Chapter 88: Jadewave of the Joint Pools (1)
"They're all in my Hidden Dragon Legion." Appearing to see Xu Yangyi's mood, Chu Zhaonan said straightforwardly: "Mingshui Province's Branchmaster Thousandedge has received the Black Kill Order."
The Black Kill Order!
Xu Yangyi's gaze suddenly glimmered. Naturally he knew what this was, however, never did he expect by any stretch it was actually this thing!
The Black Kill Order. Any traitorous cultivator and any cultivator of any race who abandoned the Great Dao would be named on the list of the Black Kill Order. It could be said the Black Kill Order was the highest ranking! It also the list of the most evil and terrible figures!
It had no conflict with the Heavenly Demon Ranking. The Heavenly Demon Ranking was arranged by strength, however, the bounty behind was of the Black Kill Order's publishing! Any cultivator on the Black Kill Order wouldn't know rest until death, an indefinite period without limit!
"Who issued it?" Xu Yangyi clenched his teeth and calmed his mood, and he asked heavily.
Chu Zhaonan looked at the starlight of the heavens and said after ages: "Brother Xu, don't you know… besides the CSIB, there is one other way to issue the Black Kill Order…"
Xu Yangyi extinguished the butt of his cigarette between his fingers and looked at Chu Zhaonan, his gaze like a sword: "By the name of a Core Formation cultivator?"
Chu Zhaonan pursed his lips and nodded.
Everything became clear… As if a streak of light had flashed through Xu Yangyi's mind, all connected together.
It was no wonder Chu Zhaonan was urgently searching for him.
No surprise the government had erased his existence.
No mystery that Thousandedge had taken action.
No question that even in death, the three scouts dared not to speak of their orders.
There was a Core Formation master, the apex of the world, that had issued a Black Kill Order to the entire cultivation world! Kill on sight! If he's alive, I want to see a person! If he's dead, I want to see a corpse!
"Who is it?" He vanquished the killing intent that surfaced in his heart and questioned coldly.
"Daomaster Floatingcloud." Chu Zhaonan looked straight into his eyes: "This time, Daomaster Floatingcloud only issued it to the disciples of his sect. Altogether, it's three branch masters of the Featherwood Guard, five branch masters of Heavens Law, a vice minister of a CSIB branch, and a regional chairman of the Bountiful Treasures Pavilion. They… are all Foundation Establishment seniors. Among them, Senior Primejewel of the Bountiful Treasures Pavilion is already at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment."*
"Presently, the Vermilion Snow incident has yet to be settled. However, once a few years pass, after waiting on the Vermilion Snow event, its influence has continued to die down…" He didn't continue speaking and shifted topics: "In these couple years, it's been no more than the blink of an eye for cultivators of our generation."
Xu Yangyi shut his eyes. The pursuit of ten Foundation Establishment cultivators and one Core Formation cultivator! However, the next words caused him to open his eyes.
"Because you possess an Emperor Armament in your hands." Chu Zhaonan looked at his watch and said faster: "Brother Xu, besides these people, no one else knows you've been named on the Black Kill Order! The other regions do not possess this warrant. After you came out from the spatial crack, it was the best result for you to be in Mingshui Province. Even if Thousandedge wishes to kill you, I've already requested the personnel of the cultivation courts to keep an eye out in Panshan City. So long as he's not scared of falling out of grace and ruining his future prospects, this place is temporarily secure."
He looked deeply at Xu Yangyi: "But… this safety is in no way long. The exchange of benefits between Core Formation masters isn't something we are able to participate in. Brother Xu, your time… is rather tight."
Xu Yangyi's gaze glimmered and only after a while did he say: "You know of the Emperor Armament?"
"On that day, Heavens Law recorded all video." Chu Zhaonan looked at his watch: "Not good, I've stayed here long. Perhaps I've drawn Thousandedge's suspicions. I have to leave. Brother Xu, Daomaster Floatingcloud still dares not to take brazen action against you for the moment. He doesn't wish for the other Dao Masters to know you have an Emperor Armament in your hands. You must grasp certainty in these times!"
