Chapter 164: Chapter 163 Gathering of all Sides_1
Seeing that the Great Elder seemed to have no intention of delving deeper into the matter of the Heavenly Shadow Poison, Ling Chen breathed a sigh of relief. After all, surviving such an ordeal was a great fortune amidst misfortune. As for the finer details, there was no need to scrutinize them.
Feeling somewhat melancholy, Ling Chen let out a soft sigh, asking, "Great Elder, regarding the young talents who have come this time, is there anyone in particular that we need to be aware of?"
"I have other matters to attend to. I’ll have Qiushui explain these things to you."
The Great Elder greeted another Deacon Elder, then beckoned to a young woman. Upon seeing this, the latter halted her conversation with other female disciples and walked over.
This young woman, clad in a blue robe, had an air that was both approachable and remarkably elegant.
This was the daughter of Great Elder Shangguan Hong, and also one of the top experts among the True Disciples of the Divine Intent Sect: Shangguan Qiushui, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly List.
"Greetings, Sister Shangguan."
Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu simultaneously saluted.
"It’s you two."
Shangguan Qiushui, of course, recognized Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu. Looking at the masked Ling Chen, a smile flashed across her face. "Wearing a mask in broad daylight, are you afraid people won’t notice you?"
At Shangguan Qiushui’s words, Ling Chen felt somewhat embarrassed. However, if he didn’t disguise himself well, it was likely that someone would challenge him again.
Shangguan Qiushui no longer joked with Ling Chen. Leading Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu to a high platform, they could observe almost the entire campsite from there.
"You should already know those few from our sect."
Shangguan Qiushui’s gaze shifted from Nie Wu Xiang, Longyang, and the others, finally settling on a young man in yellow clothes. "You might not know this person. He’s also an expert on the Heavenly List, ranked twenty-fourth. His name is Zhao Qingyang."
"I really haven’t seen this person before."
Ling Chen was somewhat surprised. There was actually a Heavenly List expert within the Divine Intent Sect whom he didn’t know. Even he himself hadn’t expected this.
"Zhao Qingyang is a cultivation fanatic who seldom mingles within the sect, so it’s normal for you not to know him. However, you should still be wary of him. I suspect he doesn’t have a good impression of you," Shangguan Qiushui warned.
"Why? I don’t even know him!" Ling Chen’s expression was one of astonishment.
Shangguan Qiushui shook her head as if it were only natural. "Even though you don’t know him, you recently defeated Sister Yu Qingxuan and took her ranking on the Heavenly List. This matter has caused considerable dissatisfaction among many disciples in the sect. Moreover, this Zhao Qingyang is Sister Yu Qingxuan’s childhood sweetheart."
"What? Her childhood sweetheart?"
Ling Chen couldn’t help but twitch. How many suitors does this Yu Qingxuan have? Now another childhood sweetheart has popped up, and a formidable one at that, ranked twenty-fourth on the Heavenly List.
"Alright, look over there. The one in the blood-red, gold-trimmed clothes is Leng Wu Xue, a True Disciple of the Myriad Dao Sect. He is twenty-two years old, ranked thirteenth on the Heavenly List, and is known as the ’Bloodless Sword.’ Rumor had it that he had already advanced to the Ninth-level Martial Master half a year ago. His Swordsmanship is just like his moniker: murderous, decisive, and ruthless, leaving no trace of blood."
Following Shangguan Qiushui’s gaze, Ling Chen looked about seven hundred meters to the east. There, surrounded by seven disciples in blood-red clothes, a pale-faced youth stood out. He wore a blood-red, gold-trimmed outfit; his tall, slender figure exuded an air of nobility mixed with malevolence and killing intent, an exceptionally dangerous presence.
He is a formidable opponent! Ling Chen possessed Mental Power of up to level ten, and his ability to discern auras was exceptional. He could tell at a glance that this Leng Wu Xue was even more profound and formidable than Zhao Qingyang. If Zhao Qingyang was a tiger yet to bare its fangs, then Leng Wu Xue was a lurking behemoth. The moment he attacked would be the moment his enemy died.
Bloodless Sword. Presumably, he wasn’t undeserving of the name. To be fast enough to kill without drawing blood—one could only imagine how swift he must be.
