Martial Cultivator

Yu Xiyi paused and asked, "Fellow Daoist, you’re not joking, are you?"

The young monk smiled and shook his head. "Although this destitute monk didn't witness the scene of you two unleashing a single sword strike to kill that great demon, this destitute monk did visit the battlefield afterward and saw the power of that sword strike. It seems like it was a so-called Sword Sect's great talisman, correct?"

Yu Xiyi nodded, not hiding it.

The young monk continued, "Before this destitute monk went there, a far stronger aura had lingered on that battlefield, but in the end, it seems that individual tracked your movements southward, while this destitute monk headed north. That's how I managed to meet you before him. However, that individual's cultivation realm is too high, he's likely already on his way to pursue you both, so it's only natural that he'll catch up with us soon."

Chen Chao frowned. "If Fellow Daoist knew this beforehand, why didn't you mention it earlier? Why wait until now to bring it up?"

The young monk smiled. "There was no point in saying anything. You two would have encountered him either way, so there wasn't much to discuss."

With this, both Yu Xiyi and Chen Chao were left speechless. Knowing something like this ahead of time and still daring to travel with them, neither knew what to say at this point.

Chen Chao suddenly laughed, "It seems Fellow Daoist must have some means to deal with it."

The young monk asked in surprise, "Why does Fellow Daoist Chen say that?"

Chen Chao's face turned stiff. He studied the young monk carefully, discovering that he seemed entirely serious, it did not look like he was pretending. Only then, did Chen Chao force a bitter smile. "If Fellow Daoist has no means of defeating the enemy, why would you dare to travel with us? Do you truly have a death wish? Are you in a hurry to meet Buddha in the western afterlife?"

The young monk smiled. "Since this is fate, why resist? Besides, didn't Fellow Daoist Chen just claim not to believe in fate? Now we have a perfect opportunity to test whether we'll really die here."

Chen Chao did not know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed the young monk in front of him was somewhat out of his mind.

Had he meditated to the point of foolishness?

The young monk clasped his hands together, smiling without saying a word.

Yu Xiyi, on the other hand, looked towards the Onan River and sighed, "Since we've come this far, why not head upstream and take a look?"

The young monk nodded. "That's precisely what this destitute monk was thinking."

Chen Chao frowned and said, "Unless we can completely cut off our aura, going upstream will still lead to us being found. If other powerful demons show up, it'll be even more certain death."

The young monk smiled. "How does Fellow Daoist know that this destitute monk has precisely the means to do that?"

"... ..."

Chen Chao was seriously at a loss for words and could only remain silent.

"Along the way, this destitute monk has already begun to fade our traces. There's about a fifty percent chance of ensuring that the great demon won't be able to pinpoint our location. If we head upstream now, it's likely he won't be able to guess our direction."

The young monk smiled and said, "It seems Fellow Daoist Yu has already decided to accompany this destitute monk. What about you, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Chen Chao gave a bitter smile. "Do I even have a choice?"

If he did not follow these two upstream, he would be all by himself. Being a martial artist without many tricks up his sleeve, getting found was almost a certainty. So his only option was to follow them.

Suddenly, Chen Chao asked, "Fellow Daoist, you're not deceiving us, right?"

The young monk replied solemnly, "Monks do not lie. You're overthinking, Fellow Daoist Chen."

Chen Chao gritted his teeth. "Alright, let’s go."

"Excellent," the young monk smiled. "It would be a great thing to take a look at the demon race's royal city."

……

……

Xie Nandu chose to follow the Great Liang Emperor up north while the other cultivators turned around and returned to Coldgate Pass.

Along the way, the Great Liang Emperor did not walk quickly, as if he was not in any particular hurry.

"Do you know why We brought you with me up north?"

The reason "to see the man you like" was certainly not a convincing one, and no one else could fathom why the Great Liang Emperor would do this either.

Xie Nandu thought for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty wants me to see the depths of the desolate north and familiarize myself with the terrain in preparation for the future."

The Great Liang Emperor nodded. "Correct. We know your ambition, and We know you have the capability. The human race and the demon race have been in a standoff for many years. While things have been relatively stable in recent years, the northern demons remain a great threat to the human race. Temporary peace doesn't mean permanent peace. To thoroughly resolve this huge problem, there's naturally only one way."

To prevent trouble from arising again, the source of the trouble had to be eradicated early.

"We have done many things over the years, bringing something out of nothing. But as for accomplishing this final task, We cannot do it. The foreign lands won't let Us accomplish it. So, the future depends on you youngsters. The future of the Great Liang, the future of the human race, lies on your shoulders."

Looking at the distant snowstorm, the Great Liang Emperor said with vicissitudes of emotion. "If only you all were born many years earlier and could have fought alongside Us, We would truly have wanted to accomplish something that no one in history has ever achieved."

Xie Nandu thought out loud, "So Your Majesty's intention in arranging this is to plant a seed in their hearts."

The Great Liang Emperor gave Xie Nandu a slightly approving glance. "To accomplish this, relying on the Great Liang alone will never be enough. The foreign lands is a powerful help. But the current generation of people with entrenched ideas, We cannot change them. We can only see what the younger generation will do."

