Minglong

Chapter 353 A combination of kindness and power
Meanwhile, at the main building.

Lu Yan was cursing in the second-floor hall, Chen Yishan was slowly removing the dragon poison, and the remaining heroes were whispering and discussing inside and outside the Mountain and Sea Tower, waiting for the official announcement from the host city, Yanbo City, so as to understand what was going on in the Hundred Miasma Swamp.

But after waiting for a long time, no one from Yanbo City showed up. Instead, a strange noise came from outside the building:

thunderbolt--

Thunder illuminated the vast city amidst the howling wind and rain, followed by a whooshing sound from outside the Mountain and Sea Tower:
Sa——

The many elders on the second floor looked puzzled. Although Yanbo City did not prohibit cultivators from flying or using lightness skills, it was a big taboo for elders to pass overhead when they were clustered together in the city. For this reason, Lu Yan always walked when he went out. No one would fly over rooftops or walk on walls, let alone come with such a rapid momentum.

Lu Yan initially thought it was people from Yanbo City coming from outside, so he turned and walked towards the window. However, he had only gone halfway when he felt a powerful pressure coming from the wind and rain outside the building!

The five realms of Taoism are called "Unity of Souls," where the three souls and seven spirits are combined into one, greatly increasing lifespan; while in Buddhism it is called "Dharmakaya," which can manifest a golden body to resist all evil.

The special effects of the fifth level of martial arts, 'Dragon Soaring', fully showcase its professional characteristics—unparalleled courage!

Although it may sound useless, this aura of destruction emanating from within is enough to suppress ghosts and gods. It is equivalent to having a built-in demon-suppressing passive ability, and weaker cultivators will inevitably be terrified and afraid to fight.

For example, Ye Yunchi's sword intent startled Lü Yan and the others, who hurriedly gave way. Xie Jinhuan also stopped abruptly. That unstoppable aura was actually the aura of a dragon, but because it was from a different Confucian school, the pressure it exuded was not as unruly as that of a normal martial artist.

At this time, although there were old monks ranked in the fifth realm inside and outside the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, their numbers were so small that they could be ignored.

The rest of the people, including Lü Yan, felt the sharp edge right up to their brows the moment the aura pressed down, as if their lives were hanging by a thread and a knife or axe was about to fall upon them. They had no choice but to stop and give way. No one even dared to open the window to see what kind of behemoth was squatting outside.

The arrival of the guests did not allow them to make a move. Just as everyone was filled with surprise and doubt, the windows on the second floor were suddenly pushed open by the wind and rain:

wow-

Then a storm rushed in, whipping up the robes of the cultivators present and forcing everyone to take a half-step back as they reached for their personal magical artifacts.

The oppressive force of the enemy at the gates caused everyone to turn pale.

Lu Yan looked out the window as if facing a formidable enemy, only to see a figure standing on the rooftop of a tall building across the street.

Against a backdrop of swirling lightning, a figure stood tall amidst the wind and rain, clad in a white robe and wielding two weapons at his waist. His demeanor was as steady as a towering mountain, yet exuded a soaring, heroic air. His eyes scanned the building like a mountain demon casually surveying snakes and rats in a burrow. Finding no trace of his target, he spoke calmly:
"Is Young Master Shang inside?"

"Oh..."

Countless cultivators and female warriors on the street, and even powerful figures and patriarchs within the building, upon seeing this terrifying aura and unparalleled elegance, seven out of ten believed that it was Ye Sheng who had arrived.

The remaining 30% were seasoned veterans who had seen the real person on various occasions, such as Lü Yan and Zhang Jiwu, but they also looked at him with disbelief.

Lu Yan knew how much hatred Xie Jinhuan had attracted. He hadn't announced Xie Jinhuan's arrival in public earlier because he was afraid of leaking the news and making Xie Jinhuan a thorn in the side of everyone vying for the opportunity, who would then settle scores with him later.

Upon discovering that the boy wasn't hiding properly and had instead jumped out so arrogantly, Lü Yan was taken aback:
"Young...Young friend, what is this...?"

