He Yiming’s eyes suddenly lit up. The gaze he fixed upon the other man was instantly charged with a blade-like intensity.
For any ordinary expert, even a powerful figure at the Venerable level, He Yiming’s sudden release of oppressive aura would have induced trembling fear. Yet, the black-clad figure opposite stood as firm and immovable as a mountain boulder, utterly unshaken.
His presence was stable and immense, subtly enveloping He Yiming’s surroundings.
In a brief moment of disorientation, He Yiming felt the chilling sensation of a frog being stalked by a venomous snake. Even the hairs on his arms stood up in a visible rash.
Frowning slightly, He Yiming spoke loudly, “What Sarira are you referring to, my lord?”
The man scoffed, “The seventy-two Sarira of the Ancient Demon of the Eastern Sea. Do you truly not know?”
He Yiming regarded him steadily, “The Ancient Demon was indeed slain by me, but I never took any Sarira from him.”
The man laughed heartily, “Even if you did not take them, what about your companion?”
He Yiming raised his eyebrows slightly, abruptly shifting the focus of his speech. “Since you have come here to demand the Sarira, you must not be a nobody. Might I ask your name, so that He might know how many capable experts truly reside within the Yellow Springs Gate.”
The black-clad man said gravely, “A name is merely a codename for a person. Is it truly that important?”
He Yiming clasped his hands in a polite bow, smiling silently.
The man pondered for a moment. Finally, he stated, “This old man is Hu Yan’aobo of the Yellow Springs Gate.”
Though He Yiming had already suspected the man’s identity as an assassin from the Yellow Springs Gate, it was only at this moment that the suspicion became a certainty.
“Brother Hu Yan seems to know things quite clearly. If my guess is correct, you must have been concealed within Sea Heaven City at that time,” He Yiming said calmly, his eyes locked squarely onto the other’s gaze.
A sharp glint flashed in the single visible eye of Hu Yan’aobo. “Correct. This old man was indeed hidden within Sea Heaven City, and witnessed a true clash of dragons and tigers.”
He Yiming inwardly gasped; he hadn't expected this man to have actually been present. If he had intervened to aid Lin Yi’wu and the others at that time, the outcome might have been vastly different.
“If Brother Hu Yan was present, why did you not move to seize the Sarira?” He Yiming asked solemnly.
Hu Yan’aobo gave a cold smile. “Your companion made a move even earlier than I. Although I desired the object, I was unwilling to incur the mortal enmity of a master at the Five Qi Converging to Primordial stage.”
He Yiming suddenly understood; the man had been wary of Bai Lingba.
His expression hardening abruptly, He Yiming declared loudly, “Brother Hu Yan, to my knowledge, the operational range of the Yellow Springs Gate has always been confined to the borders of the Great Shen Dynasty. If that is so, how were you able to travel overseas? Has that prohibition been lifted?”
Hu Yan’aobo let out a long laugh. “You, a man from the Northwest, even know this rule of our sect. How interesting.” He paused, then added casually, “Our sect does indeed have this rule, but there is one circumstance under which our Venerables are permitted to leave the territory of the Great Shen. But what that circumstance is, you need not know.”
Innumerable thoughts raced through He Yiming’s mind. He recalled Sima Yin from years past, the Yellow Springs Gate master who had taken his own life, and the Blood Coagulation Art controlled by the Ancient Demon, along with the unknown ties between the Hao Family and the Yellow Springs Gate.
Faintly, as if a sudden spark of enlightenment, a peculiar thought surfaced in his heart.
He Yiming looked up sharply. “What is the relationship between the Ancient Demon and your Yellow Springs Gate? Could he possibly be a renegade who escaped from your sect?”
Hu Yan’aobo paused slightly. Though he did not answer He Yiming’s question directly, the flicker of an unusual light in his eyes revealed much.
“Your Excellency is indeed exceptionally intelligent. It is no wonder you have achieved such extraordinary success in the Martial Path,” Hu Yan’aobo sighed deeply. “If not for the critical connection between those seventy-two Sarira and the Blood Coagulation Sutra, our sect would not wish to make an enemy of a rising talent like yourself.”
He Yiming chuckled grimly, though in his heart, he was now certain that Sima Yin, who haunted the Northwest, was indeed a traitor of the Yellow Springs Gate—though it seemed the sect members were unaware of this, or they would have already dispatched Venerables.
“Brother Hu Yan, since you know the whereabouts of the Ancient Demon, why did you not act sooner?” He Yiming pressed.
This man before him was clearly a supreme expert at the Five Qi Converging to Primordial stage. If he had acted immediately upon arriving in Sea Heaven City, he might well have subdued the Ancient Demon and the others.
Hu Yan’aobo let out a dissatisfied, cold snort. “The Ancient Demon took control of a Six-Legged Sacred Beast. You have witnessed its speed. While this old man could defeat them, I could not catch them, so I had to conceal my movements.”
He Yiming’s eyebrows soared, and he laughed. “I see. However, I have one question: Do you, Brother Hu Yan, believe that my White Horse is inferior to that Six-Legged Monster?”
Hu Yan’aobo shook his head. “Though I do not know where you acquired your Sacred Beast, its capabilities far surpass those of the Six-Legged Monster.”
He Yiming grinned slyly. “If that is the case, why have you come here, Brother Hu Yan? Do you think you can keep up with it?”
“To chase the White Horse is absolutely impossible, but you are different from the Ancient Demon,” Hu Yan’aobo stated coldly. “The Ancient Demon was alone; he only needed to flee. You, however, are not.”
The smile instantly vanished from He Yiming’s face, replaced by a murderous intent so sharp it felt palpable.
Despite the man opposite being a master of the Five Qi Converging to Primordial stage, at that moment, He Yiming felt a killing urge reaching its absolute peak—to the point where he was prepared for mutual destruction.
Sensing the substantive, ferocious killing intent radiating from He Yiming, Hu Yan’aobo seemed unconcerned. “Since Your Excellency has ascended to the Venerable rank, as per tradition, our sect will offer you compensation once we obtain the seventy-two Sarira and the Blood Coagulation Sutra you hold.”
A sneer touched the corner of He Yiming’s mouth.
Hu Yan’aobo continued, unperturbed. “Your Excellency may also propose terms for compensation to our sect. If they are acceptable, we will endeavor to fulfill them for you.”
He Yiming finally lost patience and laughed loudly toward the sky. “What if He is unwilling?”
“If you are unwilling, it is simple. Our sect will dispatch experts to challenge you. If we win, your possessions naturally belong to us. If we lose, our sect will not trouble you for a hundred years,” Hu Yan’aobo stated calmly.
He Yiming’s expression shifted rapidly between shades of dark and light. After a moment, he finally said, “Very well. He accepts your sect’s challenge.”
Hu Yan’aobo nodded slightly. “This old man will return to report to the Sect Master. Farewell.”
He Yiming watched coldly as the man turned to leave, his internal True Qi surging violently, yet he forcefully suppressed the desire to strike.
Setting aside whether he could win the fight, even if he killed him, the Yellow Springs Gate would surely be alerted. If this entire cohort of assassins were allowed to pour into the Northwest, it would spell utter ruin for the He Family Estate.
Sighing softly, He Yiming gently patted the head of his horse.
The moment the White Horse turned, He Yiming’s expression changed again.
He clearly sensed a subtle, almost imperceptible killing intent brushing past him.
Without hesitation, He Yiming casually waved his hand, and the Five Elements Ring materialized instantly in his grip, slamming fiercely against some unseen divine weapon attacking from behind him.
The White Horse let out a piercing neigh, its hind legs kicking backward with lightning speed.
However, though its movement was blindingly fast, the rear attacker had anticipated it. After the initial failed strike, the assailant immediately retreated sideways, and the horse’s fierce kicks struck only empty air.
A furious neigh erupted from the White Horse. It leaped into the air, executing a nimble mid-air turn, and then lunged backward.
In that flash of light and thunder, He Yiming saw that the attacker staging the ambush was none other than Hu Yan’aobo, who had seemingly departed.
These assassins of the Yellow Springs Gate were indeed treacherous and vicious. They spoke of leaving immediately, yet they hid in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
A streak of purple light erupted from the White Horse’s horn and instantly merged into the Five Elements Ring. Simultaneously, He Yiming channeled eighty percent of his True Qi, combining it with the equally potent energy contained within the space of the Five Elements Ring, all condensed into a single force.
With a gentle sweep of his hand, the immense power contained within the Five Elements Ring shot forth like an arrow loosed from a bow, hurtling toward Hu Yan’aobo, who had just straightened his posture.
The attack, moving with the speed of lightning, was so swift that Hu Yan’aobo seemed to try and evade, but he was a fraction too slow, and the force struck him squarely.
Following a deafening crash, a large crater was instantly scorched into the ground. He Yiming’s face, however, looked grim.
A few words escaped through his clenched teeth: “Distortion Art…”
With a flash of shadow, Hu Yan’aobo reappeared, standing once more between He Yiming and the White Horse.
He said coldly, “If I did not possess the Distortion Art, how could this old man have concealed myself from you people for so long?”
He Yiming snorted, “What is the relationship between the Hao Family of Changzhou and your Yellow Springs Gate?”
Hu Yan’aobo shook his head. “That matter does not concern Your Excellency, so please refrain from asking.”
He Yiming regarded him with cold eyes. After the previous exchange, He Yiming dared not show the slightest carelessness again.
“Did you not leave? Why return to ambush? Is this the custom of the Yellow Springs Gate?”
Hu Yan’aobo appeared not to hear He Yiming’s sardonic tone, replying placidly, “Your reputation is indeed great, and this old man witnessed your confrontation with the Ancient Demon and the others. However, according to sect rules, I must exchange a few moves with you personally before deciding who should be dispatched to fight you.”
As he spoke these words, he acted as if it were entirely natural, showing not a shred of awkwardness or shame.
He Yiming was momentarily stunned speechless, cursing the shameless man silently.
His eyes darted, and he asked, “Then, do you still require to make a move?”
Hu Yan’aobo shook his head. “Dodging one attack from me is sufficient proof.”
He Yiming instantly displayed an expression of immense relief, but in the very next moment, utter disbelief flooded his eyes. His gaze locked tightly onto the space behind Hu Yan’aobo, and within it, one could even discern traces of tension and fear.
Hu Yan’aobo was greatly startled. He hurriedly turned to look behind him, but the space there was empty.
Then, a sharp sound of air being rent violently pierced the silence, bearing down upon Hu Yan’aobo with overwhelming force.
Ps: Five updates today ^_^