Chapter 149
Chapter 149: Level Nine Deterrence
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
“Actually, I’m at level Nine!”
With this light sign, a great radiant power from Wang She, enveloped the entire Lu Mansion.
Level Nine, a Level Nine expert!
Wang She was a Level Nine expert!
All the guests in the hall were completely still. Each of them fixed their eyes on Wang She floating in the air, as if they were looking at a monster.
Level Eight and Level Nine!
Although the gap between the two was only a level, the status of the two was dramatically different.
The cultivation of Level Nine was the peak power in this world, at least was the peak power publicly.
Even in Jin, the number of the Level Nine experts were less than ten, ranging from all schools to all well-known families. If the Level Seven experts were the ones with the most powerful military capabilities of every well-known family and school, the Level Nine experts had the most deterrent power.
What was deterrent power?
It did not need any act, but specialized to scare people.
Of course, this sort of deterrence was equivalent to the nuclear weapon of every country in Junior Leopard’s previous world where people scrupled with the countries possessing nuclear weapons of equal level. However, in the current world, what people scrupled with were millennium families and barons. In fact, in Jin, Level Nine experts were extremely rare. One existed in Tian Long Taoism, one at the Jin court—the national division, and there were other several experts in the well-known families and schools, such as Sect of Flame, Mingyi School. But the latter ones hid for such a long time that people in the martial arts world had forgotten about their existence, or people forgot these experts on purpose, because it was impossible for these Level Nine experts to appear in front of people. Besides, even if these experts appeared, none of the people recognized them.
In fact, it had been at least 50 years since the last Level Nine expert appeared in the martial arts world. Therefore, Level Eight experts did lord it over others, such as Xue Wuya, Lu Shaoyou and three First Seat of the Tian Long Taoism. Hence, the cultivation of Level Nine, for people in the current martial arts world, was a legend and a remote event.
Although Lu Shaoyou, Wang She, Nian Wushuang and Prince Xiaoming of the Sect of Flame were known as the most powerful genius in the recent hundred years and they had more potential to ascend into the state of Level Nine. Although they were yet to ascended into the phase of Level Nine, they were still counted as the the strongest and received the status and respect that Level Nine experts deserved.
Moreover, it was difficult to ascend to the Level Nine. People did not know how many talented figures struggled their whole life but failed at the last step of ascending into the Level Nine. Most of these figures were not worse than those Level Eight experts who had been referred to in the aptitude, they were actually even better than them. These figures received fame earlier than them and at a younger age than they were when their cultivation ascended into the phase of Level Eight. Nevertheless, people whose cultivation was able to ascend to Level Nine were very rare.
In the eyes of most people, the likes of Wang She, Lu Shaoyou, Xue Wuya, and Prince Xiaoming, their cultivation could ascend to Level Nine, it was an amazing thing that god had blessed them with.
If two of them ascended into Level Nine in cultivation, it would be a miracle. Although they could make it, it would probably happen in the next 20 or 30 years. But now, in front of them, Wang She suddenly showed his Level Nine strength. Faced with the authentic and unrivaled strength of Level Nine, how could people not be frightened and shocked?
Presently, no one was concerned about the kidnapping of the bride. Was it not just a bride kidnapping? What was the big deal?
For a Level Nine expert, let alone kidnapping a bride, even though he kidnapped the empress, Jin’s Emperor was either likely to follow it or fail to chase him for scores of years and be killed by him finally. This ridiculous event had happened earlier on in history.
Presently, when Wang She revealed his true strength, the hall was abruptly silent. Those who were originally indignant, righteous, disruptive, sinister and idle men all shut their mouths.
People who were standing, sitting, shocked or terrified, at this moment, released all their external expressions and innermost feelings in the Lu Mansion.
“Level Nine, your cultivation has already ascended into Level Nine!”
Lu Shaoyou’s dull expression turned into shock and extreme shock at that. The eyes fixed on Wang She were inconceivable, as if in a dream.
Blade Qi had been totally defused and undermined by Wang She. Even though Lu Shaoyou did not believe it was true, in front of the truth, he had to admit it. Except for people with the cultivation of Level Nine, nobody could defuse the attack of Fallen Heaven Ultimate Sword so easily.
In the world, only Level Nine experts were able to easily defuse Fallen Heaven Ultimate Sword wielded by a Level Eight expert.
“I’m at level Nine indeed. I’ve been for a long time!” Wang She’s right hand moved quietly. The debris of the small fan shattered by Lu Shaoyou scattered on the floor, floating slowly from the floor and gathering as a ball. When the debris was blended with Wang She’s front green yarn, an intact folding fan appeared in Wang She’s hand.
