Chapter 296 : Seeking External Aid
Chapter 296: Seeking External Aid
Half a month later, at noon.
It was still the same restaurant. Chen Ming remained disguised as a swordsman in a green robe, sitting there, drinking alone. Not long after, he saw Zhao Xiyan, dressed in a red dress, ascending the stairs.
She still wore a veiled hat to avoid being recognized.
The moment she saw Chen Ming, she walked over and sat on the stool opposite him.
Chen Ming poured her a cup of wine and said, “Thanks for your hard work.”
“Mission accomplished. The letter has been successfully delivered.” Zhao Xiyan took an envelope from her bosom and handed it over. “This is the reply.”
Chen Ming tore it open and saw just one word written inside: “Good!”
The stroke was like iron hooked in silver, as though a sword intent was about to leap out from the paper.
He folded the letter back and asked, “Did you encounter any trouble on the way?”
Zhao Xiyan replied, “No. I even met Qianqian and Jinchuan. They’re currently serving by that senior’s side.”
“That’s good.”
Chen Ming glanced at her and said, “Thanks again. I have to go now. Take care.”
After speaking, he stood up.
“You take care too.”
Zhao Xiyan also stood up and replied.
Chen Ming didn’t look back. He simply waved his hand and walked gracefully down the stairs.
…
After leaving the restaurant, Chen Ming didn’t linger and headed straight for the city gate.
Before long, he exited the city. Through the perspective of his Yin Spirit, he saw that ghostly figure stationed on a mountain more than ten li outside the city.
As soon as he stepped beyond the gates and walked a bit further, he felt a familiar chill descend upon him—thick and cold divine sense, almost tangible, instinctively triggering a deep sense of danger.
It instantly activated the martial artist’s natural defense.
“Found you!”
As the Gang Origin surged in Chen Ming’s body, he heard a cold, sinister voice—as if a giant wolf was baring its bloody maw, ready to devour him whole.
He raised his head to see a black wolf, towering like a mountain. Facing that gaping maw, there wasn’t a trace of fear on his face. Instead, the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.
Clang!
Suddenly, a silver sword light descended from the heavens, slashing toward the enormous black wolf.
What a sword light that was!
Just a single glance shook Chen Ming’s spirit, as though even his soul was being cleaved apart—inflicting an irreparable wound that sent tremors through his very essence.
A line of blood tears involuntarily flowed from his eyes.
Ao!
A heartrending, miserable howl rang out—like the dying wail of the black wolf.
“It’s done.”
Moments later, all the strange phenomena vanished, and everything returned to normal. Chen Ming heard an aged voice behind him.
He turned around, eyes still stinging with pain, and saw a hunched, emaciated figure.
It was none other than Shang Jianfei.
Chen Ming had entrusted Zhao Xiyan to deliver a letter to this man, requesting this Divine Repository Realm expert to lend a hand.
Back when he had braved great danger to enter the Fire Element Secret Realm, Shang Jianfei owed him a favor. Now was the time to collect.
Chen Ming cupped his fists and said, “Many thanks, Senior, for your righteous aid. You saved my life.”
Shang Jianfei looked much the same as before. From appearance alone, one couldn’t tell he was a Divine Repository Realm expert.
He sized Chen Ming up and remarked with emotion, “Just over a year apart, and you’re already First Grade, and even cultivated a Yin Spirit. Truly remarkable. Far beyond what I achieved at your age.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Senior. If I hadn’t entered that Fire Element Secret Realm, I wouldn’t have had such fortune.”
“I had thought your chances of survival were slim. When I received your letter and learned you were still alive, I was greatly relieved.”
It was clear that after resolving the issue with the underground fire vein, Shang Jianfei had become less reserved and more talkative than before.
Chen Ming said, “Senior, you didn’t hold it against me even after I was once possessed by a fragment of the Undying Demon Venerable. I’m truly grateful for your willingness to help.”
Shang Jianfei replied, “With your Yin Spirit now formed, it’s easy to see whether the Undying Demon Venerable has clouded your mind. Come, let’s take a look at the one who attacked you.”
As he spoke, he lightly tapped his foot. Chen Ming felt a force envelop him, lifting him into the air.
Whoosh.
In the blink of an eye, they had arrived atop a mountain more than ten li away. There, seated cross-legged on a massive boulder, was a brocade-robed man.
A sword was still lodged in his skull, blood gushing continuously.
