Chapter 10: Returning to the Place Where They First Met
The overwhelming intent to kill indicated that Liang Xi was capable of doing anything at this moment!
"What? Dilong, since you don't dare to make a move, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Liang Xi's voice was as cold as snapping ice and piercing snow, and in his palm, a heart-pounding chill condensed!
However, Dilong had already recovered from his initial shock. He sneered internally; this stinky brat had always loved putting on a front, but in reality, he had no true ability at all. This was his home ground, where the life and death of everyone hung on his mere thought. He slowly spread his arms, raised his stern face slightly, and wore a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.
"Liang Xi, although I don't know what happened to you, do not forget that this is my home ground. If I so desire, all of you will die!"
With those words, the man's figure actually began to fade gradually, until he finally vanished entirely!
"Now, in my eyes, you are already a dead man!"
Swish!
A fierce sword Qi and Dilong appeared simultaneously right behind Liang Xi. With this strike, Liang Xi was destined to die!
"The Shadowless Sword Technique! It's actually the Shadowless Sword Technique!"
The disciples of Dark Moon recognized this move instantly, and their faces were filled with utmost horror. Wasn't it said that this set of the Shadowless Sword Technique had long been lost? How on earth did Dilong manage to learn it?
"Dilong truly possesses astonishing talent. To think that in this lifetime, I would witness the Shadowless Sword Technique once again. Heaven is truly kind to me. Such a person is clearly extraordinarily gifted; why is he simply unwilling to apply his mind to the righteous path?"
Old Fisherman's mood was also exceptionally complicated. On the one hand, he cherished talent and felt that such a person deserved a better fate; on the other hand, he also hoped Liang Xi would spare Dilong for his sake.
Yet, what qualification did he even have to make such a request of Liang Xi?
"Die!"
The fiercely sharp blade was on the verge of piercing Liang Xi's body!
However, Liang Xi's expression did not change in the slightest, and the smile at the corner of his mouth only grew wider!
Clang!
The razor-sharp blade snapped in two upon impact!
Around Liang Xi's body, a visible protective barrier had suddenly appeared.
This protective barrier began to revolve slowly, and at this moment, all the surrounding energy was actually being absorbed by it. What on earth was happening?
"Water Barrier!"
"Dilong, how do you find the power of my Water Barrier? Well? What abilities do you have left now? Let me tell you, no matter what kind of tricks you possess, they are utterly useless against me. As long as I maintain this defense, I remain invincible!"
"Snowflake Fist!"
A massive silver fist shadow slowly materialized behind Liang Xi, prompting gasps of exclamation from the surrounding disciples. Was this Liang Xi's true strength? Facing Lord Dilong, he showed not the slightest bit of fear!
Boom!
The immensely powerful iron fist smashed directly into Dilong's face. Despite the man possessing quite a decent defensive capability, he still suffered severe injuries!
"What's wrong? Is this the extent of your full strength? Weren't you just acting all fierce and arrogant? What happened now? Entertain me a bit more. You bullied my second uncle, so I am determined to kill you. Today, don't even think about escaping from my hands, because I will not give you that opportunity!"
"Arrogant! No one has ever dared to speak to me like that before. You are the first, and naturally, the last!"
Despite being struck by such a formidable Snowflake Fist, Dilong currently showed no signs of damage. Wrapped around him was a faint layer of golden aura, and Liang Xi instantly recognized what it was!
"You scoundrel, you actually absorbed the life force of all the disciples in the Dark Moon Guild? Otherwise, I simply cannot imagine how you could have endured my immensely powerful Snowflake Fist!"
"That's right, I have absorbed the life force of everyone here now. What? Do you find it surprising? Kid, you had a lot of fun throwing punches just now, didn't you? Want to be a hero? Fine, but you need formidable strength to back it up!"
"Since you have run out of moves, it's my turn now. Prepare to meet your death!" Dilong's expression was now incomparably smug and crazed. It seemed he was completely confident of victory in this battle!
What was even more exasperating was that the disciples of the Dark Moon Guild were still cheering! "Lord Dilong is mighty! How could a mere firefly like Liang Xi ever hope to compete with the sun and the moon? He is simply courting death! My lord, you must thoroughly deal with him and let this brat know the true power of our Dark Moon Guild!"
