Chapter 311: World of Deathly Qi

Chapter 311: The World of Deathly Qi

Blood foam scattered in all directions, and Han Xianyun’s forehead was damp and wet.

He touched his forehead, and there was another large patch of blood.

Only then did he seriously look at Qi Yuan, his expression somewhat dazed: “My wife?”

“Mm, your wife. Ah, I struck too hard; your wife couldn’t withstand it. What a pity. Hurry and collect some, keep it as a memento.” Qi Yuan said lightly.

Blood foam flew everywhere, yet not a single drop landed on Qi Yuan’s body. The blood-colored longsword vanished, and he stood in that space, like an otherworldly immortal.

Only, the words this immortal spoke were somewhat delirious and hard to fathom.

At that moment, the injured Yu Xiu struggled to rise. He looked at Qi Yuan with reverence in his eyes: “Thank you, sir, for saving my life!”

Yu Xiu’s head was still buzzing, somewhat shaken.

Qi Yuan’s gaze fell on Yu Xiu: “Can you tell me… about the hidden map?”

“I…” Yu Xiu’s face showed confusion.

This sir, who was almost comparable to a deity, actually didn’t know…

“Sir, my name is Yu Xiu. This matter can’t be explained in a short while. Once the curse ends, this place will also shatter.

Next time I come out, I will surely find you, sir, and inform you of the details.”

Yu Xiu’s speech quickened, as he felt he was about to return.

His body became transparent at that moment, then… vanished.

The entire space collapsed at that instant.

The surroundings of Qi Yuan and Han Xianyun turned back into the previous alley.

Han Xianyun held his head; he still hadn’t snapped out of it.

Especially after waking up, he felt dizzy and lightheaded, as if he had suffered a massive attack.

He felt as though everything was like a dream.

He looked at Qi Yuan, his mind in turmoil: “Just now… did we enter a special space? Was it my illusion?”

He wondered if he was mentally disturbed, letting his thoughts run wild.

After all, his current state was terrible—his head heavy and his mind light.

Of course, this state actually came from being jolted awake by Qi Yuan’s shout.

“Your wife is still lingering on your head. How could it be an illusion? Unless you want to be a scumbag and shirk responsibility?” Qi Yuan said with a faint smile.

…

The weather was gloomy, and the wind howled fiercely.

Inside the ancient fortress, there were rows of cramped buildings.

On the fortress walls, all kinds of strange creatures were carved.

There were terrifying fish with six pairs of wings, and majestic beings with lion faces and human bodies.

In the open space at the center of the fortress, suddenly, a spatial fluctuation came, and a figure fell from the air.

About ten-odd breaths later, four people gathered in that open space.

“Yu Xiu? Weren’t you on vacation in reality to break the curse? Why are you back so soon?”

“And what about your injuries? These are… wounds left by the executioner Axe Moth?”

The two men and two women present looked at Yu Xiu with expressions of surprise.

Among them, only a tall woman with a braid showed a look of concern.

“Some changes occurred while breaking the curse.” Clearly, Yu Xiu didn’t want to fully disclose the matter to these people.

“Sigh, we’re about to be sent out on a mission soon, and now… you’re injured. What will we do for the next mission?” A burly man’s eyes showed a complex expression, filled with worry.

The others felt the same.

The five of them were currently a temporary team, and one main combatant being injured greatly affected their mission.

At that moment, a thin man spoke: “Don’t mention the mission. I reckon before the mission even starts, this fortress of ours… will be breached.”

Hearing this, the faces of those present changed slightly.

The fortress was their refuge, protecting them from the erosion of the outside world.

However, lately, the number of tasks completed by people in the fortress had been dwindling.

The blood array’s energy source in the fortress was insufficient, growing weaker and weaker.

The terrifying monsters in the night would likely break through the fortress’s blood array before long.

When that happened, the fortress’s residents would probably suffer heavy casualties.

And they would only become wanderers, living in constant uncertainty.

“That’s a Wuying-level monster, even more powerful than the executioner Axe Moth. Our small fortress simply can’t withstand it!” The braided woman also spoke with a worried expression.

“I wonder what those higher-ups are planning.” One person sighed.

At that moment, Yu Xiu clutched his wound: “Nana and I will go back to heal first. Let’s stop chatting.”

Upon hearing this, the braided woman, without any ceremony, hoisted Yu Xiu onto her shoulder, and the two headed toward a cramped room in the fortress.

Back in the room, after confirming no one was around, Yu Xiu let out a sigh of relief.

An Liangna’s face was filled with anxiety: “Yu Xiu, what exactly happened to you?

Are these wounds left by the executioner Axe Moth?”

An Liangna’s face seemed to have a million questions.

She and Yu Xiu were inseparable, most familiar with his strength, and knew a thing or two about his trump cards.

She knew that if Yu Xiu had been tortured, he wouldn’t have left so easily.

“Nana, do you think it’s possible for someone in reality to kill Axe Moth?” Yu Xiu recalled the scene he saw in the torture space and couldn’t help asking.

“How could that be? Axe Moth is at least Wuying level, which counts as a big boss even in large-scale missions. The real world is full of ordinary people.” An Liangna clearly didn’t believe anyone in reality could kill Axe Moth.

