Chapter 155 - 156: Provocation at the Tip of the Sword
Upon obtaining some expensive treasures,
igniting a beacon is the clearest choice, but also the least wise.
This beacon smoke not only alerted the referees of Organ City but also notified everyone within several kilometers.
Not everyone has valuable goods at hand.
There was even a group of people who were in no rush to seek out the treasures scattered throughout Organ City; rather, they quietly awaited those who lit the beacons.
Before being handed over to the referees, all items could be seized.
This arrangement was also intentional on Imperial City’s part, after all, it was a feast of duels for disciples of major forces to compete in-how could it become a simple treasure hunt game?
They had to fight, engage in melee battles, and cast spells. Only then would it not disappoint the citizens of Imperial City who had gotten up early to secure good spots on the Mysterious Wall.
Beacon smoke billowed; anyone without any gains would subconsciously take a glance.
At Chaotic Stone Hill, a group of Dragon Beasts had already faced off.
There were also some Divine and Mortal cultivators. They stood on the shoulders, backs, and heads of the Dragon Beasts with cold expressions, their eyes filled with intense hostility.
“Yun Zhonghe, the Chief Big Disciple of the Yaoshan Sword Sect.” Qin Yang said in surprise as he looked at a man with blue robes and a hair bun.
The man in blue robes and a hair bun stood alone in the middle of Chaotic Stone Hill. It seemed that he was the one who had ignited the beacon, but at that moment he was surrounded by a group of people controlling Dragon Beasts, accompanied by Divine and Mortal cultivators.
There were probably five or six Dragon Shepherds.
And seven or eight Divine and Mortal cultivators.
The Dragon Beasts were numerous, and several had reached Lord Level.
Some among them were already discussing how to divide up the treasures in the man in blue robes and a hair bun’s possession, but the man showed no intention of running away; he stood beneath the beacon smoke on Chaotic Stone Hill.
“Yaoshan Sword Sect?” Nan Lingsha appraised Yun Zhonghe and after a moment said, “This man is much stronger than Zi Meng Zhu.”
“Young master should be quite familiar with him,” Qin Yang said.
“So-so. The man is full of arrogance and boredom,” Zhu Minglang said, curling his lip.
No sooner had he spoken than Yun Zhonghe in blue robes and a hair bun made his move. His right hand, which had been held behind his back, now drawn forward, and a blue sword gleamed with a blinding halo the moment it came into view!
Under the blazing sun, the light of the sword made it difficult for the Dragon Shepherds and Divine and Mortal cultivators to keep their eyes open.
It was then that Yun Zhonghe’s figure split into several forms, as if there were three sword-wielding men charging at those Dragon Beasts at the same time!
His movements were highly elaborate. One could see afterimages and sword trails lingering in the air for a short period, but those were events a few seconds ago—his real sword had already pierced through the thick armor of the Dragon Beasts!
The ones attacking Yun Zhonghe were clearly disciples of Family Doors. They were acquainted with each other and were banding together, seemingly harboring malicious intentions upon seeing Yun Zhonghe was alone.
Unfortunately for them, it seemed they had chosen the wrong target to rob.
This Yun Zhonghe, his strength far surpassed theirs by more than one level. In the face of a group of Lord Level Dragon Beasts and Divine and Mortal cultivators, he appeared to take a leisurely stroll.
His swordsmanship was brilliant.
Even the people on the towers and Mysterious Wall seemed to be able to see the gleam of his sword.
As that group of Family Door disciples was injured one by one, the people on the Mysterious Wall gasped in amazement.
Who was this man in blue robes, who could fight a group all by himself?
One should know that those who made it to the third round were basically the cream of the crop from each faction, entirely different from the previous elimination rounds!
“It looks like they’re from the Huang Sect and the Qi Clan. I saw them early on gathering together using some special Dragon Beasts,” someone on the Mysterious Wall identified the group of Dragon Shepherds and Divine and Mortal cultivators.
“The man in blue robes, can’t be Yun Zhonghe from Yaoshan Sword Sect, right??”
“I heard that this year, only one person from Yaoshan Sword Sect participated in the grand competition, and it’s Yun Zhonghe.”
“This Yun Zhonghe is far too strong, isn’t he? The Huang Sect and Qi Clan disciples are like children before him, and those formidable-looking Dragon Beasts are no more different than clay chickens and pottery dogs!”
Where there’s smoke from a beacon, it’s especially easy to catch people’s attention.
The sight of Yun Zhonghe battling all disciples from the Huang Sect and the Qi Clan alone amazed many Imperial City citizens and made many Divine and Mortal cultivators blush with shame!
At Chaotic Stone Hill, Yun Zhonghe still stood near the beacon smoke.
He lifted the brocade box in his hand and handed over the Mine Deed he had just obtained to the approaching referee.
Around Chaotic Stone Hill, many Dragon Beasts had fallen. Although those few Dragon Shepherds were not hurt, the fear on their faces defeated their will to fight completely!
“A rabble,” Yun Zhonghe said with some disdain as he sheathed his blue sword.
The disciples of the Huang Sect and Qi Clan were flushed red with embarrassment; they never imagined that so many of them couldn’t even leave a scratch on him, and the Dragon Beasts they had spent so much effort raising were utterly clumsy before him.
Was this the strength of Yaoshan Sword Sect??
It was simply terrifying!
“Wait a minute.” Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe seemed to notice something and took back the brocade box he was about to hand to the referee.
The referee looked puzzled.
The Mine Deed would belong to Yaoshan Sword Sect, to him, Yun Zhonghe, had he just handed it over, so why did he take it back now?
