Chapter 393

Chapter 393: Jin Wudi Arrives

A three-pronged, double-edged dagger?

Zhang Yang had seen such weapons before, but they were extremely rare and not widely used.

“You should give this serious thought,” he said, patting Demon Sword Yi on the shoulder.

Demon Sword Yi looked at Zhang Yang with a complicated expression and stepped aside. There was something he hadn’t mentioned, this strange sensation from his third eye had first emerged when he witnessed Zhang Yang ascend Heavenly Reaching Mountain. At the time, it was only faint, but it had grown steadily stronger. Now, it deeply affected his sword path and even interfered as he tried to communicate with the holy sword.

This matter weighed heavily on him.

Zhang Yang then turned his attention to Cold Thief Tian and Tiger Howl Wind. Both showed no signs of progress and seemed completely disconnected from the holy sword.

As for the moon-returning dragon, Yue Buqun, Liu Yuewu, and Gu Jianyun, their situations were no better.

However, seated behind the moon-returning dragon was a young man who stood out. He appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old and had already reached the Touching Heaven realm, a remarkable feat at that age.

A strange aura radiated from him.

At the same time, the holy sword emitted a faint glow, light flowing gently along its blade.

Chi Jiuxiao noticed the phenomenon and looked over.

His eyes locked with Zhang Yang’s for a brief moment, and then both turned their gaze toward the young man.

Suddenly, the young man radiated a brilliant light, and the holy sword reacted as if awakened, letting out a clear and resonant sword cry.

Everyone present stirred, opening their eyes and shifting their attention to the young man.

He remained seated, cross-legged, still as a statue, his eyes closed in concentration.

A connection had formed between him and the sword.

Some among the onlookers wore cold expressions, clearly harboring the intent to stop this development.

Chi Jiuxiao raised his hand, signaling them to stand down. His sharp gaze swept across the crowd.

This made those with hostile intentions hesitate and refrain from acting rashly.

In the next instant, the young man’s eyes snapped open. The holy sword trembled violently, then shot up from the ground and flew into his waiting hands.

As he grasped it, a radiant, threatening aura burst forth from his body.

“Hahaha, excellent!”

The moon-returning dragon burst into joyous laughter.

The members of the Cold Moon Dynasty were elated.

It wasn’t merely the acquisition of a holy sword that excited them.

Rather, gaining the sword’s recognition was a matter of fate and fortune, an omen that the Cold Moon Dynasty’s luck had begun to shift.

Psychological or not, such changes could produce tremendous effects.

During the dynasty’s most difficult times, even drinking cold water felt like choking, biting into meat often resulted in bitten tongues, and walking could lead to a fall and sudden death.

But ever since the Battle at Heavenly Reaching Mountain, things had begun to turn around. And now, winning the holy sword in a gathering of the Western Desert’s top talents only further confirmed the shift and significantly boosted their morale.

Chi Jiuxiao was the first to applaud, proclaiming, “Congratulations, young brother! With the holy sword in your hands, you are destined to rise and achieve great feats for the Cold Moon Dynasty!”

The young man’s face flushed with excitement. His voice trembled slightly as he said, “Thank you, Pavilion Master.”

“Haven’t introduced yourself yet?” the Pavilion Master said with a warm laugh.

The young man took a deep breath to steady himself, then said, “I am Chi Ying Tian, of the Cold Moon Dynasty!”

Chi Jiuxiao’s eyes lit up in recognition. “So it’s Brother Chi! No wonder the holy sword has chosen you. I’ve heard that a natural sword body was born within the Cold Moon Dynasty. Now that the holy sword has acknowledged you, achieving the Holy Body seems highly promising. I congratulate you in advance, Brother Chi!”

Chi Ying Tian bowed in gratitude.

Around them, many sharp gazes were fixed on him—some with envy, others with malice.

A few people whispered coldly among themselves.

“The Cold Moon Dynasty’s luck is truly changing. Good news keeps coming, day after day.”

“Luck is a strange thing. Once it turns, it’s nearly impossible to suppress again. If you ask me, we’d be wise to eliminate them sooner rather than later. A dynasty with ten thousand years of accumulation is more than enough to divide among the powers of the Western Desert.”

