Chapter 2, The Grim Reaper in the Water
A series of footsteps alleviated the atmosphere within the stone hall
There is a diaspora tribe located to the north of Jianfeng. From the terrace, one can vaguely discern the situation within the tribe, but it is not very clear, as the mist at the waist of the peak is too thick. Even on a sunny day, only a blurred shadow of the tribe can be seen
Mu Ai's initial thought was that the mysterious person would have no opportunity to strike at the wrist, as his sword would cleave straight down to sever the opponent's wrist. Therefore, even though he was aware that those two sharp bamboo pieces could become lethal weapons, he completely overlooked them
The arrows were extremely fast, precise, and lethal, which sent a chill through Mu Ai's heart. Nevertheless, he still swung his sword, albeit too hastily. Due to the repeated fierce attacks from the mysterious figure beneath the water, he had overlooked the Bamboo Forest. Thus, when he noticed this powerful arrow, a sense of bitterness inevitably filled his heart.
It is undeniable that Mu Ai's decision is indeed quite bitter; under normal circumstances, he would never act this way, but at this moment, he has no choice.
In fact, she is like a sprite that exists only in the mountains
As the mysterious figure twisted his wrist, he intended to use the split "sword sheath" as a weapon to launch it forward. His strength was applied with great precision, and the two sharp bamboo pieces were perfectly coordinated, shooting directly towards Mu Ai's chest
The white clouds drift leisurely, the sky is high and the air is fresh, a realm untainted by dust, which is truly intoxicating.
Thinking of Xuanyuan, she couldn't help but feel a bit sweeter in her heart. She liked to look into Xuanyuan's eyes. When Xuanyuan looked up at the sky, she would gaze into his eyes, which were as deep as the sky and contained an unyielding stubbornness. They always stirred an indescribable emotion within her.
At this critical juncture, first, the three great warriors were killed while guarding the "sacrifice," followed by the inexplicable disappearance of the "sacrifice." Then, the daughter of the dragon dream, Jiao You, suddenly went missing. All of this occurred on the same day—May 26.
The faint sound of a call entered Mosquito's ears, yet it was the cry of the dragon's dream
The three high priests could not help but frown, clearly because they were very close to the Jiao Dream and had also discerned some symbols on the tree bark.
Xuan Yuan is just like this; Hei Dou cannot help but admire his absolutely strong will and supreme composure. However, Hei Dou knows that Xuan Yuan is definitely not a stone man, nor does he dislike beauty; he simply understands when certain matters are more important.
Immediately thereafter, Jiao Meng had the bark shown to everyone in the hall one by one
***
Xuanyuan may not be considered very handsome, but he possesses delicate features, a tall stature, and a physique akin to that of a leopard. His tousled short hair further accentuates his spirited and heroic demeanor. What is most striking, however, is his gaze, which seems to contain boundless sorrow yet remains stubborn and unyielding. Beneath his wildness and aloofness lies an irresistible charm.
The sword peak, like a sword piercing the heavens, thrusts into the clouds
You are safe now https://www.hetushu.com, I can return you to your own tribe
The sound of footsteps is exceedingly heavy, as if conveying a very bad message to people
"What he said is the truth; you need not doubt it, and he has no reason to deceive you," added Black Bean
Jiao You only wished to see her kin, her gaze fixed on the direction of the river god's altar. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she could not discern any figures. However, she firmly believed that Xuanyuan would handle the situation well; this was her heartfelt trust in him. At the same time, she was aware that this was a reckless act, one that could spiral out of control. Nevertheless, she did not want to dwell on it too much, perhaps this was related to the excessive pampering she had received since childhood. At the same time, she was aware that this was a reckless act, one that could spiral out of control. Nevertheless, she did not want to dwell on it too much, perhaps this was related to the excessive pampering she had received since childhood.
This enemy, Mu Ai, did not see clearly, but he did see a powerful arrow shot towards him
Mu Ai should not have made a mistake, but he could not match the mysterious person's wisdom. Every action and every detail of his fell into the other's calculations, which ultimately determined his defeat.
The wooden wormwood sought to block, but its strength was already exhausted, and its breath could not return at all; all it could do was let out a desperate long howl
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The leader of the expatriate clan, Jiao Meng, was surrounded by an aura of murderous intent
You follow me! Xuanyuan cast a faint glance at the "sacrifice," then softened his tone and spoke gently. At the same time, he took a step towards the entrance of the cave.
