https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-461-A-Gathering-of-Heroes-8k5-Part-2-/13027899/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-462-One-Man-Shakes-a-Million-Armies-8k4-Part-2-/13027906/
Chapter 462: One Man Shakes a Million Armies! (8k4) (Part 1)
Chapter 462: One Man Shakes a Million Armies! (8k4) (Part 1)
The undulating mountain ranges stretched like true dragons lying prostrate upon the earth.
Following the mountain trails to their ends, one would reach a vast plain, the center of the nine dragon veins' protection, and the heart of the Great Xuan Kingdom. It had been the capital of the Great Xuan dynasty and the ancient capital of numerous dynasties throughout history.
In the distance, a majestic city wall stood tall, reaching hundreds of feet high. Commoners standing beneath it felt minuscule, like ants, and could only gaze up at the grandeur of the royal city with a sense of awe and grandeur.
Jade Capital!
This was the name of the Great Xuan capital, known to some as the Capital, and to others as the Upper Capital or the Celestial Capital. But its official name was still 'Jade Capital', a title not given at the founding of the Great Xuan Kingdom but one that had existed since ancient times.
As far as the eye could see, the capital sprawled for hundreds of miles, far larger than the prefectural or provincial capitals of Jade State. It was only with the power of martial arts and the extraordinary abilities of its people that such a magnificent city could be built; otherwise, even with all the strength of commoners, it would be impossible to complete in a million years.
Inside the Jade Capital at this moment.
Streets crisscrossed in all directions, even the outermost districts were spacious, and the alleys were bustling with lively voices. Teahouses were packed, and even the nearby tea houses were full.
In the center of a teahouse, a storyteller in a clean white robe, holding a folding fan and a wooden clapper, vividly narrated a moving tale of the jianghu, captivating the audience nearby. As he struck the clapper for the last time, he said,
"...But then, Zhang Qi, after defeating six masters with a single sword and claiming the title of the best in the world, stood silently in the rain for a while. Suddenly, he threw his sword into the water, laughed three times, tears in his laughter, and walked away, abandoning his sword and disappearing without a trace."
After finishing the story, the storyteller took a sip of tea from his cup.
The hall fell silent for a moment, then someone spoke up, "This fictional story has a hint of charm, but it still falls short of the excitement of the current jianghu. It seems the Kunlun Debate, which happens once every thirty years, is approaching. Who do you think is the best in the world today?"
"You're giving me a tough question, I dare not speak carelessly..."
The storyteller in white chuckled, "But judging by recent events in the jianghu, the Northern Cold Heaven Sword, the mysterious Mystic Heavens Master who appears and disappears like a divine dragon, the Alliance Leader of the Six Paths Alliance in the Western Border Region, the Island Master of the Heavenly Lake in Shang Yong, and the Eastern Approaches Sword Master, these five are still considered the top five in the martial world. Hmm... there's also another person who can be considered at the pinnacle of martial arts."
"Who?"
Someone asked curiously.
The Northern Cold Heaven Sword, the Mystic Heavens Master, the Alliance Leader, the Island Master, and the Eastern Approaches Sword Master were all legendary figures in the current era, standing at the peak of martial arts and universally recognized as the top five in the world.
Now, this mysterious storyteller, who had only been narrating for a few months, claimed that someone in the current era could rival these five.
"That's of course..."
The storyteller in white closed his fan and smiled, about to speak, but his voice suddenly stopped, and his eyes widened in surprise as he looked towards the distant horizon.
The guests in the hall, seeing the storyteller's reaction, were all taken aback and followed his gaze, but all they could see was the vast blue sky, with no other scenery in sight.
For a moment,
Everyone was puzzled.
But the storyteller in white had already stood up, his eyes fixed on the distant sky. "It's true that speaking of it brings it here, and it's coming so fast, so fast..."
Then,
He turned to the guests in the hall, smiled, and bowed, "Today's jianghu story ends here. Please excuse me for leaving ahead of you."
As he finished speaking, the storyteller in white took a step forward and, with a whoosh, he effortlessly passed through the crowded people and appeared behind them, walking away down the street.
"Hey, hey, why did the storyteller leave?"
"He didn't even say who that person was!"
The people nearby were not too surprised by this, as the Jade Capital was known for its many extraordinary individuals. But these storytellers, who dared to comment on the jianghu, were known to be no ordinary characters.
The middle-aged storyteller in white laughed heartily, "No need for explanations, you'll know soon enough. I must take my leave; otherwise, I'll miss this once-in-a-century spectacle."
Whoosh!
As he finished speaking, the middle-aged storyteller in white continued walking, and with two steps, he disappeared from the alley, leaving the crowd behind.
