Chapter Nine, Matters of Marriage Alliance

He quickly understood the function of this magical artifact

It seems as if yesterday's heavy rain has swept away the impurities in the sky

The woman turned her head back, looking at the middle-aged warrior and the pair of siblings, and said softly: "Even in such darkness, the thunder has never ceased."

However, the "Supreme Emperor" has long been in seclusion and has ceased to concern himself with court affairs. Currently, the barbarian court's Emperor Zu Chiwu listens to the Prime Minister's every word and begins to forcibly implement the policy of "The Jin and Xia Families as One".

The ghost hook rat felt a chill deep within its heart, as torrential rain poured down, thunder roared, and lightning flashed, illuminating the heavens and the earth in a moment of brilliance, shocking like a thunderclap. The heart of the ghost hook rat seemed to be plunged into an abyss without end

On the road, he took out the magical artifact and, using the methods taught by the Holy Xuan Fairy and the Fire Charm Woman, studied the runes on it while focusing intently and immersing his consciousness.

The woman, accompanied by two children, bowed to him and said: "Thank you, noble warrior, for your assistance. The world is fraught with difficulties; if fate allows, I shall return to repay this kindness in the future. You should also leave this place quickly!" After saying this, she hurriedly left with her two children.

However, over the years, the so-called "royal" elite has become increasingly corrupt, while the common people of Huaxia have never ceased their various forms of resistance in secret

A shadow of a blade sliced through the air, resembling the wings of a cicada in the rain, spinning once before embedding itself in Zhao Haisong's throat

The premise is that after they come out, they should not continue to "harm each other".

Amidst the torrential downpour, the blade-winged bat unfurled its blood-red wings, striking down with a single slash, its blade light spreading across the sky, rolling up and down.

The severely injured martial artist and the two siblings were both doubting their own perceptions, wondering if they had missed some details, or rather, if some scenes had been obscured, preventing them from seeing clearly... The scene before them was indeed contrary to reason

In a small town outside the mountains, in a guesthouse, Shi Hao is soaking in a hot water tub

Remaining usage times: 5 times

It seems that he himself did not anticipate that this simple gesture of a finger could be so terrifying, a single finger could sever life, leaving no room for mercy

He stuffed the tiger-shaped talisman into his bosom, no longer paying attention to the corpses on the ground, and ran through the rain

Until the so-called Prime Minister Fu Tu of the Man Ting, whose martial prowess was said to rival that of the "Supreme Emperor," took control of the court and began to implement the "Golden Xia Family Ties" policy, which encouraged intermarriage between the Jin and Huaxia ethnic groups

Whether it is the Ghost Hook Rat or the Blade Wing Bat, neither dares to delay this battle, thus they directly unleashed their secret killing move, "Heavenly Kill, Earthly Sever"

They were unaware that in such a brief period, their young master was no longer just a frail scholar

However, in the perception of the youth's soul-chasing steps, the dual evildoers unleashing their lethal moves create a swirling energy akin to two magnets.

The divine crystal used in this treasure is called "Earthly Courage Star". As for "Earthly Courage Tiger", it is merely a name chosen by the craftsman after forging the divine crystal into a treasure, simply because it took the shape of a tiger, hence the name "Earthly Courage Tiger"

The power of the Inner Immortal Ice Technique and the Mystic Charm Skill has risen significantly, advancing at such a rapid pace that even he was taken aback by it

If it were two or three decades earlier, there would not have been an opportunity for Xiaohan Mountain City to marry a daughter of the Wusu clan

With a loud shout, the Ghost Hook Mouse hurled the iron hook towards the young man, while he himself channeled all his internal energy and turned to flee through the torrential rain

Suddenly, he felt a stir in his heart, although at that time, those two women were practically playing with his life.

I wonder if the two "wives" in the Primordial Cave Heaven are fighting again

The divine crystal itself cannot be used; it must be forged into a magical artifact or absorbed by the human body

The ghostly hook rat emerged and landed beside the knife-winged bat, whispering: "Be careful, this little guy... what's wrong with you?"

Heaven opens a path for slaughter, while the earth cuts off the way to life

The alliance between Xiaohan Mountain City and the Wusu clan originates from this.

At this moment, if the ghostly hook rat were to flee like an ordinary person, he might not even be able to catch up.

So far, they have used it only three times, each time against opponents whose strength far surpasses theirs, and without exception, it has achieved a lethal effect.

Since the invasion of Huaxia by the self-righteous and noble, the entire Jin clan has been designated as the "royal family," while a large number of Huaxia citizens have become the lower class. Intermarriage between the two clans is strictly prohibited

Once again, a search was conducted on Zhao Haisong, during which a wanted notice was found. It was for the two siblings, stating "Daughter of the traitor Wu Zheng" and "Son of the traitor Wu Zheng." Clearly, this Wu Zheng is the father of the two siblings, who was arrested for writing counter-revolutionary poetry and sentenced to execution along with his entire family, leaving no mercy even for the two children.

