Chapter 103: Return (Third Update, Please Subscribe)

After Xiao Xie finished speaking, he ignored the dramatic change in Azure Dragon’s expression, took out a jade flute, and walked to the edge of the Blackwood Cliff’s rock face. Master Fangzheng and the others exchanged glances and followed him.

During this period, in order to gain more admiration points, Xiao Xie had made a point of learning to play the flute. After all, playing the flute or the xiao was always an excellent way to impress others.

“So many people!” Xiao Xie gazed down at the sea of fully armored soldiers below. He brought the jade flute to his lips and began to play. Infusing his inner strength into the melody, the powerful resonance of his flute enveloped all the soldiers at the foot of the mountain.

“What’s that sound?”

“Is it a flute?”

The soldiers listened curiously, but gradually, the gentle tune grew shrill and violent, transforming from softness into savagery.

“Ah… kill!” Some soldiers’ eyes turned bloodshot, their murderous intent fanned into a blaze. Without warning, they drew their swords and hacked at their own comrades.

Soon, all the soldiers lost their sanity, attacking and butchering anyone alive around them. After half an hour, as the last two soldiers died together, not a single soldier survived at the foot of the mountain.

“You… are you a demon?” Azure Dragon asked in shock. The selection process for the Embroidered Uniform Guard was notoriously brutal. For Azure Dragon to be so appalled showed the depth of his astonishment.

Not only Azure Dragon, but even Master Fangzheng and his companions stared at Xiao Xie in disbelief. These were twenty thousand elite soldiers, wiped out by a single tune. Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.

Seeing the fearful expressions of those present, Xiao Xie smiled and said, “There’s no need to be nervous. This is merely a use of sonic martial arts. I simply used the flute’s sound to awaken the killing intent in their hearts. Given that these soldiers have all taken lives, it’s even easier to provoke their bloodlust than that of ordinary people. Of course, this sonic art requires exceptionally deep inner strength.”

Xiao Xie did not deceive them. Even with his five centuries of cultivation, covering such a vast area with sonic martial arts was extremely taxing—something no ordinary practitioner could achieve.

Hearing Xiao Xie’s explanation, the others breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it could be explained by martial arts, they could accept it. Otherwise, they might truly have believed Xiao Xie was not human, but a monster.

“Azure Dragon, you may leave. Tell your emperor that this time, I have only slain his twenty thousand elite. If he tries again, this world will no longer bear the Zhu name.” Xiao Xie’s tone was cold.

“Yes!” Faced with Xiao Xie’s inhuman power, Azure Dragon led the remaining Embroidered Uniform Guards away in disgrace. Of the original twenty thousand soldiers, only ten guards remained.

As Azure Dragon and his men beat their retreat, a thunderous cheer rose up from behind.

“Long live the Alliance Leader! Long live the Alliance Leader!”

“The Alliance Leader is mighty! The Alliance Leader is mighty!”

After this battle, Xiao Xie’s position as Wulin Alliance Leader was unshakable. That day, everyone held a great banquet, only departing the following morning. Once they left, the tale of Xiao Xie’s legendary tune that annihilated twenty thousand elite soldiers spread across the martial world, stirring up another storm of awe.

After Xiao Xie became the Alliance Leader, under his leadership, the great conflicts in the martial world ceased. Only minor, harmless frictions remained. Overall, the entire realm began moving toward peace.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Xiao Xie became Alliance Leader. In his chamber atop Blackwood Cliff—

“Time flies. A year has passed already—it’s time to return,” Xiao Xie muttered. As he finished, a beam of white light appeared out of thin air, enveloping him. When the light faded, Xiao Xie was gone.

At last, I’m back! Xiao Xie looked around at the familiar yet unfamiliar room. He converted the five centuries’ worth of inner strength in his body into battle energy, and a powerful aura surged forth. “Seven-Star Dou King!”

With a thought, Xiao Xie entered the Reverence Space. The first thing he did was look for Little One, who was clutching an ice cream and cuddling it for dear life.

Between kisses, Little One mumbled, “I missed you so much! It’s been a year since I saw you all. Did you miss me? Are you ready to be devoured by me? Ahahaha…”

Xiao Xie shook his head in speechless resignation and scooped up Little One.

“Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing, Master?” Little One slapped away Xiao Xie’s hand, flew before him in a huff, and protested. For a glutton, being interrupted while enjoying a treat was unforgivable.

“Alright, don’t be upset. Where’s my reward for completing the challenge?” Xiao Xie asked with a smile.

With a wave of her tiny hand, Little One produced a golden treasure chest before him. “This is the Martial Arts Grand Gift Pack. See for yourself! I’m off to treat myself—I’ve missed my delicacies for a whole year! If you bother me again, I’ll—I’ll bite you!” Little One waved her little fists, trying her best to appear fierce, and then, flapping her small wings, flew off.

“Little glutton,” Xiao Xie chuckled, shaking his head as he watched her go. Turning his attention to the chest before him, he rubbed his hands together. “Let’s see what’s inside.”

Opening the golden chest, a flash of golden light made him squint. When the light faded, he looked inside and saw three items: a golden orb the size of a basketball, a pill, and a book.

Examining them, Xiao Xie realized they were the Dragon Essence, the Pill of Immortality, and the Plum Blossom Technique of Tianshan.

Dragon Essence: Originating from the world of Storm Riders. Consuming the Dragon Essence increases cultivation, grants ten thousand years of life, and bestows the attribute of indestructibility.

Pill of Immortality: From the world of legends, commissioned by the First Emperor of Qin. After ingestion, one attains agelessness and immortality.

Plum Blossom Technique of Tianshan: From the world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. Includes three palm techniques and three grappling techniques—a total of six forms. Any martial art in the world can be incorporated into the Six Plum Blossom Techniques.

“Dragon Essence, is it?” Xiao Xie wasn’t surprised by the description. After all, the divine dragon in the world of Storm Riders was only a mixed-blood dragon; even it might not be truly immortal. So those who consumed Dragon Essence could hardly expect eternal life—at best, an extended lifespan.

After completing the Swordsman world challenge, Xiao Xie had been worried about his own longevity. While in the Doupo world, time was relatively controlled, but in other worlds, his lifespan was still consumed. Now, with the Dragon Essence, he could put those fears to rest.

He set the Dragon Essence aside and turned to the Pill of Immortality. Eating the Dragon Essence only extended one’s life by ten thousand years, but the Pill of Immortality promised true agelessness. However, it had a flaw: in the mythic world, this pill was made from a meteorite combined with various herbs, and after the meteorite was lost, everyone who had consumed the pill suddenly aged.

Xiao Xie had no desire for such a mishap. He sniffed the Pill of Immortality, analyzing its composition. With the exception of one ingredient—which he presumed to be meteorite dust—the rest were familiar: thousand-year-old ginseng, lingzhi, and the like. If he had the meteorite powder, he was confident he could replicate the pill himself.

He placed the Pill of Immortality into the enhancement furnace, spent a hundred thousand points to remove its side effects, and thus ensured that, after taking the pill, he would no longer have to fear losing its effect due to some meteorite accident.

After strengthening it, Xiao Xie swallowed the Pill of Immortality. Smacking his lips, he remarked, “Doesn’t seem like much. Just a bit bitter.”

He shook his head, feeling no change, yet he knew he now possessed the constitution for eternal youth.

Finally, Xiao Xie picked up the Plum Blossom Technique of Tianshan. In itself, the skill was not particularly formidable, but it could incorporate all martial arts into itself, raising the level of the technique.