Chapter 338 - 131: Uncanny

Chapter 338: Chapter 131: Uncanny

Following Bao Sichun’s roar, the news of Marquis Anle’s death, along with that of two prominent First Grade Martial Artists, spread through Shangluo City as if it had grown wings.

"Qin Shoubei and General Jun... Those were big names! I heard they were First Grade Martial Artists, and they just died? This is... good riddance!" The last two words were muttered under his breath, laced with an unmistakable glee.

"They sinned too much and got what they deserved!" someone cheered outright.

"See? I told you so. The Elder didn’t take them out, but heaven’s justice always prevails. I wonder which hero was responsible?"

"Marquis Anle, Li Xuantong, is dead too. I hear Master Bao is absolutely furious."

"No kidding. Master Bao stormed off in a rage. I heard he smashed countless things, killed several servants, and even immediately summoned two Martial Saints..."

"I’m just curious... was that Marquis Anle, Li Xuantong, Master Bao’s lover or something? Why is he taking it so hard, like his own son just died?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a Daoist. He only performs the art of Replenishing Energy, not makes babies. Of course, that ’art’ isn’t necessarily limited to women!"

"As expected of the big shots, they’re into some wild stuff," the man said with a tone of envy.

"Hey, I just want to know—now that Marquis Anle is gone, will ’June Lotus Rain’ be gone too?"

...

The common folk were like this. The deaths of great figures, one after another, were merely a source of gossip. It wouldn’t cause any of them to miss a single meal.

This surging tide of commoners was like the Luo River outside Shangluo City, endlessly roiling and flowing.

The death of a great figure might create a momentary splash, but it could not affect the river’s inexorable, forward surge in the slightest.

Indeed, it was as the old poem said: *Your names and bodies shall decay, but the river flows on anyway!*

...

The Fang Family.

Inside a room, Fang Rui was viewing a legacy recording from the Primordial Path.

An egg-shaped Flawless Jade Talisman whirled as he infused it with Spiritual Power, projecting a screen of light.

The scene showed:

The Great Yu Court’s army had surrounded the Primordial Daoist Mountain Gate. They were razing sacred mountains, demolishing temples, diverting rivers, and dousing the land in filth and black dog’s blood. They drove commoners to their deaths to generate resentful energy... using every method imaginable to pollute the spiritual veins.

One hundred thousand elite soldiers in full Armor stood in formation. Under the influence of a Soldier Dao Secret Technique, their combined Military Qi transformed into a shimmering black cloud resembling fish scales. Suppressed by this immense Military Qi, the Spiritual Techniques cast by the countless Spirit Masters of the Primordial Path dwindled in power; fireballs were reduced to tiny flames...

Even the Half-Immortal Dharma Aspect of a Source Master wavered, on the verge of collapse, large chunks of it already shattered.

The Court’s elite soldiers, like a pack of wolves, grinned viciously as they began a bloody slaughter...

Blood and fire rose to the heavens!!!

...

’Saint Emperor Yu defined Qi Fortune. From that point on, the collective power of the people could be made manifest. "Unity is strength" was no longer just an expression, but a tangible force!’

’Ancient Spirit Masters, unlike the Court’s Spirit Masters, aren’t suppressed by Qi Fortune. But power is power. This collective force can be used to nullify techniques, raze mountains, and demolish temples!’

Sighing, Fang Rui took out another Memory Jade Talisman and activated it with his Spiritual Power.

Another screen of light flared to life.

The scene showed:

A Master from the Primordial Path, clad in a Daoist Robe emblazoned with imagery of cosmic creation, descended upon a phoenix to assassinate a Prince in a Python Robe.

Above the Prince’s head, the phantom of a Flood Dragon appeared amidst the clouds. His prestige from civil and martial achievements condensed into roiling, auspicious clouds, while his Slaughter Army Qi crackled as black lightning.

Thirty zhang away from the Prince, the colorful phoenix formed from the Primordial Path Master’s Spiritual Power shattered and fell from the sky. The massive hand of Spiritual Power descending upon the Prince was also annihilated by the backlash of Qi Fortune...

In the end, the Master managed to grievously wound the Prince in the Python Robe, but he suffered a fatal backlash from the Prince’s Qi Fortune and perished in both body and soul.

...

’It comes back to the same thing: power is power. If you want to exert influence, you must bear the corresponding backlash. Every action has a reaction.’

’Also, compared to that Prince in the Python Robe from the recording, Li Xuantong had no political or military authority. The manifestation of his Qi Fortune was just a bare Flood Dragon. It was pathetic!’

Fang Rui sighed. "The wind follows the tiger, and clouds follow the dragon. Is a Flood Dragon without the support of an army or a government still a Flood Dragon?"

’No wonder the backlash from killing Li Xuantong felt like a gentle breeze on my face.’

’Yes, and I have Master Bao to thank for that. His decade of unwavering indulgence turned Li Xuantong into a useless, idiotic pig!’

Fang Rui silently gave Bao Sichun a thumbs-up.

SWISH!

He deactivated the Memory Jade Talisman and began to pace the room. ’It seems that being a Super Grade master is enough to guarantee one’s own freedom.’

’But it’s a long way from being invincible. To take on an army single-handedly, to control the course of the world, to slaughter princes and slay emperors... it’s not nearly enough!’

"I do want to be free..."

Standing before the window with his hands clasped behind his back, Fang Rui gazed at the overcast sky. ’But this world is shrouded in doubt. Without knowing the truth, I can never be at ease. How can I ever achieve true, ultimate freedom?’

WHOOSH!

Just then, a Phoenix-tailed Swallow flew in, carrying a message.

Indeed, under his care, the Phoenix-tailed Swallow had gradually been relegated from its former role as a protective Exotic Beast to its current one as a messenger.

’After I built my information network, Third Sister’s Four Seas Commerce Association reopened these last couple of years. Is this today’s intelligence brief? Let’s see.’

Fang Rui took a small scroll of paper from the bird, his eyes scanning ten lines at a glance as he read. His eyes narrowed slightly.

’According to the report, just as I expected. Bao Sichun is making arrangements to use the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Four Symbols Banner, to perform a Divination and find the killer.’

"A pity..."

Fang Rui had originally planned to capture Li Xuantong and use him as bait to lure Bao Sichun away from Shangluo, where he could then hunt and kill the Master.

But after giving it more thought, he had decided against it.

Who knew if Master Bao was just as cautious as he was? He might call upon the city’s Martial Saints and his other friends for backup. Besides, the power of an Innate Supreme Treasure could transcend Space.