Chapter 690 - If You Won't Listen, Then Die!

The weather on February 12 in the year 157 of the Hongli Federation was crystal clear. It had been nearly two months since Cassius issued the order for rapid expansion to Simone. During this time, many earth-shaking changes had occurred quietly. But sometimes, they were rather intense.

In Mountain Moon City of Kaijong County, one of the six eastern counties, the sky reddened as the sun began to set. The sunset clouds looked like paint on a painter's palette as they blurred along the lower edges of the clouds. It looked gorgeously mysterious, with faint traces of a burning flame.

Spring was already in the air as grass sprouted by the road. Bathed in the evening sun, the suburban Mount Shuihun looked rather beautiful. Mount Shuihun lay about five kilometers outside Mountain Moon City. A broad white concrete road ran around the mountain, making transport convenient. One of the Eastern Nine Sects, the Soul-Breaking Sword Path, had its sect built there.

From the foot of the mountain, one first saw emerald forests, then a winding, white stairway leading to the summit. The stairs had many forks, leading to different architectural clusters on the mountain. Some were old, austere, wooden martial halls built deep within. Others were white modern multi-story concrete buildings, with metallic trims faintly reflecting under the sun.

Influenced by the fervent combat tournaments in the Hongli Federation some years ago, the sect's martial arts had a brief craze. Thus in recent years, parts of Mount Shuihun were open to the public, and some tourists visited the outer martial halls of the Soul-Breaking Sword Path to appreciate the charm of practical swordsmanship.

That day, however, Mount Shuihun abruptly closed to visitors. No tourists were allowed up, and no outsiders were allowed into the martial hall.

"Ah!"

Bang! Clang!

Figures tumbled toward both sides of the steps, unable to control their bodies. An irresistible force crushed them, even shattering the swords they depended on for survival. It was the brute strength of a savage beast!

Zing!

A thick hand wearing black fingerless gloves snapped a skull cross-sword in midair, most of its blade spinning off at high speed. It pierced a tree trunk, then nailed into a building.

"Impossible! I've trained in the Soul-Breaking Sword for over twenty years, since I was seven, and you broke it with one palm! I don't believe it!" A handsome man with a long black ponytail glared at his sword’s remains as if his faith in humanity had collapsed.

He stood on the white steps, gripping the heavy, remaining hilt of the cross-sword. His features were handsome and refined, and his aura cool and outstanding. He was clearly not an ordinary person. Indeed, he was the previous generation's first core disciple of the Soul-Breaking Sword Path, Moon Soul Roland. He was once one of the Eastern Three Stars of the younger generation. One of the current Eastern Three Stars, Dead Soul Sword Sid, was Roland's disciple. Sid had always strived with Roland as his model.

It was evident how gifted the former Moon Soul Roland had been in his youth. Now in his thirties, he was still a leader among the current generation of the Soul-Breaking Sword Path. He had stepped into the realm of combat artist and stabilized there for years. After years of sharpening his swordsmanship, he was about to break through and challenge famed experts of the Eastern Covert Martial Arts world to proclaim the name of the Soul-Breaking Sword Path once again.

Yet someone stormed up the mountain before he could descend. It was one of the Four Kings of the Golem Sect. Within the martial hall of the Soul-Breaking Sword Path, the nearly broken-hearted Moon Soul Roland dazedly raised his head, looking up at the strong figure walking down from the summit.

The burly man’s black combat uniform was marked with the word "Golem," and draped with a short silver metal cape. His features were resolute, brow-edges sharp, and his high nose carried a domineering air. His eyes were calm and still, a sign of absolute confidence.

"One of Golem Sect's Four Kings, Fist Demon Simone!" Roland pronounced each word as his sword hand trembled uncontrollably. At last, he couldn't restrain himself and roared like a madman.

"Why?! Why are you doing this?! Sect Master Mika and Elder Kudu never provoked you nor Golem Sect! Why did you grievously wound them? Do you intend to exterminate our Soul-Breaking Sword Path?! Aren't you afraid the entire Eastern Covert Martial Arts world will rise up against you?!"

Tap, tap, tap...

Black boots stepped upon the white stone stairs as Simone's figure descended step by step. The metal clasps pinning his cape at both shoulders shone dazzling gold in the sunlight.

"Why? Because you're blocking my Golem Sect's path. Joining Golem Sect is embracing a stronger martial way, bathing in the glory of a Holy Fist, and steering the entire Covert Martial Arts world toward a better direction! Do you still not understand and insist on clinging to your rubbish? We of Golem Sect have always walked the right road. The wind of victory blows at our backs! We represent progress, strength, and the peak..."

Standing five or six steps above him, Simone slowly looked down with a cold smile on his lips. "Whether it's your Soul-Breaking Sword Path or other thorny sects, your visions are pitifully short-sighted. You simply haven't understood our grand vision...

Heheh.

But it's fine, you don't have to understand. Think what you like, even if it’s hatred and resentment. However, what you want to do is no longer up to you! If you won't obey, then die!"

He slowly spread his hands as an immense pressure descended. Black Qi surged up wildly behind him, like the face of a gigantic beast fixing on surrounding prey.

"As for that bullshit about an uprising, do you think our Golem Sect has ever been afraid? Don't speak of just the Eastern Covert Martial Arts world, even if the entire Hongli Federation's Covert Martial Arts world rebels against us, so what? Our Golem Sect's master is a Holy Fist!"

Boom!

The beastly face formed of black Qi burst out from behind Simone in an instant. The black Qi completely submerged the steps and surrounding area. Only one strong figure emerged from within.

