Today, the usually crowded Three Immortals Pavilion had been cleared out.
Ling Yun stood on the street, wearing a dark sweat-stained shirt and carrying an iron sword – the standard, ordinary attire of a jianghu person.
Moon Clan Manor sent disciples to infiltrate the small town every day to gather intelligence and observe the movements of the martial artists gathered there.
This task was supposed to be done by another disciple today, but Ling Yun had snatched it. Who would dare compete with him for a task “appointed” by Xu Yin Luo? He would get upset with anyone who tried.
Ling Yun’s most admired and worshipped figure was Xu Yin Luo.
Previously, while cultivating the sect, he had respect or awe for the Sect Leader and elders, but this was different from admiration.
He made a round in the town and gathered important intelligence: the Earth Sect’s demonic cultivators and the mysterious group from the imperial court had invited the Martial Arts Alliance to talk at the Three Immortals Pavilion.
They had cleared the place tyrannically, but seemed unconcerned about their conversation being overheard, allowing curious onlookers to gather on the street below.
They must be secretly discussing how to deal with the manor… Ling Yun held his breath, concentrating on using his hearing to capture the conversation from the second floor.
On the second floor with its observation deck, three groups of guests sat distinctly apart. At one table were Feather Robed Daoists, their hair meticulously combed, eyes filled with deep malice. Their glances made people tremble with fear.
At another table sat mysterious figures wrapped in black robes and wearing black iron masks. The leader wore a golden mask. It was this group that had bombarded Moon Clan Manor with cannons this morning.
The third table was filled with beautiful women, one of whom stood out particularly. Her face was covered with a light gauze, and her eyes sparkled like autumn waters. Her perfect body proportions made her figure surpass that of the other women present.
“Has the Martial Arts Alliance run out of men, sending a bunch of women to negotiate?” sneered a middle-aged Daoist with a blue lotus embroidered on his chest.
Blue Lotus Daoist’s gaze constantly roamed over the women’s voluptuous figures, making no effort to hide his greed and malice.
The demonic ways of the Earth Sect were clear as day.
Xiao Yue Nu, the leader of Wan Hua Lou.
She held a small fan with silver bones in her delicate hand, her eyes narrowed as she spoke in a cool, detached tone: “If you have something to say, say it. If you keep leering, I’ll gouge out your eyeballs and pickle them in plum wine.”
Blue Lotus Daoist snorted, not only unafraid but becoming even more unrestrained, almost not taking the threat seriously.
“Heh, threatening these lunatics will only make things worse,” the black-robed man with the golden mask let out a hoarse laugh.
He held a porcelain bowl filled with plum wine, toying with it as he spoke: “Since we agreed to an alliance, why did Ink Pavilion withdraw halfway? We need the Martial Arts Alliance to give us an explanation.”
Xiao Yue Nu said indifferently, “All the sects under the Martial Arts Alliance are independent. Ink Pavilion’s decision has nothing to do with the Martial Arts Alliance.”
Blue Lotus Daoist sneered, “Is this the Martial Arts Alliance’s explanation?”
Enchanting Hand Rong Rong couldn’t hold back her anger and shouted, “The Martial Arts Alliance has its own rules. It’s not for you to criticize.”
Blue Lotus Daoist’s malicious gaze lingered on her for a moment.
Snap!
The silver-boned fan suddenly opened, shielding Rong Rong.
Xiao Yue Nu’s move seemed extremely abrupt as if she had misjudged the opponent and blocked thin air. The female elders of Wan Hua Lou keenly sensed an invisible, intangible force that had been blocked by their leader.
Xiao Yue Nu’s beautiful eyes widened, her anger about to erupt: “If your Earth Sect wants to turn against my Martial Arts Alliance, Xiao Yue Nu will see it through to the end.”
Blue Lotus Daoist snorted and withdrew his gaze.
Rong Rong, unaware that she had just brushed with death, sat stiffly, her face frozen. After a few seconds, she came to her senses, cold sweat suddenly drenching her back.
“It’s not just Ink Pavilion. If I’m not mistaken, several more sects will withdraw from the competition tomorrow,” Xiao Yue Nu said calmly. “You should know that Xu Yin Luo has entered Moon Clan Manor. His status in the hearts of jianghu folk and commoners is very high. Ink Pavilion doesn’t want to be his enemy.”
Blue Lotus Daoist said in a deep voice, “I’m afraid it’s not just about not wanting to be his enemy. I hear some people in the Martial Arts Alliance plan to protect Xu Qi An.”
This was the real reason why the Earth Sect and the black-robed men had invited the Martial Arts Alliance here.
The black-robed man with the golden mask snorted, “I hope Madam Xiao will relay to Alliance Leader Cao to keep his subordinates in check. Don’t let a few bad apples implicate the entire Martial Arts Alliance.”
Xiao Yue Nu sneered, “Are you threatening the Martial Arts Alliance?”
She realized something was off. The Earth Sect people seemed overly wary of Moon Clan Manor. Logically, even with the support of Li Miao Zhen and Xu Qi An, given the current situation, their chances of winning were too slim.
