Chapter 59: Billowing Dark Clouds Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Qiu Changjianâs eyes darted back and forth between the Grandmaster, Bai Qixiong, and the unconscious Bodyguard Chenâthe scene was highly suspicious.
âTell me, whatâs going on?â Qiu Changjian faced Bai Qixiong, his expression cold.
With one look, Bai Qixiong was shaken. His eyes stung, and he was unable to look Qiu Changjian in the eye! Bai Qixiong wanted to run and hide but, under the direct gaze of Qiu Changjian, his courage to lie about the situation completely vanished! Even a monarch never made him feel such pressure!
As he realized what was going on, Qiu Changjianâs eyes darkened; âFollow me!â
Swish-
Qiu Changjian swiftly flew to the imperial capital!
At the imperial capitalâs Heavenâs Prison, there was a middle-aged man in a cell. He had a haggard appearance and messy hair. The prisoner was also missing his right arm. With his head slightly raised, the man gazed up at the distant skies through the Heavenâs Prison skylight.
âXianer and Yu-er should already be settled, by now.â The Prisonerâs appearance had changed much from his former self; now, he had a kind and grateful expression.
He was the Duke of Xianyu! His formerly magnificent and eminent appearance no longer existed; only a thin, hollow, desolate, and lonely shell was left.
Crashâ
The cell door lock was broken. The cruel, steel-faced prison warden entered, followed by two burly men.
The Duke of Xianyu, expressionless, calmly turned around. His voice was hoarse but calm; âYou finally came, letâs go!â
The First Prince would get rid of him sooner or laterâit was only a matter of time; heâd long awaited and prepared for this day. With Xianer and Su Yu safe and sound, he was at peace and could calmly meet his death.
Amidst the boundless dark night, the imperial execution ground was lit by moonlight and dim stars. The Duke of Xianyu knelt on the execution stage, his expression calm and his eyes tranquil.
âDuke of Xianyu is guilty of conspiracy and rebellion. This is a monstrous crimeâhe is to suffer the capital punishment of beheading tonight!â The judge grimly pronounced the verdict. After a slight pause, the judge spoke again; âAny last words?â
Though the Duke of Xianyu had been reduced to a lowly prisoner, his aristocratic bearing and demeanor was still alive and had not diminished in the slightest. His head slightly upturned, the Duke of Xianyu gazed at the starry sky; âLast words? Tell the First Prince that, someday, someone will take his head for me!â
The Duke paused, then continued with a grateful smile; âThroughout my grand life, one of my proudest achievements was not my power, but the betrothal of Xianer to Su Yu. His unwavering loyalty is like a mountainâone day, he will return to the imperial capital, and he will avenge me!â
The Duke of Xianyu firmly believed the words he spoke!
The judge scoffed; âShameless boasting! This judge will behead you today and tomorrow, we will behead Su Yuâyou all conspired to commit treason and murder of the royal heir, and therefore you all deserve to be put to death!â
The detached expression of the Duke of Xianyu slightly froze; âSu Yu?â
If they were able to threaten to put Su Yu to trial the very next day⊠was Su Yu in the capital?!
The executioner sneered; âDuke of Xianyu, you still do not knowâyour son-in-law is at the Holy Meet, attempting vainly to seize the Holy Crown so he may save you.â
âWhat?â The unshakable Duke of Xianyuâs eyes widened!
The sudden news struck the Dukeâs heart like a bolt of lightning. To save him, Su Yu came all the way to the imperial capital? Did he not know that, with his strength, going against the imperial power could only lead to death? Did he did not know the imperial capital was the First Princeâs stronghold? Su Yu would never be able to escape! His plan to take first place at the Holy Meet was hopelessâwhy would he attempt something so insane?!
The Duke of Xianyu was intensely moved. His aged body trembled as tears streamed from his eyes! The Duke of Xianyuâs lips quivered as he was overcome with gratitude and tragic sorrow.
The Xianyu Prefecture was a thousand miles away from the imperial capital; Su Yu must have hurried to travel that distance in order to make the Holy Meet in time. Had he hungered? Did he manage to rest while on his way to the capital? Had he been cold at night as he rushed to save him, the Duke of Xianyu?