He felt a bit awkward and took a breath, knowing Xuanyuan's personality and the inherent ruthlessness within him. "That's not what I meant. I meant that having one more person will always add a bit more strength, at least it would give us more confidence in dealing with that old dog"
The sharp bamboo cracked in response, yet the split bamboo shot out like two concealed weapons. This was due to the mysterious figure flicking their wrist. "The one who should be dead is you!" the mysterious person snorted coldly, speaking with disdain
Father, this is the clue I found beneath the Divine Mountain!" Jiao Long handed a piece of bark to Jiao Meng, and it was only at that moment that people noticed the white bark in Jiao Long's hand, stripped of its outer shell
That is someone else's decision, but you are my prize, and my prize is not subject to the judgment of others, nor will I allow them to use you as a 'sacrifice.' Therefore, I would rather let you go than allow those extremely hypocritical people to kill you. However, whether you can escape their pursuit still depends on your luck. Xuanyuan turned away lightly and said in a low voice. However, whether you can escape their pursuit still depends on your luck. Xuanyuan turned away lightly and said in a low voice
The summit of the sword peak is a platform, but people commonly refer to it as the "heavenly terrace"
Indeed, Xuanyuan has already expended considerable physical strength. Although he swiftly eliminated Mu Ai, Hua Lei, and He Tian in a short span of time, accomplishing this series of actions was by no means easy. Both his mental, cognitive, and physical resources have been significantly depleted, which is why he and the book do not wish to waste more energy on this futile pursuit of fleshly desires that contributes nothing to the greater situation. This is because his late acquaintance is a revered 'deity' among his people—the earth priest.
The sharp bamboo is not bamboo, but a sword; the sword hidden within the sharp bamboo can also be said to be merely sheathed in it. When the wooden mugwort shatters the sheath, it remains unprepared for the sword within, creating an inextricable deadlock
The bare upper body, with its prominent muscles, conveys a surge of vitality and a flowing power. The short, bluish chest hair resembles a banner admired by the young warriors of the tribe. The animal skin pants are tightly bound. With each step, a sound resonates, as if treading upon the heartstrings of the crowd
The sunlight that can penetrate through the gaps in the dense foliage is not particularly bright
The person smiled faintly and murmured, "I never expected that among the overseas Chinese there would be such a beauty. No wonder so many people are searching for you. It seems that my trip to Jishui this time was not in vain." As he spoke, the person slowly approached Jiao You.
However, Jiao You's gaze occasionally turned towards the direction of the tribe
Jiao You gazed at the blue sky, her eyes, filled with spirit, could not conceal a hint of astonishment. She rarely scrutinized the vast and distant sky with such seriousness; at this moment, it seemed she had suddenly realized why Xuanyuan so loved to gaze upon this boundless expanse of sky.
"Follow me obediently, and I will not treat you poorly!" There was unexpectedly a hint of gentle temptation in the young man's tone.
Although it is merely a sharp bamboo, it carries the sound of wind and thunder, astonishing to the extreme
Jiao closed her beautiful eyes, feeling at ease. The fierce beasts atop the sword peak had long been driven away by the warriors of the tribe to over a hundred miles away. Therefore, there would be no fierce beasts within a hundred miles. Thus, she had no reason to worry about being disturbed or attacked by wild animals
Mu Ai swung his sword to intercept. Although he was astonished by the momentum of the sharp bamboo as it pierced through, resembling the swift movement of wind and thunder, he held no high regard for such a loosely structured weapon. In fact, he found it somewhat amusing that a mysterious person would attempt to kill him with such an instrument, seemingly unaware that his Xuan Bamboo Sword was more than capable of splitting stones and breaking tablets.
Jiao You was startled and suddenly remembered that she was on the rooftop, with a sheer cliff behind her. Below the cliff was the altar for the heavenly sacrifice, and the cliff was at least several hundred zhang high. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart and turned to look back. Indeed, she was only a few steps away from the edge of the cliff, and the cold wind rising from below made her body feel somewhat chilly.
When the mysterious person finished speaking, Mu Ai's eyes remained wide open, even in death, as if wanting to say something but unable to express it. It was as if he was astonished by a secret that could not possibly be known to outsiders, suddenly revealed in a casual manner by a stranger. Yet, what he truly thought in his heart will forever remain unknown to anyone.
