Chapter 293: The Dawn of Havoc
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Cultivation in martial arts and the chase for fame in the secular world holds the same core principles. Some people pursue fame and fortune with all they have; some who are lucky enough might achieve what they’re after, but they will lose their health from the mindless chase. Some people are healthy all along but have no fate with fame and fortune; prosperity is simply not their destiny. Yet there are plenty of people who could gather the world’s fortunes without ever being sick or stricken with disaster. This is an individual’s destiny, luck, and fate; it can never be forced. Even when forced, rarely would one succeed! Those who have forced it and succeeded are few and far in between!"
The man in robes wore a distant expression. "Saber, do you understand what I’ve said?"
In the icy surroundings where the chilling wind was almost cold enough to peel one’s flesh off, Venerable Lord Saber’s face was dotted with large beads of sweat. He could distinctly hear his lord’s unspoken intention of wanting to give up on him.
A mere Supreme Lord Spring Frost and Hall of Spring were insignificant, but if anyone from Saber, Sword, Snow, Frost, or Ice perished, then the Four Seasons Tower would have a solid reason to declare war on the martial arts world!
The person dressed in robes turned and his icy gaze fell on Saber’s face.
The Venerable Lord Saber could only feel as if a bucket of ice cold water had been poured on him; with a puff of his chest, he said shakily, "For my lord, Saber has no regrets, even if I had to die a thousand times!"
The sharp gaze of the man in robes slid away from his face. It was a long moment before he spoke again, "Who among the Nine Supremes has survived?"
Venerable Lord Saber answered, "Based on the current circ.u.mstances, there is a terribly high chance that Supreme Wind is still alive."
"Supreme Wind?"
"If that is so, how did that strange flame appear just before this?" the robed man said faintly.
Venerable Lord Saber was tongue-tied.
The robed individual murmured to himself, "When the Nine Supremes unite, there will be an upheaval of heaven and earth, of the world and empires alike. The Supreme shall reign unchallenged. This saying probably means that the survivor has gleaned the cultivation methods of all the others, so the nine manifestation skills have merged into one; not only Supreme Wind or Flame, it could have been any one of the Supremes…"
"Does one really believe that this reputed one would be unable to decipher the implied meaning?"
The robed man snorted and said, "Illusion; it has been a smokescreen all along. There is only one among the Nine Supremes left, the very last one! I have no doubts about this!"
"In other words, if manage to find and kill that person, the legend of the Nine Supremes shall disappear forever!"
The robed man said calmly, "Although the Hall of Spring has entirely fallen, it is also confirmed that this sole survivor is in Tiantang City. Losing the Hall of Spring was worth it, to get this bit of information."
"Since the Nine Supremes is down to this last man, then…"
The robed person turned to look at Venerable Lord Saber. "Go heal yourself at the Reinvigoration Valley. Summon Snow when you have recovered, and bring along four or five of our people. Enter Tiantang City in secret. When you’ve caught and killed the remainder of Nine Supremes, then only will you head back here."
"Yes!"
"You will do nothing regarding the counterattacks by Concourse of the Underworld or the School of Spring and Autumn…" The robed man’s tone was cold as he issued his instructions.
"Yes, thank you, my lord!" Venerable Lord Saber was instantly relieved.
If he were to only focus on the remainder of the Nine Supremes, the risks were much lower. Despite the Nine Supremes having mystical powers of their own and being even more powerful when their nine manifestation powers were merged into one person, the ambush upon them earlier had long revealed the low cultivation base of the nine individuals.
It had only been over a year since the battle. No matter how shocking the improvement of the last of the Nine Supremes was, it would have its limits. Besides, it was already arduous to refine the advance of one power – that person had to cultivate all nine. Even if he had multiple opportunities and numerous magical encounters, his improvement could never be rushed.
Venerable Lord Saber was confident that a strike of his saber was sufficient to deal with this sole Supreme!
His lord’s arrangement guaranteed his life, s.h.i.+elded him from danger; for that, it was an immense favor!
"Don"t get too overjoyed. I have something to say first."
The robed person lifted his head, allowing the fluttering snowflakes to land on his face; he said nonchalantly, "If you are unable to seize the remainder of the Nine Supremes this time, I would suggest that you do not return. Even if you could seize him but your cultivation base has no breakthrough in this period of time, you need not come back either – you would be of no further use to us."
"Yes!" Venerable Lord Saber was drenched in cold sweat, determination filling his heart.
He had to capture his prey. No matter where he hid, this mission must be accomplished! Moreover, he had to achieve a breakthrough in the process. Even if he were to die while practice, he had to advance himself.
His lord had already spoken; this was the last chance he would be given.
A character who could no longer be of greater use – how could he relish the reputed t.i.tle of being a side of the Four Seasons Tower’s heaven and earth?
"Send my Cosmo Edict!"
The robed person said faintly, "Ice and Frost, to the Concourse of the Underworld; the Four Seasons Declaration of War is to greet the world!"
"Sword, pay a visit to the School of Spring and Autumn."