"Hahaha! Liang Xi, you heard them all now. This is everyone's true sentiment. Today, the one who dies is you!"
"Sword of the Yellow Springs!"
Liang Xi suddenly felt his vision blur, and when he regained his senses, he discovered that he was plunged into a freezing void surrounded by thick, oppressive deathly aura. This aura was absolute poison to touch, possessing terrifying corrosive properties!
Moments later, he was covered by a massive shadow, and a layer of frost began to spread across Liang Xi's body, devouring his soul at a visible speed!
"Slaughter of the Yellow Springs!"
Ferocious sword Qi filled the sky, carrying an oppressive weight that chilled one to the bone!
Executing this move came with immense risks for Dilong as well. Right now, he was rapidly depleting his mental energy, forcing himself to endure. He just didn't know how much longer he could maintain this state!
His body was on the verge of collapse, but before it completely gave out, he had to kill Liang Xi with his own hands. If this brat remained alive, he would undoubtedly become a grave threat in the future!
Swish, swish, swish!
The sharp sword Qi transformed into shooting stars, bombarding Liang Xi as if attempting to swallow the young man whole in an instant. Indeed, against a technique of this magnitude, resistance was futile for anyone—let alone a mere Liang Xi!
"Lord Dilong is mighty! Our Dark Moon Guild will surely become the greatest under heaven!"
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the overwhelmingly powerful sword Qi completely engulfed Liang Xi, who indeed offered no resistance whatsoever! Guild leaders Old Fisherman and White Wolf could only watch helplessly with their own eyes, utterly powerless to act. For guild leaders to be reduced to such a pathetic state was truly humiliating!
"Well? Brat, do you finally understand the gap between us? Your talent may be decent, but in front of me, that talent is truly worthless! Still, getting me to use my ultimate killing move counts as quite an achievement. It is your honor to die under my supreme technique!"
"Is that so? I don't see it that way!"
Liang Xi remained the same Liang Xi. Despite suffering such a heavy impact, the kid showed not a single scratch as he slowly walked out from the smoke and dust, a mocking smile lingering on his lips. Who was he mocking? Naturally, Dilong!
How could this be possible? Up until now, no one had ever survived the Sword of the Yellow Springs unharmed. Liang Xi was the first. At that moment, Dilong's gaze finally turned solemn. Good, this was more like it; only someone like this was qualified to be his opponent!
"Very well, very well, exceptionally well! I haven't felt this way in many years. Liang Xi, did you think that little trick just now was my true ability? Wrong! Now is when I unleash my real power!"
"Netherworld Yellow Springs!"
A roaring sound echoed in Liang Xi's ears. At that moment, the earth trembled violently, and the sound of ocean waves echoed from afar. Barely five seconds later, Liang Xi's expression turned ashen—a colossal wave was indeed roaring toward him!
The surrounding freezing chill had actually transformed into giant waves? Was this something a human being could accomplish?
Dilong was immensely satisfied with Liang Xi's reaction. "That's right. Although this is an illusion, your sensations within it are entirely real. As I said before, your life and death lie in the palm of my hand. Boy, who do you think I am? When my name shook the world, you were probably still playing in the mud somewhere! You've merely grasped a few superficial tricks, yet you dare to act so presumptuously before me. Rest assured, as a man like you, I will entertain you properly!"
"Soon, your mental energy will freeze, followed by your consciousness, and finally your physical body. The Netherworld Yellow Springs requires the Sword of the Yellow Springs as a prelude. You gave me far too much time, kid. In your next life, remember never to make an enemy of me, or I will deal with you all over again!"
"Of course, looking at it now, you probably won't have a next life!"
Dilong's voice had grown truly chilling to the extreme. The roaring giant wave surged toward Liang Xi once more, swallowing the young man whole yet again!
"Hahaha! How is that? Liang Xi, do you know my power now? I told you before, no one escapes my domain. A man like you originally had a brighter future. If you surrender to me now, I will spare you. Rest assured, follow me, and I will make you even more formidable in the future!"
"Isn't becoming a supreme powerhouse the very thing you've always desired most? Now you should realize that only I can grant you that opportunity!"
"However, I know the stubborn nature you possess. Even in death, a stiff-necked fool like you would never surrender to me. In my heart, I feel a tinge of regret, but I know that's just who you are!"
