Chapter 134: The Black Jade Demonic Meteor Art
“Stop him!” Zheng Ge shouted, gathering his energy as he retreated.
This kid has reached the sixth rank! he thought, alarmed.
If the young man hadn’t been of the same rank, he wouldn’t have been able to push him back, even with a surprise attack.
The young man used the force of the impact to retreat quickly, dodging the blades and swords coming at him from both sides.
The hook and staff wielders, however, reacted faster, their weapons flashing, attacking from the sides.
Shi Hao accelerated again.
A martial artist on the wall saw the young man’s back approaching rapidly, as if being pulled towards him.
The hook and staff missed their target.
The martial artist on the wall leaped down, his saber slashing towards the young man’s back.
Although only a ninth-rank martial artist, Shi Hao didn’t dare block the attack directly.
If he did, the others would swarm him, and he would be trapped.
At the last moment, he flicked his wrist downwards, and a vortex of energy appeared beneath the attacker’s feet.
The martial artist, mid-air, his saber descending, suddenly felt a strange pull, his body momentarily weightless.
Startled, he instinctively tried to regain his balance, his attack faltering.
Shi Hao, seizing the opportunity, struck the back of his saber, sending it upwards, then leaped over him, landing on the wall.
The martial artist crashed to the ground.
A powerful force, accompanied by a whoosh of wind, struck Shi Hao’s back.
It was Zheng Ge. Although forced to retreat, he had been gathering his energy, and the moment he regained his footing, he had launched his iron ruler, imbued with his full power, towards Shi Hao.
As a seasoned sixth-rank expert, his combat experience far surpassed that of Zhuo Mulan.
He had anticipated Shi Hao’s escape route and attacked preemptively, aiming for the wall. The moment Shi Hao landed, the ruler struck.
Shi Hao held the tiger-shaped rune stone, and with a flash of light, his body grew larger. The iron ruler struck him with a thud.
His enlarged form, however, couldn’t withstand the blow and shattered.
But Shi Hao had already escaped the dissipating light.
That was the Earthly Valor Tiger, its uses almost depleted. Using it again had almost destroyed it.
More barbarian soldiers arrived, but their formation was loose, and Shi Hao, using the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, easily evaded them.
Several figures suddenly appeared on the street, fighting their way through the soldiers, creating an opening. One of them shouted, “Brother Hao!”
Shi Hao recognized Jiang Yiran and Chen Feng of Dark Thunder and quickly joined them. They escorted him through the chaos, reaching a busy street.
Zheng Ge and his men gave chase, but seeing figures fleeing in different directions, they didn’t know whom to pursue.
Zheng Ge, frustrated, gritted his teeth.
Shi Hao, Jiang Yiran, and Chen Feng entered a small alley, then, after crossing a courtyard and entering a building, they reached a hidden chamber.
Jiang Yiran sighed in relief, “Are you injured, Brother Hao?”
Shi Hao shook his head, “I’m fine. What happened? Why were there so many Six Gates men there?”
Jiang Yiran sighed, “After Hero Fu’s defeat, the barbarian court ordered the Six Gates to eradicate our Dark Thunder, with the support of experts from the prominent families and a large number of troops. Our bases have been attacked, and we’ve suffered heavy losses.
“Our base in Dàxīng City was well-hidden, but one of our members was captured and, unable to withstand torture, revealed its location. Leader Zhu, to protect us, was severely injured, and most of our Xun Mu Branch members were killed.
“The Six Gates, however, weren’t satisfied. They set a trap, hoping to capture those who were still unaware of the situation. We’ve been trying to warn everyone not to go to Calabash Alley, but we couldn’t reach you.
“Leader Zhu was worried you might walk into their trap, so he had some of our brothers, disguised as ordinary citizens, watching the area. Since we had met you before, we also came. But we didn’t see you until the barbarian troops started mobilizing. Then we knew you had gone to Calabash Alley.”
Shi Hao realized that he had used his true appearance before entering Calabash Alley, only changing his appearance with the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique after arriving.
He had wanted to avoid being recognized, but ironically, this had prevented Dark Thunder’s lookouts from identifying him.
He lowered his voice, “I apologize for causing you so much concern.”
Jiang Yiran shook his head, “We’re just glad you’re safe, Brother Hao. The barbarian court is ruthlessly suppressing us. Anyone even remotely connected to Dark Thunder is being targeted. The Six Gates’ methods are brutal, and many of our members, under duress, have betrayed us. It’s best you lay low for a while.”