Let alone the overwhelming fourth-rank experts, just the Earth Sect’s leader, even though it was just an avatar, could almost sweep through Moon Clan Manor.
The Earth Sect seemed unwilling to let anyone withdraw, eager to strengthen their forces. Did this mean that there were super experts hidden in Moon Clan Manor, making the Earth Sect so cautious that they were trying every means to ally with the Martial Arts Alliance… Xiao Yue Nu pondered.
At this moment, someone was suddenly heard clicking their tongue, “Is a mere Xu Qi An worth all this wasted breath from you all?”
Accompanied by footsteps on the stairs, a young master in a white robe with a jade belt, looking graceful and refined, was the first to appear at the top of the stairs. Behind him were two giant men like iron towers, wearing bamboo hats and black robes.
Blue Lotus Daoist turned to look, snarling, “What small fry dares to interrupt this Venerable One’s business?”
The white-robed young master narrowed his eyes and said calmly, “Left Envoy, slap his face!”
As soon as the words fell, the iron tower giant on the left suddenly disappeared. Immediately after, a loud slap echoed through the second-floor hall.
“Crack…”
The wooden floorboards broke, and half of Blue Lotus Daoist’s face was embedded in the shattered wooden floor, bleeding from all seven orifices.
Xiao Yue Nu and the man with the golden mask both had their pupils contract slightly. The former gripped her silver-boned fan tightly, while the latter placed his hand on his sword hilt.
The Earth Sect disciples stood up with a clatter, their malicious gazes fixed on the white-robed young master and his two companions.
“He’s not dead, not dead, not dead…” The white-robed young master waved his hands repeatedly, smiling, “It was just a punishment. My servant knows how to control his strength, you can all rest assured.”
He spoke with a constant smile, exuding an air of looking down on everything.
Such a person was either an empty-headed fop or had enough backing to be confident.
The white-robed man’s gaze fell on Xiao Yue Nu, his eyes suddenly brightening. He fondled his jade ring as he strolled over.
As he passed by the black-robed man with the golden mask, the black-robed man’s fingers twitched several times, as if wanting to draw his sword for a sneak attack, but ultimately chose to give up.
The white-robed man’s lips curled up, either in a cold smile or mockery, as he passed this table and approached the table of beautiful women.
“When I came to Sword State, I had people inquire about the local customs and practices. The jianghu of Sword State is truly dull, like a stagnant pond. But it’s also interesting because there’s a Wan Hua Lou.”
“They say the leader of Wan Hua Lou, Xiao Yue Nu, is a beauty that could topple a nation, a rare sight indeed. Tsk tsk, the reputation is well-deserved, well-deserved indeed.”
The white-robed man’s next words made the people of Wan Hua Lou’s temples throb with anger, their fury boiling.
“When this journey through the jianghu is over, I’ll take Madam Xiao back with me. My chambers are just lacking a concubine to serve in bed.”
Rong Rong’s master suddenly stood up, her face gloomy, gathering her qi to strike at the white-robed young master’s chest.
The white-robed young master raised his hand slightly, hitting her wrist at just the right moment, causing her qi-infused palm to strike the beam and tiles instead.
Amidst the flying broken wood and shattered tiles, he reached out and pulled the beautiful woman into his arms, clicking his tongue, “A bit old, but still charming. This young master likes mature women like you.”
Before Xiao Yue Nu could act, he knew when to stop, quickly retreating, leaving behind the beautiful woman seething with shame and anger.
“I’m here to ally,” he said, reining in his exaggerated smile, exuding some of the dignity and composure bred into great clan families.
“An alliance?” the black-robed man with the golden mask asked.
“I want the lotus seeds, and I want Xu Qi An’s life,” the white-robed young master said with a smile. “You don’t dare to offend him, but I do! Those with nothing to lose fear nothing. I have nothing to lose now, so I don’t care how great his image is in the hearts of the common people.”
“What do you plan to do?” the black-robed man asked with interest.
The white-robed young master didn’t answer. He strode to the edge of the observation deck, placed both hands on the railing, gathered qi in his dantian, and said, “Listen, everyone…”
The sound waves rolled out, immediately attracting the attention of the curious onlookers gathered around and the town residents.
The white-robed young master extended his left hand, “Sword box!”
The Left Envoy silently handed over a small, delicate, jet-black square box.
“Young Master, that person’s spirit fluctuations are several times stronger than ordinary martial artists. He’s from the Earth Sect inside Moon Clan Manor,” the Left Envoy said in a low voice.
The white-robed young master followed his gaze, glancing at the disguised Ling Yun, but ignored him. He opened the box and pinched out a tiny sword like a fine needle, flicking it with his finger.
The small sword flipped and grew larger, becoming a three-foot green blade that embedded itself into the stone-paved street with a ‘ding’.
Waves of deep, cold sword intent emanated from it, declaring its identity: a magical artifact.
The white-robed young master announced, “Whoever can cut off one of Xu Qi An’s arms will be rewarded with one magical artifact. Two arms, two artifacts. Four limbs, four artifacts.”
