Free Web NovelChapter 126: Chapter 108: Ascending the Human List and Breaking Through to True Qi
’She never would have imagined that Chen Xuan would reach the True Qi Realm so quickly?’
’Is he even human?’
Wang Qinglian was still reeling from the shock.
"Don’t be like that. The more the merrier. If you’re willing to give me more, then you should,"
Chen Xuan immediately replied.
"Never try to merge Heart Methods of different attributes, or there will be dire consequences."
Wang Qinglian gave Chen Xuan a grave look and said, "The True Qi Realm is beyond anything Gang Energy can compare to. This realm is all about one’s own purity. You must not cultivate multiple types of True Qi."
"Is that so?" freeweɓnovel.cøm
Chen Xuan mused.
’He had heard that before...’
"Alright then."
He nodded lightly. "So, you told me to be careful?"
"You defeated Su Wanqing, so the Celestial Sword Sect won’t let you off the hook. Not long ago, the Celestial Sword Sect came to the Wang Clan. They’ve decided to make a move against you. I’ll keep an eye on their elders, but I can’t account for the rest."
Wang Qinglian’s voice was frosty. "Especially the Little Sword Immortal. He’s at the Second Layer of True Qi, ranked twenty-fourth on the Human List, with the power to defeat those at the Third Layer and fight those at the Fourth to a draw. If he makes a move against you, you must be careful. Your best bet is to find a place to hide for a few years. When you reemerge, the Little Sword Immortal should no longer be your match!"
"Oh?"
Chen Xuan’s eyes narrowed.
’The Celestial Sword Sect is going to move against me?’
Then again, he had expected it. After all, he had done what he did.
"Thank you."
Chen Xuan looked at Wang Qinglian.
’She traveled hundreds of miles from the provincial capital just to give me a heads-up. What else is there to say?’
"Just be careful. I won’t say anything else."
Wang Qinglian spoke with a cold pride, then turned to leave.
Her pride wouldn’t allow her to say much more.
Coming here alone to see Chen Xuan tonight and saying this much was already a rare exception for her...
But now that she had said what needed to be said, she had no idea what to talk about next.
’So, it’s best to maintain my aloof image and just leave, lest this oaf thinks I’m actually worried about him...’
’I’m not!’
"Why don’t you stay? It’s late and dark out. You could just spend the night here?"
Chen Xuan suddenly offered, trying to be polite.
"No need."
Wang Qinglian’s voice was impassive as she continued on her way.
She was gone in just a few leaps.
’Stay the night here with him? Utterly shameless!’
"Alright then."
Chen Xuan shrugged.
’I was just being polite. If you’d actually stayed, I wouldn’t have known what to do with you.’
He turned, went back into his room, and continued to familiarize himself with the power of his True Qi.
...
「Elsewhere.」
Inside Iron Stone Castle.
A crowd had gathered, their torches illuminating a grim and solemn atmosphere.
Expert after expert, guardians of the various branches, were rushing back through the night, converging on the castle.
Every one of them was filled with shock and rage.
Their Vice Lord Jiang Tianxiong had had his clothes torn to shreds, been dragged before the Twelve Alliances, and forced to kowtow and apologize... This was fucking unbelievable!
What kind of person does something like that?
This was an overt declaration of war against their Iron Stone Castle!
"We fight! We have to fight!"
"The Twelve Alliances have declared war, and we of Iron Stone Castle are no cowards!"
"That Luo Hongtian must be insane to have raised a subordinate like that!"
"We must destroy the Twelve Alliances! A fight to the death!!"
"Right! A fight to the death!"
All the experts who had rushed back were incensed, filling the air with a murderous aura.
Furthermore, the lord of Iron Stone Castle, Situ Zhenyue, had called in every favor, summoning nearly every expert he could possibly muster.
「At this very moment.」
Inside the great hall of Iron Stone Castle.
Torchlight flickered over the assembled figures.
On the throne at the head of the hall, besides the seated Situ Zhenyue, were three other figures.
One was a gaunt old man in a white robe who exuded an aura of decay, like rotting wood. He appeared to be in his eighties, with a full head of silver-white hair. His breathing was so faint it was nearly inaudible, and a slight smile played on his lips.
This was the Withered Wood Daoist!
He was a famous eccentric of the Heterodox Dao in Canglan Province!
The average person might not have heard his name.
But within the circles of the Heterodox Dao, he was an utterly terrifying figure!
He was, in fact, a master of the True Qi Realm, at the True Qi First Layer! ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Most importantly, this man was an expert in poison!
His poisons were colorless, odorless, and silent... capable of easily felling countless people.
Even ordinary masters at the Second or Third Layer of True Qi wouldn’t dare risk exposure.
Beside the Withered Wood Daoist.
...was a woman with a languid expression. She wore a vibrant, fiery red dress, her two fair thighs crossed. Her features were exquisite, her attire elegant, and she was impeccably well-preserved.
Her name was Liu Sanniang.
She was also a True Qi Realm master who had remained hidden for many years.
She had withdrawn from the affairs of the martial world years ago, but due to a past connection with Situ Zhenyue, she had been invited to attend.
Next to her,
...sat a burly man in a black robe. He looked to be around fifty, with a powerful aura and a cold gaze. His body was built like an iron tower, and his mere presence was imposing.
This was Blood Evil Hand, Tu Gang!
Years ago, he had been a notorious brigand, placed on the imperial court’s blacklist multiple times, and hunted for years by masters from the Six Gates for countless murders before he vanished.
Several years ago, Situ Zhenyue had secretly sheltered him in Iron Stone Castle, where he had been carrying out Situ Zhenyue’s dirty work ever since.
"Is everyone here?"
Situ Zhenyue’s icy gaze swept across the hall, landing on the face of each Iron Stone Castle expert. He noted the burning fury and boiling will to fight in their eyes.
"I won’t waste time with pleasantries."
Situ Zhenyue waved a hand and said icily, "The Twelve Alliances have gone too far, trampling all over Iron Stone Castle and crushing our dignity. But we of Iron Stone Castle are no cowards. If Luo Hongtian wants a war, then Iron Stone Castle will see it through to the very end! We will not stop until one of us is destroyed!"
The breathing of everyone in the hall quickened, their eyes blazing as they looked at one another.
"Give the order, My Lord!"
"Yes, give the order!"
The crowd roared.
Situ Zhenyue’s eyes grew cold as he looked to the three True Qi Realm masters at his side.
"The three of you, is there any problem with taking action tonight?"
"Heh heh, I am ready at any time,"
the Withered Wood Daoist chuckled.
"The same goes for me."
Liu Sanniang smiled, a captivating and charming sight. "Just don’t forget our agreement after it’s done, Lord Situ!"
"But of course."
Situ Zhenyue said coldly.
"Lord Situ, I told you long ago: one mountain cannot contain two tigers."
Tu Gang’s voice was chilly. "If you had made your decision earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this. Now, word of Vice Lord Jiang’s humiliation has spread throughout the martial world. If Iron Stone Castle cannot destroy the Twelve Alliances, you will never be able to hold your heads high again. Every industry under your control will collapse because of this. It will be a massive blow to your ambition of dominating Qinghe County."
Situ Zhenyue’s eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing within them.
"You’re right. I was too merciful in the past!"
"The Twelve Alliances will be annihilated tonight!"
He slammed his palm down, shattering the armrest of his throne.
’How dare a mere brat at the Gang Energy Ninth Layer humiliate them like this?’
...
