Chapter 126: Decisive Battle with Qin Shaobai

Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

Yang Dingtian abruptly pounded on his head with desperation and even used his head to bang onto the firm railing of the stone bridge.

“Get out… Get it out… Forget it… Forget about it…”

He was banging his head with all his might, trying to clear out and expel this evil technique from his mind. But this was apparently impossible as Dugu Xiao embedded this evil technique into the deepest part of his brain. It was as deeply embedded as the tasks given to him by Ximen Wuya, Dongfang Niemie, and the five-year promise. This meant that if Yang Dingtian wanted to forget about this evil technique, he would also have to forget about all the missions that he received from Ximen Wuya and Dongfang Niemie.

Soon enough, Yang Dingtian banged his head too hard that it was starting to bleed, but the evil technique was still as clear as ever in his mind.

Dugu Xiao was a devil, he was certainly a devil.

“You’re trying to ruin me… No… You have already ruined me!” Yang Dingtian shouted at Dugu Xiao, “Why don’t you just kill me?!”

“Ruined you?” Dugu Xiao sneered and said, “In the future, you might even be grateful towards me. Beware not to get too addicted to it.”

Immediately after this, Dugu Xiao pointed his finger at the eight experts from the Heaven Dao Union and said, “These are the bodyguards you hired? When I was making my move against you, they didn’t even dare to come near. What kind of bullshit is this Heaven Dao Union anyways?”

In an instant, the Heaven Dao Union’s Martial Ancestor class expert spoke with a faithful expression, “Sir, you better mind your words. The influence of our backer is something you cannot dare imagine. Beware of inviting disaster to yourself.”

“I am Dugu Xiao, the master of the Temple of Blood, the leader of the Evil Dao,” Dugu Xiao suddenly declared.

The eight experts from the Heaven Dao Union had a drastic change in their expressions. Despite the fact that they could feel that only a few individuals had this martial expert’s cultivation class, they also never would have expected him to be Dugu Xiao. This was because once an expert from the Evil Dao officially stepped out of the Evil Dao’s territories, even if he was to enter the Land of Chaos which was a neutral zone. It was still considered a declaration of war and the Heaven Dao Union would unite their alliance army to suppress them again.

They never expected the leader of the Evil Dao to not just enter the Land of Chaos, but was also about to step into the righteous sect’s territories. (The Cloud Heaven City might have been ostracized by the Three Sects and Nine Clans, but they are still a member of the Heaven Dao Union and is part of the righteous Dao. They currently have an internal conflict among the other prestigious sects)

Since Dugu Xiao declared his name, this meant that he was going to kill them.

“What do you want to do? You should better consider the consequences of your actions. Our backers are the Heaven Dao Union and the Yin Yang Sect,” The Martial Ancestor class expert spoke coldly.

“Yin Yang Sect?” Dugu Xiao sneered and said, “Dongfang Niemie is no longer around. While Dongfang Bingling is indeed a generational prodigy, she might even become the world’s no.1 in twenty or thirty years, she could even be the first person to enter the unprecedented Half Saint Realm. However, despite all this, she is still too young and there is no one in the Yin Yang Sect who is a match for me right now. With Zhu Qingzhu harboring treacherous intentions, the Hidden Sect that has shunned the world, and Ximen Wuya who has been extinguished prematurely. Who else am I supposed to fear in this world? You would dare threaten me with the Ying Yang Sect?”

Dugu Xiao laughed and walked away at the same time.

He was walking in slow motion, but his speed was very fast. It took him a blink of the eye to walk past the eight experts from the Heaven Dao Union who were 100 meters away.

The eight of them raised their swords as though they were preparing to face a great enemy. They waited for Dugu Xiao to execute his kill move first. But he walked past them and didn’t do anything… was he really going to let them off like this?

“Heh heh, Heaven Dao Union!” Dugu Xiao shrugged his shoulder and there was this sudden surge of energy almost like a nuclear explosion. It was shot out from Dugu Xiao’s shoulder as he was shrugging.

It was invisible energy which couldn’t be seen and couldn’t be touched. It was as if the wind blew by.

The eight experts instantly froze and their entire bodies were immobilized. They struggled to even move a single finger, however, they were still alive.

