Chapter 1158: Mysterious Hemp-Clad Swordsman (1/2)

Yue Bingyun’s expression changed as she quickly flew over. Then, she helped up Xiao Chen, who had dropped to one knee.

“What happened?”

Xiao Chen’s expression looked somewhat unsightly. After he calmed himself, his complexion flushed, and he said with a frown, “There is a half-step Martial Emperor in closed-door cultivation at a Dragon Vein. It will probably be even harder now to obtain the Life and Death Art.”

The extreme western side of Black Water Island contained a majestic set of snowy mountains. A middle-aged man wearing thin hemp cloth and radiating sword intent sat cross-legged on the summit of the highest peak.

Bone-chilling winds blew endlessly, and a snowstorm raged without pause. Despite the abominable environment, the hemp-clad swordsman displayed a normal expression. The snow that fell on him did not melt, but neither did it acc.u.mulate. Instead, it flowed down like water. All this looked very mysterious.

This particular snowy mountain was the tallest peak in the entire Black Water Island. Its summit frequently had a temperature lower than negative one hundred degrees Celsius. Aside from some Spirit Beasts that thrived in frigid conditions, such as Snow Wolves, there was nothing here to attract anyone.

Under normal circ.u.mstances, no one would come and suffer here for no reason whatsoever. Of course, certain ice-attributed cultivators like this hemp-clad swordsman, who had secluded himself here for a hundred years already, were exceptions.

The hemp-clad swordsman looked into the distance. Then, a cold, cruel smile appeared on his lips. He said indifferently, “Pretty good reflexes. He managed to keep his eyes.”

This hemp-clad swordsman was the mysterious half-step Martial Emperor who injured Xiao Chen’s Heavenly Eye with just one glance.

“You should celebrate the fact that you saw me after I have cultivated here for a hundred years. One hundred years ago, I would not have let you off so simply if you wanted to peep at me cultivating.”

After snorting coldly, the hemp-clad swordsman closed his eyes once more, continuing his quiet cultivation at the summit, working on comprehending the peak ice sword soul.

However, this swordsman opened his eyes again not long after. This time, his eyes contained bloodthirsty killing intent. A glacial aura spread out from his body, triggering a snowstorm in its wake. His surroundings seemed to freeze.

“Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!”

The instant the swordsman stood up, all the snowflakes covering the sky suddenly exploded, crushed into powder as a result of the boundless sword intent.

“This is really never-ending. Have the people of Black Water Island forgotten me, Bing Xuejian, after one hundred years?”

[TL Note: The name Bing Xuejian literally translates to ice blood sword.]

Bing Xuejian sensed many people flying around the mountain range. In addition, even more people continued to stream in, all of them quasi-Emperors.

The people who came were naturally Jin Liangqi and the other Consummation quasi-Emperors. The ones following behind were thousands of Great Perfection quasi-Emperors and Small Perfection quasi-Emperors trying to see if they could profit by picking through the leftovers or gain some benefits if there were any conflicts.

The Life and Death Art could condense the Heart of an Emperor in advance. This temptation alone gave all these quasi-Emperors the courage to gamble their lives on this endeavor.

Jin Liangqi and the others traveled over land and water before finally arriving at the foot of the tallest snowy mountain. Then, they looked at the mountain peak, which towered in the clouds. “This is the last Dragon Vein in the western part of Black Water Island. The cave of the Blood Sword Sovereign from fifty thousand years ago must be here!”

The Smiling Saber Demon, Shen Xiao, smiled and said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s move!”

“This is probably going to be difficult. One hundred years ago, a ma.s.sacre took place here. A mysterious swordsman eliminated all the ice-attributed cultivators on the entire mountain range. I do not know if that swordsman is still here,” an extremely old man said.

This old man was known as Elder Iron. Due to his focus on tempering the body, making his physical body like an iron wall and harder to deal with, he gained the nickname of Elder Iron after advancing to Consummation quasi-Emperor.

“That’s right. Even now, I still remember that ma.s.sacre. It was apparently done by Bing Xuejian, the first disciple of the Ice Sword Sovereign, who betrayed his sect,” another old man said.

Jin Liangqi thought for a while before saying, “One hundred years have pa.s.sed without any news of this person. He probably left already. Even if he is still around, we have so many people here. There is no need to fear him.”

“That’s right, even if he is here, we will force him back. Does he think that he is the king of the snowy mountain here?!” the Smiling Saber Demon said ferociously.

The Life and Death Art held too great an attraction. After discussing with each other, the few Consummation quasi-Emperors decided to act. Upon receiving instructions, the five Geomasters immediately executed their Dragon Seeking Arts to uncover the Dragon Vein.

Ten kilometers away, Fei Lengyi, who was hiding in the snowstorm, sank into deep thought as he looked at the snowy mountain. He muttered, “To think that the Blood Sword Sovereign’s cave is here! It appears it will be impossible to monopolize that Secret Technique. However, this is fine as well. I will be more confident of dealing with this group of people by working with Bing Xuejian.

“After that, I will use the jadeite to deal with him. In the end, the Life and Death Art will belong to me alone.”

Fei Lengyi had been keeping track of the news about the Life and Death Art. After recuperating from his injuries and coming out of closed-door cultivation, he had been shadowing this group of people searching for it.

Having already failed his tribulation once, he would never advance to Martial Emperor without any special opportunities. The Blood Sword Sovereign’s Life and Death Art was his opportunity. His desire to obtain it was even stronger than anyone else’s.

After the Geomasters made their move, strands of Dragon Qi surged out from underground.

Everyone knew that this was already the last Dragon Vein in the entire western side of Black Water Island. As they looked at the Dragon Qi soaring up, all the quasi-Emperors around became nervous.

“Ka ca!”

However, just at this anxiety-filled moment, a scarlet sword light silently appeared amid the snowstorm. Before the five Geomasters could react, this sword light chopped off their heads.