Hearing this, Yu Xiu was silent for a moment before he said: “Axe Moth was killed by someone from reality with a single sword strike…”

He told An Liangna everything, from his fortune-telling for Qi Yuan to what happened afterward.

After listening, An Liangna’s eyes showed shock: “How is that possible!”

In the real world, bloodlines had limits; blood warriors simply couldn’t appear.

Without blood warriors, how could anyone contend with Axe Moth?

“And, according to what you said, he has no deathly qi on him, so clearly he’s not from our place either.” An Liangna was utterly perplexed.

“I’ve heard that reality has undergone some major changes; maybe it’s related to that.” Yu Xiu thought of something and said slowly.

“Major changes?” An Liangna was silent for a moment, then continued, “No matter how strong reality is, so what? This place is…”

Hearing this, Yu Xiu also fell silent.

Yes, An Liangna is right.

No matter how powerful reality is, it cannot affect them.

Here, they can only rely on each other, on their companions.

……

In Longtai City, inside a hotel.

Before Qi Yuan loomed a massive screen.

On the screen, Robot Zero-One wore a faint smile.

“Today, three videos were filmed… yesterday’s earnings… wedding candies were purchased… the cat shed five hundred and seventy-two strands of fur…”

It continued reporting its work to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.

“How is the investigation into the Mad Dragon Martial Lord and the Blood Compass that I asked you to look into?” Qi Yuan pressed on.

This was what concerned him most now.

It pertained to the path of advancement for a Spiritual Martial Lord.

And also to breaking through the limits of martial arts.

“No information has been found on the Mad Dragon Martial Lord or the Blood Compass.

However, through searches, I uncovered details about Blood Luo Island.

Blood Luo Island lies deep within the Zhongya Ocean. One thousand seven hundred years ago, an earthquake struck the Zhongya Ocean, and Blood Luo Island sank beneath the waves, never to be heard from again.”

“An island from seventeen hundred years ago? Can we still pinpoint its exact location?” Qi Yuan asked.

If he could find it, he would go as a diver and take a casual look.

“Too little data; it cannot be located.” Zero-One’s face showed a troubled expression, as if failing to solve Qi Yuan’s problem was a painful thing.

Nevertheless, Zero-One continued: “As for the Yu Xiu you mentioned, and the portrait you provided, I consulted many records and mobilized backup footage from surveillance cameras worldwide. In the end, I uncovered some information.

Yu Xiu, a native of An County in Qinyuan Kingdom, died in a car accident… thirty-four years ago.

By age, he should now be fifty years old.”

“Dead?” Qi Yuan was astonished.

Suddenly, he recalled the word “death aura” that Yu Xiu had spoken.

“Could it be that the place where Yu Xiu is requires death… to enter?” Qi Yuan speculated inwardly.

“Does that mean I have to kill myself to complete the Spiritual Martial Lord mission?”

After a moment’s thought, Qi Yuan quickly shook his head.

He had a certificate for mental illness, but he wasn’t insane.

Suicide was something he could not do.

Yet, thinking back to yesterday, he had only entered that hidden space by borrowing Han Xianyun’s bloodline.

Did that mean if his own bloodline concentration met the standard, he could enter similar hidden spaces?

“It seems I’ll have to be a diver after all, to catch mutated sea monsters in the ocean,” Qi Yuan mused.

The blood essence in the Witch Cult was a hodgepodge; consuming it could indeed enhance Qi Yuan’s martial cultivation and talent.

But in truth, too much of it would easily overshadow the main effect.

“Time to change clothes; I need to go traveling.”

This time, he would stay in Tianyue City for about a week before the martial arts tournament began.

During that week, he planned to visit some martial arts landmarks.

For instance, the Martial Cloud Pavilion, engraved with various martial traces.

When they parted yesterday, Han Xianyun had promised to accompany him to the Martial Cloud Pavilion as his guide.

A free guide—why not use it?

About an hour later.

Qi Yuan appeared outside the Martial Cloud Pavilion.

After three months of growth, his hair was quite long, giving him the look of an ancient handsome man.

When Han Xianyun saw Qi Yuan, his face lit up with excitement. He waved incessantly and jogged over: “Mr. Qi.”

Han Xianyun, who had returned last night, was dizzy and had slept it off.

When he woke, he became clear-headed and exceptionally thrilled.

Obviously, Qi Yuan was… the ruthless figure who had once annihilated the Wugui Kingdom’s military camp with a single sword.

The legendary… all-powerful cultivator.

No wonder yesterday, when he worriedly said that the revival of immortal arts would render martial arts obsolete, Qi Yuan showed no concern.

He practiced immortal arts—why would he worry?

Martial arts were probably just a toy, a way to experience life.

What should one do when facing a cultivator?

This morning, Han Xianyun asked himself that.

Without any hesitation, he knew the answer.

Suck up!

Maybe if he sucked up well enough, Mr. Qi would wave his hand and gift him a very impressive wife.

That would be a huge win.

“You’ve come fully prepared with bags and bundles,” Qi Yuan remarked casually.

