Chapter 164 Heartless Palace (1/2)
The gargantuan dragon dived down ruthlessly, causing the entire valley to shudder in fear. Countless trees and grasses were crushed under the force of this boundless pressure. Large expanses of soil overturned and flew into the air. Instantly, more than half of the woods were ruined. The Fiend Duo of the Northern Underworld was the most gravely injured of them all. They supported each other while repeatedly coughing up blood. Their clothing was mostly ruined and every inch of their skin was covered with blood and soil. The duo looked battered and exhausted.
Within seconds, the dark clouds that hung close to the ground dissipated and a clear sky that stretched for thousands of miles once again showed itself. Ji Wulang pointed to Xiao Chen and said resentfully, ”Kid, you're an heir of the Ancient Immortal Clan! What's your name?”
Xiao Chen replied indifferently, ”I am who I am and I'm not ashamed. I'm Xiao Chen.”
The Fiend Duo of the Northern Underworld, who was already pale from blood loss, turned even whiter after hearing his name. Ji Wulang slapped his forehead. ”How did we end up meeting this malefic creature?!” He swiftly turned into a sword radiance and fled southeast with Ji Wuhuan.
The group of more than a dozen girls also turned deathly pale after hearing Xiao Chen's name. When Xiao Chen reported his name at the entrance of the valley, they thought he was one of the perverted Fiend Duo of the Northern Underworld. They never imagined that he would be the real thing, the one who used a single punch to wipe out a peak-level Core Forming Realm cultivator and a single saber attack to severely injure an expectant Nascent Soul Realm devil.
Xiao Chen shook his head at the bad reputation he was gaining. He saluted the girls. ”Don't worry, senior sisters. I didn't come here with malicious intentions.”
Considering he had been nothing but refined and courteous from start to finish, coupled with his words now, the girls finally felt more at ease. One of them stepped forward and returned his greetings. ”We're truly sorry for mistaking you for those two sexual deviants earlier, Young Master Xiao.”
Xiao Chen chuckled. ”It's fine. Where are those two from? Why are they troubling you?” He knew that Huashang, being one of the Jade Qing Seven, ought to be at least a peak-level Core Forming Realm cultivator. Huashang could easily exterminate those two with a single attack, so why did she allow them to barge into the valley? Could she be away?
The girl looked rather displeased. ”It's best not to mention it,” she said, ”Why are you here today, Young Master Xiao?”
Xiao Chen replied, ”To be honest, I'm here to discuss an important matter with Predecessor Huashang. Is she here?”
The girl instantly looked uncomfortable, prompting another girl to step forward and say, ”Young Master Xiao, it's better that you leave immediately. If...”
Hearing how hesitant she sounded, Xiao Chen frowned. ”What's wrong? Is Predecessor Huashang not here?”
The girl looked terribly uneasy and only answered his question after hesitating for a long time. ”That's not it. It's just that three months ago, our master suddenly ruled that any man who barges into our valley will have his eyes gouged out, tendons broken, and imprisoned for 49 days...”
Xiao Chen was startled. This punishment was even crueler than an execution. Yu Yifeng told him that Huashang was strange and difficult to understand. Even so, she was one of the Jade Qing Seven. How could she be so vicious?
Li Muxue frowned and asked, ”What happened?” If that was Huashang's character, it would be quite the challenge to ask her to return to the Jade Qing Sect.
The girl hemmed and hawed before answering, ”It began three months ago when our master came across a girl on her way home. Finding her to be adorable, our master took her in. Afterward, she learned that the girl was suffering from a heartbreak and it reminded her of her own...”
Another girl walked up to them and interrupted the one speaking. She saluted Xiao Chen. ”Forgive us, Young Master Xiao. We're thankful that you chased those two men away but please go home.”