“Do I need to eliminate all threats within a hundred meters before the item can be considered mine?” Yun Zhonghe asked the referee.
“Within a hundred meters, no one can fight again,” the referee nodded in confirmation.
“Oh” Yun Zhonghe nodded, but then with the brocade box in hand, he started walking in a certain direction.
People on the Mysterious Wall were utterly puzzled.
Including the elder Sword Master from the Yaoshan Sword Sect on the city tower, everyone furrowed their brows, not knowing what their disciple was up to.
Yun Zhonghe’s pace became faster and faster, seemingly walking on flat ground, yet he moved swifter than some horses at full gallop.
He arrived at the base of Chaotic Stone Hill and walked towards Zhu Minglang, Nan Lingsha, and Qin Yang.
It wasn’t until Yun Zhonghe was almost in front of Zhu Minglang that he raised his head and said to the judge riding the Azure Dragon, “Now, within my hundred-meter radius, there’s still a threat.”
The judges gaped, not understanding the thought process of this Sword Sect Disciple.
On the Mysterious Wall, a buzz of excitement erupted.
Just how confident was this disciple of the Yaoshan Sword Sect?
He had just handed over the Mine Deed to the judge; wasn’t it more enticing to earn tens of thousands each month without effort?
Some cultivators on the Mysterious Wall, along with a few Huang Sect and Qi Clan disciples who had not recovered from their earlier excitement, were now enviously in tears!
“Little Martial Uncle, I trust you’re well.” Yun Zhonghe pointed his sword downward, then quite dismissively, he bowed to Zhu Minglang, with a smile that gradually brightened.
“Not bad,” Zhu Minglang responded.
“This mine is quite valuable. Little Martial Uncle must also desire to fight for it, no? But due to the relationship between Zhu Gate and Yaoshan Sword Sect, it would be inappropriate for you to make a move Actually, I’d like to give it to you, but I wonder if you still have the skill now, Zhu Minglang!” Yun Zhonghe said provocatively after completing the salute.
A salute was nothing more than a matter of formality.
But Yun Zhonghe didn’t seem like he was there to pay his respects.
He still held his sword in his hand, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery and scorn!
In terms of seniority,
Zhu Minglang was above Yun Zhonghe.
However, Zhu Minglang and Yun Zhonghe were of similar age, and ever since their time in the Yaoshan Sword Sect, many elders had compared the two.
“Are you looking for trouble?” Zhu Minglang asked.
“So what if I am? Not long ago, I heard from the Sword Sect that you’re back on the mountain, collecting discarded swords in Abandoned Sword Forest like a junk peddler,” Yun Zhonghe continued.
“Actually, when you’re not being an idiot, you can be quite decent,” Zhu Minglang sighed.
“Humph, I can give you the Mine Deed, but do you dare to take it!” Yun Zhonghe said, taking the contract out of the brocade box.
He extended the Parchment Deed towards Zhu Minglang, seemingly offering it as a friendly gesture, but Yun Zhonghe didn’t pass it with his hand, but with his sword!
The Parchment Deed remained motionless on the front end of Yun Zhonghe’s sword-back.
The contract was right in front of Zhu Minglang.
But the sword tip was also pointed at Zhu Minglang.
“Yun Zhonghe, what is this supposed to mean? If you’re too proud to help the Young Master win and wish to go your own way, then do so. Why point your sword at the Young Master!” Qin Yang said angrily.
“I haven’t moved my sword. If he wants to take it, he just needs to reach out his hand. How could I point the tip of my sword at an unarmed man?” Yun Zhonghe laughed, his smile growing even stranger.
Zhu Minglang wouldn’t reach out his hand.
Honestly, if he wasn’t worried about exposing the Sword Spirit Dragon too soon, Zhu Minglang would’ve already smeared his face with a sword, letting him understand he’ll always be his Little Martial Uncle!
In fact, when he saw Yun Zhonghe lighting the beacon fire,
Zhu Minglang thought of an interesting method to gather a large amount of treasures in a short time.
So he was just about to leave and use this method when Yun Zhonghe approached.
Zhu Minglang didn’t like Yun Zhonghe at all.
It wasn’t that they had any irreconcilable hatred, but this guy always wanted to beat him at least once.
Perhaps it was seeing himself become a Dragon Shepherd,
Knowing he’d never beat him in swordsmanship again in this life, that Yun Zhonghe became so angry, leading to such a foolish action.
But now, the man had his sword pointed in his face.
If he continued to endure, he wouldn’t be Zhu Minglang!
Currently, everyone in the Imperial City believed he was unable to wield a sword.
Yet, the existence of the Sword Spirit Dragon was his greatest source of arrogance!
“It’s been many years since I dealt with you. You think you’re up to it now, don’t you, Yun Zhonghe?” Zhu Minglang extended his palm.
The Sword Pattern slowly spread out on the palm of his hand.
As Zhu Minglang was about to summon the Sword Spirit Dragon, a hand as smooth as jade pressed against his wrist.
It was Nan Lingsha.
She shook her head at him.
“Leave it to me, God and Mortal,” Nan Lingsha pressed down Zhu Minglang’s sword-calling gesture and whispered.
Zhu Minglang looked at her.
He wasn’t sure if she genuinely wanted to battle the strongest disciple of the Yaoshan Sword Sect or simply didn’t want him to reveal his strength in front of the Nine Army Cemetery.
“Okay.” Zhu Minglang nodded.
“I had the pleasure of experiencing your Yaoshan Sword Sect’s swordsmanship not long ago.” Nan Lingsha walked a few steps forward, took the deed from the sword-back, and said indifferently,
“It seems quite ordinary.”