NABC Page 233
Page 233
A psychological offensive, stirring up all the myriad paths of creation.
With a two-pronged approach, the battle should have been won quickly.
However, the leader in purple fought desperately, exchanging injuries for injuries and even his life for a life.
Xiao Aoshi was unwilling to perish together with him, and was temporarily restrained.
After half an hour of fierce fighting, the purple-robed leader exhausted his true energy.
Xiao Aoshi seized the opportunity and unleashed a powerful attack that struck his mind, causing him to lose his spirit.
With his true energy depleted and his consciousness scattered, the purple-robed leader fell heavily to the ground.
Just as Xiao Aoshi was about to take his head, a thought suddenly occurred to him:
"This old fellow is already crippled, so we might as well spare his life and present him with the Azure Dragon Peak to the Great Dragon Head!"
He had secretly witnessed the purple-robed leader nearly severely injure Dugu Qiubai, so he was not in a hurry to kill him now.
"Old man, wait here. Once I've caught your son, I'll take you all up the mountain!"
With his hands behind his back, Xiao Aoshi stepped through the air and sped off in the direction Xiong Ba had fled.
Blood trickled from the corner of the purple-robed leader's mouth, his breath weak, and he could only helplessly watch Xiao Aoshi's figure gradually disappear into the distance.
"Alas! Ba'er, I hope you can receive protection from that person at the Zhonghua Pavilion and save your life!"
Just as the leader in purple was losing focus and preparing to close his eyes to regulate his breathing, another figure appeared on the top of the Tianshan Mountain, which had been razed to the ground.
Although this person was dressed in a monk's robe, there was a hint of ferocity in his eyes.
His figure moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived beside the purple-clad leader.
"Amitabha Buddha, the time has finally come."
"Purple-robed leader, our fates are intertwined; let us become one today!"
After saying this, the strange monk stretched out his arm to the leader in purple, and countless eerie runes appeared on his arm.
These runes rose into the air, completely enveloping the purple-robed leader and him.
On the other side, Xiong Ba staggered down Tianshan Mountain.
After changing his clothes and getting his bearings, he headed straight for the Zhonghua Pavilion.
In Yunzhou, Zhonghua Pavilion is a renowned restaurant.
Many heroes from the martial arts world come here to taste the fine wine.
Only a very few people know that the mastermind behind the Zhonghua Pavilion is none other than "Heavenly Sword" Wuming.
Although Xiong Ba had long heard of the name of Zhonghua Pavilion, he did not know that Wuming was living in seclusion there.
He didn't understand why the leader in purple had risked his life to let him escape to the Zhonghua Pavilion for help.
But looking across Yunzhou at this moment, this is probably the only place that can save him.
Despite his injuries, Xiong Ba continued to channel his inner energy and used his lightness skill to speed away.
About an hour later, he finally arrived at the entrance of the Zhonghua Pavilion.
It was late at night, and the once bustling Zhonghua Pavilion had already closed.
On any other day, Xiong Ba would have broken down the door.
Chapter 177 Serious Injury
But at this moment, he was seriously injured and had come seeking help, so he could only gently knock on the door:
"Shopkeeper, shopkeeper..."
"Who goes there?" came the reply from inside the house.
"I was robbed on the road and fled here. I hope the shopkeeper will be lenient with me," Xiong Ba said earnestly.
The people of Zhonghua Pavilion either took refuge here because of unsung kindness or were influenced by it and chose to live in seclusion here.
Whether they were shopkeepers or employees, they were all once people from the martial arts world.
Upon hearing this, the waiter felt pity.
The door opened with a thud, revealing Xiong Ba's face ashen and his life hanging by a thread.
Seeing his earnestness, they let him into the Zhonghua Pavilion.
"How should I address you? Who are you with?"
After Xiong Ba took his seat, the waiter served him hot tea, and the shopkeeper rushed over to inquire.
"Under..."
Xiong Ba hesitated for a moment, unwilling to reveal his real name, and was about to make up a fake name to cover it up.
"Zhonghua Pavilion?"
Suddenly, a cold, arrogant voice came from outside; he had caught up with them and arrived here.
"Do you think you can escape this calamity by hiding in the Zhonghua Pavilion?"
Xiao Aoshi, who once held the Xuanhua brand, was very knowledgeable about the affairs of Yunzhou.
How could he not know the ins and outs of Zhonghua Pavilion?
"A legend in the martial arts world," the "Heavenly Sword" remains nameless!
As Xiao Sanxiao's best friend, he is a genius that the Sword Sect has only seen once in a century.
Nameless is indeed a worthy opponent!
But arrogance and self-confidence do not necessarily mean defeat!
Moreover, Xiong Ba dominated Yunzhou and slaughtered countless people.
Countless innocent people have lost their lives at his hands.
Why would someone like Wuming protect such a villain?
"Everyone, the newcomer's martial arts are unfathomable! You must flee for your lives!"
Despite being severely injured, Xiong Ba was still able to discern the cultivation levels of everyone in the pavilion.
Looking around, there was not a single person who had reached the realm of a terrestrial immortal.
With such strength, let alone saving him, he could easily kill him even if he made a move right now.
But his father was telling the truth and would never deceive him.
There must be a master in this Zhonghua Pavilion who can save me.
Therefore, the usually ruthless Xiong Ba pretended to be benevolent at this moment.
None of the people in the pavilion knew what he was thinking.
Upon hearing this, the waiter felt a surge of admiration.
Seeing Xiao Aoshi's arrogance again, he immediately drew his sword and confronted Xiong Badao.
"Rest assured, once you're inside the Zhonghua Pavilion, no one can touch you in the slightest."
Having said that, he recklessly went out to meet them, sword in hand.
"Who goes there? And what brings this guest here?"
The waiter pointed a knife at Xiao Aoshi and questioned him sharply.
Xiao Aoshi almost burst out laughing. How dare a mere Grandmaster-level soldier draw his blade against him?
"Nameless! Is this how you discipline your subordinates?"
Although he was not afraid of being unknown, Xiao Aoshi did not want to immediately break off relations, so he immediately gathered his energy and sent a telepathic message into the pavilion.
Suddenly, the sound of an erhu arose, and countless white birds flew in formation in the sky.
Finally, several birds arranged themselves into two delicate Chinese characters to the melody of the erhu.
"All show and no substance!"
He scoffed at the world's indifference, yet was secretly astonished by the nameless man's cultivation level.
Being able to mobilize the primordial energy of heaven and earth with one's own true energy already makes one a top expert in the Supreme Mythical Realm.
The fact that Wuming could use the music of his zither to control birds demonstrates the high level of his skill.
332 The Struggle of Swordsmanship
With a flick of his sleeve, Xiao Aoshi sent a gust of wind swirling and knocked the waiter to the ground.
He swayed and stepped straight into the Zhonghua Pavilion.
At this time, Xiong Ba had been led into the backyard room.
Upon seeing Xiao Aoshi arrive, the shopkeeper hurriedly stepped forward:
"Honored guest, please follow me. The host is waiting for you in the inner room."
With a proud and confident stride, he followed the directions to a quiet courtyard.
Pushing open the carved wooden door, they found Xiong Ba kneeling in front of an elegant room.
Inside, a man in white, holding an erhu, sat.
It was none other than the nameless "Heavenly Sword"!
"Xiong Ba! A dignified and powerful figure, how could he stoop so low just to save his own life?"
Instead of immediately greeting Wuming, Xiao Aoshi first mocked Xiong Ba.
Xiong Ba seemed not to hear, and remained kneeling on the ground.
"Senior, please help me!"
Seeing that the two had arrived, Wuming put down his erhu.
He got up and went into the courtyard, helping Xiong Ba to his feet:
"Though you are incompetent, the court has been corrupt and incompetent in recent years."
"If it weren't for the World Society maintaining order, countless more lives would have been lost in Yunzhou."
"But your fate has run its course, and your ambitions have come to naught."
"Saving you today is not difficult; all you need to do is cripple your martial arts and retreat to the mountains."
"I can guarantee your safety, what do you say?"
Xiong Ba was taken aback upon hearing this.
Who would have thought that the "Heavenly Sword," who was renowned throughout the martial arts world, would have such a compassionate heart?
But if one can save their life, what do martial arts skills and power matter?
"As long as I can spend the rest of my life peacefully with my daughter, Youruo..."
"This empire, this unparalleled martial arts—all can be cast aside."
After saying this, he raised both palms to the sky, and his true energy transformed into a stream of light that shot straight into the clouds.
Xiong Ba lost all his true energy and collapsed weakly to the ground.
With a gentle flick of his finger, Wuming led him into the room and settled him in a chair to rest.
"'Boss,' Xiong Ba is dead. Can this matter end here?"
Having dealt with Xiong Ba, Wuming turned to look at Xiao Aoshi.
Xiao Aoshi, who had been observing the world with a cold eye, suddenly burst into laughter upon hearing this, and the laughter lingered for a long time.
"Nameless, do you think I'm as pedantic as you?"
"Besides, who told you I came to rid the martial arts world of Yunzhou of this menace?"
"All I want is Xiong Ba's head."
"Whether he is good or evil, whether he has lost all his martial arts skills or not, I will take his head today without a doubt."
Nameless looked astonished and asked in a deep voice: