of corpses entering Linhai City and had immediately come with the enforcement soldiers.


    Not until he saw with his own eyes this little ship teeming with severed heads did Li feel a chill engulfing his body.


    The situation has blown up!


    That was Li Bin''s first reaction.


    He recognized not only Xue Mantian but also Ge Ruoyi.


    The hundreds of corpses on this ship included powerhouses from Three Seas Mountain, Wendao Villa, the Nangong Family, the Beitang Family, and Xue Yilou!


    Which one of them was easy to provoke?


    Rumble!


    The small ship docked at the shore.


    A group of figures walked out from the cabin, with Xiao Yi at the forefront, followed closely by the Shadow Demon, Fu Yuan, Zhang Ling, and Shu He. Then came Along and the other ninety-eight Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses.


    Hiss!


    The appearance of these hundred-plus people, four Dharma Manifestation Realm, and over a hundred Tao Tribulation Realm, seemed to calm the turbulent waters of the harbor.


    Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.


    Sweat poured down Li Bin''s forehead; he too was at the Tao Tribulation Realm Peak, but among this group, there were more than a dozen whose aura was no less than his.


    Especially the Shadow Demon and the other three, each of them was unfathomable to him.


    Gulp!


    Li Bin desperately swallowed, his previous assertive aura completely doused. He stepped forward and said, "City Lord Li Bin of Linhai bids welcome to all the distinguished guests!"


    "City Lord Li!"


    Xiao Yi nodded and said, "I am Xiao Yi!"


    "Xiao Yi?"


    Li Bin was taken aback, his pupils suddenly narrowing, "You, you are Xiao, the head of Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    Xiao Yi hummed affirmatively, then pointing to the corpses of Xue Mantian and others, he spoke indifferently, "These people attacked me and have all been executed. You need not trouble yourself, City Lord Li!"


    "This..."


    Li Bin hesitated. Xiao Yi''s reputation was indeed not weak, but it still didn''t compare to the intimidating power of Xue Yilou, the Nangong Family, and the Beitang Family. In a grave voice, Li Bin said, "Director Xiao, this is a matter of great importance. You say they attacked you, do you have any evidence?"


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes as he scanned Li Bin.


    The Shadow Demon and the others behind him also turned their gaze towards Li Bin.


    Thud!


    Li Bin trembled all over, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, with darkness, despair, and bone-chilling cold enshrouding him.


    He only heard Xiao Yi''s icy voice ringing in his ears, "My word is the evidence!"

 Chapter 343 Taking You to See the Play!

    "My words are evidence!"


    Xiao Yi''s face sported a frosty hue as he stared intently at Li Bin, enunciating each word, "What? Do you have an objection?"


    Gulp!


    Li Bin swallowed reflexively.


    His complexion turned deathly white.


    Under Xiao Yi''s oppressive aura, it felt as if an invisible giant hand was clutching his throat, leaving him unable to make the slightest sound. Even his legs were trembling. He could only muster the strength to stand before Xiao Yi.


    Whew!


    Li Bin let out a long breath of foul air and said somberly, "Director Xiao jests. This subordinate wouldn''t dare have any opinion." After a pause, he asked, "Director Xiao, would you like this subordinate to send someone to help you handle these corpses?"


    "No need!"


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and then looked toward Shadow Demon and the others, "Take down the masts on the ship for me, and hang their corpses on them. We''re heading back to the imperial capital!"


    "Yes!"


    The Shadow Demon and the rest promptly took action.


    The masts were disassembled.


    One by one, corpses were suspended from the masts.


    A total of ten masts.


    Each one hung with more than a dozen bodies, shouldered by two Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses. Xiao Yi swept his gaze over Li Bin and said indifferently, "City Lord Li, I shall take my leave first!"


    Swish!


    A group of figures soared into the sky.


    As he watched the ten masts laden with corpses, Li Bin felt a chill run down his spine and could no longer stand, collapsing to the ground with a thud. Breathing heavily, his pale face was filled with shock and fear, and he looked toward the enforcing soldiers at his side, "Quick, send a message to the imperial capital..."


    He looked up at Xiao Yi and the others, growing distant and disappearing into the void.


    Li Bin realized he was soaked in cold sweat and murmured to himself, "It''s over, this is going to cause major trouble!"


    ...¡­


    In the imperial capital, Xuanwu Square.


    This vast square located in Beicheng was the main battlefield for the Xiaoshanhe Institute''s Genius Battle, set to begin in half an hour.


    But now...


    The grand Xuanwu Square was nearly empty.


    Eerily desolate.


    Hai Wei, Yu Huaxian, and Li Jinjun sat on a high platform, and their expressions were somber.


    Swish!


    Amidst a whooshing sound.


    Ye Heng''s figure appeared in the square. He bowed to the three of them and said solemnly, "Three elders, I have ascertained the situation. Everyone has gone to the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?"


    "The one established by Chen Shuiwen and others?"


    The three Yu Huaxian were taken aback.


    Chen Shuiwen, after leaving the Xiaoshanhe Institute, was set on creating a martial arts academy of his own.


    Through the connections of Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao,


    Chen Shuiwen got in touch with heavyweights such as Three Seas Mountain, Wendao Villa, the Beitang Family, and the Nangong Family. Supported by these giants, Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Villa dispatched experts to populate the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    The Beitang and Nangong families provided herbal and alchemical resources.


    The Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, even before its establishment, had already overshadowed the Xiaoshanhe Institute in terms of influence.


    "They changed their inaugural grand ceremony, originally scheduled seven days from now, to today. Anyone attending the founding ceremony will receive ten pieces of silver as a gift. Right now, the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy has gathered several hundred thousand people, and¡­"


    Ye Heng nodded gravely and continued, "I have just heard that Chen Shuiwen announced that anyone who joins the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy today and becomes its disciple will receive resources for cultivation worth a hundred thousand pieces of silver. Moreover, those with exceptional talent can even become disciples of masters in the Tao Tribulation Realm and even the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Now, everyone is heading there!"


    Hiss!


    Yu Huaxian and the others'' faces changed simultaneously.


    All the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit.


    Just by attending the opening ceremony, one could receive ten Silver, which was hardly different from picking it up for free; naturally, the common folk would head that way.


    Moreover, simply by joining the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy today, one could obtain cultivation resources worth a hundred thousand Silver¡ªthese offerings alone could attract countless powerhouses to give it a try.


    A hundred thousand Silver!


    For many people of modest family background, that was a substantial sum.


    And more importantly...


    They could possibly become disciples under masters of the Tao Tribulation Realm and Dharma Manifestation Realm, a dream coveted by so many, wasn''t it?


    Chen Shuiwen''s move hit the Xiaoshanhe Institute right where it hurt!


    Bang!


    Yu Huaxian slammed his hands hard on the table, his eyes a fiery red: "That bastard Chen Shuiwen, he wants to put an end to our talent competition!"


    "What are we to do now? Before Xiao left, we promised that there would be no issues, but now..." Hai Wei said with a worried face.


    Li Jinjun offered a wry smile, "Shall we... raise the rewards too?"


    This was their first mission after siding with the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    If they messed this up...


    How could they continue to mix in at the Xiaoshanhe Institute in the future?


    Yu Huaxian shook his head: "It''s no use!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiaoshanhe Institute, at best, had the trillion Silver that Xiao Yi won, whereas behind Chen Shuiwen''s Shanhe Martial Arts Academy stood multiple forces like Three Seas Mountain, Wendao Villa, the Beitang Family, and the Nangong Family.


    Any one of these forces was wealthier than the Xiaoshanhe Institute. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire


    In terms of money, resources, and foundation...


    The Xiaoshanhe Institute had no advantage whatsoever.


    As they were pondering...


    A streak of golden light descended from the sky, landing instantly before them. This golden light was none other than Little Lin, who stood upright with a human-like grin, "It looks like you guys are in trouble!"


    "Little Lin?"


    "Why have you come back? Where''s Xiao Yi? Didn''t he return with you?"


    Yu Huaxian and Ye Heng were taken aback, looking around, yet they found no trace of Xiao Yi.


    Little Lin chuckled and scanned Ye Heng, "Little Ye, not bad at all! Already at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Passage Realm. It seems that you haven''t been slacking off in the days I was away!"


    "Uncle Master Little Lin..."


    Ye Heng gave a wry smile, "Shouldn''t we be more worried about other matters right now?"


    Little Lin nodded, "Don''t worry, the boss already knows about the situation here. He sent me to tell you guys, the talent competition is on hold, and he wants you all to go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy to watch the show!"


    "Go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy to watch the show?"


    Yu Huaxian and the others were stunned.


    Ye Heng''s eyes shone, "Is Master at Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?"


    Little Lin nodded.


    Yu Huaxian laughed heartily, the gloom on his face clearing entirely, as he looked at Hai Wei and Li Jinjun, "Let''s go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, we finally get to see Xiao Yi take action personally again!"


    Since they had wiped out the Great Jin Kingdom, it had been some time since he had seen Xiao Yi in action.


    Hai Wei and the others were taken aback.


    Li Jinjun murmured, "Xiao Yi indeed is a real dragon among men, but the forces behind Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are formidable, what good can he do by coming back alone?"


    Little Lin glanced at him, speaking lightly, "You''ll find out soon enough!"


    Everyone promptly headed in the direction of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Each person''s heart was filled with both confusion and anticipation.


    The Xiao Yi, who had created countless miracles before, how would he deal with Shanhe Martial Arts Academy this time?

 Chapter 344 The Mountain Opening Ceremony

    Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Located in the bustling East City, this estate originally belonged to the Nangong Family, which was used to support Chen Shuiwen in establishing the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy to counter the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    The Nangong and Beitang Families bought up more than a dozen other courtyards in the vicinity.


    It is said.


    That just the land in the area where the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is situated cost a total of 500 billion Silver Taels.


    That''s real, genuine silver.


    "This Shanhe Martial Arts Academy really is luxurious!"


    "How could it not be luxurious? I heard that they even invited a seven-star Formation Master from the Tianjian Sect to set up a Spirit Gathering Array. The vitality of heaven and earth inside the academy is five times that of the outside, which has significantly boosted the heaven and earth vitality throughout the entire imperial capital!"


    "This is way more generous than the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    "Isn''t that the truth? That''s why almost all the participants from the previous Talent Battle have rushed over here!"


    "The people from Xiaoshanhe Institute must be crying. They went through so much trouble to hold a Talent Battle, only for no one to show up..."


    Hundreds of thousands of people gathered outside the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, clogging up Xuanwu Avenue so tight that not even water could flow through. Among the crowd, members of the Nangong and Beitang Families occasionally moved through, distributing Silver Taels.


    Anyone willing to come to the opening ceremony of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy would receive ten Silver Taels.


    This gimmick really attracted quite a crowd. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face was alight with excitement as he watched the sea of people outside and smiled at Nangong Shengtian beside him, "Ancestor Nangong, you truly are wise and resourceful! You''ve managed to make the Xiaoshanhe Institute''s doors beg for visitors, by spending just a few million Silver Taels!"


    "Don''t underestimate these ten Silver Taels. People are greedy, and nobody wants to miss out on a pie falling from the sky," Nangong Shengtian said calmly.


    Beitang Feng also laughed scornfully, "To think that Xiao Yi, a boy whose whiskers haven''t even fully grown, would dare to compete with us? He''s simply a moth flying into the flame!"


    Sun Zhengyi stood by with a flattering look on his face, "Chancellor, honored ancestors, the time is almost upon us. We should head to the front and host the opening ceremony!"


    "Hmm!"


    Nangong Sheng nodded his head and made a welcoming gesture to Chen, smiling, "Chancellor Chen, you are today''s star. Please, after you!"


    "Thank you, Ancestor Nangong. Then I won''t be courteous!"


    Chen Shuiwen laughed heartily with a ruddy complexion, striding forward with the vigor of a dragon and the step of a tiger.


    Vital energy radiated wildly from his body, already showing signs of leaking out.


    The Sword Inquiry Taoist watched his receding figure and murmured, "He is truly worthy of that person''s favor; in just a few days, Chen Shuiwen has made such great progress. With his condition, he can already step into the Dharma Manifestation Realm. I suspect he''s been purposely suppressing it until today to make a breakthrough!"


    "That person has controlled Xue Yilou for many years, and his power is certainly not inferior to yours or mine," Yun Ruowang said indifferently.


    Nangong Sheng smiled, "Now that he stands with us, the stronger his power, the better for us." He paused, narrowed his eyes, and shook his head with a sigh, "It''s a pity, though, that we won''t be able to see Xiao Yi''s expression when he sees all this!"


    "In another two or three days, Xue Mantian will probably be able to bring his head back, right?"


    As everyone talked.


    They had arrived at the gate of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    A series of resonant bell tolls suddenly rang out, quieting the noise from the hundreds of thousands of onlookers on Xuanwu Avenue, as they all turned to look toward the huge vermillion gate of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Above the gate, a bright red sash concealed the plaque.


    At the time of the opening ceremony.


    Chen Shuiwen himself would uncover the red cloth, and at that moment, the red gates thundered and slowly swung open.


    "They''re coming out!"


    "Is that Chen Shuiwen, the headmaster of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?"


    "Look behind him; isn''t that Ancestor Nangong Shengtian from the Nangong Family? And Beitang Feng from the Beitang Family..."


    "Those two are Yun Ruowang, the Deputy Sect Master of Three Seas Mountain, and the Sword Inquiry Taoist, the Deputy Master of Wendao Villa!"


    "It seems the rumors are true; the forces behind the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are much stronger than those behind the Xiaoshanhe Institute. Besides, inside the academy, there is even a Heaven and Earth Vitality Gathering Array that boosts vitality by five times. Why bother with the Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    For a moment,


    The crowd was abuzz with excitement.


    "Ahem!"


    Chen Shuiwen cleared his throat, and his voice spread among the people, proclaiming loudly, "Today is the grand opening of our Shanhe Court. First and foremost, I thank you all for coming to witness the event..."


    A series of tedious ramblings.


    "As everyone knows, I, Chen Shuiwen, was once the Deputy Headmaster of the Xiaoshanhe Institute; however, due to the machinations of some petty individuals, I was forced to leave. After my departure, all instructors and over sixty percent of the disciples from the Xiaoshanhe Institute chose to leave with me. To avoid disappointing them, I began preparations for this Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    Chen Shuiwen''s voice grew heavier as he continued, "Your presence here today proves that you trust me, Chen Shuiwen. I assure you that by joining the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, you will be provided with cultivation resources worth one hundred thousand Silver Taels. Those who are exceptionally talented may even have the chance to become disciples of masters in the Tao Tribulation Realm and Dharma Manifestation Realm, gaining access to even more cultivation resources. Ancestor Nangong and the others can vouch for this!"


    Ancestor Nangong Shengtian nodded and said, "My Nangong Family will fully support Headmaster Chen''s Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    Beitang Feng added, "My Beitang Family will fully support Headmaster Chen!"


    Yun Ruowang declared, "Three Seas Mountain will send ten Tao Tribulation Realm cultivators and one Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator to take residence at the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Wendao Villa has decided to send ten cultivators in the Tao Tribulation Realm and one in the Dharma Manifestation Realm to reside in the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!" The Sword Inquiry Taoist, his gaze sharp as a blade, swept over the crowd and said indifferently.


    Boom!


    An ecstatic cheer suddenly erupted among the crowd.


    With just Wendao Villa and Three Seas Mountain, they were supporting the academy with twenty Tao Tribulation Realm and two Dharma Manifestation Realm masters.


    Additionally, the Nangong and Beitang Families were providing pill and medicinal herb resources.


    The teaching faculty and the resources of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy far exceeded those of the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    "I heard that the strongest in the Xiaoshanhe Institute is only at the peak of the Tao Tribulation Realm, and they don''t even have a Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator!"


    "The entire Xiaoshanhe Institute has less than ten people in the Tao Tribulation Realm. How can they even compare?"


    "I was thinking of having my son attend the genius battle at Xiaoshanhe Institute, but now it seems there''s no need to choose. The Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is obviously the right choice..."


    Hearing the discussions among the crowd, the smile on Chen Shuiwen''s face became even brighter.


