Yun Yang was extremely perplexed.
The eight forces he had felt in He Hanqing’s residence represented the eight top experts, each of a strong cultivation base.
These eight experts did not seem like they had appeared before; when Ling Xiaozui had come, these eight people were probably not here yet.
If they were already here, they would have emerged to interrupt the fight. With their aid, the fight would not have been a landslide victory even if Ling Xiaozui would still inevitably win.
The question hung unanswered in the air - when had these eight people come?
Yun Yang recalled the intelligence he had received from the Nine Heavens Dictum – Numerous martial artists have arrived in Tiantang City of late but there has been no more news about them since they came.
"It looks like He Hanqing knew that someone would definitely seize the opportunity to kill him after he had weakened by his injury, so he had transferred some of the Four Seasons Tower’s support in the event of an emergency. Firstly, it was to ensure his safety and secondly to set a deadly trap for those who were preparing to strike. With these eight individuals, even if Marquis Yun and Old Dugu came together, they would be severely disappointed.
"What a way to turn someone’s trick against him; killing two birds with one stone indeed. His plans are really well thought out!"
Yun Yang's chuckle was devoid of humor; in this instance, he was the very person who was preparing to strike.
He Hanqing had been half crippled by Ling Xiaozui limiting his cultivation to an eighth of his usual strength. It was no doubt the best given time to attempt an assassination, yet who would have thought that He Hanqing had turned this fatal loophole into a flawless lethal trap?
If he did not come today and had arranged for someone to attack or to attack him directly himself, he would definitely have fallen into this deadly trap!
"This cunning old fox!"
Yun Yang’s teeth gritted with resentment but he was also genuinely impressed with the foresight and cautiousness possessed by He Hanqing. He was indeed a pillar of force for the Four Seasons Tower; his identity as Supreme Lord Spring Frost was truly apt.
Yun Yang exited the Residence of He and headed home.
Suddenly, his senses tingled even as he melted into the air, changing his form with a single thought.
At the same time, the sound of robes fluttered through the air.
A white shadow flitted like lightning some hundred feet to the front; the incredible speed of the shadow had even turned the air in his wake into a vacuum.
It was like a white tornado swirling through the streets.
Hot on the trail of the shadow, a terrifyingly chilling force rocketed from afar.
Under the cover of nightfall, a person in hemp clothes materialized from the dark. Yun Yang could feel the sound of a chilling, ghastly wind billowing, a sound which accompanied the specter's materialization in the space before him. It was the symphony of countless wronged souls and malicious ghosts clawing through the air and advancing upon him.
The vision flashed momentarily in the air before it disappeared again.
The direction of the billowing wind blew exactly where the shadow which moved with lightning speed had fled to.
There was no mistaking it.
The ghastly, chilling wind fluttered as the shadows chased after each other; it looked like a troop of hundreds and thousands of ghouls followed the shadow as it moved.
Yun Yang only felt the ghastly aura dissipating after the person had been gone for a good quarter of an hour.
"What a terrifying person." Yun Yang slowly materialized by the corner of a wall, sucking in a cold breath.
"This person should be First Court King Qinguang of the ten kings in the ten courts of the Concourse of the Underworld who came inexplicably to Tiantang City and found Fang Mofei…"
"Looks like he didn’t exactly come with peaceful intentions. He’s most probably here to kill someone…"
Yun Yang was itching with curiosity because from the looks of it, the person the First Court King Qinguang was attempting to assassinate was no ordinary individual.
The safest estimation would still put him at Marquis Yun’s level of ninth peak pinnacle. Otherwise, King Qinguang, who was the king of the First Court would not have to personally appear and give chase over a thousand miles with no results whatsoever!
"If they were to fight head to head, this person would definitely not be the First Court King Qinguang’s opponent but his speed was incredible, above King Qinguang’s at that. Although I just caught a glimpse of it, I can still determine that he pulled a distance of three breaths away from King Qinguang and for an expert like this… the distance of three breaths should be no less than several dozen feet…"
"Looking at the situation, he would still be unable to take on the First Court King but it still wouldn't be an easy feat for King Qinguang to catch up and kill this person… it might even be impossible."
"This will be a prolonged war, no doubt about it."
"A contest of time, endurance and confidence!"
"It is just rare to meet even one of these otherworldly experts in Tiantang City but why are they appearing in such huge numbers now?"
Yun Yang chuckled depreciatingly, shaking his head. It looked like the current situation was growing increasingly complicated.
"But this person First Court King Qinguang is chasing after has got quite the character… Despite being hunted down by such a strong opponent, he dared to dress in white, the taboo of night crawlers. It's almost like he's afraid of being overlooked… He’s really something indeed."
Yun Yang returned to the Residence of Yun.
Fang Mofei and Lao Mei were cultivating – two strong forces circled endlessly above the Residence of Yun, growing and expanding as it swirled. Yun Yang did not interrupt them, going back to his room alone. He needed to sort through his thoughts meticulously before he did anything else.
