Chapter 15: Foes Cross Paths

Xia Jiuxuan concealed his presence; as for Xia Ran, she had already been settled by him in a secure cave, so there was no need for concern. Soon, three figures flew in from the distance.

“Hurry, kill it!”

The three attacked in unison, swords and sabers clashing with thunderous force. The severely wounded Frost Serpent spewed an icy breath from its maw, forcing the trio back. Witnessing this, Xia Jiuxuan put aside his concerns—these opponents were not of high cultivation. Three at the eighth level of Innate Realm. The fact that they could seriously injure the Frost Serpent was entirely due to their possession of a spirit-grade bow.

Their coordination was adequate; after several rounds, the Frost Serpent lost all strength and was hacked into several pieces.

“Our young master is really something. With so many heavenly treasures in the clan, he insists on sending us to this godforsaken place to hunt beasts.”

“You don’t understand. The young master is cultivating a peerless legacy technique; the auxiliary materials required aren’t necessarily the more precious, the better.”

“Exactly. Are you more knowledgeable than the elders now?”

“Uh… just one more Shadow Gale Serpent and the set will be complete. We’d better hurry—just over ten days from now is the day Young Lord Zhong returns to the Xia family to kill that useless fool and establish his authority. If we’re delayed, we’ll be in big trouble.”

As they gathered the required materials, the three chatted idly.

“Damn it, life really does come down to luck. If Xia Zhong weren’t the elder’s own grandson, would he have the right to lord it over us like this?”

“Stop complaining. If you’ve got the ability, try to choose a better family to be born into.”

This entire exchange reached Xia Jiuxuan’s ears with perfect clarity.

So, these three were Xia Zhong’s men. What a small world for enemies to cross paths!

Xia Jiuxuan had originally intended to avoid trouble and seek out other spirit beasts, but now it seemed he had no choice but to act.

Whoosh!

Xia Jiuxuan shot out from the shadows, moving several times faster than he had just days before.

Crack!

With a single palm strike, he smashed the back of one young man who was sorting the serpent’s corpse, leaving flesh and bone in a bloody ruin.

“Someone’s here!”

The other two reacted swiftly, drawing their blades to counterattack almost instantly. They pushed their true energy to the limit.

Yet, mere eighth-level Innate Realm cultivators were no match for Xia Jiuxuan as he was now.

He unleashed his aura—a mere wave of his oppressive force nearly shattered their bones. With a sweep of his hand, he broke their blades, then drove his palm through their ribcages, rendering them powerless.

In merely two or three breaths, the three eighth-level cultivators were defeated.

“Brother, wait! Let’s talk this out. We’re willing to hand over all our valuables!”

The three were terrified, knowing they stood no chance against this youth, and began to beg for mercy.

Xia Jiuxuan’s gaze was icy as he fixed his attention on one of the young men.

“Do you recognize me?”

The one addressed was Xia Fu, a member of the Xia family who spent most of his years away on business, rarely returning home. Xia Fu frowned; this face seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. “Young master, I don’t believe we’ve ever met, nor do we bear any grudge. Perhaps you’re mistaken—please show mercy and spare our lives.”

“That’s right, young master. We’re just ordinary hunters. Please, be generous and let us go,” the other two chimed in hastily.

In these wild mountains, murder and robbery were all too common, so they merely assumed Xia Jiuxuan was after their possessions.

“You are truly forgetful. Let me remind you—my name is Xia Jiuxuan.”

A chill descended.

Hearing the name, Xia Fu’s face changed dramatically as he finally remembered. Wasn’t this the very man the young lord Xia Zhong was about to kill—a worthless member of the Xia family?

Impossible!

Just moments ago, he’d taken him for a scion of some great family.

How could it be him?

“It’s you, that worth... it’s you, young master. I am also of the Xia family, only I’ve been away on business for the clan, so I didn’t recognize you. Please, don’t be angry—we’re all family.”

Xia Fu’s heart pounded with anxiety; at this moment, he only hoped to bluff his way out.

“Family?”

A cold, mocking smile curled Xia Jiuxuan’s lips.

A mere lackey of Xia Zhong, calling themselves family? How laughable.

Crack!

Xia Jiuxuan slapped him, shattering all his teeth.

“Tell me, where is Xia Zhong now?”

If not for this mortal enemy, the day Xia Jiuxuan’s memories resurfaced, he would have simply taken Xia Ran and left. Leaving Xia Zhong alive would only leave an unhealable scar in his heart.

“Hahaha!”

Xia Fu, realizing he could no longer deceive his way out, let out a bitter laugh.

“So, you know I joined Young Lord Zhong. Bad luck for me to be ambushed by you today—I accept my fate. Take my life if you will, but don’t get cocky. When Young Lord Xia returns, your death is assured. Why act so arrogant?”

The other two were deeply unsettled. “Young master, whatever grudge you have with him has nothing to do with us—we were only following orders... please...”

Bang!

Xia Jiuxuan’s palm struck, instantly blasting one of them apart.

“I’ll ask you again. Where is Xia Zhong?”

He glared at the last man.

The man’s mind went blank with terror.

This man was ruthless! Without a word, he killed at a whim—more savage than Xia Zhong himself.

“Master, I’ll tell you! Xia Zhong is currently cultivating at the Outer Sect, Plumage Sect. He’ll emerge from seclusion in a few days.”

“No wonder he hasn’t been seen—so he’s gone to the Outer World.”

The Outer Sects existed independently, beyond the Xianwu Dynasty, as another realm for cultivation. Normally, without the dynasty’s permission, experts from the Outer Sects were forbidden from entering the mortal realm, and likewise, those of the Xianwu Dynasty couldn’t enter the Outer Sects without invitation. The two were parallel powers.

But Xia Jiuxuan knew that the opportunities and resources for cultivation in the Outer Sects far outstripped those within the dynasty.

“What’s his current cultivation? What technique is he training in?”

Know thine enemy and know thyself, and you will never be defeated. Since he had the chance to gather intelligence, Xia Jiuxuan naturally wouldn’t let it pass.

“I—I don’t know, master. All I know is that before closing himself off, Xia Zhong was at the Palace Entry Realm. Later, rumor has it the elders personally refined his physique and passed him a divine protection art. As for his current realm or cultivation technique, I truly don’t know.”

“Li Wei, you traitor! How dare you betray Young Lord Zhong! You’ll die a terrible death!”

“Xia Fu, you’re Xia Zhong’s lackey—not me. If this master spares my life, I’ll simply leave the sect and hide. Hmph.”

“Fine, hide if you can! Once Young Lord Zhong kills this waste, he’ll hunt you down and tear you to shreds!”

Xia Fu knew today he was doomed and had no intention of begging for mercy—he intended to die on his feet.

“Young master, if you have any more questions, I’ll answer them all, just spare my life,” the youth pleaded, kneeling and kowtowing.

“Hand over all the resources you’ve collected.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Li Wei, you dog! Don’t you dare!” Xia Fu gnashed his teeth, but a spatial pouch had already landed in Xia Jiuxuan’s hand.

Inside were numerous beast bloods, beast cores, beast bones, and some rare herbs.

“Very good. You can rest in peace now.”

With a single strike, Xia Jiuxuan pierced Li Wei’s skull.

Spare him?

The killing intent Li Wei tried to hide—others might not sense, but Xia Jiuxuan could not be fooled. To dare harbor murderous thoughts toward him, whether or not they posed a real threat, meant only one outcome: death.

To be an Emperor of Slaughter was to leave no hidden dangers behind.