A streak of light zipped through the air like beautiful flowing silk.
The light came to a stop above an old mountain forest and transformed into a ten-foot-long flying carpet!
Numerous rune arrays were densely packed together on the carpet's surface, flowing with light as if they were alive. The runes rhythmically breathed in the surrounding aeth qi, creating a magical and extraordinary sight.
The flying carpet was evidently an extremely valuable tool!
There was a man and woman standing on the carpet.
“First Young Master, why have we stopped?” The woman was puzzled. She wore a black dress, had a slender waist, and had an amazing figure. She had a beautiful oval face and nice black eyebrows. However, a sharp, blade-like aura spread from between her brows.
She was like a wild rose, beautiful yet thorny.
If any influential figure from Donglin City was present, they would certainly recognize this woman. She was Mu Wansu, who was also known as the ‘Black Rose’.
At the same time, she was also the manager of Donglin City’s number one merchant association, Stone Cauldron Alms.
Stone Cauldron Alms was one of the few merchant associations in the Ziyao Empire which had a far-reaching and extensive network. It had branches all over the empire’s territory and boasted wealth that could rival a country.Stone Cauldron Alms’ boss, Fortune God Shi, was a legendary figure in the empire. The wealth he possessed was rumored to have reached an astronomical number that even the powerful imperial clan members envied him.
As someone who could become the Stone Cauldron Alms Donglin City branch manager, Black Rose Mu Wansu was clearly no ordinary person.
However, this very individual was being respectful and deferential towards the man beside her.
“Can’t you tell? A great battle occured here not too long ago.” The man looked down with his hands behind his back.
He had a tall figure with shoulders as broad as a mountain. The lines of his face were strong and bold. When his eyes opened or closed, an aura of disdain would unwittingly flow out which gave a heavy feeling akin to looking at a deep abyss.
The mere sight of him standing there made a person feel an intimidating pressure as if they were looking up at a great mountain.
“A battle…” Mu Wansu’s eyes focused as she took a closer look. Sure enough, she discovered that the mountain forest below had been struck by terrifying destructive power and traces of an earth-shaking battle were revealed one after another.
Amazed, Mu Wansu commented, “First Young Master has excellent observation skills.”
The man she called ‘First Young Master’ did not seem to care about such flattery. He mumbled to himself, “If my guess is correct, the capital’s Black Cloth Alley Xie Clan’s ninth son was one of the fighters. His opponent, however, is quite interesting.”
“The Xie Clan’s ninth son?” A carefree sword-wielding figure in a blue jade gown. appeared in Mu Wansu’s head.
Shocked, she asked, “The capital’s recent rising star who has been praised as the Little Sword Lord, the Xie Clan’s ninth young master?”
“Who else can use the Ruling Sword Art? This sword art has great origins. Despite being rumored to be incomplete, it possesses astonishing and terrifying power that can subdue ghosts and slay gods.”
The first young master’s eyes shone brightly at the topic of martial arts, “It’s a pity that we arrived a little late. We could have had the chance to admire the Ruling Sword Art’s might.”
There was regret in his voice.
Mu Wansu was taken aback as waves churned in her heart. To think that it was the Little Sword Lord Xie Yutang…
The Ziyao Empire was extremely vast. In its capital, which was also known as the Forbidden City, was a very famous alley called Black Cloth Alley.
Practically all of the empire’s most powerful and influential noble clans could be found in Black Cloth Alley.
The Xie Clan was a martial clan with a thousand years of history. It was a powerful clan that had always maintained its territory in Black Cloth Alley.
As one of the Xie Clan’s descendants, Little Sword Lord Xie Yutang was extremely famous and was said to be a first-class cultivation talent. He had shaken the entire Forbidden City when he successfully learned the Ruling Sword Art, turning him into one of the city's rising stars.
After all, no one had managed to comprehend the Ruling Sword Art in nearly a hundred years!
Although Mu Wansu was not from the Forbidden City, as a Stone Cauldron Alms manager, she had naturally heard of this matter. Hence why she was so shocked by the revelation.
“In other words, the Xie Clan’s ninth young master reached the Three Thousand Great Mountains earlier than us?” After Mu Wansu returned to her senses, she soon realized the crux of the issue.
“He must have.” The first young master nodded. “There’s currently no one in the Forbidden City who does not know that the stargazing platform’s Heavenly Overseer has observed a strange phenomenon in the Three Thousand Great Mountains. Rumor says that an exceptional treasure has likely appeared and I believe Xie Yutang has come because of it.”
As he spoke, he frowned and said, “I’m only curious about the identity of Xie Yutang's opponent.”
Mu Wansu contemplated for a while. She took out a map, checked it, and pointed in a certain direction, “There’s a village called Feiyun Village a dozen miles from here. We might be able to find out something there.”
The first young master was surprised, “There are people living in this remote place?”
