Chapter 447 - 429: The Merciful Saintess Who Likes Stepping on People

Wild Fox Inn, at the junction of Black Stone City and the Eastern Border.

In a hidden attic at the highest point of the inn, the Merciful Saintess of the Black Lotus Sect sat upon the central chair. Her legs were crossed, one exquisite foot extended forward, revealing a slender calf wrapped in Profound Water Ice Silk Gauze as thin as a cicada’s wing.

This Profound Water Ice Silk Gauze was a luxury good brought all the way from the Endless Sea in the eastern region of the Great Xia. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and legend claimed it was a specialty of the Merfolk Race. In recent years, it had become immensely popular among women.

Su Yu had once seen Qian Qinghong wear a pair, and he had exclaimed that they were practically Great Xia’s version of stockings!

The Merciful Saintess still wore her veil, but the chill in her eyes was unmistakable as she swept her gaze over the four protectors standing to her left and right.

At the front of the right-hand side stood a blind girl who looked pure and innocent. She wore a simple white linen dress that seemed untainted by the mortal world. Her eyes were covered by a white sash embroidered with a black lotus, and she carried an exquisite little flower basket woven from bone strips, filled with sewing supplies.

This was Susu, the Bone Weaving Guardian, the most valued of the Merciful Saintess’s protectors. Her power had long since reached the Profound Bone Realm.

To her left stood another figure, wearing a ghost mask and radiating a sinister chill. This was the Ghost-Faced Protector, Li Tian, who was at the Muscle Forging Realm Perfection.

Opposite the Bone Weaving Guardian, Susu, stood a man in golden armor. His build was imposing and powerful, his aura domineering. This was Meng Zhan, the Golden Armor Protector, the very one who had fought at Wind Evil Stronghold and easily defeated Feng Han. He, too, was at the Muscle Forging Realm Perfection.

However, Meng Zhan’s power was immense; he already had one foot in the Profound Bone Realm and was likely to break through any day now. Among the protectors, his status was second only to the Bone Weaving Guardian.

The last person was Feng Han, who had recently joined the Merciful Saintess’s ranks. He had been defeated by the Golden Armor Protector, Meng Zhan, and was forced to join the Black Lotus Sect to save his own life.

"The Holy Sect is currently plotting to take Cangya Pass in one fell swoop. Our infiltration of Black Stone City must also be accelerated."

The Merciful Saintess’s vermilion lips parted, her voice, tinged with a hint of languor, filling the attic.

"Our next step is to bring Su Yu, the Black Stone Guardian, into our fold. His talent is considerable, and as the Great Commander of the Public Security Bureau, he will be a great asset to our future plans."

The four protectors remained silent, their thoughts hidden.

"Have you finished gathering the latest intelligence on Su Yu?"

The Ghost-Faced Protector stepped forward and reported, "Saintess, according to the latest public intelligence, Su Yu has broken through to the Ape Tendon Realm. His power is such that he can even fight a Jiao Tendon Realm expert head-on. What’s more, he has somehow obtained a few wisps of Taibai Primordial Magnetic Power, enough to slay an ordinary practitioner of the Jiao Tendon Realm."

"Oh? Not bad at all."

A look of surprise flashed in the Merciful Saintess’s eyes, her interest in the intelligence on Su Yu growing.

’Her protectors don’t know that this Su Yu can summon lightning and thunder. He’s very likely one of the God’s Chosen. The sect sent me here for the sole purpose of finding this very person!’

’According to the hints from the Silent Extinction Celestial King, Su Yu is connected to another deity. He’s a prime recruit who must be brought into the Holy Sect.’

"Since Su Yu is so capable, his initiation ceremony will be overseen by two protectors. Ghost-Faced Protector, you and the Wind Evil Protector will carry out this mission together."

A murderous glint flashed in the Ghost-Faced Protector’s eyes as he cupped his fist and accepted the command.

Feng Han, however, felt his heart sink. ’That monster can summon lightning and thunder, and you’re sending me after him? Are you trying to get me killed?’

But having just joined the Merciful Saintess’s ranks, how could he dare defy her? He could only brace himself and accept the order.

"Alright, you are all dismissed. Wind Evil Protector, you stay."

The others withdrew, leaving Feng Han alone.

"Come here. Kneel!"

