Chapter 994: Beautiful Scene

Even so, Yang Sheng was still a ninth ranked expert. At the most crucial moment, his wrist flicked, reversing the downward trajectory of the lance and perfectly intercepting the opponent. If his opponent didn’t dodge, the lance would tear straight through his intestines.

He had seen his opponent. That person had a face that couldn't be more ordinary, a face that wouldn’t even get a second look from him normally. That was also why he hadn’t noticed the person before.

He noticed that even though the person was moving rapidly, there wasn’t the slightest change in his expression. Martial Supervisor Yang Sheng immediately knew that wasn’t the man’s true appearance, but rather a mask. However, the workmanship needed to produce such a thin and natural looking mask was insane. Anyone who had a mask like that was definitely extraordinary.

As if to prove his point, that person didn’t even avoid his strike and instead reached out to grab his lance.

Yang Sheng thought to himself, Is this person mad? You’re going to grab my blade with your bare hands? Won’t your hand be completely crippled?

He harrumphed. He slightly adjusted the angle of the lance to the side, aiming to stab straight through the other party’s palm. However, he had witnessed just how sinister the timing of the other party’s strike had been, so he didn’t dare to look down on him. He secretly held back a bit.

The other party’s hands crossed, and his hands clamped down on the lance like hawk claws; however, they were also like water snakes swimming along his lance. He almost instantly arrived in front of Yang Sheng.

Yang Sheng was shocked. He couldn't be bothered to do anything else and just gave up on his lance. He used the force to fly backward. He was really thankful that he hadn’t underestimated his opponent just then and saved a bit of strength. Otherwise, his opponent’s arms would have already stabbed through his chest.

But even though he had pulled back quickly, the force made his internal organs shake violently. In the end, he wasn’t able to use all of his strength. There were even several bloody scars left on his body.

…

Zu An watched the entire scene from the peak above. This Golden Token Seven’s claw technique is pretty crazy.

He could also tell that Golden Token Seven had actually held back. Otherwise, with such a great ambush, there was no way Yang Sheng would have been able to get away with just a few bloody scratches!

Golden Token Seven’s main objective this time was just to confirm some things; it wasn’t to start a rebellion. That was why there was no reason for him to kill anyone.

…

Yang Sheng was shocked and furious. After he created some distance, he immediately ordered his troops to get into formation. With their assistance, he finally managed to barely stop Golden Token Seven’s assault. But the valley was already a complete mess.

Zu An looked at the places where the black-clad individuals were hiding. He frowned when he saw that they still didn’t have any intention of acting.

It was almost the time he had agreed on with Golden Token Seven to act. He didn’t want those black-clad individuals to reap the benefits after he interfered.

He suddenly thought of something and looked toward the black-robed elder he had tossed aside. How did this guy plan to signal his subordinates?

He searched the elder’s body. Sure enough, there was something resembling a noise arrow on him. As such, Zu An took it and fired it downward. A shrill noise tore through the valley. When the black clad individuals received the signal, all of them charged out murderously.

Golden Token Seven jumped in fright. He had thought that Golden Token Eleven came to help him, but when he saw those individuals' outfits and how ruthless they were in their assault, he knew it wasn’t Zu An.

With the addition of the newcomers, the escort troop’s formation was completely ruined. Flesh and blood flew everywhere. Only the sealed carriage remained untouched.

More than ten black-clad individuals rushed forward soon afterward. The guards around the carriage tried to stop them, but they were clearly outmatched and were cut down.

The black-clad individuals smashed open the carriage’s door. Just as they were about to say something, however, a vicious wave of sword energy slashed out. The black-clad individuals at the very front were instantly chopped into pieces.

“Sword ki!” Golden Token Seven was still paying attention to what was happening. He immediately recognized an attack from Yi Commandery’s City Lord Liao Ling.

“The previous intelligence stated that he was at the peak of the seventh rank. I didn’t expect him to actually have broken through,” he muttered. He was now worried. Even though Golden Token Eleven was cunning, his cultivation was a bit lower than Golden Token Seven’s own. How was he going to seize the saintess from the city lord’s hands?

He wanted to help, but Yang Sheng was no easy opponent. He was being held up by the Martial Supervisor and his subordinates.

A middle-aged man slowly walked out of the carriage just then. His features were square and upright, and his figure seemed to exude a grand pressure. His strike was a sword that had been nurtured by the world’s just ki!

Golden Token Seven felt more and more worried. The man wielded a monarch’s sword, a sword of just ki. Its power was a bit greater than that of other experts! Even he would find it a bit tricky to deal with, so what could Golden Token Eleven possibly do?

The black-clad individuals near the carriage all held their blades up in front of them. They arranged themselves into a simple formation, then charged at their opponent.

“The Devil Sect’s Five Elements Formation!” Golden Token Seven’s expression darkened. Some of his suspicions had now been verified.

Just then, Liao Ling moved. A cold glint flickered. Countless afterimages covered everything within a zhang of him. Then, the afterimages all combined into one, returning to his original body. It was almost as if he never had moved from his original spot.