The remaining ancestors, seeing the true form for the first time, had different expressions. Chen Yishan's brows were noticeably furrowed, while Madam Han's eyes were practically drooling...

Just as Lü Yan was asking his question, Shang Mingzhen walked out from behind and came to the second-floor hall, smiling and cupping his hands in greeting:

"Oh! It's Young Master Xie, gracing us with your presence. I, Shang, am truly sorry for not greeting you sooner..."

Although her words were polite, Shang Mingzhen was also puzzled. She couldn't understand why Xie Jinhuan dared to step forward when she knew the situation was bad. Her eyes were even searching outside the building to see if Ye Sheng or Qixia Laomo were there to keep watch.

Xie Jinhuan isn't mentally unstable; there's a reason he jumped out.

Lu Yan might keep it a secret for him, but the escaped Big Long Serpent couldn't keep quiet. Soon everyone would know he had come to Dragon Bone Beach, and because of his achievements in seizing opportunities in the Southern Frontier, they would unite to take him down first.

It has now been confirmed that Shang Mingzhen and the Underworld Cult are secretly causing trouble. His hiding will only allow these people to fan the flames and quickly turn him into a public enemy of Dragon Bone Beach.

Since he couldn't avoid this wave of evil forces anyway, he at least wanted to make the rogues of Dragon Bone Beach back down and not cause him any trouble or disrupt the situation.

As for the risks of jumping out, he was a chivalrous hero of the Southern Dynasty, and he openly and honestly visited Yanbo City. He didn't believe that Old Demon Shang could kill the successor of the righteous path in the street in front of cultivators from all over the world.

Seeing that Shang Mingzhen had revealed his face, Xie Jinhuan didn't say anything more. He slightly raised his hand and sent several items to the second-floor hall from a distance.

thump~
chap——

The crimson gold hammer, the bone knife, and even a three-foot-long fragment of a snake's fang fell before all the cultivators inside the window.

Lu Yan knew that Long Boyuan was dead, but when he saw the bone knife and the snake fangs that were clearly made by a peak-level demon, his eyes still trembled slightly.

Zhang Jiwu and the others also had their pupils constrict slightly, not understanding what Xie Laomo meant.

When Shang Mingzhen saw Xie Jinhuan kill his pawn and even dare to throw a weapon in his face, his eyelids twitched slightly, but he still pretended to be surprised and asked:
"Why are the weapons of Sect Leader Gu and Sect Leader Long in Young Master Xie's hands?"

Xie Jinhuan stood on the roof ridge and responded calmly:

"During the day, Blood Rain Tower received news from Old Demon Sha Tu. I went to track him down. In the Hundred Miasma Swamp, I encountered Elder Lü and Master Kuya being ambushed by evil forces. I stepped in to help them and killed Long Boyuan in battle. After that, I told Elder Lü to turn back first, while my friend and I continued the pursuit."

"Then the leader revealed his true form as a Xuanjiao, and Gu Xuanzun, allied with the demon, launched an attack on me. I killed Gu Xuanzun on the spot, but unfortunately, it was my first time facing a great demon that was about to 'break through the dragon and transform into a dragon,' and my skills were clumsy, allowing him to escape by chance..."

Xie Jinhuan spoke casually, but all the cultivators present were terrified.

After all, Long Boyuan was the second-in-command of martial arts in the Southern Dynasty, and Gu Xuanzun was a renowned old demon, not to mention the Xuanjiao, which was only heard of in legends. It's as if they casually swatted a fly...

But since everything is laid out here, there's no way to fake it.

After Xie Jinhuan finished explaining the situation, he continued:
"Master Ye and Master Qixia once taught me that cultivators should cultivate for the sake of all living beings. I have kept their teachings in mind. The things I have done in the past have been seen by all the seniors. I should not have failed in my duty to these teachings."

"My main purpose in coming to Dragon Bone Beach is to slay demons and monsters. Seizing opportunities is just a side thing. If I gain them, I am fortunate; if I lose them, it is my fate. I did not intend to make a big fuss and disturb the seniors and Yanbo City."