“Swish—— !” Wang She opened the folding fan, smiling to Lu Shaoyou, “What about it? Blade Master Lu, do we continue?”
Lu Shaoyou’s face turned into a burst of green and then white. He wanted to continue fighting, but he understood that he would lose in any case. However, if he refused the fight, he would lose the fame he had gained.
A complete fiasco!
What day was it today?
It was his wedding day. However, when he was performing the formal wedding ceremony, his bride was kidnapped in public. No matter who he was, it was a great insult. Especially as a person in the martial arts world, who valued his face more than his life, therefore, compared with his life, the face was a more important thing. If he bent now, a Level Eight expert as he was, he would be the greatest laughing stock for decades. At the same time, it would be a shame for Lu Shaoyou to show up in Jianghu. Amid the martial arts world, his struggle would be in vain for decades.
Hence, he was hesitant. He did not know what to do.
He seldom had this feeling to bite his nails. Had it already been over twenty years? It had been many years since he was apprenticed to Golden Lights Cave and practiced Fallen Heaven Ultimate Sword.
But now, confronted by Wang She who fully overwhelmed him, he was biting his nails again when his bride was kidnapped in front of guests.
“Moral Fighter” Ji Zhongtang seemed to notice Lu Shaoyou’s awkward situation and stepped forward to shout, “Wang She, although you’re a Level Nine expert, so what? Do you believe you can be unruly? In the governance of Jin’s Yunzhou, just because you’re a Level Nine expert, that doesn’t mean you can act wildly against law!”
“Alright, under Jin’s governance, even though I’m a Level Nine expert and I reach the Mysterious Realm, I must obey the law!” Wang She threw a glance at Ji Zhongtang and cast a relaxed smile, “But I do want to act wildly. So what?”
“Now that you insist on it, today I’m willing to risk my life to seek justice in front of you and the entire Tian Long Taoism!” Ji Zhongtang burst into rage. He straightened his back and the wedding gown which he wore fell on the floor. There was a fierce vigor radiating from his body. It seemed that he would really fight Wang She.
Flashing his eyes, Wang She folded his small fan and lightly patted it on his left-hand palm. He looked at Lu Shaoyou mockingly, “Blade Master Lu, your uncle of the elder generation is so warmhearted that he dares to fight with me. His strength is far worse than yours. Do you indeed want him to fight with me?”
Obviously, he made fun of Lu Shaoyou. Wang She was a Level Nine expert while Ji Zhongtang was an master of martial arts of Bone-Forging Realm. They were not on the same level. The outcome of their fight was so predictable.
Furthermore, Ji Zhongtang was superior to Lu Shaoyou. Without Ji Zhongtang’s silent efforts and assistance, Lu Shaoyou wouldn’t have gained such achievements. Other than that, all people in the martial arts world knew Ji Zhongtang was his benefactor and he rendered him the grace of rebirth. Although Lu Shaoyou spent his whole life returning the kindness, he never returned it fully. Now if Ji Zhongtang was beaten to death here as Lu Shaoyou stood aside and watched, he would be shamed and humiliated for a lifetime. Even if he would ascend to Level Nine or the Mysterious Realm one day and slapped Wang She to death, he couldn’t wash off the disgrace and mundane contempt.
His reputation was partly built from his cultivation, but mostly from his moral standing.
Since his debut, he had a strong sense of justice and helped the weak. Because of his numerous chivalrous deeds, he turned a chivalrous hero into chivalrous man, and finally into the present Blade Master.
After painstaking efforts and sweat, he won his current status and reputation.
But now, he stood on the edge of a cliff or rather he was forced to stand here by Wang She. It was possible that he would be kicked over the cliff and never recover.
Now, Wang She had stretched one foot to kick Lu Shaoyou.
If he followed Ji Zhongtang’s will and took Ji Zhongtang as his shield, he would undoubtedly fall down.
Although Ji Zhongtang helped him, Ji Zhongtang could not change anything. After Wang She dealt with Ji Zhongtang, what would he do later?
He would not risk his life for a woman, but for Ji Zhongtang he would risk it all.
Wang She’s smile radiated an air of complacency. It was as if a sharp dagger had been stabbed into Lu Shaoyou’s heart. Seeing that evil smile, Lu Shaoyou was anxious to tear Wang She’s face into pieces. However, he dared not and could not.