Tiantang City was slowly turning from an orderly metropolis into a big melting pot!
It was unprecedentedly chaotic and messy, a situation made worse by the presence of various skilled martial artists and mysterious experts who had all congregated at this place.
In addition, the renowned generals of other nations were coming too.
Yun Yang could vaguely sense that Tiantang City would inevitably become the core of a universal storm.
It was certain and inevitable.
Such a tendency would probably only grow even more frightening and thrilling a few days later.
Yun Yang finally came out with an evaluation – the four noble families had placed the four noble young masters here, so they would definitely still send experts over. The issue with Mi Kongqun who was in the palace had seemed to come to an end but in reality, it could not be so yet. He Hanqing would not give up that easily either; the king from the Concourse of the Underworld had come as well; The Merciless Tower had previously attempted to assassinate him, so there should also be someone coming.
Then there were the affairs of the civil and military officials tackling each other and military generals being wronged; the old marshal would definitely not ignore these, thus the situation would turn around as soon as the emperor got better.
As he thought of the emperor, he realized that he had to talk about the odd poison in him. It was the top priority of all things and a cause that could set a series of explosion alight; it should be no problem as long as he helped in His Majesty’s recuperation!
Tie Zheng’s wedding was near and the notable generals of other nations were coming, one after another. Subsequent to the arrival of these generals would be the assembly of martial artists from various empires in Tiantang City.
It was a given vision of what would become of Tiantang City by then.
Besides, with so many things happening at the same time, Yun Yang would never believe it if he had been told that there wasn't a mastermind behind all of it.
Yet Yun Yang had Yun Zuiyue to care of while the squad sent by the Nine Heavens Dictum in search of Ji Ling and company had not come back with any news yet.
All of these did not seem to have a direct correlation to Yun Yang but every one of these things was either directly or indirectly relevant to the Nine Supremes. What was worse was that Yun Yang’s current ability was still minuscule so all the more he needed to borrow all the resources he could gather in order to take advantage of this stormy match of forces and turn the deadly situation around.
"As the saying goes, the stronger the ability, the bigger the responsibility. I don’t even have a strong force but I have so many responsibilities. How can I live if I don’t depend on other forces and influences?"
Yun Yang sighed.
…
Hundreds of thousands of miles away, Ji Ling was fondly toying with the treasured saber, Phoenix’s Cry. The more she played around with it, the more she felt that it was connected to her flesh and blood as if it was a part of her and was equipped with a sense of spirituality.
A few nights earlier, Ji Lingxi had been ambushed. The Phoenix’s Cry had actually cried out a clear warning to alert her that a mishap was impending.
Although she and her company had been prepared for this incident and had noticed the enemy’s approach, this characteristic of the Phoenix’s Cry had made Ji Lingxi like it even more.
Holding onto the saber, it was only natural to have thought of the person who gifted it to her.
"Lingxi, you seem to have changed a lot these few days." Yu Xiang’er stared at Ji Lingxi rather enviously.
"Changed? Where? Nonsense!" Ji Lingxi was caught off guard as she returned from her dazed reminiscing, feeling a little guilty about her inattention.
"Come on, you know you've changed. If you haven’t, why are you acting so guiltily?" Xia Yuhan quipped from her side. "You’ve become quieter, hugging your saber while deep in thought whenever you are free. You look like you’re hugging your lover, what a blinding sight it is!"
"Yuhan!" Ji Lingxi flushed red as she whined in embarrassment.
"You're blushing! What are you blushing about? I didn’t say who I meant, I didn’t say the name either…" Xia Yuhan pursed her lips, mirth dancing in her eyes.
"Hmph." Ji Lingxi turned her head away to ignore her completely.
Yu Xiang’er refused to let it go. "Lingxi, why are your face and skin… so fine now?" She grasped Ji Lingxi’s hand over and gasped, "Why is your hand so soft? Let me see… Oh my god, the marks from cultivating are gone too… How – how is this possible? Quickly, tell me!"
Yu Xiang’er was staring at Ji Lingxi with a heated gaze and a yearning look.
Among all the sisters, Yu Xiang’er was the most careful with her appearance and complexion; she had long noticed the change in Ji Lingxi’s and could not keep it in any longer.
Women who practiced martial skills or cultivated would have marks on their hands no matter how much they took care of themselves. Unless their cultivation had soared high enough that their essence and meridians were sufficiently cleansed to restore themselves to natural purity, it would be extremely difficult to have their bodies shed these marks and callouses.
Ji Lingxi’s mystical Qi cultivation obviously had not achieved such a state but it was true that the marks that came from cultivating had all vanished, leaving no trace behind.
This had almost maddened the vain Yu Xiang’er.
"Have they all gone?" Ji Lingxi checked herself blearily.
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