The first person that came to Mingshi Yin’s mind was Fan Xiuwen. Of all the people caught in the blast moments ago, Fan Xiuwen was the only one who had a possibility of surviving. His two subordinates, Yue Chong and Duan Yanhong, did not have such capabilities.
Lu Zhou stood atop the flying chariot. He looked down on the charred lands. He had seen the arm as well.
“Master, there’s a possibility this is Fan Xiuwen. He’s truly tenacious! There’s no need to trouble yourself, master. I’ll kill him on your behalf!” Mingshi Yin grinned and raised a hand. His Separation Hook hovered above his palm and glowed faintly. “We must be careful when facing such a powerful enemy…”
Duanmu Sheng was speechless. ‘Old Fourth, you’ve always been good at bullying the weak.’
Mingshi Yin had just walked up to the charred arm when Lu Zhou’s voice reached him.
“Dig.”
“Huh?”
Duanmu Sheng explained, “Master wants you to dig the soil around the arm so we can see who it is.”
“Oh.” Mingshi Yin recalled his Separation Hook, feeling slightly puzzled. What a shame! If he could kill such a powerful opponent, nobody would dare to look down on the name of Mingshi Yin. He casually waved his arm, and a weak energy loosened the soil around the arm before pushing them away.
Mingshi Yin clicked his tongue as he marveled. “Master, it really is Fan Xiuwen! I didn’t expect him to survive that explosion! This is a miracle!”
Lu Zhou said, “There’s a Daoist technique called the Blood Escape Technique. By using up decades of one’s own life and essence and the power in one’s dantian’s Sea of Qi, one can form a protective layer over one’s body.”
The others on board the flying chariot were shocked to hear this.
Pan Zhong said with a nod, “However, there’s a hefty price to pay for using this Blood Escape Technique… If your dantian’s sea of Qi is damaged, your cultivation base would be forfeit as well. Why would he go to such lengths?”
For a cultivator, unleashing the blood Escape Technique could save their lives, but if their cultivation base was destroyed, what reason would they have to continue living? They would be better off dead. Fan Xiuwen’s choice truly puzzled the others.
Mingshi Yin cursorily examined Fan Xiuwen. A shocked expression could be seen on his face as he said to Lu Zhou and said, “Master, he’s still alive! However, he’s very weak… This is the best time for us to kill him. I’m an expert at striking when someone is down!”
Duanmu Sheng was speechless.
Zhou Jifeng was puzzled.
Duanmu Sheng regarded Mingshi Yin with slight disdain. He did not like to strike a man when he was down.
Zhou Jifeng was the first disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, after all. His behavior was still in line with the Noble Path’s principles. Even if he secretly wished to do it, he would never allow himself to actually do it.
Mingshi Yin conjured up his Separation Hook again.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard. He looked at Fan Xiuwen indifferently and said, “Fan Xiuwen has committed crimes all his life. He probably didn’t expect this outcome. I think he made this choice so he won’t die with regrets.”
Pan Zhong said, “I think Fan Xiuwen’s will to live comes from his wish to witness Mo Li’s death.”
“Bah… Why should we fulfill his wish? Ridiculous! Does he think the Evil Sky Pavilion is a charity organization? There’s no time. Before he breathes his last, I’ll end him with my blade!” Mingshi Yin was slightly anxious to get on with this.
Duanmu Sheng could not take this anymore. He pulled Mingshi Yin and said, “Old Fourth… Our current priority is to locate Elder Hua…”
“You’re right, Third Senior Brother.” Mingshi Yin nodded.
The two of them looked around their surroundings. Apart from a few onlookers who were brave enough to stay behind, they did not see anyone else.
At this moment, apart from the cultivators in Tangzi Town who had run away, some of them kneeled on the ground and kowtowed. They seemed… excited. Unfortunately, their cultivation bases were too low. Otherwise, they would have made great lackeys in the Evil Sky Pavilion.
All of a sudden, Lu Zhou said, “Bring him back to the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
“Huh? Bring him back to the Evil Sky Pavilion?”
“Fan Xiuwen is an Eight-leaf expert after all… Since he hates Mo Li so much, we should keep him…” Lu Zhou said.