***

The weather was just as clear on February 15. Pale clouds skittered across the azure sky. Dazzling sunlight streamed through the gaps, dyeing half the sky gold. The trees of Florence grew ever greener, shimmering under the sun.

Florence, the capital of the Hongli Federation, was the federation's administrative center and its second-largest economic center. Its facilities and economic development was in no way inferior to the international metropolis of East Sea City's urban area. Skyscrapers, broad streets, lampposts and benches were all kept clean.

Florence's eastern district was home to many nations' embassies, as well as a considerable number of museums, exhibition halls, and clubs. This included a high-class venue called White Rose Hall.

They had been busy for several days now as they prepared for a classy banquet. A renovation company specializing in banquets was redecorating both the interior and exterior. The soft gold-red carpet was laid and a thorn-pattern wall decor had long been affixed. The crystal chandeliers on the ceiling had been replaced, and potted flowers were set out.

The air inside was fresh and elegant, with a faint floral fragrance. National chefs were invited, as were bands that had performed on world-class stages. Everything spoke of the extraordinary.

That day, the Blue Star Empire's Fifth Prince and Sixth Princess, along with some high officials, had come for the first time to the Hongli Empire to attend the Florence International Economic Conference. As one of the world's three great powers, the Hongli Federation naturally could not slight the Blue Star Empire's delegation. Even the Black Ops Agency was cooperating, dispatching formidable forces to ensure the Blue Star Empire's delegation had no incidents in the Hongli Federation.

At 6:55 p.m. in the White Rose Hall, a red carpet edged with gold extended from the hall's open doors, laid over white tiles up to a lit fountain with a black centaur statue. Armed security personnel stood silently, eyes like torches, scanning the surroundings repeatedly for any unexpected situations. Other experts in the supernatural realm also prowled within the shadows, sealing the venue completely.

Guests began to arrive at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Black cars drove from various embassies with small national flags fluttering on their hoods. The hoods gleamed faintly under the streetlights. Gentlemen in suits and ladies in elegant attire walked into White Rose Hall, led by smartly dressed guides.

7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. was entry time.

At 7:20 p.m., two white sedans drove up. These two cars were exquisite, with a spacious streamlined shape. Rounded silver metal trims reflected around them. The hood had an emblem of a short sword entwined by a venomous snake, denoting the model.

It was an obscure brand unknown to the public called "Carlton Key." It had always been the royal family's special vehicle supplier. Its safety, comfort, and luxury were beyond reproach.

Hiss.

The wheels halted before White Rose Hall and two noble figures alighted. The man on the left was about twenty-five and dressed in a well-fitted gray suit. He was handsome with deep features, refined brows and eyes, and groomed short hair. His figure was slender, about 1.85 meters, with a memorable gentle temperament.

On the right, a woman around twenty wore a bright and gracious evening dress. Nothing was revealed except her securely wrapped fine figure and a bit of supple white skin. She had a slender neck, a beautiful face, and gently pinned red hair like a rose that could seize everyone's gaze in an instant.

These two were the Fifth Prince and Sixth Princess of the Blue Star Empire.

At 7:30 p.m., the banquet began.

Well-dressed guests moved about in the brightly lit hall with wine glasses in hand. Several long narrow tables were draped with white cloth, bordered by containers that held metal cutlery. In the middle were dishes of all colors, aromas, and flavors, with some silver cups filled with fruits and vegetables.

However, no one touched them. People did not come to eat at these occasions.

Melodious music echoed in one corner of the hall, giving a comfortable, relaxed feeling. Several Hongli Federation councilors clinked glasses and chatted with ambassadors from various countries. At last, they brought a group of ambassadors to chat with the Blue Star Empire's Fifth Prince Omai and Sixth Princess Sharo. It was all friendly greetings and some amusing small talk.

Serious topics were not to be discussed at tonight's banquet. There would be enough time once the Florence economic conference formally began. After some pleasantries, their conversation somehow took a turn toward the Golem Sect. They mentioned the development of the Golem Sect's rapid expansion of martial halls, like autumn winds sweeping fallen leaves.

Clearly, the Golem Sect's frenzied expansion had drawn many governments' attention. However, it was unclear whether they were trying to probe or had other aims. The Hongli Federation council was somewhat helpless, for the Golem Sect was not under the federation's control. Even the Black Ops Agency that was used by the federation to engage the supernatural realm was powerless before it.

According to the Chief Mechanist's report, experts in the Golem Sect were as numerous as clouds. There was even a legendary, near-mythic existence in the Golem Sect's master who had achieved Holy Fist in a declining Covert Martial Arts world. He was utterly beyond control or prediction, no different from a god walking among men.

However, the Black Ops Agency's butler, Reaper Amos, had contacted and conversed with the Golem Sect's master, Cassius. He received a definite reply that the Golem Sect had no interest in the government. They were focused only on the Covert Martial Arts world and on hunting dark creatures hidden within human society. Beyond that, Golem Sect would not interfere much.

Among the crowd, the Fifth Prince Omai joined in on the topic.

"I've heard the name of the Golem Sect's master Cassius. My royal swordsmanship teacher, once a swordmaster, greatly admires him. He says this man is a gift from heaven, perhaps the sole existence in centuries capable of reaching the peak of martial arts. Perhaps, as martial arts gradually decline, the world will never see such a person again..." His gaze was bright and spirited as he spoke. There seemed even a faint, deeply hidden reverence.

"I wonder if there will be a chance to see this modern-day Holy Fist with my own eyes on this trip to the Hongli Federation?"