Chapter 1841: New Master

The figure appeared to have been sent flying after being hit by a massive blade, and it came crashing down like a missile, smashing open a huge crater in the ground. It was so fast that no one could react in time.

“Libationer!” Xie Daoyun exclaimed as she quickly lifted her dress and ran over. She was an academy disciple, so the libationer was an extraordinary person to her.

Zu An and the others hurried over as well. They saw that the clothes on the libationer’s chest were covered in blood and his hair was disheveled. His beard also had blood on it. His eyes were a bit turbid. Right now, he looked like an elder with one foot in the grave, and no longer had his usual carefree and transcendent bearing.

“Libationer, what’s wrong?” Zu An quickly asked.

The libationer opened his eyes. There was a hint of shock in his eyes when he saw them. He quickly said, “You should hurry and leave. The emperor is coming.”

Zu An felt a weight fall in his mind. He asked, “Was it Zhao Han who hurt you like this?”

Yan Xuehen already took her fingers away from his wrist. She shook her head slightly toward the others, confirming that the libationer’s life force was already severed. He was only hanging on by a single breath.

Xie Daoyun was filled with grief. She couldn't help but sob.

When he saw that, the libationer consoled her. “Little Daoyun, there is no need for you to cry. All people die, and my time is near as well. It isn’t anything to grieve over.”

Xie Daoyun didn’t want to trouble him further and tried her best to stop crying. However, a stream of tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

The libationer sighed. He looked at Zu An and said, “That’s right. I thought I would be able to drag Zhao Han down with me, but I didn’t expect his cultivation to have made even more progress. Sigh, it’s all my fault for having too many interests and getting too distracted. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up in my current state. It seems that everything was already decided by fate.”

The others were shocked. Zhao Han had made another breakthrough? How was that possible?!

Suddenly, however, they realized something. Previously, Zhao Han had been trapped at the earth immortal rank and remained unsure about the road ahead. However, not too long before, he had witnessed Immortal Ruler Baopu’s strength and seen a new direction. For a cultivation genius like him, that could well be more useful than any miraculous elixir.

Furthermore, the origin power of this world seemed to be a bit stronger than their previous one, and the natural ki was more abundant. Perhaps there really had been a chance for Zhao Han to make a breakthrough here.

Zu An was actually thinking about something else. He had visited the academy’s rear mountain. The libationer’s disciples all studied different fields, yet they all carried utmost respect for the libationer. Those fields were probably where the libationer’s attention had been spread.

Meanwhile, Zu An had just obtained the Baopu Sutra, which had music, divination, rituals, talismans, formations, pill-making, and artifact forging; every single field was wide-ranging and profound. Could it be that Immortal Ruler Baopu had also spent too much time in different fields and experienced a similar end as the libationer?

The libationer was already quite formidable, but he couldn't defeat Zhao Han, who had focused only on cultivation. Now that he had experienced today’s situation, it was already too late for regrets.

Suddenly, a golden figure quickly approached from afar, saying, “Hahaha, libationer, I have to thank you for being a formidable opponent, thus granting me the insight needed for a breakthrough. Once I have a chance to digest these insights, I might be able to face tribulation and advance again.”

That familiar aura was unmistakably Zhao Han.

The libationer’s expression changed. He quickly said to Zu An, “There is one matter that I wish to entrust to you.”

“Please speak, libationer!” Zu An said gravely. It was all thanks to the libationer’s testimony that he had been cleared of suspicion in the scandal with Bi Linglong. Later, when he paid the Royal Academy a visit, the libationer had treated him quite well too. He naturally had to repay this kindness.

Zhao Han was already in the sky above them. When he saw Zu An’s group, he was first stunned, then overjoyed. “Haha! Truly, you can wear out iron shoes in a fruitless search, only to later find what you’re looking for without any effort at all. Now that all of you are together, it saves me the time of searching for you.”

“I will buy you all a bit of time,” Yan Xuehen said gravely. After saying that, she drew her Snowflake Sword and faced Zhao Han.

The libationer had just saved her life a few days prior. Now, she was forced to watch as he died. Not even she who cultivated the Unshakable Daoist Manual could restrain the anger boiling within her.

“Yan Xuehen, are you really going to court death like this? Do you not care about the White Jade Sect anymore?” Zhao Han asked, glowering. He had admired this woman in the past. Seeing her point her blade at him really didn’t make him feel that happy.

Yan Xuehen said indifferently, “If we have to fight, then so be it. What’s the point of wasting so much time with words?”

Zhao Han sneered. “I have always had tender and protective feelings for women, but do you really think you are that strong?” He sent a fist flying toward her right after.

Snowflakes flew all around Yan Xuehen. She charged toward Zhao Han while wrapped within a storm of ice and snow. She wasn’t acting completely recklessly, though. Rather, she had seen that the libationer was already in an extremely poor state, so Zhao Han’s injuries wouldn’t be too light either. She was at her strongest right now, so she thought she could have a chance.

Sure enough, even though she was knocked flying as soon as they clashed, she became more confident. Even though she was at a disadvantage, the difference wasn’t to the extent that she would feel despair.

Her hands formed a seal, and all kinds of skills flew out. A miraculous sword technique manifested, and her white figure suddenly seemed to be everywhere.

“Just some trifling skills!” Zhao Han harrumphed, sending a fist at one of the figures. Yan Xuehen’s body trembled, and she was struck flying again.

