Chapter 312 - 278: Revisiting the Otherworld 2

Gazing down at the married couple below, Jiao Ru sighed wistfully.

"They’re only in their thirties and have already reached the Divine Treasure Realm. Give them enough time, and they might even become Sumeru Martial Saints."

A husband and wife, both Sumeru Martial Saints.

Who in the world would be their match?

In recent years, the Black and White Heroes had accomplished many great deeds, from slaying three Miao Manx chieftains to killing the seven great bandits of Shuize...

They were generous with their wealth for just causes and fought for the downtrodden, which is how they came to be known as the Black and White Heroes.

They had many admirers even in the Divine Capital. Hearing that the pair had recently entered the city, people came every day hoping to catch a glimpse of them.

Qingfeng and Ming Yue had also heard of their reputation and were now curiously leaning against the windowsill, their faces full of envy.

’So amazing...’

’I wonder when I’ll ever be like that?’

"Hm?"

Jiao Ru’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Something’s not right!"

Before the words were out of his mouth, a woman holding an umbrella on the riverbank suddenly soared into the air, lunging toward the Black and White Heroes like a celestial maiden in flight.

The woman’s speed was astonishing. She crossed a hundred meters in the blink of an eye, so fast that not even Jiao Ru could react in time.

’That kind of speed...’

’Vajra Realm!’

Only a Vajra Martial Saint could possess such power. In the Main World, that would be equivalent to a Dao Foundation Cultivator at the Second Realm of Body Refining.

"It’s the Miao Manx Saintess, Qiyao!"

"The Black and White Heroes killed the chieftains of three of the five Miao Manx tribes. There’s no way their Saintess would let that slide."

"Saintess? More like a Witch!"

"The Miao Manx and the Southern Barbarians are all uncivilized brutes. I hear they still have cannibalistic customs. If you ask me, they all deserve to be killed!"

"Saintess or Witch, whatever you call her, Qiyao has been a renowned Vajra Martial Saint for decades."

"Watch out!"

...

This was the Daqi Divine Capital, so the crowd naturally favored the Black and White Heroes. Shouts of support immediately rose from the onlookers.

SHING!

Standing at the ship’s bow, Fu Feizhou drew his saber and leaped to meet her, unleashing an furious slash. The flash from his blade instantly illuminated a vast area.

The free-flowing Primordial Energy between heaven and earth swarmed and converged upon his saber, erupting forth as a razor-sharp edge of light.

Saintess Qiyao was clad in diaphanous silks, her bare feet treading on empty air. Her robes fluttered in the wind, giving her an appearance that was at once demonic and celestial.

She tapped one slender, bare foot down, meeting the saber’s edge with a soft PANG, and used the rebound to launch herself higher into the air.

BAM!

Her seemingly insignificant tap contained overwhelming power, slamming Fu Feizhou right back down onto the ship.

The force surged through the ship and into the Yuqu River, causing the water to erupt in a massive explosion, sending a column of spray a hundred meters into the air.

"Brilliant!"

Zhu Ju clapped his hands lightly.

"Black Saber’s technique is decisive. He remained calm under pressure, focusing all his power into a life-or-death blow. Qiyao, on the other hand, is as bold as she is skilled, using her Vajra physique to block a full-force strike from a Divine Treasure Martial Saint head-on. In the end, the Saintess’s technique was a cut above."

SHING!

He had barely finished speaking when White Sword Shenn Wan drew her sword. Her Sword Qi twisted in midair as it shot toward Saintess Qiyao.

The Cloud Dragon Nine Bends Sword!

This was a secret Sword Technique from Longyun Valley, allowing the user to change the blade’s trajectory nine times in midair without breaking momentum. It was truly a marvelous technique.

White Sword Shenn Wan couldn’t manage all nine bends, but she could perform six, adding a host of new variations to her Sword Technique out of thin air.

The saber and sword converged in the sky. As Black Saber and White Sword intertwined, the faint cries of a dragon and a phoenix could be heard.

"Dragon and Phoenix Unification!"

Jiao Ru’s expression turned solemn.

"That’s a supreme technique from Tianwen Mountain. Only those whose hearts and minds are perfectly in sync have a chance of mastering it."

"How did someone from Longyun Valley learn a supreme technique from Tianwen Mountain?"

His voice was laced with astonishment, but in the battle below, one perilous moment followed another.

With their saber and sword techniques combined, the Black and White Heroes unleashed a flurry of exquisite maneuvers in a frenzied assault against Saintess Qiyao.

Qiyao’s hands and feet swayed gently, as if in a graceful dance, allowing her to evade each attack just as it was about to land.

Her body seemed boneless, twisting and moving with an uncanny grace that was mesmerizing to watch.

"The Black and White Heroes are amazing!"

Ming Yue exclaimed in awe.

"They’re so strong!"

"The Miao Manx Saintess is one of the world’s top masters, an expert on par with the Southern Barbarian Dharma King, who has been famous for years. And they’re actually managing to push her back."

"It’s not that simple." Jiao Ru shook his head.

"The Black and White Heroes’ assault is ferocious, but they haven’t managed to truly injure her. They don’t dare to stop, because the moment they do, they’ll face the Miao Manx Saintess’s vicious counterattack. When that happens, they’ll surely be killed."

"What’s more..."

"Even if they keep up the attack, they can’t sustain this level of intensity for long. Eventually, they will be defeated."

The Miao Manx Saintess is a Martial Saint of the Vajra Realm. In the entire world, aside from that handful of Sumeru experts, no one could guarantee a victory against her. The fact that the Black and White Heroes could maintain this situation was already an accomplishment worthy of pride.

