Chapter 396 - Copper Pillars and The Sealed South Barren (1/2)

"Clan master, other than the Zhong Shan Clan member, there still remains the Swords Gate human Qi Practitioners, what about them?" Xia Zhongjin hesitated for a split second before asking.

"The others?"

Clan Master Xia's face was ashen, and his cold voice was filled in killing intent as he ordered, "Catch and kill!"

"This…."

Zhurong Yanqin hesitated before saying, "It may not be wise to do so. It was Zhong Yue that struck us in the dark, and there is no clear evidence to prove his guilt. Furthermore, it was the Zhong Li Celestial that ambushed Shui Zian first – justice is not on our side. If we then kill the other humans, I'm afraid that the Zhong Li Celestial Race's reputation will…."

However, Clan Master Xia replied coldly, "Then what? I don't care! We Zhong Li Celestial Race have stood on the South Barren for many years and when have we ever tolerated such humiliation? Find those human Qi Practitioners and kill them all!"

He then said, "Find those who helped Zhong Yue power the Divine Wing Saber. Find them and kill all of them, including their people!"

…

"Hall Master Zuo, Junior Martial Sister Qiu."

Zuo Xiangsheng, Tian Yanzhong, and the others were powering a Shui Tu Clan ship that flew them toward the Great Wilderness at a speed no slower than magnates. However, before they could reach Swords Gate, a booming voice came into their ears. They looked over and saw a lady's figure alighting down on the deck of the ship – it was Jun Sixie!

They were then all shocked, they thought, Why is headmaster here?

Rays flashed across Jun Sixie's eyes, and she removed Shui Zian from the Yuan Shen secret realms and placed him on the deck. She then said solemnly, "No time to explain. I'll drive the ship. We must leave South Barren now!"

Krong——

A loud boom sounded out, and the ship blasted away at a breakneck speed. Jun Sixie powered the ship and cast out a totem pillar to establish a connection to Swords Gate and give her order as headmaster, "Senior Martial Brother Fang, take the divine sword with you. The other elders will wield the Ten Malefic Weapons and the other two divine weapons. Meet us at the border of Great Wilderness!"

Tian Yanzhong and Zuo Xiangsheng's hearts stiffened up; even the divine weapons and Ten malefic weapons were coming out, had the situation truly turned so serious?

They were oblivious to what happened, and they could all feel the sudden burst of divine aura that came from the Fiery Capital – something big must have happened there.

However, Qiu Jin'er knew of the plan, and her heart twisted with anxiety, "Headmaster, where is my senior martial brother?"

"I can't find him."

Jun Sixie's eyes flashed as she replied quickly, "I went to get him right after Elder Shui was saved, but by the time I reached where he was, he was already long done. Don't worry. Your senior martial brother is a sly and cunning one. Even the whole Zhong Li Celestial Race might not be able to catch him!"

Even with those reassurances, Qiu Jin'er was still worried. All of a sudden, an appalling divine aura emanated from the Heavenly Lord Palace far in the South; the ancient saint weapon was awakened, and its aura pressed down onto the whole South Barren. It brought about sudden typhoons and thunderclouds, it raised the ocean waves sky-high and sent them crashing into the coastlines. The sound of the crashing waves was as if the world were screaming in pain.

Lord Xia's saint weapon – the Eight Dragons Heaven Suppression Cauldron– has awakened!

A saint weapon that could compete with the Coiling Dragon Sword and Divine Wing Saber; A hidden power that was concealed away from the world for ages until now. It's return sent tremors through the whole South Barren as if announcing to the world that it had returned!

Jun Sixie was shocked, and she turned her head back at the direction of the Heavenly Lord Palace, but it was too far for her to see what form the saint weapon was forged in.

The Zhong Li Celestial Race is enraged, even the saint weapon was taken out. This is not looking good….

Jun Sixie gritted her teeth and felt the situation turn knotty. The Zhong Li Celestial Race had been dealt a significant blow; even the three divine banners were robbed from them. Although they could not pinpoint who the actual culprit was, it was still not hard for them to realize that the deed was committed by someone from the Swords Gate. If they could not find Zhong Yue, then they would direct their unmitigated wrath towards Swords Gate instead.

"Cough, cough, cough…."

Shui Zian started coughing in the cabin, and the disciples then immediately swarmed to his side. He struggled to get up, and the feeble old man swung his sleeve. Piles of tokens were then placed on the table, and Shui Zian then coughed, "Headmaster, use these tokens, this might be the key to resolving the Swords Gate's incoming danger."

Jun Sixie was hesitant in her answer, "Rest assured, Elder Shui. With the Four Symbol Banners altogether, I can maybe compete with Lord Xia's saint weapon. If I can fully unleash the banners' power … then I will protect Swords Gate with my life."

Shui Zian's coughed soon became desperate gasps for air as he said, "You can do South, but you can't do East and West."

Jun Sixie's heart twitched in pain. She knew what he meant, if the Zhong Li Celestial Race had really marched an army toward Swords Gate, then the West Barren celestial and East Barren monsters would not let such a golden opportunity slip through their fingers.

"Swords Gate is the only reason for these tokens to exist, I've collected them for all my life, and it is now time for them serve their purpose," Shui Zian's pallid face showed a faint smile as he said.

Jun Sixie gazed at the grand elder and nodded heavily.

…

With the headmaster powering the ship, not even magnates could catch up to their speed.

The night soon fell, and the border that separated the South Barren and the Great Wilderness was in sight. The many humans stood on the deck and watched as the torches lit up the whole mountain ridge; it looked as if a fire dragon was soaring through the darkness.

At the center of the mountain ridge was a fortress, one that was built not long ago by the Zhong Li Celestial Race.

The decision to build the fortress came as the human race started to show signs of a resurgence and talent began to bloom from generation to generation. There were the old codgers like Shui Zian; the innate spirit bodies like Jun Sixie, Fang Jiange, and Qiu Jin'er; younger talents like Zuo Xiangsheng, Tian Yanzhong, in addition to the two West Barren human tribes that joined them lately. All this made the South Barren begin to raise their guard against the human race.

The spirit of the border fortress was summoned, and it stood tall at the center of the fortress as its divine aura filled the air. This fortress's spirit was 1000 feet tall, and many glowing totem patterns wrapped around it like chains.

In the dark, they could see the South Barren Zhong Li Celestials swarming all over the place, some of them were nailing some copper pillars in the ground while others were vigilantly standing guard. These copper pillars were planted from one end of the border to the other and formed a line along the Great Wilderness-South Barren border.