"As soon as Daomaster Floatingcloud's exchange of benefits is completed, it will be the time when all of humanity's cultivators erase your mark…"
Before he finished speaking, he took a key and stuffed it in Xu Yangyi's hand. "Later on, there'll be someone waiting for you. Take the thing in your hand and use this key to open it."
"Lastly… never ever tell anyone you have an Emperor Armament."
"I must go." Chu Zhaonan stood up and passed over a cell phone: "I have paid back what I owed you. In the future…" He paused and said seriously: "I WILL meet you." He extended his fist.
"Naturally." In the air, the fists of the two silently bumped.
"Vermilion Snow…" In the next second, the duo said the same name simultaneously, yet at the same time, they held their tongues.
After a brief moment, Xu Yangyi gazed at the other resolutely: "Leave her to me."
"I promised Firecloud, that I, Xu Yangyi, for the rest of my days, shall behead this demon."
Chu Zhaonan nodded, and Xu Yangyi tossed him a pendant: "Find the woman in this photograph for me."
"Your lover?" Chu Zhaonan tucked the photo into his pocket.
"No." Xu Yangyi shook his head: "Only a promise."
Even though Chu Zhaonan left, Xu Yangyi didn't depart. Their meeting was too abrupt, but tremendously important, as well. He needed time to arrange his thoughts.
He took drags of cigarette upon cigarette, and the farming path became covered with cigarette butts. Eventually, he raised his head, looking at the stars in the sky. Despite the night wind that blew on his hair, he murmured: "Because of Heavens Law's recording, the desire of a Core Formation master was roused. As for the Unrivaled Beneath the Heavens Arena established by Daomaster Floatingcloud, he was most certainly the first to arrive at the scene, thus, he issued me a kill order."
"It's not limited to this… It's quite possible all of Heavens Law's avatar's data was intercepted by him."
"Emperor Armament… In the end, what are you? You're actually able to draw Daomaster Floatingcloud's kind of status to personally dispose of me?"
He grew silent, and an impatience appeared by the utmost chance within his heart. Nonetheless, it swiftly abated.
"Soon… I will know of your true identity…" He took a deep drag of his cigarette and narrowed his eyes at the smoke that scattered in wake with the wind: "Master Decrypter Jadewave, huh? Don't disappoint me." He continued to gather his thoughts.
He thought of why Chu Zhaonan had found him. Listening to his good will, he and Thousandedge were already considered at arms against each other. However, the cultivation world couldn't get involved with local government affairs. That was to say...
If Thousandedge wanted to transfer the entirety of Mingshui Province's surveillance, he would have to go through the consent of Chu Zhaonan's old man!
"Chu Tianyi…" In his mind, a fairly lucid silhouette emerged in his mind, and he laughed. The person who obstructed his advancement back then ought to have been him… but, he held no great hatred towards Chu Tianyi. On the contrary, he was respectful.
A mortal, an ordinary person, in a situation of several thousand Qi Condensation cultivators fleeing in disorder, was able to stand together along the other Foundation Establishment cultivators with his strength that couldn't even truss a chicken, directly in the face of life or death. Not to speak whether he was right or wrong in the fierce protection of his heir, this unswerving cardinal righteousness brought Xu Yangyi's considerable admiration.
Because of Chu Zhaonan's father who was taught by Chu Tianyi, by all rights, Thousandedge was rejected.
And so… as he left the city walls, perhaps he had been discovered by the Chu Clan who was strictly paying attention to each stirring of water in Mingshui Province. He dimly remembered the words he once heard Hu Jiaojiao and the rest had said. Her big brother was hurrying on his way. Pondering this, it was Chu Zhaonan coming at that time. Although this outing possessed a few minor twists and turns, it was connected to his own true foundation, causing him to understand his situation. This significance wasn't minor to the slightest degree in comparison to decrypting the small chest!
