Embers of Sword

Chapter 646 Hitting the road
Yuan Jimo's Yin Spirit Realm cultivation is among the best in the Imperial City Guard, truly deserving the title of "Head of the Seat." Even when he goes to the major holy lands, he is treated as an honored guest.

But unfortunately...

Nowadays, apart from those few "Yin Shen Great Perfection" cultivators, no other cultivators in this realm have the right to make a move in front of Xie Xuanyi.

"Kaka!"

The crisp sound of bone cracking sounded.

Xie Xuanyi stepped on the longsword with one foot, and the Dao of Annihilation spread through the sword, reaching Yuan Jimo's wrist and crushing his entire arm.

"what……"

A painful scream rang out.

The pain of the Dao of Annihilation piercing the heart and lungs is something no mortal could endure.

Yuan Jimu gritted his teeth, large beads of sweat streaming down his face, instantly soaking his close-fitting black scale armor. He raised his head, his eyes filled with resentment, staring intently at the young man in front of him through the gap in his bamboo hat.

"Xie Xuanyi...kill me!"

Yuan Jimu roared hoarsely.

But Xie Xuanyi remained unmoved.

He simply stepped lightly on the longsword on the ground and calmly said, "I've heard that there are 108 kinds of tortures used to torment and humiliate criminals in the Imperial City Guard's dungeon. Lord Yuan is proficient in all of them and is a genius in this field. How come you can't even endure this little bit of pain?"

Yuan Jimo gripped his wrist tightly, trying to stop the stinging pain from the Annihilation Realm.

But it's completely useless.

He almost knelt on the ground, his body trembling like a leaf.

Yes... the Imperial City Guard has many cruel tortures!

Compared to the bone-scraping technique of the "Path of Annihilation," these tortures are nothing.

Only those who have experienced it firsthand know how unbearable this suffering is. If given a choice, Yuan Jimu would rather endure the torture of being imprisoned!
Xie Xuanyi looked down at the person in front of him from his high position.

He infused only a small wisp of sword intent.

Although Yuan Jimo was a spirit, his physical body was fragile...

He won't let this guy die so easily.

After a while.

boom!
Xie Xuanyi released the energy from his sword strike, took a step forward, and tapped Yuan Jimo's heart with his toe. With another muffled thud, the once imposing head of the Imperial City Guard was kicked like a sandbag and sent flying back onto the Tailing official road, where he crashed heavily into the filthy mud.

Yuan Jimo felt relieved, but struggled to his feet like a wild dog, staggering as he tried to escape.

next moment.

A streak of golden light flashed by eerily, circling around at an extremely fast speed.

Chi Chi Chi!
Startled by the flash of sword light, Yuan Jimo fell backward, landing hard on his backside in a muddy puddle. Little did he know that this sword strike wasn't meant to kill him, but rather to tear his scale armor and bamboo hat to shreds...

"……Do not!"

Yuan Jimu lowered his head, looking at the fabric scattered on the ground and the tattered scales, his eyes filled with terror.

He looked down and saw a "monster" reflected in the muddy puddle, its upper body naked, its flesh grotesque, and its body covered with stitches.

That is himself.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi watched this scene without much change in expression.

Jiang Qihu immediately informed Chen Jingxuan about Yuan Jimo's unusual behavior.

If Chen Jingxuan knew this information, it was equivalent to Xie Xuanyi knowing it.

"I still can't understand how you could be alive."

The sword, Chen Ke, circled once more before returning to its master's shoulder. Xie Xuanyi reached out and gently patted the tip of Chen Ke's sword as encouragement and reward. He lowered his voice and slowly said, "In Qujiang... I clearly killed you once..."

He used his master's lotus sword energy.

While there may be people in this world who can survive this move, that person is definitely not Yuan Jimu.

After the Battle of Qujiang, the arrival of the "Martial Immortal" on the battlefield indirectly confirmed the news of Yuan Jimu's death...

A dead person.

How could he possibly reappear alive in the imperial city?
now.

Xie Xuanyi got the answer.

Yuan Jimu's body, though patched and mended to be whole, exuded a strong, foul stench... This scene seemed familiar; Xie Xuanyi had just witnessed it not long ago, when the Great Phoenix Cave Heaven was destroyed, and many beings danced in the flames.

These people's physical appearances bear a striking resemblance to Yuan Jimo at this moment.

Clearly... after the battle of Qujiang, the Holy Empress personally intervened and used the [Path of All Beings] to repair Yuan Jimo's physical body. This deceiving everyone, including Wu Zhexian, was a secret.

But how should this divine soul be explained?
When a person dies, their soul perishes.

This "Yuan Jimo" clearly still retains memories from his previous life.

Think about this.

Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow.

He slowly stepped forward, stretched out his palm, and was about to press it on Yuan Jimu's forehead from a distance.

"Never use soul-searching..."

A mournful, piercing shout suddenly erupted.

Yuan Jimu trembled as he stared at the outstretched hand. His heart nearly collapsed, and he cried out in despair, "Please don't use the soul-searching technique!"

He had already guessed what Xie Xuanyi would do next.

This guy is trying to pry open his own heart.

Inch by inch.

Scrape through memories.

The pain of soul-searching is several times more intense than the previous bone-scraping procedure!
"you……"

Xie Xuanyi laughed out loud: "Is he begging for mercy?"

"Yes……"

The man, sitting on the ground, remained silent for a long time before lowering his head, choosing to completely abandon his dignity.

"Xie Xuanyi, give me a quick death."

Yuan Jimu raised his head and said in a hoarse voice with a pleading tone, "I know you are skilled, but I am now a crippled body and no longer a perfect person. This fragile heart of mine may shatter at any moment. If you use the 'soul-searching' technique, you can only retrieve a few fragments at most. This is not the situation you want to see, is it?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi simply narrowed his eyes and remained silent.

That's true.

I traveled all the way to Tailing, not just to send this guy surnamed Yuan on his way.

Soul searching can indeed easily lead to the collapse of one's divine sea.

However, if it were just an ordinary Yin God Realm cultivator, Xie Xuanyi wouldn't hesitate at all. After infusing his divine sense... he would forcefully search the soul. After obtaining the [Yuan Tun] inheritance, even a Yin God Realm cultivator at the Great Perfection stage couldn't compare to the strength of Xie Xuanyi's divine sense.

But Yuan Jimo is truly an exception.

This guy has been "reborn" after being mended by the Holy Empress's "Path of All Beings".

This body looks like it could collapse at any moment.

The situation in Shenhai is probably even worse.

"You must have a lot of questions..."

"If you kill me now, the answers to these questions will be lost forever..."

Yuan Jimu shifted his body and leaned against a large rock by the roadside, speaking with difficulty.

"You can ask now..."

"I will definitely tell you everything I know... and say everything I can..."

There was a pause.

Yuan Jimu laughed tremblingly, "My request is very simple... when you make your move, give me a quick death..."

This life.

Yuan Jimu was always pursuing fame and fortune.

He was once the Empress's most trusted confidant, and even after the fall of Renshou Palace, he was not worried about his own survival.

A villain hated by millions can always find a "useful place" if he moves to a different environment.

Many people in this world want to know the secret of the Holy Queen.

He believed that neither the Demon Kingdom nor the Li Kingdom would spare his life, at least until he revealed all the secrets he had kept, so that he could "live on in vain".

After saying these words, Yuan Jimu closed his eyes, seemingly dozing off.

His arm was shredded by the Dao of Annihilation.

The bones were all ground into dust.

The other arm was also trembling uncontrollably from the excruciating pain...

Yuan Jimu silently withdrew his hand, reached into his waist pouch, and silently stroked the [Teleportation Array Talisman]. He knew that his chances of survival were slim, but what if there was still a glimmer of hope?

Mossy Ridge fell into a brief silence. A few breaths later.

Xie Xuanyi spoke.

“Those young boys and girls in the southern border regions were all sent to Renshou Palace by you.”

He does indeed have many problems.

Xie Xuanyi randomly picked one to check its authenticity.

Yuan Jimu was unaware that he had already investigated the case of tributes in Lingqu City and obtained an irrefutable truth from Zong Bi.

"……Yes."

Yuan Jimu slowly opened his eyes and spoke without emotion, his tone devoid of sorrow, pity, or guilt: "Over the years, a total of three thousand people have been offered as tribute in the Southern Frontier. Half of them were refined into elixirs, while the other part was sent to Renshou Palace under the guise of 'serving boys'... The Holy Empress needs to cultivate the 'Path of All Beings,' and these tributes are indispensable."

Three thousand?!
Xie Xuanyi's heart skipped a beat, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes... This number was far greater than what was found in Lingqu City!

Indeed, Lingqu City was just a small city. Renshou Palace needed tribute, so naturally the entire southern border region had to be mobilized and all the capital cities responded together.

"You managed to collect all three thousand tribute items all by yourself?"

Xie Xuanyi lowered his voice and continued speaking.

"How can it be……"

Yuan Jimu smiled and said casually, "Weren't those people from the three major sects all wiped out by you? What Qianyuan Daoist, what Shi Daoist... these people helped collect tributes, and in private they would 'use their names to make money.' Compared to them, the three thousand tributes from Renshou Palace are really not worth mentioning. Over the years, the Soul Banners raised by Yinshan have slaughtered countless lives. Perhaps if you add them all together, they can be compared to the blood sacrifice of 'Carp Tide City'."

Hearing these words, Xie Xuanyi felt as if his heart had been plunged into an ice cellar.

An invisible killing intent gathered in the air, almost solidifying into a tangible form—

The natal golden sword hanging on his shoulder was also trembling violently.

It could be fired at any moment!

The area within the Great Sui Sword Palace, spanning hundreds of miles, has protected the people and ensured their peace and happiness over the years, preventing bandits and rioters from causing chaos. How many people are there in total?
Over the years, Da Chu has openly protected the people of the Southern Frontier, allowing them to plunder and kill their inhabitants within the territory!

