A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 389: Change of Mind

Inside the Sea Shark Palace, Huangfu Changhen and Xiaoyao Lang were trapped in a fishing net formation and could not break free for a while. Huangfu Changhen was concerned about Xiaoyao Lang's safety and had to divide his attention among three parts to look after him. As a result, Huangfu Changhen was also caught in a tough battle, his long whip was locked, and the space was constantly shrinking.

"No, this can't go on."

Huangfu Changhen's eyes flashed with anger. He turned around and saw that Xiaoyao Lang was covered in wounds. Although they were only minor injuries, he looked miserable. On the other hand, the wine fairy on his back was unharmed under his protection.

Seeing the fishing net formation continuously tightening inward, Huangfu Changhen knew that once sealed, he could escape, but Xiaoyao Lang and his disciples would surely be captured. Thinking of this, Huangfu Changhen made a decisive move. He gripped the locked whip in his right hand, shouted, and forcefully pulled the fishing net formation towards him. Although the disciples who set up the fishing net formation had exquisite techniques, their internal strength was insufficient. The powerful true energy transmitted from the whip made their chests feel tight, and their bodies moved uncontrollably towards Huangfu Changhen.

"Don't think about it!"

Upon seeing Huangfu Changhen's actions, the elder of the Sea Shark Palace's expression changed slightly. He swung his buzzing round shield through the air, intending to cut the long whip in two. However, to his surprise, when his shield, forged from a thousand-times-refined steel, struck the whip, it not only failed to sever the whip but was instead violently shaken by the force attached to it, causing his blood and qi to surge. As the shield returned, his right hand trembled violently, and his face turned deathly pale.

"What a magnificent Thousand-Mile Thunder Whip!" the elder exclaimed. He then gave an order to the other elders beside him. The four elders immediately deployed their flying shields, attacking Huangfu Changhen from both sides with the long whip.

"Take down that petty thief first."

This brief tremor was enough for the elder to see the flaws in the three. Huangfu Changhen was difficult to deal with and could not be defeated in a short time. However, the young man carrying the Wine Immortal, although his martial arts were not bad, was worried and could not exert his full strength.

As soon as the elder gave the order, the other disciples guarding the outer room immediately stepped forward in a group. Instead of entering the fishing net formation, they released hidden weapons from the outer room: iron caltrops, poison darts, flying needles, and flying stones, all aimed at Xiaoyao Lang. If hit, Xiaoyao Lang would be seriously injured even if he didn't die. Huangfu Changhen's expression changed drastically. He only had time to release one magnetic disk, but there were so many hidden weapons. Although some were attracted by the magnetic disk, most of them continued to shoot forward.

As Huangfu Changhen released the disk, the four flying shields had already rushed over. Huangfu Changhen snorted coldly. His long whip was made of soft steel mixed with various precious materials. The outer layer was the scales of a hundred-year-old venomous snake. It was impervious to swords and spears, water could not penetrate it, and even divine weapons could not harm it in the slightest. If the people of the Sea Shark Palace wanted to cut it, it was undoubtedly wishful thinking.

With a flick of his whip, he knocked the two flying shields aside. The owners of the shields, under the influence of their own energy, immediately experienced internal turmoil, their bodies swayed, and blood flowed from the corners of their mouths, clearly indicating that they had suffered internal injuries.

As for the shields flying towards him, Huangfu Changhen gathered his strength in his left hand and unleashed a powerful "Mountain-Crushing Ruyi Fist." The two flying shields were struck by the force of the fist, spinning several times before shooting back at an even faster speed. The sound of the shields tearing through the air made everyone present change color. The elder even shouted "Retreat quickly!" However, the owners of the flying shields reacted a little too slowly and were caught off guard. They were decapitated by the flying shields, and two jets of blood shot into the air. The two corpses crashed to the ground, and the blood instantly stained the stone slabs red.

The sudden turn of events left everyone from the Sea Shark Palace horrified, and the thought of retreating arose in their hearts. The elder was first shocked by Huangfu Changhen's methods, and then he keenly sensed the state of his disciples. He thought to himself that something was wrong, and immediately said loudly, "The Palace Master is about to return. Everyone, hold on for a moment. You must not let these three go. Otherwise, when the Palace Master returns, no one will be able to escape responsibility."

Helian Ba ​​was usually very powerful, and when the elder disciple heard what the old master said, he immediately put away his slight hesitation. They knew the palace master's methods. If they let the Immortal of Wine escape, they would suffer the eighteen kinds of torture, which would be worse than death.

As soon as the elder finished speaking, he realized that the chaotic situation had been stabilized. So he struck while the iron was hot and took the lead, sending his flying shield flying towards Huangfu Changhen once again. At the same time, the other two elders also released their flying shields from the left and right. The three flying shields were arranged in a triangular shape, creating a magnificent sight. The sound of the blades cutting through the air made Huangfu Changhen's expression somewhat solemn.

"drink!"