"Lord Dilong is mighty!!"
Dilong once again immersed himself in the waves of cheering. Honestly, the man truly relished this sensation!
The space had been frozen solid by the extreme cold, leaving Liang Xi with no chance of survival.
"I know this kid was the hope of all you people. But how is it now? He has already become a dead man! All of you bastards hiding in the shadows, get out here!"
Splash!
Ah!
Dilong's voice felt like blades cutting across the sky, piercing straight into everyone's hearts. Those in the shadows who had originally intended to help Liang Xi now coughed up mouthfuls of blood and let out miserable cries, having suffered severe injuries!
"Two guild leaders, you should be well aware of what I want. Previously, I endured in silence because the time wasn't right. Now, my strength approaches the absolute peak of martial arts. Do you truly believe I am unqualified to be the guild leader?"
"You two know full well that without me, the Dark Moon Guild could never have achieved its current success and scale. Of course, for the guild, I am willing to do anything—even sacrifice my life! But all I want is fairness. Think about it, what have I received all these years? Have I ever been treated fairly?"
"Dilong, it turns out this was your true intention all along. However, you are already the vice guild leader of the Dark Moon Guild; isn't that enough? Very well, since you have exposed your ambition, I'll tell you the truth: no matter how well you perform, this guild leadership will never be yours!"
As the guild leader, White Wolf naturally knew that Dilong possessed terrifying strength. Dilong was right—this man had rendered monumental service to the guild. But his ambition was simply too vast; once he became the leader, the situation would spiral completely out of control!
Seeming to have anticipated this outcome, Dilong's expression remained unchanged. "As expected, I knew you stubborn fools would step up. White Wolf, you are courting death!"
Dilong's movement technique vanished in an instant, and when he reappeared, he had already rushed directly in front of White Wolf!
"Ultimate Fist!"
A massive red fist shadow wreathed in flames instantly appeared. The overwhelming pressure and searing heat seemed capable of completely melting everything in the vicinity!
Bang!
White Wolf was sent flying instantly!
It all happened too fast—far too fast for White Wolf to even react!
White Wolf's expression became completely distorted. He never expected that after all these years, Dilong's strength had grown even more terrifying. How was this possible? The man had just engaged in a fierce battle with Liang Xi; could it be that he wasn't even fighting seriously earlier? If not, how could he still possess such monstrous power?
Crack, crack, crack!
White Wolf's body felt like shattered mud. That single ultimate punch had pulverized every bone in his body! "White Wolf, now you should realize you were never my opponent. With all your bones shattered, you are no longer qualified to be the guild leader. For the sake of our past, I'll spare your life to repay your past kindness. But if you remain stubbornly delusional, don't blame me for being ruthless—though, of course, I'd rather not resort to that!"
At that moment, the heavens finally vented grievances accumulated over the years! Lightning flashed and thunder rolled like a roaring beast, and the pouring rain condensed into a water dragon that coiled in mid-air, looking down condescendingly at the feeble White Wolf. It seemed that in the next second, the beast would swallow the man whole!
"I'll give you one last chance. Will you hand over the position of guild leader or not?"
Clearly, Dilong had completely run out of patience. With a single drop of his hand, White Wolf would perish on the spot. Yet, despite his formidable strength, the man failed to understand that White Wolf had always been stubbornly unyielding!
There was not a trace of warmth in White Wolf's eyes. He cast a cold glance at the oppressive water dragon before looking squarely at Dilong opposite him, the curve of his mouth growing wider. "Hmph, if you have the ability, kill me. Expecting me to hand over the leadership position? Impossible!"
"Hahaha! Splendid, you're as stubbornly stiff-necked as ever! What use is your life to me anyway? It's neither edible nor drinkable. Instead, I will make you suffer endlessly. Didn't you care most about the lives of the Dark Moon Guild disciples? Fine, I will slaughter them one by one right before your eyes. That ought to break your heart, shouldn't it?"
"You can't blame me for this; you brought it upon yourself!"
With that, Dilong brought his hand down, and the water dragon let out a stunning roar that felt capable of shattering the sky itself!
Bang!
A single dragon roar instantly obliterated ten disciples of the Dark Moon Guild! Waves of bloody mist filled the air, chilling everyone to the bone!
