Chapter 81: Please Don’t Misunderstand, Young Master Xia

That rascal, Xia Jiuxuan, actually dared to come out! Du Jiuli’s expression tightened as he gazed at the shadow shrouded in darkness.

There was something strange about this.

The mist-wreathed bronze gate gave him a sense of dread and unease.

And it wasn’t just Du Jiuli—those few royal guardians behind him were also inwardly alarmed. After all, the sword intent of that woman earlier was simply too terrifying.

“Sect Master Du, what should we do?” Seeing Xia Jiuxuan emerge, the guardians began to panic, turning to Du Jiuli for guidance.

Du Jiuli himself was wavering, uncertain what to do. After a moment’s contemplation, he stepped forward two paces. “Young friend Xia, why must we be so hostile?”

Xia Jiuxuan’s figure became fully visible—a tall, handsome youth. “Why waste words? Didn’t you come here to kill me? Please, go ahead!” Xia Jiuxuan’s tone was cool and indifferent.

Du Jiuli laughed. “There’s been a misunderstanding, young friend. I’m merely here at the request of a friend to have a conversation with you. There’s no talk of killing.”

Xia Jiuxuan sneered, “Oh? You want to talk? Very well, come inside. There’s tea in the manor.”

With that, Xia Jiuxuan turned and vanished into the swirling fog.

As he turned, Xia Jiuxuan exhaled a silent breath of relief. It seemed he had managed to intimidate Du Jiuli. If the man hadn’t been wary, he could have killed Xia Jiuxuan in an instant!

Come on, get in here! Hurry up! Xia Jiuxuan shouted inwardly.

Outside the gate, Du Jiuli’s face shifted between hesitation and determination.

“Sect Master Du, what should we do now?” The guardians glanced at each other, none daring to act without orders.

“We go in!” Du Jiuli gritted his teeth. Despite his apprehension, he was confident in his own strength. Even if that formidable woman struck, he was sure he could at least escape with his life.

“Alright, we’ll enter.” With Du Jiuli leading, the guardians drew some courage.

“No!” Du Jiuli stopped them, pointing at Jiang Qingyang. “He’ll come with me. The rest of you stand guard outside.”

“Understood,” the guardians replied.

Jiang Qingyang shuddered violently. Why was it always him? He was terrified.

“Why aren’t you moving?” one of the guardians barked coldly when Jiang Qingyang hesitated.

Left with no choice, Jiang Qingyang followed them inside.

The two figures entered the manor one after another, vanishing into the swirling grey mist.

Suddenly, Jiang Qingyang screamed and was hurled backward, crashing heavily into a guardian. The guardians hurried to help him up, only to see several deep, bone-revealing wounds on his chest.

“What—!” The guardians were immediately alarmed.

Du Jiuli, who had just set foot inside, quickly retreated, asking, “What happened? How did you get hurt?”

Jiang Qingyang’s face was deathly pale, his pupils wide with terror. “I don’t know! I was attacked by some powerful force!” he stammered in fright.

Everyone frowned at his words.

Du Jiuli narrowed his eyes, looking at the mysterious manor. He snorted, “I didn’t sense any attack just now. I don’t believe there’s any such trickery here!”

With that, he flew resolutely toward the manor.

Jiang Qingyang, lying on the ground bleeding, felt a surge of joy in his heart. “A man must be ruthless to survive. If I hadn’t been clever and given myself a few wounds, I’d have been sent to my death. Hmph.”

The sly old fox had calculated that only by feigning injury could he avoid disaster. To save his own skin, a few wounds—or even an arm—would be a small price to pay.

…

Du Jiuli pressed forward through a narrow corridor, but his spiritual sense was blocked by the grey mist, preventing him from seeing very far.

“Young friend Xia, where are you?” he called, releasing his aura.

Suddenly, something trembled beside him, and he instinctively leapt back. When he steadied himself, he found nothing there.

Du Jiuli’s face darkened. “Playing tricks, are we?” he muttered.

He picked up his pace, flying swiftly ahead.

At last, light appeared before him. He found himself on a vast plaza.

Above the plaza, countless dark-red metal chains stretched upward, as if binding the darkness of the sky itself.

