Chapter 269 - 249: Slaying
The hall was shrouded in darkness, with no light visible.
Chen Ming sat cross-legged in the center of the hall, his breathing causing the surrounding air currents to swirl, almost forming a vortex. With every breath, the Gang Yuan within him underwent astonishing changes.
A new attribute of Gang Yuan was created within his body.
Every second disrupted the balance between the original three attributes, causing the Gang Yuan to collapse, and just as it was about to lose control, a new balance was restored under some force.
Then it would collapse again, and balance would be formed once more...
This repeated in cycles.
With each passing second, the Gang Yuan within him strengthened further.
This dramatic change was far stronger than when he previously merged with the Wood Element section.
Chen Ming was somewhat alarmed, feeling as if he were walking on the edge of death, fearing that one mistake would lead to an extremely unpleasant end, leaving no bones behind.
The "Taiyue Sword" resting on his knees periodically emitted a humming sound, conveying an uneasy sentiment, questioning what was happening to him.
Chen Ming had to divert his focus to reassure it, to prevent it from worrying.
The Primordial Spirit of the "Taiyue Sword" was the calm and steady type, generally not communicating with him unless necessary, resembling a recluse.
Now it interacted with him from time to time, seemingly afraid he might die at any moment.
Finally, the Gang Yuan within him seemed to reach a peak, finally stabilizing and forming a true balance.
"It’s finally over!"
Chen Ming let out a long breath, feeling a wave of fear in his heart.
Each new merge brought about significant changes. With the fourth gate already so staggering, who knows what the fifth gate might bring.
Buzz buzz.
The "Taiyue Sword" vibrated again, as if asking, "Are you really the original master?"
Chen Ming remained silent, simply deploying the "Artifact Nurturing Technique," using Gang Yuan to nurture it.
This time, he converted his Gang Yuan to the Earth Attribute, which indeed matched exceedingly well with the sword.
This "Taiyue Sword" was inherently Earth-attributed, nurtured with Mana by Senior Jin for over a hundred years, which brought forth its Primordial Spirit.
"Master!"
The Primordial Spirit conveyed an exceptionally joyful feeling.
Chen Ming seemed to see a prompt above the divine weapon that said "Loyalty +10."
After soothing the "Taiyue Sword," he stood up and began practicing Swordsmanship and Body Technique within the hall.
The place was essentially a training ground, spacious enough for his figure to transform continually within the hall, stopping only after a brief moment.
His face was filled with delight, "The total amount of Gang Yuan has increased nearly tenfold. And the four different attributes of Gang Yuan can be switched at will, even using multiple attributes simultaneously in attacks."
With this merge, his strength soared, and now facing Du Rusong again, he wouldn’t need to fear. Whether he could defeat him would only be known upon engagement.
After all, he had never seen Du Rusong’s full force, unsure of this person’s level of skill.
Now he finally had enough confidence to cope with the current situation.
...
After bathing and dressing, he met with Sun Chuxian who came to greet him, and only by the afternoon did he find free time, waiting for the carriage to prepare before heading to the Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion with several subordinates.
This Sun Chuxian, if nothing else, was exceedingly adept at outward appearances. He came to greet him every day, humble in attitude.
The more he acted this way, the more wary Chen Ming became of him.
The carriage traveled along the way, taking nearly half an hour.
Chen Ming felt something amiss, the Golden Jade Hall might be a bit far from Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion, but it should have arrived by now, right?
He lifted the carriage curtain to look outside, discovering the surroundings were rather desolate, arriving at a remote place.
"Is this an attack?"
Chen Ming understood internally, guessing it was most likely the night that Tang Yaoyang sought him out, which Sun Chuxian learned about.
So, who would make a move?
He held some anticipation, if they sent a Second Grade over, it would be akin to offering him experience points.
If they sent a First Grade, who would it be?
The Grand Elder would not personally attack.
The Third Elder, skilled in curse techniques, wouldn’t be sent for such brute tasks.
Therefore, it was most likely—
At this moment, a formidable pressure emanated from above, a terrifying force crushed the top of the carriage into dust, grinding it towards Chen Ming seated in the carriage.
Indeed, it was him!
Chen Ming had already drawn his sword, the "Taiyue Sword" thrust upwards, its sharp edge cleaving the spirited Gang Yuan hand into two halves, extinguishing its spirituality, then dissipating completely.
With a bang.
The fragments of the entire carriage were scattered by the aura he unleashed.
Chen Ming calmly looked at the masked figure opposite him, "Second Elder, you dare cause a rebellion, intending to harm the Sect Leader, do you know your guilt?"
The masked figure’s form differed slightly from the Second Elder, evidently skilled in disguise techniques.
Yet, in Jiangzhou City, there are only a few First Grade experts, no matter how they hide, their identity is easily deducible.
"Come claim your life!"
The Second Elder was furious to see his identity exposed in public, deciding on prompt actions without more words, pulling out a large black spear from his back.
This long spear was also a rare divine weapon and was the signature weapon of the Second Elder, demonstrating significant regard for the "Taiyue Sword" as an unparalleled divine weapon.
This strike was like a black dragon flying.
Chen Ming’s head buzzed, a piercing pain at the center of his brows, like a needle prick.