Huangfu Changhen gathered power in his left hand, and a dense, dark ball of light slowly appeared. His aura became even more violent, air currents surged, and sand and stones churned. With a wave of his hand, the dark ball of light met the three flying shields head-on. With a crack, the three shields shattered simultaneously, and the fragments flew in all directions like hidden weapons. Screams of agony filled the air, and the fishing net formation was instantly broken. Huangfu Changhen seized the opportunity to retract his whip, his figure darting about, and in an instant, he was beside Xiaoyao Lang, who was hit by several hidden weapons. He reached out and pressed several vital points on Xiaoyao Lang's body, transferred Jiu Zhongxian to his back, and said in a deep voice to Xiaoyao Lang, "Go."

As soon as he finished speaking, Huangfu Changhen took the lead and ran out. Seeing this, Xiaoyao Lang turned around and glanced at the chaotic people of the Sea Shark Palace behind him. He hurriedly followed behind Huangfu Changhen. The two of them spared no effort to expend their true energy and arrived at the edge of the island in less than a quarter of an hour.

"Strange, we haven't seen anyone from the Sea Shark Palace along the way."

After swallowing a pill, Xiaoyao Lang couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"No need to overthink it, someone must be helping us. Look, the boat is here."

Huangfu Changhen had some guesses, and after seeing the passenger ship approaching from not far away, he became even more certain that it was the help of Daoist Gu Xu.

"They are from Sword Forging City."

Under the moonlight, Xiaoyao Lang could clearly see a crimson greatsword embroidered on the flag fluttering in the wind on the ship, and several people dressed in the attire of the Sword Forging City standing on the bow.

“But Senior Huangfu, I am Wang Hao, a disciple of Sword Forging City, here on the orders of the City Lord to greet you.”

A deck extended from the passenger ship, and a kind-looking young man walked over. The deck was still some distance from the two of them. The young man leaped up, lightly touched the water with his toes, and landed lightly in front of Huangfu Changhen. He clasped his hands in a salute to Huangfu Changhen and introduced himself.

"What superb skills! No wonder you are from Sword Forging City. I am Huangfu Changhen."

"Senior, this is not the place to talk. Please come aboard with me first."

Wang Hao looked at the moving firelight in the distance, and gestured to Huangfu Changhen. The latter nodded, carried Jiu Zhongxian on his back, and stepped into the air. In an instant, he was on the deck and walked calmly towards the passenger ship. The disciples guarding the ship bowed respectfully, and then made no further moves.

Seeing this, Xiaoyao Lang thanked Wang Hao and used his lightness skill to step onto the deck. Wang Hao saw the approaching flames and no longer hesitated. He returned to the ship and ordered it to set sail. The passenger ship raised its sails and, with the help of the wind, headed straight west.

"Elder, they are from Sword Forging City."

Watching the departing boat, the disheveled elder, his face grim, remained silent. After a long while, he finally said, "Let's wait for the Palace Master to return before discussing this matter. Let's settle things properly first."

The boat was sailing with the wind, so even if they tried to give chase, it would be too late.

"Where are the disciples guarding the mountain? They're nowhere to be seen!" The old man looked around and found that the disciples guarding the mountain were nowhere to be seen. He felt a sense of foreboding. Could it be that Sword Forging City had already made arrangements?

"Elder, put down Senior Brother Li's message. People from the Supreme Alliance have taken advantage of the night to seize the island. They have already led their men to provide support."

"Hmph!" Elder Su snorted coldly. This was clearly a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain. This time, Sea Shark Palace had suffered a great loss. Not only had they lost the Immortal of Wine, but many disciples had also been injured or killed. This was undoubtedly adding insult to injury for Sea Shark Palace.

"Let's discuss this matter again when the Palace Master returns. Sword Casting City and Wine Immortal have no connection whatsoever, so why would they help them? It's truly perplexing."

The elder dared not think too deeply about it, shook his head, wiped the thoughts from his mind, sighed, and led everyone back.

On the other side, on the passenger ship, Wang Hao led Huangfu Changhen and the other two to a beautifully furnished room. As soon as Huangfu Changhen entered the room, he smelled a faint fragrance. The fragrance was gentle and not irritating. When he inhaled it, he felt refreshed and his fatigue was relieved.

"Yi Shen Xiang, Sword Forging City truly has a profound heritage."

This Yi Shen Xiang is a nearly lost art of incense. Its ingredients are exquisite, its production process is complex, and its effects are mysterious, making it unparalleled in the martial arts world. It has a miraculous effect on healing injuries. If a dying person still has a breath left, just one whiff of it can extend their life by an hour.

Back then, the Heavenly Mystery Sect also had a few sticks of incense, but after that earth-shattering upheaval, they were buried along with the Heavenly Mystery Sect. I never expected to see them again today.

“Senior Huangfu is very knowledgeable. This is Yi Shen Xiang. The city lord specially sent it to me before I left so that I could light it for you.”

Huangfu Changhen's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, but he didn't say anything more. Xiaoyao Lang, who didn't know anything about the Spirit-Boosting Incense, noticed his master's weak breath and hurriedly called out, "Senior, Master..."

