Chapter 234 : Old Acquaintance
Chapter 234: Old Acquaintance
Outside Huanshou Mountain, several figures appeared by the lakeshore. Among them, a young, handsome man spoke with an anxious face,
“Fifteenth Uncle, the Dark Soul Incense on Xiao Jiu’s body disappeared right at this spot.”
This person was none other than Chen Ming’s old acquaintance, Jiang Shihua.
The so-called Dark Soul Incense he spoke of was a special kind of incense. Ordinary people could not detect it, but there was a certain spiritual bird that was extremely sensitive to its scent and could smell it from afar.
Thus, this became one of the Jiang Family’s methods for locating their clansmen.
The Fifteenth Uncle was a stern and cold-faced man. He looked rather young, but since high-level martial artists aged slowly, it was hard to tell his real age from his appearance.
“The culprit actually knows how to conceal Dark Soul Incense—clearly not an ordinary person. But whoever dares touch someone from our Jiang Family… no matter who he is, he must die!”
This man was named Jiang Mingtong, ranked fifteenth among his generation, with Second Grade cultivation. He just so happened to be visiting a friend nearby.
Early this morning, he discovered a distress mark left behind by the Jiang Family, and he immediately rushed over. When he learned that Xiao Jiu had gone missing, he was furious.
The Jiang Family was one of the three great aristocratic families of Jiangzhou, their prestige awe-inspiring. For someone within Jiangzhou territory to dare provoke them—it was no wonder Jiang Mingtong’s anger burned so fiercely.
Beside him, a friend spoke up,
“Brother Mingtong, don’t be so hasty. Brother Shaohong is a local landlord—perhaps he knows something.”
Yao Shaohong gazed at the endless expanse of reeds and mused,
“Deep within this lake lies a mountain called Huanshou Mountain, which has been taken over by a band of water bandits. I once met their leader—he is of Third Grade cultivation. Though he is a bandit, he never plunders the locals. I heard he goes to neighboring Xiazhou to rob merchant ships. Around here, he actually has some reputation as a chivalrous figure. Perhaps we can ask for his help.”
Jiang Mingtong’s eyes flashed. “That would be best. Brother Yao, please lead the way.”
In his heart, he knew Xiao Jiu’s disappearance in this place was most likely related to that band of water bandits.
He would first put pressure on them and rescue Xiao Jiu.
If Xiao Jiu remained missing—then those water bandits would be buried with him!
Among those present were three of his close friends, men of similar temperament and strength. Together, they were known as the Four Friends of Dongchuan.
All four were Second Grade experts. Unless they faced a First Grade, no one could withstand the four of them fighting together.
“Let’s go.”
Led by Yao Shaohong, the six men headed toward Huanshou Mountain.
Huanshou Mountain, inside a cave.
When Du Rusong’s figure suddenly vanished, Chen Ming cursed inwardly, “Damn it!”—but he dared not move.
He could feel a cold, oppressive intent locking onto him. If he moved, it would surely bring down a thunderous strike.
He had dealt with several First Grade experts before, even crossing hands with them. Naturally, he knew well how a First Grade attacked. Thus, he waited—for an opportunity.
That chance came quickly.
Chen Ming was able to hold his composure, but Tao Zhiquan could not. He was the first to bolt.
So fast!
Chen Ming’s eyes narrowed. This constable’s strength was uncertain, but his escape skills were top-notch. In terms of speed, he was only slightly weaker than Chen Ming himself.
Unfortunately, no matter how fast Tao Zhiquan was, how could he be faster than Sword Intent?
A flash of icy white light streaked across. Tao Zhiquan, who had nearly fled the cave, was pierced through the chest. Without even a grunt, his body seemed to accelerate further, barely managing to fly out of the cave.
“Hmph!”
Xie Jianqiu sneered coldly. “Struck by my sword—he won’t escape far. Guang’er, chase him down and finish him.”
His chilling gaze swept toward the remaining five from the Six Doors.
At this moment, the only option was to kill them all, and then forcibly take the Jiang Family girl they had captured yesterday to restore his injuries.
Though a pity, he had to regain his strength before Du Rusong left the Secret Realm, and then kill Du Rusong here.
The Secret Realm’s existence, once revealed, would no longer be his to keep. That would mean his path to the Divine Repository Realm was severed—something utterly unacceptable.
To possess a Secret Realm was an unparalleled fortune!
Xie Jianqiu believed he was chosen by destiny. Especially after escaping the Six Doors prison, he was even more convinced.
In five hundred years since the founding of Great Jin, how many had ever escaped the Six Doors Grand Prison?
“Now, it’s your turn!”
Xie Jianqiu raised his hand, splitting his power into five strands of Sword Qi, each slashing toward the five Six Doors officers present.
Facing a First Grade, Zhu Wanlin and the others fought desperately, unleashing their ultimate life-saving techniques.
Chen Ming could no longer worry about anyone else. He drew the Phoenix Cry Sword, preparing to meet the strike head-on.
Against a First Grade, fleeing was useless—he would end up like Tao Zhiquan. The only choice was to block head-on.