Even with such a grievous wound, he hadn’t died. His face looked ashen as he stared fixedly at Shang Jianfei and said bitterly, “What swordsmanship! Everyone said Shang Jianfei was crippled by a tribulation of love. Who would have thought that after guarding a lonely vigil for thirty years, you’d comprehend such terrifying sword intent? I do not regret losing to you.”
Shang Jianfei said flatly, “Though you are in the Divine Repository Realm, you also cultivate a Yang Spirit—an extremely strange one, at that. It resembles something from Western Kang. Boy, how did you end up offending someone like this?”
Western Kang?
Chen Ming was stunned. He had never even interacted with anyone from Western Kang.
“Hahahaha—” The brocade-robed man suddenly burst into wild laughter. “Shang Jianfei, you likely don’t know this boy’s true identity—”
Before he could finish, Chen Ming suddenly drew his sword and beheaded him in one strike. Then he chopped the body into over a dozen pieces. And even then, the man didn’t die immediately.
Such tenacious vitality was truly terrifying.
【You have slain a Level 119 enemy. Gained 10 million experience points.】
Chen Ming continued hacking the corpse apart until the system finally confirmed the kill.
In the letter, he had specifically asked Shang Jianfei to keep the man alive, claiming he wanted to interrogate him.
That was a lie. The real reason was to kill the Divine Repository Realm cultivator personally and gain experience points.
Throughout it all, Shang Jianfei merely observed. He showed no interest in Chen Ming’s identity. Once the enemy was completely dead, he said, “All right, this matter is settled. I’ll be going.”
With that, he vanished from sight, not giving Chen Ming a chance to persuade him to stay.
At the same time, Chen Ming felt a ripple in his heart—two terrifying auras were heading his way from Jiangzhou City behind him.
No wonder Shang Jianfei had left so decisively—he probably didn’t want to meet outsiders.
Chapter 297: Slipping Away
He didn’t hesitate and used the “Merging Light with Dust” technique to slip away unnoticed.
Moments later, two figures appeared one after the other on the hillside. As they gazed at the corpse left behind, both bore heavy expressions.
An elderly man in black said, “This man had been stationed here for over half a month, probing everyone leaving the city with his divine sense. Who knows who he was looking for.”
The other elder, clad in green robes, sneered. “Old Ghost Qin, you knew this man was here all along and still turned a blind eye? And the Qin Family still has the nerve to call itself the foremost aristocratic family of Jiangzhou.”
Old Ghost Qin retorted, “And you, Grand Elder of the Wushan Sect—weren’t you ignoring it too?”
“This man’s origins were unclear. No one knew which sect or faction he belonged to. Now that he’s dead here, I fear we won’t escape being implicated.”
“What does that have to do with us? It was Shang Jianfei who killed him. If anyone seeks revenge, they can go after Shang Jianfei.”
The green-robed elder seemed to think of something, and his face grew solemn. “To think that after thirty years of reclusion in Qingfeng City, Shang Jianfei’s sword intent has reached such terrifying heights. A cultivator who practiced both the Divine Repository Realm and the Yang Spirit, slain with a single sword…”
As he spoke of that strike, a deep dread flashed in his eyes.
Old Ghost Qin chuckled. “Who’d have thought Elder Fang would feel fear someday.”
Elder Fang coldly replied, “And you don’t? Could you have withstood that sword? Don’t forget, your Qin Family has a grudge with the Qinghe Sword Sect. Who knows if Shang Jianfei might suddenly recall it and give you a strike like that?”
Old Ghost Qin dismissed it. “That’s ancient history by now. If you want to talk grudges, wasn’t it your useless grandson who held one with him? Back then, you used your seniority to bully the weak and struck him with a sword that nearly ruined his foundation…”
Elder Fang’s eyelids twitched slightly—clearly, that hit a sore spot.
“You two seniors worry too much.”
At that moment, a third person appeared—a cultured middle-aged man with a gentle, refined aura. No one knew when he’d arrived. He looked like a well-read scholar and said, “If Shang Jianfei truly wanted revenge on you two, would he really wait until now?”
Neither elder seemed surprised by his appearance. They merely said, “Ji brat, weren’t you heading to Jinguang Valley? Where did you pop out from?”
The middle-aged man replied, “I was never interested in the Eternal Life Emperor’s False Tomb. That ruckus over there—I’ll pass.”
He looked down at the corpse. “Shang Jianfei remained in Qingfeng City, never taking a step out for thirty years. For him to suddenly appear in Jiangzhou City and kill someone, there must be a reason. The key likely lies with the person this man was searching for.”
“Like we needed you to say that?”
