Chapter 446: Who Am I?
In the desolate wilderness, far from any human habitation,
Bang!
Bang!
Earth Core Stones erupted from the ground, their formation patterns glowing crimson. Silken threads of energy snaked outward, intertwining with others to form a network of chains that bound the five prefectural cities together.
From above, the scene resembled a colossal, dark-red wheel lying on the ground, its crimson glow flowing between the spokes with an eerie, demonic beauty.
The cultivators trapped within Qianzhou City had no time to admire the spectacle. Figures soared into the air, converging on Xu Sanyan, who hovered in mid-air.
Anyone could see who was behind this chaos. They believed that killing Xu Sanyan would naturally resolve the crisis.
Xu Sanyan stood with arms outstretched, bathed in the crimson light. His green robes were dyed a kaleidoscope of colors by the red glow. With eyes half-lidded, he calmly observed the approaching figures. Far from panic, a faint smile curled his lips.
But the smile no longer held its former shyness; instead, it carried a hint of mockery.
“Lord Li, Uncle Qin, Lord Jiang, Lord Zhao… Oh, and Commander He too. It’s been a while. How have you all been?”
Though more figures flew in, Xu Sanyan only remembered these few.
“Hmph! Who are you really? And what kind of formation is this?” Prefect Jiang had no patience for pleasantries. His eyes burned with murderous intent, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
“You’re definitely not Junior Brother Liang!” Shan Qiuyu declared, his voice tight with anger. He knew that not only they, but even his father had been deceived. It was precisely because of Shan Zhoushan’s endorsement that Xu Sanyan had so easily infiltrated the upper echelons of Qianzhou City.
Associate Magistrate Qin seethed with hatred. He had been the most thoroughly duped, nearly pushing his daughter into the tiger’s den while also losing a million spirit stones—almost completely outmaneuvered.
Despite his burning rage, his expression remained calm. “I misjudged you, it seems. To think I’d be outwitted at my age. Your cunning is unparalleled. We deserved to lose.”
Xu Sanyan smiled modestly. “Hehe, Uncle, you flatter me. I’ll be more careful in my next life.”
“Next life? Hahahaha…” Commander He roared with laughter. “You think you’ll live to see another day?”
As the commander responsible for defending the city, he had allowed someone to tamper with the defenses right under his nose. Even if he killed Xu Sanyan, he wouldn’t escape accountability.
Below, Qin Shutong gazed up at the sky, a nameless emotion churning within her. Was it pain? Or sorrow?
Perhaps it was bone-deep grief…
Everything had been a lie. The heroic rescue on the arena was a lie, the playful banter and teasing were lies, even that ambiguous feeling between them had been a lie.
Tears welled in Qin Shutong’s beautiful eyes as her romantic illusions shattered completely. She couldn’t comprehend why such evil people existed in the world, taking pleasure in manipulating others’ emotions. And why, of all people, had she encountered one?
Jiang Yun’er also watched the scene with mixed feelings. She didn’t share Qin Shutong’s emotional depth, having never truly fallen in love. Still, she pitied the young man. Why would he willingly seek death?
Jiang Yun’er didn’t believe he could survive the onslaught of so many powerful experts.
Li Wuxing, however, wasn’t as optimistic. He knew that someone who willingly revealed himself must be well-prepared, and they had no idea what the Great Formation was capable of.
“Who exactly are you?!” Shan Qiuyu demanded coldly.
His heartbreak was no less than Qin Shutong’s. He knew his father had placed great hopes on this junior brother, even imparting all his skills, only to be betrayed.
Perhaps “betrayal” wasn’t the right word. “Deception” would be more accurate, for they had never truly been on the same path.
Since they were willing to chat, Xu Sanyan obliged. After all, time was on his side; it would take a while for the Great Formation to fully activate.
“Me?” Xu Sanyan tilted his head, glancing northward toward the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect. “I’ve had quite a few identities. I was once the ruler of a fallen kingdom, the holy son of the demonic sect, and even the son-in-law of the Wang Family of Luan Yun Mountain…”
“Oh, right, I was also your junior brother.”
“You’re not worthy to be my junior brother!” Shan Qiuyu spat coldly.
“Heh…”
Li Wuxing’s eyes flickered as his mind raced. This man was once the holy son of the demonic sect?
Suddenly, he recalled the opening of the Hundred Saints Secret Realm two years prior. The greatest victor had been a holy son of the demonic sect named Xu Sanyan.
Yet afterward, Xu Sanyan had vanished without a trace. The Qian Kingdom had even dispatched search parties to the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, but they found nothing, losing a void harmony realm expert and Princess Zheyun in the process.
Li Wuxing’s voice deepened, each word measured and deliberate. “Could it be… you are that holy son of the demonic sect, Xu Sanyan?”
“Oh? You’ve heard my story too?” Xu Sanyan smiled, turning his head slightly surprised. Even in this remote corner of the world, someone knows my name?
It’s him!
Li Wuxing’s gaze burned into Xu Sanyan, then shifted to the large banner-wrapped bundle behind him. This must be the secret realm fruit that everyone covets.
“What? It’s him!”
“He dares to show his face?”
The crowd erupted in astonishment. They never expected this man, instead of hiding, would brazenly stroll into the city. Such audacity!
“Enough talk! Let’s strike together and eliminate him quickly. The longer we delay, the worse it will be for us!” Prefect Jiang declared, his gaze fixed on the darkening barrier above. He suspected Xu Sanyan was deliberately stalling for time and resolved not to let him succeed.
Before Prefect Jiang’s words had even finished echoing, Li Wuxing struck first. He had been waiting for the perfect moment to launch a surprise attack. Against such demonic heretics, Jianghu ethics were irrelevant.
“Kill!”
Whoosh—
A dark streak pierced the air, appearing beside Xu Sanyan in the blink of an eye. The razor-sharp edge made his skin tingle with a faint pain. Li Wuxing’s opening move was a lethal strike, executed with ruthless cunning.
Simultaneously, Prefect Jiang and Associate Magistrate Qin moved into action.
Prefect Jiang’s fingers curled into a complex hand seal. Behind him, azure light coalesced into the nascent form of a colossal palm. With a forceful thrust of his hand, the massive palm surged forward, carrying overwhelming destructive force.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Associate Magistrate Qin formed a sword gesture with two fingers. A wisp of golden light materialized above his head, solidifying into a radiant golden sword. The single blade multiplied into two, then four, and so on…
In the blink of an eye, a torrential rain of golden swords filled the sky, dyeing even the crimson barrier below a brilliant gold.
“Golden Sword Art!”
The three cultivators, all at the Peak Stage of Soul Refinement, unleashed their combined might, creating an awe-inspiring display that struck fear into the hearts of onlookers.
Countless residents of the city craned their necks to witness the epic battle unfolding above. Such clashes between great cultivators were rare sights. Even Jiang Yun’er, the prefect’s daughter, hadn’t seen her father in action for years.
“Ah, what a pointless struggle…”
Qin Shutong gazed at Xu Sanyan, who was now surrounded and under attack, her heart still filled with pity. She couldn’t understand how things had escalated to this point.
“Hahahaha… Bring it on!”
Xu Sanyan threw back his head and roared with laughter, his eyes burning with fierce battle intent, showing not a trace of fear.
(End of the Chapter)