Unless his divine soul surpassed that of a First Grade, the attack of such a master would never miss. Their Qi had a spirit of its own, capable of tracking enemies.
“Ha!”
Chen Ming raised his sword to meet the icy Sword Qi. Even before it arrived, he felt a stabbing pain in his mind. A bone-chilling cold seemed to freeze both his Qi and his consciousness.
So this was that man’s Sword Intent?
Terrifying!
Struggling, he circulated his inner Qi and hastily employed the Controlling Artifact Art. At once, the Phoenix Cry Sword in his hand sent forth a surge of warmth, instantly dispelling the cold.
Boom!
The Sword Qi struck. Its terrifying force made the Phoenix Cry Sword let out a mournful cry before shattering in two.
Chen Ming was blasted away, slamming into the cave wall. A chunk of rock collapsed, burying him beneath.
Not far away, Xie Jianqiu exclaimed in surprise, “A peerless divine weapon?”
Quickly, he realized the truth and sighed with some regret. “What a pity, it’s ruined.”
Still, even broken, such a weapon held immense value. In the future, a sword-forging master could reforge it.
Just as he was about to move, his gaze sharpened. Outside the cave, several figures were rushing over, four of them Second Grade.
“Troublesome.”
Xie Jianqiu’s eyes flashed murderously. Normally, four Second Grades would be nothing. But now, with his origin injured and wounds piling on, they would not be easy to deal with.
“A First Grade?”
The newcomers were Jiang Mingtong and his companions. After landing on the island, they found corpses everywhere and realized something was wrong. Hearing the sounds of battle, they rushed over—just in time to witness this clash.
When they saw a First Grade present, Jiang Mingtong’s eyes narrowed, and his heart leapt with fear.
The others felt the same. No one wished to throw away their life for the sake of a rescue.
Jiang Mingtong quickly said,
“Senior, we were merely passing by. Please continue.”
He turned to leave.
Just then, one of the Six Doors officers who had resisted a strike shouted,
“There is a Secret Realm here—this man is its master—”
Sizzle!
Xie Jianqiu casually released two strands of Sword Intent, piercing through the officer’s shield.
But it was too late. The secret was out.
He looked coldly at the six newcomers and said darkly,
“You all heard it? Then die.”
Jiang Mingtong and the others’ faces turned pale.
A Secret Realm—this was the key to entering the Divine Repository Realm, something First Grade experts fought desperately over.
A single Secret Realm could ensure that a family or sect continued producing Divine Repository masters, preserving their power for generations.
And this First Grade was its master!
Clearly, he intended to silence them all.
Jiang Mingtong shouted,
“Do not flee! There’s no escaping—only a fight to the death!”
The other three understood the gravity of the situation. They all drew their weapons.
Xie Jianqiu struck first, and a fierce battle erupted.
Unnoticed in the corner, Chen Ming crawled out from beneath the rubble. Glancing at the fight, he spotted a familiar figure and thought in surprise,
“Jiang Shihua? Why is he here?”
It seemed those were Jiang Family experts.
Either way, thanks to their arrival, Xie Jianqiu had no time for him.
The chance had come.
Chen Ming flashed away from the spot.
Instead of heading for the cave entrance, he moved deeper inside.
Since Xie Jianqiu was determined to kill all witnesses, he was surely focused on the cave entrance. Anyone trying to flee that way would be attacked.
So Chen Ming took the opposite route, venturing deeper into the cave to see if there was another exit.
Moving quickly, he slipped into one of the tunnels.
Everyone else was either fighting, dead, or heavily injured, so no one noticed him.
The tunnels seemed to have been carved out by hand long ago.
Chen Ming sheathed the broken Phoenix Cry Sword with a heavy heart. The weapon had only just begun regaining some of its spirit, yet now it was destroyed. Truly a pity.
“You saved my life again.”
He mourned for a few seconds and said softly, “I will avenge you.”
In truth, the Phoenix Cry Sword had not been ruined by that last blow alone. Earlier, when the Undying Demon Venerable’s soul fragment and the golden flame entered it, its durability had already been greatly reduced.
Later, clashing against the Zhi Chi Demonic Sword only worsened it.
Just now, with its final shred of origin power, it dispelled the icy Sword Intent for him. Only then did it meet its end, broken in two.
Next time he saw Yu Haitang, he would ask if she had a way to restore it.
With that thought, Chen Ming pressed deeper. He casually cut down the occasional bandit, though their low cultivation offered him only meager experience.
The cave was vast, with many forks—like a massive labyrinth. The further he went, the more wrong it felt.
“This path seems to go only downward. Likely no exit.”
Just as he considered turning back, he heard voices ahead.
“Help! Someone save me…”
“Please, save us… whoever rescues me, I’ll give myself to you… sob…”
“Stop shouting. No one will come for us.”
The voices grew clearer—two women.
But the first voice sounded strangely familiar.
Soon, Chen Ming arrived before a stone door. Looking inside, he saw a large stone chamber.
At the center were two cages, each holding a woman.
It was her!
He instantly recognized one of them—the one crying loudly.
It was none other than that little green tea, Jiang Yingxue.
No wonder Jiang Shihua had come here—it was to save her.