Around the same time, in the vast Jade Capital, countless people looked up at the distant sky, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
Many others emerged from their chambers, their expressions changing before they vanished in an instant.
Outside the Jade Capital.
At the northernmost wall, known as the Northern Heaven Gate, a golden rainbow could be seen approaching from the north. As it moved, the sky churned with changing winds and clouds, making the boundless blue sky seem to ripple like waves. Just looking at it gave one the feeling that the entire world was shaking.
Above the Northern Heaven Gate, a figure in a green robe stood, gazing at the approaching rainbow from the north with a calm expression. Suddenly, he cupped his hands in greeting and said,
"Elder Chen, I am Ruan Tian, and I've been waiting for a long time. Please, let's have a chat."
His voice echoed through the sky, reaching thousands of miles, causing not only the entire Jade Capital to fall silent but also the boundless blue sky to reverberate with his words.
With just these words, the Heaven and Man Realm was undoubtedly revealed.
Yuan Tian!
One of the top ten Grandmasters from the Boundless Sect in the Central Region, he stood at the pinnacle of martial arts in the Central Region—a Heaven and Man Master!
As one of the top martial artists in the Central Region, he had countless connections with the court. Once a supporter of Prince Liang Wang behind the scenes, he now stood on the side of the new ruler, Emperor Ji Xuanfei.
The way Chen Mu was addressed was not in the style of the jianghu; instead, it was the formal 'Sir' used among court officials, clearly expressing his attitude. Despite being from a martial arts sect, he supported the legitimacy of the court.
Far away in the sky.
A golden rainbow spanned the horizon, finally slowing down before the Northern Heaven Gate, revealing Chen Mu's figure within. The Heaven and Earth aura surrounding him quietly dispersed, and he stepped down, descending in front of the Northern Heaven Gate.
"Grandmaster Yuan Tian?"
Chen Mu stood tall in his long robe, right in front of the Northern Heaven Gate, his gaze falling on Yuan Tian. He spoke with a calm tone, "Is the esteemed successor of the Heaven and Man Realm here to play the role of a mediator?"
Yuan Tian's expression turned solemn, "The Great Xuan Dynasty has ruled the world for a thousand years, striking down foreign tribes in the north and repelling demons in the west, bringing stability to the world. Although we have transcended the secular world, we rose from within it and owe our gratitude to the Great Xuan court. Since Chen Sir has already transcended the secular world, he should remain detached from worldly affairs and not interfere in the disputes of the secular court, disrupting the order of the world."
Their voices echoed powerfully, reverberating through the streets of Jade Capital for hundreds of miles.
In an instant.
Countless people looked at each other in bewilderment.
The Central Region thrived in martial arts, especially in the Jade Capital, the heart of the world. The Supreme Elder of the Boundless Sect, Yuan Tian, a successor of the Heaven and Man Realm, was known throughout the Central Region, from commoners to high officials.
One of the two conversing was a Heaven and Man Master, but who was the other? From their exchange, it was clear they treated each other as equals. There were only a few Heaven and Man Masters in the world, and among them, there seemed to be no one with the surname 'Chen'. However, some high-ranking officials recalled recent rumors, and their faces changed.
If there was a Chen in the world who could speak on equal terms with a Heaven and Man Master, there was probably only one person.
Chen Mu of the Cold North!
At this moment.
Countless eyes turned towards the Northern Heaven Gate of the Jade Capital.
At the Northern Heaven Gate, Chen Mu listened to Yuan Tian's words, his thoughts drifting. His eyes flashed with scenes from the past, and he said with a distant look, "I, Chen Mu, was born into a humble background and faced a chaotic world. My life has been full of hardships, and I've lived in fear, hovering between life and death. I've been cautious and careful, but where was the court's order then? Later, as a lowly servant, I worked day and night for a meager salary, not enough to fill my stomach or keep me warm, less than a servant in a wealthy household. Where was the court's grace then?"
Yuan Tian's eyebrows furrowed slightly upon hearing this, and he advised, "But now, the world is divided into nine regions. Sir Chen, you've seen the chaos cease, and millions of commoners are able to live and prosper. If you only pursue your personal desires and plunge the world back into chaos, what's the difference between that and the court's past mistakes? It's like swimming against the current. This isn't the blessing of the people, nor is it the blessing of martial arts. Please reconsider."
At this moment.
Within the Jade Capital, numerous Bone Washing Grandmasters and even Blood Transformation experts narrowed their eyes slightly.
