by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
“Let me first tell you, my moves are only used to frighten people. You should hurry up, because if I do die, I’ll become a ghost and haunt you every night,” said Long Chen to Xia Youluo.
Just as Xia Youluo jumped in shock from Long Chen’s aura, Long Chen shot out. A kind of undefeatable aura surged out of him as if he was a god who had come to the mortal world.
But when Long Chen’s voice rang in her head, his undefeatable image in Xia Youluo’s mind vanished like a wisp of smoke. What kind of unrivaled expert would say such a thing?
“I know. Hurry up,” said Xia Youluo.
“Old ghost from the Bloodkill Hall, for the justice of the world, for the citizens of the Grand Xia, for the peace in the Central Plains, for my brothers and sisters watching, taste one of my attacks!”
Long Chen raised his saber, unleashed a huge saber-image that tore through the clouds, and then slashed down on the Bloodkill Hall expert.
“What?! Isn’t this the Heaven Splitting Battle Sect’s Split the Heavens? So he was one of the Heaven Splitting Battle Sect’s disciples.”
Countless people let out startled cries. The Heaven Splitting Battle Sect’s nine forms of Split the Heavens were famous, and they were widely known for their domineering and fierce power. Anyone who had seen one of the Heaven Splitting Battle Sect’s disciples attacking would be able to instantly tell when someone was using Split the Heavens.
Other than its specific movements, only the nine forms of Split the Heaven possessed a fierce will to slash through the dome of the sky. It was as if the nine forms of Split the Heavens were moves designed to strive against the heavens.
Countless people instantly recognized what move Long Chen was using. This huge saber-image slashed down with an undefeatable will.
As someone with immense battle experience, Long Chen timed his blow extremely well. It was just as the Bloodkill Hall expert exchanged a head-on blow with Xia Youluo, when he had already used his energy but had yet to gather more energy for a second attack.
The Bloodkill Hall expert almost coughed up blood upon seeing this move. Long Chen was incredibly despicable. He couldn’t even counterattack in his current state. He could only take it.
BOOM! The Bloodkill Hall expert was blown back. He crashed against the barrier of a building and rebounded back, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
This shocked people. Long Chen’s attack was actually so powerful that it made this Soul Transformation expert cough up blood? Even Xia Youluo’s terrifying attacks hadn’t had such an effect. Didn’t this mean Long Chen was even more powerful than Xia Youluo?
In truth, this move was just the third form of Split the Heavens, and it managed to send the Bloodkill Hall expert flying because Long Chen had timed it perfectly.
This move was far from enough to cause him to cough up blood. It wasn’t enough to cause any injury at all.
The reason he had coughed up blood was entirely from anger. This move was just that despicable.
“Brat, die!” With blood covering his chest, the Bloodkill Hall expert seemed to go insane. As an assassin, cool-headedness was a must. But he had already ignited the majority of his Yuan Spirit, and his consciousness was already starting to fade. His emotions were a mess, so it made it far easier to anger him. Right now, all he wanted was to kill Long Chen.
He roared furiously like a crazed bull and charged at Long Chen, slashing his sword down.
This sword looked completely ordinary and didn’t even have any runes around it. But that was actually even more terrifying. All its energy had been condensed, like a huge amount of gunpowder had been packed inside it, waiting to explode when it slashed through an enemy.
Long Chen snorted and stabbed Blooddrinker straight at the Bloodkill Hall expert. It looked like he was using a suicidal move to kill his opponent, causing everyone to jump.
“Haha, are you trying to scare me? I’ve killed countless people, and I’ve long since grown tired of living. Let’s go ahead and die together!” The Bloodkill Hall expert laughed in the face of Long Chen’s suicidal thrust. The path of his sword didn’t change.
Although Long Chen’s saber had the advantage when it came to length, it didn’t matter. If his saber struck him, Long Chen definitely wouldn’t be able to dodge his sword. They would definitely both die.
Xia Youluo was in the midst of forming one-handed seals in the air. A golden rune had appeared on her forehead, and powerful fluctuations spread from her fierce Sword Qi.