    "Ladies and gentlemen..."


    Chen Shuiwen, his face aglow with joy, continued to speak, "I would like to express my gratitude here to the Nangong and Beitang Families, Three Seas Mountain, and Wendao Villa for their generous support. At the same time, today, at the grand opening of my Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, I, Chen Shuiwen, have another piece of great news to announce!"


    "Great news?"


    "What on earth could it be?"


    The crowd looked puzzled.


    The corners of Chen Shuiwen''s mouth turned up slightly, and a terrifying aura suddenly surged to the heavens from him.


    His cultivation was climbing rapidly.


    He had reached the pinnacle of the Tao Tribulation Realm Peak, and at the same time, a black cloud began to gather above him. The wind and clouds churned, lightning tumbled, and with a loud laugh, Chen Shuiwen rose slowly into the air, "Today, I, Chen Shuiwen, will step into the Dharma Manifestation Realm. I invite you all to bear witness!"


    "Damn, is Headmaster Chen about to break through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm?"


    "Doesn''t that mean Shanhe Martial Arts Academy will have three great Dharma Manifestation Realm masters presiding over it?"


    Just as everyone was expressing their amazement and Chen Shuiwen was wearing a look of pride, at that moment, a mocking voice came from the void: "Are we here to witness your failed tribulation?"

 Chapter 345 I, Can Help You!

    A sardonic and cold voice suddenly spread throughout heaven and earth.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face, previously filled with self-satisfaction, abruptly froze, his eyes lifted in shock as he turned towards the source of the sound, pupils shrinking abruptly as he exclaimed in disbelief, "Xiao Yi? How could it possibly be you?"


    Within his line of sight.


    Xiao Yi was approaching, walking in mid-air, his hands behind his back, his face carrying a taunting gaze as he looked at Chen Shuiwen.


    At the entrance.


    Nangong Shengtian, Beitang Feng, Sword Inquiry Taoist, and Yun Ruowang were all exchanging unbelieving looks, saying with shock, "How can this be? Could it be that Xue Mantian has failed?"


    "With Xue Mantian''s pinnacle cultivation in the Fourth Layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, plus the help of Zhang Ling and another, how could they possibly fail?"


    "Could it be that they did not encounter Xiao Yi?"


    "Damn, this brat is really lucky!"


    Everyone was seething with irritation.


    In their opinion...


    If Xiao Yi had encountered Xue Mantian and the others, he would surely have only one path¡ªto death.


    Now that Xiao Yi was able to appear here, it must be that Xue Mantian and the others had not met him. At this moment, Nangong Shengtian and the others could not possibly have imagined that Xue Mantian and his compatriots had already perished at Xiao Yi''s hands.


    In mid-air.


    Chen Shuiwen, his face icy, stared at Xiao Yi, his expression had returned to normal, and he laughed coldly, "You really are lucky... But this is also good, to let you see with your own eyes, your Xiaoshanhe Institute being trampled under my feet, this would satisfy the hatred in my heart!"


    "Trample my Xiaoshanhe Institute under your feet? With just you?"


    Xiao Yi laughed, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a thick sneer.


    Chen Shuiwen snorted coldly, saying arrogantly, "Xiao Yi, I admit you are strong and talented, but I now have the backing of Xue Yilou, both the Nangong and Beitang Families, as well as Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Villa. Moreover, I am about to traverse the Heavenly Tribulation and step into the Dharma Manifestation Realm. What do you have to contend with me?"


    "Heavenly Tribulation?"


    Xiao Yi looked up at the tribulation clouds covering ten miles of the sky, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.


    When I broke through to the Tao Tribulation Realm, I drew a Heavenly Tribulation that spanned a hundred miles.


    You''re breaking through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, and you only draw a ten-mile-wide Heavenly Tribulation.


    Why do you feel so proud?


    Chen Shuiwen, observing Xiao Yi''s silence, assumed Xiao Yi was intimidated by the might of the Heavenly Tribulation and straightened his spine, his smile growing more proud, "Xiao Yi, open your eyes wide and see clearly¡ªthis is the might of Dharma Manifestation. Once I achieve Dharma Manifestation, with support from Ancestor Nangong and the others, my Shanhe Martial Arts Academy will surely trample your Xiaoshanhe Institute under its feet. Hahaha..."


    Boom!


    Chen Shuiwen soared into the sky.


    Rumbling!


    Above the heavens, the pitch-black clouds teemed with zigzagging purple-golden lightning.


    Thunderous roars reverberated, deafening to the ears.


    On Xuanwu Avenue, countless citizens who had never seen such a terrifying heavenly might exclaimed in fear, "Is this the Heavenly Tribulation? Chen is able to draw such a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation; his power is indeed formidable!"


    "Chen is about to step into the Dharma Manifestation Realm. With the support of the Nangong Family, the rise of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is within sight!"


    Listening to the praises of the crowd.


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    Chen Shuiwen, full of conceit, bellowed, "Everyone, today is the day I, Chen Shuiwen, overcome the tribulation. Open your eyes wide and watch how I, Chen Shuiwen, defy the heavens..."


    Boom!


    Silver light radiated around Chen Shuiwen, expanding to a hundred feet, as if he were a silver War God himself.


    Swish!


    He leapt into the air, hurtling toward the thunderclouds.


    Watching the lightning roar above, the purple-golden rays within the black clouds flickering uncertainly, the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation brewing, ready to strike.


    But at that moment...


    Xiao Yi''s voice once again reached Chen Shuiwen''s ears, "Since Chen wishes to perform a heaven-defying act for everyone to see, how could I, Xiao Yi, come empty-handed? Let me add a few bricks and mortar to your grand feat!"


    "Hmm?"


    Chen Shuiwen, single-mindedly preparing to traverse his tribulation and showcase his mighty power, stiffened.


    He whipped around, staring incredulously at Xiao Yi.


    A look of terror crept into his eyes.


    Even his voice trembled, "Xiao Yi, what do you want to do?"


    "No good!"


    "Xiao Yi is planning to enhance the power of the heavenly tribulation!"


    "Damn it, we must stop him..."


    "Don''t even think about intervening, if our power is detected by the heavenly tribulation, it will only make its power grow stronger."


    Nangong Shengtian and others turned pale and helpless.


    Beitang Feng growled with rage, "Chen Shuiwen, that idiot, should have found a safe place to hide while undergoing tribulation, but he chose to do it in front of a crowd to show off. This has provided Xiao Yi with an opportunity, yet we can only watch helplessly. What should we do..."


    In order to inaugurate the grand opening ceremony of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, they had exhausted every means and effort to attract all the attention of the imperial capital.


    If Chen Shuiwen could safely get through the tribulation, naturally, it would enhance the prestige.


    But if he failed, it would be disgraceful!


    Hum!


    The aura of the Eighth Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm emanating from Xiao Yi immediately made the heavenly tribulation restless. The roaring sound was deafening, and the purple-gold lightning surged without stopping, causing the clouds of tribulation to swell abruptly.


    From a ten-mile radius, it directly climbed to twenty miles.


    Thirty miles.


    Forty miles...


    It surged to a fifty-mile radius.


    The power of the heavenly tribulation increased by more than fivefold, the terrifying heavenly might caused Chen Shuiwen''s bones to crackle and his body was soaked with cold sweat.


    Gurgle!


    Chen Shuiwen turned deathly pale, "It''s over, it''s over, how can I possibly get through such a tribulation?"


    Boom!


    The first lightning strike of the heavenly tribulation violently descended.


    "Taiji without limits!"


    Chen Shuiwen ran his Qi to its limits throughout his body, forming a Qi Taiji above his head, hoping to fend off the heavenly tribulation.


    Crack!


    The bucket-thick lightning shattered the Qi Taiji.


    The terrible lightning engulfed him in an instant. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wow!


    Chen Shuiwen screamed miserably, his body charred, falling from the sky.


    With a thud, he crashed to the ground.


    In a huge pit, the second bolt of heavenly tribulation struck down violently, and a ghastly scream emerged from within the pit: "Awooo..."


    "Damn it!"


    "Is this a tribulation failure?"


    "How can it not be a failure? Chen Shuiwen''s realm was forced through with the secret techniques of Xue Yilou, and now the tribulation has increased fivefold, how could he withstand it?"


    Nangong Sheng and the others looked at each other, their faces also turning grim.


    And at this moment, they couldn''t even intervene!


    After all.


    That was the heavenly tribulation!


    Fortunately, there was a brief interval before the third lightning, and Chen Shuiwen, covered in soot and spitting blood, climbed out of the pit with a wretched face, emitting a puff of black smoke from his mouth.


    Chen Shuiwen looked at Nangong Shengtian and others: "Ancestor Nangong, help, help me..."


    Nangong Shengtian was powerless to assist: "Sorry, there''s nothing I can do!"


    The Sword Inquiry Taoist and others also had bitter expressions on their faces.


    Watching the purple-gold lightning reaccumulate within the tribulation clouds above, Chen Shuiwen''s face turned green with fright. Just as he was losing all hope, Xiao Yi''s voice reached his ears: "Need help? I can help you!"

 Chapter 346 Sword Slashing the Heavenly Tribulation

    "I can help you!"


    Xiao Yi squatted in front of the pit, smiling as he looked at the Chen Shuiwen before him.


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    On Chen Shuiwen''s pitch-black face, two blood-stained eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Yi, and he sneered, "You? It''d be good enough if you don''t kill me. How could you possibly help me? Besides, this is the Heavenly Tribulation..."


    In Chen Shuiwen''s view,


    It would be good enough if Xiao Yi didn''t kill him.


    How could he possibly help him?


    Besides...


    Nangong Shengtian and the others were powerless against the Heavenly Tribulation''s might. How could Xiao Yi possibly help him?


    At this moment,


    The third thunderbolt from the sky above suddenly descended, a thick, purple-gold lightning bolt coalesced into a mighty dragon, twisting its massive body as it fell from the heavens.


    In an instant, it illuminated half of the sky, seemingly about to strike right behind Xiao Yi.


    In the nick of time,


    Xiao Yi, without turning his head, simply slapped his hand out!


    Hum!


    That terrifying thunderbolt suddenly froze, followed by a surge of peerless elemental power, ascending rebelliously. It enveloped that bolt of lightning and, with a hissing sound, shattered the thick thunderbolt completely.


    Hiss!


    On Xuanwu Avenue, a collective gasp rang out.


    "Impossible!"


    "This is the Heavenly Tribulation! How could Xiao Yi shatter the Heavenly Tribulation with just a slap?"


    "Has the power of the Heavenly Tribulation weakened? No, that''s not right. With nine levels of Heavenly Tribulation, each level is stronger than the last... How did Xiao Yi do it?"


    Everyone was dumbfounded.


    Chen Shuiwen was even more dumbstruck, staring at Xiao Yi in disbelief, "You, you, you..."


    Xiao Yi shook his hand, purple-gold lightning snakes coursing around his palm before they disappeared into his hand. Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Now do you believe that I can help you?"


    Chen Shuiwen showed hesitation on his face.


    Xiao Yi continued, "There are still six more levels of the Heavenly Tribulation to go! You can take your time to think about it!"


    Whoosh!


    Xiao Yi withdrew and retreated quickly.


    Simultaneously...


    The fourth thunderbolt of Heavenly Tribulation fell, its terrifying divine might turning Chen Shuiwen''s complexion ashen. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I refuse to believe that I can''t withstand a thunderbolt that can be destroyed by a slap from that kid!"


    Hum!


    Silver light swirled around Chen Shuiwen''s body, as if he was a giant formed of poured silver.


    In his palm, a purple-gold long knife hummed and slashed towards the thunderbolt. However, when that fifth-grade weapon touched the lightning, there was a loud crack, and the combat knife was cleaved apart and destroyed by the lightning.


    With its impediment gone, the lightning struck Chen Shuiwen directly.


    Boom!


    This bolt of lightning connected heaven and earth, blowing up the area where Chen Shuiwen stood, creating a ten-meter-deep pit in the ground. Spitting out blood, Chen Shuiwen embarrassedly crawled out of the pit.


    Seeing the fifth wave of the Heavenly Tribulation about to descend,


    Chen Shuiwen no longer dared to be arrogant and quickly looked at Xiao Yi, transmitting his voice, "Xiao Yi, save me!"


    Xiao Yi dug at his ear as if he hadn''t heard a thing.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face turned from green to white, fully aware of Xiao Yi''s intentions; he was expected to loudly beg Xiao Yi for help. But doing so would surely damage his reputation!


    The Headmaster of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy asking for help to survive the tribulation?


    Yet his life was at stake now.


    Chen Shuiwen took a deep breath, and under the threat of death, he closed his eyes and bellowed, "Headmaster Xiao, please save me!"


    "Didn''t Headmaster Chen claim he would trample the Xiaoshanhe Institute underfoot? Now he''s actually begging Headmaster Xiao for help?"


    "I thought Headmaster Xiao handled the Heavenly Tribulation very easily earlier. Why is it so difficult when it reaches Headmaster Chen? Could it be that Headmaster Chen is too weak?"


    The surrounding hundreds of thousands of onlookers all turned their eyes to Chen Shuiwen, murmuring amongst themselves.


    Prior to this...


    Chen Shuiwen was as humiliated as he had been arrogant and smug, and at this moment, his face couldn''t have been more scandalized!


    His complexion turned to the ugliest shade, his eyes nearly bleeding tears. He had gone to great lengths and spared no expense to gather these people here, timed perfectly with the day the geniuses'' battle began, for the grand opening of his institution.


    He had hoped to severely dampen the spirits of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, but now everyone was laughing at him instead.


    Chen Shuiwen felt so mortified, he practically wished for death!


    Xiao Yi glanced at him and said coolly, "Is this how you ask someone for help?"


    "I..."


    Chen Shuiwen''s face turned incredibly ugly as the fifth bolt of Heavenly Tribulation struck down, burying him underground once again. This time, he broke four ribs, suffered internal injuries in all organs, and blood spewed from his every orifice.


    If he delayed any further...


    At most, by the seventh strike of the Heavenly Tribulation, his life would be over.


    Out of desperation,


    Chen Shuiwen closed his eyes in despair, tears of humiliation falling, and he fell to his knees with a thud, pulling at his neck with bulging veins, and roared, "Institute Head Xiao, please save me!"


    "Save me..."


    His roar actually drowned out the sound of thunder.


    At the entrance,


    Nangong Shengtian and the others exchanged glances, all seeing the disagreeable expressions on each other''s faces and the disappointment in their eyes.


    All of their meticulous preparations.


    Had been utterly ruined by Chen Shuiwen''s kneeling!


    As he looked at Chen Shuiwen kneeling before him, the corners of Xiao Yi''s mouth lifted slightly. As the sixth heavenly bolt descended, he declared in a loud voice, "Chen, why go through such lengths? Get up quickly, it''s just a minor Heavenly Tribulation. Watch as I help you transcend this tribulation!"


    "A minor Heavenly Tribulation?"


    "Such grand words, I truly want to see how you will help him transcend this tribulation..."


    Nangong Shengtian and the others all turned their attention to Xiao Yi, watching the tribulation clouds that spanned fifty miles across the sky. A sliver of expectation and hope arose in their hearts, "Wouldn''t it be exactly what we wanted if Xiao Yi died under the Heavenly Tribulation?"


    The several hundred thousand spectators were also fixedly watching Xiao Yi.


    How would he deal with the same Heavenly Tribulation that had nearly killed Chen Shuiwen?


    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd.


    Xiao Yi reached to his side with his right hand and commanded sharply, "Sword, come!"


    Humm!


    A fifth-grade Longsword shot out from his Storage Ring, landing in the palm of his hand.


    Xiao Yi gripped the sword with one hand.


    Facing the rolling thunder clouds, he tilted his head back with a cold glint in his eyes and let out a low roar, "A mere Heavenly Tribulation, behold my sword cutting it down!"


    Swish!


    A chill enveloped the blade.


    At this moment...


    Xiao Yi transformed into an invincible Sword God. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Longsword in his hand buzzed, and a terrifying streak of Sword Qi condensed atop the blade, fluctuating erratically like a green galaxy piercing through the void. With a swift motion, it slashed towards the tribulation clouds above.


