Chapter 275 - 140: Old Friends Fill Jiangyin, Treading into Celestial Blade, Attending a Funeral; When Grandmasters Look On, Our Heroic Spirit Is Unrestrained

Chapter 275: Chapter 140: Old Friends Fill Jiangyin, Treading into Celestial Blade, Attending a Funeral; When Grandmasters Look On, Our Heroic Spirit Is Unrestrained

"You think I lost my post as the Lord of Anning County because I wasn’t capable enough? Let me tell you, old man, you’ve completely misjudged me—Zhao Jiu—today!"

"You have no idea what my Younger Brother Ji is capable of! This run-down Wine Shop of yours... in the future, I, Master Jiu, wouldn’t even spare it a second glance..."

BAM!

Fed up with his rebellious son’s drunken rambling, a tipsy Zhao Ding walked up and kicked him flat on his face. He then casually cleaned out his ear.

"Then get lost and go find your ’good brother.’"

"Don’t blame your old man for not warning you."

Zhao Ding snorted.

"That kid has gone to the Celestial Blade School on Golden Turtle Island."

"Not only did the fishing and medicine guilds hire the Northern Garrison Command to arrest him, but upon hearing about Duan Chenzhou’s funeral, numerous Daoist Schools have also made a special trip to get involved. And there are other Schools lurking in the shadows."

"Look at you, living a life of drunken excess every day. You’re in no shape for something like this. Don’t bite off more than you can chew."

He gave him a disdainful, head-to-toe look.

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu flew into a rage.

"You old bastard, you think I’m scared to go?"

"I, Zhao Jiu, have never been afraid of anything in my life!"

Muttering curses, he was helped to his feet by Elder Liang, who stood beside him, not daring to breathe a word.

"Old Liang, let’s go!"

"Alas, Master Jiu."

Elder Liang’s eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Zhao Jiu.

’His master... ever since that ordeal in Anning County, he’s really grown a spine!’

’Now he even dares to stand up to the old master himself...’

Just as Zhao Jiu was about to storm out of the Wine Shop, Zhao Ding, who had appeared behind him at some point, drunkenly called out.

"If you go today,"

"don’t you dare mention my name if you get into trouble later."

Zhao Jiu froze.

After a moment, he scoffed.

"Then I’ll just go to Cangdu and tell my brother on you!"

After saying this, Zhao Jiu lifted his chin. A wave of drunken courage washed over him, filling him with bravado.

’A life of women and wine, of decadent pleasures?’

’I didn’t mean to make things this tense...’

’But this time,’

’I’m going to show you, old man, what true loyalty looks like! What it means to go through hell and high water for a brother!’

Zhao Ding watched in silence until Zhao Jiu was far in the distance.

"Young Master Jiu certainly has a temper, just like his older brother,"

Old Wu, the keeper of the wine cellar, chuckled beside him.

Upon hearing this,

Zhao Ding gave a rare smile.

"Of course he does."

"He’s my son, isn’t he?"

"Let him go. Even if I were to disown him..."

The flush of alcohol was still on his face, his drunken bravado refusing to subside. He just waved his hand dismissively.

"Throughout all of Jiangyin Prefecture, is there anyone who would dare to not show him some respect?"

"Hmph!"

...

Celestial Blade School, Golden Turtle Island.

Ji Xiu arrived aboard a warship, parting the waves as it cut through the river and landed on the island!

Aboard the ship, Zhang Qing stood in full armor, weapon in hand, looking valiant. He turned to Ji Xiu at his side, his tone serious.

"Brother, the General said that he cannot help you on the path that lies ahead."

"But for today’s ordeal, if you can’t handle it, he will step in and back you up, just this once!"

"So do what you must. I’ll be waiting right here. Just give the word if you need me."

Zhang Qing slapped his iron breastplate.

Hearing this, Ji Xiu smiled.

"Then when you return, please thank General Luo for me."

With that said,

Ji Xiu stepped onto the grounds of the Celestial Blade School. This was the place where he had consumed the Thunderstruck Tribulation Wood and achieved his Jade Skin, and it was the only Blessed Land among the dozens of schools scattered across the surrounding islands!

RIP, RIP...

Guided by recent memory, he surveyed the island.

Bit by bit, Ji Xiu tore away the strips of cloth wrapped around the Blade Plaque, the one bearing the name ’Five Declines Celestial Blade’.

Staring at the four gilded words, which looked as if they had been carved by a blade and hewn by an axe...

The young man exhaled slowly, his gaze hardening with resolve. Step by step, he walked into the Celestial Blade School.

He walked briskly.

Before the Ancestral Hall, where legendary names like Chen Danding and Wang Xuanyang were enshrined,

Ji Xiu saw the courtyard draped in white mourning cloth.

A large, solitary coffin sat squarely in front of the hall.

Meanwhile...

Unlike its usual desolation, the place was now crowded with people.

But in front of the Celestial Blade School’s Ancestral Hall, the Sect Leader, Chen Hex, wore a grim expression. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his fists were clenched.

At his side,

besides his Senior Brother Qin Zhuo—the one who sent him the gift—were Li Songxi and Yinn Hong, the fourth and sixth heirs he had met before. All of them stood in attendance.

The two of them were pushing a wheelchair, in which sat a dejected-looking young man, his face as pale as a sheet of paper.

Aside from these four...

...the other fierce Martial Artists present, every single one of them, radiated with powerful Qi and Blood. The sound of their very bones and sinews ringing was a sign of their prowess. Their combined presence was as overwhelming as a tsunami, utterly suffocating!

The courtyard had been locked in a strange, confrontational silence.

But with Ji Xiu’s arrival,

the gazes of both factions simultaneously converged on him!

’Seeing so many powerful Martial Artists staring at me...’

Ji Xiu couldn’t help but sneer, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards.

He slammed the Blade Plaque, which stood half as tall as a man, into the sandy ground. Then, he untied the white mourning band from his forehead, clutched it in his fist, and gazed at the distant cenotaph. He bowed deeply.

"Disciple Ji Xiu has braved the wind and waves on the long journey from Anning to Jiangyin..."

"...to see my Master off on his final journey!"

Finally, he raised his head.

"Master passed away too soon."

"But our branch of the school... we have a rule."

Ji Xiu scanned the crowd.

He saw the expressions on many faces shift. He saw Senior Master Chen Hex and his three senior brothers staring at him. He simply unfurled the white cloth in his hand and grinned.

"And that rule is: The master’s debts are paid by his disciple!"

"Master Duan, you left us too soon... but when a master falls, his disciple steps up. I am still here!"

His words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

The True Qi of some in the crowd flared, and all the powerful masters turned to stare!

Meanwhile, a masked figure hidden at the back of the crowd,

looked at the ’coffin’, then back at the boy who had captured everyone’s attention and was now in the spotlight...

His brow darkened.

’Wait a minute,’

’who taught this kid that rule!?’

’How come I’ve never heard of it myself!?’