A hint of viciousness flashed across Zhao Han’s face. If he couldn't obtain this woman, he couldn't let anyone else obtain her either.

He had just fought a great battle against the libationer. Even though he had gained some insights towards a breakthrough, his injuries weren’t light either. These people still posed a threat against him. As such, he planned to get rid of the ones with the highest cultivation first, and then he could slowly deal with the others.

Yan Xuehen’s sword had been struck by that fist. The tremendous force that was transmitted back to her made it so that she couldn't even catch her breath. She could only watch as Zhao Han’s fist grew closer and closer.

Just then, a trace of moonlight flickered. Zhao Han had to retract his fist to protect himself. Then, he looked at the long-haired beauty facing him with a vicious expression.

Yun Jianyue controlled the Crescent Ring with her fingertips as she remarked with a grin, “Stone cold woman, how are you going to thank me for saving your life?”

Yan Xuehen harrumphed. “I never asked for your help.”

Either way, that guy wouldn’t have just stood there without doing anything if you didn’t help.

“As expected of an ice-cold woman who forgets favors and violates justice,” Yun Jianyue taunted her, although her attention was still completely on Zhao Han.

Previously, when they fought against the Ghost King, his soul-sucking demonic voice had prevented powerful cultivators like them from interfering. They could only defend passively. However, things were different against Zhao Han. They at least had a fighting chance.

Zhao Han frowned. Weren’t these two’s cultivations increasing a bit too quickly? Back then, when Yun Jianyue invaded the Imperial Palace, he hadn’t even needed to face her personally. Just a single slap had been enough to send her away. And yet, just how much time had passed for her to already be at the doorstep of the earth immortal rank?

There was also Yan Xuehen. As she often traveled the world while representing the White Jade Sect, the Embroidery House had a clear analysis of her strength. Why had she advanced at such a ridiculous pace too? Could it be that they had both made use of some immortal elixir?

“Everyone in the world knows that you are sworn enemies, and yet you’re fighting together side by side. This is actually quite an honor for this emperor,” Zhao Han said with a laugh. Now that he already had hope of advancing further, his mood was quite good.

Yun Jianyue chuckled and replied, “Your majesty, the man who made us work together wasn’t you, though.”

Yan Xuehen shot her a guilty glare. What kind of nonsense was this woman saying in front of their disciples?!

Even though she secretly snuck Zu An a look, that small movement didn’t escape Zhao Han’s detection. When he saw her reveal an unprecedented hint of shyness, Zhao Han was stunned at first, and then his expression darkened. The untainted and aloof goddess actually had secular thoughts! Furthermore, it was toward a shameless bastard he looked down on.

If she really didn’t discriminate between anyone and she was fully dedicated to cultivation, not liking any man, he wouldn’t really mind it either. However, now that he had seen another man win, it felt worse than if he were to suffer a loss in combat.

You have successfully trolled Zhao Han for +444 +444 +444…

“In that case, then, I’ll teach you who the strongest man in this world is,” Zhao Han said, brandishing his fists in fury. They immediately turned into two streaks of light that attacked the two women.

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue didn’t dare to hesitate. They both faced their opponent with their full concentration.

…

Zu An watched the battle situation while asking the libationer nervously, “What does your respected self want to tell me?”

“You’ve probably heard the reason why I went against Zhao Han on Violet Mountain before, right?” the libationer asked. When he saw the two women’s performance and Zu An’s nervous expression, he suddenly thought of something and smiled.

“It was because of the Meng Dynasty, and the previous dynasty’s… empress?” Zu An replied in an unsure manner.

“You don’t need to mince words with me,” the libationer said with a chuckle. “That Meng Dynasty is already nothing more than smoke of the past. The only one I care about is her.”

Zu An thought, The libationer really is the ultimate simp… He liked his brother’s wife, and he even earnestly schemed for his sister-in-law and love rival’s descendant.

The libationer said, “in the past, her descendants were harmed terribly by the Zhao clan, but I then heard that there was a lesser eunuch who had a premonition and secretly switched out one of the imperial grandsons, bringing the real one outside the palace. That imperial grandson was left to wander destitute. His age would actually be about the same as yours now, so I hope you can find him and tell him everything, then have him shoulder the responsibility he ought to have.”

Zu An frowned and said, “The world is so big, I might not be able to find him.” Of course, he could have just agreed to it, but he was grateful for the kindness this man showed him and didn’t want to willfully deceive him.

The libationer removed his thumb ring and said, “Take this and enter my residence in the academy’s rear mountain. Find that old servant of mine; he will tell you the related clues. The only thing I am worried about is that the imperial grandson might not choose to bear that responsibility once you find him.”

Zu An patted his chest and said, “Libationer, don’t worry. There are so many people who gave up their entire life for him, so what right does he have to refuse? If he refuses, I’ll just beat him until he agrees.”

The libationer nodded in appreciation, saying, “I feel more relieved now that I’ve heard that.”

Zu An suddenly frowned. And asked, “That imperial grandson you’re talking about isn’t me… right?” No matter how he looked at it, this old fox appeared to be setting him up.

The libationer chuckled and replied, “Your imagination is a bit too abundant, no? If it were you, I would have just told you directly. Why would I need to go through such a loophole?”

Zu An figured that made sense as well.

The libationer continued and said, “Daoyun, please serve as a witness. From today forth, he is the academy’s new libationer.”

“Huh?” Forget about Xie Daoyun, even Zu An was stunned.