Chapter 145.1: Chat Later, I'm Going To Kill People

In the Cloud Pavilion.

Prodigies gathered around, attending unending banquets. Delicacies were served one after another, and fine wine flowed as cups were raised again and again.

Huang Tu stood among the crowd, brimming with spirit and ambition.

Xu Tongchen stood at his side, restlessly holding his wine cup. He was still thinking about that strange feeling from the other day.

The True Sun Fire was both his greatest stroke of fortune and lifeline. In fact, he could have entered the top ten of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Ranking. However, to conceal his strength and not outshine Huang Tu, Xu Tongchen deliberately ranked just behind him.

Immeasurably powerful, the True Sun Fire was extremely sensitive to sun-related treasures. When Xu Tongchen saw that man, he felt like he was gazing at the blazing great sun.

The True Sun Fire kept leaping wildly, as if it had seen its father.

“Huang Tu’s Dao arts have grown increasingly profound. There is hope for him to enter the top fifteen, perhaps even the top ten,” someone flattered Huang Tu.

Huang Tu accepted the praise with an arrogant expression.

Then, someone else said, “What a pity that True Sun Fire belonged to Xu Tongchen. Had Huang Tu comprehended it, he might rank in the top three!”

Xu Tongchen’s expression changed slightly.

The speaker was ranked seven hundred, named Zheng Fangxing. His sect had always been at odds with the Seven Words Sect. And now he said this openly, clearly trying to sow discord.

Even so, the arrogant Huang Tu couldn’t be bothered to hide anything. He glanced at Xu Tongchen. “It is indeed a pity.”

Xu Tongchen felt both aggrieved and furious, yet he could not refute. He could only force out an awkward smile. The domineering nature of the Bright Palace was carved into their bones, unrestrained and unscrupulous.

Zheng Fangxing then said, “The Blood-Clothed Sword God keeps provoking the Bright Palace. My master Mo Ku could no longer stomach his arrogance. In fact, he has already gone to the Bright King Palace, where Elder Qian Yuan is stationed. They are going to fight him together. However, there are

certain people

who were born and dwell on the Cuiyun Continent, yet unable to stand against a common enemy. They clearly have ambiguous relations with that Blood-Clothed Sword God.”

His words all but pointed at Seven Word Sect.

A few days ago, Elder Qian Yuan and the Blood-Clothed Sword God arranged a duel. All the Violet Palace cultivators from powers near the Bright King Palace received the message and went to watch. In truth, they went to support the Bright Palace.

Mo Ku had gone early, but Xu Yeli made an excuse not to go.

Zheng Fangxing kept on provoking. “They must be cowards, afraid of the Blood-Clothed Sword God.”

The young prodigies also praised the Bright Palace to the heavens, mocking the Blood-Clothed Sword God to hell.

“

Hmph

! Afraid of some nobody from the Hundred Nations? He just happens to break through to Violet Palace, yet he dares provoke the Bright Palace? He’s courting death!”

“Elder Qian Yuan has already set up an array at the Bright King Palace. I bet that Blood-Clothed Sword God won't even dare show up! He will hide in the Hundred Nations like a turtle!”

Although their sects had many long-established Violet Palace experts, they could only act like dogs in front of the Bright Palace. Hence they looked down upon Blood-Clothed Sword God.

One young cultivator said, “Once the battle ends, we’ll likely hear the news of his execution.”

Huang Tu nodded as well. “There is nothing to fear. He only knows how to use dirty tricks.”

In the past two days, the recording jade slips, which showed the Bright Palace’s Nascent Soul elders struck by heavenly punishment, had spread everywhere.

Many in the cultivation world secretly criticized the Bright Palace. After all, their tyranny had long provoked resentment among low-level cultivators. Of course, even if they hurled criticism until they frothed at the mouth, it couldn’t hurt the Bright Palace whatsoever. No matter how many low-level cultivators joined forces, they could not shake the Bright Palace’s position.

Furthermore, the prodigies at the banquet were all of noble birth. They naturally paid no attention to the voices of those low-level cultivators.

The banquet grew ever livelier. Under Zheng Fangxing’s subtle provocations, almost everyone treated Xu Tongchen with a cold shoulder, intentionally or not.

Xu Tongchen sat alone in a corner, drinking gloomily, still thinking of the man he had seen that day.

He had already sent people to investigate in secret. Soon, he would likely receive the information.

***

Inside his cave residence, Qi Yuan continued digesting some of the techniques from Jiang Lingsu. Unfortunately, progress was extremely slow.

Qi Yuan rubbed his forehead, glancing at Little Bride. Seeing she had fallen asleep on the table, his gaze softened.

It’s about time. I’ll head to the Bright King Palace later and meet my heart-moving White Moonlight.

Just then, a sound suddenly came from outside the cave. It was similar to the doorbell from Blue Planet.

Through the array, Qi Yuan looked out and saw a young man. The cave door opened.

Qi Yuan asked calmly, “What do you want?”

“I am Xu Tongchen, from the Seven Word Sect. I saw you three days ago. I have come uninvited today. I hope you do not mind.” Xu Tongchen said, lowering himself entirely.

He was dying to know why the True Sun Fire was reacting so strangely. The closer he got to this young man, the more intense the reaction became. He was burning hot all over, his gaze toward Qi Yuan becoming uncontrollably fervent.

Qi Yuan frowned. “Speak.”

“When I condensed my Golden Core, I was fortunate enough to condense a wisp of True Sun Fire—”

Surprised, Qi Yuan interjected. “True Sun Fire?”

That's good stuff.

The True Sun Fire could be used to withstand the divine abilities of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Indeed. A big city meant big opportunities. Randomly bump into a Core Formation cultivator, and they could practically reverse-kill a Nascent Soul.