The youth strides forward, unable to stop in time

He pulled the two of them and said, "We cannot stay here for too long, the other hounds of the Six Doors may come chasing at any moment, follow me."

Clearly, the intention was to go to Jin County for a marriage alliance, but inexplicably, halfway there, one is no longer a bachelor

Shi Hao was scrubbing his body in hot water, thinking to himself with self-deprecation

The woman turned her head to look at Shi Hao, who stood motionless in the rain

Suddenly, the knife-winged bat spat out a mouthful of blood, stumbled forward, and fell to the ground, splashing the accumulated water mixed with mud around its body

More importantly, they stimulate and confront each other, and unknowingly, they grow rapidly together.

The ghost hook mouse and the knife-winged bat exchanged a glance, and the knife-winged bat leaped into the air, while the ghost hook mouse unexpectedly burrowed into the ground

The glint of blades and the shadows of hooks form a net that spans the heavens and the earth, resembling a roaring war chariot, intent on crushing the youth to pieces

Shi Hao Cun said: "Is this the magical artifact mentioned by Saint Xuan Fairy and the Fire Charm Woman? However, Zhao Haisong did not use it just now; is it because he has already used it today?"

There is also some trouble with this trip to Jin County. As the young master of Xiaohan Mountain City, I am forced to marry a daughter of the Wusu clan. If I do not go, I will offend the county lord, and the future situation of Xiaohan Mountain City will become even more difficult

Shi Hao focused his gaze and saw a woman emerging from the darkness. She was dressed in a light gray fitted outfit, splashing through the water as she made her way to Zhao Haisong's corpse. With a flick of her hand, the flying knife that had been lodged in Zhao Haisong's throat flew back into her grasp.

Along the way, he put on the shirt that was tied around his waist again and undid the evil shadow disguise technique taught to him by the Fire Charm Woman, returning to his true appearance

- Divine Crystal: Earth Courage Star

The two paths of the youth have been forcefully sealed off by them, and he finds himself caught in this grinding mill, with no other option but to be ground to dust.

She waved her hand, and the flying knife vanished without a trace

The figure of the youth flickered, and in the next moment, he had already arrived behind the ghostly hook rat. With a single finger, he pierced through the pouring rain and struck at the back of the ghostly hook rat's heart.

Zhao Haisong clutched his throat, his eyes wide open, emitting a hoarse hiss. His body swayed and then collapsed.

Upon considering this, he unexpectedly began to attempt the simultaneous practice of two different martial arts techniques

With a thud, the knife-winged bat fell to the ground, turning to look at the young man. The young man descended gracefully amidst the torrential rain, gazing coldly at him

Treasure: Earth Courage Tiger

The woman also appeared despondent. She crouched down beside the brother and sister and said, "I apologize for being late"

Seeing that the young master was safe and sound, Master Lu and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief as they escorted their young master down the mountain in the rain

For Xiaohan Mountain City, this is undoubtedly a disgrace, but for the Wusu clan, they still feel that Xiaohan Mountain City is beyond their reach

The effect of use is to gain divine body and divine power in a short period, with both physical strength and power increasing exponentially. Usage is limited to once per day

Upon thinking of this, he tightly furrowed his brows

At that moment, the young man's finger gently tapped on his back; that seemingly insignificant touch, however, set the knife-winged bat's meridians ablaze.

He discovered a considerable amount of silver coins along with some miscellaneous items. He had little interest in the silver coins and did not take them.

After running for several miles, the rain began to weaken. Near the edge of a large pit in the distance, Shi Hao heard Master Lu and the hunters continuously shouting, "Young Master, Young Master"

That being said

The ghostly hook rat turned its head to look at the knife-winged bat, whose body was trembling in the rain

In the history of the martial world, there has never been anyone who simultaneously cultivated both the foundations of Tao and Demon. Such a remarkable occurrence would likely be beyond the imagination of even the Holy Xuan Fairy and the Fire Charm Woman.

Surrounded by warm steam, soaking in hot water, I feel exceptionally comfortable

The young man glanced at the corpse on the ground and unexpectedly displayed a look of surprise

Even while he lay down to sleep, they continued in this subtle balance, suppressing and promoting each other, operating without any pause

Beneath the cliff, the severely injured middle-aged warrior said in a deep voice: "It is indeed dark here!"

From the other side came a scream, and the young man quickly turned around, only to see Zhao Haisong soaring towards the cliff face.

If one cultivates in this manner, it is likely that before long, both of these techniques can be mastered to their fullest extent

However, the two of them indeed established the foundations of two different cultivation methods within him simultaneously

So strange, so bizarre, as if he had done nothing at all, the knife-winged bat simply "pulled" him out.