"Additionally, send out the Four Seasons Declaration of War; an order to all sects, clans, and pract.i.tioners of the martial world – avoid this war! Violators are to be killed without pardon!"
"Cosmos Edict – there is an absolute kill order on Bai Yixue. Anyone who helps him in opposing this tower shall have their entire family wiped out and disaster upon nine familial generations!"
"So it shall be."
"Yes." Venerable Lord Saber bowed respectfully and turned to leave, seeing that his lord had no other instructions.
Snow fell in flurries. The robed man looked towards the sky, the iciness frosting his face remained.
"There are still forces unbounded by rules that exist in this world after all…"
He inhaled deeply and mumbled, "Dugu Chou, Ling Xiaozui, Jun Moyan… Looks like I need to find these old friends for a gathering…"
His body shone, a glimmering flash appeared amidst the snow and grew brighter. It turned into a ray of light that soared upwards, entering the tiny temple via a mystical trail before vanis.h.i.+ng from sight.
After a while, the lord was in black clothes instead of his robe. With a leap, he rose in the air; a wave of a sleeve later, the snow around him seemed to gather in a single direction.
With a snap of his fingers, the entire temple was covered in layers of snow.
As far as the forests stretched, it was all snow white that greeted the eyes; no traces of the temple could be seen anymore.
The black-clothed lord disappeared within the snow.
…
The martial world in Tianxuan Continent, placid for the longest time, was suddenly abuzz with excitement.
Things seemed to have heated up overnight. Following the appearance of this strange edict medallion, the entire martial arts world had been shaken to its core!
The edict medallion looked odd, it was in the shape of a hexagram; on four of its pointed corners, there were a lush green willow branch, a sun, a red leaf, and a snowflake while on the other two opposite ends, there were the words heaven and earth.
A circle was located in the middle, a word situated within the circle – Nian!
As the odd-looking medallion greeted the world, some rather experienced pract.i.tioners in the martial world grew anxious. Numerous travelers began to turn back on their journey; they were not rus.h.i.+ng home – they were in search of a stop that was safe!
No matter how important the outdoor ch.o.r.es were, they were completed as soon as humanly possible; those unable to be completed were given up and abandoned.
Everyone was in a hurry, and had a premonition – the chaotic times of the martial world was here once again!
The Four Seasons Declaration of War, the Cosmo Edict Medallion, had reappeared in the martial arts world.
It was a grand event of the millennia in the martial world.
The eight n.o.ble families and six great sects, as well as the franchised merchants that spread over half the continent, had all taken the same precautions – all members outside were summoned home; all external activities were to be ended completely; all business transactions were entirely retracted.
In the subsequent days, other strange medallions that had never appeared in the world before emerged one after another; experienced pract.i.tioners answered the lingering doubts – those were summoning orders from the top ten historical sects.
They were summoning all their disciples outside to return to their schools in order to avoid calamity.
The Concourse of the Underworld had sent an emergency summons as well – all Gold-ranked a.s.sa.s.sins of the concourse were to give up their a.s.signed missions and return to the headquarters for further orders within ten days.
The Concourse of the Underworld’s peer, The Merciless Tower, sent out instructions as well – all the a.s.sa.s.sins outside were to stay put for pending orders. Before a new instruction was sent, The Merciless Tower would not be taking on any new missions.
It seemed that even the air was filled with a suffocating oppression.
Everyone’s pace was hurried, their faces grim.
Even those who were lesser-experienced and were clueless about the severity felt inexplicably weighed down.
"Senior, what is this?"
"Quickly, go home. This martial arts world cannot be roamed anymore."
"Why?"
"Just take care of yourself."
…
"Brother, may I ask what has happened? Why does it seem like everyone has gone mad?"
"A word of advice for you – don’t ask, in case you get burned. It’s more important to return home as soon as possible; find a wife and sleep with a blanket covering yourself; that will guarantee your safety."
"What is going on? What is all this talk about importance and safety?"
"Curiosity kills the cat. I have no more to say to you, farewell!"
…
"Grandfather, why the hurry? We’ve only come out for two days… I haven’t had enough fun."
"My precious baby, the sky is falling… do you still wish to play? The only thing to do now is to return home quickly! You must listen to grandfather this time. Any later and there will be disaster."
"What is going on? Can’t you explain it clearly?"
"To put it simply, the havoc in the martial world has been unleashed..."
…
In an unknown and secret location, people were muttering among themselves.
"Do you see it?"
"The Four Seasons Tower’s subjugation of the world has begun. It’s going to start bathing in the blood of the martial arts world again!"
"It has been so long since there was such a big ruckus… Why has it suddenly begun again?"
"There must be a reason. There’s no benefit in pursuing the cause right now; it’s better to leave this place of faults quickly and pa.s.s our days back home in simplicity. No point being splashed with mud in this puddle."
"Right, if we’re still involved once we return home, then we can only acknowledge our bad luck. If we continue roaming the world and get pulled into it, I say we deserve it. We can’t blame anyone else for that."
"Rightly so. Let’s go quickly! Let us all leave at once!"
"My, my, such havoc indeed!"