Dilong had actually gone through with it! A deep chill gripped everyone's hearts. He was born from the Dark Moon Guild, yet his strikes just now were merciless, completely disregarding any past ties. Why did it feel as though he harbored a profound, bitter hatred toward the guild?
"Old Guild Leader, others might not know why I did this, but you know best. How I've treated the guild over the years, and how the guild has treated me—you should understand better than anyone!"
"You hoped to turn the tables by relying on that Liang Xi, but what a pity—that brat has already been eliminated by me. He was a rather decent opponent, but since he chose to oppose me, he deserved to die!"
"You old man showed me immense kindness in the past. For the sake of those old days, I can let bygones be bygones. All I want is the leadership position. White Wolf has always obeyed you blindly; as long as you speak up, he will listen!"
Having suppressed himself for so many years, waiting for so long, the Dark Moon Guild was finally about to belong to him. Dilong rubbed his eyes to confirm it wasn't a dream—everything was real. How could his heart not throb with excitement?
Bang!
Dilong's wide sleeve whipped out a thick gust of wind, knocking the long-immobile Old Fisherman flat onto the ground. "Old Guild Leader, you're old, and I know you've been forcibly suppressing your internal injuries. Don't push me any further. Hand over the leadership token, and I'll spare your life!"
Old Fisherman sat slumped on the ground without a trace of panic, looking toward White Wolf. "White Wolf, from this moment on, you are no longer the guild leader. Think carefully about why I did this!"
"Guild Leader, it doesn't matter if I'm no longer the leader, but we can never hand the position over to a man like Dilong! You know his true nature better than anyone!"
Bang!
Before White Wolf could finish speaking, the water dragon in the sky smashed him away. Evidently, this was Dilong's doing, though it seemed he held back from delivering a fatal blow; otherwise, White Wolf would have been finished long ago!
"Is there even a place for you to speak here? Talk nonsense again, and I'll kill you!"
Ignoring White Wolf, who lay limp like a dead dog on the ground, Dilong walked slowly toward Old Fisherman. "Very good, truly the Old Guild Leader, knowing what course of action is best! Now, hand over the key symbolizing the leadership. That way, it's better for everyone!"
White Wolf, with every bone in his body shattered, somehow found a wellspring of strength from somewhere. His body transformed into a ferocious hurricane that screamed toward Dilong with a sharp whistle. Yes, this would be the final ounce of power he could ever unleash!
"Raging Tempest!"
The immensely powerful black hurricane mixed with fierce purple lightning, charging like a starving beast straight at the smug Dilong!
"Dilong, today I will kill you!"
"Such a forgetful man. You suffered such a huge loss just now; why are you still unwilling to admit that my strength vastly surpasses yours?"
Without even turning his head, Dilong commanded the water dragon in the sky to emit another powerful roar. The two formidable forces collided. Though it produced no deafening sound, the sky itself warped entirely around the impact, forming a massive, terrifying black hole amidst the roaring lightning!
This gigantic black hole seemed intent on devouring everything in existence!
Boom, boom, boom!
Roughly three seconds later, the earth began to fracture from the violent shockwave! Even the torrential rain seemed to freeze in mid-air for an instant!
Snap!
With a crisp snap of Dilong's fingers, White Wolf was blasted completely to the ground by a surge of overwhelming force, coughing up another mouthful of blood. This time, the man likely had no chance of getting back up!
"White Wolf!!"
Seeing White Wolf heavily injured, Old Fisherman was consumed by rage! Yet, alas, he was old. Had it been his younger self, he would never have let Dilong off!
"I already agreed to hand the leadership position over to you, so why did you still attack? You little scoundrel, have you forgotten that when you first came to the Dark Moon Guild, it was thanks to White Wolf? I hope you won't push things too far!"
"Hahaha! Now I am the guild leader, so naturally I can do whatever I please. Old man, I showed you respect just now, but what of it? You're no longer the leader; do you still expect to lecture me? If you have the strength to defeat me, you can do whatever you want. But since you lack the power, I advise you to save your breath!"
"Lord Dilong is mighty!"
"Lord is truly the strongest!"
Dilong once again basked in the chorus of cheers. Spreading his arms, he let the adulation wash over him. "Splendid, well spoken by all. Everyone has contributed, and I will not forget your efforts!"