All problems concluded here. There was only a single question, the most grave and seemingly the most difficult to come to a decision, across from him.
"Do I leave?" He took a deep drag of his cigarette. He hesitated for a brief moment, however, it was a mere two minutes. His gaze had already turned staunch. Hesitation wasn't whether to abandon humanity. To pragmatists, there was no giving up or not, only if something was of use!
Xu Yangyi's hesitation was whether or not to leave Daomaster Floatingcloud with a vestige worthy of remembrance for an entire lifetime before he moved!
The heavens never severed a man's path. Even if it was the secret Black Kill Order of a Core Formation master and even if he was only at Qi Condensation at the present, he equivalently possessed a unique superiority!
Fear.
Fear regarding the Emperor Armament. The fear of the Emperor Armament harbored on his person! This was his greatest support right now!
Daomaster Floatingcloud… Before settling the checks and balances of the other powers against him, he wouldn't dare to pierce the heavens with this matter because he himself desired to wield the Emperor Armament as its sole controller!
The words that Chu Zhaonan possessed were quite interesting… He narrowed his eyes, "Apart from these people, none are aware you have been named on the Black Kill Order. The other regions do not have your warrant."
In the midst of this… so long as he was courageous enough, his operating space was actually incredibly great! Once succeeded, there was a possibility he would immediately be put on the entire nation's wanted list! His bounty even so high that it would cause people to be speechless!
That, however… was truly an audacity that shrouded the heavens! As this thought arose, it could be settled no longer. In his mind, it rolled like a wave of fire. He almost didn't give any additional consideration and immediately cemented this thought.
If you shall be so heartless, then I will not speak of any civility at all.
He was silent. Within his mind, this insane scheme began to build to completion bit by bit.
"You will regret…" After ages, he sneered as he stood up: "Even if I'm going to run, the item promised to me that year should be regarded, as well."
"That, with my status as the human cultivator Xu Yangyi, is an item that I seized, which ought to belong in my possession."
No worries… There was still enough time. Presently, even a minute couldn't be squandered, but… a minute could not be rushed! A single misstep, errors at each pace. The more urgent, the greater the possibility a result would not be attained!
Success was taken from the midst of details, and riches and honor were sought from within danger. This plan was going to be a walk on a fearless, insane, extremely careful, and difficult path. Any fraction of a deviation, and he could possibly fall of this tightrope.
"Right now…" He looked at the night sky dotted with a multitude of stars and said icily: "The true identity of the Emperor Armament is the crux of all of my plans."
"Floatingcloud knows, yet I don't. With the enemy in darkness and myself in the light, this is the strategist's principal dread. Everything must be known about what the Emperor Armament is first."
"Floatingcloud, you face me, an insignificant Qi Condensation cultivator, yet you dare not to kill first and ask questions later with great courage. A benefit that stirs the entire pool with a single ripple, eh…" "He sneered at this and whistled towards the sky: "I view you as important."
Finished speaking these words, he freely returned to the highway. Arriving at the side of his car, the other car had long left, yet he discovered there were two more people. It wasn't Hu Jiaojiao, but rather the young man who had left the earliest.
"Mr. Xu." An enthusiastic expression covered the young man's face, and he approached and grasped Xu Yangyi's hand, firmly shaking it: "I've long since heard Boss Chu mention you. It is today that we meet each other at last. I didn't expect that even in front of me, I wouldn't recognize you. I must apologize for this matter first of all. I enabled Hu Jiaojiao to make a mess of things… I truly am embarrassed. In the future, Mr. Xu's business is I, Zhao Yuanjing's business."
"You are?" Xu Yangyi laughed. These people ought to have been Chu Zhaonan's acquaintances. By the look of it, Chu Zhaonan had talked to these people as he departed.
* Primejewel. I am unsure if this is a Daoist title or actually a name. But I will just roll with this for now. The entire Chinese word is also considered a "gold or silver ingot".