Immediately after, Shi Hao discovered a stone, intricately carved in the shape of a tiger, with runes inscribed upon it

Shi Hao pondered to himself: "Although I am already an eighth-grade martial artist, to advance further, I must cultivate both the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Skill to their utmost limits. In this process, I also need to find the medicinal materials for refining the seventh-grade Immortal Pill. I wonder if there is any place to purchase such items?"

Shi Hao bent down and searched the bodies of the two evil mice bats to see if there was anything useful.

With the abilities of the two of them, if they can truly advance to the fourth rank quickly and assist them in leaving the Primordial Cave Heaven, it would undoubtedly be a significant boost for Huaxia

After this night passed, when Shi Hao got up the next day, he not only did not feel the slightest bit of fatigue, but instead felt invigorated.

After bathing, he sat cross-legged on the simple wooden bed in the room, preparing to cultivate his skills, yet he was pondering whether to practice the Immortal Ice Technique first or the Mysterious Charm Skill first

He took out the Jade Clear Stone and the magical treasure "Earth Courage Star" and conducted further research on them. By this time, the sky had brightened, and outside, the sun was shining brightly with not a cloud in sight

The youth merely tapped once on his back, and that devastating technique had already shattered his vitality

With the full power of the Ghost Hook Mouse, the internal energy continuously accelerates, and under the guidance of the Soul Locking Steps, it is as if the gates are wide open, inviting him to kill.

The ghost hook rat, with its densely packed shadows of hooks, sweeps along the ground, erupting upward from the soil and stones, resembling a chilling waterfall hanging upside down.

Yet it seemed as if there was a force of attraction, suddenly pulling him, and in the next moment, he unexpectedly evaded the lethal strike and found himself behind the blade-winged bat

The iron hook of the ghostly hook rat rolled in from the ground, nearly rolling onto him

He has lost all courage and no longer dares to confront this young man

The net of heaven and earth created by him and the ghostly hook rat could not stop the youth's escape at all; at that moment, the youth's figure inexplicably accelerated.

Shi Hao made a large detour before pretending to emerge from the mud to join them

Tonight marks his first act of murder, yet he feels no turmoil within. He only despises such scum, believing he has not killed enough of them.

The divine light within the treasure is dim, indicating that it has indeed been used today, and it is even possible that Zhao Haisong obtained it by seizing it from someone else

At the bottom of the cliff, the severely injured and dying warrior, along with the frightened siblings, saw him standing amidst the overwhelming barrage of lethal attacks, unmoving.

As he watched their figures disappear into the wind, rain, and darkness, Shi Hao relaxed and steadied his mind, turning to look at the two evil creatures and the corpses of the Six Doors constables.

Behind him, the young man pointed with his hand

-

Thus, the chieftain of the Wusu clan, Duke Wusu Baoteng of Jinjun, could not possibly allow his daughter to marry into a "lowly family." Therefore, he instructed his younger brother to select a young girl from among the clansmen, adopt her as his daughter, and arrange her marriage to the young lord of Xiaohan Mountain City.

In the midst of the tumultuous storm, Shi Hao calmly stated: "I am merely a passerby who has stumbled upon this injustice"

However, if I were to truly marry, then Xiaohan Mountain City would likely become a vassal of the Wusu clan, and I, as a proud descendant of the Huaxia people, would also become a son-in-law of the barbarians

This policy is said to have also sparked strong dissatisfaction among the senior management of Jinzhu.

The figure of the youth swayed, dodging the flying iron hook, as he watched the silhouette of the ghost hook rat.

In the heart of the knife-winged bat, there was an even greater shock. At the moment the young man broke free, he felt his own body momentarily stagnate, his internal energy becoming chaotic. In the next instant, the young man was behind him

The ghostly hook rat unexpectedly sprinted over ten zhang, suddenly stumbling in its steps, and with a loud thud, fell into the rain, convulsed twice, kicked its legs, and died on the spot.

The girl and the boy supported his gradually cooling body on either side, crying out: "Uncle Zhao, Uncle Zhao..."

This move has been secretly studied by them for many years, serving as a crucial technique to deal with formidable enemies, and is never used lightly

The middle-aged warrior revealed a relieved smile: "You all... finally arrived, I can... rest assured now." His head drooped.

Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a flash of blade light in the darkness on the other side

The two opposing practices of Dao and magic, which should originally be irreconcilable, within his body, like the intertwined yin and yang fish, not only counterbalance each other but also truly operate in perfect harmony.

As he watched the two villains, the rat and the bat, being killed by the mysterious young man, Zhao Haisong realized that he had no way to escape and actually intended to take the brother and sister hostage.

He pulled up the two children and then looked at the young man silently observing everything in the rain, saying: "Thank you, noble hero, for your assistance. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

The knife-winged bat sensed that something was amiss, its internal energy sinking as it plummeted rapidly