Chapter 349 - Rivers of Blood

The masses looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young woman in red gliding through the air on floating leaves steps. The grim-faced woman had a red flower print between her eyebrows. She landed firmly next to Xiao Chen and an ice-cold, ruthless aura swiftly filled the air, sending a chill down everyone’s hearts.

Xiao Chen shivered before saying solemnly, ‘Xin’er, why are you here…”

Huangfu Xin’er was as frosty as ever as she said, “Back on the Thousand Summits Mountain, you saved my life. Today, I’ll return the favor. Neither of us will owe each other anything from here on!”

“KILL!” No one knew who sounded the battle cry, but a group of eight or so stormed Xiao Chen without a second thought. Huangfu Xin’er waved her hand, and five red radiance flashed. Blood splashed everywhere with a jeering sound as she cut the group into pieces, crushing their internal organs and spilling them all over the ground. It was a staggering sight.

Xiao Chen’s heart sank. Huangfu Xin’er’s cultivation seemed to have heightened since the last time he saw her. So had her murderous aura. In the distance, the blue-robed Warden narrowed his eyes as he wondered about the woman’s identity. He had never heard of a rising rookie like her in the Five Continents, whose cultivation appeared to be above Xiao Chen’s. He roared, “Who are you, Miss? Will you become an enemy of the Orthodox community as well?”

Of course, some recognized her as well. Someone yelled, “Heartless Palace! Empress of Heartless Palace, Huangfu Xin’er!”

The blue-robed Warden’s eyes narrowed. Heartless Palace? He had never heard of it, but her skills were awe-inspiring to be able to leave Nirvana Realm cultivators in awe. If such skills… Considering this, he said, “Oh? So it’s the Empress of Heartless Palace. Did you come here to stand on the devils’ side to fight the Orthodox Path?”

Huangfu Xin’er’s expression was still icy as she said emotionlessly, “I don’t care who’s Orthodox and who’s not. Spare me the nonsense and attack if you want to.”

“Is that so?” The blue-robed Warden propelled himself forward with the tip of his foot and dashed at a lightning-fast speed. His force crushed the floor tiles and sent them flying, along with many Orthodox disciples.

“Argh!”

Xiao Chen howled and swung his saber. Guifeng followed suit with his blade, and three forces collided in the air, producing a rumbling explosion. Large sections of nearby floor tiles were crushed and sent flying. Numerous Orthodox disciples were caught in the aftermath, causing blood to gush out of their mouths.

The blue-robed Warden took ten or so steps back in retreat with a horrified expression. How could this youngster and the General of Soul remain this strong after expending so much energy? He must wait a little longer, he thought.

Xiao Chen and Huangfu Xin’er stood back-to-back, facing their enemies on all sides. Xiao Chen said, “You should leave. This has nothing to do with you. You and I owe each other nothing.”

“I told you, I’ll return the favor today. Neither of us will owe each other anything from here on!” Mid-sentence, Huangfu Xin’er cut several cultivators rushing up to them into seven to eight pieces. Dismembered bodies and blood gathered near her feet, filling the air with a pungent smell.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to persuade her, Xiao Chen cried, “General!”

“At your command, my Lord!”

“Get her out of here!”

“Yes, my Lord!” Guifeng turned to Huangfu Xin’er. “Madam, it’s dangerous here. Please leave with me at once!”

Huangfu Xin’er chided, “Shut up! Who’s your Madam?!”

“Then, please forgive me for being rude! Rise!” Guifeng pulled her onto the horseback and urged the horse forward. No one went to stop them. Their target was Xiao Chen, and it was all the better for them that his allies were gone.

Overjoyed, the purple-robed Warden yelled, “Capture the Devil’s Practice follower!”

