章節 163: Two Flying Swords, a White Robe
The ferry terminal of the Everlasting Life Sect had been cleared out, leaving an air of tension hanging thick.
Lu Hua idly twirled the ring on his finger, a nonchalant air about him as he drawled, "Truth be told, to dispatch an old codger like you, there hardly seems a need for such elaborate arrangements. But Yutai Mountain, being the paranoid lot they are, feared you'd slip through their fingers. So, they've mustered a few more souls just to be on the safe side."
Beside him, the guardian elder stood in stony silence, his cultivation at the pinnacle of the Mountain Moving Realm subtly manifesting, exerting an invisible pressure that forced Cao Gao to stoop.
"I'd have relished the chance to end your life myself," Lu Hua continued, a hint of regret in his tone, "but it's as clear as day that Yutai Mountain has no intention of owing me such a weighty favor. What a pity. Let their own men finish you off, then."
With a slight tilt of his head, Lu Hua gave the ring a deft twist and murmured inwardly, "Go ahead, young acting headmaster."
"Mm," came a frigid response from the ring.
Out from the ferry stepped a purple-robed elder, a faint, inscrutable smile playing on his lips as his hands remained clasped behind his back.
Lu Hua's eyebrows shot up in mild surprise. He hadn't expected the young acting headmaster to dispatch this newly ascended elder of the Sea Moving Realm. It seemed they truly held Cao Gao in no small regard.
The purple-robed elder extended one hand from behind, the smile on his face widening ever so slightly as he said, "A swift slash across the throat, a ruthless extraction of the soul, and you'll be gone for good. I'm rather efficient at this. If you cooperate, your suffering will be brief. Remember, resist and it'll only be worse for you."
Cao Gao's cloudy eyes flickered, his gaze fixing on the two slender, icy fingers that now hovered menacingly an inch from his forehead.
"Understood?" the purple-robed elder inquired, his voice deceptively gentle.
In that instant, his fingers crackled with a fierce surge of spiritual energy, poised to slice through Cao Gao's neck and sever his head in one fell swoop.
But then, without warning, the ferry lurched violently. A small, jagged hole materialized from the vessel's underbelly all the way up to the cabin.
The purple-robed elder's deadly fingers met an unexpected obstacle –a gleaming purple-gold flying sword.
His complexion drained of color in an instant, and with a blur of movement, he shot backward, his voice a harsh rasp as he demanded, "Who goes there?!"
Silence blanketed the scene, save for the faint creaking of the ferry.
Then, the crisp echo of approaching footsteps shattered the stillness.
First, a resplendent golden flying sword hove into view, its blade glinting in the muted light.
Next, a figure in pristine white robes emerged, twirling the golden flying sword with effortless grace as he greeted the onlookers with a genial smile.
"Greetings," the newcomer said.
Cao Gao's face froze in disbelief, then contorted with joy. His voice quivered as he exclaimed, "S-senior!"
Chen Xia waved a dismissive hand and said, "I took it upon myself to lend you a small hand. Think nothing of it."
"T-thank you, senior!" Cao Gao was so overcome that his cheeks trembled. He clasped his fists and bowed deeply, his gratitude palpable.
The purple-robed elder watched this exchange, his brow furrowing in consternation. He had no inkling as to the identity of this person Cao Gao so reverently addressed as senior.
But those two flying swords –they bespoke a power and prestige that couldn't be ignored.
"Sir," the purple-robed elder began, his tone laced with a veiled warning, "I'd advise you not to meddle in the affairs of Yutai Mountain. It won't end well for you."
Chen Xia's smile broadened, a mischievous glint in his eye. "On the contrary, I rather enjoy sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. Why, I might even offer you some marital advice one of these days. I'm quite the helpful sort, you see."
The purple-robed elder's face flushed with anger. "How dare you! Do you truly believe Yutai Mountain is a pushover? A paper tiger, perhaps?"
"Hardly," Chen Xia replied, shaking his head with a chuckle. "I've never considered you much of a threat, not even in the slightest."
"Fine! Fine! Fine!" the purple-robed elder spat out, his rage barely contained. His eyes swiveled to Lu Hua.
"Young friend," he said, his voice tight with desperation, "I implore you to have your guardian lend me a hand. Once this is over, the young acting headmaster will be in your debt."
Lu Hua crossed his arms, a bemused expression on his face. "An elder of the Sea Moving Realm seeking assistance from a Mountain Moving Realm peak? Now that's a sight."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," the purple-robed elder retorted. At the same time, he summoned his life-bound treasure, a magnificent Purple Thunder Nether Flower.
"Go ahead," Lu Hua said, waving a languid hand. He was clearly enjoying the spectacle, confident in his safety given his position as the eldest grandson of the second elder of the Everlasting Life Sect. After all, just outside the ferry terminal, a formidable powerhouse at the sixth level of the Sea Moving Realm stood sentinel.
The purple-robed elder took a deep breath and growled, "Don't be a fool. Leave now, or you'll regret it."
Suddenly, his incantation cut short. With a flourish of his hands, the Purple Thunder Nether Flower burst into bloom, a maelstrom of purple energy hurtling toward Chen Xia.
The guardian elder, reacting on instinct, lunged forward, his spiritual weapon flying sword at the ready, coordinating his attack with the deadly flower.
Chen Xia, unfazed, set down the golden flying sword. He extended two fingers, pointing them forward with a casual air, a disdainful smirk tugging at his lips.
"A Mountain Moving Realm grunt and a Sea Moving Realm novice," he scoffed. "How quaint."
With a gentle flick of his fingers, it seemed as if he merely tapped the empty air. But in that split second, a fleeting flash of sword intent tore through the space.
The Purple Thunder Nether Flower ground to a halt in mid-air, pinned in place by the purple-gold flying sword.
"Hurry up and strike! What are you waiting for?" the purple-robed elder screeched at the guardian elder.
As the words left his mouth, the guardian elder's body jerked backward. A neat, bloodied hole pierced his forehead, and his soul was snuffed out in an instant.
Dead as a doornail.
Lu Hua's jovial expression evaporated, replaced by a look of stunned disbelief. He realized, all too suddenly, the gravity of the situation.
The purple-robed elder didn't hesitate. He spun on his heel and bolted, his figure a blur as he fled.
Anyone capable of dispatching a Mountain Moving Realm peak so effortlessly was clearly beyond his league. This was a being at least at the second or third level of the Sea Moving Realm.
He had to reach safety, to call upon the might of the Everlasting Life Sect to handle this menace.
But how on earth did Cao Gao know such a person? It defied all logic.
His thoughts in turmoil, his body in constant motion, the purple-robed elder seemed to have covered hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye. But as he blinked again, he crashed into a waiting hand.
Before he could react, he was hauled back onto the ferry, his head yanked unceremoniously by the same hand.
"You left without so much as a goodbye. Tsk, tsk. So rude," Chen Xia chided, a light laugh in his voice.
The purple-robed elder's eyes bulged. He whipped his head around and shrieked at Lu Hua, "Quick! Summon that powerful being! Now!"
Lu Hua gritted his teeth and crushed the jade slip on his waist without hesitation. A brilliant beam of light shot skyward.
Chen Xia held the purple-robed elder's head, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Tell me," he said, his voice curious, "are you always this ill-mannered?"
The purple-robed elder thrashed in vain. "I'm an inner sect elder of Yutai Mountain!" he bellowed. "Kill me and you'll have the entire mountain breathing down your neck. And don't forget the Azure Sky Sword Sea..."
With a swift stomp, Chen Xia sent the purple-robed elder sprawling onto the ferry, his head pinned beneath his foot.
"I've no time for your empty threats," Chen Xia said, smoothing his somewhat rumpled white robes. "The Azure Sky Sword Sea means nothing to me."
A powerful aura barreled in from the distance, closing the gap in the blink of an eye.
Lu Hua plastered a delighted smile on his face and bowed low. "Greetings, inner sect grand elder."
The purple-robed elder, too, wore a hopeful expression, his cries for help unceasing. "Save me! Save me!"
Cao Gao, meanwhile, was a picture of worry and remorse, berating himself for dragging Chen Xia into this mess.
The imposing aura landed. For a moment, there was a stunned silence. Then, the newcomer bowed deeply, fists clasped. "Greetings, senior!"
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榜單 
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