Mu Ai stood in the air, surveying everything beneath, but this m.hetushu.com was not a good thing, for within the bitter bamboo forest, there remained a terrifying enemy
Mu Ai's legs were both injured, thus he concentrated all his strength on this one move, determined to determine the outcome against his opponent. Otherwise, once his body landed on the raft, his mobility would be significantly compromised, which would be absolutely disadvantageous for him. Therefore, he needed to exert his maximum advantage in this strike
Mu Ai felt both astonished and angry, yet he could not discern the face of the newcomer. The other party was shrouded in a black veil, with only two deep, sky-like eyes visible.
Mu Ai died at the moment the mysterious person drew the sharp sword. However, when the mysterious person heard the words "Xuan Yuan," his eyes flickered slightly, and he calmly said, "Though we bear no hatred, you should not be the illegitimate child of the Earth Priest!" He did not refute Mu Ai's words, for he indeed was Xuan Yuan.
A pair of eyes as deep as the sky, their stubborn and unyielding gaze filled with a cold, murderous intent made Mu Ai think of someone at the moment of death's arrival. Thus, two words escaped from his bleeding lips—Xuanyuan
Faced with the inexperienced Jiao You, Shen Nong could not help but display a triumphant smile that only victors possess. Jiao You indeed lacked combat experience, as he even turned back to glance at his surroundings at this moment. Naturally, Shen Nong would not let any opportunity slip by, so he took action.
Hmph, I have already made arrangements, so you need not worry. I, Xuanyuan, am certainly not a reckless person; I would never take risks with matters that I am not confident about
She closed her beautiful eyes, secretly imagining the frantic expressions of the group in the tribe searching for her like headless flies. Those tribespeople preparing for the sacrifice to the heavens all set aside their tasks to look for her. That scene must have been quite amusing, ... and very interesting ...
In a moment of luck, his sword struck the deadly arrow, but due to the hasty move and being in mid-air, he could not exert enough force. As a result, he merely deflected the powerful arrow, avoiding a fatal hit, but it still pierced into his thigh
You are awake. Xuanyuan glanced at the "sacrifice" and asked lightly
Useless! The mysterious figure smiled faintly, and as he spoke, the sword in his hand unleashed a stunning flash of color, akin to a startled swan or a bolt of lightning, carrying an irresistible intent to kill as it surged forward.
Within the stone hall, only the three high priests appeared composed and unperturbed. The others were filled with trepidation, not daring to raise their heads, as if awaiting the final judgment from the Dreaming Dragon.
"I won't go with you; my father is coming. If you dare to bully me, my father will not let you off!" The hand of Wen You holding the knife trembled slightly. She kept retreating while trying to intimidate the other party. She truly could not resist the murderous aura emanating from that young man.
"Where is this...?" the offering, feeling somewhat flustered, glanced around the cave where they were situated and timidly inquired.
With a splash, the water surface broke, and the mysterious figure once again leaped onto the large wooden raft platform, thrusting the sharp bamboo weapon mercilessly towards Mu Ai's body
The two sharp bamboo shoots shot past the lower abdomen of the wooden Ai, yet not a single hair on him was harmed
The Day of Sacrifice is approaching in two days, and all hunting activities of the overseas Chinese community have ceased, as everyone is busy preparing for the ceremony.
***
The mysterious person's long sword traced a beautiful arc through the void, marking the end of the opponent's final mistake
The first to enter the stone hall was the Jiaolong, the only son of Jiaomeng, a young man known for his bravery and strength among the Qiao tribe. Like Jiaoyou, he was deeply loved by the people of the tribe and was the object of admiration among the young warriors, simply because he was Jiaoyou's brother. Of course, there were those who disliked him, but among the eight hundred and forty-six members of the tribe, there was only one such person, an outlier in the Qiao tribe—Xuanyuan
But... but aren't you going to use me as a 'sacrifice'?
Indeed, he is quite a special person. Jiao You unconsciously uttered such a nonsensical remark in a low voice, and only then did she realize that she had lost her composure. She couldn't help but smile shyly at her earlier soliloquy, as if she were directing and starring in an exceedingly interesting play herself
The offering was momentarily taken aback, unable to resist casting another glance at the enemy who had once roughly captured her.
Xuanyuan stood up and spoke softly
Go to hell!" Mu Ai shouted fiercely, as the Xuan Bamboo Sword struck precisely on the sharp bamboo.
Mosquito You was taken aback, and only then did he remember the matter of leaving a message on the tree bark. He hurriedly opened his eyes, stood up, and murmured to himself: "I should proceed according to Xuanyuan's plan"
"Who are you?" Jiao You was certain that the other party was not a member of her clan, and there were not many in her clan who possessed such skill—able to approach her from behind without her noticing.
Black Bean, this is no longer your concern; do not interfere. Leave the matter of the Earth Priest to me.
Mu Ai's complexion changed the moment the mysterious person's words fell, as he sensed the footsteps of death drawing near
Jiao You was taken aback, turning around in shock to draw a short knife. In an instant, she stepped back three paces, watching with great vigilance the person who had appeared behind her without her noticing.
Who is the murderer? No one knows. However, it is certain that the murderer must be an extremely terrifying individual. Otherwise, the murderer would not possess sufficient power to take the lives of three brave warriors, especially considering that among the deceased is the renowned swordsman Mu Ai. It is precisely for this reason that Wen Meng has summoned the three high priests and the elders of the clan, which is also the main reason for the tense atmosphere within the stone hall
Jiao Meng took the tree bark and could not help but murmur: "To save Jiao and the - map - book of the mysterious, one must ascend to the peak of the Sword Mountain"
She woke up! Black Bean pointed at the slowly opening eyes of the "sacrifice" and whispered.
Some things, when overlooked, must come at a cost, and Mu Ai is no exception. However, he is not an amateur; he managed to use the force from the Xuan Bamboo Sword to rebound off the sharp bamboo, propelling himself away once more.
We immediately rushed to the Sacred Mountain!" said several warriors from the tribe, somewhat impatiently.
You are Jiao You!" A voice, somewhat surprised yet very cold, sounded from behind You.
The young man smiled and said, "Hmph, what is a Jiao dream? You need not retreat any further, or else you will fall into the abyss"
In the midst of conversation, Xuanyuan had already changed into a set of dry clothes for the "sacrifice". He turned around, his gaze as clear as water, as if the girl he had just dressed was not a young woman capable of stirring the blood of any man, but rather a pile of lifeless objects
He looked at the "sacrifice," that exquisite and translucent body, swallowed hard, and said with some concern, "How could you possibly be a match for that old dog?"
Xuanyuan did not turn around, yet his voice sounded extremely calm as he said: "Do you think I will definitely lose?"
Mu Ai's body fell heavily onto the wooden raft, yet he did not collapse. What supported him was the long sword of a mysterious figure, which pierced through his heart. In the final moment of his life, the deepest impression left on Mu Ai was the eyes of his opponent
While the worship of heaven is undoubtedly important, for the young warriors, what matters most is the enchanting beauty of the dragon spirit, as lovely as the goddess of the Jishui River
The face of the mosquito dragon is rugged, and the sweat hairs on his face, contrasted against his slightly disheveled hair, exude a wild and fierce aura.
Everything was very tranquil. Jiao You was dressed in a simple white garment, quietly seated on a white stone in the center of the rooftop. Her snow-white skin was as lustrous as jade, and her entire figure contrasted beautifully with the white stone, resembling a goddess statue on the rooftop. She was so unadorned that she seemed untouched by the mundane world, as refreshing and crisp as nature itself.
Jiao Meng pondered for a while, then glanced at the three high priests and instructed in a deep voice: "Then I will trouble the Sky Priest to arrange the matters of the heavenly sacrifice, and the Human Priest should discuss the details of the heavenly sacrifice with the chieftain of the Youguo tribe. The timing of the sacrifice remains unchanged... As for the matter of the missing 'sacrifice', I will leave that to the Earth Priest."
The offering looked at Xuanyuan and Heidou with some bewilderment, seemingly unable to believe that what it had heard was true
"What do you want to do?" Jiao You noticed that the other person's gaze was extremely strange, and a layer of cold indifference surfaced on that young and handsome face, causing her to feel a sense of fear. Although her martial arts skills were quite good, she had never had any experience in fighting.
It turns out that this young man named "Shennong" is the young master of the Shaodian clan, who is usually very arrogant. Little does he know that he has come this time for the sake of the Qiao clan...
Xuan Yuan, while cleaning the wet garments of the "sacrificial offerings," spoke earnestly.