"Ah!" Ming Yue started, her face filled with worry.

"Then what can be done?"

"Master."

She turned to look at Zhu Ju, her voice pleading.

"Could you please help the Black and White Heroes?"

"Hmm..." Jiao Ru stroked his chin.

"If Daoist Ziju were to intervene, he could certainly save their lives."

"The cycle of vengeance is endless. As a man of the cloth, it’s not proper for me to rashly interfere in the Cause and Effect of others," Zhu Ju said with a smile.

"Don’t worry. This is the Divine Capital. Nothing will happen."

"You three." At some point, a burly figure had appeared on the Yuqu River. He looked up at the three combatants.

"This is the heart of the Capital Region. If you have a grievance, take it to the Government Office to be settled. The use of force without authorization is forbidden."

"Stand down!"

His voice wasn’t loud, yet every word carried with perfect clarity, imbued with an intangible, menacing authority.

"Who is that?"

Qingfeng blinked and asked curiously.

"The Miao Manx Saintess is one of the world’s most powerful masters. Is she really going to listen to him?"

"She will." Jiao Ru let out a sigh of relief.

"That’s Chenn Dragon."

"Chenn Dragon? The leader of the Twelve Unscrupulous Marshals?" Ming Yue’s eyes widened.

"He’s also a Vajra Martial Saint! I heard that you Twelve Unscrupulous Marshals have a Grand Commander above you, who’s a Sumeru Martial Saint. Is that true?"

Jiao Ru smiled but didn’t answer.

Down below.

"Hmph!"

The Miao Manx Saintess snorted. With a slight sway of her body, she slipped free from the Black and White Heroes’ pincer attack. In a few flickers, she vanished into the crowd, leaving only her voice to trail behind her.

"Fu Feizhou, Shenn Wan, don’t think you’re safe just because you’ve come to the Divine Capital. This isn’t over."

The Black and White Heroes drifted down lightly, a sheen of sweat on their foreheads. They cupped their fists in a salute to Chenn Dragon.

"Thank you for your help, Elder."

Although he hadn’t actually made a move, the pressure of his aura alone had been enough of a threat to make the Miao Manx Saintess retreat.

"This is the Divine Capital. All I ask is that you don’t cause any trouble."

Chenn Dragon waved his hand dismissively.

"Don’t make trouble for me."

"Now go."

The Black and White Heroes exchanged a glance.

"Yes, sir."

*

*

*

「Baiyun Temple.」

Li Ningxue—the Saintess of the Celestial Intent Sect and handmaiden to the Seventh Princess, Qii Wanyan—appeared before Sanqing Hall.

"Daoist Master."

She bowed respectfully and said,

"In your absence, there has been a development on the front lines."

"The Third Prince has deliberately opened up the front lines. Heavenly General Cao Jian’s army is now marching on the Divine Capital."

"The Seventh Princess has ordered nearby armies to intercept them, and the Divine Capital’s main force has been dispatched to engage the enemy a hundred miles out."

"The Heavenly General himself is not much of a threat. With the Court’s current strength, it won’t be difficult to suppress him. But the Third Prince is behind him, and the Third Prince and the Seventh Princess are still bound to have their showdown."

"Mm," Zhu Ju nodded. He wasn’t interested in the political situation in Daqi. He asked,

"What about the Celestial Essence Skill?"

In this world, the Celestial Essence Skill was the best Method for opening the Central Spirit, and that was what truly interested him.

"The Princess has agreed to give it to you."

Li Ningxue glanced at him cautiously and lowered her voice.

"But she needs you to eliminate the Ghost Tower."

’Ghost Tower?’

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

Ghost Tower was the most infamous organization of assassins in Daqi. They had once attempted to assassinate Qii Wanyan. ’That woman certainly knows how to hold a grudge.’

"No problem," Zhu Ju said, then continued,

"And the Pure Yang Qi Technique?"

The Pure Yang Qi Technique was the strongest Method for cultivating the Qi Spirit.

"Kill Prime Minister Zhang," Li Ningxue said.

"Bring her the head of Prime Minister Zhang, and you can have the Pure Yang Qi Technique."

?

Zhu Ju shook his head.

’This apprentice of mine is using her master as a hired gun!’

Qii Wanyan was supposed to marry Prime Minister Zhang’s son to seal a political alliance, but she was clearly unwilling.

Killing Prime Minister Zhang... would certainly solve that particular problem for her.

Zhu Ju didn’t say whether he agreed or not. Instead, he asked,

"Any luck with the Tathagata Heart Spell or the Celestial Intent Technique?"

Li Ningxue lowered her head.

The copy of the Tathagata Heart Spell at Great Compassion Temple was a fake, and none of the Monks there knew where the genuine version was.

There were no leads at all.

As for the Celestial Intent Technique...

That Cultivation Technique was a bit more promising. At least there were leads.

But it was the legacy of the Celestial Intent Sect. Unless Li Ningxue became the Sect Leader, she would have no way of accessing it.

Zhu Ju sighed.

Among the Seven Spirits, Celestial Wisdom and Spiritual Wisdom were the most unique, and the Methods associated with them were the most difficult to obtain.

Still, he wasn’t in a rush.

Based on his experience with linking the first Three Spirits, the amount of Divine Soul Power required would double with each successive spirit.

To link the fourth spirit, he estimated that his main body’s Cultivation would have to reach the Mid-Stage Dao Foundation. Otherwise, it would be impossible.

’Mid-Stage Dao Foundation...’

’That will take nearly twenty years, so there’s no rush. I can wait.’