Chapter 51: Inner Disciples

Chapter 51: Inner Disciples

51

Inner Disciples

I

Hao Zhen took a step back, clutching the talisman tighter.

Having just jumped out of the spiritual beacon, the inner disciple didnt lunge at him. Instead, he stood right in front of the red beacon-cloud, eying Hao Zhen warily. More than once, his gaze dipped to the talisman in Hao Zhens hand.

It was clear from the way the inner disciple stood that he knew martial arts. He stood slightly crouched, his sword held by his waist. The man looked at him as a predator would look at its prey, searching for weaknesses and prepared to lunge the moment he found one.

Hao Zhen swallowed. The inner disciple wasnt nearly as intimidating as Tian Jin or Lan Yue when they got seriousthere was a weight to their presence that he lacked. But he was still incomparable to the outer disciple he fought before.

Hao Zhen was now confident in his earlier assumptionthe inner disciple before him was no lackey. He was a cultivator in his own right, and given his evident familiarity with martial arts and expensive robes, most likely one from a magical backgroundor a hard-working talented mundane-born. Hao Zhen didnt know which one was more dangerous, but either way, the man wasnt someone he could underestimate.

And the inner disciple appeared to have come to a similar conclusion about him. The man didnt make any movesonly scrutinized him, as if trying to figure him out.

That was clever, the man said, his voice cold and sharp like a shard of ice, and without a hint of condescension or arrogance. Considering your attempt to blind me just now, and your preemptive attack back in the clearing You arent the inconsequential outer disciple Du Qing claimed you were.

Whats your point? Hao Zhen asked, letting his voice tremble a little. He didnt even need to act. He was fairly confident in his plan, but that didnt mean it was without risk. This could very well be his last conversation.

If youre already like this, then your two teammates should be very dangerous indeed, given what Ive heard about them, the inner disciple continued, ignoring his question. I can see now why Du Qing made you that offer. Im not sure if hed have fulfilled his end of the dealDu Qings not exactly the most trustworthy person aroundbut that way at least you three would have a chance to live. He looked conflicted enough, at least.

Definitely not a lackey. Why are you working with Du Qing, then? Hao Zhen asked. Depending on the reason, maybe there was a way to turn this situation aroundand maybe even turn the inner disciple against Du Qing.

Same reason everyone else works for him. He finds out your secrets and holds them hostage. Either you do what he tells you to do, or he tells his master your crime, and your life comes to a swift end.

So hes blackmailing you? What does he have

I see, the inner disciple said, cutting him off. Youre trying to stall for time, arent you? The man stood up a little straighter, some of the tension leaving his body, and Hao Zhen schooled his expression. You think your two teammates can deal with Du Qing and Jiao Heng, dont you?

Jiao Heng. The name of the fourth-level redsoul, I take it. I dont know what youre talking about.

The inner disciple simply shook his head. You think that just because you took down Elder Qian and Fei Yang, you can take us on now? We found the cavethe restraining array. Thats how you killed the two of them, isnt it? Before Hao Zhen could say anything, the inner disciple continued. And now that youve taken the pills in their spatial rings and are using their weapons, you think you can take us on now. How long has it been since your two teammates reached the fourth level? A day? Two?

The inner disciple lifted his sword up in front of his body, pointing it straight at Hao Zhen, and Hao Zhen realized that there was really one way out of this situation after all.

Your teammates are no doubt exceptional, but Du Qing and Jiao Heng have years of training on them. Du Qing might be a conniving snake, but hes still the strongest prime discipleand Jiao Heng the strongest inner disciple. Tian Jin and Lan Yue stand no chance. As he spoke, the inner disciple drew his sword to his side, falling into a stance.

The moment had come. Hao Zhen took in a deep breath, then raised his sword in front of him, right in front of his body.

She took in a deep breath, considering her options. Jiao Heng deserved his reputation. She had thought she was unrivaled against someone on the same levelTian Jin notwithstandingbut the strongest inner disciple was proving much stronger than she originally assumed.

In terms of skill, she was clearly above him, but

She eyed the flaming, red-yellow coat covering Jiao Hengs body. Solar Strength Blessingthe first form of Blazing Sun Aura. A spiritual skill that greatly increased all of the users physical qualities, on top of providing them with a flame-like coat of aura hot enough to burn the skin of a cultivator at the same level. Under the glare of the sun, the aura from Solar Strength Blessing seemed to burn even brighter.