Liang Xi seemed to have lapsed into another deep sleep once more. Damn it, hadn't they agreed that such a thing must never happen again? Why was it repeating itself? Did all his years of cultivation truly amount to nothing in the end?
*Move!* As long as he had even a shred of strength left, he had to move! Yet, Liang Xi's meridians and bones were currently suppressed by a terrifying external force. Forget fighting back; he couldn't even twitch. More importantly, he had no idea where he was—the surroundings were pitch black!
"Liang Xi, I never expected you to wake up so quickly. Hmph, what a pity—right now, you truly can't do a thing. Feeling resentful? Hmph, if you really feel resentful, then prove it to me! Prove that you're a formidable person! Unfortunately, despite all your years of hard work, you never understood what the Dark Moon Guild really is. Did you think I actually cared about being the guild leader? You're wrong. I've only ever had one purpose: to destroy this guild!"
"Kid, your cultivation and meridians have been completely crippled by me. All you can do now is watch! Making an enemy of me brings this exact end!"
Since Dilong had achieved his goal, leaving the rest alive served no further purpose. In that case, he might as well send them all on their way together!
Ah!!
A series of miserable screams pierced the sky. Dilong considered this the most wonderful melody in the world. At this point, the man had gone completely mad. "Hahaha! I've finally waited for this day. Is there anyone left who refuses to submit? If you have the guts, step right up!"
Yet, no one dared to step forward now; these disciples simply lacked the necessary power! They just couldn't understand why things had turned out this way. Weren't they told that as long as they showered this man with enough flattery, every problem would be solved? Why had they done all of that, only for the outcome to end like this?
"Hmph, you bunch of trash. Did you really think I'd help you just because I became the guild leader? Wrong, dead wrong! Men, slaughter them all! Today, I want everyone to witness my might!"
"Yes!!"
Old Fisherman's expression was grim to the extreme. He never imagined things would reach this juncture. "You... Dilong, you will come to a horrific end!"
"Hahaha! Perhaps. But you won't live to see it, which is a bit of a pity. Of course, in your current state, you can't do anything anyway. I know you're filled with resentment, but Old Fisherman, you knew all along this would be your fate, didn't you?"
"Liang Xi, all these lovely people are dying because of you. Don't you feel even a shred of guilt? Ah, right—a arrogant person like you never cares about anyone else's life or death anyway. Well, since that's the case, I should let you know what you're facing right now!"
"Scorching flames should be gradually consuming your surroundings! Liang Xi, now you know my true power. To deal with you in the end, I had to go to such lengths!"
"Still, looking at it now, everything I've done was worth it. Go to hell, kid! This is my Undying Flame; no one has ever resisted this power!"
Raging infernos swallowed Liang Xi in an instant. Let's see him act arrogant now! Weren't you so impressive just a moment ago? How about now? You're about to die, and your heart must be filled with regrets, right? There must be so many things you wanted to accomplish. What a pity you'll never do any of them now!
"White Wolf, Old Fisherman, it's your turn now. You two strutted around proudly for so many years; now it's time to pay the price for that arrogance! It's slightly regrettable, but even if I had to choose again, I'd make the same choice!"
"You lunatic! Do you even know what you're doing? Don't you realize the consequences if I truly die? You'll die a miserable death!"
"What kind of person do you take Liang Xi to be? Treating him like this means that the moment that kid catches a chance to turn the tables, you'll find out!"
"Hahaha! You old fool always loved talking nonsense. Do you really think Liang Xi's fate ends here? Do you know what the Liang family is? That's not a place where you can run wild as you please! I'll give you one last chance: release Liang Xi, and I'll give you whatever you want."
Perhaps Old Fisherman was genuinely terrified. He could not allow any accidents to befall Liang Xi. Once something happened to that kid, what would the ultimate consequence be?
"Hahaha! Liang Xi is already finished; he has been completely burned to ashes. Do you think he can still pull off a miracle at this point?"
"Liang Xi, I know you can hear me. But you can't get up anymore, can you? You know the power of my Undying Flame better than anyone. Unfortunately, everything I'm saying now is something you can no longer hear."
Liang Xi had indeed lost all physical consciousness. His mind was drifting, and his soul hovered in mid-air, watching his own injured physical body without reacting at all. Logically speaking, this shouldn't be happening, but it had indeed occurred!
