Chapter 119: Three Locations

Mo Bai systematically dismantled Gui Haixin’s doubts, then said sternly, "Old City Lord Guihai, this is truly not the time for you to be besieging me; it is a time for you to be concerned about the lives of your two sons."

Gui Haixin was greatly alarmed. "What do you mean?" He was already becoming like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring under Mo Bai’s influence.

"Since I have the confidence to say that my brother Luohua is safe, it means your son has failed. And who could cause your precious Dao’er to fail? You know your son’s temperament—what would he do if he failed? What would the consequences be? And your eldest son—if he were to go looking for Jin Tianzuo on his own, would the road be safe? Are you not worried? It is said that he is the true core of the Ten Thousand Spear Formation. Oh, if both young masters were to meet with misfortune, that would be truly dire. Tell me, old man, at your age, can you remember the questions I just asked you?" Mo Bai returned to his detached, carefree demeanor.

Gui Haixin stood stunned for a long time, unable to speak. His mind was in total chaos. Shangguan Qing offered a faint smile and said to him, "Uncle Guihai, I know your thoughts are in turmoil. You should return to the Guihai Hall as soon as possible to see for yourself and put your mind at ease. As for this place, I repeat: leave it to me."

Shangguan Qing’s words were a lifeline for Gui Haixin. The old man immediately cupped his hands and said, "Then I shall trouble you, Young Master Qing." Without waiting for a reply, he turned, his purple-red robes fluttering, and sprinted toward the Guihai Hall.

Mo Bai smiled silently, but Shangguan Qing turned to him and remarked, "Brother Mo Bai, your memory is truly excellent."

Mo Bai understood immediately; he had memorized every question he had posed to Gui Haixin and used them to unsettle the old man. He chuckled, "It’s alright. But I wonder, young master, what else would you like to ask?"

"Oh? I have nothing of value on me; what is it that you want?" Mo Bai asked.

"I don't need much. Just leave behind one of your hands, Brother Mo Bai. Left or right, it doesn't matter to me," Shangguan Qing said nonchalantly, as if it were a foregone conclusion that Mo Bai would have to surrender a hand.

Mo Bai unconsciously touched the scar on his left eyebrow. He looked at Shangguan Qing for a long moment and suddenly said, "I finally understand."

Shangguan Qing asked with interest, "Understand what?"

"Your peculiar hobby," Mo Bai replied.

"Oh? Tell me about it," Shangguan Qing raised an eyebrow.

"Cannot say, haha, cannot say," Mo Bai laughed aloud.

Shangguan Qing smiled helplessly. "It seems I must use some methods to make Brother Mo Bai speak as freely as you did just now." As he spoke, he flipped his hand upward, and a stream of spiritual energy manifested in his palm, forming a rotating, diamond-shaped construct.

Mo Bai’s eyes shifted. "Interesting."

Shangguan Qing replied, "The even more interesting parts are yet to come!"

Gui Hairong’an clutched his stomach, fleeing toward the Guihai Hall in a disheveled state. He had not asked anyone for help, for he no longer trusted anyone. He took a secret path, one that few in Guihai City even knew existed. Unfortunately, there was one person who knew these streets a hundred times better than he did, and that person was waiting for him right there.

"Eldest young master, such a coincidence," the man said, a special, massive sword strapped to his back, looking quite solemn.

"It is not a coincidence," Gui Hairong’an swallowed hard, staring at Hu Feng, the wielder of the Xuanyuan Sword. "Are you going to use that Xuanyuan Sword to cut off my head? Don't forget our agreement! It was my help in the shadows that allowed you to crush Ouyang Zhenghe’s forces at the Zhengqi Hall, which is why your Iron Cavalry Society has flourished so much. If I die, you will gain nothing!"

"Hu Feng is indeed grateful for the eldest young master’s care over the years. It is just a pity that you are an unsupported lord, so I must choose a new ally. How do you think you compare to Jiu Xi of the Yuntian Sect?" Hu Feng said.

Gui Hairong’an felt a pang of agony in his heart, recalling the man who had nearly strangled him—a man whose ambitious gaze had filled him with absolute terror.

"The Iron Cavalry Society needs a ritual sacrifice to boost the brothers' morale," Hu Feng smiled, though his expression was horrific and狰狞.

Gui Hairong’an felt a chill in his heart. In the next moment, he had no chance to speak or flee; he was dead, thoroughly and completely.