Xie Nandu nodded, finally understanding the true intention behind this so-called journey to the desolate north and the Great Liang Emperor's underlying purpose.

"If you want to build a tower, you must first lay the foundation. We have spent so many years, and all We could achieve was this much. Our future will likely only reach this point as well. The tower can only be left for you all to complete."

The Great Liang Emperor lamented softly. "Each generation has its own mission. We can only do this much."

There was a hint of regret and helplessness in his words.

Suddenly, Xie Nandu asked an extremely bold question, "Is Your Majesty considering passing the throne to Chen Chao?"

This was a highly sensitive question, under normal circumstances, Xie Nandu would never have asked it. But here in the desolate north, with only the two of them in the midst of the snowstorm, her usual reservations seemed to fade away.

The Great Liang Emperor did not get angry, he just smiled and asked, "Are you content with just being the empress?"

Xie Nandu frowned slightly.

"That nephew of Ours, We..."

The Great Liang Emperor wanted to speak, but hesitated. In the end, he decided not to say more. Instead, he smiled and said, "Forget it. We don't want to tell you right now."

Xie Nandu smiled faintly and did not press further.

"Actually, compared to him, you're more suited to be the next emperor of Great Liang. But even if you were to take that throne, you wouldn't be able to sit on it securely."

The Great Liang Emperor smiled as he looked at Xie Nandu. He often saw glimpses of the late empress in this woman. "Differences in status, differences between men and women, these things can't be changed in just a few decades. Most matters in the world require time. We can't remember it all, but if We are honest with myself, We truly don't care whether the world after Us still bears the surname Chen."

Xie Nandu praised from the bottom of her heart, "Your Majesty's magnanimity is truly unparalleled throughout history."

"When others flatter me, We usually find it irritating. That boy throws in a few compliments, and We feel at ease. But when you say such things, We just feel awkward."

The Great Liang Emperor laughed and continued, "We heard that both my empress and princess met you back then, and they both thought highly of you. We also think you're pretty good. But you have the academy and the Xie Family behind you. Breaking free from that won't be easy."

Xie Nandu said softly, "In Nandu's heart, I have only the Great Liang."

"Say that it's the world, the Great Liang is too small."

The Great Liang Emperor said calmly, "The world can be called anything in the future. As long as the people live with dignity, able to stand tall, then everything We have done today will have been worth it."

Xie Nandu pondered for a moment and then said, "That's a very troublesome matter.

Suddenly, the Great Liang Emperor stopped walking, remaining silent as he looked up at the sky. A streak of sword light passed over their heads, cutting through the wind and snow with unwavering determination.

Xie Nandu also sensed the overwhelming and terrifying sword intent and asked rather curiously, "Who sent out that sword?"

"The most greatest sword user in the world. The sword has arrived, though it's uncertain if the person will follow."

The Great Liang Emperor said with a smile, "We never thought he would actually draw his sword."

Xie Nandu was a bit shocked. The most greatest sword user in the world, was that not the Sword Sect's Sect Master?

It was rumored that this Sword Sect's Sect Master was the most low-profile and mysterious of all, rarely even leaving the Sword Sect. Could he really have come to the desolate north?

Xie Nandu asked, "Who is this sword aimed at?"

The Great Liang Emperor smiled, "For a sword immortal with eyes growing on top of his head, he naturally draws his sword only for the strongest. In his eyes, We likely don't even have that qualification."

The Sword Sect's Sect Master had sent his sword to the desolate north to battle the Demon Emperor?

Xie Nandu did not dare dwell too much on this thought.

"Want to see?"

The Great Liang Emperor smiled, "Almost forgot that you're also a sword cultivator. In that case, once we grab that kid, shall we go witness this grand battle?"

The strongest sword immortal in the world was going to challenge the strongest Demon Emperor in the world. Even Xie Nandu could not help but feel her heart tremble at the thought.

……

……

The three continued north, following the Onan River upstream.

They were already less than three thousand miles away from that demon race's royal city.

Although the few of them were destined not to cross the Onan River to reach that royal city, merely seeing the outline of the city from across the river was already enough.

However, the young monk soon stopped, smiling bitterly as he said, “Fellow Daoists, forgive me, this destitute monk lack the skills and have brought disaster upon us.”

Chen Chao grasped the hilt of Cloud Mud and then turned around, with Yu Xiyi doing the same.

The three looked into the wind and snow.

The young monk sighed, “He's truly only a hair's breadth away, how can he be shaken off so easily?"

Chen Chao’s expression grew serious as he felt a powerful pressure slowly approaching from the distance.

Yu Xiyi smiled and said, “Can the three of us together kill him?”

The young monk pondered for a moment, then looked again at Chen Chao and asked, “Fellow Daoist Chen, at this moment, do you believe in fate?”

Chen Chao still shook his head, “I don't believe.”

……

……

In the wind and snow, a middle-aged man with green hair had already arrived at the bank of the Onan River.

After traveling south for some days, he realized that the young martial artist he intended to kill had gone to the demon territory. While feeling surprised, he still managed to find Chen Chao after traveling north.

Looking at the three humans in the distance, the middle-aged man's gaze ultimately landed on Chen Chao. “So it's you who killed my nephew?” [1]