Under Wang She’s coercion, he, a Level Eight expert, did not have the courage to fight.
“Uncle Ji, I’ll handle it!” He took a long breath, and compressed down his innermost helplessness and fear. Over the years, everything had gone smoothly. But now that he countered this situation, he did not know how to handle it. Nevertheless, he clearly knew what he ought to do.
“No, you step back. Leave it to me!” Ji Zhongtang said, with a burst of chill, “He’s a Level Nine expert, you’re bound to fail anyway. Wang She, until this point, I have no words against it. Today, I admit defeat. But someone else can’t bully our Lu Mansion. I would like to ask for advice from First Seat Wang!”
“Uncle Ji…!” When Lu Shaoyou heard what Ji Zhongtang said, he blurted out.
“Shut up. I have my own ideas!” Ji Zhongtang shouted.
“Well, now that you know the truth that your strength is worse than mine, there’s no need!” Wang She said, shaking his head, “We come here only to kidnap the bride. This has nothing to do with you Master Ji, besides, your cultivation is so low that even though I defeat you, I won’t be proud. Lu Shaoyou, in order to save your kind Uncle Ji’s face, I’ll make any trouble. If you’re unsatisfied, I’m waiting for you on the Tian Long Mystic Mountain.”
Wang She said, moving his eyes and glancing at all the guests in the hall. His gaze was so substantial that when stared down by it, the guests felt that he saw through them. They subconsciously blocked it fearing that the moment they looked at it, they would be hurt.
Wang She sighed slightly as if he felt it was somewhat boring. At last, his eyes were fixed on a pair of red candles in the hall. He laughed thoughtfully, “Alright, that’s all. It’s time to go now. Goodbye! Goodbye!”
Saying that, he arched his hands towards the hall, as if to bid farewell to Lu Shaoyou. However, only he understood that he arched towards the pair of red candles. Waving his sleeves and stretching his figure, he disappeared from the guests in the blink of an eye.
When Wang She left, Lu Shaoyou was subtly relieved but at the same time, his expression turned gloomy, extremely gloomy, and he went off in a huff, without any greeting words.
“Alas——!” Seeing his departure, Ji Zhongtang sighed and respectfully arched towards all guests in the hall, “All martial arts world fellows and Jianghu’s heroes, I’m so sorry. It’s a terrible thing that disappoints you all…”
“No, it’s nothing. Master Ji you needn’t say that. Nobody wants it to happen anyhow!” All guests in the hall arched back and said. Though they were excited that they had watched a free drama just now and had encountered a new Level Nine expert. This was not the moment for them to reveal their true expressions.
“Alas, right, it was out of our hands and nobody could have predicted such a thing! It was doomed!” Ji Zhongtang was a sly fox and thus the comforting words of the crowd continued. In their hearts, they laughed at the cunning man but nobody was willing to offend Ji Zhongtang and Lu Mansion at this moment. If they irritated such a moody man, and he did something irrational, there would be trouble.
Without the bride, the wedding ceremony could not naturally go on. After conveying their comfort, all guests bid him farewell. They were itching to have a couple of wings and spread the news that a Level Nine expert had showed up. Meanwhile, they would gather together to discuss it. It had been a long time since the last dramatic news in Jianghu.
A Level Nine expert rushed to kidnap the bride. It was so rare to hear such a thing, let alone to see it. But they saw it in person today, it was a great topic to talk about. Some of these very unreasonable points, apart from causing some thoughtless speculation, had been covered up in the noise of the agitation.
Carrying a Level Nine expert’s halo, Wang She left with great merit. His body turned into a cyan streamer and flashed out of Lu Mansion, flying straight to the periphery of Qinlingjun City. His swift speed stunned people who saw him.
However, when he flew in front of the high city wall of Qinlingjun City, he stopped abruptly. The place that he stopped was an alley 300 feet away from the city wall.
When he was landing, the whole alley was enveloped by a strong air. Although he was a Level Nine expert, his expression couldn’t help changing, “Wang She pays respects to Governor Ma!”
At this moment, Wang She did not have the sort of dignity that a Level Nine expert should have, and he instead saluted the middle-aged man standing straight in the alley as if he was an ordinary junior. Wearing an embroidered robe, a purple and gold hat, and a pair of cloudy shoes, the man’s face was dignified. The man was Ma Changtian, a Governor of Yunzhou of Great Jin.
“Where do you prepare to take my daughter?” Ma Changtian said in a low voice, coldly and imperially.
