Chapter 147 (1/2)
Sikong Yun trembled with blind fear and panic that he could hardly move an inch. He could almost see the face of Death peering down at him; with a mere lift of his finger, Xiao Chen could have easily reduced him into dust and ashes.
“Release her, I say…” Xiao Chen growled again, moving slowly toward him like a fearsome beast regarding its prey. Step by step, he moved at a glacial pace toward Sikong Yun, while time seemed to have paused as everyone shared the same frightening shiver running down their spines.
Sikong Yun shook himself conscious, awaking himself from his momentary stupor with a quivering spasm while instinctively releasing his hostage. Xiao Chen stared at him coldly with the disgust of one looking at an insect and hissed, “Leave.”
Sikong Yun heaved a breath of relief; he quickly scampered off the dais, thankful that his dear life was spared.
Xiao Chen approached Murong Xian’er with a benign smile; a stark difference to the fearsome monster he was just seconds before. “Xian’er,” he said gently to her, “I’ve promised to never let any harm come to you.”
But Murong Xian’er only stepped farther away from him. She was afraid, as if Xiao Chen was a terrifying stranger. Her fear was not without reason; he no longer looked human. His eyes were so red that they almost looked purple, and his self reeked so strongly of the poignant stench of Devil Qi. His smile began to froze, looking confused. “Why, Xian’er? I am your Big Brother Xiao Chen… Do you not remember me?”
“I-is that really you… Big Brother?” Murong Xian’er stammered fearfully, still trembling with apprehension at the grotesquery of Xiao Chen’s appearance. But they were interrupted by a powerful force shaking from the eastern horizons.
Something, or someone powerful was coming. The diffusing force of the intruder was so great and astounding that everyone in the square could have crumbled to their knees and prostrated themselves reverently. For the first time since the fight began, Xiao Chen felt an inexplicable feeling of dread. His brows creased with anxiety at the growing sensation and he turned, seeing a white cloud racing through the air, festooned with radiant inlays of multi-colored lights.
The white-pearly cloud zipped through the air and came to a stop over the top of the square before it dissipated, revealing a sagely old man. He floated majestically in mid-air, overlooking the whole plaza filled with people gazing up at him. His robes fluttered in the high winds and Xiao Chen suddenly realized, that the old man was able to fly without using any artifacts or swords!
A peal of cries from the crowd began calling out to the old man. Sikong Yun screamed loudly at the old man, calling him “Senior Yunya!” as if his savior had just arrived. He had sent word yesterday to the Skygale Sect about Murong Xian’er, informing them that she was the witch of the Devil’s Practice who had escaped from the Skygale Sect. But never did he expect that they would send Yunya Zi, a reclusive master of the arcane arts nearing the Realm of the Nascent Soul.
With strengths nearing the legendary Nascent Soul Realm where one would be able to fully assimilate the forces of Nature into one’s self, Yunya Zi reigned supreme, suffering almost no equal to his indomitable might. He was the former leader of the Skygale Sect before abdicating the leadership of the sect to his student, the present leader of the Skygale Sect, Tianyun Zi.
But Xiao Chen had only the deepest loathing as a dark grudge welled up within him. The Skygale Sect! The name rang in his mind like a tolling bell; the ones who had abducted Senior Sister Luo and Xian’er!
The boiling anger rising within Xiao Chen made the Devil Qi curling around him grew stronger and denser. Yunya Zi noticed the churning foul energies that emitted from the young man standing atop the dais. But he paid no heed to Xiao Chen; prideful of his seniority and strength, Yunya Zi wore a lofty air of condescension as he looked down at Sikong Yun. “Master Sikong,” he commanded, “Where is the person you mentioned?”
“There!” Sikong Yun pointed hastily, “That is the witch that I’ve written to you about!” His finger jabbed straight at Murong Xian’er.
Yunya Zi’s gaze immediately trained upon her, his eyes gleamed with greed. “Very good!” He roared gleefully, “Fortune is with us! So she has escaped here!” He swung his sleeves, his hand sweeping forth in an arc, conjuring a wind of brilliant lights, formed by his True Energy, that was about to engulf Murong Xian’er whole and whisk her away.
Xiao Chen too flailed his sleeve, his hand sent forth a volley of Devil Qi. The blow met head-on with the radiant gale summoned by Yunya Zi and immediately canceled out each other, dispelling into nothingness. The strength of the blow surprised Yunya Zi, who had rarely suffered insolence and rebuffs from others. “Who are you?” He barked at Xiao Chen, “You dare offend me?”