She was preparing one of her ultimate moves, but she still needed more time. Hence, she was shocked to see Long Chen use such a move and cursed him for being stupid inside. If he died, the Grand Xia’s reputation would fall. But just panicking had no use.
Just as their two weapons began to pass by each other, the tip of Long Chen’s saber lightly touched the point of the Bloodkill Hall expert’s sword. A soft energy transferred through.
The Bloodkill Hall expert’s expression completely changed. He hadn’t expected Long Chen’s control over his energy to have reached such a terrifying level. His incredibly fierce power instantly transformed to become gentle.
The soft power brushed his sword to the side without letting his sword’s energy erupt. Now he was completely open and still moving toward Long Chen.
“Fool, who would die with you. Fuck off!”
Pow! After moving aside the Bloodkill Hall expert’s sword, Long Chen slapped him hard across the face. He shot back like a shooting star.
The direction he was slapped into was right at Xia Youluo. She had just finished preparing her move, and it was like Long Chen was intentionally sending him to her.
“Soaring Cloud Deathblow!” Xia Youluo’s sword slashed down. There was no sword-light. People could only vaguely see a black crack appear in space.
The Bloodkill Hall expert was struck by the black crack and instantly blew apart, turning into nothing more than dust that dissipated in the air. Even his Yuan Spirit was killed.
“What a strange power.” Long Chen saw it clearly. The energy contained within her sword was something he had never seen before. It was incredibly sharp, as if nothing could block its path. Even the Bloodkill Hall expert’s King item shattered.
But Xia Youluo’s eyes rapidly dimmed after using this move. Although that light quickly recovered, Long Chen knew that she had paid a heavy price to use this move. She was just acting fine.
“Haha, princess is mighty and domineering. I still have some things to do, so I’ll leave first. If I have a chance in the future, I’ll treat princess to a meal,” said Long Chen as he turned to leave.
“Hold! Who said you could leave?” Xia Youluo looked at Long Chen curiously.
She had felt like something was off the entire time. Now seeing him wanting to leave so hastily, she became even more sure something was fishy.
“Princess, could it be you want to treat me to the meal instead? I accept your kindness, but I just ate, so let’s pick another day. At that time, I’ll properly enjoy your Grand Xia’s hospitality,” said Long Chen.
Long Chen didn’t want to get close to her. She didn’t seem like someone easy to get along with. Although his little dabbler face-reading arts were just used to trick others, he could tell a person’s general character in just a glance. This woman was probably even more obstinate than Tang Wan-er. There was no point in torturing himself.
“What is going on here? You want to just leave without saying a word? Don’t you think you need to give us a clear explanation?” Xia Youluo didn’t want to let Long Chen leave. She looked around and then pointed at the ruins on the ground from the collapsed tunnel. She wanted to bring Long Chen to an investigation.
She continued to feel like something was strange about Long Chen, but she wasn’t able to pinpoint what exactly. Although the Bloodkill Hall’s Soul Transformation expert had been killed by her, she still felt uncomfortable inside. So she wanted to find an excuse to keep Long Chen.
However, she spent most of her time cultivating and
wasn’t socially skilled. And so she used the thing she was most comfortable with, her status as a princess, to hold Long Chen accountable.
“What is there to explain? I found the Bloodkill Hall’s stronghold, and for the Grand Xia’s honor, I risked my life to provoke them, making them cause such a huge disturbance so that you could come and capture them. Was there something wrong with that?” Long Chen shrugged.
“But you… you could have reported it, and we could have handled it from there,” quibbled Xia Youluo.
“Princess, are you joking? Since the Bloodkill Hall dared to operate right in the capital of Grand Xia, do you think they wouldn’t prepare themselves? They have countless external workers. How many eyes do they have amongst the peddlers you passed on your way here? By the time your people arrived, they’d have long since run. My method was the only right choice.” Long Chen shook his head.
Xia Youluo had turned red to her ears from Long Chen’s arguments. She was unable to out-talk Long Chen, and she angrily said, “I don’t care. No matter what, you have to come back with us. There are many things I need to inquire about.”
Long Chen couldn’t help being speechless. Now even such completely unreasonable words came out of her mouth. Just at this moment, a group of people walked over with Xia Yunchong at the front.