Shi Hao said, “There’s something I need you to pass on to your Grand Leader…”
He explained his suspicions about the barbarian court’s grand canal project, “Emperor Yang, before the fall of the Yang Dynasty, also ordered the construction of a grand canal. Perhaps there’s a connection.”
“Your organization is resourceful. Perhaps you can investigate the history of the Yang Dynasty and the current canal project and find something. And also, keep an eye on the Ancestral Altar. They clashed with the Ghost Extreme Sect at Dragon Head Mountain. We know the Ghost Extreme Sect’s motive, but the Ancestral Altar’s purpose is still unclear. They might be planning something.”
Jiang Yiran and Chen Feng exchanged glances, their expressions changing as they considered his words.
Jiang Yiran lowered his voice, “Don’t worry, Brother Hao. I’ll inform our leader immediately, and he’ll pass the information on to the Grand Leader.”
Shi Hao bowed, “Thank you.” They exchanged farewells, and Jiang Yiran and Chen Feng hurriedly left.
Shi Hao circled the area, making sure he wasn’t being followed, then changed back to his original appearance, entered the crowded streets, and blended into the crowd.
The barbarian court’s ruthless suppression of Dark Thunder, even involving the powerful families, indicated they saw Dark Thunder as a major threat.
Dark Thunder had been able to grow because of their secrecy. But the Civilian Martial Ridge incident and the Changbai Mountain rebellion, clearly orchestrated by them, had exposed them. The barbarian court’s retaliation was inevitable.
Although he had warned them about the canal project, Dark Thunder, under attack, was struggling to survive. They likely wouldn’t be able to investigate.
He thought, What is the Ancestral Altar doing on Dragon Head Mountain? The Ghost Extreme Sect clearly wants the True Dragon energy to create their ‘ghostly realm,’ but what about the Ancestral Altar? What does Grandmother Ba want with it?
He wondered if he could get some information from Yue Ya’er.
But from his observations while acting as her bodyguard, although she was favored by Grandmother Ba, she wasn’t privy to such secrets.
She was too young. Despite her family background and her abilities, she wasn’t trusted with such sensitive information.
Although he had passed the information to Dark Thunder, he couldn’t shake his unease.
He returned to the Azure Shu Manor, entered the back garden, and went to the pavilion, where he found Du Yuejiao meditating in the lotus position on her bed.
A demonic aura, like flickering flames and shimmering moonlight, swirled around her, giving her an ethereal appearance.
She was cultivating the Illusory Moon Demonic Flame Technique, a Lunar Divinity technique of the Evil Lotus Sect.
As she cultivated, a sweet fragrance emanated from her skin, filling the room.
This was the effect of her Daoist internal elixir!
She had originally practiced the Divine Orchid Technique, which, when cultivated to a high level, produced a fragrant aura.
Now, having reached the seventh rank, it seemed she was still practicing a variation of the Divine Orchid Technique.
Shi Hao thought that her demonic cultivation made her beautiful, while her Daoist cultivation made her fragrant.
Her cultivation methods were… interesting.
Not wanting to disturb her, he left the pavilion and went to another one where Xu Xiaoyan was staying. The sounds of rapid movement came from within.
He looked through the window and saw Xu Xiaoyan practicing swordsmanship in the small room, wielding his sword.
He hadn’t taken the sword with him earlier.
Her movements were swift and precise, the blade flashing, a blur of motion, the Seven Swords of the Mystic Gates, a technique that complemented the Black Jade Demonic Meteor Art.
Since she was practicing, he didn’t disturb her.
After all, in the martial world, strength was paramount.
Shi Hao strolled through the garden. He also wanted to start practicing the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations, but his Nine Yin Demonic Primordial Energy wasn’t strong enough yet.
Often, cultivation techniques and martial arts were separate. Like the Unfettered Demon’s Boundless Art and the Violet Vortex Blade Technique, although they worked well together, one could still practice the blade technique without the corresponding energy cultivation method, albeit with reduced effectiveness.
Similarly, although Xu Xiaoyan had only just started cultivating the Black Jade Demonic Meteor Art today, she could still practice the Seven Swords of the Mystic Gates.
But the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations was different. It couldn’t be practiced without a sufficient foundation in the Nine Yin Demonic Primordial Technique.
Shi Hao, having nothing else to do, picked up a branch and began practicing his swordsmanship.
He saw Sha Lingshan approaching…
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