It was the opponent’s spear intent.
Even before the spear arrived, the spear intent had already started affecting him.
This was a crushing of realm, leaving him utterly powerless.
"Break!"
Chen Ming bit the tip of his tongue, like the burst of spring thunder, his mind instantly clearing up, and the "Taiyue Sword" in his hand emitted a profound yellow light, giving him a helping hand.
In just this brief hesitation, the spear was already before him, less than three feet away!
He was about to perform the body technique "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" to dodge the lethal strike, but found the air had become extremely viscous, as if space was frozen.
Chen Ming’s gaze focused, "Spear Domain?"
Only the top-grade first-level martial artist, with primordial spirit cultivated to its peak, could drive divine sense to the extreme, forming a domain-like existence.
Previously, in the Ink Secret Realm, he’d witnessed a similar "Sword Domain."
Now, he was experiencing it firsthand.
The two first-grade martial artists who had previously died at his hands, Xie Jianqiu and the second senior brother from the Blood Demon Sect, had neither formed such a domain.
This person could become the second elder of the Golden Jade Hall, indeed remarkably powerful, ranking among the strong in the first grade.
Unfortunately, to kill him now is still not enough!
The sword light of Chen Ming’s "Taiyue Sword" shone brightly, meeting the dragon’s head of the black dragon.
...
Second Elder’s spear carried nearly forty years of power.
His strike was a thunderous blow without reservation, showing his concern for this "Sect Leader," this spear was aimed at taking her life.
He had always been waiting for this opportunity.
Just by killing her and seizing the "Taiyue Sword," he could obtain that thing. By then, what could sun Chuxian do?
Collaborating with Paradise Island, eventually, who benefited was Sun Chuxian. By then, even if he continued as Second Elder, would his power and status still compare?
All good things were given to the Sun family, why?
Previously, he couldn’t beat Sun Chuxian, only pretending to go along with everything. Once he got that thing, he’d kill Sun Chuxian and his grandson. Paradise Island would only support him as the Sect Leader!
I am the ultimate victor!
Die for me!
A resounding clang occurred.
Second Elder did not feel the sensation of penetrating someone, instead, his hand lightened, a trace of bafflement flashed in his mind.
"How... is this possible?"
A line of blood appeared on his forehead, a droplet of blood pearl coalesced at the tip of his nose.
With a swift motion, he bifurcated completely, a torrent of blood gushing out, painting the ground red.
Even the spear in his hand was cleaved in two.
Nearby, Chen Ming’s face turned pale, evidently consuming greatly from that sword.
[You have slain an LV98 enemy, gaining 2.05 million experience points.]
Turning around, he looked at the corpse on the ground, and slowly sheathed his "Taiyue Sword," murmuring, "Had you attacked yesterday, it would have been me dead."
This time, being able to kill this top-grade first-grade martial artist was all thanks to the power of "Taiyue Sword."
He merely injected all of his Gang Yuan into the sword, unleashing the sword’s power, slashing the opponent dead on spot.
Typically, a second-grade martial artist is unable to unleash the powers within an unparalleled divine weapon, only mobilizing a fraction of its power.
Thanks to the ninth level of the "Artifact Control Technique," this secret technique obtained from the "Nine Nether Great Technique" is truly mystical.
At this moment, the "Taiyue Sword" relayed a grievance, indicating that the sword’s strike would require at least half a year to replenish through nurturing.
Chen Ming while soothing it, began restoring his consumed Gang Yuan, raising his hand to ignite Second Elder’s corpse with fire attribute Gang Yuan, watching him burn to ashes.
Destroying evidence of the corpse.
He looked at the corpses of several disciples from the Golden Jade Hall who died in the aftermath, sighed, lamenting how they were killed not by enemy swords but by their own household—a truly unworthy death.
Chen Ming slightly sensed, seeing no one around, then departed.
...
By the time Chen Ming arrived at Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion, night had fallen.
Princess Mingyu quickly came out, noticing he was alone, a flash of unusual color in her eyes, "Sect Leader Yuan went out without even a follower, that’s rare."
Chen Ming sighed, "To be honest, I encountered an attack by scoundrels along the way. Several followers died untimely deaths. Failing to protect them is my negligence as the Sect Leader."
"Is there such a matter?" Princess Mingyu asked with concern, "Then you weren’t hurt?"
"No, I wasn’t. I was thinking of my agreement with the Commandery Princess, worried she’d wait long, so I came over first. Yesterday was truly unexpected, I practiced chi-kung to the critical point, making the Commandery Princess run in vain, I truly feel guilty. I came especially today to apologize."
Saying this, he gave a deep bow.
"Sect Leader Yuan, you’re exaggerating."
Princess Mingyu quickly reached out to support her, saying, "I certainly know you’re not that kind of person, no blame intended. If you still act like this, you’d imply I am petty."
"Of course not."
"Since not, let’s not stand on ceremony. Come, I’ve prepared a feast, let’s enjoy some drinks together today."
Chen Ming, while being taken by her arm, intimately close, felt very uncomfortable yet couldn’t push her away, opting to let her hold him.
PS: Another 10,000 words, asking for monthly votes.