Chapter 838: Long Time No See, Han Wubing

Chapter 838: The Long-Awaited Han Wubing

While Piaomiao was still shaping her body with the lotus throne, Poxun had already been released from the pagoda by Yuancheng.

Originally beaten all the way by the corrupted Piaomiao, battered half to death, and then imprisoned in the Buddhist pagoda for so long, with Buddha light constantly washing and purifying him, by the time he was released, Poxun was already on the verge of death.

Yet a being like him simply could not die... If it had been a demon capable of death, even one stronger than him, facing such circumstances would likely have resulted in utter annihilation long ago.

Poxun glared hatefully at the monks, then fled with great effort.

In his current state, he was no match for the Ancient Buddha; a wise man knows when to yield... Once he recovered from his injuries, he would return to teach those bald donkeys a lesson. Then he would take control of them all, perhaps even using them to trap Zhao Changhe... Poxun had never abandoned his plans for revenge against Zhao Changhe.

Just wait for me!

His hatred also included Xuexiao. In truth, Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao had likely been absent from the ancient temple for quite some time, their souls elsewhere. Only the Ancient Buddha and Cui Yuanyang remained as two Imperial Realm cultivators. The Ancient Buddha was clearly no match for Xuexiao, and could Cui Yuanyang's Imperial Realm even be considered combat power? With such a perfect opportunity to enter, destroy the temple, rescue him, and perhaps even kill Zhao Changhe, Xuexiao had been so timid, fearing Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao like tigers, missing the chance!

Indeed, those who habitually operate in the shadows most lack the courage to face a strong enemy head-on. Had he dared to come, he would have known the temple was empty!

Now everything was too late... Truly a pity.

Watching Poxun's resentful figure disappear, the Ancient Buddha sighed: "This was the best chance to suppress Poxun for eternity. Why did you listen so obediently to that King Zhao? If releasing this tiger does not yield the results King Zhao expects, the consequences will be endless. What will we do then..."

Yuancheng said: "Did we want to release Poxun? There was no choice. For Buddhism to revive in this world, we absolutely cannot offend King Zhao. If he gives the order, it might be even more thorough than the late emperor's persecution of Buddhism."

The Ancient Buddha's face darkened, deeply conflicted. Buddhism had suffered two major blows—the Heavenly Collapse and the persecution—and was now so fragile that it could only tread carefully... Recalling the glory of Mount Meru in the past, it could only be said that time had changed everything.

Yuancheng said: "Venerable One, since you were so worried, why didn't you object earlier? You remained silent..."

The Ancient Buddha smiled bitterly: "I don't know much about this King Zhao. What I fear is Piaomiao. You never experienced the era of ancient gods and demons; you don't know what beings like Piaomiao meant back then. In ancient times, I wasn't even qualified to speak with her. She was on equal footing with the Buddha... What's hardest to understand is that day on the pagoda, when King Zhao interrogated Poxun, the corrupted Piaomiao stood quietly behind him without a word, like a meek little wife. I kept wondering if I was still dreaming..."

Yuancheng said: "We can somewhat understand that feeling... Before the ancient gods and Buddhas revived, watching him and Zhuque flirt was exactly that sensation."

Ancient Buddha: "..."

He was silent for a long time before speaking softly: "It's different."

"Ah? We think it's about the same..."

"Zhuque, after all, is merely a subordinate of the Night Emperor. And among the few the Night Emperor never conquered was Piaomiao. If we speak symbolically, this King Zhao's dominion now surpasses even the Night Emperor's." The Ancient Buddha's expression grew solemn: "If the Heavenly Dao still existed, it would not permit such a being."

Yuancheng's heart skipped a beat, instinctively sensing something ominous in those words. But when he tried to find Zhao Changhe to speak of it, the man was already gone.

...

Poxun arrived at his own Paradise of Freedom. The surrounding phantom beasts dissolved into shadows and merged into his black mist. His weakened state visibly began to recover rapidly.

