Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 218: The River of the Underworld Surges

This was the first time that Zhao Changhe was genuinely facing someone on the Ranking of Man.

Despite the considerable gap between them, he surprisingly did not feel nervous at all, unlike when he faced Wang Daozhong and sweat profusely.

After all, Wang Daozhong was someone on the Ranking of Earth.

Perhaps it was because he had encounters with characters on the Ranking of Earth so often... He had already once aimed a bow at the seventh-ranked He Lei, while having many encounters with the fourth-ranked Vermillion Bird, the third-ranked Tang Wanzhuang, as well as Gui Chen, who was ranked among the twenties.

Furthermore, he had even been teasing the daughter of the man ranked ninth on the Ranking of Heaven in an ice cave the night before last.

Due to all this, those on the Ranking of Man did not intimidate him that much, especially considering that the man before him was only ranked seventieth, toward the bottom of the rankings—even lower than Yue Hongling, for that matter. Subconsciously, he deemed the opponent to be not much different from when Yue Hongling had yet to break through.

In fact, Situ Xiao was also at around this level, and Yuan Xing, with his ability to block arrows with the golden bell, was quite formidable himself. If the Ranking of Man extended to hold slightly beyond a hundred people, these two could probably make it onto the ranking, with their rankings not being too far behind.

It felt like just the two of them would have been able to hold their own against Fa Qing, and their chances of defeating Fa Qing further increased with the addition of Zhao Changhe. As long as none of them hesitated or acted cowardly, then they would be fine. If one of them showed the slightest hesitation and resorted to defensive measures after a feigned attack, however, they would soon begin to be taken down one by one.

With this in mind, they proceeded right away.

Fa Qing was no longer holding back. His jiedao shot out like lightning, aiming straight for Zhao Changhe’s throat.

Zhao Changhe could not discern whether it was a feint or a real attack, but it did not matter. He neither flinched nor evaded. Instead, he even swung Dragon Bird more fiercely at Fa Qing, aiming straight for his bald head.

As it turned out, Fa Qing really thought that he could use Zhao Changhe as a breakaway, feinting a strike at him to force him to retreat so that he could then deal with Situ Xiao who was attacking him from behind.

However, Zhao Changhe moved so boldly and fiercely that he was forced back. After all, how could he be willing to exchange blows with the young man? If they even traded injuries, it would not be worth it for him!

Fa Qing broke out in a cold sweat. He urgently stopped his jiedao and dodged to the side, crashing into Yuan Xing as he did so. At the same time, the jiedao in his hand swept toward the heavy sword behind him as he shouted, “Give it up!”

It was the Lion’s Roar Technique!

Different from the traditional Lion’s Roar of Buddhism, Fa Qing’s Lion’s Roar Technique incorporated the spiritual arts of the Maitreya Cult. He knew that the Divine Brilliance Sect was weak in this aspect. He believed that as long as he could momentarily stun Situ Xiao with this roar, he could knock the heavy sword away and go for the kill.

To his dismay, although Situ Xiao’s eyes briefly showed confusion, he was not significantly affected. Their blades clashed, but the heavy sword remained as steady as a mountain. He even managed to counterattack using the impact from the earlier collision, unleashing a move that seemed to be accompanied by roaring wind and thunder. Fa Qing felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him!

Yuan Xing’s staff struck at Fa Qing’s back, while Zhao Changhe’s Dragon Bird swept toward him once more, this time aimed at his throat!

Fa Qing repeatedly misjudged the situation, instantly falling into an extremely dire situation. He could not figure out what was going on!

Fortunately, he was still someone on the Ranking of Man at the end of the day. He was incomparable to ordinary people.

In an instant, Fa Qing’s robes billowed, and the staff that struck his back was deflected using qi, bouncing off of him without causing any harm. Meanwhile, his jiedao suddenly bloomed like a lotus platform, its blades resembling flower petals as they scattered around.

Maitreya’s Pure Land, White Lotus Descends!

The heavy sword and broad saber simultaneously struck the “flower petals,” which then caused Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe to grunt in unison as they were forced back together.

This was the result of the gap in their cultivation. They could not withstand the power of Fa Qing’s ultimate technique.