The Merciful Saintess’s eyes grew cold. She spoke quietly, as if addressing a dog.

Feng Han was dumbfounded, frozen to the spot.

"I said, come here and kneel!"

Seeing the Merciful Saintess’s icy gaze, Feng Han knew he hadn’t misheard. His face flushed crimson. ’I’m a dignified expert at the peak of the Muscle Forging Realm Perfection! When have I ever suffered such humiliation?’

"Fool. Are you defying me?"

The corner of the Merciful Saintess’s mouth curled into a sneer. She watched him coolly, almost as if she were waiting for him to defy her.

Feng Han’s expression changed, and he quickly suppressed his rage.

’Never mind the unfathomable Merciful Saintess; any one of the three protectors outside could easily take my life.’

’When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head.’

Humiliated, Feng Han knelt at the Merciful Saintess’s feet and pressed his forehead to the floor.

A flicker of barely perceptible excitement flashed in the Merciful Saintess’s eyes as she placed her right foot on Feng Han’s head.

Feng Han felt it, and his face turned a deep, livid color, as if he were about to explode with rage. But after a moment’s hesitation, he only pressed his head lower, enduring her foot pressing down on him again and again.

"Excellent."

The Merciful Saintess relished the feeling of her foot on his head. Seeing this Muscle Forging Realm Perfection expert lying humiliated and motionless beneath her, she grew even more excited.

After a full quarter of an hour, the Merciful Saintess finally lifted her foot, looking somewhat unsatisfied, and tossed a porcelain vial in front of Feng Han.

"Take this Black Divine Pill, and your power will advance to the next level. But it has severe side effects. You must take one Detoxification Pill every three months. Otherwise, your internal organs will be destroyed, and you will be dead within a quarter of an hour, without a doubt!"

Hearing this, Feng Han instantly understood her meaning.

After a brief hesitation, he picked up the vial and swallowed its contents on the spot.

’If I could endure her stepping on my head, what’s a mere pill?’

’As long as I can survive, I can endure anything!’

"Good. Only now can you be considered the true Wind Evil Protector. Go back and assimilate the pill’s energy. Then, sneak into Black Stone City with the Ghost-Faced Protector and perform the initiation ceremony for the Black Stone Guardian, Su Yu!"

"Yes, Saintess!"

Watching Feng Han withdraw, the Merciful Saintess felt another surge of excitement.

’I wonder how exciting it would feel to have that Su Yu crushed under my heel?’

...

「The next day, before the morning mist had scattered.」

Su Yu’s figure flickered like lightning beneath the Iron Locust Tree, his movements stirring up a violent, whistling wind.

"Fierce Tiger Breaks Wood!"

With a low shout, the Tiger Tendons beneath the skin of his arms bulged like azure dragons, and a deep, terrifying "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound" rumbled from within his body. A dense, dark-red Gang Force, like a heavy, mountain-cleaving battle-axe, instantly enveloped his entire forearm.

He brought a knife-hand strike down with the force to sunder all techniques. The razor-sharp Gang Force split the very air before him, unleashing a piercing sonic boom!

Before the move was finished, Su Yu’s feet performed a mud-treading step, and his body abruptly sank.

"Coiling Root Iron Mountain!"

The Great Tendons in his legs rooted themselves deep in the earth like an ancient tree, making the ground tremble. As the Great Tendons of his waist and hips twisted with the violence of steel cables, his spine whipped forward, and he unleashed a savage "Iron Mountain Lean"!

BOOM!

A tangible wall of Gang Force detonated in the courtyard like a high-explosive charge. The violent shockwave instantly swept across half the backyard, shaking the massive Iron Locust Tree so hard that the falling leaves were obliterated by the invisible aftershock before they could even touch the ground!

Soon, he finished a full set of the Green Wood Shadow Ape Fist, and familiar text appeared before his eyes.

[Green Wood Shadow Ape Fist Skill Level +15]

[Martial Arts]: Green Wood Shadow Ape Fist (Minor Achievement 120/3000)

’Excellent. My understanding of the Green Wood Shadow Ape Fist has deepened again. I can now gain 15 Skill Level points per repetition. If I supplement this with a Tiger Sinew Pill, I might even reach 20 points.’

Su Yu relaxed his stance and headed for Zhen’Er’s room, intending to ask how the purchase of the Tiger Sinew Pills was coming along.