However, the black-clad individuals all clutched their throats as blood flowed out of them uncontrollably. One after another, they collapsed powerlessly.

Liao Ling didn’t even give those people a look and instead looked at Golden Token Seven. He frowned slightly. The other black-clad individuals nearby all began to hesitate, shaken by the city lord’s power.

“Miss Qiu, your sect seems to have only sent these people here to save you. I fear they were doomed to be disappointed,” Liao Ling said. He didn’t assist Yang Sheng and instead stood right in front of the carriage without moving.

A moving and charming sigh came from inside the carriage. “City Lord Liao, just the fact that you suffered from an ambush here means that things are clearly not that simple.”

Liao Ling remained silent for a bit. A while later, he said with a bitter expression, “You’re right. We might not be able to keep you here. However, Miss Qiu, please do not rejoice too soon. I will kill you before you are rescued.”

“You dare to kill me?” Qiu Honglei’s voice carried a shred of mockery.

“Correct. King Yan and the others might feel apprehension toward your master, thus being unwilling to kill you, but I am different. What I cultivate is the power of grandeur. As long as my own heart is free of guilt, I will not feel any misgivings.”

Liao Ling’s sword thrust straight at the carriage. He had already known that since the Devil Sect’s people had managed to lay an ambush, that meant their original plans were a complete failure. Once the Devil Sect’s experts surrounded them, how could their small numbers possibly do anything?

In that case, he might as well kill this Devil Sect evildoer. After all, she was rumored to be the last disciple of the witch Yun Jianyue, someone who might even inherit the sect master position. Killing her now was the same as eliminating a great future enemy.

The expression on Qiu Honglei’s beautiful face changed. Why is this guy acting as soon as he says he will? Is he not going to speak reasonably at all?

Suddenly, a figure flashed in front of her. It was extremely fast, to the extent that even Golden Token Seven, Yang Sheng, and the others who were watching all turned around.

Did Yun Jianyue herself come? That was the thought on the minds of those present.

Only Liao Ling knew it wasn’t her, because he could see who the other person was. There was suddenly another man in the carriage. Even though he had a mask covering his face, Liao Ling could tell he was quite young.

Hmph, as long as he isn’t Yun Jianyue, he won’t be able to receive this sword! That was the conviction of a sword master in his sword. Within a range of three feet, he was the one who decided all life and death. Even though he didn’t know how the other person had suddenly appeared in the carriage, once his sword thrust out, it wouldn’t stop halfway.

Since the other party had stopped in front of Qiu Honglei, that meant it was most likely someone from the Devil Sect. His sword strike was enough to nail both of them together.

“Neigh~!” The steeds up ahead struggled restlessly. Even though the sword wasn’t aimed at them, their animal instincts made them feel a strong sense of danger and killing intent.

Meanwhile, the carriage could no longer handle the devastating power of the sword ki. It was instantly sliced into pieces, exposing the two people inside. The sword’s ki was blinding, and those who were fighting in the distance all covered their eyes.

Golden Token Seven felt a bit of helplessness. Liao Ling’s grand sword ki was formidable. If he were attacked by that sword from a distance beyond one zhang, he would have eighteen ways to deal with such an attack. If it were within a zhang, he would only have three ways. If it were within three feet, he could only do everything he could to dodge the strike. Even though he was confident he could survive, he would most likely be injured.

Golden Token Eleven is finished! Golden Token Seven thought, feeling regret. He shouldn’t have involved him and led him to his death.

Judging from their previous interaction, Golden Token Eleven was clearly a colleague who excelled more in his resourcefulness; cultivation wasn’t his strong point. Someone who could become a golden token envoy purely because of their wit definitely had a bright future.

Hmph, why am I comparing my own weak points to his strong points? At such a distance, he couldn't save Zu An even if he wanted to.

Then, the sword ki completely scattered.

Golden Token Eleven might already have been hacked to pieces by the sword ki, Golden Token Seven thought.

We’re finished… Now that Qiu Honglei has died, Yun Jianyue’s wrath will ensure that none of us here will be able to survive. Why is a bookworm like Liao Ling even more of a reckless brute than a soldier like me?! Yang Sheng thought.

Sigh… Someone that beautiful ended up dying here… the ordinary soldiers thought.

But soon afterward, their eyes widened in disbelief. The bitter sounds of slaughter also came to a standstill. The clamorous valley entered a strange state of peace as they all looked in the carriage’s direction.

What they imagined hadn’t happened. A young man sat casually at Qiu Honglei’s side, while Liao Ling’s vicious sword tip had stopped three inches in front of the two of them, clasped in place by that young man’s two fair fingers. The sword couldn’t advance in the slightest.

Amid the tattered carriage, a beauty in a black dress stood next to a masked young man in green clothes. It was an unexpectedly beautiful scene.

Meanwhile, the sword master whose clothes were as white as snow instead became the best backdrop for the scene.