And, now, Su Yu was hereâfighting to save the Dukeâs life in the Holy MeetâŠ
As his thoughts circled, the Duke of Xianyu felt guilty and indignant. His chest strained with self-blame; he had once implicated Su Yuâhe had incriminated that child! He thought Su Yu would avenge him, but he didnât think that Su Yu, in order to save him, would unexpectedly come to the imperial capital without a second thought!
âYu-erâŠYouâŠWhy are you so foolish? Does this weary old body deserve you?â The Duke of Xianyu faced upwards and howled with grief as tears streamed down his cheeks.
The judge callously yelled the command; âChop!â
The executioner raised a great saberâits cold blade emitted a bleak aura in the forlorn moonlight!
âYu-er! You must survive!â The long saber dropped. the Duke of Xianyu, tears streaming, howled in desolation.
A head, cut clean at the neck, flew through the air in a poignant arc.
At the Holy Arena, the ultimate fight carried on! Su Yu and Du Yuntian! One was an unknown, the other was widely renowned. Su Yu was exhausted, and Du Yuntian was on top of his gameâno matter who was stronger or weaker by skill alone, it seemed that the ending was determined long before the battle had even begun.
Du Yuntian held a cold long sword in his arms, his eyes icy cool; âYou were able to get to this point, not bad. But it stops right here!â
Schwingâ
The long sword in Du Yuntianâs hand came out of its sheath like a cold bleak ray of light piercing the dark sky. Su Yu comprehended a Saint Level technique, and therefore Du Yuntian saw it as appropriate to finally draw his sword. But! Du Yuntian only drew his swordâhe did not attack!
âA Streaming Cold Sword!â Du Yuntianâs long sword cut downward. The sheen of the swordâs light was chilly and ominous, like midnight snow. The sword gracefully streaked across the air, aimed straight for Su Yuâs heart!!
All the inspectors paled simultaneously. The Holy Meet Congress expressly stipulated that it was strictly prohibited to kill another competitor. But, with this maneuver, Du Yuntian was evidently in contempt of the Holy Meetâs stipulationâDu Yuntian was about to publically murder Su Yu!
The Fiery Ministerâs aged, crusty face slightly trembled before it immediately regained its cold indifference; âThe sword has no eyes, why fuss over nothing? Du Yuntian has his own discretion!â
Besides Fang Yunâs secret feeling of surprise, the other twelve inspectors were alarmed and trepidatious; where was the discretion in Du Yuntianâs stance? It was clear that he wanted to kill Su Yu! The Fiery Minister was rather excessively biased. In order to defend Du Yuntian, even the rules were disregarded! However, the twelve inspectors kept quiet out of fearâthey did not dare object.
Fenglin Empireâs Holy Meet had historically been the Fiery Ministerâs responsibility; he was powerful enough to cover the sky with one hand. If the Fiery Minister really wanted to, he could cease all events with a single gesture. The twelve inspectors, though they could not bear to stand by uselessly, were trapped. They only cast sympathetic looks toward Su Yu.
This was a match with an inevitable outcome, long ago determined; Su Yu should not have come to the imperial capital.
The Streaming Cold Swordâs lethal power was truly awe-inspiring! Su Yuâs pupils dilated, his heart grim. Su Yu had already predicted this moment would occur.
Su Yu had amazed the world with a single brilliant featâthis was bound to fluster the First Prince. In order to eradicate any future potential trouble, the First Prince would absolutely never allow him into the Sanctuary. It was inevitable that the First Prince would have Su Yu put to death in the arena.
Su Yu glanced at the fiery Minister out of the corner of his eye. The Minister did not seem to have the slightest inclination towards stepping into the fight. Su Yu felt his chest tighten with a cold chill. The Minister had openly bent to the will of his associatesâhe viewed the lives of those around him as insects!
âPurple Star Thunderbolt!â Su Yu struck furiously.
Crackâ
The violet thunder arc pounded the air with destruction!
Bangâ
Boomâ
The two were both directly hit. Du Yuntian stood still, but Su Yu fell back by three steps. On both of his fists, there were tiny traces of blood. Du Yuntianâs cultivation base could absolutely suppress Su Yu! At the same time, Du Yuntian only had a superficial comprehension of Purple Star Thunderbolt; as Stage One Lower Class had not been achievedâthough its might was still greatâSu Yu was unable to make up for the disparity.