Looking forward, he saw a black true dragon, a hundred yards long, suspended in the air. The entire body of this dragon was tightly bound by those red chains, writhing ceaselessly.

Du Jiuli gasped, his entire being trembling. What a terrifying monster king this was! But something was wrong—how could a being of such power be imprisoned in a mere spiritual artifact manor?

“Young friend Xia?” Fear crept into Du Jiuli’s heart, and he was secretly glad he hadn’t shown any killing intent to Xia Jiuxuan. Perhaps there was still room to maneuver, perhaps even forge a friendship.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In answer to his call, hundreds of puppets across the plaza opened gleaming metallic eyes, sword energy surging from their bodies.

“Young friend Xia, it’s all a misunderstanding! Please come out and meet me!” Du Jiuli called out, fearfully bowing, his powerful aura spreading to show he meant no harm.

In that moment, Xia Jiuxuan appeared out of thin air, a stone table before him bearing a teapot and cups.

“Why are you sweating, Sect Master Du? Is it too stuffy in my manor?” Xia Jiuxuan gazed at him coldly.

“Ah, well, perhaps a little warm, but it’s nothing,” Du Jiuli replied, forcing a friendly smile and trying to stay calm.

“Please, sit—have some tea.”

Only at Xia Jiuxuan’s gesture did Du Jiuli dare to sit. He picked up a cup and sipped.

In an instant, Du Jiuli stiffened, nearly leaping from his seat. This tea…!

“It’s just coarse tea. If you don’t like it, I’ll change it,” Xia Jiuxuan said indifferently.

“No, no!” Du Jiuli was inwardly shocked. This was no ordinary tea—it was pure spirit liquid! He alone understood how rare it was to refine such liquid from spirit crystals; in the entire Outer Realm, no more than three people could do so.

Now Du Jiuli was certain: this youth hailed from an extraordinary background, perhaps even a scion of a martial sacred land come out to temper himself.

“Young friend Xia is too generous. To offer such fine tea—I’m ashamed,” he said, bowing repeatedly.

“As long as you enjoy it. Pity I have no cook; otherwise, I’d serve you fine meat with wine.”

As Xia Jiuxuan spoke, he pointed to the side, where a towering wall suddenly appeared.

On it hung the corpses of enormous beasts.

Du Jiuli took one glance and nearly collapsed. That massive demon bear was at least of the demon emperor rank! The headless luan-phoenix—could that be called a divine beast? And the nine-headed serpent—was that the legendary Nine-headed Hell Serpent?

…

“Have some tea, Sect Master Du,” Xia Jiuxuan said coolly, watching him.

“Of course, of course!” Du Jiuli forced a smile and took a careful sip.

“Sect Master Du, you came here in grand fashion, saying you wished to talk. Speak your mind,” Xia Jiuxuan prompted.

“It’s all a misunderstanding. I was rash—how could I be hostile to you, young friend?” Du Jiuli said, standing up and bowing, eager to appease him.

“Oh? So what do you want to say?” Xia Jiuxuan’s face darkened as he drained his cup.

“I came to apologize! I’m here at someone’s request to make peace and beg your forgiveness,” Du Jiuli said sincerely.

Hearing this, Xia Jiuxuan finally relaxed inwardly. He had managed to frighten him completely!

In truth, everything Du Jiuli saw was an illusion. Xia Jiuxuan had altered the manor with arrays fueled by spirit crystals, projecting the slaughter arena from his consciousness into reality. The beast corpses were nothing but memories, conjured for intimidation.

The goal: to daunt Du Jiuli into retreat, keeping him from making a move!

“Apologize? Make peace?” Xia Jiuxuan stood, turning his back coldly.

“Please don’t be angry, young friend. I’m merely the messenger. If you refuse, I’ll report back—it has nothing to do with me. Please don’t hold it against me,” Du Jiuli said, eager to leave.

The longer he stayed, the greater the danger—he hadn’t even seen the powerful swordwoman everyone had mentioned!

“Why so hasty?”

Seeing Du Jiuli about to flee, Xia Jiuxuan turned and said, “I am not an unreasonable man. If your side wishes for peace, where is the sincerity?”

What was Xia Jiuxuan thinking? He would never truly agree to peace or reconciliation. But for now, he was still far from being able to topple the Immortal Martial Dynasty. The grudge was noted, but there was no harm in getting some benefits.

