Chapter 150 Administration of Heaven (2/2)
But he could not help feeling puzzled by the techniques of the assailant which were specially for the incapacitation of soul bodies. This might explain Senior Gui Xian's fear for these people and how he could sense their presence.
Realizing that they did not have the upper hand, the other man in black garb charged at Gui Xian, trying to attack him directly from the back. Xiao Chen rushed quickly at him using the Immortal-override Steps, leaving on a mirage in his wake, while he intercepted the other intruder. Their blows met with a loud bang, and the intruder was being thrown backward by Xiao Chen's superior power.
The man staggered to maintain his balance. Noticing that Xiao Chen had used a movement technique similar to the Coalesced Colors Equal to Dust, he hissed frostily, ”Are you a student of the Thousand Feathers Sect?”
”I am no student of the Thousand Feathers Sect,” denied Xiao Chen, shaking his head, ”I have vowed to not let Senior Gui Xian be taken away. But if you two wish to escalate things any further, rest assured that I will do my utmost to stop you both.”
He channeled all of his True Energies, releasing them in one go that his powers rippled from him with a shockwave so strong that Gui Xian's three cottages almost collapsed. The spectral physician was greatly surprised; the eruption of power came not from Xiao Chen's True Energy, but in fact, his Soul Power.
The two hooded men too were surprised themselves, even though their features were masked. One of them gasped, ”Your soul...”
Xiao Chen's Soul Power was powerful beyond anything they had ever seen. The hooded men shared a quick look and whispered hushly to each other until one of them spoke. ”Your soul is powerful,” he said to Xiao Chen, ”Still, there is only so much that one can do. But if you have need of us, please do not hesitate to contact us, the Administration of Heaven.”
Xiao Chen's squinted at the revelation. Indeed, as he previously suspected, the two men are one of the Soul Wardens of the mysterious organization, the Administration of Heaven.
The Administration of Heaven was a secretive organization that dealt with souls. This included granting a person a wish in exchange for his or her soul.
”Very well then. Consider this a courtesy from the Administration of Heaven to you,” said one of the Soul Wardens, ”Liu Yuanyu shall remain free, at least for now.” With that, the two hooded men immediately vanished into wisps of dark fumes and were gone.
Xiao Chen waited for their presence to truly dissipate before he turned to face Gui Xian. ”They're gone now, Senior,” he said, ”Where would you go from here?” He could almost guess the reason of the Soul Wardens' visit, but he knew better than to prod.
Gui Xian remained silent for seconds, save for the sour look of sullenness as the painful memories of his past returned to him. ”I, Liu Yuanyu, was once known as the most potent physician in the Middle Continent,” he admitted, ”But I had mistakenly saved the life of a dying man. Little did I know that my kindness had instead incurred the wrath of the man's nemesis; a man who harbored deep hatred unto the man I saved. He hated me for what I did and butchered all thirteen members of my family...”
He choked, unable to continue any longer. What brutality, Xiao Chen mused. ”What happened next?” He asked again.
”Naturally, I wished revenge for my dead loved ones. But I did not realize at the time that the person was extremely influential himself in the Middle Continent. Not only did my plans for vengeance failed, but I had also troubled many of my friends badly. Until one day, I met someone. He told me that he would arrange for the death of that person, so long as I promise to hand over my soul to them after my death.”
Xiao Chen nodded quietly in response; the rest of Gui Xian's story could not be clearer. The Administration of Heaven was indeed a powerful organization with wide and terrible reach. He heard Gui Xian sighing again and the ghost of the old man continued his tale. ”But when the deed was done and its cost came due, I regretted making the promise. To hand over my soul would mean that I will never be able to enter into Samsara for a rebirth. I wanted to wait for my loved ones and to see them attaining rebirth...”
Tears of sadness trickled down his creased face. ”There are things that we humans have no control of, Senior,” Xiao Chen consoled him, sighing to himself, ”You can only pray for the serenity to accept them.”
Gui Xian shook off his tears and smiled weakly, ”Don't you try outsmarting me, you rascal. Wait up. I have something for you.” He turned and went inside one of his cottages and came back moments later with a cloth bundle.
”Go east after exiting this valley. You'll reach a little town twenty miles. There's a transport agency there where you will be able to hire a Flying-cloud Stone. Take this money and Spirit Stones. You'll need them.”
Xiao Chen was reluctant to accept the gift, but he knew that he would need them. He smiled benignly, ”Thank you so much, Senior.”
”I have matters to take care of,” Gui Xian waved him off, ”Go with haste. But be careful. Your quest to the Skygale Sect abounds with danger.”
”Thank you for your words of caution, Senior.” Xiao Chen bowed and said his thanks, skirting by the edges of the lagoon and slowly walked out of the valley. He traveled for twenty miles, just as how Gui Xian had bidden him to, and found the little village that was filled with crowded people. He looked for the transport agency and negotiated a ride to Jing Province for ten Tier Two Spirit Stones.
He rode on normal Flying-cloud Stone that could bear about thirty passengers. The flying conveyance made several stops at different cities and towns, dropping and collecting passengers that traveled around.
During his journey, he overheard snippets of news about his exploits at the stronghold of the Widespread Wintriness Sect. But the news that began to spread was hardly pleasant.
”Have you heard about the monster Xiao Chen? There were rumors of him wreaking havoc at the stronghold of the Widespread Wintriness Sect! Some people were saying that Senior Yunya Zi, who was trying to protect everyone else, was gravely injured by him!”
”Ah! Justice will befall that monster soon! I'll be the first to cast the first stone if I were to encounter him!”
Xiao Chen listened quietly to the twisted stories about him, with anger boiling within. He had used the forbidden techniques only because he was forced to. But this had enabled the insidious parties to twist and distort facts to their favor and brand him as an evil monster out to destroy innocent lives. Yunya Zi's sinister scheme of trying to erect the Blood Soul Formation was not only kept under wraps, instead, but he was also being hailed as a hero!