“This is my gift for you. Eight fresh and warm puppet battle souls. Their cultivations didn’t suffer any damage and they are completely immobilized. You just need to use the Soul Assimilating Art to refine them. This ring is a superior soul tool which Li Tianxiao used in the past, I shall bestow it upon you and I hope that you can become the second Li Tianxiao in the future,” Dugu Xiao continued to walk and stated, “But you have to make the most out of this quickly. Because in less than one hour, these eight individuals will vanish into a puff of smoke.”

A simple and unadorned ring quickly flew towards Yang Dingtian.

“I don’t need it… I will not use human lives for an opportunity to strengthen myself! It’s false strength!” Yang Dingtian roared at Dugu Xiao and immediately dodged the ring. It might be an absolute artifact, but Yang Dingtian didn’t want it.

“You’re still so hypocritical. Why? Can’t you bear to do it? Alright then, I’ll make them all into the living dead and turn them into walking corpses without any consciousness. You will be able to assimilate their martial soul once I do so, right?” Dugu Xiao spoke and abruptly swung the thin blade in his hand.

The eight experts violently shook their heads for an instant. Their eyes which were filled with vigor immediately turned numb and lifeless. It was just as Dugu Xiao had said, he allowed the eight of them to keep their lives, but he had destroyed their consciousness.

“Remember, you only have an hour to refine their martial souls, otherwise, you will just be waiting to die under Qin Shaobai’s blade. If that happens, he will ravage and taint Ximen Yanyan and Madam Ximen,” Dugu Xiao laughed heartily before vanishing in front of Yang Dingtian’s eyes.

“Devil… He is truly a devil…” Yang Dingtian looked at the vanishing figure. Ever since he came to this world, he did everything in a way that wouldn’t make him regret his actions. But in regards to this trip to the Temple of Blood, his heart wasn’t able to choose whether he was regretful or not. If he didn’t come to the Temple of Blood, he wouldn’t have provoked a devil like Dugu Xiao.

Although Yang Dingtian had successfully broken through four classes in the Blood Pool, he had exchanged it with extreme hatred from Dugu Fengwu. Once she was out of her seclusion, she would definitely not rest until he was dead. There was also another direct consequence of his actions, which was these eight experts’ lives that were destroyed right in front of his eyes.

“Dugu Xiao… there will be a day when I will destroy your evil spirit soul,” Yang Dingtian slowly stood back up and wiped off the blood on his face, his tone chilling cold. He then walked in front of each of the Heaven Dao Union experts who were turned into walking corpses.

He wasn’t going to refine their martial souls, he only wanted to make sure if there were truly no other ways to save them.

After taking a closer look, he fed them high-grade elixirs, but there no effects. They were utterly incurable.

A person’s consciousness, mind, and willpower was everything. Once it got damaged beyond a certain limit, there would be nothing left but an empty shell of the body. The person would still have their normal mystic meridians and even their qi vessel which still had vigor. This was the perfect condition for a puppet battle soul.

“I will never use it, no matter how powerful your Evil Soul Art is, I will not be infected by it. If I ever use it, only then will I be completely ruined,” Yang Dingtian spoke coldly, “You mentioned that I wasn’t a match for Qin Shaobai and that I wouldn’t be able to withstand four moves from him. I don’t believe in your words, I will still try…”

Immediately after, Yang Dingtian bowed his head to the eight experts in front of him and said, “I am sorry. You lost your lives because you escorted me… I am sorry for not being able to rescue you, I promise to let all of you have your complete bodies to leave with in this world. I will not steal your martial souls which belongs to all of you.”

Finishing his statement, Yang Dingtian leaped onto the beast and galloped towards Cloud Heaven City.

As he did so, he noticed that when Dugu Xiao’s invisible energy destroyed the eight experts, the eight mounts which were in the midst of it were actually unharmed.

Dugu Xiao was truly formidable!

“Let’s go…” Yang Dingtian shook the reins and quickly passed across the stone bridge, stepping into the influence range of the Cloud Heaven City, while using the fastest speed to rush towards Cloud Heaven City.

“Pfff…” The instant Yang Dingtian left the stone bridge, the eight experts whose consciousness were destroyed started to disintegrate as every inch of their bodies turned into smoke.

A wind blew across the area, scattering their ashes all over the ground.