A single punch or kick from him, and shed go down. Jiao Heng wasnt as tall as Tian Jian, but he still had several inches on her, and had been practicing martial arts since his childhood. Even without Solar Strength Blessing, he eclipsed her in terms of strength. With his spiritual skill activated, there wasnt really any comparison. And while she was definitely superior in terms of skill, he wasnt that far off. If she was only slightly careless

Lan Yue narrowed her eyes. She could win, of that she had no doubt. Using Blazing Sun Aura cost Jiao Heng spiritual power, and it was only a matter of time before he ran out of spiritual stamina. As long as she managed to keep dodging his attack, hed eventually reach spiritual exhaustion, and then victory would be hers. And if she managed to stab him Her sword was a fifth-order one. Even if she were to factor in the defensive properties of Solar Strength Blessing, she would still be able to use it to cut him.

Unfortunately, she didnt know what exactly was going on with Hao Zhen. By the time the smoke had cleared out, both her teammate and the third-level redsoul Du Qing brought with him were gone, and she wasnt in any position to check on him. From what she knew of his ability, he should be able to deal with a cultivator a level higher under the right circumstances, but there was always the risk of something going wrong.

Hao Zhen seemed to somehow be related to all of this fate business, so he had to be important in the grand scheme of things in some way. She also had to admit she had grown to consider the boy, if not a friend, then at least a comrade over the past couple of weeks. Either way, she had to make sure he was safe, so she had to finish this fight as quickly as possible. And that meant she really only had one option.

Lan Yue didnt like using her spiritual skill, as she didnt like people knowing she had one, because thatd lead to questions. Still, Hao Zhen and Tian Jin already knew about itand her special circumstancesso it didnt matter as long as they killed everyone else. Which was the plan, anyway.

Across from her, Jiao Heng was still staring at her, studying her. She wondered what he was thinking. Then he murmured something she couldnt quite hear before pushing off against the ground and shooting at her. Lan Yue put up her sword in front of her just in time to block his fist, before taking a few steps to the side.

Reaching inside her soul, she tapped into her spiritual skill. From her body, faint red-green mist started rolling out. To stop Jiao Heng from noticing, she threw herself at him, stabbing out with her sword in a flurry of attacks. Jiao Heng retreated, and she advanced on him, briefly pausing her attacks just long enough for him to regain his rhythm and start throwing out his own attacks at her.

Their deadly dance continued. More and more faint mist rolled off her body, diffusing throughout the surrounding air. Already she could see its effects on the inner disciplehis movements werent as fast, and his punches didnt seem to pack as much strength.

The inner disciple seemed to notice it too, because he suddenly jumped away from her, his expression alarmed. You What is Then his eyes widened. That mist. Is that

Without a word, Lan Yue lunged at him, and Jiao Heng had no choice but to dodge. She didnt give him a single moment to catch his breath, attacking him relentlessly. Forced on the defensive, the inner disciple could only move his body around to dodge her attacks, his expression growing darker and darker. Even with Solar Strength Blessing, he was now only roughly at her level in terms of strength and speed, and with every second that went by, he only grew weaker.

Moments later, Jiao Heng failed to move out of the way fast enough, and her sword stabbed through his stomach. The inner disciple staggered back, eyes wide, and she spun on her feet, sweeping the blade of her sword through his neck.

Lan Yue gathered some spiritual power before her to shield her from the spray of blood, watching as Jiao Heng fell to the ground. First his head, then the rest of his body a beat later.

Her eyes on the corpse, Lan Yue slowly exhaled, letting her sword drop to the side and deactivating Viridescent Poisonous Aura.

She shivered. Jiao Heng, the strongest inner disciple. Dead, by her hands. In a way, she had already fulfilled her bet with her father. She had killed the strongest inner disciple, so the moment she was promoted to the Inner Courtwhich would happen the moment the Glistening Stone Hunt was overshed take the crown as the top-ranked inner disciple.

Or at least that would have been the case. Lan Yue looked up, concentrating on the battle happening on the other side of the clearing. Tian Jin and Du Qing were still engaged in combat. She took a step forward, towards them, before stopping herself. Her hands clenched into fists, she stared at the two for a few moments, before shaking her head.

As much as she hated Du Qing, Tian Jins feud with him was much greater than hers. This was his battle. As for Tian Jin himself Shed defeat him later, fair and square.

Right now, there was something else she had to do. She looked at the spot she remembered Hao Zhen being at. There were footprints on the ground, disappearing into the forest beyond.

Lan Yue then waved her hand over Jiao Hengs corpse, storing it in her spatial ring, before going after the trail.