Chapter 31: Screw the World! An Old Friend Reunion
Chapter 31: Screw the World! An Old Friend Reunion
This time, extracting the skill was completely different from before.
The energy that surged in an instant was too immense, causing Shen Wuque to lose all consciousness immediately.
Vaguely, he could only see inside the void of his body, where the White Bone Brush was rapidly painting.
It was more like a fantasy printer, painting across all the meridians in his entire body, painting within his Dantian Energy Sea.
But what it painted was not a picture, but an incredibly complex Energy Array.
The entire process felt extremely long.
Time passed second by second.
Throughout the whole process, Grandmaster Jiumogang had been standing guard outside, motionless.
Suddenly…
“Wooooo…” A long horn call sounded, coming from a mountaintop dozens of miles away, the lair of the surviving forces of the Reformist Faction.
This horn call signified an enemy attack.
Jiumogang’s expression changed drastically.
Who? Who was attacking the Solitary Mountain Villa?
He was the highest martial force in the entire villa. He wasn’t there now, Wen Daozi, Menjif, and the others might be in danger.
But at the same time, Shen Wuque needed his protection, leaving him torn.
Wuque was at a critical moment and could not move. Looking around, no one was nearby.
The villa, however, was likely in great danger.
Jiumogang placed many traps around the cave entrance and then sprinted toward the Solitary Mountain Villa.
When he arrived at the Solitary Mountain Villa, he found it was indeed under siege by enemies.
Judging by their attire, they were actually fanatics of the Dark Academy. Were these Xiang Wentian’s allies?
Even though the Dark Academy had been destroyed many years ago, some dark believers were still active underground. Xiang Wentian was one of their top generals back then.
Seeing Jiumogang charge over, Wen Daozi said coldly, “What are you doing here?!”
Without a word, Jiumogang plunged into the fray.
With his addition, the Solitary Mountain Academy’s crisis gradually eased.
In the blink of an eye, corpses littered the ground.
Grandmaster Jiumogang, even though his Martial Arts were not what they once were, was still one of the top masters in the southern part of the Empire.
Fighting, Wen Daozi angrily said, “Jiumogang, stupid, stupid, stupid! Be careful of falling for someone’s diversion trick.”
…
Not long after Jiumogang had just left.
Two figures actually leaped directly into the demon cave prison.
They were full of caution because they knew all too well how powerful Xiang Wentian was.
But the lure of the Star-Draining Art scroll was even stronger. For it, even paying the price of their lives was worth it.
But…
After dropping into the cave, they were horrified to discover.
The Great Demon Xiang Wentian was actually… dead.
“Search. Search every part of his body, we must find the Star-Draining Art.”
The two black-clad men then practically dismembered Xiang Wentian piece by piece.
Next, they searched every part of the cave, but still couldn’t find the Star-Draining Art scroll.
“Father, there’s someone in the water.”
The two black-clad men dove into the water and discovered, sitting cross-legged at the bottom, was a handsome young nobleman.
Most crucially, from the area of this young nobleman’s Dantian, a strange vortex of light was emanating.
Instantly…
These two were overwhelmed with shock, jealousy, and hatred.
This… this was the Star-Draining Art?!
After searching far and wide without success, here it was, effortlessly obtained?
The Dark Academy’s supreme technique, the Star-Draining Art, had actually been learned by this young man?
“Interrupt his cultivation, wake him up. He knows where the Star-Draining Art is.” The older man said, trembling with excitement.
Such an interruption would mean Qi deviation for Wuque, likely leading to Dantian collapse and death, or bodily explosion.
But the younger black-clad man still took out a silver needle, searching for key acupoints on Wuque’s body to insert it.
And right at that moment.
Suddenly, a figure swooped down, appearing before the two black-clad men.
Jiumogang. He had returned.
He was covered in bloodstains, clearly just finished a big battle.
Even though the two were masked, Jiumogang recognized their builds.
First shocked, then unable to believe it.
“Uncle, is that you?” Jiumogang suddenly said.
Hearing this, the older black-clad man paused for a moment, then pulled off his mask. His face was flushed, his beard white, his eyes bright and piercing.
His face was filled with a wild, dangerous aura, somewhat similar to Jiumogang’s.
Then, the other younger black-clad man also removed his mask, cupping his hands toward Jiumogang. “Elder Brother.”
These two were father and son, Jiumogang’s uncle and younger brother.
Jiumogang trembled. “Did… did the Snow Mountain Sanctuary send you?”
The black-clad men remained silent.
Jiumogang asked again, “My… my father, is he well?”
The uncle said, “Your father’s health is fine, but every time he thinks of you, he drowns his sorrows in drink and can’t eat. He can’t understand. We paid such a great price for you to enter the Scholarium to learn skills and serve the Sanctuary. Yet you became infatuated with the earthly pleasures of the Central Plains, casting your family aside. It’s truly disheartening.”
After that, both sides fell silent.
Jiumogang said hoarsely, “Uncle, since you’re here, your nephew has nothing special to offer you. Let me treat you to some grilled fish.”
Saying this, he caught two large fish, rubbed them with salt, then his palms turned red as he grilled the fish alive until cooked.
The three ate the grilled fish. Nearby, Wuque sat motionless in the water, the Star-Draining Art vortex in his Dantian Energy Sea was still forming.
No one knew how much longer it would take to complete the entire Star-Draining Art.
“Fifth Brother, how have you been lately?” Jiumogang asked.
“Quite well.” The fifth brother said while eating fish, looking at Shen Wuque. “I remember now. This is Shen Wuque, right? He once visited our Snow Cloud Sect Temple. Talked a lot, too handsome. Many women were infatuated with him. I remember him well. Is he cultivating the Star-Draining Art now?”
Jiumogang’s body shook. “Uncle, Fifth Brother, I don’t care why you’re here. I don’t care if the Snow Mountain Sanctuary sent you. I don’t care what connection you have with the Dark Academy fanatic organization. But can I ask you to keep secret everything you saw here today?”
The uncle said, “Sure, we’ll definitely keep it secret. But we ask you to agree to one condition as well.”
Jiumogang said, “Please tell me.”
“Uncle said, “Xiang Wentian is dead, and the secret manual of the ‘Star-Draining Art’ is missing. Now only this Shen Wuque knows how to practice the ‘Star-Draining Art.’ You must bring him to the plateau.””
“Jiumogang said bitterly, “It can’t be done, Uncle.””
“Uncle said, “Why can’t it be done? Are you siding with outsiders? Don’t forget, I am not only your uncle but also your first teacher.””
“Jiumogang knelt and kowtowed, saying, “Uncle, I beg for your mercy.””
“Uncle was silent.”
“Jiumogang kept kowtowing until his forehead bled, trembling as he spoke, “Uncle, this Shen Wuque is our only hope; he is connected to the fate of many people. I will agree to any request you have, I beg you for mercy, spare him.””
“Uncle sighed, “It cannot be. We must obtain the ‘Star-Draining Art.’ It is an order from above, and I have no choice.””
“Jiumogang continued to kowtow, “Uncle, is it really impossible?””
“Uncle’s face was icy, his eyes cruel.”
“Jiumogang knelt on the ground, tears streaming, and said slowly, “This world… really shouldn’t be like this.””
“Uncle said coldly, “What do you intend to do?””
“As he spoke, both father and son gripped their swords.”
“Jiumogang kept muttering, “For the ideal, for the spark, ah…””
“Then, he let out a fierce roar, drew his sword, and leaped up!”
“…”
“Several days and nights passed.”
“The top secret technique of the Dark Academy, the Star-Draining Art, was replicated completely.”
“Wuque opened his eyes, his whole body resumed breathing, and he burst out of the water.”
“Jiumogang sat nearby, covered in blood with several wounds.”
“Beside him lay two corpses, already unrecognizable, but vaguely discernible as one old and one young.”
“Wuque asked, “Master Jiumogang, who are these two?””
“Jiumogang’s face twitched slightly, then he said hoarsely, “Unrelated people, pay them no mind.””
“Then, Jiumogang said, “Wuque, how do you think these two died?””
“Wuque said, “They tried to seize the ‘Star-Draining Art’ and ended up perishing together with Xiang Wentian.””
“Jiumogang said, “Yes, that is how they died.””
“Wuque added, “These… these are people from the snowy plateau?””
“Because their skin and hair characteristics were quite distinct.”
“Jiumogang’s wounds trembled with intense pain, and he said hoarsely, “Probably so.””
“Saying this, Jiumogang’s voice sounded as if it were full of holes.”
“That weariness, that pain, could not be concealed at all.”
“After a long while, Jiumogang asked, “Wuque, have you mastered the Star-Draining Art?””
“Wuque nodded, “Yes, I have mastered it.””
“Back then, Xiang Wentian took several years to master the Star-Draining Art, but Shen Wuque only needed seven days. It was truly astonishing.”
“This level of genius was really beyond words.”
““Then all of this was worth it,” Jiumogang said hoarsely. “Alright, let’s return to the Solitary Mountain Villa now.””
“Then, he blinked hard as if there was sand in his eyes, and looked outside.”
““Let’s go back, go back!””
““Take the good news to the Mountain Master.””
“…”
“When they returned to the Solitary Mountain Villa, the atmosphere had changed completely.”
“Hundreds of people surrounded the entire villa, sealing it tightly.”
“But these were not fanatics of the Dark Academy; they were the great and righteous warriors of the Scholarium, fully armed, cold and stern.”
“What had happened?”
“The Scholarium warriors had actually surrounded the entire Solitary Mountain Villa.”
“Was it the moment when the dagger was revealed?!”
“Jiumogang brought Wuque into the main hall.”
“Seeing Wuque, Wen Daozi’s eyes trembled slightly, then he smiled and said, “Wuque, come, come quickly and greet your Uncle Mi Daoyuan.””
“Wuque immediately looked toward the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the hall.”
“His nose was prominent, his eyebrows sharp like swords, his eyes bright like stars, his earlobes long enough to reach his shoulders, and his arms like those of an ape.”
“Even just sitting there, he appeared as imposing as a mountain.”
“Upon seeing Wuque, he smiled warmly, as if bathed in a gentle spring breeze.”
“He… was the Mountain Master of the Tianshui Academy, Mi Daoyuan.”
“The one who had forced Wen Daozi from his position, almost destroying the entire Reformist Faction of the Scholarium.”
“The teacher of the Great Demon Xiang Wentian.”
“The greatest enemy of Wen Daozi and the others, and even Wuque’s greatest enemy.”
“What was he here for?!”
““Paying respects to Uncle Mi…” Wuque stepped forward to bow.”
““Nephew Wuque…” Mi Daoyuan helped Wuque up and said, “I just arrived at your home yesterday. I was overjoyed to hear you had returned, but I never expected to see you here at the Solitary Mountain Villa.””
“Then, Mi Daoyuan added, “By the way, Nephew Wuque, let me introduce you to an old acquaintance.””
“…”