There was something stranger that was happening. The soul tool, the ancient ring moved as though it had a spirit, it flew and followed closely behind Yang Dingtian. It would follow Yang Dingtian wherever he went and if Yang Dingtian tried to adjust his speed, the ring would adjust accordingly too. It seemed as though it wasn’t just an inanimate ring, it was as if it had life with a spirit soul.

Yang Dingtian abruptly turned around to catch this ring and spoke coldly, “I want to see what kind of odd tricks you have.”

The instant Yang Dingtian caught hold of the ancient ring, a mournful scream echoed in Yang Dingtian’s ears. It was as if the wailing came from malicious spirits and grieved souls that came from the depths of hell. It also sounded like a complacent and cruel screech from a devil too. At this same moment, Yang Dingtian could feel a chill throughout his body as though the temperature around him had instantly lowered several degrees

This soul tool which was especially meant for collecting puppet spirit souls was truly an extremely evil item. The moment Yang Dingtian grabbed ahold of it, his body couldn’t help but tremble as he felt a gloomy and cold feeling.

Right at this moment, Dugu Xiao’s voice echoed by Yang Dingtian’s ears once more.

“You are truly a hypocrite. You would rather let those eight spirit souls be destroyed rather than refining them. But it matters not, I already predicted this might happen, hence I already stored a formidable puppet spirit soul in the soul tool ring.”

Dugu Xiao had definitely left, but why was his voice still around? Yang Dingtian couldn’t help but turn to find where the voice came from.

“There is no need to look for me. I am quite far away from you.” Dugu Xiao said, “I will tell this to you directly. You are definitely not a match for Qin Shaobai. If you want to turn the tables, you can only use the Evil Soul Art. Perhaps you are too stubborn and will adamantly refuse even now, but when the moment of life and death arrives, you will definitely use the Evil Soul Art. I clearly understand the hideous side of humans. Remember… when you decide to use it, you just have to feel the spirit soul in the soul tool ring, in order to use the Soul Burst Art. You can instantly kill an opponent like Qin Shaobai. Of course, once you do this, the Evil Soul Art’s evil attributes in the soul tool would enter the depths of your spirit soul and you will never be able to cleanse it.”

Yang Dingtian laughed sarcastically and said, “Temple Master Dugu is truly overly concerned. I will never use your soul tool and I will never use your Evil Soul Art.”

Dugu Xiao spoke in a sneering voice, “Wait until the moment you are about to be killed by Qin Shaobai before you declare all this. Mark my words. You will use it. If not, you will die.”

“Yang Dingtian, you will use the Evil Soul Art. Human nature is truly ugly and I know it all too well. Hahahaha, hahaha…” Finally, Dugu Xiao’s insolent and sneering voice completely vanished.

“I will never use the Evil Soul Art,” Yang Dingtian spoke to himself determinedly. He clenched tightly on the evil soul tool ring while his ears could still hear the wailing of a malicious spirit. That formidable puppet spirit soul seemed to be trying to rush out with ferocity. Let alone using this ring, even if Yang Dingtian was to keep it by his side for a long period of time, his body would be invaded by the evil energy.

“I would like to see how you’re going to do anything evil,” Yang Dingtian laughed grimly and immediately tossed the soul tool ring into his spatial ring.

In an instant, the soul tool ring’s evil, gloomy, and cold energy vanished without a trace. It was as though it had completely vanished from this world. Yang Dingtian continued to rush towards Cloud Heaven City.

Just as he passed the end of the bridge, Yang Dingtian noticed a few corpses lying around. There were no scars on their bodies while they all had a shocked expression on their faces. They looked familiar as they were the members of the Cloud Heaven City, but Yang Dingtian didn’t know why they died here. Yang Dingtian didn’t have time to bother about such things and rushed past them.

There were only less than 30 minutes left before the trial by duel.

The tens of thousands of spectators were already tired from waiting and were beginning to curse and taunt with words that sounded utterly awful. The Black Blood Cavalry who supported Yang Dingtian was currently suffering from low morale.

“I already said so. Yang Dingtian wouldn’t dare to come. He knew that once he comes here, he would certainly die.”

“Heavens. It seems like Yang Dingtian truly did steal Madam Ximen’s mystic qi just to breakthrough. Otherwise, he would still be trash at the Initiate class.”