Behind him came Xuexiao's voice: "Weren't you captured? How did you return?"

Poxun said coldly: "You didn't want me back? Hoping to take over my forces here?"

Xuexiao said: "They are controlled by you through heart demons. How could I take them over? Just curious. With Piaomiao standing guard and the soul chain in place, how did you manage to escape..."

"I have my own ways of escaping. Did I rely on you to save me?"

"I didn't not try to save you. Zhao Changhe somehow always senses where I am. Without the advantage of coming and going unseen, going there would be no different from walking to my death."

"But earlier, both Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao were soul-traveling. Even if you didn't care about saving me, that was the perfect chance to destroy Zhao Changhe's physical body! You should know that Zhao Changhe relies on blood-fiend body tempering. His body is extremely important. If destroyed, his strength would be reduced by ninety percent!"

Xuexiao sighed: "You actually place killing Zhao Changhe above saving you?"

Poxun sneered: "Of course. Zhao Changhe is a mortal body. Even after all his tempering, he still has a post-natal physique. He is very easy to kill. But I am immortal..."

Before he could finish, a sword silently pierced into his mist. Then the sword aura exploded, wildly churning his soul.

Poxun let out a scream: "You're insane!"

"Do you really think you're immortal and indestructible? It's true that such a law must exist in the world, but it doesn't have to be you. Ye Jiuyou didn't kill you because she didn't want to passively take over your law and interfere with her own pursuit of truth. But I don't care about that." Xuexiao said calmly: "Originally, I was no match for you. I was worried you might be faking weakness. But it turns out you really are this weak, and you dare to appear before me without any defense..."

Poxun's black mist twisted in agony: "You are not a primordial demon god. How could you possibly take over my law..."

"Guess?"

"You are... Anmie?"

"Correct. Since the last era, I have been waiting for this day." Xuexiao said calmly: "My law was ultimately overwritten by Ye Jiuyou, and my cultivation was capped. I could never break through. I had to find evil outside her system to have a chance to stand equal with her. You were the best choice..."

As he spoke, his cultivation surged, breaking through the barrier of the Second Layer of the Imperial Realm in an instant.

Poxun's aura slowly faded, and the same aura began to emerge on Xuexiao.

He let out a long breath, gently clenching his left fist: "This is the power of the Four Symbols of Antiquity. I should have had this strength long ago."

But Poxun's final will sneered: "Do you think Ye Jiuyou doesn't know what you're thinking? Ha... haha... You are nothing but rotten flesh she wants to cut away. She's just letting the clown perform..."

The voice grew faint: "You will die even worse than me."

The voice faded, and the black mist dissipated.

Near a stone wall, Yue Hongling and the others had been lurking on the sidelines for a long time, sent by Zhao Changhe's warning to follow the sword aura he had pre-planted in Xuexiao's body. They exchanged glances, all somewhat astonished.

Was Poxun really so easily absorbed? Even if he was extremely weak at the moment, it felt like he died too quickly, and Xuexiao's absorption was too easy. After all, Anmie's law wasn't high enough for this. To achieve this, even without considering Ye Jiuyou's overarching law, one would at least need to be on par with Poxun...

"No." Yue Hongling carefully transmitted her thoughts: "Regardless of how he absorbed it, just the sword strike that destroyed Poxun's soul had the meaning of the White Tiger's roar destroying everything. Didn't anyone sense it before?"

Xia Chichi was startled. The previous White Tiger was her, but she had never encountered Xuexiao in the martial world, so she truly didn't know.

Huangfu Qing and Sanniang both shook their heads. None of them had fought Xuexiao head-on. Who could know? The only ones who had fought Xuexiao directly were Zhao Changhe and you, Yue Hongling... But back then, Yue Hongling hadn't received the White Tiger inheritance, so she naturally didn't understand what White Tiger's intent was like.

Moreover, to be honest, Xuexiao used sword aura to fish for so many sword slaves, mastering countless sword intents. As long as he didn't reveal his White Tiger intent, no one could possibly detect it. Only when destroying an opponent of Poxun's level did he need to use White Tiger's power of the same level, which the current Yue Hongling could perceive.

"Could he be the mad White Tiger? But with such calmness, how is he mad?" Sanniang said in surprise: "And according to what Changhe revealed earlier, he should be a reincarnation of Anmie's split soul into a modern human."

Xia Chichi said: "The mad White Tiger was severely injured and absorbed by him?"

"Then the Chaos Chronicle wouldn't have recorded the White Tiger's name." Huangfu Qing said: "The Chaos Chronicle may be questionable in other aspects, but it is very precise in this regard. Piaomiao and Cui Yuanyang could be considered one person, yet it still wrote them as two, and in the end, it proved that Piaomiao was successfully separated by that pervert... So it follows that the White Tiger and Xuexiao must also be two different people."

While they were discussing, Xuexiao's aura continued to surge, soon reaching the peak of the Second Layer of the Imperial Realm.

Xuexiao looked down at his sword blade and murmured to himself: "Having broken through the established barrier and reached this step, I suppose we can talk now..."

With that, his form flickered and vanished.

Yue Hongling quickly followed the perception and led the others quietly after him.

To everyone's surprise, Xuexiao's destination was not a space outside the Demon Illusion Realm but straight to a misty snowy mountain in the west.

The Demon Illusion Realm was, of course, vast. Yue Hongling had spent months here earlier, only wandering the edges. Zhao Changhe had come straight to the core along a single path. There were many places they had never been.

Given the peculiar nature of the Demon Illusion Realm, with countless illusions masking reality, it was quite suitable for hiding things. No one had thought of that before... Clearly, a very important secret was hidden here.

Sure enough, after a while, Xuexiao reached the snowy mountain peak and spoke softly to a solitary rock: "How is it today?"

From within the rock came a calm voice: "Poxun's intent? What use is that..."

Just those few words made Xia Chichi and Yue Hongling's eyes widen.

Perhaps few in the world were familiar with that voice, but they were. And they knew exactly how their husband would react if he heard it.

The long-missing Han Wubing... Zhao Changhe's first friend in this world, and the most loyal one. These two had once been willing to risk their lives for each other. Han Wubing had gone missing after the Southwest campaign. Zhao Changhe had always been deeply concerned. After replacing Xia Longyuan and ruling the Central Plains, he had entrusted the Demon Suppression Bureau, Ying Wu, and countless other channels to search for Han Wubing, but there had never been any news.

No news wasn't strange—there were so many overseas nations and Western nations. Not finding him was normal. Only Zhao Changhe found it abnormal. Because the Han Wubing he knew would never stay off the Chaos Chronicle for so long. That man was never one to fear trouble, and his talent was exceptional. In this turbulent era, how could he have no achievements at all?

Unexpectedly, he was here, all along in the Demon Illusion Realm!

From the looks of it, he wasn't captured. Xuexiao's attitude was one of equal dialogue.

Yue Hongling had been part of the Sword Hut incident and knew well that these two being together wasn't strange—they had deep ties. But equal dialogue was strange. Han Wubing had originally been Shi Wuding's sword slave, and Shi Wuding was Xuexiao's sword slave. Their status and cultivation were generations apart. Equal dialogue?

Then Xuexiao said coldly: "Poxun's intent is naturally useless to you... But it is very useful for the Third Layer of the Imperial Realm."

Han Wubing gave a cold laugh but said nothing.

Snow Owl said, "Bo Xun and Piaomiao are essentially the same—both arise from the human path. Since Piaomiao could reach the third level of the Imperial Realm, Bo Xun naturally qualifies as well. So it has no bottleneck; all it lacks is a spark of opportunity… and you and I are that opportunity. If we can cooperate, both of us might achieve the third level of the Imperial Realm."

Han Wubing said flatly, "That has nothing to do with me."

"Nothing to do with you?" Snow Owl sneered. "If you can't even cross the threshold of the third level of the Imperial Realm, how can you possibly accomplish what you set out to do?"

"I can wait. Bo Xun's things—I find them filthy."

"Wait? The Ye sisters are laying their schemes in the shadows, and Zhao Changhe is now just one step away from the third level of the Imperial Realm. Do you know what they intend to do?"

Han Wubing was silent for a moment. "Whatever they intend, Zhao Changhe will not harm me."

"If you truly believe that, then why, when Zhao Changhe was wounded and fleeing in the Demon Illusion Realm, did you see it with your own eyes, right before you, yet you didn't lift a hand to help?" Snow Owl sneered. "Aren't you his most loyal friend?"

Han Wubing said calmly, "Because I trust he can handle it himself… He is Zhao Changhe. How could he possibly fail against a mere Bo Xun?"

Snow Owl laughed heartily. "Then I suggest you take a look in the Soul-Capture Mirror and see the truth within your heart."

Han Wubing did not answer.

"Afraid?" Snow Owl clicked his tongue in mock pity. "Among the illusions he saw, your face appeared; among the illusions you saw, his face appeared as well. You both are each other's soft spot, unable to strike—quite a rare bond. But what a pity: he has so many soft spots, while you have only him."

Han Wubing said coldly, "You've only just absorbed Bo Xun's will, and already you try to mimic his tricks of sowing discord. Your skill is far too crude. Don't make a fool of yourself here."

"Whether I'm making a fool of myself, you know well enough," Snow Owl said coldly. "And you know how many people want you dead now. Zhao Changhe and his wives are searching for you, the Sword Emperor is searching for you, Ye Jiuyou is searching for you, and Ye Wuming will not let you go either… You know better than I what level these opponents are. Other than me, what choice do you have?"

Before the words faded, a soft laugh came from the void: "Me."

The space twisted, and a stunning woman draped in a dark robe appeared silently before them.

With her arrival, the surroundings instantly plunged into gloom. The snow-capped mountain, which had still borne some vegetation, saw all plants wither and die in that instant. Every illusion beast vanished with a scream, leaving desolation and silence.

Chilling winds swept past the hem of her robe, fluttering gently, as if the scene came with its own soundtrack.

Ye Jiuyou.

Huangfu Qing and Yue Hongling, who had seen Ye Jiuyou in Chang'an, felt their hearts tremble. This was the very image of the ultimate antagonist. If Ye Jiuyou had possessed this level of power back in Chang'an, there would be no game left to play, and Zhao Changhe would have no hope of touching her in the Battle of Eternal Heaven… Why had she not seemed so strong then? Was it because that was merely her avatar? Or because someone else was suppressing her?

With her appearance, the illusion before them was directly shattered. The rock formation vanished, revealing a cliff face. In the cliff was a cave, and within it sat Han Wubing cross-legged, a long sword laid across his knees. He himself was as still as a sword.

Deep within the cave behind him, an aura of wild, violent madness faintly emanated—the unrestrained ferocity of the White Tiger, spreading wantonly through the illusion. A sharp sword intent cut through Ye Jiuyou's dark domain, but unfortunately, it had no effect against her.

The hidden onlookers felt a stir in their hearts.

It seemed that deep in the cave was the maddened ancient White Tiger… and Han Wubing, sitting at the entrance, was actually guarding it?

But at this moment, Han Wubing's aura was also incredibly strong… that unmatched, razor-sharp sword intent was faintly even a notch above Yue Hongling's current level.

Yue Hongling had undergone countless fortunes, trials, and bloody battles. What about Han Wubing? He had never even moved on the Chaos Rankings—could it be that he had simply sat here in meditation, and from this solitary stillness had forged such terrifying sword intent?