Du Yuntian was in disbelief. He was confident that a single sword would destroy Su Yuâbut it only caused the opponent to fall backward by three steps, and it only left his two fists with just a trail of blood.
His eyes suddenly turned cold. Du Yuntianâs cold expression was thoroughly murderous; âThe next sword will bring you death!â
âA Streaming Cold Sword!â
Schwingâ
The air exploded; the cold sword in Du Yuntianâs hand radiated brilliant white light!
Like a ball of sun, it radiated dazzling colorsâit was too painful to look at.
The thirteen inspectors simultaneously paled and gasped, âAdvanced Level cultivation technique, complete success!â
The Fiery Ministerâs indifferent eyes revealed gratification; under his guidance, Du Yuntianâs rapid progress towards comprehending Advanced Level cultivation technique was to be expected. The next step was to instruct him to comprehend the Saint Level cultivation technique. The Fiery Minister was very pleased with the imperial appointed disciple. Meanwhile, the sword headed straight for Su Yuâs head!
Feeling the intense pressure of the moment, Su Yuâs eyes suddenly turned cold. Lightly breathing, he fell into a wondrous state. At that moment, it was as if heâd entered a paintingâSu Yu was one with heaven and earth, fused together with nature and all living things. In the spectatorâs point of view, that purple figure looked as though it had broken away from the material world in order to become part of a picturesque realm.
Su Yu raised his finger high and then lightly drew in the air. This one finger moved as if to break the sky into piecesâto be free from the shackles of heaven and earth. With one gesture, Su Yu appeared to shatter mountains and rivers and pierce the vault of the sky. His finger moved very slowly, contrasting sharply with the startling motion of the Streaming Cold Sword.
Su Yuâs finger came into contact with the sharp point of the Streaming Cold Sword! The heaven-cleaving sword unexpectedly whimpered under this one finger!
Thud, thud, thudâ
Du Yuntian fell backward three stepsâhis eyes filled with deep horror! This was⊠Holy Decree! The twelve inspectors and the Fiery Minister were simultaneously stirred! With Zheng Yilinâs holy decree, their expressions had remained flat and uninspired. But they were moved by Su Yuâs holy decree!
âAnother holy decree comprehender!â
âWhat a powerful holy decree, far surpassing Zheng Yilinâs grade!â
The Fiery Ministerâs aged face looked grave; such a powerful holy decree was extremely rare. How did Su Yu manage to do comprehend it? After a moment, the Fiery Minister lightly snorted; âItâs merely superficial skill; the level of maturity is average!â
The veins in the heads of all the inspectors throbbed; such a powerful holy decree, yet he still called it average? All the inspectors were less than impressed in regards to the Fiery Ministerâs heart. In order to favor his imperial appointed disciple, he discarded his self-respect and lied through his teeth.
If there had been no absolute suppression of cultivation base rank, the Fiery Ministerâs precious disciple may not have been able to withstand one move from Su Yu hands.
Thud, thud, thudâ
Su Yu fell backward five paces with the taste of bile in his throat! Even by using the most powerful holy decree, Su Yu still could not defeat Du Yuntian! With the absolute suppression of the cultivation base and the Advanced Level cultivation technique cultivated to top class, Su Yu had encountered an unprecedented enemy!
Feeling the acute pain in his hand, Du Yuntian was furious; this was the first time a peer had fended off his most powerful strike!
âIâll see how long you can hold on!â Du Yuntian roared and attacked first.
Heâd seen that Su Yu took a hard blow just now. On top of that, Su Yuâs use of the Holy Decree placed a huge physical burden on his body; Su Yu was physically exhausted, it would be difficult for him to continue combat!
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Crashâ
Du Yuntian charged once again to cut down Su Yu! Su Yuâs pupils flashed and an invisible sword headed toward Du Yuntian!
âDiabolic Sword!â
Ahaâ
The diabolic sword sank into Du Yuntianâs mind. Although he had absolute rank suppression and was unable to be killed by the diabolic sword, it still caused a mental disturbance.