…
At the same time, inside Jiangzhou City, almost everyone had sensed that earlier battle. Though brief, the soul-trembling fear it evoked was unforgettable.
Naturally, this sparked countless discussions.
“That was—”
Zhao Xiyan, who had just returned to the Inspector’s Residence, felt a chill run through her. Her instincts told her that those two terrifying fluctuations were likely related to Chen Ming.
Worried, she asked her master and learned that two Divine Repository Realm experts had clashed. One of them was believed to be Shang Jianfei, silent for nearly three decades.
She was now certain—this was indeed connected to Chen Ming.
So, he had managed to provoke a Divine Repository Realm expert. No wonder he went to seek out Senior Shang.
She only hoped he was safe and sound.
All Zhao Xiyan could do was silently pray for him.
…
At this moment, Chen Ming had already left Jiangzhou City. Having eliminated that formidable foe, he felt completely unburdened.
Next, he planned to visit “Jinguang Valley.”
Elder Sun of Evergreen Hall had once told him that the final Metal-attribute True Art was located within Jinguang Valley.
“Speaking of which, where exactly is Jinguang Valley?”
Chen Ming had never heard of the place and figured he’d ask someone.
Heading south, he walked along the official road for over an hour and saw a tea stall by the roadside. It was fairly crowded, so he went over for a bowl of tea.
Inside were a convoy and a few Jianghu folks armed with blades.
No sooner had he sat down than he overheard three young men at the next table whispering.
“Senior Brother, you don’t have to keep staring at me. I swear, I absolutely won’t go to Jinguang Valley.”
Chen Ming was surprised. He hadn’t expected to hear about “Jinguang Valley” so easily.
These three looked to be in their early twenties—fresh Jianghu rookies, but decently skilled, each at the Sixth Grade.
In most sects, once disciples reached Sixth Grade, they were sent out to broaden their horizons and gain experience.
But here, only the three youngsters were present—no elders in sight. Which sect was bold enough to let three juniors travel alone?
The Senior Brother said, “Uncle Qian told me to keep a close eye on you. I can’t let you out of my sight, even for a second. Don’t even think about slipping away. Do you know how many experts will flock to Jinguang Valley once the news of the Eternal Life Emperor’s False Tomb spreads? Don’t overestimate yourself…”
So, the news had leaked?
Chen Ming was startled. His first thought—could this be Yu Haitang’s doing?
He kept listening, but no matter how long the three chatted, they never mentioned Jinguang Valley’s exact location.
“Young brothers.”
Chen Ming suddenly cupped his fists and asked, “Could you tell me how to get to this Jinguang Valley you’re talking about?”
The scolded youth, still brooding, rudely replied, “Why should we tell you? Just—”
He was about to say “get lost”, but the word caught in his throat.
He realized he couldn’t move—his eyes filled with terror.
Chen Ming smiled. “Hot-tempered young man. If you don’t fix that attitude, you’ll suffer greatly someday.”
The Senior Brother immediately knew they’d provoked a terrifying expert and hurriedly begged for mercy. “Please don’t be angry, Senior. My junior spoke without thinking. I hope you can forgive him. He didn’t know better…”
Chen Ming said, “Tell me where Jinguang Valley is. Or better yet, take me there.”
“Jinguang Valley is in Dai Prefecture. Once you arrive, anyone can point you there.”
“Much appreciated.”
As soon as he spoke, the green-robed man vanished without a trace. The three were left with a chill in their hearts. In broad daylight—had they seen a ghost?
…
Chen Ming headed toward Dai Prefecture and indeed saw many hurried Jianghu folks all moving in the same direction—clearly all drawn by news of the Eternal Life Emperor’s False Tomb.
Among them were no shortage of Third Grade experts. But most were Fourth or Fifth Grade.
Why didn’t these people ever learn?
It was just like in Qingfeng City—hordes of Jianghu folk had flocked in, only for many to die without even setting foot in the Sea-Calming King’s Mansion.
And now they were at it again, eager to join the chaos. Death-seekers, the lot of them.
Chen Ming didn’t even need to ask for directions. By following the crowd, he quickly found the location of Jinguang Valley.
It was a hidden valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides and naturally fortified.
Supposedly, there was only one path to enter the valley. Trying to climb over the mountains led nowhere.
Chen Ming guessed that Jinguang Valley was probably similar to the Fire Element Secret Realm—an independent space with only one entrance.
When he arrived at the valley entrance with the rest, he saw many people blocked outside. A faint golden light sealed off the path inside.