“To be Mr. Qi’s guide, I must be thoroughly prepared!” Han Xianyun said enthusiastically.

“Is the Martial Cloud Pavilion inaccessible? I see people on guard outside.” Qi Yuan glanced over and noticed the pavilion cordoned off, with several black-suited bodyguards standing nearby.

“The Martial Cloud Pavilion is free and open to everyone. Probably some rich brat has booked the whole place. No worries—I’m a rich brat too, a small problem,” Han Xianyun replied casually.

Such scenes were common in Qinyuan Kingdom.

Ordinary people were used to it and raised no objections.

After all, as the joke goes, the nobility’s favor is a debt that lasts for generations.

Realistically, would objections make a difference?

On TV, in textbooks, even in the constitution, they didn’t bother to pretend.

The Seven Martial Star families even had immunity from the death penalty.

“Isn’t it a bit wrong to use privilege like this?” Qi Yuan hesitated.

He never used privilege.

For instance, back in the Canglan Realm, when he wanted to enter a certain sect’s library of scriptures, he could have used his privilege to force them to open the doors. But he didn’t. Instead, he relied on his formidable personal charisma, coupled with the hospitality of those sects. The moment he arrived, they opened the library for him.

“What if I win them over with my charm?” Qi Yuan thought to follow the Canglan Realm approach.

“Leave this trifle to me!” Han Xianyun declared, thumping his chest in assurance.

He was about to seek out the person in charge when suddenly a voice rang out.

“Young master, is that you?” An old man who looked like a steward approached, his face bright with delight.

“Uncle Wang, what are you doing here?” Han Xianyun asked, puzzled. “The one who booked the entire Wuyun Pavilion—could it be my elder brother? Perfect, he can pull some strings for me. I have a friend who wants to go too!”

Finding it was his own family, Han Xianyun thought this would be even easier.

Just then, a crowd of people surged toward them.

At the head were a middle-aged man and a strikingly beautiful woman with an exotic air.

The middle-aged man’s eyes flickered with surprise when he saw Han Xianyun, then he said to the woman beside him, “Princess Huansha, this is my younger brother, Han Xianyun. He is a martial artist at the pinnacle of the martial path. Since you’re interested in martial arts, my brother can serve as your guide and explain Wuyun Pavilion to you.”

Princess Huansha was a princess of the Liulisi Kingdom, visiting Longtai City in the Qinyuan Kingdom for pleasure. Han Xianyun’s elder brother, Han Kang, was tasked with accompanying her and ensuring her safety. Now, seeing his younger brother here, Han Kang decided to let him take over the duty.

Han Xianyun was speechless. “Brother, I’m with a friend.”

He then turned to Princess Huansha. “My apologies, Princess, but I have no time today.”

Accompany a princess of a minor kingdom, or a cultivator?

Was there even a choice?

Definitely the cultivator!

Could a princess give him an awesome wife?

Clearly not.

Han Kang was taken aback by his brother’s words.

His younger brother, though usually carefree, never faltered in important matters. He had never refused his orders before.

Today, he was refusing him to his face.

Displeasure stirred in Han Kang’s heart.

“This friend… is he from the martial arts circle?” Han Kang looked at Qi Yuan. “Perhaps this friend could come to Wuyun Pavilion tomorrow instead. I’ll have my brother accompany you then.”

Han Kang’s tone brooked no argument, carrying the imperiousness of one in power.

“I came today, so why should I wait until tomorrow? Is Wuyun Pavilion your family’s property? If so, why don’t you come tomorrow instead?” Qi Yuan objected.

Before Han Kang could respond, a man with gold-rimmed glasses, who looked like a secretary, spoke up.

“Wuyun Pavilion… can indeed be considered our asset.”

Qi Yuan was taken aback.

He had been bested.

“This…”

He felt a surge of displeasure.

In this game, he was constrained at every turn.

He had already decided that once he had enough money, he would simply buy Gongxing outright. Then, when faced with a situation like today, he could retort with authority: “What? Wuyun Pavilion is your family’s property? Sorry, but Gongxing belongs to me.”

Unfortunately, Gongxing wasn’t his yet.

He was nothing but a weak, helpless little commoner—bullied, mocked, and unable to fight back, standing there like a mere lackey.

Just then, Princess Huansha’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Are both of these gentlemen martial artists? I have long admired your country’s martial arts. How about I join these two in touring Wuyun Pavilion? What do you all think? Besides, we’re all young, so we can relax and have more fun.”

The princess’s proposal stirred a ripple of discussion.

Han Kang paused, thought for a moment, then said, “Agreed.”

The others had no objections either.

After all, Wuyun Pavilion was under their control.

With proper security measures outside, there would be no issues.

Han Kang turned to Han Xianyun and Qi Yuan, his tone stern and laced with pressure. “Once inside Wuyun Pavilion, make sure to protect Princess Huansha. Do not let any harm come to her.”

Han Xianyun looked at Qi Yuan, his expression troubled. “Mr. Qi, what should we do?”

“Whatever. After all, it’s someone else’s property,” Qi Yuan replied, equally helpless, feeling his own weakness and powerlessness.

(End of chapter)