Death… and me

"It's already good enough that you brought them back!" Diwu Qing Rou extended his arms and said with a wide smile, "With these two pieces, we will be able to save the lives of two martial experts. Yun He, it isn't necessary for you to feel troubled at all."

He then turned his attention to the jade box and said, "The Jade Spirit Ginseng is…" Suddenly, he let out an "oh" as his eyes widened. He proceeded to turn to Cheng Yun He as he frowned slightly, "Yun He, no one has touched it right?"

"Prime Minister, what seems to be the matter?" Cheng Yun He asked as he started to panic as his face turned as pale as a sheet.

"The Jade Spirit Ginseng is a spiritual item of heaven and earth. Even if it is kept inside a jade box, I should still be able to feel an exuberant aura. Why can't I feel even a slight bit of that aura?" Diwu Qing Rou said suspiciously.

The moment he said that, Jing Meng Hun and company immediately sensed that something was amiss.

"No one else has touched it! The box has been securely placed at my chest the entire time!" Cheng Yun He said definitively.

"Mm." Diwu Qing Rou took the box and felt its weight. He then looked down at the ground pensively before he looking back up and smiling, "It's nothing. It is good that we managed to bring this back. Yun He, you have been through such a long and arduous journey. Please go back and rest."

Diwu Qing Rou then quickly tucked the jade box into his clothes right at his chest without even bothering to look inside as he smiled, "It is best that I keep this sort of treasure safe."

"Everyone, return home. Bu Chu, do not forget everything that I have requested for you to do and make sure that it is completed." Diwu Qing Rou said before addressing the rest of them individually, "Gao sheng, make sure that you remain as quiet and keep a low profile during this period. Make sure to keep yourself concealed especially from the watchers of the Nine Heavens." He then looked at the two King level leaders before pondering for a moment and saying, "The both of you should also go and rest early. You are permitted to take what you might feel is necessary for King Level Yin's injuries from my place."

Everyone bowed respectfully before leaving.

Diwu Qing Rou being alone in his study, stood up slowly as though in deep thought. His eyebrows creased and with a frown, he paced back and forth. "This is… impossible…" as he muttered

He then retrieved the jade box from his chest and opened it up slowly. It was just as he had expected. There was no Jade Spirit Ginseng inside and the box was empty.

Diwu Qing Rou looked at the empty box and thought for a long time; his eyes momentarily flashed.

…

Iron Cloud Citadel!

While the entire world was covered with snow, Bu Tian Pavilion was bustling with activity. However, there wasn't a single person who was found to be complaining. Rather, everyone seemed delighted about a single fact!

King of Hell Chu was still King of Hell Chu!

He did not fall!

If King of Hell Chu remained in power, Bu Tian Pavilion would continue to remain as it has been! People were spreading rumours throughout Iron Cloud about King of Hell Chu having conspired against the administration and had fallen from grace. However, little did they know that they were being identified one by one!

Not only was King of Hell Chu still in power, he still retained great control over his people!

He had directly removed more than half of the royal court. No one would have dared to make such a bold move except for the King of Hell Chu! In fact, he had made this move without a moment of hesitation!

Compared to the busy Bu Tian Pavilion, the Heavenly Armament Pavilion was far noisier.

After returning, there were differences in opinion as to how best to deal with the matter concerning Lian Fan Lei. Ji Mo thought that a punk like him should be punished with an intense beating! The beating should be so intense that even his mother would not be able to recognize him after it is done. However, Luo Ke Di thought that he should be castrated instead to punish him…

Gu Du Xing simply scoffed at the both of them.

After everything had long passed, the argument continued non-stop at the Heavenly Armament Pavilion. The situation gradually grew more and more chaotic as time passed. Although Ji Mo and Luo Ke Di didn't have much of a difference in opinion, Luo Ke Di decided to switch sides and join Chu Yang.

He even called Ji Mo shortsighted, childish and reckless. A person without any virtue or fortitude. This was as good as calling him a dog…

Ji Mo roared in anger as both of them fought one another again. The place became even noisier and before Chu Yang even had the opportunity to intervene, the both of them had beaten one another to a pulp…

Chu Yang muttered with a pained laugh, "Such hot-blooded youths… Well, either way, they will have to vent out some of their emotions…" He then turned and walked out.

Gu Du Xing followed him out, leaving Rui Bu Tong standing next to those two. He constantly hit them with sneak attacks causing the two of them to fight even more fiercely…

"How should we proceed?" Gu Du Xing asked.

"I know what direction we should go in. However, as to how we should proceed, I am still thinking about it…" Chu Yang pondered, "We definitely have to go to Great Zhao. But I don't think that it is time yet…"

"Huh? Are you using that card you saved from that snowy day?" Gu Du Xing's eyes brightened, "When is it time?"

Chu Yang shook his head and sighed.

The time Chu Yang was referring to was not the same time Gu Du Xing had in mind. What Chu Yang was hoping for was the second Nine Tribulations Sword fragment. Up until now, there was no sign of movement. He was currently at the peak of seventh grade Martial Master and was about to break through into the ranks of Martial Great Master…

"Du Xing, let's have a match." Chu Yang said.

Gu Du Xing's eyes lit up brightly as he said, "Okay!"

During this time period, he had been putting his life on the line as he trained against the Revered Berserker Sword Technique. At this time, he was a ninth grade Sword Great Master. However, just a little bit more and he would be in the realm of Revered Sword Master!

Gu Du Xing was waiting for the day that he would break through. Now, he completely understood what Chu Yang had said before: This sword technique is enough to help you breakthrough to Revered Sword Artist within a year! However, you can only cultivate to that point and you will have to stop. Otherwise, you could become immersed in it and lose your sanity. Moreover, after you breakthrough to Revered Sword Artist, we still have other ways for you to quickly increase your cultivation.