He had nearly exhausted all his spirit crystals creating these illusions—he’d be a fool not to recoup something.

Du Jiuli was quick to understand. He stepped forward, laughing, “Ah, in our pleasant conversation, I nearly forgot. My mistake!”

He produced two thousand high-grade spirit crystals from his spatial artifact.

“Young friend Xia, this is the show of good faith from the elder who sent me. Please accept it.”

Two thousand high-grade spirit crystals! Truly wealthy—no wonder he was the sect master of the Outer Realm. What a windfall!

Xia Jiuxuan accepted them at once, then said, “Is this your so-called sincerity? Are you here to insult me?” He feigned anger.

Du Jiuli was dumbfounded. You take the gift and then say it’s not enough?

“Nonsense, young friend. Since you’re a sword cultivator, the elder especially prepared a spirit sword for you as well. Please accept it.”

He presented the sword he’d lent Jiang Qingyang earlier—his heart aching. This was his favorite weapon! But befriending someone as mysterious as Xia Jiuxuan was worth the pain.

Xia Jiuxuan was overjoyed—not only was the sword of excellent quality, but it had the beginnings of a sword spirit within. With it, he could save Li Luoyan’s life! As long as she survived, everything else would follow.

He accepted the sword indifferently. “Now that shows some sincerity. Go back and report: for now, I’ll remain at peace with the Yu clan.”

Du Jiuli bowed. “Haha, you’re truly a hero in youth, broad-minded and admirable!”

He wasn’t doing this for the imperial house—he was doing it for himself! Otherwise, he’d never pay such a price.

“Take care,” Xia Jiuxuan said, making a gesture of farewell. He couldn’t afford to delay—his prepared reserves of spirit crystals and liquid were nearly exhausted. If the illusion failed, all would be revealed.

“I take my leave. If fate allows, I’d like to share a drink with you someday,” Du Jiuli said.

“We’ll see. And don’t linger in the Mortal Martial Realm—if you break the rules, it won’t look good for anyone, understand?” Xia Jiuxuan said coolly.

Du Jiuli started, remembering that this youth now controlled the boundary between the Mortal Martial and Outer Realms. He quickly replied, “Rest assured, young friend. Once my business is done, I’ll leave at once and not cause you trouble. Farewell!”

Du Jiuli knew high-born people hated clingers. He turned and left immediately.

As soon as he stepped outside the manor, Xia Jiuxuan’s illusion collapsed—his spirit crystals spent.

“That was close. Almost exposed myself,” Xia Jiuxuan muttered, hurrying into the alchemy room, sword in hand.

…

Outside the manor.

“Sect Master Du, have you killed the boy?” the guardians asked gleefully at Du Jiuli’s return.

“Kill him? Are you mad?” Du Jiuli’s face was cold. “Even I don’t dare provoke someone like that—do you think mere mortals can?”

The guardians were bewildered. “What do you mean?”

Du Jiuli snorted. “Go tell your emperor: within three days, he must issue a self-condemnation edict and make amends to young friend Xia. Otherwise, he’ll face the consequences. I can’t help him any further—consider yourselves warned!”

With a final glare, Du Jiuli soared into the sky, heading for the boundary.

The guardians felt as if they’d fallen into an abyss. Even Sect Master Du was so terrified he fled in the night—how terrifying was Xia Jiuxuan’s background?

They were doomed. They had to warn the emperor immediately!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—several guardians shot off toward the palace.

Jiang Qingyang, still feigning death on the ground, was ashen, feeling as if a thousand worms gnawed at his heart. Even that Outer Realm master had been frightened away?

“Xia Jiuxuan, oh Xia Jiuxuan, I never should have crossed you. My life is over!” Jiang Qingyang despaired.

Within the manor, Xia Jiuxuan sensed through the soul pearl that Du Jiuli had reached the boundary, so he opened the barrier to let him leave.

Du Jiuli was now thoroughly cowed and might be useful in the future, so Xia Jiuxuan saw no need to kill him. Besides, with several of Du Jiuli’s friends already dead in the barrier, he was sure to be on guard—if Xia Jiuxuan failed to kill him, it would only bring more trouble.

…