With Guifeng gone, so did everyone’s fear. All of them charged at Xiao Chen, prompting him to smile wryly. “I’ve never offended anyone here, but since you all want my life, then so be it!” he bellowed and swung his saber without moving. Instantly, the tens of cultivators who had him surrounded were cut in half, and their severed bodies flung across the air. The casualties included several Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

Everyone watched in shock at how terrifying Xiao Chen became after using Devilish Skills. Ordinary Nascent Soul Realm cultivators wouldn’t be able to approach him. The seven or eight Nirvana Realm cultivators had their schemes. Xiao Chen must die today, but no one wanted to be the one to fight him.

The purple-robed Warden howled, “This Devil’s Practice follower is drawing strength from his Natal True Energy! He won’t last long! Hurry up and capture him…” His voice was still lingering when a severely injured old man yelled in anger, “What’s the point of shouting? Go and catch him if you’re that strong!”

“You!” The purple-robed Warden was rendered speechless. There were so many Orthodox cultivators here today that he must preserve his strength until the very end. However, knowing that he had incited the fury of certain people, he was forced to take out his flying sword and attack Xiao Chen.

His sword whizzed toward Xiao Chen’s soul like a halo passing through the sun, going so fast that it raised a storm. Xiao Chen swung his saber and rebounded the Warden’s sword with a loud clang. The Warden staggered several steps backward, feigning injury. He yelled, “Let’s attack him together!”

“KILL!” The sea of cultivators cried for blood as they stormed Xiao Chen. In the distance, countless people used their magic treasures to make long-range attacks on flying swords. However, Xiao Chen’s Devil Qi made flying difficult. Not only were they affected by his Qi, but it also caused them to hurt their people accidentally.

“Why? WHY?!” Xiao Chen’s eyes were an alarming shade of red as he screamed. Overwhelming Devil Qi erupted from within him, sending ten or so cultivators who were running up to him flying.

“All I want is to pass my days peacefully! All I want is to find my Master! Why do you want my life? Why do you want to force my hand? ARGH!” Yet another scream came from Xiao Chen. With his messy hair dancing wildly in the wind, he swung his saber and claimed another dozen or so lives.

In no time at all, so much blood was spilled on the square that they formed rivers. The water in the canals was dyed crimson, as was Xiao Chen’s entire body and hair. Under his feet, dead bodies piled up high enough to form hills. No one could tell which disciple was from which sect. Meanwhile, Ling Ruoxu had taken advantage of the chaos to escape a long time ago.

The whizzing of the gale continued in the background, sounding like the cry of heaven and earth. Perfected Immortal Qing Chen watched everything unfold absently-minded. Now, Xiao Chen could never return. The most heartbroken one of them all was Yu Yifeng. The rim of his eyes was red as he wept and muttered, “Martial Uncle Qing Feng, is this what you meant when you said it was an unchangeable fate…”

At long last, Xiao Chen could no longer hold on. He had taken impact from no less than twenty Sword Qi, and his back was pierced with several Immortal’s Swords dripping with blood. When he made one final swing, blood sprayed from his mouth, and he was forced to prop himself up with his saber stuck on the ground.

Numerous independent cultivators watching in the distance sighed. They wouldn’t run up to surrounded and kill Xiao Chen. In their eyes, this was a scene of a hero reaching the end of the road.

A cyan-robed elderly man lamented, “To think he’s able to take on many enemies until now. Even if he dies here, he’ll probably be remembered in history. Unfortunately, it won’t be positive…”

Another black-robed older man narrowed his eyes. “You reminded me of someone. Thousands of years ago, a Devil’s Practice follower called Xiao Ning also died here under the siege of the Five Major Sects. Both surnamed Xiao and died here. That’s too much of a coincidence, isn’t it…”

The cyan-robed older man continued to sigh. “If only this child isn’t a Devil’s Practice follower. I, He Laoxie, have never accepted a disciple in my life. If I can take someone like him as my disciple…”

The black-robed elderly man immediately gestured him to be quiet. He looked around in alarm before stammering, “Old He, do you want to die or something? With so many Orthodox cultivators here today, you dare say such nonsense….”