Yuan Tian's words seemed like advice, aiming to resolve grudges, but in reality, he was setting a trap for Chen Mu. Chen Mu rose from a humble background, and his pursuit of martial arts is for the stability of the world, to clear away chaos, or to pursue the highest level of martial arts. Now, if he insists on fighting the court, it will not only hinder the world's stability but also affect the development of martial arts, going against his own martial arts principles, leaving flaws in his mindset.
Even if Chen Mu's martial arts principles are not these, if he disregards them and acts recklessly, he will inevitably bear the infamy of causing chaos in the world. This is in stark contrast to the founding Emperor of the Great Xuan Dynasty, who followed the will of the common people and purified the Eight Directions.
"What you say is reasonable, but my pursuit of martial arts is for just two words—fairness!"
"Those who kill shall be killed—this is an unchanging principle and my rule!"
Chen Mu stood with his hands behind his back at the Northern Heaven Gate, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Yuan Tian. "Let Cheng Zu, Xiang Yuan, and the rest come out to face their deaths. If you want to stop me, come and face your deaths together. No more words are needed!"
Boom!!
His voice rumbled like a tide, echoing through heaven and earth, like thunder, shaking countless hearts.
Standing at the Northern Heaven Gate, Yuan Tian's expression turned cold upon hearing Chen Mu's words.
Although Chen Mu was indeed the second person in history to cultivate the Heaven and Earth Principle and reach the Blood Transformation Realm, Yuan Tian could see that Chen Mu's cultivation had not yet entered the Heaven and Man Realm, and was only at the ordinary Blood Transformation level.
"Since Sir Chen is stubborn and defiant, disregarding the court's laws, I can't blame myself for being merciless!"
Buzz!!
As Yuan Tian spoke, his eyes flashed, and his aura suddenly merged with heaven and earth. His figure seemed to swell, becoming grand and towering, blending with the vast surroundings.
In an instant, a boundless heavenly might filled the void, spreading in all directions. In a flash, it enveloped Chen Mu, and a terrifying pressure bore down on him, attempting to crush him!
At this moment.
Even those dozens of li away, looking towards the Northern Heaven Gate, felt the oppressive pressure filling the air, and their hearts sank with a suffocating feeling.
This oppressive and vast force was not solely the might of a Heaven and Man Master, but also the might of the entire Northern Heaven Gate's Earth Vein Array. It encompassed the power of hundreds of li of earth veins, and even a Heaven and Man Master would be instantly pressed down from the sky, forced to the ground, unable to fly in the air within this area!
"This... It's the Mystic Sky Array of the Northern Heaven Gate!"
"This array hasn't been activated for hundreds of years. For Ruan Tian to gain control over it and wield it with the power of a Heaven and Man Master, even the Northern Cold Heaven Sword or the Mystic Heavens Master would have to retreat thrice."
Someone's expression changed, and they couldn't help but gasp.
The Great Xuan court had ruled the world for over a thousand years, and as the most core region, Jade Capital was heavily fortified. The four arrays of the four Great Passes in the east, south, west, and north, when activated through the earth veins, possessed an incredibly powerful suppressing force!
But.
Despite being under the suppression of the Mystic Sky Array, Chen Mu still stood in the sky, unaffected by the pressure. He continued to stride across the void, overlooking the entire Northern Heaven Gate.
"The Jade Capital and the Northern Heaven Gate are indeed extraordinary. However, to think that this is enough to stop my steps is to underestimate me. He, Prince Hanzhao, should have more tricks up his sleeve."
Chen Mu felt the oppressive force that could suffocate even a Blood Transformation Realm expert, yet he spoke calmly.
Ruan Tian's face sank. "Are you truly not retreating?"
As he spoke, his heart was filled with shock. As a Heaven and Man Master, he knew the strength of the Mystic Sky Array better than anyone. Although this array lacked offensive capabilities and only had defensive and suppressing power, even he would face immense pressure when confronted by its might.
But Chen Mu, with his Heaven and Man power, endured the suppression of the Mystic Sky Array as if it were nothing. His martial body, forged through the principles of Heaven and Earth, displayed an unimaginable level of toughness! It seemed the rumors were indeed true!
Hng!
In response to Ruan Tian's words, Chen Mu didn't speak; instead, a palm print descended from the air! Chen Mu's eyes turned cold, and without wasting any words, he faced the suppression of the entire Mystic Sky Array. With a single palm, he tore through the air towards Ruan Tian. The vast power of Heaven and Earth condensed into a strike, forming a seemingly simple Heaven and Earth Palm Print. But as it swept across, the void shattered into pieces!
"!"
Ruan Tian's pupils constricted.
Although Chen Mu's palm only created white cracks in the void, the fact that he could tear through space even under the suppression of the Mystic Sky Array demonstrated his terrifying strength.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