This……

It was actually ordered by the person in charge of the Imperial City! The head of the Imperial City Guard personally led the operation!
How ironic, how absurd!
"You seem very angry..."

Yuan Jimu looked at Xie Xuanyi in front of him, somewhat surprised by this reaction.

He frowned and said indifferently, "It's just a few deaths, is it worth being so angry? You've killed all those people in the Southern Frontier, and you've already avenged those people..."

"Buzz!"

The chronic illness erupted with a furious sword cry.

Xie Xuanyi used his divine sense to suppress it, preventing the flying sword from leaving its sheath without permission.

He still has questions to ask.

"I……"

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath and said coldly, "Ten years ago, did I see you?"

"..."

Yuan Jimu paused for a moment.

He looked at the young man in black in front of him and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Everyone says you've lost your memory..."

Yuan Jimu laughed so hard he almost cried, tears streaming down his face. He looked at the person in front of him with pity and compassion: "At first I didn't believe it, but now it seems you haven't found all of that memory yet?"

After the fetal light returns to its original position.

Xie Xuanyi recalled many things.

However, some memories remain in a "fragmented" state, unable to be pieced back together or restored to their original state.

for example……

His memories of escaping the capital city during the fire were fragmented. No matter how Xie Xuanyi tried to recall, he could only remember the woman named "Chi Lin" arranging for him to board the carriage.

I have no recollection of what happened after that.

obviously.

Under the arrangement of "Red Phosphorus," he successfully escaped from the imperial city...

Xie Xuanyi remembered that "Chi Lin" had a very reliable friend, who held a low-ranking official position but was of excellent character. He served as a gatekeeper at the North Gate. This escape must have been made with the help of that gatekeeper, who "deceived the heavens and crossed the sea" to escape this calamity.

and many more.

North Gatekeeper.

Xie Xuanyi's pupils contracted slightly as he stared intently at the sinister and dark face before him, his fragmented memories seemingly pieced together at that moment.

"Do you remember now...?"

"I was the one who let you leave ten years ago."

Yuan Jimo said slowly and deliberately, “Ten years ago, I served as a gatekeeper at the North Gate, but no one paid any attention to me. After the fire incident, I was specially recruited into the Imperial City Guard’s secret service. I was then awarded the Tanyiwei Fish Robe and rose through the ranks until I became the head of the Imperial City Guard.”

Xie Xuanyi stared intently at the person in front of him.

"Was it you who sent me away from the imperial city?"

"it's me."

"That red phosphorus..."

"also me."

The fire case is closed.

Renshou Palace dispatched secret agents from the Imperial City Guard to thoroughly investigate the case.

Actually.

Xie Xuanyi was released by the Empress herself; she never intended to kill this disciple of Da Sui.

This investigation is nothing more than a formality.

Because of this thorough investigation, Yuan Jimu was specially recruited into the "Secret Intelligence Department." In order to save his life, he took the initiative to solve the case, won the first credit, and sent Chi Lin to the guillotine.

From that day on, he was noticed and selected by Renshou Palace.

"That's enough!"

At this point, Yuan Jimo's face suddenly turned ferocious: "I had no choice back then! That bitch Chi Lin didn't tell me that the person lying in the grain cart was a traitor from Da Chu... If I hadn't killed her, I would have been the one to die in the end!"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi remained silent.

He just watched the man silently.

"I don't understand, I just don't understand—"

Yuan Jimo raised his head, his forehead veins bulging.

He roared in fury, "Why is the death of one woman causing such a huge investigation?! Qingjun is investigating, Youyuan is investigating, and these two are her fellow disciples... It's one thing to have been investigating for years! But what is your relationship with Chilin? What could possibly be your relationship with her? Why would she be willing to risk her life to save you?!"

"All right."

Xie Xuanyi, who had been silently watching Yuan Jimo's performance, suddenly spoke up, interrupting him.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it swept across the entire mossy hill like the wind.

Heaven and earth are silent.

Yuan Jimu stared blankly at the person in front of him.

"It's almost time."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "I will send you on your way."

Before the words were even finished, the sword energy had already shot out.

With a whoosh.

A golden thread ran through Yuan Jimo's forehead.

Blood splattered from the man's head like splashes of water. He swayed back and forth for a moment before crashing heavily to the ground.

The hidden pouch tilted down, the closure opened, revealing a teleportation talisman. Until the very last moment, he still held the talisman tightly in his hand.

On one hand, he passionately recounted the past.

While channeling vital energy, they secretly attempted to activate the talisman.

All that anger and questioning was fake.

Yuan Jimo was just one step away from success.

This was a "good show," but unfortunately it was all in vain. The teleportation talisman was already 90% activated, and it was only one last wisp of energy away from being fully completed.

In reality, even if this show were to be staged ten thousand times, there would be absolutely no chance of success.

From beginning to end.

All of Yuan Jimo's actions were under Xie Xuanyi's divine supervision.

……

……

(PS: Speechless. I was going to post this right on time, but then the telecom company cut off the internet late at night.)
(End of this chapter)