541 The Other Arm Bone (2/2)
Boom!
Kaboom!
The indescribable ringing of the explosion from a distance pierced the ears of Zhao Qian and Wei Gao. It sent such massive shockwaves that their Vital Spirits trembled. Their minds were buzzing and it was like a layer of white had shrouded their visions as if they had been blinded by the light. Even though they were so far away from the battleground, they could still feel the heat blowing in their faces and the sensation of their hairs curling.
The descent of the Grand Sun had destroyed the entire world!
Soon after, when Zhao Qian's vision recovered, he saw that Quicksand Town appeared to have collapsed entirely. There was a large pit that had emerged on the ground. The deeper he looked into the pit, the more dazzling it was. That was because the sand had melted to form glazed glasses that reflected the sunlight!
The bottom of the pit was flat, with a depth of about five or six feet. Ji Shan was lying there with his Lama's red robe in tatters.
His mouth and nose were overflowing with blood. His injuries did not appear to be too severe but only because he had fought with every shred of his power and his opponent did not viciously seek for his demise.
He took flight, flying upward to look at the floating Meng Qi. He shouted, while suppressing his hatred, anger, and grief,
”You only won on the virtue of your blade being sharper than mine!”
How could a nick in his blade be created simply after several collisions in the same spot if Meng Qi's sword was not greatly superior to his blade? How could he have shown such great flaw and gave Meng Qi an opening to take advantage of otherwise?
Meng Qi paid him no mind and looked at the bottom of the pit instead. That was the real reason he did not make any follow-up attacks.
There was an underground creek lying at the bottom of the pit. However, it had evaporated in the presence of the 'Falling Sun' earlier and there was no longer any water to fill it. Lying in the shadow-covered center of the creek was a skeletal hand.
Meng Qi had found the skeletal hand to be incredibly familiar. In its pitch-blackness was hints of white. The hand was shrouded with feelings of immortality.
It was the other skeletal hand of Netherworld!
However, the most obvious difference in this hand compared to the one in his possession was that this skeletal hand was anything but ordinary!
The light all around seemed to be fading as far as his eyes could see. He saw a bloody yellow river flowing from void to void. The stream of muddy, depraved, sinister, detached, and contradicting feelings merged into one.
The power of this skeletal hand had yet to be sealed!
Before any ideas could come to Meng Qi, he saw the shadows around the skeletal hand squirm and distort. They pulled away from the ground as if trying to take a human shape.
”It's a master from Life-changing Sect?”
”Furthermore, a master who's qualified to use Netherworld's skeletal hand?”
Completely ignoring Ji Shan, Meng Qi turned around and flew away while relaying his voice.
”What makes a true master is one who knows how to put his strong points to good use.”
His words left Ji Shan dumbfounded. When he turned to look at the nefarious and cold shadow underneath, he also fled in a hurry.
A wise man knew better than to fight when the odds were against him. Similarly, a wise monk knew better than to do such reckless things!
However, he vowed to take revenge on the mysterious swordsman who had just injured him!
This was, in fact, the first time he had suffered in the hands of a peer.
Zhao Qian and Wei Gao dared not approach after seeing what had happened. Taking a detour, they fled like the other two.
Meng Qi flew a total of a few hundred miles before he dared to breathe. When he turned to look behind him, he saw shadows shrouding Quicksand Town but they soon disappeared.
”So Life-changing Sect has joined the fight for Buddha's Palm...”
”Furthermore, they even sent someone with Netherworld's bones. I wonder how many of his bones they're bringing with them...”
”Just what were they planning, burying themselves with Netherworld's bones in the ground? Their hiding method was so curious too... Even though they can't make a move for the time being, but they've hidden exceedingly well. They can't be detected even after sensing the Qi movement and the world. They give off only a sinister feeling...”
”Did Jiuniang fall into their hands?”
Many questions surfaced to his mind. He dared not make any delays and made a quick detour before heading for the entrance of the Immortals in Immensity Sea.
When he saw the skeletal hand earlier, he finally understood why Life-changing Sect no longer attached any importance to the skeletal hand that he owned.
He predicted that they had obtained them separately as there were no powers that had surfaced. They likely suspected that the skeletal hand in his possession was not genuine but did not have the means of confirming it. Thus, they displayed a similarly strange attitude.
He had not gone far when he suddenly smelled a faint trace of blood.
His heart seized and he carefully searched his surroundings, where he found several pieces of bloody flesh covered by gravel. They were surging with vigor. He knew at a glance that they belonged to an Exterior expert.
”That's part of the heart, that's a section of the spine... The rest is gone...” From the looks of the remains, Meng Qi made an initial deduction that the owner of these fleshy bits had already died. Fortunately, it did not seem to be anyone that he knew.
”Looks like an Exterior expert had fallen this time...” Meng Qi's expression turned grim. Xue Lengzhao's warning suddenly rang in his mind: ”If you're late, things might take a turn for the worse.”
”Could this be what she meant? What exactly are Snow Mountain Sect, Jin Gang Temple, and Ashura Temple working together on...”
Meng Qi searched around but found no more clues. He solemnified his spirit and rushed to the entrance of the Immortals. He put on his mask and took out his Eyes of the Primeval to open the door to Azure Heaven.
He felt a heavy atmosphere just as he landed in the Azure Palace. Primogenitor Lingbao was wearing a mask and a loose grey robe. He waited at the door, carrying his Green Duckweed Sword.
”Follow me.” He turned around and started going inside.
Being the current master of Azure Palace, he could naturally detect visitors at once. Thus, he waited at the door for Meng Qi.
Meng Qi followed Primogenitor Lingbao as the latter made a turn into a hall. He saw a dark yellow hassock lying on the floor, where four members of the Immortals were sitting cross-legged upon. They were Longevity Immortal Venerable, Primogenitor Nanhua, Matriarch Lishan, and someone that Meng Qi had not met yet.
”Immortal Taiyi,” Primogenitor Lingbao said, making the introduction.
Immortal Taiyi, not Primogenitor Taiyi.
The four members felt ill at ease upon laying eyes on Heavenly Primogenitor but being powerful masters, they instantly dispelled such feelings.
Once Meng Qi took his seat, Primogenitor Lingbao said, ”Do all of you wish to participate in the fight for Buddha's Palm?”
”Yes,” Meng Qi answered concisely, maintaining the dignified manner of Heavenly Primogenitor.
The other four nodded in agreement.
Primogenitor Lingbao nodded. ”There are only Exterior experts stationed in Fish Sea and Tan Han. Disguise is impossible. Thus, please reveal your identities now lest we accidentally attack one another. I'll take the lead.”
This was a round of introductions meant specifically for Meng Qi.