"Don't worry, with the Overlord Wine keeping your life hanging by a thread and this Spirit-Boosting Incense replenishing your vital energy, your master won't be in any danger. But you, kid, you've been hit by so many hidden weapons. If it weren't for your internal strength, the poison would have killed you long ago. Use the Spirit-Boosting Incense to sit down cross-legged and heal your wounds immediately. If you wait any longer, I'm afraid you really won't be able to be saved by medicine."

Huangfu Changhen reached out and sucked in the hidden weapon stuck in Xiaoyao Lang's body. He then used his fingers to seal the wound and casually tossed the hidden weapon aside.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyao breathed a sigh of relief and immediately followed Huangfu Changhen's advice, sitting cross-legged and silently circulating his true energy. After only a few breaths, Wang Hao showed a look of surprise. This Xiaoyao Lang looked a few years younger than him, but his skill and cultivation were even higher than his own.

The black aura on Xiaoyao Lang's face swirled between his brows, growing deeper and deeper until it condensed into a dark, shiny object resembling a pearl of light. However, as Xiaoyao Lang inhaled and exhaled his true energy, the black aura between his brows gradually faded. After a moment, the black aura dissipated, and Xiaoyao Lang's aura slightly strengthened.

Huangfu Changhen withdrew his hand from Jiu Zhongxian's pulse, looked at Xiaoyao Lang's condition, and nodded in satisfaction. This kid had finally lived up to his efforts. He had only been practicing the Wuji Heart Sutra for a little over a month, yet he had already reached the second level. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was exceptionally talented.

"Is this carefree young hero a disciple of the senior? Truly, new talents emerge in every generation."

Wang Hao praised him, saying that there was no shortage of talented people in Sword Forging City, but in his eyes, only the young city lord could rival Xiaoyao Lang.

"They're not master and disciple, but it's not much different from the master and disciple relationship."

Huangfu Changhen stroked his beard and smiled, glanced at Xiaoyao Lang who was still meditating, sat down in a chair, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

"If there is nothing else, senior, I will take my leave now."

"Ah."

After bowing to Huangfu Changhen again, Wang Hao turned and left the house. He gave a few instructions to the two disciples guarding the outer room before returning to his own room.

After a long and arduous journey, Yan Zangfeng finally arrived at Beifeng Town, three hundred miles away from Zhujian City. Only then did he relax a little. Along the way, he had encountered seven ambushes, both large and small. These seven ambushes completely changed Yan Zangfeng's personality. From initially being unable to bear killing, he eventually killed without any emotion. Yan Zangfeng increasingly felt like a true martial arts master.

Arriving at an inn, Yan Zangfeng asked the waiter to bring him a bowl of shredded pork noodles. He then sat down at the entrance and first surveyed the inn's interior. Finding nothing amiss, he poured himself a glass of water. Just as he was drinking it, his ears twitched, and he heard a commotion coming from outside, accompanied by shouts of beatings and reprimands.

In the past, Yan Zangfeng would definitely have gone out to investigate, but now...

Yan Zangfeng glanced indifferently outside and then ignored it. After the waiter brought the shredded pork noodles, Yan Zangfeng ate them by himself. In less than half a quarter of an hour, he finished the bowl of shredded pork noodles, left seven copper coins, shouldered his bundle, picked up his long sword, and walked outside.

Three miles outside Beifeng Town, Yan Zangfeng stopped in an open area. Without turning around, he said, "You've all followed me all the way. This place is deserted. You can show yourselves now."

As soon as Yan Zangfeng finished speaking, figures flashed across the empty space. In front stood three strangely dressed men wielding unusual weapons. Turning around, he saw three more men behind him, but these three were dressed normally and their weapons were ordinary.

"Yan Cangfeng, hand over the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique, and we will spare your life. Otherwise, this day next year will be your death anniversary."

Among the three in front, a dark-skinned middle-aged man with a half-naked body, a seven-colored sash around his waist, copper earrings, and a fierce face pointed at Yan Cangfeng with his double-headed snake staff, speaking in a very forceful tone.

"You want the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique? Fine, then I'll give it to you."

Yan Zangfeng didn't bother asking who they were. He was going to die anyway, so he didn't need to know the names of the dead. He threw down his bundle and longsword, and just as he was about to unleash the Wind God's Wrath, the leader of the three men behind him, dressed in yellow, suddenly changed his expression and shouted urgently, "Attack!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the man in yellow drew his sword, which transformed into a streak of light and slashed towards Yan Cangfeng. The two men beside him also attacked simultaneously, one with a spear and the other with a long sword. The three strangely dressed men on the other side hesitated for a moment, but they quickly reacted and roared, sending three pale green beams of light towards Yan Cangfeng.

Yan Zangfeng was now wielding the Wind God's Wrath with ease. His earlier actions were merely for show. In fact, the Wind God's Wrath had already been fully charged when they attacked. Before the six killing moves could reach them, they were deflected by a strong gust of wind. Due to the connection of their energy, the six men were momentarily stunned. In that instant, the wind suddenly enveloped them, and caught off guard, they were instantly pulled into a vortex of wind. After a few screams, they fell silent.

Yan Cangfeng carried his bundle on his back and his long sword and continued on his way. Behind him was a patch of grass stained with blood and a lump of iron crumpled into a ball.

(End of this chapter)