“Yes, master.” Although Mingshi Yin did not like Fan Xiuwen, he had to obey his master’s orders. He raised a hand. A wave of energy lifted Fan Xiuwen up. He channeled some Primal Qi to protect Fan Xiuwen’s heart and meridians to keep him alive.
The moment the Greenwood Heart Technique’s specialty was manifested, Fan Xiuwen’s aura gradually stabilized.
Mingshi Yin carried Fan Xiuwen as he stepped into the air and returned to the flying chariot.
“Elder Hua!” Zhou Jifeng suddenly pointed east. He stood at the highest point after all so it was easier for him to see further.
At this moment, Hua Wudao was dragging his exhausted body along. His clothes were tattered, and his face was riddled with wounds. He walked with heavy footsteps toward them.
Duanmu Sheng walked with a spring in his steps and went to support Hua Wudao. He looked around before he asked with a frown, “Where’s Luo Shisan?”
Hua Wudao sighed and shook his head. He glanced at Duanmu Sheng before glancing at Lu Zhou who was on the flying chariot and said, “His sword skills are too powerful… I couldn’t do anything to him.”
Lu Zhou looked at Hua Wudao intently before he said, “But he couldn’t do anything against you either.” After all, Hua Wudao had a ninth character in his Six Compatible Sea. Even if they fought a battle of attrition, Luo Shisan had to be able to endure it as well.
Hua Wudao nodded. “It was a tie.”
“So, where’s Luo Shisan?” Mingshi Yin asked.
“He left…”
“You…” Mingshi Yin swung his arm. He felt slightly annoyed by this. “How could you let someone whom the Evil Sky Pavilion wants to kill go?”
Everyone was looking at Hua Wudao at this moment.
After all, Hua Wudao was from the Yun Sect. Perhaps, their fight did not end in a draw. There was a chance he had let his former comrade go. Nobody would be able to find out the truth since there were no eyewitnesses.
Hua Wudao immediately cupped his fists and said, “Every word of mine is true… If you don’t believe me, Pavilion Master, I’m willing to receive any punishment.”
“Enough of your ruse! My master won’t fall for something like that…” Mingshi Yin said as he rolled his eyes.
Lu Zhou raised his hand slowly and said in a calm tone, “I believe you.”
Hua Wudao looked up in shock. He immediately raised his hands. “Thank you!”
At the same time, Lu Zhou saw Hua Wudao’s loyalty went up by 5%.
Duanmu Sheng brought Hua Wudao onto the cloud-splitting chariot.
“Return to the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
“Understood!”
…
Meanwhile, about three miles away from the location of the blast.
Luo Shishan stabbed his sword into the ground to stabilize himself. He panted as he muttered to himself, “That old geezer, he’s so powerful…” He had depleted all his Primal Qi from fighting. Who knew an all-powerful Sword Saint like him would end up in such a battered state?
“Forget it. To each his own…” Luo Shisan shook his head helplessly.
However, just as Luo Shishan was about to leave, a green-clad swordsman silently appeared at a spot 50 meters ahead of him.
The green-clad swordsman carried a long sword on his straight back. “Hello there.”
Even without strength at this moment, Luo Shishan was not completely unguarded. He was, naturally, startled by the green-clad swordsman’s sudden appearance.
“You are?”
“My name’s Yu Shangrong.”
“…” Luo Shisan’s eyes widened. He tightened his grip on his sword, trembling. He was in no condition to fight against Yu Shangrong right now.
“Sword Devil?”
“That is but a name. It’s not significant enough to mention.” Yu Shangrong turned and studied Luo Shisan.
Luo Shisan took a step back. “I came here on my sect master’s orders to clear the taint on our sect. I have no intention of becoming an enemy of the Evil Sky Pavilion”
“You’re afraid,” Yu Shangrong said.
“I… I’m not…”
“No, you are.” Yu Shangrong shook his head lightly. He revealed a faint smile. “There’s no need to worry, I won’t strike a man when he’s down…”
“…” Luo Shisan did not believe him.
“You’re weak, so weak that it’s boring.”
