Chapter 26: The Meek Are Preyed Upon
Xia Jiuxuan’s beast-drawn carriage was forced to a halt.
“Get down,” ordered a guard, his face expressionless as he barked at Xia Jiuxuan.
“I was about to change my route,” Xia Jiuxuan replied, unwilling to provoke needless trouble.
“No, you must be detained,” the guard answered.
Xia Jiuxuan said nothing and stepped off the carriage.
“Is there any room for negotiation?”
After a brief pause, Xia Jiuxuan spoke in a cool tone.
“There isn’t,” the guard replied.
“On what grounds?” Xia Jiuxuan pressed.
The guard raised his long spear. “On this.”
Xia Jiuxuan let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I have one of those too.”
A sudden murderous intent flashed from the guard. “Is that so? If you refuse, you’ll be killed on the spot.”
Xia Jiuxuan nodded calmly. “Very well.”
At that moment, an elder approached.
“No need to explain to him. Take him away and detain him for ten days first,” the elder said, hands clasped behind his back, chin raised, his gaze fixed into the distance—completely disregarding Xia Jiuxuan.
Xia Jiuxuan’s gaze grew darker. “Isn’t this a little too rough? I haven’t seen anything, yet you detain me?”
The elder glanced at him sideways. “If you had really seen something, detainment would be the least of your worries. Take my advice and be sensible.”
Xia Jiuxuan’s lips curled, a murderous glint flickering in his eyes. “And if I refuse to be sensible?”
Sensing that deadly intent, the elder erupted in fury. “Kill him on the spot!”
The aura of a fifth-tier Palace Entry cultivator burst forth. Wild and domineering true power exploded from him, instantly pulverizing the beast Xia Jiuxuan used to pull his carriage, shattering the carriage canopy as well.
Within the canopy, Xia Ran was thrown by the force, crashing heavily into a large tree.
Xia Jiuxuan moved instantly, darting over to her.
“Wuu wuu, Second Father, it hurts,” Xia Ran whimpered, blood streaming down her face from a wound on her head.
If not for Xia Ran’s extraordinary physique and her innate third-tier cultivation, she would have been shattered by the blast.
Xia Jiuxuan’s heart ached terribly. He hurriedly took out healing medicine and applied it to her injury.
“Ranran, I’m sorry. Second Father was careless. It won’t happen again.”
“Wuu wuu, it’s those bad people’s fault, not yours, Second Father, wuu wuu.” Xia Ran tried to hold back her tears, but the pain was too much, and her young age made it impossible.
“Do you remember what Second Father said?” Xia Jiuxuan’s voice grew colder.
“Second Father said, whoever bullies Ranran, Second Father will kill them.”
“Good girl, you have a sharp memory.”
Once Xia Ran was settled, Xia Jiuxuan stood up, Dragon Scale Spear in hand.
“Kneel and take your own life, or your corpse will not remain whole.”
He was offering the elder a chance for a complete corpse.
“Hah?”
The elder laughed, as though he’d heard the most absurd joke.
“Do you know why I didn’t bother with pleasantries and simply shattered your beast-drawn carriage? And I knew someone was inside the canopy.”
Xia Jiuxuan didn’t reply. This man had already crossed his bottom line; there was only one path left.
Why waste words?
“Elder Yang, why is that?” a guard beside them interjected.
The elder looked over Xia Jiuxuan with disdain. “No valuable ornaments, riding a shabby carriage, covered in dust—a commoner from a small town. A worthless commoner with neither power nor background, yet he dares defy my orders and answer back. Debating with such rabble would only dishonor myself.”
The guard cupped his hands. “Elder Yang, your insight is admirable. Such rabble, kill them and no one will care.”
“Are you done?” Xia Jiuxuan’s tone was icy.
“You wretch, won’t you kneel and beg for mercy? Fine, you’ve chosen death—kill him!” Elder Yang could not stand the fierce look in Xia Jiuxuan’s eyes; a commoner from a small town had no right to look at him that way.
“Elder Yang, after killing this brat, what should we do with that little wretch?”
“Catch her, make a pot of soup, and feed it to the young master’s Mystic Fox.”
“Yes!”
Two Palace Entry fourth-tier guards lunged.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Blood surged from Xia Jiuxuan, the Nine Lives Blood Explosive Technique bursting forth at fourth tier!
In an instant, Xia Jiuxuan’s aura completely overwhelmed the two guards.
Clang!
Dragon Scale Spear flashed, swift as lightning.
The two guards had no time to react before they were stabbed dozens of times, dying instantly.
“You!” Elder Yang was terrified.
How could a wild commoner possess such a formidable aura and terrifying spear technique? That domineering spear intent made even him fearful.
He’d misjudged!
His fear was not solely for Xia Jiuxuan’s power. Such strength in one so young—what if he had an influential background?
Wild commoners could be bullied; noble families were untouchable.
“Young man, which great family are you from?”
“Relax, I have no background.”
“Oh? Then you’re courting death!”
Elder Yang steeled himself. Since the youth refused to declare his lineage and things had already escalated, it was best to kill him. In these wild hills, who would ever know who committed the deed?
Whoosh!
The elder transformed into a shadow, palm wind laced with fire as he attacked Xia Jiuxuan.
Palace Entry fifth-tier—far stronger than Lord Liang of Liang City!
Thus, Xia Jiuxuan didn’t hesitate, unleashing the ninth tier of monster blood.
In that instant, Xia Jiuxuan seemed to ascend to his peak once more.
Smack!
Their palms collided.
Boom boom boom…
True power erupted; the elder’s figure was driven back repeatedly.
When he finally steadied himself, his entire arm had burst open, bone and flesh dangling from a thin layer of skin.
The elder was in agony, his heart pounding with terror.
What kind of monstrous youth was this? Clearly only at the Palace Entry tier, yet he could cripple his arm with a single blow!
It was beyond comprehension.
“Someone, help!” the elder cried in panic.
“What’s happening?”
Several figures arrived in a rush.
When they stopped, Xia Jiuxuan swept his gaze over them.
Seven in total—all young men around twenty, with two appearing no older than fifteen or sixteen.
“Master, this is dire! This man possesses a monstrous cultivation technique—he’s extremely formidable and insists on forcing his way through. I suspect someone leaked news, and he’s come to seize the treasure!” the elder said, trembling.
The newcomers frowned.
Elder Yang was Palace Entry fifth-tier, yet he’d been wounded by this youth—his strength was indeed impressive.
“Brother, I am the Third Young Master of the Yang family in the Imperial Capital, here with friends for some private business. Kindly allow us to pass and take another route,” the leading youth said, not rushing into conflict but first probing Xia Jiuxuan’s intentions with politeness.
“I intended to take a detour, but this old dog refused and injured my niece. So… sorry, now I must take this shortcut to get her medical help.”
Xia Jiuxuan remained calm.
That old man tried to kill him and even threatened to cook Ranran into soup. How could such a cur be spared?
“So, you’re refusing to give us face?” the youth’s eyes glinted coldly.
“I can give you face—kill that old dog, then kneel and apologize to my niece. Then this matter is settled.”
Xia Jiuxuan would not back down.
The path must be cleared by force!
Besides, Xia Jiuxuan could tell the youth already harbored deep murderous intent toward him.
Would retreating spare him from a fight?
That was a coward’s naive belief—Xia Jiuxuan would never play by those rules.