Chapter 1178 Willful Princess
“So you must be world-renowned Long Chen! Am I right, brother Long?” Xia Yunchong had no choice but to reveal himself. He understood this little sister of his the best. She shared a father with him but a different mother. If he allowed her to continue like this, it was unknown just how much she would embarrass herself. He rushed out and cupped his fists to Long Chen.
“I wouldn’t dare to call myself world-renowned. May I ask who you are?” Long Chen’s heart shook upon seeing this man. He sensed he was also an extremely terrifying fellow.
Furthermore, he had two Soul Transformation experts as guards. As for the elder with his eyes closed, although none of his aura leaked out, Long Chen could still sense he was someone who had probably reached the same level as the Xuan Master.
Such a terrifying lineup shocked Long Chen. This was truly badass.
Xia Yunchong said, “This humble soul is the Grand Xia-”
“What’s the point of so many words? He is the Grand Xia’s eighth prince, Xia Yunchong, my big brother. Hurry up and come with us,” said Xia Youluo impatiently upon seeing them waste time going through pleasantries.
Being interrupted by Xia Youluo, Xia Yunchong awkwardly said, “Cough, brother Long, how about we switch locations before talking? This place isn’t very convenient.”
“Since brother Xia is inviting me, I wouldn’t dare to refuse.” Long Chen smiled. This Xia Yunchong seemed much easier to get along with. Each of his movements was refined and natural. Long Chen felt it would be easier to talk with this man than an obstinate woman like Xia Youluo, so he gladly agreed.
Xia Youluo’s expression grew a bit unsightly upon seeing Long Chen agree to Xia Yunchong’s invitation so quickly. Long Chen hadn’t given her any face. She frowned and was just about to flare up.
“Take note of your image.” The elder suddenly frowned and icily opened his mouth.
This elder’s status was extremely special. Even the obstinate seventeenth princess immediately shut her mouth. She pouted and her eyes turned red. That aggrieved expression looked like she was about to cry.
“Brother Long, let’s go back to my humble home,” said Xia Yunchong hastily. One of the Soul Transformation experts waved a hand, and one of the surrounding buildings unleashed a wave of light that covered them all. They disappeared from the spectators’ sight.
Long Chen and the others had only just left when workers came to clean up the damage. The spectators scattered, but today, other than seeing the beauty and power of the seventeenth princess, they had also learned of another name: Long Chen, a monster who wasn’t even a Celestial but possessed incredible battle prowess.
Long Chen was brought to an open flower garden. All kinds of rare flowers grew here, their fragrance washing over them. There were four maidens wearing palace maid clothes who were quietly standing within a pavilion. But these maids had actually reached the Foundation Forging realm.
“Quickly prepare some wine and food. Use the standards of a national banquet,” said Xia Yunchong to the maids.
They were startled to hear such a thing, but they quickly left. The guards following Xia Yunchong were also dismissed.
“Master, why don’t you stay and drink a few cups? It's been a long time since we’ve drunk together,” said Xia Yunchong respectfully.
“An old man like me won’t participate in a gathering of youngsters.” The elder shook his head and vanished without the slightest spatial fluctuation. It was like he had simply merged with heaven and earth.
“Hmph, he finally left!” Xia Youluo immediately cheered like a bird that had been stuck in its cage for a long time and had finally regained its freedom. She immediately started making things hard on Long Chen. “Long Chen, I demand to know why you refused to come when I invited you, but as soon as he did, you immediately agreed!”
Xia Youluo glared at Long Chen stiffly. She demanded a perfect explanation. Long Chen’s actions had clearly irritated her, and now that the elder had gone, she once more became brazen.
“Youluo, don’t make trouble. If you keep acting like this, I’ll report you to our imperial father,” said Xia Yunchong.
“You…! You’re mean! I wasn’t even doing anything to you… You weren’t like this before… You’re all bad men bullying me!” What Long Chen had never expected was for the incredibly powerful Xia Youluo to actually start sobbing. He was flabbergasted.
Seeing Long Chen’s stunned expression, Xia Yunchong was embarrassed. Xia Youluo was his younger sister, and even as a child, she had gotten along best with him. She often threw tantrums, and whatever happened, she would always ask him to stand up for her. He truly did love and pamper her.