“But given what has happened, I must represent Master Ye and Master Qixia to personally inquire about the situation.” “…”

The many cultivators present were surprised, but not entirely taken aback, when they heard Xie Jinhuan admit to having a master-disciple relationship with Ye Sheng and Qixia Zhenren. After all, Xie Jinhuan had fought his way to this point, and his background was impossible to hide.

Shang Mingzhen roughly guessed Xie Jinhuan's intentions, but since Xie Jinhuan was using the guise of righteousness to escalate the matter, he could only go along with it and ask:
"What concerns does Young Master Xie have?"

Xie Jinhuan responded:

"The great demon that broke the dragon and transformed into a dragon could potentially cause a national catastrophe. As one of the righteous leaders who once divided the world at Fengbo Tower, Yanbo City, stationed at Dragon Bone Beach to protect this region, has the responsibility to slay demons and eliminate evil. Why did no one go to provide support just now?"

Shang Mingzhen had secretly planned this, so he must have considered these things beforehand. He calmly replied:
"Recently, an opportunity has arisen, and we invite heroes from all over the world to take it. My Yanbo City will not interfere with fighting and strife. In order to treat everyone equally, the demon-summoning formation has been closed. Even if I, Shang, am attacked and killed outside the city, it will be because I am not skilled enough, and my master will not interfere."

"Furthermore, all things have spirits, and divine opportunities are gifts from heaven to all living beings. This will inevitably attract many rare and exotic beasts. Such situations have occurred in the past. Yanbo City only punishes the demons that slaughter cities and plunder villages. Other mountain and marsh spirits are not easy to cultivate, and Yanbo City treats them all equally."

"There was indeed a sensation in the city just now, but it did not harm the townspeople, so we did not send anyone to investigate."

These were the rules that Yanbo City had agreed upon beforehand. Even if an extra great demon appeared, the saying "all things have spirits" would be enough to explain why Yanbo City did not take action.

Xie Jinhuan did not refute this reason, but simply said:

"That black dragon just now, which was able to travel with cultivators to plot and harm Elder Lü and Zen Master Kuya, was definitely not a naturally born spirit, but was secretly raised by evil sects."

“Long Boyuan is a cultivator from my Southern Dynasty, and I executed him on the spot according to the regulations. As for Gu Xuanzun, he is a cultivator from Yanbo City. I originally intended to bring him to Yanbo City to confess his crimes, but the situation was urgent and I could not spare his life. I can only ask Young Master Shang if he knows anything about this matter?”

Facing thousands of cultivators both inside and outside the palace, Shang Mingzhen's response was naturally:

"Yanbo City only collects taxes and does not interfere in the internal affairs of various sects, so there may indeed be oversights. If what Young Master Xie said is true, I, Shang, will definitely thoroughly investigate the Nightmare Soul Sect and give an explanation to the righteous path and even the world."

Xie Jinhuan nodded slightly. They both knew what was going on, and there was no need for further verbal sparring. He then turned his gaze to the many powerful figures on the second floor.

"Seniors, please remember the teachings of our ancestors and be careful not to go astray. When you seize opportunities, those that are given by Heaven will be obtained by the capable. As long as we all follow the right path, I will not kill you if I encounter someone like Elder Lü. We have both gained and lost in our struggles, and we have become friends through our conflicts. I still address you as my senior in daily life."

"But if I discover that you all have connections with evil sects like the Underworld Cult, then when we meet again, you won't need to waste your breath explaining yourselves. Perhaps Master Ye will try to teach without discrimination, but I won't; perhaps True Person Qixia is wary of the Old Demon's cultivation on the mountaintop, but I won't."

“Starting with Taishu Dan, I have not let go of anyone I have set my sights on. Before I rose to power, I dared to kill the emperor’s favorite minister and investigate the emperor’s father-in-law in the capital. In Northern Zhou, I also dared to investigate the relatives of Empress Dowager Guo. Now in Longgutan, if Yanbo City is related to this matter, I dare to point my sword at Yanbo City as well.”