“Look, the people from the Taixu Dynasty have such fierce expressions. They’ve been plagued by bad luck recently; it seems like a reversal is imminent.”

Various murmurs spread through the gathering.

Since it was a night banquet, Chi Jiuxiao officially concluded the treasure contest, and the festivities began. Some guests took their leave, while others stayed behind in small groups, chatting quietly. Among them, a few concealed malicious intentions beneath their smiles.

Zhang Yang also extended his congratulations to Chi Ying Tian.

The moon-returning dragon took the opportunity to introduce him further, revealing that Chi Ying Tian was one of the only two unmarried princes of the Cold Moon Dynasty, long bound to the royal family.

Everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

The grand princess, Yan Mengqing, soon returned.

As soon as she arrived, she approached Zhang Yang and asked, “Lord of the Sacred Forest, what about the unpredictable disaster you mentioned earlier?”

Zhang Yang smiled and replied, “Is the Star Flame Saint prepared?”

“Lord of the Sacred Forest, I hope you’re not toying with Mengqing,” she said seriously.

Zhang Yang chuckled. “Judging by the timing, it should be soon. If that person hasn’t arrived yet, they’re probably furious enough to forget using the ancient teleportation array.”

“Who are you talking about?” Yan Mengqing asked.

Zhang Yang merely smiled in silence.

The moon-returning dragon glanced at him, puzzled.

Zhang Yang gave a small nod, indicating it was just a minor matter accomplished with one hundred and nine fire seeds.

This piqued the moon-returning dragon’s curiosity. What could this "small matter" possibly be?

Time passed slowly.

Just as Yan Mengqing was about to press the question again, a terrifying and violent holy might suddenly surged forth, engulfing the entire Sword Pavilion in oppressive force and making it tremble.

“What’s happening?”

“Which saint dares to recklessly release their holy might in the Crimson Flame Imperial Capital? Do they not fear the wrath of the Crimson Flame Dynasty’s saints?”

“Something big must be happening!”

Chaos erupted at the venue.

The wild holy might felt as though it were searching for someone, and in the blink of an eye, it locked onto the Sword Pavilion.

Under its pressure, the entire Sword Pavilion seemed on the verge of collapse.

“Jin Wudi, why have you come to my Crimson Flame Imperial Capital to cause trouble? Do you truly think the Taixu Dynasty can act with impunity?”

An equally overwhelming holy might descended, counteracting the pressure on the Sword Pavilion.

Those within the Sword Pavilion were stunned.

Many raised their heads in horror, looking toward the sky.

Jin Wudi!

Wasn’t he the most powerful saint of the Taixu Dynasty? Why had he come? Was this about revenge for the Black Cloaked Strategist? If so, why now? The strategist had died long ago; Jin Wudi should have come much earlier.

And who had just dared to confront him so directly?

Only the Star Flame Saint, the foremost sage of the Crimson Flame Dynasty, would have the strength to do so.

“I have come to kill!”

Jin Wudi roared, raising his hand and reaching toward the Sword Pavilion, targeting Zhang Yang and Bing Yuyan.

The Star Flame Saint sneered. “I am here. If you wish to act, wait until he leaves. Not here!”

“Lord of the Sacred Forest is an honored guest of my dynasty. If you insist on settling this, do so after he departs. But not while he is still within our borders,” the Star Flame Saint declared coldly."The Black-Cloaked Strategist has already caused enough chaos. I’ve been patient out of respect, but if you keep pushing, don’t expect me to hold back!"

“Do you think I fear you?” Jin Wudi snapped.

The two great saints clashed, soaring into the sky.

The Sword Pavilion erupted with commotion, and the entire Crimson Flame Imperial Capital was thrown into turmoil. Everyone assumed Jin Wudi had come to avenge the Black Cloaked Strategist.

Only Yan Mengqing murmured curiously, “Jin Wudi hasn’t used the Phoenix Flame Holy Sword. That’s unusual.” She looked at Zhang Yang and asked, “Lord of the Sacred Forest, do you know why?”