    Humm!


    With one stroke, the sword''s chill reached across nineteen provinces!


    This sword, as if a mystic sun had descended, lit up the whole imperial city!


    Countless strong men found the Longswords they wore or hung on the walls all buzzing, as if eager to unsheathe themselves, as though thousands of swords sensed the presence of the Sword Ancestor, wishing to pay homage!


    The dreadful Sword Intent made countless experts pale with shock.


    In full view of the crowd, the Sword Qi vanished into the pitch-black tribulation clouds.


    With a thunderous boom...


    Beams of light shot from within the clouds; they were beams of Sword Qi that cleaved the fifty miles of tribulation clouds in half. The violent thunder dissipated abruptly, and the clouds were also torn asunder under the relentless assault of the boundless Sword Qi!


    The Heavenly Tribulation that had nearly sent Chen Shuiwen to his death was shattered by Xiao Yi with a single slash!


    At this moment...


    All eyes on Xiao Yi, apart from shock and awe, were filled with fear...

 Chapter 347 Complete Domination

    Whoosh!


    The calamity clouds were cleaved apart and scattered by Xiao Yi, as if a torrential rain began to pour down from the heavens.


    The rain came swiftly and left just as quickly.


    In the blink of an eye,


    the sky cleared up again with no cloud in sight, and the sun shone brightly.


    However, the people within the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy no longer held the pride and excitement they had before, looking as if they had lost their dear parents.


    It was supposed to be a joyous occasion as their own Institute Director was transcending the heavens'' tribulation and breaking through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    It was an opportunity to bolster the prestige of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    But then Xiao Yi suddenly appeared...


    Not only did Chen Shuiwen fail to withstand a single heavenly thunderbolt, but he also knelt and begged for help in public, losing all face. Now that Xiao Yi had shattered the tribulation with one sword stroke, it was Xiao Yi''s might that reached its peak.


    Looking at the adoration and fervor in the eyes of those tens of thousands of people as they gazed at Xiao Yi,


    the grand ceremony meticulously organized by Chen Shuiwen and the others had largely failed!


    "I see this Chen Shuiwen is nothing special after all!"


    "A heavenly tribulation that Xiao, the Institute Director, could shatter with a single sword, nearly took his life..."


    "This only shows that Chen, the Institute Director, was not as skilled, but that doesn''t prove the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is inferior! After all, with so many powerful forces backing it, even without Chen, the Institute Director, there are still two figures in the Dharma Manifestation Realm and dozens in the Tao Tribulation Realm!"


    "The teaching staff and resources simply cannot be compared to those of the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    Tens of thousands of people were shocked by Xiao Yi''s strength, but the strength of a sect depends more on resources and the number of strong practitioners. A single top martial artist alone can''t sustain an entire sect.


    The crowd was still more optimistic about the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Hearing the crowd''s discussions, Chen Shuiwen''s ash-like heart ignited with hope once more. His body shook as he forcefully suppressed his injuries, restoring a few shades of color to his pitch-black face.


    Quickly changing into a new set of clothes, Chen Shuiwen endured the pain and looked towards the crowd. He did not mention the tribulation, but declared loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, the grand opening of our Shanhe Martial Arts Academy continues. Next up, please welcome Ancestor Nangong to unveil the academy''s plaque for us... Please witness the ceremony!"


    Nangong Shengtian immediately stepped forward.


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    Whoosh!


    With a wave of his hand,


    the red silk was torn off, revealing a plaque with black background and golden characters.


    Inscribed with the lively characters¡ªShanhe Martial Arts Academy!


    Nangong Shengtian swept a cold glance at Xiao Yi and said indifferently, "The Nangong Family congratulates the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy on its grand opening and presents a gift of medicinal pills valued at five hundred billion silver."


    Boom!


    A ripple of astonishment spread through the crowd.


    Medicinal pills worth five hundred billion silver!


    That could cultivate how many strong practitioners?


    Beitang Feng said, "Institute Director Chen is wholeheartedly committed to cultivating more strong practitioners, which deeply moves me. The Beitang Family has decided to donate medicinal herbs valued at five hundred billion silver."


    Wow!


    The crowd boiled over again.


    Another five hundred billion?


    That''s a total of one trillion silver!


    Chen Shuiwen''s face glowed with triumph as the shadows of his failed tribulation completely dissipated. He cast a provocative gaze at Xiao Yi.


    Yun Ruowang said indifferently, "Considering that the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is about to welcome many new disciples and students, the Three Seas Mountain is willing to add ten more Tao Tribulation Realm practitioners, one hundred Golden Core Realm practitioners, and one more Dharma Manifestation Realm figure!"


    "Wendao Villa will do the same!" declared the Sword Inquiry Taoist.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face glowed as he bowed to the supporters, gratefully saying, "Thank you all for your support. I, Chen Shuiwen, promise not to let everyone down! Anyone who joins the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy will definitely receive guidance from the most top-tier practitioners and abundant resources!"


    "Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is truly wealthy and powerful!"


    "With this, the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy will have four Dharma Manifestation Realm experts, over forty Calamity Realm experts, and more than two hundred Golden Core Realm experts. This strength surpasses the Xiaoshanhe Institute countless times over!"


    "Xiaoshanhe Institute only has Xiao Yi, and he''s not even in the Dharma Manifestation Realm. How can they compete with the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?"


    Under the influence of several major powers'' crazy resource-dumping, the impact of Chen Shuiwen''s failed tribulation greatly diminished.


    Chen Shuiwen, with a challenging look at Xiao Yi, boastfully said, "Institute Director Xiao, the people''s eyes are sharp. It seems they trust our Shanhe Martial Arts Academy more after all!"


    Xiao Yi glanced at him, smiled, and said, "Institute Director Chen, you are truly adaptable!"


    "Humph, you only know how to twist words to your favor!"


    Chen Shuiwen snorted coldly, his chin raised arrogantly as he said, "Our Shanhe Martial Arts Academy will have four Dharma Manifestation Realm figures and nearly fifty Calamity Realm strong practitioners. What do you have to compare with me?"


    Xiao Yi replied indifferently, "Institute Director Chen is, after all, a product of my Xiaoshanhe Institute. Since Ancestor Nangong and the others have been so generous, I, Xiao Yi, should not be petty. I have specially prepared a great gift for Institute Director Chen¡ªI hope you will like it!"


    "Hmm?"


    Chen Shuiwen was stunned.


    As he looked at Xiao Yi''s calm face, he suddenly felt a strong sense of unease.


    At that moment...


    Xiao Yi had already snapped his fingers!


    Click!


    The crisp sound echoed through the void.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Figures flew in from afar.


    Taking the lead were the Shadow Demon, Fu Yuan, Zhang Ling, and Shu He. Without any restraint, they released their fluctuating auras, each one of them a master of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Especially the Shadow Demon and Fu Yuan, both of whom possessed the cultivation of the fifth layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    Of course...


    The truly awe-inspiring sight wasn''t these four formidable beings, but rather the mass of people behind them, including Yu Huaxian and others, comprising over a hundred masters of the Tao Tribulation Realm!


    Over a hundred Tao Tribulation Realm masters stood densely packed.


    Without a word.


    Their terrifying presence created an overwhelming pressure, suffocating those nearby.


    It abruptly quelled the whispers and murmurs of the hundreds of thousands of onlookers!


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Under the lead of the Shadow Demon, more than a hundred people knelt on one knee behind Xiao Yi and announced loudly, "Reporting to the Institute Director, the forces of the Xiaoshanhe Institute are here by your command, awaiting your review!"


    Swoosh!


    All faces shifted at once, the crowd looking in disbelief at the group that had suddenly appeared in the void.


    Four Dharma Manifestation masters!


    Over a hundred Tao Tribulation masters!


    Such a terrifying lineup wasn''t something even the ten great sects could easily muster!


    "They, they all belong to the Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    "Since when did the Xiaoshanhe Institute have so many powerful beings? Four Dharma Manifestation Realm masters and over a hundred Tao Tribulation Realm masters, this, this..."


    Shock was written all over everyone''s faces.


    Chen Shuiwen, Nangong Shengtian, and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the shock and disbelief in the other''s eyes.


    The Shanhe Martial Arts Academy too had four Dharma Manifestation masters!


    But those were gathered from the Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Villa, and were either first or second layer Dharma Manifestation Realm masters. Xiao Yi, however, had two fifth layer Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouses!


    As for the Tao Tribulation Realm...


    The two major sects together had only gathered forty people for Chen Shuiwen.


    Xiao Yi, on the other hand, had over a hundred!


    Quantity, quality.


    Both were utterly crushed!


    How the hell were they supposed to compete with this?


    "Thank you for your hard work!"


    Xiao Yi smiled, then introduced, "Director Chen, allow me to introduce them to you. These four are the elders of my Xiaoshanhe Institute, the Shadow Demon at the peak of the fifth layer of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, Fu Yuan, a seven-star Alchemist at the fifth layer, and Zhang Ling and Shu He from the first layer..."


    Hiss!


    Already reeling from the blow, Chen Shuiwen and the others took in another sharp breath.


    Among the two fifth layer Dharma Manifestation Realm masters, one was also a seven-star alchemist?


    In the vast Great Qian Dynasty, each seven-star alchemist was a rare treasure, with only one each in the royal family, the Tianjian Sect, the Treasure Pavilion, and the Nangong Clan. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And now a seven-star alchemist had emerged from the Xiaoshanhe Institute?


    The value of just that one seven-star alchemist far surpassed the ten trillion silver worth of medicine resources of the Nangong and Beitang Families!


    Chen Shuiwen''s face had turned ashen, his expression becoming extremely ugly.


    Today''s inaugural ceremony was supposed to completely crush the Xiaoshanhe Institute, but now, it was the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy that was truly underfoot. Chen Shuiwen felt cold despair, nearing hopelessness.


    The Shanhe Martial Arts Academy had been utterly overpowered by the Xiaoshanhe Institute!


    And yet Xiao Yi''s voice made him feel as though he were falling even deeper into the abyss of despair, "Shadow Demon, why don''t you present our prepared gift to Director Chen and the others?"

 Chapter 348 Coughing Up Blood!

    "Shadow Demon, have you not presented our prepared gift to Principal Chen yet?"


    Xiao Yi turned his head to look at the Shadow Demon and said indifferently.


    This remark immediately caught everyone''s attention, and hundreds of thousands of people looked towards the Shadow Demon en masse.


    Curiosity filled every pair of eyes.


    This Chen Shuiwen was once the Vice Principal of Xiaoshanhe Institute. Now that he has established his own institute, it is clear that he intends to challenge Xiaoshanhe Institute. Xiao Yi had also brought people to the opening ceremony of the mountain to make Chen Shuiwen lose face.


    Under such circumstances, what kind of gift could Xiao Yi possibly send?


    Even Chen Shuiwen was bewildered.


    Without any delay, the Shadow Demon stood up and walked in front of Chen Shuiwen, announcing loudly, "Principal Chen, my Principal Xiao has learned that your Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is hosting the mountain-opening ceremony today and has specially prepared a grand gift for you!"


    Click, click!


    Imitating Xiao Yi''s manner, the Shadow Demon snapped his fingers twice.


    And then...


    Ten Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses lined up in a single row and walked to the front gate of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    The confusion on everyone''s faces intensified.


    What kind of gift would require ten Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses to act together?


    Just at that moment.


    All ten Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses simultaneously raised their right hands and, in unison, gave Chen Shuiwen and the others the middle finger.


    Chen Shuiwen: "..."


    Nangong Shengtian: "..."


    All the onlookers were dumfounded: "..."


    Those ten raised middle fingers stood there provocatively, quite an eyesore!


    "What do you mean by this?" Chen Shuiwen''s face darkened.


    The Shadow Demon laughed, "Don''t be hasty, the gift is only now making its appearance!"


    Whoosh!


    All ten of them emitted blinding vital energy glows from their bodies, which merged into the storage rings, and streaks of light flashed before their eyes. In front of each Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouse, a mast now stood.


    Ten masts, each over ten meters tall.


    All were erected in front of the gate of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Lined up in a row.


    On those masts, corpses were hung one by one.


    Each person had been impaled by the mast, and the naked bodies of over a hundred corpses hung before all to see.


    Upon witnessing this scene, everyone was dumbstruck: "What, what is going on?"


    "Xiao Yi actually sent over a hundred corpses to Chen Shuiwen?"


    "Wait a minute... Look... Those seem to be people from Three Seas Mountain..."


    "That''s from Wendao Villa!"


    "And that''s... Xue Yilou? People from the Nangong & Beitang Families..."


    A series of exclaims erupted one after another.


    Like a flood breaking its banks, they could no longer be contained and spread among the crowd.


    Gulp!


    Chen Shuiwen''s face turned extremely pale.


    Nangong Shengtian, Beitang Feng, the Sword Inquiry Taoist, Yun Ruowang, and others had eyes bloodshot red, struggling to breathe while staring at the corpses hanging from the masts.


    Just a moment before.


    They had thought Xiao Yi was lucky not to have encountered the likes of Xue Mantian.


    But now...


    They finally understood why there had been no word from Xue Mantian.


    They had been killed by Xiao Yi!


    "Xiao Yi..."


    The Sword Inquiry Taoist, with eyes burning red, stared intently at Xiao Yi. The fluctuations of the Dharma Manifestation Realm radiated from him. But just as he was about to take action, the Shadow Demon and Fu Yuan stepped forward together. Although their auras were not as strong as that of the Sword Inquiry Taoist, they still caused his momentum to abruptly falter.


    Xiao Yi stepped out from the crowd, smiling at Chen Shuiwen and the others, "Ladies and gentlemen, do you like my gift?"


    ```


    Gurgle!


    Chen Shuiwen and the others gritted their teeth so hard they wished they could tear Xiao Yi into pieces alive.


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "These people dared to ambush and attempt to kill me in Linhai. Luckily, I have great fortune and barely managed to dodge a calamity. It seems that these few have a close relationship with you, so I have specifically brought back their bodies for you, to lay them to rest properly!"


    Thump!


    Crack!


    Boom!


    Nangong Shengtian and the others were either gritting their teeth, clenching their fists, or seething with rage...


    Each of them was on the verge of losing control.


    However...


    Even though they could arrange for people to assassinate Xiao Yi in secret, they absolutely could not admit it publicly. After all, Xiao Yi was the head of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, personally appointed by Emperor Qian. If they dared to openly send people to assassinate Xiao Yi, it would be a slap in the face of the royal family.


    Although with their strength, even Emperor Qian wouldn''t easily provoke them.


    Still, it was a dishonorable act.


    If it fell into the hands of Emperor Qian, becoming a handle against them, the loss would outweigh the gain.


    The Sword Inquiry Taoist clenched his teeth tightly and said in a deep voice, "Head Xiao is joking, I don''t know these people!"


    Yun Ruowang also said, "These people dare to impersonate our forces, it must be an attempt to provoke discord. Head Xiao, please don''t be fooled!"


    "How could we possibly send someone to assassinate you?"


    "Head Xiao, there must be a misunderstanding here!"


    Everyone spoke in turn.


    "A misunderstanding?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow and with a playful look, which glided over the individuals, said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "I was thinking, all of you are reputable individuals in the Great Qian Dynasty. How could you engage in such lowly acts? Since they''re not your people, I will have to deal with these bodies myself!"


    "This..."


    "Head Xiao, it''s also good for us to keep their bodies!" Yun Ruowang and the others said.


    Not to mention that these bodies served as evidence.


    Just the Martial Dao Divine Fruits from the three Dharma Manifestation Realm and Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses, like Xue Mantian, were treasures of immeasurable value. If they could recollect the bodies and take their Martial Dao Divine Fruits, they could create many powerhouses.


    However.


    "There''s no need to trouble yourselves, as my Xiaoshanhe Institute is about to hold the Genius Battle, and we''re actually in need of some rewards. I hereby announce that the top three winners of the Genius Battle will receive the Martial Dao Divine Fruits from these three Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouses, and the top twenty will receive this Tao Tribulation Realm Martial Dao Divine Fruit!"


    Xiao Yi interrupted Yun Ruowang and the others'' wishful thinking with an air of righteousness, then turned to look at the several hundred thousand powerhouses and announced loudly, "As all of you can see, my Xiaoshanhe Institute has four Dharma Manifestation Realm powerhouses, over a hundred Tao Tribulation Realm powerhouses, a Seven-Star Alchemist, and two Six-Star Array Masters. Moreover, my Xiaoshanhe Institute has established cooperation with the Treasure Pavilion. As long as the disciples of my institute have sufficient talent and cultivation, we will not limit the supply of medicinal pills!"


    Boom!


    These words, like oil on fire, instantly ignited the crowd.


    The sea of people roiled, and shouts resounded to the skies.


    "Top three get Dharma Manifestation Realm Martial Dao Divine Fruit, top twenty get Tao Tribulation Realm Martial Dao Divine Fruit... with such rewards, who needs the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy?" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "As long as we have enough talent and strength, they won''t limit the supply of medicinal pills, can it be possible?"


    "What''s impossible? Xiaoshanhe Institute has a cooperation with the Treasure Pavilion, plus that Master Fu Yuan, means Xiaoshanhe Institute has two Seven-Star Alchemists. Medicinal pills are nothing to them!"


    "Hurry and go sign up for the Genius Battle!"


    "I must join Xiaoshanhe Institute..."


    In an instant.


    Among the several hundred thousand people present, there was a tumultuous uproar, fluctuating like waves one after another. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Listening to the crowd''s shouting and talking.


    The faces of Chen Shuiwen''s group were as dark as the bottom of a pot, and they watched helplessly as powerhouse after powerhouse left the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, signifying that the plans they had spent countless resources constructing over these days, had already been defeated.


    Xiao Yi looked towards Yu Huaxian in the crowd and said, "What are you still standing around for? Didn''t you see that everyone is going to participate in the Genius Battle? Go and get ready!"


    "Ah? Right away!"


    Yu Huaxian promptly nodded and led people away into the sky.


    The stream of people also turned into a black steel torrent, heading towards Xuanwu Square.


    Xiao Yi gave a fist salute to Chen Shuiwen, "Head Chen, I won''t disturb your opening ceremony anymore. I wish your Shanhe Martial Arts Academy a thriving influx of students and talent that astonishes the world, ha ha ha!"


    "Xiao Yi, I will not share the sky with you..."


    Chen Shuiwen''s face turned from red to white, anger causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, and he fainted dead away...


    ```

 Chapter 349 Battle of Genius

    The vast Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, deserted.


    Apart from Chen Shuiwen and his enthusiastic entourage, everyone had left the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy to converge towards Xuanwu Square.


    Chen Shuiwen had hoped to use the grand opening ceremony to disrupt the battle of talents at the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    It was also a powerful declaration of the establishment of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    For this purpose...


    They had not only spent a great deal of resources but also promised generous compensation.


    Chen Shuiwen himself had been forcefully suppressing the timing of his breakthrough, all to pass through heavenly tribulation with an overwhelmingly strong stance during the grand opening ceremony, and step into the Dharma Manifestation Realm to boost the prestige of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Unfortunately.


    Reality and fantasy always have a huge gap!


    Not only did Xiao Yi''s appearance turn his tribulation into a joke, but even his own cultivation had failed to enter the Dharma Manifestation Realm. With his current state, if he wanted to enter the Dharma Manifestation Realm again, he would likely have to wait several more years.


    If Chen Shuiwen was the only one who failed, the impact on the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy would not be too great.


    After all.


    Nangong, Beitang, Three Seas Mountain, and Wendao Villa had promised to send experts to support the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, which included several in the Dharma Manifestation Realm and dozens from the Tao Tribulation Realm!


    Such a formidable lineup of experts could barely rival any of the top ten sects.


    As a result...


    Xiao Yi directly brought over a hundred from the Tao Tribulation Realm and four from the Dharma Manifestation Realm, among them even a seven-star Alchemist.


    In both quantity and quality, he thoroughly crushed the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Just when Chen Shuiwen thought everything was over, Xiao Yi dropped another bombshell; the corpses of Xue Mantian and others became the final straw that broke the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    The corpses of Xue Mantian and the others not only severely slapped the face of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Xiao Yi even used their Martial Dao Divine Fruits as rewards, attracting countless talented experts who wished to join the Xiaoshanhe Institute. These were the Martial Dao Divine Fruits of the Dharma Manifestation Realm and Tao Tribulation Realm!


    If one could obtain it, it would be more important than acquiring resources worth hundreds of billions of Silver!


    What''s more...


    All those people were sent by Chen Shuiwen and his allies!


    Nangong Shengtian and the others looked at the comatose Chen Shuiwen with extremely ugly expressions. Strictly speaking, it was they who had handed over the Martial Dao Divine Fruits of Xue Mantian and others directly to Xiao Yi!


    "Ancestor Nangong, do make a decision. What should we do?" Yun Ruowang said gravely.


    The Sword Inquiry Taoist narrowed his eyes, his Sword Intent was earth-shattering, and his rage was no less intense than his Sword Intent, "Where did Xiao Yi get those experts from? A seven-star Alchemist, four from the Dharma Manifestation Realm, over a hundred from the Tao Tribulation Realm, that''s no small lineup!"


    "I see that those people are suffused with Evil Qi, and Xiao Yi has just come back from Beast Emperor City. I''m afraid they are all the experts he garnered from Beast Emperor City," Beitang Feng said darkly, pondering.


    All eyes turned to Nangong Shengtian.


    The capital they had invested in the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy was substantial. If it all fell through now, they would suffer complete losses.


    Nangong Shengtian squinted his eyes and said, "No matter, we still have one opportunity left!"


    "Hm?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crowd looked at him expectantly.


    Nangong Shengtian''s eyes radiated a chilling glint, his gaze cold to the extreme as he sneered, "In less than two months, it will be the Ancestral Worship Ceremony. As long as the disciples of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy can trample the people of the Xiaoshanhe Institute underfoot during the ceremony, there''s still hope for the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    "Ancestor Nangong, given the current state of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, how is it possible to trample the Xiaoshanhe Institute underfoot?"


    "The strongest among the disciples of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are only at the peak of the Golden Core Realm..."


    Nangong Shengtian smiled coldly and said lightly, "If we can support the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy with those in the Calamity Realm and Dharma Manifestation Realm, are we lacking in disciples?"


    Hum!


    The crowd exchanged glances.


    Yun Ruowang said in a deep voice, "Let''s do it just like that!"


    "We must trample the Xiaoshanhe Institute beneath our feet!"


    Clutching his fists tightly, Nangong Shengtian looked toward the direction of Xuanwu Square, his eyes filled with a gloomy madness, "Xiao Yi, daring to oppose me, you are still too inexperienced!"


    ...


    Xuanwu Square.


    The square was vast and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people without feeling crowded.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the great day of the genius battle at our Xiaoshanhe Institute. As Xiao mentioned before, the top three of this genius battle will each get a Martial Dao Enlightenment Fruit of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, while the top twenty will each get a Martial Dao Divine Fruit of the Tao Tribulation Realm."


    The Xiaoshanhe Institute had long set up a ring, and Yu Huaxian appeared in the center, announcing with an elevated voice, "All other disciples who pass the genius battle and enter our Xiaoshanhe Institute will receive great benefits. Next, please come forward to collect your Identity Tokens, the genius battle of our Xiaoshanhe Institute is about to begin!"


    Rustle!


    Figures surged out from the crowd to collect their Identity Tokens.


    A total of thirty thousand Tokens were distributed for this genius battle, and the last ten thousand people remaining would enter the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    At the same time...


    This genius battle would also rank the top one hundred, with rich rewards for each rank.


    After the incident in front of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, the number of warriors willing to join the Xiaoshanhe Institute had multiplied, and the thirty thousand Tokens were quickly distributed.


    Yu Huaxian immediately began arranging the matches, and pairs of powerful fighters took to the ring, where the situation changed in a split second.


    On the elevated platform.


    Xiao Yi sat upright, watching the competitors on the ring, and nodded slightly, "Not bad, the quality of these disciples is quite good. If they are well-trained, they can absolutely support the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    "Director, there is less than two months left until the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, I''m afraid we might not have enough time," Hai Wei said, his expression hesitant with concern.


    Li Jinjun nodded and said, "Based on what I know about Nangong Shengtian and the others, they will definitely not stop here. It is likely that the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy will cause trouble during the Ancestor Worship Ceremony."


    Xiao Yi waved his hand and said with a smile, "Don''t worry, I have my own strategy!"


    After all, he had the Elixir of Immortality at his disposal.


    This Divine Artifact, capable of enhancing refining efficiency, had a refining effect a hundredfold greater; two months with the aid of the Elixir of Immortality was equivalent to two hundred months.


    That was nearly twenty years!


    It was completely enough for the disciples of the Xiaoshanhe Institute to increase their cultivation by several levels!


    "By the way, how is everything going with the Treasure Pavilion?" Xiao Yi asked, looking at Li Jinjun.


    Li Jinjun replied gravely, "The first batch of elixirs from the Treasure Pavilion has already been delivered to various places. However, since you have not returned, Master Nalan and Elder Xue have not launched an attack immediately."


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Without his return, the supply of medicinal materials not being secure, the Treasure Pavilion dared not rashly launch an attack.


    Once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back.


    If they start the encirclement against the Nangong and Beitang Family''s elixir shops only to have the supply of medicinal materials cut off mid-way, they would face the two families'' furious counterattack. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    The corners of Xiao Yi''s mouth turned up slightly, and a cold light flickered in his eyes as he said, "Li Jinjun, take Elder Fu to the Treasure Pavilion, and tell Master Nalan to begin the attack!"


    "Yes!"


    With respect, Hai Wei and Fu Yuan set off towards the Treasure Pavilion.


    Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, looking down at the heated ring below and revealing a chilling smile, "Nangong, Beitang... your end has come!"

 Chapter 350 Is This Also Inspired by Xiao?

    Inside Treasure Pavilion.


    Nalan Qianqiu, Xue Bufan, and Yan Mingli exchanged glances, their faces troubled, "When can Xiao return? Our stock of medicinal materials has run out!"


    "The first batch of elixirs has already been delivered to the Treasure Pavilions across the Great Qian Dynasty, just waiting for the order to ignite this price war. But if the follow-up materials can''t keep up, there''s no way to start the battle!" Nalan Qianqiu said with a bitter smile.


    Right at this moment.


    Ning Luo hurried in with a look of excitement, "Master, Xiao has sent someone!"


    "Hmm?"


    Nalan Qianqiu was startled, his face breaking into ecstatic joy, "Quickly, invite them in!"


    A moment later.


    Li Jinjun arrived in front of the group with Fu Yuan.


    Li Jinjun greeted everyone with a bow, showing no disrespect even though Yan Mingli''s martial arts prowess fell far short of his, "Jinjun pays respects to the sirs, the headmaster sent me to assist you with Master Yuan!"


    "Fu Yuan?"


    "The only seven-star alchemist, Master Yuan, from Beast Emperor City?"


    Nalan Qianqiu''s complexion changed dramatically, his incredulous gaze falling upon Fu Yuan. Taking two steps at once, he approached Fu Yuan and burst into laughter, "Hahaha, Fu Yuan, it is indeed you!"


    The two embraced each other, patting each other on the back.


    Fu Yuan''s face was filled with emotion, "Qianqiu, it''s been many years; you haven''t changed a bit!"


    "But you have aged a lot!"


    Nalan Qianqiu laughed heartily, his face showing a hint of confusion as he asked, "Old fellow, when I asked you to join my Treasure Pavilion, you refused to budge. Why have you come now?"


    Fu Yuan let out a sigh, "Don''t mention it!"


    He then recounted his misadventure in Beast Emperor City, how he mistakenly threw in his lot with Sha Kun, which almost resulted in the destruction of the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Commerce, and finally, how he traded ten years of loyalty to ensure the Chamber''s survival to Nalan Qianqiu.


    Fu Yuan''s face bore a bitter smile, "Now, I am just waiting for this ten-year period to end, and then I can regain my freedom!"


    Nalan Qianqiu was taken aback and gave Fu Yuan a strange look, "Are you sure that after ten years you will leave?"


    "Hmm?"


    Fu Yuan was puzzled as he looked at Nalan Qianqiu, saying somewhat annoyed, "After ten years, if not leave, should I continue to stay here?"


    Nalan Qianqiu coughed lightly and said, "I advise you not to leave; follow Xiao''s footsteps closely instead!"


    "Hmm? What do you mean by that?"


    Fu Yuan frowned, displeasure on his face, and said haughtily, "I am a distinguished seven-star alchemist; if it weren''t for Huang''s face, Xiao Yi wouldn''t have the capacity to request my presence at the Xiaoshanhe Institute."


    Yan Mingli sneered, "Thinking too highly of yourself? It''s as if Xiao was begging you to come!"


    Xue Bufan also showed disdain, "Having the opportunity to be by Xiao''s side is a fortune for you!"


    "Ridiculous, do you know who I am? How dare you speak to me like this?"


    Fu Yuan''s face darkened; he had not, like the Shadow Demon and others, witnessed Xiao Yi''s terrifying side. Moreover, as a seven-star alchemist, unless someone could surpass him in alchemy, it was impossible for them to earn his respect, "I acknowledge Xiao Yi''s martial arts talent is strong, but in terms of alchemy..."


    Before he could finish.


    Nalan Qianqiu, touching his nose, interjected, "In terms of alchemy, you are even less a match for Xiao!"


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    Fu Yuan''s face stiffened, his expression one of disbelief as he turned to Nalan Qianqiu, "Qianqiu, do you know what you''re saying? I am inferior to him? You''re joking..."


    "Fu Yuan, what do you think of me?" Nalan Qianqiu asked.


    Fu Yuan slightly furrowed his brow.


    Having known Nalan Qianqiu for many years, he was aware that Nalan Qianqiu''s talent and strength in alchemy were on par with his own.


    Fu Yuan said in a deep voice, "You and I are on par."


    "That was in the past!"


    Nalan Qianqiu responded and then took out a bottle of elixir from the side and handed it to Fu Yuan, "Take a look at these elixirs!"


    "Hmm? Aren''t these just Three-Star Elixir Shen Yi Elixirs? Are you still making such low-level... Eh? Wait, these, these elixirs..."


    The disdain and contempt on Fu Yuan''s face crumbled as he looked at the elixirs poured onto his palm; his face went through cycles of pallor and flush, constantly changing: "This, this is impossible... All of these thirty-plus elixirs are from the same batch? And, and the quality is so pure? All of them are of top-grade quality?"


    Even with the current level of Fu Yuan''s alchemy skills, when making Shen Yi Elixirs, a batch would at most yield twenty elixirs, and it would be considered an exceptional performance if half of them were top-grade.


    But the batch in his hands actually had more than thirty, and all of them were of top-grade quality!


    To achieve such an effect,


    only an alchemy level surpassing his own by an entire rank could explain it!


    Fu Yuan looked at Nalan Qianqiu solemnly, his breathing hastening, "Qianqiu, could it be that an Eight-Star Alchemy Grandmaster has made these? Where is that Grandmaster? Can you introduce me?"


    Nalan Qianqiu sighed, pointing to himself, "I made these elixirs!"


    "Ah?"


    Fu Yuan was startled and frowned, "Don''t joke with me, how could I not know your level?" He paused for a moment, and then Fu Yuan understood, "I see now, you must have received guidance from an Eight-Star Alchemy Grandmaster, right?"


    Nalan Qianqiu smiled bitterly, "Indeed, it was me, but it wasn''t under the guidance of an Eight-Star Alchemy Grandmaster, but Xiao."


    "What?"


    Fu Yuan''s face stiffened.


    Xiao Yi?


    He shook his head like a rattle-drum, "Qianqiu, I know Xiao is gifted in martial arts, but alchemy is entirely different from martial arts. How old is he? How can he master both..."


    He absolutely refused to believe that Xiao Yi, who was merely twenty years old, could be stronger than him in alchemy!


    Nalan Qianqiu sighed, pointing to Yan Mingli and Xue Bufan standing behind him, "How about these two?"


    "Them?"


    Fu Yuan wrinkled his eyebrows, directly disregarding Yan Mingli, who was merely at the Golden Core Realm, and said to Xue Bufan, "This one is indeed promising, and he might be able to reach a Seven-Star level in the future, but whether he can reach our heights depends on his opportunities!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking.


    Xue Bufan and Yan Mingli both took out a medicinal bottle and poured out the elixirs inside.


    The same Shen Yi Elixirs.


    Xue Bufan''s bottle contained twenty-eight, all of them top-grade.


    Yan Mingli had slightly fewer, only twenty-two, but they were also all of top-grade quality.


    Nalan Qianqiu said in a grave voice, "These elixirs were all personally crafted by them."


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    "These, were these also guided by Xiao?"


    Fu Yuan looked dumbfounded, completely baffled.


    Even with his skills in making Shen Yi Elixirs, a successful batch would yield a maximum of twenty elixirs, with half being top-grade at best. But now, even Yan Mingli, who was at the Golden Core Realm, had surpassed him?


    Nalan Qianqiu and the other two looked at him with sympathy, nodding in unison.


    Gulp!


    Fu Yuan swallowed hard.


    Remembering his earlier disdain and contempt for Xiao Yi in the field of alchemy, he felt his face burning as if he had just been slapped dozens of times...

 Chapter 351 Thoroughly Convinced

    Before arriving at the Great Qian Dynasty.


    Fu Yuan''s sole intention had been to do just enough to get by, hoping only to endure these painful ten years so he could regain his freedom.


    But now...


    Facing his old friend Nalan Qianqiu and those who were far inferior to him, Yan Mingli and Xue Bufan, had Fu Yuan really become the worst Alchemist among them?


    Of course.


    This was only in terms of concocting low-grade medicinal pills; if it was about creating seventh-grade pills, he would naturally be far superior to both Yan Mingli and Xue Bufan.


    After all.


    Their cultivation levels limited them from concocting such high-grade medicinal pills.


    But those who truly understood Alchemy wouldn''t take the ability to concoct the highest-grade pills as the only standard; the success rate and the rate of producing top-quality pills for the same level of pills were the real criteria for measuring an Alchemist''s skill.


    Take the Shen Yi Elixir, for example.


    Even now, as a seven-star Alchemist, Fu Yuan could at most produce twenty elixirs in a single batch, and having half of them be of top-quality was already an exceptional performance.


    Yet, even at his best, his success rate and top-quality rate still didn''t match those of the four-star Alchemist, Yan Mingli!


    Gurgle!


    Fu Yuan swallowed hard and stared at Nalan Qianqiu, saying gravely, "Qianqiu, does Xiao ever come to the Treasure Pavilion?"


    Nalan Qianqiu was taken aback and shook his head, "Xiao seldom comes here."


    A trace of disappointment appeared on Fu Yuan''s face.


    Nalan Qianqiu smiled and said, "Fu Yuan, do you want to wait for Xiao to give you guidance?"


    "This..."


    Fu Yuan''s face stiffened, remembering his previous disdain for Xiao Yi. Now he was desperately eager for Xiao Yi''s guidance, which made him feel quite embarrassed. He managed a wry smile and said, "Just, just to discuss, I guess!"


    "Hahaha!"


    Nalan Qianqiu laughed and shook his head, patting his shoulder, "No need to be embarrassed. Xiao is like the starry sky, profound beyond our comprehension as mere mortals. We simply cannot fathom how vast the heavens are. Don''t you just want to learn Xiao''s Alchemy techniques? Let little Yan teach you!"


    "Uh... him?"


    Fu Yuan was taken aback.


    He had assumed Nalan Qianqiu would personally give him guidance, not that he would ask Yan Mingli to instruct him?


    How could a mere four-star Alchemist give pointers to him, a mighty seven-star Alchemist?


    Nalan Qianqiu said with a smile, "Just give it a try!"


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    Fu Yuan nodded and turned to Yan Mingli, "Brother Mingli, I''ll be in your care!"


    "Master Fu, you''re too kind!"


    Yan Mingli smiled meticulously, then took out some herbs and began to demonstrate and instruct Fu Yuan. At first, Fu Yuan wore a look of scorn on his face, but as Yan Mingli began Alchemy.


    His expression kept changing.


    From initial disdain and contempt, he became serious and solemn.


    He watched every move of Yan Mingli''s without blinking.


    Now frowning, now exclaiming, now bewildered...


    "Is it really possible to do it this way?"


    "Damn, such a subtle technique, could it really be conceived by a mortal?"


    "Terrifying, truly terrifying..."


    All of Fu Yuan''s pride dissipated.


    He looked at Yan Mingli with a face full of shock, and suddenly, with a humming sound, the Pill Furnace abruptly opened. A fragrance of medicine wafted out; it was the Shen Yi Elixir again, and this time Yan Mingli had indeed outperformed himself.


    There were twenty-nine elixirs, with twenty-eight of top-quality.


    The remaining one was also of high quality.


    Yan Mingli smiled and said, "Xiao left in a hurry at that time, just giving me one session of guidance. There are many areas where I still don''t measure up, please forgive me, Master Fu!"


    "..."


    Fu Yuan''s face was a picture of shock.


    To achieve such astonishing results from just one piece of advice?


    Just how terrifying was Xiao Yi''s mastery in the field of alchemy?


    Gulp!


    Fu Yuan swallowed hard, his eyes brimming with excitement as he looked at Nalan Qianqiu, "Qianqiu, if Xiao personally does the alchemy, what''s the success rate for forming pills? And the rate for producing top-quality ones?"


    Nalan Qianqiu was taken aback and said, "The success rate is over thirty percent, all top-quality..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence.


    Fu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "If that''s the case, I can accept it."


    In his opinion, after all, even Nalan Qianqiu could achieve over thirty percent success, all top-quality, and with more practice, Fu Yuan was confident he could catch up to, and even surpass, Xiao Yi.


    After all.


    He had learned quite a few exquisite techniques and skills from the earlier demonstration by Yan Mingli.


    Just as Fu Yuan was feeling self-satisfied.


    Nalan Qianqiu coughed lightly, "I haven''t finished yet! Such success and top-quality rates were achieved by Xiao while refining fourteen batches of pills at the same time. After all, Xiao himself said he wasn''t a professional alchemist, and it was rare to see him give his all..."


    "..."


    Fu Yuan was dumbstruck, the medicine bottle in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, and he blinked, "What, what the hell? Refining fourteen batches at the same time? You''re not joking with me, right? Refining fourteen batches at the same time?"


    "We saw it with our own eyes!"


    "Fourteen furnaces, each one containing different pills..."


    In the alchemy room, Ning Luo and the others also nodded in unison.


    Hisss!


    Fu Yuan''s hand trembled, and he couldn''t help but take a sharp breath.


    Just the thought of achieving such success and top-quality rates with one batch of pills had already amazed him. And Xiao Yi could control fourteen batches at once?


    You should know...


    Fu Yuan himself could multitask, but he could at most control three pill furnaces.


    And he could not guarantee success and top-quality rates.


    Controlling fourteen pill furnaces at once, let alone seeing it, he had never even heard of it!


    At this moment.


    All the arrogance Fu Yuan had been carrying vanished without a trace, and the image of Xiao Yi surfaced in his mind, murmuring to himself, "There is always someone better, heaven beyond the heavens, the ancients truly did not deceive me."


    Seeing Fu Yuan completely convinced, and even showing unconscious admiration and fervor on his face when mentioning Xiao Yi.


    Li Jinjun sighed inwardly, "Truly worthy of being Xiao, he didn''t even need to make an appearance himself, and he had already completely subdued the proud Seven-Star Alchemist. Who could compare with such means?"


    At this moment.


    Xiao Yi, who was actually sitting at Xuanwu Square, had no idea that he had just made Fu Yuan run errands with medicinal materials to Nalan Qianqiu, and it turned into a personal show-off session!


    He utterly suppressed this proud Seven-Star Alchemist!


    In the alchemy room.


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    Fu Yuan put aside his arrogance, and his attitude became much more humble as he looked at Nalan Qianqiu, "Qianqiu, Xiao asked me to bring these medicinal materials over, and all these ten storage rings are full of them. By the way, what does Xiao need so many medicinal materials for?"


    Ten storage rings fell into Nalan Qianqiu''s hands.


    Looking at the storage rings in his hand and briefly inspecting them, he saw an accumulation of medicinal materials like a mountain inside.


    You should know...


    These medicinal materials represented goods worth a hundred billion silver after being discounted by thirty percent from the market price by the Hundred Herbs Chamber of Commerce. At regular prices, it would be equivalent to three to four hundred billion silver to gather this many materials.


    Even the storages of the Beitang Family might not have this much!


    Nalan Qianqiu''s face lit up with extreme joy, "Great, with these materials supplied, we can finally launch a full-scale offensive in our price war against Nangong and the Beitang Family!"

 Chapter 352 Something Big Happened!

    The Imperial City.


    Above Vermilion Bird Avenue.


    There are a total of four grand avenues in the Imperial City: Vermilion Bird, Xuanwu, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger. They crisscross each other, running through the entire Imperial City.


    Among them, Vermilion Bird Avenue is the most prosperous street.


    This Vermilion Bird Avenue is more than five hundred meters wide, enough to accommodate nearly three hundred carriages side by side, while on either side is a row of towering buildings. These buildings have an elegant style, with a strong Great Qian Dynasty character.


    The front row is five stories high above and below, and the further back, the higher the floors.


    Inside each building are shops with different decorations, bustling with people coming and going, thriving and prosperous.


    Vermilion Bird Avenue is the main artery of the Imperial City.


    During grand festivals, the royal procession always parades through the entire Vermilion Bird Avenue to demonstrate the majesty of the royal family.


    In the most bustling central location.


    The Nangong Pharmacy of the Nangong Family and the Treasure Pavilion Pharmacy stand opposite each other, constantly engaging in overt and covert battles on normal days. Only, the Nangong Family''s cost for medicinal ingredients is extremely low, so the pills they sell are half as cheap as those of Treasure Pavilion.


    As a result, the Treasure Pavilion Pharmacy has been repeatedly suppressed and is helpless to fight back.


    After all.


    The Nangong Family and the Beitang Family are branches of the same tree.


    The Beitang Family has a monopoly over the entire medicinal market of the Great Qian Dynasty. Apart from them, there is no second family in the vast Great Qian Dynasty that can buy any medicinal herbs from Medicine King Valley, not even Treasure Pavilion.


    The persistently high costs made it impossible for Treasure Pavilion to wage a price war against the Nangong Family.


    Just think...


    Even though the prices are half as cheap as the same category of pills from Treasure Pavilion, the profits of the Nangong Family are still much higher than Treasure Pavilion''s.


    On this day.


    Nangong Shou, the manager of the main Nangong Pharmacy on Vermilion Bird Avenue, was sipping his tea leisurely, legs crossed confidently, humming a little tune and squinting smugly at the Treasure Pavilion Pharmacy across the street, proudly saying, "Treasure Pavilion? In the face of the compelled tribute family, whether you''re a dragon you have to coil up, and if you''re a tiger you must lie down."


    "Hmm?"


    Suddenly, Nangong Shou narrowed his eyes as he caught sight of someone posting a notice in front of the Treasure Pavilion Pharmacy.


    It quickly attracted a crowd of onlookers.


    Raising an eyebrow, Nangong Shou spoke to a servant behind him, "Go see what trick Treasure Pavilion is up to."


    "Right away, manager!"


    The servant hurried off, and returned moments later with an urgent face, saying, "Manager, it''s bad news. Treasure Pavilion has posted a notice, all their pills are being sold at a 10% discount, and now many people are heading over there!"


    "A 10% discount?"


    Nangong Shou was stunned, then said carelessly, "What''s there to worry about? They can''t hold out for long, don''t pay them any mind!"


    The first day.


    The second day.


    The third day...


    Before he knew it, four days had passed. Nangong Shou watched as several servants were dozing off at the counter, and with a bang, slapped the table and angrily exclaimed, "What the hell are you all eating? With that lazy look of yours, if a customer comes in and sees, what would they think?"


    "Manager, there hasn''t been a customer at all!"


    "Yeah, there were a few people the day before yesterday, but from yesterday afternoon until now, not a single one!"


    "What did you say? Not a single person?"


    Nangong Shou''s face stiffened, then he looked towards the hall, and besides those servants, there wasn''t a single person in sight.


    In the past.


    This place was as busy as a marketplace, especially when opening the doors every day, customers would flock in droves. Listening to the servant''s words, there hasn''t been a single customer since yesterday afternoon¡ªwhat on earth is going on?


    Nangong Shou said sternly, "It must be because of your poor attitudes that you''ve offended the customers!"


    "Manager, it really has nothing to do with us! It''s all because of the tricks played by Treasure Pavilion across the street..."


    "Actually, our number of customers has been decreasing for the past three days, and since yesterday afternoon not a single customer has come in¡ªthey''ve all gone over to the Treasure Pavilion across the street!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone said one after another.


    "Treasure Pavilion?"


    Nangong Shou frowningly said, "Impossible, the Treasure Pavilion has been across from us for more than a day or two. Our business has always been better than theirs, how could our customers possibly be taken away by them?"


    "Shopkeeper, what you''re talking about is all in the past. Now all the elixirs at the Treasure Pavilion Pharmacy are being sold at a 10% discount, half a percent cheaper than ours."


    "Now everyone is heading over there!"


    Suddenly, Nangong Shou recalled the poster that the Treasure Pavilion had put up four days ago, advertising a 10% discount, and he said with a frown, "Do you mean to say that for these four days, the Treasure Pavilion has been consistently selling elixirs at a discount? How is that possible? Where does the Treasure Pavilion get so many elixirs?"


    He marched straight to the door and looked out across Vermilion Bird Avenue to the opposite side.


    A long queue had formed outside the elixir shop of the Treasure Pavilion.


    Then looking back at their side...


    The entryway was so deserted, not even a bird cared to linger.


    "Shopkeeper, what should we do? Should we report this to the family?" a servant asked.


    Nangong Shou gave him a cold glare and sneered, "Report this trivial matter to the family? Do you want our family head to think I''m incompetent?" After a pause, Nangong Shou said in a deep voice, "It''s just a price reduction, isn''t it? If he dares to offer a 10% discount, then we''ll offer a 15% discount. In any case, our profits will still be very considerable even if we sold at that discount!"


    "Yes!"


    The servant immediately went to prepare the notice.


    Nangong Shou glanced at the long line across the street, sneering, "Trying to wage a price war with the Nangong Family? You''re deluded!"


    However...


    On the fifth day,


    when Nangong Shou arrived at the pharmacy, he found that his side still had not a single customer. He couldn''t help being furious, "What''s going on? I''ve already offered a 15% discount, and we still can''t beat the Treasure Pavilion?"


    A servant came forward with a gloomy face, "They''ve offered a 20% discount on the opposite side!"


    "20% discount?"


    Nangong Shou''s complexion suddenly changed, a fierce look flashing in his eyes, "It seems they''re really determined to go head-to-head with us. Is it just about lowering prices? The Nangong Family has never been afraid of anyone! Post a notice that we''ll give a 25%... no, a straight 40% discount. I refuse to believe that the Treasure Pavilion will dare to compete with us!"


    Even with a 40% discount, their profits would still be quite substantial.


    But the cost of medicinal herbs for the Treasure Pavilion was much higher than theirs; a 40% discount was almost equal to their cost price.


    Nangong Shou confidently said, "Unless the Treasure Pavilion is truly determined to compete with us at a loss, there''s no way they would dare to drop their prices any further." Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Shopkeeper, you are wise!"


    "Tch, tch, a 40% discount, I''m afraid the Treasure Pavilion will be scared witless now..."


    The servants all said in succession.


    Only...


    On the sixth day, they still had not a single customer on their side.


    Meanwhile, the Treasure Pavilion Pharmacy was bustling with people, a long line snaking from the door.


    The servant panted heavily, his face pale as he said, "Shopkeeper, the Treasure Pavilion is now selling all elixirs at a 50% discount..."