Mu Wansu smiled, “Before we left, I specially researched anything related to the Three Thousand Great Mountains. That’s how I stumbled upon information that a small Feiyun Fire Copper vein was discovered here years ago.”
As they conversed, the flying carpet was steered towards the direction she had indicated.
Along the way, Mu Wansu explained the history of Feiyun Village, allowing the first young master to understand the village's origins.
Moments later, the two appeared above Feiyun Village.
"No wonder these villagers survived. They've managed to cultivate aeth fields." The first young master displayed a thoughtful look as he observed the fields below.
Soon after, his gaze paused and he pointed towards the eastern side of the village, "There are aeth power undulations there which should belong to a cultivator. Come, let's go over and take a look."
……
It was evening time. Lin Xun had already prepared dinner, which consisted of six large steaming plates of meat and a pot of crystal-like aeth rice.
Lin Xun and Xia Zhi were seated at a table under the willow tree in the yard and were busily eating their dinner.
Only three days remained before the Omega Secret-Realm’s second trial. Lin Xun had no plans to continue training his body. Instead, he was hoping to use these final three days to rest and recover so that he would be in the best condition to take on the trial.
Lin Xun swiftly explained as he ate, "I've roughly summarized the Joint Disruption Art into five main principles: shake, twist, lock, pinpoint and crumble. Of course, this is only an initial organization. As we create more techniques in the future, we will be able to further perfect the art.”
He did not know if Xia Zhi was listening. She was focused on her food as if Lin Xun's words were far less interesting than her meal.
Lin Xun did not appear to be angered by her actions and continued to talk to himself. Learning and summarizing was a habit Lin Xun had picked up from Mister Lu.
It was because Mister Lu never explained anything. Whenever Lin Xun encountered any problems or new findings, he would need to understand, study and make his own conclusions.
Although the martial path was different from runes, it followed the same logic.
As he was speaking, Xia Zhi suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked towards the distant sky. Graveness flashed across the pitch-black gem-like crescent eyes. "Someone is coming."
Lin Xun's heart shivered. A visit from the villagers would never elicit such a reaction from Xia Zhi.
This meant that an outsider had arrived in Feiyun Village!
"Continue eating." Lin Xun considered their options and ultimately decided to meet whatever came at them with an unwavering will.
Xia Zhi made a noise in assent and lowered her head to continue her meal.
"How fragrant." Moments later, a tall, stalwart figure pushed open the gates and invited himself in. He was followed by a lady wearing a black dress. It was the first young master and Mu Wansu.
The first young master scanned the beast meat and skins that were hanging on the walls, before turning to the boy and girl seated at the table located in the center of the yard.
"May I ask who our two guests are?" Secretly shocked, Lin Xun stood up and cupped his hands together. The man’s and woman’s presences were as immeasurable as a bottomless abyss. They were evidently very powerful individuals.
Merely facing them made Lin Xun feel an oppressive pressure.
“Eh, we’re just passing by.” The first young master arrived at the table and lowered his head to look at the six plates of meat. “Blue vine python, jade plume mountain sable, striped tiger…these dishes are nutritious, and it’s been a long time since I’ve last tasted them. No wonder something smelled so fragrant.”
Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed and he suddenly grinned, “Since that’s the case, if the young master doesn’t mind, please sit down and have a taste.”
“I won’t hold myself back then.” The first young master chuckled and sat down. He picked up a pair of chopsticks and began to gorge himself. He certainly was not holding anything back and was treating the place as his own home.
Even Mu Wansu was slightly taken aback, completely not expecting the first young master to show such great interest in the dishes.
What delicacies had someone of his status never eaten before?
Mu Wansu could not understand. She glanced at Lin Xun and relaxed when she saw that he was merely a boy at the True Martial third layer stage.
Although Lin Xun did not know the couple’s goal, he remained calm and did not attempt any little tricks.
However, he would not let his guard down before figuring out their intentions.
“I’m going to sleep.” Xia Zhi suddenly stood up and left.
She had already covered her face with a hat at some unknown time and did not draw much attention from Mu Wansu. She merely took the girl as Lin Xun’s younger sister.
The first young master, however, shot a glance at Xia Zhi’s leaving figure, his brows furrowing almost unnoticeably as if sensing something. In the end, he shook his head and continued to gorge himself on the meat.
Lin Xun took in all of these little details. Upon seeing that there was no special reaction from Xia Zhi, he breathed a sigh of relief inside.
“Young brother, shall we share a cup of wine?” The first young master invited Lin Xun with a smile. A wine pot had appeared in his hand, giving off an intoxicating fragrance.
“Gladly.” Lin Xun smilingly walked forward and sat down. He looked happy and completely at ease.
Mu Wansu could not help but look at Lin Xun again as surprise flashed in her eyes. Only a handful of people could maintain such composure in front of the first young master.
It was even more incredible for someone like Lin Xun, who was merely a boy from a poor and remote village, to act like this.