Another method to quickly increase cultivation!

Gu Du Xing was far more eager than anyone else! In the daily training sessions, he was the one who constantly tried the hardest amongst them. There were also times where he put so much effort that even Chu Yang would look on in surprise.

This was all for Gu Miao Ling! Sister Xiao Miao was currently suffering and waiting for him to save her!

Therefore, Gu Du Xing worked tirelessly!

"Come!"

"Come!"

Each person held an ordinary sword in his hand.

Prior to a match, the two used to have a warm up match with only their fists. However this time, Chu Yang decided to use a sword first. Although Gu Du Xing was surprised, he didn't object to it.

Ji Mo, Luo Ke Di, and Rui Bu Tog walked out covered in bruises, just in time to see Gu Du Xing and Chu Yang about to begin their spar. The entire group was intrigued. Within moments, those three who had been fighting with one another sat on the same bench with eager eyes of anticipation…

"Here I come." Chu Yang raised his sword to make the first move. With his two legs weaving, he suddenly rushed forward like a cyclone. In a blink of an eye, his figure became a faint mirage.

Fleeting Snow Cloud Movement!

Ji Mo cried in astonishment. "How had Big Brother managed to improve so rapidly?" Chu Yang's current condition was vastly different from their previous match.

Gu Du Xing's countenance remained emotionless as he held his sword horizontally. Both his legs maintained their position as both of their swords clashed against one another!

"Be careful!" Chu Yang shouted with a trace of mockery in his eyes.

Because of the fact that Gu Du Xing's martial strength should have been far stronger than his, it was surprising that these words of warning were coming from Chu Yang instead of Gu Du Xing.

"Got it." The moment that Gu Du Xing said this, he suddenly felt something was extremely wrong!

His sword felt as though it had hit water. His entire body felt as though it was floating along a strong stream. However, he was unexpectedly unable to harness his power. It felt as though if he had tried pushing any harder, his wrist would have ended up broken.

Gu Du Xing immediately backed up after being caught by surprise.

His mind was puzzled. Although he was restraining himself and limiting his strength to Chu Yang's level, he should not have felt as he did.

The moment that he had backed up, this feeling repeated itself and became even more apparent. It was as though there was a raging tide which brought with it a powerful and vicious force which couldn't be stopped.

Chu Yang's sword headed straight for him.

Gu Du Xing's face suddenly reddened. He yelled out loud and raised his strength by about twenty percent in order to block the attack. He managed to deflect Chu Yang's sword by pushing it up before he pulled it back. The sword aura immediately turned into a calm pond between the both of them.

"Gentle Force of Water?" Gu Du Xing glanced at Chu Yang's sword.

"That's right. This is Gentle Force of Water. However, it seems that I am not successful with it yet." Chu Yang said casually.

Gu Du Xing smiled wryly. Earlier, he had to use the strength of the third grade Sword Great Master and was unable to retaliate an attack from a seventh grade Martial Master like Chu Yang. And yet he still considered himself as unsuccessful?

Gu Du Xing gently closed his eyes and right at that moment, he was able to feel a calmness fill his mind as though there was a pond in between him and Chu Yang.

"It is really not successful! Your Gentle Force of Water is still too rigid!" Gu Du Xing let out a long roar and slashed continuously with his sword.

"That is a technique designed by the Gu clan! Dividing Waves Cut! Once the technique is successfully used, a single slash is able of cutting the waves in front of it into two. What is more amazing is that the slashes would be able to deflect all of the water away from the user, leaving him totally dry!" Luo Ke Di jumped up, "Choosing to use the Dividing Waves Cut technique against Gentle Force of Water is truly appropriate."

"Maybe not!" Ji Mo grunted, "Just watch and stop talking gibberish! You're already so foolish; stop acting like a clown!"

After hearing the insults hurled at him by Ji Mo, Luo Ke Di was extremely angry and was about to punch Ji Mo before he suddenly exclaimed in a loud voice, "What in the world?"

He could only see Chu Yang constantly backing up as his sword continued to stab forward. Each of his stabs created a monstrous wave which attacked in the direction of Gu Du Xing. After seventeen continuous stabs, Chu Yang suddenly stopped moving back and began to rush forward.

The sword appeared to have turn into an extremely soft branch as it continued moving forward as it greeted Gu Di Xing.

Although Gu Du Xing had changed and pick a sword technique appropriate to deal with the opponent, in the face of this extreme version of Gentle Force of Water, his technique was rendered useless. Eventually, it was starting to surround him…

Gu Du Xing was shocked!

Chu Yang's Gentle Force of Water had unexpectedly broken through under his Dividing Waves Cut! It was now truly a force of water to be reckoned with!

Chu Yang had been tortured thousands of times over. However, today he had finally achieved his desired outcome.

A satisfied smile appeared on Chu Yang's face. He was about to attack when all of a sudden he heard a voice in his mind. It was the voice of the sword spirit as it rang out, "You finally understand the power of water! The forces of nature are about to take shape. The Nine Tribulations Space is yours to use from now on!"

"Nine Tribulations Space?" Chu Yang was startled!

"Yes." The sword spirit sighed and said, "You are the first to have been able to open Nine Tribulations Space in half a year!"

Chu Yang was shocked. In his dantian, he felt an inexplicable wonderful feeling suddenly rise up. Closing his eyes, he immediately saw a mysterious space opening up and enveloping his body.

At this time, the Nine Tribulations Sword point in his dantian became fiercely excited. A sense of urgency also appeared beneath his feet!

The Nine Tribulations Sword's second fragment! It was finally time!