Among them, Zhao Changhe was forced back further, his foot even stepping on the edge of the eaves.

Fa Qing heaved a sigh of relief. He swept his jiedao again, intending to deal with Yuan Xing first.

Clack!

Zhao Changhe’s foot stomped on the edge of the eaves, directly breaking it off. He then rebounded with the force, Dragon Bird gleaming with a vivid blood-red and violent light.

In the blink of an eye, even before Situ Xiao could launch a counterattack, Zhao Changhe was already upon Fa Qing again.

Fa Qing never expected for the most proactive and formidable opponent among the three to be Zhao Changhe, who seemingly had the lowest level of cultivation among them. However, it made sense in a way. Neither Yue Xing nor Situ Xiao’s styles were primarily offensive, whereas Zhao Changhe’s fighting style was. He thus took the forefront whenever he could.

Moreover, Zhao Changhe’s cultivation was not as low as everyone believed.

He cultivated both internal and external arts, using the Six Harmonies Art to assist the Vicious Blood Art. His widened meridians could now withstand a more intense transfer of qi, allowing for greater bursts of power. The power he could exert at the martial gathering earlier was already far beyond his level in the past, and now, he had only grown stronger. His abilities now were no longer like when he had intervened in the fight between Yue Hongling and Chi Li when he only dared to throw his saber from a distance.

A single solid strike from Dragon Bird could be fatal to Fa Qing!

As Fa Qing forced Yuan Xing back with a strike of his jiedao and parried Zhao Changhe’s Dragon Bird, Situ Xiao’s heavy sword came in again.

Then, when he managed to force back Situ Xiao, Zhao Changhe struck again.

The more Fa Qing fought, the more uneasy he felt.

The strikes from Dragon Bird were getting faster and stronger. Before, with just two strikes against Zhao Changhe, Fa Qing could easily push him back several steps. But as they continued fighting, the number of steps he could force Zhao Changhe to retreat decreased. Moreover, the frequency of Zhao Changhe’s relentless attacks increased, becoming more intense and overwhelming each time!

What kind of ultimate technique is this?!

Fa Qing realized that he could not let Zhao Changhe continue to build up momentum. If he was left to his own devices, who knew if he could eventually unleash a strike that could take Fa Qing down!

However, he could not interrupt the onslaught, and there was no way for him to finish off Zhao Changhe quickly.

Situ Xiao was as steady as a mountain, while Yuan Xing was as firm as a diamond. The two formed an almost impenetrable barrier. Fa Qing could only free up one hand at a time to push one of them back, but the other would immediately block his path again. How was he to target Zhao Changhe with all his strength?

The bloodthirsty light emanating from Dragon Bird became increasingly fierce and violent, the surging tides it brought resembling a sea of blood!

Fa Qing found himself struggling more and more, and he realized that if he did not break free from this encirclement soon, he might really just die here!

Fortunately, it was not too late for him to make a break for it.

Just then, Wang Daoning’s leisurely voice came from within the Wang Clan, “Wonderful sword art... What’s its name?”

Yes, it was a sword art.

Zhao Changhe responded, “This sword art is called Primordial Slaughter! The river of the underworld surges!”

A sea of blood accompanies Primordial Slaughter, the deepest level of the underworld, a sword of slaughter.

Zhao Changhe looks like a hero, but why does he only learn demonic arts?

“It’s an incredible sword art,” Wang Daoning said. “Do give me some face and cease your battle for now. Let us all go inside for a drink.”

Zhao Changhe hesitated for a moment, and then he stopped his saber mid-swing.

Situ Xiao glanced at him and also lowered his sword.

Fa Qing and Yuan Xing’s weapons clashed one last time before they both stopped as well.

Fa Qing found that cold sweat had broken out on his back... He really had not expected the battle to escalate to this extent. Yuan Xing and Situ Xiao were one thing; their stability and defensive capabilities were expected. However, Zhao Changhe was truly unexpected. His combat power was far beyond what he had initially thought it to be. He now thought that it was not strange that Zhao Changhe had been able to cut down Fa Sheng at the entrance to their camp, even in the midst of others.

Fortunately, this guy ultimately does not dare to defy the Wang Clan or go against someone on the Ranking of Heaven.