“When I saw you, my True Sun Fire kept leaping, as if...” Xu Tongchen couldn’t bring himself to finish.

Qi Yuan looked at him.

[This is an ordinary cultivator... Well, at least until he gained the True Sun Fire. The True Sun Fire thinks you’re its father.]

“Is that all?” Qi Yuan glanced at the sky. “I’m busy right now, I have people to kill. We can talk later.”

Without waiting for a response, Qi Yuan vanished, leaving behind a completely dumbfounded Xu Tongchen.

“Hey...” he called out, but Qi Yuan was already gone.

Despite feeling extremely conflicted, he chose to wait here in the end. Uncertainty gnawed at him, crawling like ants in his heart.

***

An hour later.

High above the heavens, a figure in blood-colored robes streaked across the sky like a crimson rainbow.

From time to time, loud, booming shouts echoed across the heavens.

“The Bright Palace has committed countless evils and brought heavenly punishment upon themselves!” His voice spread far and wide across the land. “I, the Blood-Clothed Sword God, stand up for all injustice in the world. I swear to execute the Bright Palace!”

Countless cultivators looked up. However, they couldn't see clearly because the blood-red streak was too fast. In the end, all they could hear was that hearty, booming shout.

Some were excited, others felt uneasy, and the rest were utterly helpless.

Qi Yuan sped toward the Bright King Palace extremely quickly, as though he were rushing to meet a lover. Well, not quite, he was meeting his White Moonlight after all.

Suddenly, an elder said, “Blood-Clothed Sword God, please wait.”

Qi Yuan halted and landed on a hilltop. He looked at the Nascent Soul cultivator cloaked entirely in black, sensing no hostility or killing intent.

“What, you need something from me?” he asked.

“Blood-Clothed Sword God, the Bright King Palace is lying in ambush. Besides three Nascent Soul experts, there are two additional Violet Palace experts. Elder Qian Yuan is mid-stage Violet Palace, and he holds a treasure bestowed by the Grand Palace Master. You'll surely die if you go. Why don't you just give up? It would be better to harass their Nascent Soul cultivators instead!” the black-robed cultivator said quickly, with a hint of worry.

Qi Yuan looked at him. “

Oh

? You have beef with the Bright Palace?”

The black-robed man paused, his eyes sorrowful. He was Xu Yeli.

When Qian Yuan forced his disciple to serve Huang Tu, Xu Yeli endured it. At least, until he learned the reason behind the Bright Palace’s grand palace master’s visit to the Divine Flower Society. The purpose was not only to deal with the Blood-Clothed Sword God, but also to borrow a supreme treasure: the Divine Fire Binding Cage.

Most likely, after the prodigy battle ended, the grand palace master would extract Xu Tongchen’s True Sun Fire with the treasure and give it to Huang Tu.

That was when Xu Yeli knew the Seven Word Sect was facing its greatest crisis.

“Yes, hatred, deep-seated hatred!” Xu Yeli said firmly, earnestly trying to persuade him. “Why not join forces with me? We can roam together and pressure the Bright Palace! It'll make them hesitate! We are too weak to clash with them head-on!”

He valued the Blood-Clothed Sword God greatly. If they colluded, they could definitely create trouble for the Bright Palace. Perhaps even enough to make the Bright Palace wary, not daring to act against his disciple.

Qi Yuan stared at him thoughtfully. “Cooperate... That is indeed possible.”

“Really?” Xu Yeli was thrilled. The two of them against the Bright Palace probably sounded like trying to move a mountain, but it was still better than fighting alone.

Qi Yuan said calmly, “I do happen to be missing a suona player. When I battle the Bright Palace’s Violet Palace cultivators, you can stand to the side and play music for me. How about it? Having someone play music makes killing more enjoyable.”

He suddenly missed the musical troupe from Flowing Wind World.

Xu Yeli was completely stupefied. He understood every word the Blood-Clothed Sword God said, yet somehow none of it made sense.

Kill people? Play music? What the?!

Xu Yeli asked, “Wait, you still intend to go to the Bright King Palace?”

Qi Yuan said with full confidence, “Of course. Great righteousness and destiny rest upon me. Right now, I am the Grand Magician Liu Xiu[1] himself. They're seeking death by opposing me!”

Xu Yeli was speechless. He was starting to feel that getting through this Violet Palace cultivator was extremely difficult, as if something was wrong with his head.

“

Haa...

Geniuses truly are lonely.” Qi Yuan sighed. “But time will prove everything. How about this? If I flatten the Bright King Palace today, then every time I go crusade against the Bright Palace from now on, you stand behind and play music for me. How about that?”

A lone Violet Palace cultivator playing music wasn’t as good as three hundred, or three thousand... Still, given the circumstances, what could Qi Yuan do?

Xu Yeli fell silent, unsure how to respond. He came with one clear objective: to dissuade the man from going to the Bright King Palace. How did it suddenly turn into an agreement where he ended up playing music for the other party?

He looked at the Blood-Clothed Sword God, gritting his teeth, “If you can kill Qian Yuan, I will play music for you. How about that?”

Qi Yuan glanced at Xu Yeli and grinned. “Wait for my good news.”

Then he vanished.

Xu Yeli stood there, speechless for a long time without speaking. “Either he’s a lunatic, or he has a trump card.”

Of course, he simply could not understand what that trump card was. Some great figures? The same ones who gave tacit approval to the Hundred Nations Blood War initiated by the Bright Palace?

1. A historical figure nicknamed as such: Liu Xiu was the founding emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty in China. His successful military campaigns and rise to power might be colloquially or creatively described in some contexts as "magical" due to seemingly miraculous victories, leading to this kind of nickname. ☜