96: Chapter 96 The Old Bald Donkey

Xuan Kong hovered in mid-air, looking down at Zhao Tiangang.

"The Pavilion Master has given an order." Xuan Kong's tone was flat, without any fluctuation. "Baicao Valley is the royal pharmacy of the Great Xia. Whoever touches it, dies."

As the word "die" left his lips, Luo Qingxue plucked the strings of her zither. The second movement of the Nine Nether Soul-Suppressing Song.

Visible sound waves transformed into tangible ice blades, sweeping toward the other two sword boats like a deluge. The Disciples of the Myriad Sword Holy Land on the boats didn't even have time to scream before they were frozen into ice sculptures.

Zhao Tiangang's eyes were splitting with rage.

"You go too far! Do you really think the Myriad Sword Holy Land is afraid of your Heavenly Secret Pavilion?"

He formed a seal with both hands and slammed them onto his chest. A mouthful of blood essence sprayed onto the long sword in his hand. The sword emitted a clear, resonant chime, transforming into a hundred-zhang long blood-colored sword gleam that slashed directly at Xuan Kong.

At the same time, two powerful auras erupted from deep within the sword boat. Two Grand Elders at the Semi-Saint level broke out of seclusion, flanking Xuan Kong from the left and right.

"A bit of foundation. But it's not enough." Xuan Kong raised his right hand.

He clenched his fist.

Facing that blood-colored sword gleam, he punched out.

There were no fancy Moves, only pure Physical Body strength and Qi.

His fist struck the sword gleam. The blood-colored light shattered inch by inch. The long sword in Zhao Tiangang's hand snapped into three pieces, and he was sent flying backward, crashing through the deck of the sword boat.

The two Semi-Saint Elders' attacks arrived.

A black and a white sword aura sealed off Xuan Kong's retreat.

Luo Qingxue flickered, appearing behind Xuan Kong. She held the Nine Nether Soul-Suppressing Zither in front of her, her fingers dancing across the strings. The Origin of Taiyin transformed into an ice shield.

The black and white sword auras struck the ice shield, sending ice shards flying, but they failed to break the defense.

Xuan Kong seized the opportunity to turn, backhanding the shoulder of one of the Semi-Saint Elders. His Qi penetrated the body, directly crippling the opponent's meridians. Seeing this, the other Semi-Saint was terrified and turned to flee.

"Want to leave?" Luo Qingxue shifted the melody.

The invisible sound waves caught up to the Semi-Saint, directly shredding his protective Qi. The Semi-Saint let out a scream, plummeted from mid-air, and crashed heavily into the forest.

From start to finish, the battle lasted less than half an incense stick of time.

Of the three sword boats of the Myriad Sword Holy Land, two were destroyed and one was crippled. The Great Elder was severely injured, and the two Semi-Saints were one crippled and one fled.

A total defeat.

Xuan Kong landed back on the ground and walked up to Su Qianxue.

"Valley Master Su, you have been startled." Xuan Kong cupped his hands.

Su Qianxue put away her long sword and let out a long breath. "Many thanks to both seniors for your help. If not for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Baicao Valley would likely not have escaped this disaster today."

"This is what the Pavilion Master entrusted to us; it is our duty." Xuan Kong turned to look at Zhao Tiangang, who was being dug out of the ruins by a few Disciples.

Zhao Tiangang was disheveled and covered in blood. He stared intently at Xuan Kong, his eyes full of unwillingness.

"If you want to kill me, then do it. The Myriad Sword Holy Land is inferior to you; I admit defeat." Zhao Tiangang spat out a mouthful of bloody foam.

Xuan Kong ignored him and turned to ask Su Qianxue: "Valley Master Su, how should this person be dealt with? The Pavilion Master said that you are in charge of matters concerning Baicao Valley."

Su Qianxue looked at the devastated clearing outside the valley, then at the damaged spiritual herbs in the herb field.

"If we kill him, the Myriad Sword Holy Land will definitely fight to the death. Great Xia needs to stabilize the rear now; we cannot create more powerful enemies." Su Qianxue pondered for a moment and walked up to Zhao Tiangang.

"Elder Zhao. The protective formation of Baicao Valley has been damaged, and thirty percent of the herb field destroyed. The Myriad Sword Holy Land must pay for this."

Zhao Tiangang sneered: "I have no money. If you have the guts, then take my life."

"Your life is worthless." Su Qianxue said calmly. "The sword boats of the Myriad Sword Holy Land are made of top-grade profound iron. If we dismantle them and sell them to the Great Xia military, we can exchange them for quite a few spirit stones. As for you and the remaining Disciples..."

She pointed to the herb field.

"There is an extreme cold ice essence causing trouble beneath Baicao Valley. You sword cultivators have strong physiques, which makes you perfect for digging it out. Dig ten thousand catties, and I will let you go. If you are short even a single tael, you will stay in Baicao Valley as fertilizer for the herbs."

Zhao Tiangang's eyes widened, his body trembling with rage. A dignified Holy Land Great Elder, going to mine? This was harder to bear than being killed.

"A gentleman can be killed, but not humiliated!"

Xuan Kong added from the side: "You don't have to dig. I happen to be missing a punching bag to test my strikes. Your bones should be able to withstand three of my punches."

Zhao Tiangang looked at the Grand Elder beside him whose meridians had been crippled, and swallowed the rest of his words.

"I'll dig." He gritted his teeth and squeezed out the word.