"So this is the Undying Flame? And here I thought it was something extraordinary. Looks like there's still a way to salvage this. Dilong, you can laugh all you want right now, but remember—the moment I step out of here, the one who dies will be you!"
Dilong naturally refused to believe Liang Xi was capable of such a feat. "Liang Xi, you're at death's door yet still spouting nonsense. Very well, since you're so defiant, I'd really love to see how you pull this off!"
Old Fisherman and White Wolf were speechless. They never imagined that even at this stage, Liang Xi would still retain his presence. "Liang Xi, you're actually still alive? None of us expected this, did we?"
"Yes, Senior. Please grant me a little more time—about half an incense stick's burn time will suffice. Half an incense stick, and I will definitely break out. When that time comes, no matter how immense Dilong's power is, he will die by my hands! I know it sounds arrogant, but it is the truth!"
"Good! For some reason, the moment I first saw you, I felt an inexplicable trust in you. Since you said half an incense stick of time, I will hold out for half an incense stick. Though I am severely injured, I believe I still possess that much capability!"
White Wolf had almost no strength left either. He didn't know how much longer he could endure, or if this perseverance was even meaningful. He didn't know, but even now, it was a task he had to complete. Striking down the Dilong before them was the best course of action!
"Hahaha! White Wolf, you are nothing more than a cripple now. Do you honestly believe you can defeat me? Fine, since you insist, I'll grant you a chance. I will give you a ten-move handicap. After ten moves, whether you defeat me depends entirely on your own skill!"
"Though, looking at you now, you better hold on. Can you even move? How arrogant you used to be, yet look at what you've been reduced to. I keep thinking back to the first time I saw you—how high-spirited and full of vigor you were back then! You probably never imagined your ending would look like this, did you?"
"Indeed. If it were possible, I wouldn't have wanted things to turn out this way either. Back then, I never imagined you were this kind of person. I trusted you so completely... yet this is how you repay me? I already gave you the leadership position, but now, everything must be brought to a true conclusion!"
"Hahaha! You want a conclusion with me? I've thought about this for many years. For so long, my sole wish has been to surpass you. Sadly, I never had the opportunity until now. Finally, I can completely finish you off!"
"You claim you can hold out for half an incense stick of time. If that's true, then wonderful! Make your move. I know you still have hidden techniques you haven't unleashed yet, and I am eagerly anticipating what kind of strength you can still display!"
"Hmph, you'll see my true strength soon enough. After all these years, I've honestly never had to unleash my full power anyway. Prepare yourself!"
"White Wolf, are you truly willing to go this far for a man like this? You must know what the ultimate consequence will be once you make this decision!"
"Old Guild Leader, if we don't unleash our ultimate power against a man like him, could we possibly win? I think not, right?"
"I know that doing this will completely extinguish my soul, but it is my own choice. Therefore, if I can pull this off, I'll be immensely gratified! After all these years, I can finally perform one last service for the guild!"
"What the final outcome will be, I honestly don't know! My Lord, actually, there were many things I wanted to say to you all these years—so many things. Unfortunately, it seems I won't have the chance anymore. The only thing I regret is why I didn't say them to you sooner..."
"Does it matter now? Is this battle truly that important to you? Very well, if that's the case, I honestly don't know what else to say!"
"However, you must know that no matter what decision you make, I will always support you. I trained you myself; no one knows what kind of person you are better than I do. You know that well. Go and fight with peace of mind! If you fall, I'll still be here. Honestly, all these years, even I never knew the limits of what I could achieve!"
"Guild Leader... that's the last time I'll call you that. I won't have the chance anymore. Now, I must depart! Dilong, if you have the guts, follow me. Didn't you always want to defeat me? Good, everyone is here now, so I will fulfill your wish. I want to see what techniques you have left. Of course, this is your final chance. What do you say?"
"Hmph, did you think saying that would scare me off? Over the years, I've defeated countless powerful foes. My confidence in my own martial arts has reached an unprecedented height. I am finally going to truly defeat you once and for all!"
"Make your move. Once I defeat you, all other problems will cease to matter. Let's go to the old place—where we first met, and where we shall bring this to a true conclusion!"
"As I planned. Just make sure you don't regret it, you know? You are no longer my match!"
The two figures transformed into twin streaks of light and departed!