We cannot allow him to live. If he continues to grow unchecked, I can’t even begin to imagine the possible consequences! When I return this time, I must report this to the cult leader. The first order of business for the Maitreya Cult is to eliminate Zhao Changhe. The danger he poses far surpasses even that of Tang Wanzhuang!

As this thought flashed through Fa Qing’s mind, he sheathed his jiedao, cupped his hand, and said, “I had no intention of causing trouble in front of the Wang Clan. I apologize to Mister Wang Daoning for this. I came here for...”

Before he could finish speaking, a bloodthirsty light erupted beside him!

Fa Qing’s hair stood on end as he urgently drew his jiedao to defend himself.

At the same time, a furious shout came from the Wang Clan, “You dare?!”

An unparalleled sword qi rushed out from within the Wang Clan, trying to intercept the bloody light.

But with the distance between them, how could it possibly make it in time?

Fa Qing, who had just sheathed his jiedao, relaxed his guard, and was in the middle of paying his respects, was unable to react in time.

As soon as he got to pull his jiedao out, the light had already reached his neck.

It was the same violent sword art as before that had compounded in speed and strength repeatedly. Rather than continuing to rampage like a wild wolf, the force was concentrated into a single strike, and the force it carried seemed to have the power to tear a rift within the river of the underworld.

A soul is demanded, and ten thousand cry!

What kind of move is this now?!

Clang!

Dragon Bird viciously struck Fa Qing’s jiedao, causing it to snap in two.

Despite being caught off guard, Fa Qing, being someone on the Ranking of Man, still managed to use the short instance to retreat. With a slight tilt of his body, he managed to avoid the strike to his throat.

Then, Situ Xiao used a strange drunken step and positioned himself behind Fa Qing.

Fa Qing: “?”

Just as Fa Qing tilted his head around, Dragon Bird accurately struck his neck, causing his head to fly up into the air.

It was only then that the sword qi launched from the Wang Clan struck Zhao Changhe, who barely blocked it and spurted out a mouthful of blood. Then, he laughed and flew backward several zhang. “Thank you for the assistance, Clan Head Wang. If it were not for your timely assistance, I truly was not sure that I could prevent him from staying alive. I shall repay this favor another day. I will be taking my leave now. There’s no need for you to see me off.”

Whoosh!

Snow-Treading Crow came out of seemingly nowhere, and Zhao Changhe flipped onto its back and disappeared into the distance.

A golden light shone in the sky.

Toward the end of the sixth month, the beginning of autumn. Yuan Xing, Situ Xiao, and Zhao Changhe besieged Fa Qing. At a moment of laxity during the battle, Zhao Changhe suddenly launched a surprise attack and beheaded Fa Qing in front of the Wang Clan.

A master on the Ranking of Man falls and those below him are promoted.

The former Rank 71 on the Ranking of Man, Qin Ruhui, is promoted to Rank 70.

The former Rank 72 on the Ranking of Man, Cui Wenyu, is promoted to Rank 71.

The Prince of the Golden Horde[1] is granted Rank 72.

None of the three attackers made it onto the Ranking of Man, much to Yuan Xing’s embarrassment.

The Ranking of Hidden Dragons has changed.

Rank 13: Zhao Changhe.

The river of the underworld surges.

“Big brother!”

“Clan Head!”

The members of the Wang Clan gathered around Wang Daoning and said, “Zhao Changhe has insulted us severely. Why not pursue and retaliate?”

Wang Daoning looked at Vermillion Bird in the distance, then glanced at Cui Yuanyang and the people around her, who were watching them closely. Then, he glanced at Gui Chen and Xuan Chong, who had arrived on horseback. Finally, he looked at Yuan Xing and Situ Xiao.

After a long while, he slowly said, “It is our responsibility to eradicate the rebels from the Maitreya Cult. Master Yuan Xing, please come in for a discussion.”

Wang Daozhong: “...”

Wang Zhaoling: “...”

Wang Daoning looked at the dust kicked up by the fading horse at the end of the long street, then said softly, “Regarding his demise, I will personally oversee it. I want to see results within three months.”

1. This is likely referring to the northern barbarians. ☜