In another corner of the public square, several Nirvana Realm cultivators noticed that Xiao Chen had finally run out of steam and knew that their time had come. It didn’t matter if he was indeed a Devil’s Practice follower or if the Devil Intent only infected him because he tried to save someone. His death was certain. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable if he one day turned to the Devil’s sects.

Right then, the Nirvana Realm cultivators seemed to have reached a tacit understanding and attacked Xiao Chen from all sides at the same time.

Facing the advance of several golden Sword Qi, Xiao Chen could feel his strength leaving him. Would he die here today? His Master said to meet again a thousand years later. Here he comes…

Suddenly, a resounding voice came from the distance. “Don’t you dare hurt my Lord!” Following the emergence of a silhouette, a rumbling explosion resounded. Several Nirvana Realm cultivators were sent flying, all while coughing up blood.

Everyone turned pale with horror at the General of Soul’s sudden return. Moreover, he appeared even more terrifying than ever. A weakened Xiao Chen could only whisper, “General, you…”

“Don’t say another word, my Lord! I’m getting you out of here immediately!”

Guifeng’s tall, tall figure was dripping with blood, and his armor was in shambles after being hacked by flying swords. That attack earlier had taken more than half of his Soul’s Life Source. After responding to Xiao Chen, he immediately pulled the latter onto his horseback and charged ahead.

“Stop him! We must not let him escape today!”

Several hundred flying swords instantly rained down on the duo. Facing a sky full of gleaming blades, Guifeng yelled, “Death to those who stop me!” He swung his saber violently, and more than ten cultivators had their body and soul exterminated.

“Don’t let him run! Otherwise, it’ll be the death of the Orthodox Path!” the purple-robed Warden bellowed and immediately rushed at Xiao Chen and Guifeng. Knowing that this was a serious matter, the Nirvana Realm cultivators dropped all their scheming and followed suit with a cry of their own.

Eight Nirvana Realm cultivators thrust their palms in unison and sixteen terrifying forces merged, producing a shocking power that reduced nearby buildings into instant dust. Unable to run in time, many Orthodox disciples were exterminated along with their souls.

“Boom!”

The terrifying force hit the devilish horse, crushing its armor, and overturned its enormous body. It crashed heavily on the ground, producing a gorge of nearly ten feet long.

“Pfff!” Xiao Chen spat out a mouthful of blood. Even with Guifeng taking a majority of the impact, the attack nearly split all of his five viscera and six bowels.

“My Lord!” Guifeng helped him up and then pointed his saber at the eight Nirvana Realm cultivators. “You brutes! Despicable, absolutely despicable!”

“General!” Blood gushed out of Xiao Chen’s mouth like a leaking faucet. He grabbed tight onto Guifeng’s crushed armor with trembling hands. “General… Listen to me…”

“Do tell, my Lord!”

“I’m… I’m not your Lord… I happen to possess the Fuxi Zither… You’ve got the wrong person all along… You should go…”

“I’ve sworn to serve you all my life, no matter the battlefield! What is there to fear about death?!” Guifeng once again pointed his saber at the Nirvana Realm cultivators. “You brutes! Do you dare to fight me one-on-one?!” Even as he spoke, his body was turning faintly translucent. It was obvious that his Soul power was running out. If this continued, his soul would likely die out altogether.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to persuade her, Xiao Chen cried, “General!”

“Don’t say another word, my Lord! I’ll present you with the enemy general’s head shortly!”

“I’m ordering you to leave!”

Guifeng turned his head. He was silent for a little while before said in apparent distress, “In the next life, I’ll continue to serve you, my Lord! I… I’ll excuse myself!” Then, along with the devilish horse, he gradually disappeared.

Xiao Chen gave a sad laugh when he saw the General of Soul had finally left. “In the next life… In this life… Even if I die, I’ll die standing…” he said, trying his best to prop up his body.