“It’s not me but Sister Wu Shuang. I only came to trouble Lu Shaoyou that’s all!” Wang She said with a smile, folding the fan.
“Really?” Ma Changtian laughed coldly, “In Yunzhou City, on my daughter’s Wedding, you kidnap her in public. You’re so arrogant that you look down on me Ma Tianchang!”
“Governor Ma, you overstate it. It’s completely not related to Tian Long Dao but was done by Sister Wu Shuang and me. As for the reason why we did it, I think, Lei Xu has talked clearly with you about it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t allow Wu Shuang to kidnap your daughter, would you?”
“Hum, this marriage is a big deal. I’m also cautious and jittery. You, several youngsters, are so fearless. Do you really believe that your strength can challenge the dignity of that man?”
“Of course not, we were not stupid to challenge him. He’s Jin’s Emperor who dominates the whole world. We didn’t provoke him. We need some people to know that we don’t steal other’s profit, but if one grabs our profits, it will be an eye for an eye!”
“You mean that you took my daughter as your spoil of war?”
“No, she’s your daughter, Lei’s wife and the future sister-in-law of Wu Shuang and me. Therefore, her profit is also our profit. Breaking her and Lei up also damages our common profit!”
“You’re a sweet talker!”
“In front of Governor Ma, if I’m not particular about my words, I worry that I’ll be bombarded to death on the spot!” Wang She laughed in a low voice. After hearing Ma Tianchang’s words, he was secretly relieved.
“There’s another thing, that youngster in a mask, is he with you?”
“Yeah, we’re together. If Governor wants to ask about his background, I have nothing to say!”
“I don’t care his background. His cultivation is good and what he had practiced is Green Jade Qian Yuan Skill, so I’m curious about him!” Ma Tianchang said, “At this time, how many comers are there? Just several? Anyone else?”
“Anyone else? Nobody, just us!” Wang She shook his head, with curious eyes, ” Is there anyone else doing it?”
“There are several guys peeping at us. With your spirtual mind, you should perceive it.”
“They?” Wang She burst into laughter, “Just several puny mice. Maybe they wanted to make a profit in chaos. But when they found out that my cultivation had ascended to Level Nine, they gave it up. It’s no big deal. This marriage is too intricate, involving not only our several families’ interests, so it’s not surprising that others are interested in it!”
“It’s normal that others come here. The old man of the Chen’s also seems to send men here!” Ma Tianchang said.
Wang She raised his eyebrow, “It’s also not strange that you marry into Mingyi School, conflicting with his profits!”
“Nor should he come here. Although it doesn’t accord with his profits, he should not come here, either. And the man he sent is Chen Ning!” Ma Tianchang said firmly, “There’s a problem here!”
“I don’t know things about the imperial court. Today I came here to help your true future son-in-law, so, you don’t need to thank me!”
“You kidnapped my daughter. How can I thank you?” Ma Tianchang laughed in rage, “You really believe that I have no way to deal with you when you’re a Level Nine expert?”
“Between us, there’s no problem of who deals with who. That you come to find me is not just because of your daughter. Governor Ma, go ahead. What’s it?”
“Northern Yuan’s Wali Khan died. His three sons, Chadu, Ali Hun and Tie Mu are struggling for the regal power. Northern Yuan will be in chaos for a period of time. I have an opportunity to weaken Northern Yuan.”
“What do I need to do?”
“I need you to stir the civil strife of Northern Yuan. You’d better kill all of them; Chadu, Ali Hun, and Tie Mu.”
“The matter is thorny. My strength has been exposed. If I go to Northern Yuan, it will be troublesome. I believe that as long as I show up, Living Buddha Ba Siba, Dark Lord Mie Chen, Kunlun Master will conspire to kill me. Three of them are all Level Nine experts!”
“It depends on your capability!” Ma Tianchang smiled and said, “As long as you kill Wali Khan’s three sons, what has happened today will be written off.”
“Don’t you fear that if I kill Wali Khan’s three sons, the three evil ones will rush to Yunzhou at all costs?”
“If they dare come here, I’ll dare to kill them. I’ll be sure to destroy the entire Northern Yuan on the condition that I kill one of them. If so, let them perish.”
While speaking, Evil Qi became thicker and thicker. A strong bloody slaughter substantially surged around. Wang She’s face turned pale and white. He suddenly took a step back, “OK, I promise! I’ll try my best! By the way, as for the guy in the mask, what happened to him?”
“I don’t know, he and Gao Yulou are chasing each other. I just cast a glance at them when I came here!”