Quickly shifting his gaze, his attention fell on a man from Aqua Country. "This man is Wang Yan, the Big Disciple of the Shocking Death Sect from Aqua Country. He is twenty-three years old and known as the ’Extinguishing Life Saber,’ ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly List. His strength is comparable to Leng Wu Xue’s, but he is exceedingly vicious by nature. His moniker comes from the time he slaughtered a small sect of over a hundred people. In one night, he wiped out everyone in that small sect—men, women, old, and young."
The Shocking Death Sect is another Martial Arts Great Faction in Aqua Country, second only to the Sky Void Palace in influence.
This time, Ling Chen spotted Wang Yan instantly. His Cultivation was on par with Leng Wu Xue’s, but his aura was a fraction weaker. However, the killing intent emanating from him was so intense it couldn’t be hidden. A person like this, reeking of slaughter, was terrifying.
"Can such a person really be called a Righteous Path Disciple?" Xiao Muyu asked, somewhat unnerved.
Shangguan Qiushui shook her head. "The people he killed all had records of wrongdoing, so it wasn’t unlawful. Even the small sect he wiped out was because they had colluded with evil demons; that’s why he exterminated them."
Rubbing his nose, Ling Chen thought: This one is a true killing fiend. His murderous aura can already affect others. In battle, this could directly achieve the effect of subduing enemies without fighting. No wonder some Jianghu disciples love to kill.
Unable to help himself, Ling Chen gave a bitter smile. Up until now, he hadn’t killed many people. This was because, unless it was a last resort, he wouldn’t kill. After all, in Ling Chen’s view, every life was precious. If not for heinous crimes, everyone deserved a chance at a new beginning.
Ling Chen had stared for a bit too long. Wang Yan, dressed in dark clothes, turned his head and grinned, his stark white teeth reflecting a heart-stoppingly cold glint in the sunlight.
His killing intent flared.
"What a scary guy."
Xiao Muyu’s face paled slightly.
However, Shangguan Qiushui, facing the other’s cold and terrifying gaze, showed no reaction. This was the disparity in their Realms. Wang Yan’s killing intent could greatly affect those weaker than him, but its impact was significantly diminished on those stronger.
As for Ling Chen, with his Sword Intent released, no evil could invade; it could sever ethereal thoughts. Mere killing intent couldn’t faze him in the slightest.
Wang Yan was slightly surprised. Shangguan Qiushui was one thing, as her ranking was higher than his. But what was with this masked fellow? How could he also be unafraid of his killing intent?
Wang Yan’s heart stirred with killing intent towards Ling Chen. Someone unaffected by my killing intent must be a person of strong will. If I kill someone like that, my blade technique and killing intent will surely rise to another level.
This person is too steeped in slaughter; he’s not far from succumbing to Qi deviation.
Ling Chen shook his head. He had just sensed a trace of killing intent from Wang Yan. This person wanted to kill him upon their very first meeting. Such a person had already become a killing machine, teetering on the edge of Qi deviation.
"There are others. Like him, he’s Lei Jian, the Big Disciple of Heavenly Thunder Temple in Thunder Country. He ranks twenty-second on the Heavenly List and is known as the ’Thunderfire Monk.’ His cultivation is also at the Nine Heavy Realm. He’s skilled in thunder-fire Hidden Weapons and saltpeter explosives. He cannot be underestimated."
Shangguan Qiushui pointed from afar at a bald Monk. This young Monk wore a string of thunderfire beads around his neck. Each bead could create an astonishing explosion. The fact that he wore them around his neck was enough to make one’s heart pound in trepidation.
"Huang Shenyi, a True Disciple of Sky Void Palace, ranked seventeenth on the Heavenly List. He’s known as ’Speed Surpassing Dust.’ His Light Skill is superb, always a step ahead, his movements traceless."
"Xu Chenshan, a True Disciple of Myriad Dao Sect, ranked twenty-fifth on the Heavenly List. He excels in the ’Crumbling Mountain Fist’ technique and possesses immense strength. It’s said his strength can reach four thousand catties, a truly astonishing feat."
"Wei Wuhou, a True Disciple of Chiyu Mountain Manor, ranked twenty-sixth on the Heavenly List. His stick fighting is considered matchless; he rarely finds an equal among the younger generation."
PS: These names are quite something! The author needs to sort them out. That’s all for today’s update.