“Yang Dingtian is truly a bastard for not letting off his own mother-in-law. City Lord Ximen who is a generational hero is truly blinded.”

“Madam Ximen looked rather honorable, but why would she have an illicit lover when her husband left for only one month? Moreover, it was with her own son-in-law? This woman is utterly shameless, however, she is indeed alluring and beautiful. Yang Dingtian took up all the great stuff, taking in both the mother and daughter huh…”

Madam Ximen was on the verge of collapse when she heard all of the various humiliating attacks and slanders surrounding her. Her eyes had this moment of darkness and she nearly fainted.

Qin Shaobai’s shameless rumors only took a few days to utterly ruin her reputation and her mental strength. In just a few days, her cultivation had reversed back by nearly ten years and she lost nearly five kilograms. After hearing all these vicious personal defamations, she really wanted to jump off from the city walls and die in front of everyone to prove her innocence.

When Ximen Yanyan heard the countless vicious slanders, she was so angry that her body was shivering. She gritted her teeth so tightly that she was bleeding. She looked at Qin Shaobai with eyes there were filled with utmost hatred.

Qin Shaobai who was wearing snow-white clothing looked at the suns in the sky before glancing at Ximen Yanyan, he said, “Sister Yanyan. Yang Dingtian is not coming. You are about to have one more sin added. Prepare to suffer the sentence of ‘Thousands Devour’.”

The sentence of ‘Thousands Devour’ was to tie up the criminal at the highest part of Mt. Cloud Heaven. The criminal would then be devoured and consumed alive by the countless ash-grey vultures. The flesh on the body would be torn off piece by piece by those sharp talons and beaks. It seemed to be the harshest form of punishment in the Cloud Heaven City.

“Do you still want to live? Beg me then, I am a man who is easily convinced,” Qin Shaobai laughed while he said these words.

Ximen Yanyan treated it as though she didn’t hear a thing and continued to look towards the eastern city gates.

“You’re not afraid of dying?” Qin Shaobai sneered and continued, “Then wait until mid-noon has passed, we will officially publicly judge your mother’s illicit sexual relationships. Judgment will be passed in front of tens of thousands of people. Do you know how Cloud Heaven City punishes criminals that commit adultery? They strip them of all their clothing and force to walk for three days before sinking into lava to die. Furthermore, illicit sexual relationships are the worst crimes, do you think your mother will be able to endure such humiliation?”

Ximen Yanyan’s delicate body suddenly shook as her beautiful eyes looked over at Qin Shaobai.

“If you don’t want such a miserable fate, then beg me. My heart is so soft that I will agree as soon as you beg,” Qin Shaobai looked at Ximen Yanyan’s hot and voluptuous curves with lustful eyes.

He didn’t expect for Ximen Yanyan to snort and say, “I will just die at most. I hope that Yang Dingtian wouldn’t come here today. If he doesn’t return today, then he will be back in the future. Perhaps maybe a year or even three years later. When he returns, it will be the day you die!”

“Foolish woman.” Qin Shaobai sneered and said, “I can’t even threaten you with your mother? Then I will use you to threaten your mother. Madam Ximen, the no.1 beauty of the Northwest continent… This junior has admired you for a long time…”

Right now, there was still around half an hour before the deadline for the duel, however, Qin Shaobai couldn’t wait any longer.

He looked at the suns in the sky once more and slowly walked to the center of the high platform. He yelled out, “The trial by duel’s deadline will soon arrive. If Yang Dingtian doesn’t appear, it will be declared as his loss.

“Bang!” The city gates were crashed opened from the outside. A red-robed Yang Dingtian was riding on a giant riding beast, crashing the city gates open and rushing in.

The entire plaza was instantly silenced. This was immediately followed by an uproar as everyone stood to look at Yang Dingtian.

Everyone assumed that Yang Dingtian wasn’t going to come!

When Ximen Yanyan saw Yang Dingtian arriving, her gorgeous eyes shot an unprecedented glow before her delicate body went soft and almost collapsed.

Madam Ximen had a flash of light in her eyes before she immediately fainted. Ximen Ningning quickly caught hold of her. As she helped Madam Ximen, Ningning’s eyes chased after Yang Dingtian’s figure while tears trickled off. He was finally back… He was safe and sound. He was back from the Temple of Blood which was a nest of devils.