    Thump!


    Nangong Shou''s eyes bulged, his fan dropping to the ground and the tea cup was left empty, only the rocking chair creaked back and forth as it swayed. Beads of sweat formed on Nangong Shou''s forehead as he forced down a gulp of saliva, feeling an icy chill throughout his body, "Something''s wrong, a big problem is brewing."


    He quickly turned to the servants, "You keep an eye on the opposite side for me, I''ll be back in no time!"


    Nangong Shou hurried toward the Nangong Family home, frantic and flustered.


    However...


    When he arrived at the entrance of the Nangong Family home, he discovered that the people in charge of over a hundred elixir shops in the imperial city had all gathered here, including some pharmacy shopkeepers from cities near the imperial capital.


    Seeing the deep worry on everyone''s faces, Nangong Shou turned pale, "I fear a major incident has indeed occurred!"

 Chapter 353 Tip-Off!

    Inside the vast estate of the Nangong Family.


    At this moment, however, it was filled with the pharmacy managers from around a dozen cities surrounding the imperial capital¡ªa scene that usually only occurred during the once-a-year clan meeting.


    After all,


    Given the Nangong Family''s booming pharmacy business across the regions, with daily transactions worth tens of billions, no one could afford any delay.


    "Nangong Shou? Why are you here too?"


    "Nangong Xiao, your Tianfeng City pharmacy is doing such good business. How dare you leave without permission?"


    "You all..."


    There were nearly ten thousand Nangong Family pharmacies within the entire Great Qian Dynasty, and this was only a small fraction of them here. Yet, the number had already surpassed a hundred. People who knew each other were all showing a look of surprise on their faces.


    You must know that...


    Even during clan meetings in the past, the better the pharmacy did, the later its manager would arrive.


    Today, everyone was hastily gathered here.


    A sense of unease began to form in everyone''s heart.


    The pharmacy where Nangong Shou worked ranked within the top ten of all the Nangong Family Pharmacies. On regular days, his pharmacy''s daily business volume was in the hundreds of millions of silver. At its peak, it even reached a staggering twenty billion silver in a single day.


    His status among the managers was also very high.


    Nangong Shou approached Nangong Xiao; the two of them were brothers by blood and naturally had a closer relationship. "Second brother, why did you suddenly run back here?"


    Nangong Xiao replied with a wry smile, "Big brother, if you''re back at this time, I''m afraid you''ve encountered the same situation as us. Don''t ask now. The family head and the old ancestor will be here soon. We can talk about it then!"


    "Hmm?"


    A sense of foreboding struck Nangong Shou.


    His gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, noting that everyone looked very upset.


    Recalling his own experiences over the past few days, Nangong Shou''s brows furrowed with increasing anxiety.


    At this moment,


    Nangong Shengtian and the current family head of the Nangong Family, Nangong Shengji, appeared before everyone. In an instant, over a hundred powerful managers quieted down. Although the Nangong Family''s old ancestor was Nangong Shengtian, the one who truly held the reins was Nangong Shengji.


    This man was of the same generation as Nangong Shengtian but much younger in age.


    Yet, even Nangong Shengtian, before this young family head, acted with utmost respect.


    This was the Nangong Family''s number one expert, a being at the Peak of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    "We already know the reason why you have all come back," Nangong Shengji said, getting right to the point.


    The people looked at each other and grimaced.


    Nangong Shengtian spoke indifferently, "Let each pharmacy manager report their situation!" His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Nangong Xiao, "Nangong Xiao, you go first!"


    "Yes!"


    Nangong Xiao grimaced, steeling himself as he spoke, "Seven days ago, the Treasure Pavilion''s pharmacy started selling pills at a ten percent discount. At first, I didn''t pay much attention, thinking it was just a promotion to clear their stock."


    The crowd nodded in understanding.


    The Nangong Family and the Treasure Pavilion''s pharmacies had been competing overtly and covertly for many years, with the Nangong Family usually having the upper hand.


    As a result, the Treasure Pavilion''s pharmacies would often reduce prices to clear their inventory.


    But such sales wouldn''t last too long,


    Usually not more than three days.


    Nangong Shengtian narrowed his eyes and said, "Continue!"


    Nangong Xiao''s bitter smile persisted, "Who knew that by the third day, there were still no changes; they continued with the ten percent discount. Only then did I realize something was wrong and immediately dropped our prices. However, the Treasure Pavilion also lowered their prices, and every time, they were lower than ours. Until today, we have been doing a forty percent discount, yet they have gone down to fifty percent off."


    "What?"


    "Fifty percent? Has the Treasure Pavilion gone mad? Their profit margin is only around thirty percent. A fifty percent discount means a loss. What on earth are they doing?"


    "What''s fifty percent? The Treasure Pavilion in our place has started to sell pills at a thirty percent discount. If it weren''t for that, why would I have rushed back so urgently..."


    "Thirty percent? They get their medicinal materials from the Beitang Family at twice the price we pay. Isn''t Nalan Qianqiu afraid of going bankrupt?"


    The crowd began to express their distress.


    Upon hearing this.


    The expression on Nangong Shengtian''s face became increasingly ugly. Based on everyone''s reaction, it meant that Treasure Pavilion wasn''t just clearing out stock on a small scale¡ªthis was a price war against the Nangong Family!


    "Shut up!"


    Nangong Shengtian huffed coldly, and seeing that people turned to look at him, he continued with a stern face, "Have any of you sent people to verify the quality of the medicinal pills from Treasure Pavilion? How is it?"


    Nangong Xiao hurriedly responded, "Elder Ancestor, I also thought that they might be passing off inferior products as good quality, so I sent people to buy some of their medicinal pills. But the comparison results are..."


    "They are selling them so cheaply, the quality of the medicinal pills must definitely not be guaranteed?"


    "It''s very likely they are passing off inferior products as good quality!" Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    However...


    Nangong Xiao''s face looked gloomy as he said, "The lowest quality of the medicinal pills they sell is high-grade, and the rate of top-quality pills even exceeds fifty percent. If it weren''t for the outstanding quality of their pills, just the price alone wouldn''t leave us at a loss!"


    As he spoke.


    Nangong Xiao took out several medicine bottles and respectfully presented them to Nangong Shengtian and another person.


    "Patriarch, please take a look!"


    Nangong Shengtian handed a few jade bottles to Nangong Shengji.


    The two opened the medicine bottles.


    A rich fragrance of medicine wafted out.


    The pills were round and lustrous, full and substantial, with especially clear pill patterns contained on them, absolutely of excellent quality. Moreover, these medicinal pills were none other than the varieties sold by the Nangong Family in the market.


    Unable to compete in price.


    Unable to match in quality as well.


    In such a situation...


    Who would still buy the Nangong Family''s medicinal pills?


    "Patriarch..."


    Nangong Shengtian''s face was dark and terribly grim as he looked towards Nangong Shengji.


    Nangong Shengji squinted his eyes and slowly opened them, speaking coldly, "Treasure Pavilion wants to have a price war, then let''s compete with them. Additionally, Shengtian, you must immediately go to the Beitang Family and have them cut off all medicinal material supplies to Treasure Pavilion and also reduce the price of our materials by another fifty percent."


    "Reduce by another fifty percent?"


    Nangong Shengtian''s expression changed, saying, "Patriarch, I''m afraid Beitang Feng will not agree to it."


    The Nangong Family was already purchasing medicinal materials from the Beitang Family at half the market price.


    If the price were to be pushed down by another fifty percent.


    The Beitang Family would be losing money!


    Nangong Shengji sneered coldly, his face arrogant, "What right does Beitang Feng have to disagree? Tell Beitang Feng, if he doesn''t agree, then he can forget about recovering the debt we have accumulated over the years!"


    Over the years, the Nangong Family owed the Beitang Family a total of more than one hundred trillion silver.


    One must know...


    The Beitang Family also has to answer to the Medicine King Valley behind them, and if this huge sum can''t be returned, even the relationship between the Beitang Family and Medicine King Valley is likely to be completely severed.


    Nangong Shengtian nodded, "I know what to do!" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment.


    A thin figure appeared beside Nangong Shengji. The person was slender, with a face like jade, dressed in clothes whiter than snow. It was Nangong Yi, the direct disciple of Nangong Shengji. He stepped forward and said, "Master, someone outside is requesting an audience, claiming to have important information regarding Treasure Pavilion!"


    "Who is it?"


    Nangong Shengji was startled.


    Nangong Yi said with a grave voice, "He says his name is Ning Kang!"


    "Ning Kang?"


    Nangong Shengtian''s eyes brightened, saying, "Patriarch, this man is the son of Ning Luo, the Vice Pavilion Master of Treasure Pavilion. He previously had some conflicts with Xiao Yi. The last time Xiao Yi went to Beast Emperor City, it was this very person who tipped us off!"


    "Oh? Let him in!"


    Nangong Shengji squinted his eyes, a fierce cold light in his gaze, "Treasure Pavilion? Hmph, I really want to see what exactly Nalan Qianqiu is up to!"

 Chapter 354 Unexpected Joy

    In the main hall.


    Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    Nangong Shengtian and Nangong Shengji sat high and mighty on the main seats, looking down at Ning Kang as he entered the hall under Nangong Yi''s lead.


    Ning Kang''s legs trembled uncontrollably as he stood before the two, his face slightly pale.


    Both of these individuals were of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.


    In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, they were titans capable of shaking the earth thrice with just a stomp of their feet.


    Either could match his master''s ancestor, the overall Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion of the Great Qian Dynasty, Nalan Qianqiu.


    "Ning Kang pays respect to the two seniors!" Ning Kang knelt before them with a thud, his voice quivering.


    Nangong Shengji squinted his eyes, looking completely at ease.


    Nangong Shengtian said indifferently, "Ning Kang, what business do you have with us?"


    Ning Kang hurriedly said, "Ancestor Nangong, I have come across a piece of vital news concerning the life and death of the Nangong Family and have made a special trip to notify you both!"


    "Heh, my Nangong Family has stood at the pinnacle of the Great Qian Dynasty for many years, who could possibly threaten the Nangong Family?" Nangong Shengtian said with an indifferent face, his confidence and determination in his words showing no sign of concern for the all-out assault the Treasure Pavilion was mounting against the Nangong Family.


    The Nangong Family had indeed stood firm for many years, with their own foundation and confidence.


    After all.


    The actions of one of the four great families could affect them all.


    Even though the Dongfang and Ximen Families were at odds with the Nangong Family, if there truly was a force intending to uproot the Nangong Family, those two families would not stand idly by.


    You should know...


    The reason these four great families have managed to stand for so many years is their unity!


    As Nangong Shengtian spoke, Ning Kang''s heart became somewhat chaotic, and he hurriedly said, "Ancestor Nangong, please believe me, this news truly relates to the life and death of the Nangong Family."


    Nangong Shengtian said, "Then let''s hear it."


    "This..."


    Ning Kang feigned hesitation.


    Nangong Shengtian said calmly, "If your news is as you say, concerning the life and death of the Nangong Family, I naturally will not mistreat you. Did I not give you a hundred million Silver when you disclosed Xiao Yi''s whereabouts before? If this news is indeed as important as you claim, I can promise you ten times that amount!"


    Gulp!


    Ning Kang swallowed hard.


    Ten times?


    That would be a billion Silver!


    With so much money, why would he stay at the Treasure Pavilion? He could just take the money and flee, living a life of wealth!


    With that thought in mind.


    Ning Kang said solemnly, "Ancestor Nangong, have you noticed that recently the pharmacies in the Treasure Pavilion have been lowering their prices across the board? I''ve learned that Nalan Qianqiu now has a mysterious master by her side, a man with extremely adept alchemy skills. He''s the one who arrived at the Treasure Pavilion seven days ago, and from the second day onwards, our Treasure Pavilion began heavily discounting all the medicinal pills for sale!"


    "Hm?"


    "A master?"


    Nangong Shengji''s tightly closed eyes sprang open, a flash of cold light passing through them as he leaned forward and said in a stern voice, "Do you know the master''s name and surname?"


    "I know, I know, my father calls him Master Fu Yuan!" Ning Kang hurriedly said.


    ''Master Fu Yuan?'' sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I remember now, among the powerhouses Xiao Yi brought back from Beast Emperor City, there was a Seven-Star Alchemist called Fu Yuan!"


    Nangong Shengtian''s face changed dramatically, his handgrips bursting from his grip, "Damn it, all of this must be Xiao Yi''s doing, that little bastard has a bet with me for a month. I wondered why the Treasure Pavilion suddenly started fighting us recklessly¡ªit must be because of that bastard Xiao Yi. I''m going to Xiaoshanhe Institute right now to kill him..."


    "Stop!"


    Nangong Shengji said coldly.


    His voice boomed like thunder, exploding through the hall.


    A chilling aura pervaded the entire hall, causing the enraged Nangong Shengtian to tremble and come to a sudden halt.


    Nangong Shengji squinted his eyes as he sized up Ning Kang, speaking indifferently, "If that''s the information you''re talking about, it''s certainly not worth ten billion!"


    Ning Kang''s lips turned white.


    Nangong Shengji''s presence made him feel as though he had fallen into an ice cellar, his body trembling slightly, he quickly said, "Reporting to the Nangong, I, I have brought another piece of information... The reason the Treasure Pavilion can suppress the prices of their elixirs so low is all because Master Fu Yuan has a secret recipe that can double the success rate and rate of top-quality elixirs no matter what kind of elixir it is once it''s added!"


    Hiss!


    As soon as these words came out, Nangong Shengtian and the others couldn''t help but take a sharp breath.


    The success rate and rate of top-quality elixirs can both be doubled?


    If that''s really the case...


    It meant that the cost could be reduced by at least half, and with the increase in success and top-quality rates, the cost might very well be controlled to around thirty percent!


    "No wonder the Treasure Pavilion dares to push the prices down to this level!"


    "If this secret recipe is real, and we can get our hands on it, considering the price at which we purchase from the Beitang Family, wouldn''t we be making a profit even if we sold it at ten percent of the current price..."


    Nangong Shengji and Nangong Shengtian exchanged glances.


    But neither of them trusted Ning Kang on this alone, Nangong Shengji, still squinting his eyes, said, "Ning Kang, would you like to earn more money?"


    "Hm?"


    Ning Kang was startled.


    Nangong Shengji continued, "If you can get your hands on this secret recipe, I can reward you with one hundred billion silver, and additionally, I promise to let you join the Nangong Family and grant you the Nangong surname."


    Thump!


    Thump!


    Ning Kang''s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, his breathing became hurried, and his eyes reddened.


    Not to mention joining the Nangong Family, just that hundred billion silver was enough to make his heart race.


    Of course.


    If he actually did this...


    He would also be completely standing against the Treasure Pavilion.


    After hesitating for a moment.


    Ning Kang said in a deep voice, "The two ancestors can rest assured, I will definitely find a way to get that secret recipe!"


    "We await your good news!"


    Nangong Shengji gave a slight smile and then looked towards Nangong Yi, "Yi''er, take Ning Kang down and give him ten billion silver as a reward!"


    "Yes!"


    Nangong Yi immediately led Ning Kang away.


    Leaving only Nangong Shengji and one other...


    Nangong Shengtian asked in a grave voice, "Family head, do you believe what he said?"


    "Does it matter whether I believe it or not? If he truly can bring us that secret recipe and it proves effective after we test it, then it will be an unexpected joy. If not, we have lost nothing!" Nangong Shengji said indifferently, then squinting at Nangong Shengtian, "Let Nangong Yi handle the matters concerning the Beitang Family. You go to the Treasure Pavilion at once and try to meet Master Fu Yuan. If you can persuade him to join us, that would be best. If not, find a way to get rid of him..."


    "Yes!"


    Nangong Shengtian left at once.


    Meanwhile.


    On the Xuanwu Square, the genius battle had finally come to its last fight, a clash that would determine the top talent of this event.


    The vast Xuanwu Square was already teeming with people.


    On the high platform.


    Xiao Yi sat squarely in the center, his gaze fixed on the two figures on the stage, a peculiar light flickering through his eyes, "He actually managed to hold out until now, what a pleasant surprise!"


    PS: Explosion tomorrow!!!!!!

 Chapter 355 Do You Still Remember Me?

    "I didn''t expect her to last this long, it''s quite the pleasant surprise!"


    Xiao Yi revealed a hint of amusement as he watched the purple silhouette on the arena.


    The white figure was the woman Xiao Yi had encountered upon his arrival at the imperial city, the one who had intentionally drawn the attention of the Black Hawk Gang to him.


    During the earlier rounds, Xiao Yi had discovered the woman''s identity, but since she was only at the peak of the Shentong Realm, he had not taken her too seriously. However, to his surprise, she had managed to reach the final.


    And she was even competing for the title of number one genius.


    Although the competition limited the age of participants to under thirty, the temptation of the Martial Dao Divine Fruit offered by those three Dharma Manifestation Realm experts still attracted many talents from the Golden Core Realm.


    That the woman had managed to endure until the end was indeed a pleasing surprise.


    And quite unexpected!


    Swish!


    The young girl in the white dress stood with her hands clasped behind her back, facing her opponent with a calm expression.


    Her adversary was a youth who looked as imposing as a humanoid beast.


    With a gleaming bald head and muscles like blocks of lead that traced explosive lines of power, the youth''s cultivation also reached the Second Layer of the Golden Elixir Realm, combined with Innate Divine Strength.


    Throughout the tournament, many strong contenders had been blasted out of the arena by his fists.


    "You, a little girl, dare to compete with me for the first place?" sneered Lei Li, the bald youth, with disdain.


    The white-dressed girl, Jin Feiyan, raised an eyebrow, showing a look of grievance while pouting and said plaintively, "Big brother, can''t you let me win? When I was three, I lost my dad, and at the age of six, I no longer had a mom. I was sold to a landlord''s house to be a maid at five. I drank dew when thirsty and ate grasshoppers when hungry. I''m so pitiful..."


    Lei Li frowned and scoffed, "Stop playing the pity card here; I''m not falling for it!"


    "It''s okay, big brother, if you don''t want to let me win, it''s no big deal. If later you break my limbs, I''ll just apply the medicine myself. I''m just a child with no one to love me; I''ve been used to it since I was young, really, you don''t have to feel sorry for me!"


    Jin Feiyan''s face was covered in tears, her look full of sorrow as she looked around at the crowd, "Everyone, please don''t blame him for hitting me; we can''t hold it against him!"


    Moments later.


    A chorus of condemnation rang out around the arena: "Lei Li, are you even a man?"


    "How can you bully a weak girl like this, where is your conscience?"


    "If I were you, I would just concede! How can you, a big guy, bully a young girl like that, are you not ashamed?"


    "Lei Li, if you don''t surrender immediately, I will look down on you!"


    Lei Li''s face twitched uncontrollably, wanting to cry without tears!


    What the hell!


    I just want to fight in the arena, don''t I?


    How did I become a crime against morality?


    "Silence!" Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    The voice of Yu Huaxian suddenly resounded, cutting through the noise abruptly as his gaze settled on the two in the arena, "Three breaths, then the battle begins!"


    On the high platform.


    Hai Wei looked at Xiao Yi beside him and asked, "President, who do you think will win the final victory?"


    Xiao Yi smiled and replied, "What do you think?"


    Hai Wei paused before answering, "It should be Lei Li who has a higher chance of winning!"


    Li Jinjun said, "I think so too; whether it''s in cultivation or combat strength, Lei Li seems to have the upper hand. I''ve also watched Jin Feiyan''s previous fights; she relies more on clever tricks..."


    "Hahaha..."


    Xiao Yi suddenly laughed, squinting his eyes as he sized up Jin Feiyan on the arena with an amused look, "Then you are seriously underestimating her!"


    "Huh?"


    The crowd was taken aback.


    At that moment...


    Yu Huaxian struck the bronze gong: "The battle begins!"


    Swish!


    Whoosh!


    On the stage, both fighters struck simultaneously, turning into streaks of light rushing towards each other, and in an instant, the wind rose and clouds surged, dust billowing. Lei Li''s figure sprinted wildly like a ferocious beast, covered in terrifying waves of force, sweeping over everything.


    Jin Feiyan''s figure seemed frail, like a seagull in a storm, as if it could be swallowed by the tempest at any moment.


    Just when everyone was tense about Jin Feiyan''s safety.


    Suddenly, Jin Feiyan''s figure twisted, nimbly dodging Lei Li''s fierce punch with a swift whoosh, as agile as a swallow.


    At the same time...


    Jin Feiyan, like a clinging maggot, stuck close to Lei Li''s body without creating any distance between them. Lei Li indeed possessed Innate Divine Strength, but his moves were overly forceful and lacking in variation.


    Facing Jin Feiyan''s close-quarters combat, Lei Li found himself with immense power but completely unable to deploy it.


    This frustration made Lei Li more and more impatient.


    "Thunderstorm Fist!"


    Lei Li roared furiously, his fists sweeping across horizontally.


    Above these fists, energy crackled like lightning, creating a massive vacuum bubble. Like an arrow shot from a bowstring, it whooshed towards Jin Feiyan, compressing the surrounding air to the extreme.


    Even with Jin Feiyan''s agile movement technique, there was a sense of difficulty in moving.


    Just as the punch was about to hit.


    A pitiful look suddenly appeared on Jin Feiyan''s face, and in the midst of the buzzing noise, Lei Li was reminded of the words previously said by Jin Feiyan and the accusations of the people around the stage against him.


    He seemed to have already envisioned the scene where, once his punch landed, Jin Feiyan would be grievously injured and he would become the target of public criticism!


    On the high platform.


    Xiao Yi noticed Lei Li''s moment of hesitation and shook his head, "Lei Li has lost!"


    "Huh?"


    Hai Wei and the others were startled.


    Wasn''t Lei Li oppressing Jin Feiyan at the moment? How could he have lost?


    On the stage.


    Jin Feiyan noticed Lei Li''s momentary hesitation, her lips slightly lifted into a smile, and her figure flickered, like a ghostly white silhouette. With a swift whoosh, she dodged Lei Li''s fierce punch and circled behind him.


    At the same time, a palm strike landed on the back of Lei Li''s neck.


    Spurt!


    Lei Li''s body trembled, his energy dissipated, and he thumped onto the ground.


    Falling unconscious.


    Hiss!


    Around the stage, a collective intake of breath could be heard.


    Nobody had expected Lei Li, who seemed to have victory in his grasp, to be turned over at the last moment.


    Yu Huaxian was also taken aback, then spoke out loud, "The first place winner of this Genius Battle is Jin Feiyan!"


    On the stage.


    Jin Feiyan''s face revealed a serene smile, and she cheered as she looked towards Yu Huaxian, "Elder Yu, they say that the first-place winner of the Genius Battle will receive a Martial Dao Divine Fruit of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, is that true?"


    "That is indeed true; the dean himself will be presenting it to you shortly!"


    Elder Yu smiled.


    He held a favorable impression of this girl who seemed so fragile yet had made her way to first place in the Genius Battle.


    "Yay!"


    Jin Feiyan clenched her fists excitedly, her face full of thrill.


    At that moment...


    A playful voice suddenly sounded in her ear, "Jin Feiyan, do you still remember me?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 356 Supervisory Group

    "Jin Feiyan, do you still remember me?"


    Xiao Yi''s playful voice suddenly came through, causing Jin Feiyan to start.


    She raised her head and looked in the direction of the voice.


    She saw Xiao Yi looking at her with a half-smile, though Jin Feiyan just felt that the person before her was somewhat familiar. With a slight knit of her brows, she shook her head and said, "I don''t know you... Little brother, are you trying to hit on me? Sorry, though you''re handsome, I''m not looking to date anyone at the moment!"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Yu Huaxian: "..."


    Everyone: "..."


    Xiao Yi touched his nose and said with a wry smile, "I''m not trying to date you..."


    "Then are you trying to keep me as a mistress? That won''t do either. I''m a girl with principles, and I don''t do such things..." Jin Feiyan''s head shaking was as resolute as a rattle-drum as she firmly said.


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    Pfft!


    Yu Huaxian and others had never seen Xiao Yi this flustered; they couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    Xiao Yi glared at them fiercely.


    Only then did Yu Huaxian speak, "Jin Feiyan, the man standing before you is the head of Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi!"


    "Eh?"


    Jin Feiyan, startled, sized up Xiao Yi but showed no sign of embarrassment. With her hands balled into fists propping up her chin, her eyes sparkling with stars, she said, "Little brother, you''re our academy''s head? I''ve long heard that the head of Xiaoshanhe Institute, Xiao Yi, is young and handsome and possesses immense strength. Seeing you today truly lives up to your reputation!"


    Xiao Yi cleared his throat to interrupt Jin Feiyan''s words.


    This guy changes faces faster than flipping through a book.


    Xiao Yi said, "Jin Feiyan, you really do forget important people easily, huh! Black Hawk Gang, remember that?"


    "Hmm?"


    Jin Feiyan''s whole body stiffened, and her eyes widened in shock. Her autumn-water-like pupils shone with astonishment and surprise as she sized up Xiao Yi, "You, you, you''re the one who wiped out the Black Hawk Gang?"


    How could she forget Xiao Yi?


    Back then, all she had in mind was to use Xiao Yi to escape; later, she heard that the Black Hawk Gang was exterminated.


    At the time, Jin Feiyan was shocked as well.


    She specifically fled to the countryside and hid for a while until she recently heard that the top three geniuses would receive a Dharma Manifestation Realm''s Martial Dao Divine Fruit, and only then did she return to the capital.


    She didn''t expect...


    She still couldn''t avoid it, after all!


    Jin Feiyan looked crestfallen and said, "Head Xiao, I really didn''t do it on purpose. How about this, I don''t want the Martial Dao Divine Fruit anymore, can you just let me go like it was nothing?"


    "..."


    Xiao Yi''s lips curved slightly, his face full of amusement as he said, "Since you''ve walked into the net of your own accord, it''s impossible to let you go now. However, if you''re willing to join Shanhe Court, I might consider not punishing you!"


    "Huh?"


    Jin Feiyan stunned, looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief, her slender finger pointing to her nose, "You want me to join Shanhe Court?"


    Xiao Yi nodded.


    Jin Feiyan hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively, "Are you sure you want me to join Shanhe Court, and not just thinking of tricking me there so you can punish me later?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Yi said, "Securing the first place in the talent competition sufficiently proves your potential, enough to become a disciple at Shanhe Court!"


    Jin Feiyan''s eyes showed a hint of wariness as she asked, "Are you sure it''s my talent you''re interested in, and not... lusting after my body?"


    Xiao Yi: "..."


    God damn lusting after your body!


    Yu Huaxian and the others couldn''t hold back any longer and burst into laughter.


    Even when facing the powerhouses in the Dharma Manifestation Realm, the always composed Xiao Yi had never been so vexed. He shook his head and said indifferently, "Just keep your mind at ease, I''m not interested in little apples!"


    "Little, little apple?"


    Jin Feiyan was taken aback, subconsciously glanced at herself, then immediately puffed out her chest, angrily saying, "Who says I''m a little apple? You''re a little apple, your whole family is little apples..."


    Xiao Yi gave her a glance, refusing to be led by the nose by a woman, he indifferently said, "Fine, since you''re unwilling to join Shanhe Court, then you can forget about the first place prize."


    "Wait a minute..."


    Jin Feiyan''s face showed urgency as she called out quickly, "I am willing to join Xiaoshanhe Institute, but I need you to agree to one condition!"


    "Hmm?"


    Xiao Yi looked at her.


    Jin Feiyan said, "I want to take you as my master!"


    "Take me as your master?"


    Xiao Yi was startled for a moment, then looked at her with a playful expression and said, "You may first join my sect and become my nominal disciple. If within half a month, you manage to step into the Golden Core Realm, I will consider taking you as my disciple!"


    "Master, please accept your disciple''s bow!"


    Jin Feiyan quickly knelt down and kowtowed deeply.


    With a casual wave of his hand, Xiao Yi lifted Jin Feiyan with an invisible surge of Qi and looked towards Yu Huaxian, "Notify the top ten thousand talents of the battle to rest tonight and return to Xiaoshanhe Institute tomorrow at noon for the initiation ceremony."


    "Yes!"


    Yu Huaxian accepted the order with an excited expression.


    The disciples who ranked among the top ten thousand talents all had good potential, and if these new forces were to join Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    With Xiao Yi''s methods, it was definitely possible to nurture a large group of strong practitioners.


    This was the hope for the rise of Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Jin Feiyan followed closely alongside Xiao Yi and asked curiously, "Master, why don''t we return to Xiaoshanhe Institute right now?"


    Xiao Yi squinted his eyes, his lips curling up with a hint of amusement, "We ought to give those people some time, shouldn''t we?"


    "Hmm?"


    Jin Feiyan was stunned, and then thinking of the ''those people'' Xiao Yi referred to, probably the strong practitioners from the top ten thousand, she didn''t ponder any further. As she saw Xiao Yi preparing to leave, she hurriedly followed, "Master, where are you planning to go?"


    Xiao Yi glanced at her and said, "To the Treasure Pavilion."


    "Treasure Pavilion?"


    Jin Feiyan''s eyes lit up, "Master, can you take your disciple with you?"


    Upon Jin Feiyan''s pleading, Xiao Yi shook his head helplessly, "Going together is no problem, but you must control your hands!"


    This guy had a history of misconduct!


    If she were to sneak around in the Treasure Pavilion, it would be an embarrassment!


    After Jin Feiyan promised repeatedly, Xiao Yi led her to the Treasure Pavilion. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Meanwhile...


    Inside the palace.


    Li Shengtian, Tian Xiao, and Chen Shuiwen were kneeling in front of Emperor Qian, having done so for a full two hours already.


    Emperor Qian set down the memorial, his face expressionless as he said, "My loyal subjects, are you truly resolved to this?"


    "Your Majesty, our actions are not driven by personal grievances but by a profound sense of responsibility towards the countless citizens of the Great Qian Dynasty!" Li Shengtian spoke with a heavy voice.


    Tian Xiao''s head banged against the ground, tears streaming down his face as he said, "Your Majesty, those who have distinguished themselves in the genius battle are definitely the future pillars of the Great Qian Dynasty. How can we stand by and watch them thrown into a pit of fire?"


    Emperor Qian narrowed his eyes and said, "Pit of fire? Xiaoshanhe Institute is a sect supported by our royal family, how can you speak of it as a pit of fire?"


    "Your Majesty, Xiaoshanhe Institute has been in decline for many years and lacks even a Spirit Gathering Array... Even though Xiao Yi has brought in those powerful people from Beast Emperor City, to the best of my knowledge, they are slaves bought from the slave market... How can they become qualified mentors? To hand over the future pillars of the Great Qian Dynasty to a group of slaves for guidance is to ruin them..."


    Chen Shuiwen knelt in front of Emperor Qian, tearfully imploring, "Your Majesty, we humbly request you to send an inspection team to Xiaoshanhe Institute to audit it, sending those disciples to Xiaoshanhe Institute is truly a waste of heaven''s gifts!"


    Emperor Qian tapped his fingers lightly on the table, speaking indifferently, "Sending an inspection team to examine isn''t a problem, but if, as you say, Xiaoshanhe Institute fails to provide a suitable cultivation environment for those disciples, what should be done with the more than ten thousand of them?"


    Li Shengtian said, "I believe although Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is newly established, it has strong teachers and is deeply rooted. They can be sent to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    "I second the motion!"


    Tian Xiao also spoke up.


    Chen Shuiwen pounded his chest and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your servant will not let you down!"


    Emperor Qian pondered for a moment, then spoke solemnly, "So be it, since you insist, I will appoint Qi together with the three of you to form an inspection team and go to Xiaoshanhe Institute for the audit. If it''s as you say, and Xiaoshanhe Institute is unable to provide those disciples with a suitable cultivation environment, then have them go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy. However, if it turns out that what you say is not true, don''t blame me for charging you with the crime of defaming and entrapping an important court official..."


    "Your Majesty is wise!"