As he spoke, he flicked out long swords with his fingers, letting them embed one by one in the center of the street.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the four intersecting magical artifacts, like magnets attracted to steel nails, unable to look away.
The white-robed young master delivered the final blow: “Whoever can cut off Xu Qi An’s head, this entire box of magical artifacts will be theirs.”
The street erupted into chaos.
The white-robed young master turned back to the table, smiling as he looked around. The shocked expressions on the faces of the Wan Hua Lou women made his smile grow wider.
He stared at the black-robed man, then looked up at the now-awake Blue Lotus Daoist, and said calmly, “What jianghu wanderers value most is nothing but resources. I’m now placing resources right in front of them. Tell me, will those people still respect Xu Qi An?”
“Will they still fear him? Will they still not dare to offend him? No rogue cultivator can resist the temptation of magical artifacts. I know this includes you all as well.”
Xiao Yue Nu said coldly, “What’s the point of doing this?”
Rogue jianghu wanderers couldn’t kill an expert who had cultivated the Vajra Body technique.
The white-robed young master shrugged, his tone casual, “Didn’t Xu Qi An once recite a poem? ‘Patiently watching a nobody become a new noble, angrily mounting the arena to strike again.’ This is my answer.”
Does he have a grudge against Xu Qi An? Xiao Yue Nu suddenly realized. She glanced at the Earth Sect’s Blue Lotus Daoist, shocked to find that he had suppressed his malice and didn’t seek revenge.
It seemed the Earth Sect was truly wary of Moon Clan Manor.
The black-robed man, on the other hand, revealed a smile. It appeared their goals were aligned.
Young Master Xu’s enemy has arrived? One of his attendants could easily injure the fourth-rank Blue Lotus Daoist, and he treats magical artifacts like dirt… Ling Yun realized that this white-robed young master who suddenly appeared in the small town was a formidable enemy.
He silently retreated a dozen steps, then turned, intending to leave.
As he took his first step, Ling Yun heard the voice of the white-robed young master from the observation deck behind him: “Ah, I forgot, there’s one more thing to do. You’re a Daoist from Moon Clan Manor, aren’t you?”
“…” Ling Yun’s pupils suddenly contracted, feeling all the hair on his body stand on end, his emotions on the verge of exploding in an instant.
Then, he found he couldn’t move. His feet seemed glued to the ground.
No, no, move quickly, I need to relay the news, I need to tell Xu Yin Luo, he sent me to gather intelligence, I can’t fail his trust… Ling Yun’s face twitched, his body starting to sweat, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
The white-robed young master appeared in front of him, smiling, “You want to go back and report?”
“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m just a wanderer,” Ling Yun forced himself to say.
The white-robed young master beckoned, summoning a long sword embedded in the street, still wearing that smiling expression: “I didn’t say I wouldn’t let you report, but…”
He paused, then grinned viciously, “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to crawl back.”
He coldly swung the sword, a flash of light, and Ling Yun’s knees suddenly sank, his two lower legs leaving their owner.
“Ahhh…” He screamed heart-rendingly, rolling on the ground in pain.
The white-robed young master glanced at him, “A kind reminder, crawl back quickly, you might still get treatment before you bleed out.”
After speaking, he waved the sword in his hand and said, “Everyone sees this? A genuine magical artifact. When the lotus seeds mature tomorrow, you’ll all have a chance to kill Xu Qi An.”
“Young Master, if the Master finds out, you’ll be punished. The Master said not to provoke him lightly,” the Left Envoy transmitted, advising.
“If I don’t provoke him, what’s the point of this journey?” The white-robed young master sneered:
“If I bring that guy back, with such an overwhelming merit, won’t my position be as stable as Mount Tai?”
The main purpose of this journey was to temper his martial arts, but seeing that guy who should have died at the end of the imperial examination was equally his goal.
Since the imperial examination, he had been hearing about Xu Qi An’s exploits one after another, driving him mad with anger.
The more glorious Xu was, the angrier he became.
Those glories, those fortuitous encounters, should have been his.
Most importantly… that luck should have been his!
…
After lunch, Xu Qi An was alone in a secluded courtyard, practicing the preliminary process of the “Heaven and Earth One Sword Slash”, collapsing his qi and blood inward, condensing them into one force.
By drawing inferences from one instance to another, he used this to strengthen his control over his body’s power and accelerate his cultivation of internal force.
He felt he had vaguely reached a bottleneck, just one step away from breaking through to the fifth rank.
“I feel like something’s missing. I hope tomorrow’s battle will allow me to advance as I wish…” Xu Qi An’s ears twitched as he heard light footsteps running towards him.
He immediately stopped cultivating and turned his head to see Moon Clan Manor’s beauty, Qiu Chan Yi, her small face pale and her big eyes filled with tears.
As soon as her gaze met Xu Qi An’s, tears began to fall like broken strings of pearls.
Qiu Chan Yi sobbed, “Young Master Xu, Ling Yun, Ling Yun is dead…”