Hu Feng stepped over his corpse, saying coldly, "One can survive the disasters sent by Heaven, but not those one invites upon oneself. If you hadn't killed Bai Yu back then, Guihai Yidao wouldn't be guarding the Ten Thousand Spear Armory, and you wouldn't be here dying all alone." Alas, Gui Hairong’an could no longer hear his counsel.

Some people think themselves clever and hatch countless grand schemes, unaware that there are too many things in this world beyond their control. Perhaps until the moment of death, they never understand this truth, continuing to seek only shortcuts.

In the Guihai Pavilion, Jin Tianzuo watched Gui Hairong’an escape and let out a sudden roar, pushing his Black Gold spiritual energy to its limit. His "absorbing, not attacking" style was incredibly draining. He had not expected these two juniors before him to possess such profound cultivation; either one of them was no less capable than his Junior Brother Jun, let alone the two of them combined.

Jin Tianzuo released his energy in a burst of golden light. Hong Lin-nv and Jiu Xi intersected in mid-air, finally breaking free from Jin Tianzuo’s suction. Jin Tianzuo was left winded, and they had not gained much of an advantage either, both thinking that this pillar of the Luoye Sect was truly formidable.

"It seems we have lost our chance to pursue the eldest young master," Hong Lin-nv said with a helpless smile.

"He won't live much longer. Let us finish off the person before us; it will serve as compensation," Jiu Xi said coldly.

Jin Tianzuo drew his golden light back into his body and let out a long breath. "Though you two juniors have some skill, dreaming of killing me is nothing but madness. If you are not satisfied, come forward; I am waiting." As he spoke, his golden beard bristled, making the old man look even more majestic.

"Old man, your Golden Lamp is powerful, but let’s see how you fare against my Yi Flower." With a hum, Hong Lin-nv summoned her purple Yi Flower. Facing a senior who could rival her own master, she dared not be careless and immediately deployed her most powerful technique.

"The Golden Lamp is inextinguishable, but the Yi Flower can wither. Did your master not teach you this, child?" Jin Tianzuo said sagely.

"A lamp may burn out, but though flowers fall, they will bloom again," Hong Lin-nv retorted.

"Good, good, good! Today I will pull your flower out by the roots and see how you bloom again!" Jin Tianzuo declared fiercely. He lunged forward, thrusting his hands out. Two golden streams of spiritual energy erupted from his palms, but instead of firing out like projectiles, they seemed to graft onto his palms, transforming into two golden blades!

"Condensing energy into blades? Hmph, the Yuntian Sect is much more skilled at this." Jiu Xi saw through the technique. With a flick of his hand, a magnificent greatsword flew from his back, hovering in the void before him—the Heavenly Dao Dayu Sword!

"Good! Let me experience the high techniques of the Yuntian Sect and show the world who the true master of energy-blades is!" As soon as Jin Tianzuo finished speaking, he was upon Jiu Xi. Jiu Xi knitted his brows and formed a seal with both hands. The Dayu Sword whistled through the air to meet Jin Tianzuo’s golden blades. The air was filled with flashes of light as Jin Tianzuo darted around, his golden blades clashing repeatedly with the Dayu Sword in a dazzling display.

Hong Lin-nv had seen the old man’s power before; she knew that even a master like Great Master Yunfa could only fight him to a draw. Though Jiu Xi was a genius of the younger generation, he had not yet reached Yunfa’s level. No longer hesitating, she flicked her fingertips, and the purple Yi Flower spun violently before her. She drew her thirteen-link chain gun; with a shake, the chain rattled, and bathed in the purple light, it surged toward Jin Tianzuo like a giant purple python.

"Well struck, haha!" Jin Tianzuo was in high spirits, as if he had shed decades of age. His golden beard bristled as he split off one golden blade to parry the chain gun.

Seeing Hong Lin-nv engaged and Jin Tianzuo distracted, Jiu Xi roared. The Dayu Sword dropped its defensive stance and launched a powerful, wind-swept assault.

The Dayu Sword descended from above, splitting the mountain with its force. Jin Tianzuo swung his hand upward to meet it, but a crisp *crack* echoed through the air. The Dayu Sword, carrying the power of thunder, shattered the golden blade instantly, causing the spiritual energy to dissipate into nothingness.

At the same time, Hong Lin-nv’s purple chain gun coiled around Jin Tianzuo’s other golden blade. She gave a sharp cry and yanked the chain tight. With a series of sharp, rhythmic clicks, the chain crushed the golden blade into dust.