“Youluo, you’re already so old. You can’t keep acting like this…” Xia Yunchong was at a loss.
“Now that I’m old, you don’t want me anymore. You don’t love me anymore, right? Our imperial father doesn't love me, the imperial mother doesn’t love me, and now even you don’t love me… That’s the most painful thing.” Xia Youluo’s face was covered in tears. Looking at her would truly make a person’s heart clench.
“Alright, stop. I still love you, so stop crying!” Xia Yunchong patted Xia Youluo on the back.
“But you’re still so mean to me, saying that you’ll report me!”
“Fine, I won’t report you, I won’t be mean to you. It’s big brother’s fault, okay?” said Xia Yunchong helplessly.
“Really? Hehe, I just knew big brother loved me the most! Long Chen, I demand to know why you wouldn’t accept my invitation, but immediately came when big brother invited you!” Xia Youluo’s face was still covered in crystalline tears, but she had a smile of victory on her face.
“You!” Xia Yunchong almost exploded in fury. He had once more fallen for her trap.
“Big brother, why are you so petty? I’m just asking a question. Do you need to stare at me like this?” said Xia Youluo.
Long Chen was now sure that this seventeenth princess was a child who had been spoiled rotten. He couldn’t help finding it a bit funny. But their brother and sister relationship did move him. In the imperial palace where all relationships were complicated and only used for one’s advancement, there were plenty of cases of sons killing fathers or brothers fighting over profits.
“Brother Long, I…” Xia Yunchong was also helpless.
“Oh, it’s fine. The seventeenth princess’s question isn’t difficult to answer,” said Long Chen. He saw Xia Yunchong giving him a meaningful look, indicating he should give Xia Youluo face, or she’d immediately turn hostile. He said, “If I accepted the seventeenth princess’s invitation, the day of my death would have drawn near. I’m greedy for life, so
I couldn’t accept your invitation.”
Xia Yunchong was speechless. Long Chen hadn’t understood his meaning? As expected, Xia Youluo raged, “I’m not that kind of unreasonable person! If I invited you as a guest, why would I kill you?!”
Long Chen shook his head. “You didn’t understand my meaning. As soon as I entered the Grand Xia, I heard of the seventeenth princess’s outstanding beauty and peerless abilities. You have countless admirers, and some of them line up outside Grand Xia City just to see you. The line extends all the way to the Grand Han. This little one could not bear to be invited to see the princess alone; those admirers would tear me to pieces.”
Hearing this, Xia Youluo immediately smiled like a blossoming flower. “So that’s what it was. Hehe, then I’m happy. Tell me, outside what gate are they lined up at?”
…? She believed such nonsense? Long Chen saw that Xia Youluo was full of anticipation, and it didn’t seem to be faked.
All he had been doing was giving a disguised apology, so he had exaggerated it to make it a joke. Then everyone could make merry and move on. But this girl actually thought it was true.
“Long Chen, are there people from the Grand Han lining up as well? I wonder if he’ll appear…” Xia Youluo suddenly turned red, and her eyes became unfocused. She clutched her clothes, clearly nervous and uneasy.
“Long Chen was talking about something that happened a few months ago. Youluo, it’s about time for you to go back. I have some things I need to discuss with brother Long,” interjected Xia Yunchong. Xia Youluo was a bit unwilling, but she was still shooed away by Xia Yunchong.
“Sorry, I’ve caused brother Long to laugh. This little sister of mine still has a child’s temperament. Sigh, she’s simply been spoiled.” After shooing off Xia Youluo, Xia Yunchong apologized to Long Chen.
Long Chen shook his head. “There’s nothing to laugh about. I’m very envious of brother Xia. I wish I could pamper my little sister as well. If she wants to act like a spoiled child, I would also let her.”
Seeing the sibling relationship between Xia Yunchong and Xia Youluo made Long Chen think of his own little sister. The time they had been together had been far too short. She had only just grown familiar with him before he had left. Perhaps she no longer had any memory of her big brother. Every time he thought of this, he would feel sentimental.