    "Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"


    The three of them, excited, exchanged glances, revealing vicious and triumphant expressions, "Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, the disciples you worked so hard to recruit are about to become ours!"

 Chapter 357 Coming to Find Death!

    Treasure Pavilion.


    Xiao Yi and Jin Feiyan moved unhindered and arrived in the alchemy room.


    Fu Yuan and others were in the process of concocting pills. The Treasure Pavilion had launched a full-scale total offensive against the Nangong Family, and pill pharmacies throughout the Great Qian Dynasty had lowered their prices. The daily consumption of pills was extremely terrifying.


    "Xiao!"


    "Director, you''re here!"


    Everyone said one after the other.


    Fu Yuan also put down his work, walked up to Xiao Yi, and respectfully saluted, "Xiao, I was blind before and failed to recognize that you are the true Alchemy Grandmaster. Please punish me!"


    Ever since the day Nalan Qianqiu and the others passed on the alchemy techniques advised by Xiao Yi to Fu Yuan.


    Fu Yuan could now control five Pill Furnaces at the same time.


    This leap in progress made Fu Yuan completely convinced and sincerely impressed by Xiao Yi.


    Now, it wasn''t just a matter of voluntarily leaving after the ten-year agreement.


    Even if Xiao Yi drove him away, he wouldn''t be willing to leave.


    Xiao Yi raised his palm lightly and helped Fu Yuan stand up slowly, saying with a smile, "Fu, you''re too polite. Since we''re all fellow members of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, we are companions. How can there be punishment between us?"


    Gratefulness filled Fu Yuan''s heart. He opened his mouth, seemingly having something to say but hesitated.


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, "Fu, is there something you wish to discuss with me? There''s no need for such caution between us, just speak plainly!" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This..."


    Fu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Xiao, I am puzzled about something in alchemy..."


    "Hahaha, I thought it was something serious. Go on and tell me!" Xiao Yi laughed.


    Fu Yuan promptly said, "I have been a Seven-Star Alchemist for many years, but I have never found the clue to concocting Grade-Eight pills. Although every attempt does complete each step properly, the quality of the pills I create is extremely low. Until now, the most successful Grade-Eight pill I have made is only of low quality..."


    Xiao Yi said, "So, that''s the issue... Fu, if I''m not mistaken, since you entered the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, you''ve had no breakthroughs in at least thirty years, correct?"


    Fu Yuan showed a look of surprise; he didn''t expect Xiao Yi to discern his cultivation issue at a glance. He nodded and said, "It''s been thirty-one years. No matter how I cultivate, I can never make any further progress..."


    "And that''s where the problem lies!"


    Xiao Yi said indifferently, "The quality of a pill is deeply related to the purification of the herbal essence and the refinement of the heaven and earth energies during the Solidifying Pill process. When Fu broke through the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, it must have been with the aid of external forces. But these forces also affected the quality of your qi, naturally preventing you from perfectly enhancing the quality of Grade-Eight pills!"


    Hiss!


    Fu Yuan looked perplexed, staring incredulously at Xiao Yi.


    His breakthrough to the fifth level of the Dharma Manifestation Realm indeed happened because he accidentally acquired a Thousand-Year Golden Dragon Herb, which allowed him to break through his shackles.


    But other than himself, no one knew about this!


    How could Xiao Yi pinpoint it exactly?


    Fu Yuan watched Xiao Yi with an excited face, earnestly saying, "Please save me, Xiao!"


    Xiao Yi laughed, "It''s actually quite simple, just enter the Pill Furnace!"


    "Ah?"


    Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire


    Fu Yuan was taken aback.


    Enter the Pill Furnace?


    Jin Feiyan was astonished, "Master, are you planning to make a Human Refining Elixir?"


    Fu Yuan and the others: "..."


    A line of black lines crossed Xiao Yi''s forehead as he glared at her fiercely, then explained, "What aided your breakthrough contained an overbearing medicinal power which, despite facilitating your breakthrough, left a substantial amount of medicinal power lingering in your body. Over these years, this medicinal power has taken deep root, and only by refining it through the Pill Furnace can the problem be fundamentally resolved!"


    "This..."


    Fu Yuan''s face showed hesitation. Entering the Pill Furnace was truly alarming!


    If there were any mishaps, one would become a literal human pill.


    After hesitating for a while.


    Fu Yuan gritted his teeth and said, "Please assist me, Xiao!"


    Whoosh!


    Fu Yuan directly headed towards one of the pill furnaces and dove into it like a wisp of smoke, immediately sealing the furnace from inside. Xiao Yi''s figure soared into the air, and with a push of his palm towards the front, the gigantic pill furnace roared as it uprooted from the ground.


    It hung in midair, entwined and buoyed by countless threads of elemental qi.


    The surrounding hundreds of alchemists all stopped their actions, each looking on with a horrified expression. They had never heard of someone being refined inside a pill furnace. It was well-known that the temperature inside a pill furnace could easily reach thousands of degrees, and at its highest, it could even soar to tens of thousands of degrees.


    Even the physical body of someone from the Dharma Manifestation Realm would struggle to endure such a terrifyingly high temperature.


    This required an extremely high level of control over the furnace fire.


    Xiao Yi''s form danced in front of the pill furnace, his ten fingers flickering with flames that he breathed into the furnace.


    Hiss Hiss!


    The flames blazed fiercely, with Fu Yuan''s pained grunts occasionally emanating from within.


    "He''s not going to refine the person to death, is he?"


    "Xiao''s alchemical skills are incredibly impressive; how could he make such a novice mistake?"


    Everyone discussed amongst themselves.


    Suddenly.


    The pill furnace buzzed and with a bang landed back on the ground.


    Xiao Yi clapped his hands and said, "Open the furnace after 24 hours, and no one is allowed to come near it in the meantime!"


    "Don''t worry, Xiao, I''ll personally keep watch!"


    Nalan Qianqiu quickly nodded, stepping forward to take his position in front of the pill furnace.


    Xiao Yi nodded and then waved his hand to disperse the crowd before asking, "Master Nalan, how are things going?"


    Nalan Qianqiu squinted his eyes and murmured in a low voice, "Everything is proceeding according to plan!"


    "Good!"


    Xiao Yi''s mouth curved into a slight smile, a cold light flickering in his narrowed eyes, "The trap has been set, just waiting for you to jump in!"


    ......


    The following day, at high noon.


    Outside the Imperial Capital''s Vermilion Bird Gate.


    Xiao Yi, Yu Huaxian, Hai Wei, and Li Jinjun had been waiting here for quite some time. All the warriors who ranked among the top ten thousand geniuses had gathered, each wearing a look filled with intense anticipation and excitement.


    After seven days of genius battles, they had emerged victorious.


    About to join the Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    To receive the many rewards promised by Xiao Yi.


    Inside the Great Qian Dynasty, there stood numerous sects, especially the ten great sects.


    If one''s family had some connections, or one possessed sufficiently dazzling talent, they were generally spotted by one of the great sects around the age of ten or so. Among these people, many were over twenty years of age.


    The ten great sects did not regard them highly.


    If they had to rely on themselves, their martial arts journey would undoubtedly be difficult, with limited prospects.


    Now, the Xiaoshanhe Institute was offering them hope!


    "Dean, everyone has arrived!" Yu Huaxian stepped forward and said respectfully.


    Xiao Yi smiled, "No rush, we are still waiting for some people!"


    "Eh?"


    Yu Huaxian was baffled.


    After a momentary wait...


    Hoofbeats could be heard approaching, led by Chen Shuiwen, Li Shengtian, and Tian Xiao, with Qi and Yang Ling at their side.


    Yu Huaxian looked surprised and frowned, "What are they doing here?"


    Xiao Yi smiled faintly, his words deliberate, "They''ve come to meet their death!"

 Chapter 358 Who Goes There?

    "Here to die!"


    Xiao Yi''s mouth corners subtly lifted, his eyes flickering with a chilling glint.


    Yu Huaxian and the others were all momentarily stunned.


    At this moment...


    Yang Ling and his group had already arrived before them, with Yang Ling giving Xiao Yi a knowing wink.


    There was no mention of him in the initial inspection group roster, but upon learning of the conspiracy by Li Shengtian and others, Yang Ling volunteered to join the group. Emperor Qian was extremely fond of Yang Ling, naturally he wouldn''t reject his request.


    Chen Shuiwen and his two associates wore thick smirks of mockery, their provocative gazes fixed on Xiao Yi.


    Qi spoke in a deep voice, "Xiao, by the emperor''s command, we''ve formed the inspection group to join you back to Imperial Dragon Mountain, to review whether Xiaoshanhe Institute indeed has the capacity to guide these ten thousand disciples in their cultivation. These are official duties, and I hope Xiao doesn''t take offense!"


    Xiao Yi responded with a half-smile, "Is this the emperor''s wish?"


    "How audacious!"


    Chen Shuiwen shouted coldly, his face full of arrogance, "Xiao Yi, regardless of whose idea it was, it ultimately represents the emperor''s edict. Are you dissatisfied with the emperor''s edict?"


    "Who let something slip because they didn''t fasten their belt properly?" Xiao Yi said feigning confusion.


    "You..."


    Chen Shuiwen''s face turned an iron shade of green.


    What kind of thing would slip out if a belt isn''t tightened?


    Wasn''t Xiao Yi insulting him by calling him that ''thing''?


    "Oh, isn''t this Headmaster Chen? How come your Shanhe Martial Arts Academy is so empty that you have the time to join this inspection group and investigate our Xiaoshanhe Institute?" Yu Huaxian said, his face full of surprise as he loudly addressed Chen Shuiwen.


    Xiao Yi cleared his throat and pretended to be displeased, "Yu Huaxian, how can you speak to Headmaster Chen like this? He is the busy head of the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy, who has taken time out of his packed schedule to review our Xiaoshanhe Institute. What an honor for us!"


    "Hahaha, well then we''ll have to trouble Headmaster Chen!" Yu Huaxian bowed mockingly to Chen Shuiwen, his face full of provocation.


    Chen Shuiwen''s face alternated between shades of green and white.


    His Shanhe Martial Arts Academy didn''t even have one new disciple, what busy matters could he possibly have?


    Under Xiao Yi and Yu Huaxian''s mocking, his face turned as black as coal. He snorted coldly and said with a stern voice, "Xiao Yi, don''t rely on your verbal agility here. Today, we, as part of the inspection group, are acting with a sense of responsibility toward these ten thousand plus individuals. If your Xiaoshanhe Institute doesn''t have the capacity to support their cultivation, then these disciples will be transferred to our Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    Li Shengtian spoke indifferently, "Shanhe Martial Arts Academy has a fourfold Spirit Gathering Array, is supported by the resources of the Nangong and Beitang Families'' pills, and is provided martial arts techniques from Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Villa, among others. Their foundation is far stronger than that of Xiaoshanhe Institute."


    Tian Xiao said with a sinister tone, "Headmaster Xiao, let''s not waste everyone''s time. Today our inspection group will act impartially, and if Xiaoshanhe Institute is truly qualified, these disciples will naturally belong to you. However, if you are not up to par, we will have to take these disciples away!"


    "Headmaster Xiao..."


    Chen Shuiwen boasted, "The doors of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are already open for them. I''ll preemptively thank Headmaster Xiao for selecting these talented disciples for our Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    Xiao Yi''s lips curved in a slight smile, "You might just end up regretting it!"


    "That''s far from certain!"


    "We''re very clear about the state of Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    "This time, you''re destined to be dressed up with nowhere to go!"


    Chen Shuiwen and the others were brimming with pride.


    Yang Ling frowned, "It''s getting late; let''s set off."


    "Let''s depart!"


    The three led the way.


    Xiao Yi glanced at Yu Huaxian, then signaled his followers, and headed toward Imperial Dragon Mountain.


    Yang Ling came to Xiao Yi''s side. Since the first time he escorted Xiao Yi to Xiaoshanhe Institute, he hadn''t been back since. He knew the place well and spoke with concern, "Xiao Yi, I''ll try my best to meddle and save some disciples for you when the time comes."


    Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but no one has yet been able to snatch away a disciple from my Xiaoshanhe Institute!"


    "Hmm?"


    Yang Ling was slightly stunned and, squinting at the confidence on Xiao Yi''s face, he said, "You''re that confident?"


    Xiao Yi nodded: "Of course, I have confidence."


    Yang Ling''s lips curled up as he said, "If that''s really the case, then you''ll have to slap them hard in the face for me. Even Emperor Qian has become angry this time. If it turns out that they have been misrepresenting the truth, at the very least, the hats on the heads of Li Shengtian and Tian Xiao won''t stay secure!"


    "Oh?"


    Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at the three smug figures ahead, a playful look in his eyes.


    Finally, the group arrived at the foot of Imperial Dragon Mountain. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Spirit Gathering Array of Xiaoshanhe Institute had not yet been activated and still appeared somewhat desolate. Chen Shuiwen and the other two''s smiles grew even brighter. Turning to look back at Xiao Yi, they said coldly, "Headmaster Xiao, does your Xiaoshanhe Institute not have a Spirit Gathering Array? Just look at how scarce the natural energy of heaven and earth is here, how can anyone cultivate in this place?"


    "Xiao Yi, oh Xiao Yi, with such conditions at your Xiaoshanhe Institute, you still dare to recruit so many disciples? You''re really misleading these young people!"


    "And you even treat slaves brought back from Beast Emperor City as instructors? Do you wish for a group of slaves to guide these pillars of the future Great Qian Dynasty?"


    The three chastised in deep concern and indignation.


    Within the crowd.


    The tens of thousands of disciples also felt bewildered. They hadn''t expected Xiaoshanhe Institute to be in such a state of decay and exchanged glances, whispering among themselves: "We''d heard that Xiaoshanhe Institute was in decline, but didn''t expect it to have fallen this far. Are we really going to cultivate here?"


    "It seems now it would be really better to join the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    "At least they have a fourfold Spirit Gathering Array, and also experts from Three Seas Mountain and Wendao Villa to guide us... "


    With that, unexpectedly, over a thousand people had second thoughts, unwilling to join Xiaoshanhe Institute.


    Chen Shuiwen''s lips tilted upwards as he spoke out loud: "Everyone, no need to worry. The doors of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are always open to you. If you do not wish to join Xiaoshanhe Institute, please stand on my side. Once the review is complete, I will take you back myself!"


    "Thank you, Headmaster Chen!"


    "We are willing to go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy!"


    More than twelve hundred people stood behind Chen Shuiwen.


    Yu Huaxian''s face turned ashen; he had not expected that even before they had entered the mountain gate, more than a thousand people had already changed their mind. He was about to scold them but was stopped by Li Shengtian: "Yu Huaxian, do you intend to threaten them in front of us and force them to join Xiaoshanhe Institute?"


    Chen Shuiwen spoke with heartfelt pain, "After all, whether these disciples choose Xiaoshanhe Institute or go to Shanhe Martial Arts Academy should be their own choice. How can we force them? By doing this, how can you assure us that you''re fit to take care of these future pillars?"


    At that moment.


    Another three hundred people joined the ranks behind Chen Shuiwen.


    Even before they had entered the mountain gate, there were already fifteen hundred people who had chosen to join the Shanhe Martial Arts Academy.


    Yu Huaxian''s face looked incredibly displeased.


    Xiao Yi, however, appeared indifferent and said lightly, "Don''t be in such a hurry. It''s only just begun!"


    Chen Shuiwen nodded and said in a sardonic tone: "That''s right, it has just begun. Let''s continue with the review. Perhaps by the time we reach the mountain''s peak, you won''t have a single person left behind you! Hahaha..."


    The group moved majestically towards the mountain gate.


    From a distance.


    The gate had not a single disciple guarding it; shaking his head, Li Shengtian said, "This is Xiaoshanhe Institute? Without any disciples to guard the mountain, the gate simply lies open here, allowing anyone to freely enter and exit, it''s really disappointing!"


    Chen Shuiwen said with pride, "Don''t worry, Mr. Li. The doors of Shanhe Martial Arts Academy are guarded year-round by disciples in the Golden Core Realm; they certainly don''t lack discipline like this place!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No sooner had he finished speaking.


    From the direction of the mountain gate came two thunderous roars: "Who goes there?"