"I have the entire righteous path behind me. Even if I were to die for it, there would be a second or a third Xie Jinhuan. But if you all go astray, you will only have one chance to fail. Remember to think twice before you act."

These words were a blatant warning, telling these people to think twice about their own strength and the consequences before they even considered taking advantage of him.

Many sect leaders and elders felt that Xie Jinhuan was a bit arrogant, but his past deeds were still vivid in their minds, and his own strength and background were also evident. If they had such a resume, they could be ten times more arrogant than Xie Jinhuan.

Furthermore, Xie Jinhuan's words were from a righteous perspective and there was nothing wrong with them. Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, and no one questioned whether Xie Jinhuan was qualified to say such words.

Shang Mingzhen knew that Xie Jinhuan was there to intimidate the scattered people, so that the cannon fodder who wanted to fish in troubled waters would be driven away, leaving only them to arm wrestle with Xie Jinhuan.

Although Shang Mingzhen didn't expect these rogues to kill Xie Jinhuan, he needed them to stir up trouble and create opportunities, so he readily accepted their offer.

"Young Master Xie, what boldness! With such confidence, this opportunity is likely to be yours alone..."

Seeing that Shang Mingzhen really wanted to start a fight, Xie Jinhuan slightly raised his hand:
"To gain it is my fortune, to lose it is my fate. Last time in the Southern Frontier, with the help of the Dan Ding Sect and the Gu Du Sect, I took away three opportunities. Although I later distributed them to the two sects, I ultimately cut off one path for you all."

"Therefore, this time I will focus on investigating demons and evil spirits. I will first observe their movements in the city. When an opportunity arises, you will all go out of the city to search. I will then go out of the city after I discover the whereabouts of the demons and evil spirits."

"If I were a step later and still managed to stumble upon the opportunity and seize it, then that would be 'what I was destined for,' and I don't think you all have any objections, right?"

"Oh..."

Seeing Xie Jinhuan's displayed strength, everyone present knew that it was unlikely that they could steal the opportunity he possessed, but they were indeed wary that Xie Jinhuan would get there first and secretly take away the Azure Dragon's divine gift.

Hearing that Xie Jinhuan not only didn't rush ahead but also let them exit the gate first, they naturally had no objections.

After all, they've taken the first step, so they're more likely to find the opportunity first. The final question is whether they can hold onto it.

If Xie Jinhuan sets off later and manages to catch up with them and seize the opportunity, then that's a testament to their strength. It's only fair that they don't kill you; what can you do if you disagree?

Madam Han, holding a jade pipe, felt that this old devil Xie seemed somewhat familiar, and spoke first:
"Young Master Xie has such courage, we have nothing to say. We only hope that when Young Master Xie catches up with us, he will be gentle and considerate, and that we can discuss anything. Please don't be ruthless and destroy our beauty."

Seeing that Xie Xiao'er had first intimidated and then yielded, dispelling all the fear and wariness of the wandering cultivators, Lü Yan was quite impressed and said:

"Young friend Xie, don't be arrogant. You make the first move. It is indeed difficult for me to snatch it, but if I get it first, you won't be able to catch up even if you have two extra legs."

Xie Jinhuan did not deny this statement, and even frankly said:

“Once you leave the city, you will all be competitors. As long as you adhere to the righteous path and have a clear conscience, you do not need to show me any mercy or courtesy. I never kill innocent people, not even in lawless places.”

"Oh..."

Tens of thousands of onlookers had already gathered on the street. Seeing Xie Jinhuan publicly declare that he would not kill cultivators who were legitimately seeking treasures, and that he would not force others to abide by this gentleman's agreement, they all showed astonishment.
"Look, look, this is what true heroism is, this courage..."

"Strict with himself and lenient with others, he truly deserves to be called a descendant of Master Ye..."

"What else can I say? I'll accept it even if I can't get it..."

"Thank you, my love! Thank you, my love..."

……

(End of this chapter)