Yang Yan looked at Yang Dingtian’s figure and instantly shuddered. He then laughed grimly before saying, “This fool. He really came here to die.”

Ximen Li’s hands which were clenching tightly on his giant sword finally loosened up. He spoke softly, “Yang Dingtian, you’re really here? This is a good thing!”

Ximen Ju’s expression changed suddenly as he looked at Yang Dingtian while revealing a complex expression.

At the same moment, the Black Blood Cavalry’s morale had a great boost. They all yelled out valiantly.

Yang Dingtian rushed right to the center of the dueling ground and dismounted the riding beast. He abruptly drew the Night Owl Giant Blade and pointed at Qin Shaobai from distance and said, “Come on down.”

Qin Shaobai smiled and said, “I didn’t expect that you would really come for your death.”

Immediately after, his body slightly shook before he drifting down from the high platform. He landed at the opposite of Yang Dingtian. It seemed as though his body didn’t have any weight.

“Yang Dingtian, during the period of time you weren’t here. Many things happened…” Qin Shaobai laughed and said.

“Quit the nonsense. Draw your sword…” Yang Dingtian responded.

“No hurries.” Qin Shaobai sneered and said, “There is no need for you to be in a hurry to die. Let us talk about some things after your death. What should we do about your wife and your mother-in-law? I will be more than willing to carry the burden of taking care of them.”

“You just have to take good care of your mother.” Yang Dingtian said, “And also… Take more caution to avoid pregnancy. When you’re having illicit sex in the wild, you better find a more concealed location. Otherwise, if you encounter someone else and would want to kill them, you might not be able to frame them that easily.”

Once this statement was out, Qin Shaobai’s expression drastically changed and his body shivered. His eyes revealed an extremely vicious and resentful glow as he looked at Yang Dingtian. He spoke back in a cold voice, “Do you know something? Just because of this statement, you have caused the death of countless people. Everyone that’s related to you, even if just an acquaintance, will all be eradicated by the Northwest Qin Clan.”

Yang Dingtian laughed grimly and said, “Since either one of us is going to die today… It doesn’t matter! Stop acting like a know-it-all and let’s start the slaughter!”

“Yang Dingtian, you were already meant to die today. But Ximen Yanyan and the others could have lived. Now they can’t anymore. Everyone related to you must die,” Qin Shaobai spoke in a cold and vicious tone while he slowly drew his sword. It was an extremely sharp and mystic qi enhanced Blood Black Gold Sword.

That’s right, it’s the Blood Black Gold Sword!

The sword in Qin Shaobai’s hand shook vigorously while releasing a thunderous roar. A mist-like red flame was emitting from the sword and the entire blade was blazing in flames. Before the battle even started, a formidable energy was spreading out instilling fear in the people’s hearts.

Primal Chaos Exterminating Sword, Cloud Heaven City’s unique martial arts. The first generation city lord, Yang Yunxiao relied on this Primal Chaos Exterminating Sword to become one of the Nine Martial Saints in the millennium. Hence, the Primal Chaos Exterminating Sword could be considered as the representative of Cloud Heaven City.

Yang Dingtian slowly drew his sharp sword out which was the ugly and strange Night Owl Giant Blade. It looked like twisted metal pieces. Just from the appearance alone, it was totally worlds apart from Qin Shaobai’s Blood Black Gold Sword.

“Yang Dingtian, I will slaughter you like livestock! I will kill you within five moves! If I cannot kill you within five moves, it shall be considered my loss. How about it?” Qin Shaobai yelled out loudly with a thunderous voice echoing in the entire plaza.

Everyone was shocked!

Qin Shaobai’s declaration ignited the passion in everyone’s blood. He declared that he would kill Yang Dingtian in five moves, or else, it would be his loss. How bold and confident was he?

Yang Yan looked up and saw that the twin suns were suspended in midair.

“The time has arrived. Start the duel!” Yang Yan raised his giant sword and clanged it on the castle wall.

With a loud bang, the giant sword was crushed into smithereens and countless little shards scattered down the city.

…

“Primal Chaos Exterminating Sword. First sword move, Sword Reverse Heaven!”

The blazing Blood Black Gold Sword instantly transformed into a blue sword light which was several feet long. It cleaved down at Yang Dingtian’s head like was cleaving down forcefully at the mountain and the sea.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep