Chapter 551: A Matter of Life and Death
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the past, he only knew about Mr. Nian and about Supreme Lord Spring Frost. When he was battling Supreme Lord Spring Frost back then, the latter was extremely difficult to be tackled, an incredible expert.
Until later, as the Five Venerable Lords emerged, he knew then that Supreme Lord Spring Frost was nothing much in comparison. The Five Venerable Lords were the true experts.
Now, he knew a deeper reality, perhaps the truth itself, that the Five Venerable Lords were only characters that could be disposed of at any time.
Then, what about the Four Seasons Tower's true pillars of forces?
Had they never appeared? Or were they living in this world in disguise?
In addition to that, Venerable Lord Ice said that there was not only one Mr. Nian; he had several manifestations. Each new piece of information gave Yun Yang another headache, another sleepless night.
"Who is it who's established this body of force that's become like a monster known as the Four Seasons Tower?"
Yun Yang must say, he was rather impressed by how well this organization had hidden itself. Since the beginning of time, there was only the Four Seasons Tower that could develop and grow an organization to this great extent. And off all the organizations he had crossed paths, he has personally become somewhat involved in this great one.
Each time he improved himself and set up scheme after scheme to cause damage to his nemesis, each time he thought he could finally fight and overthrow the tower, he was always shocked to find out that the strength the tower had shown was only the tip of the iceberg. Even when the status of nemesis had long been established, truthfully, only he would die while the tower stayed unaffected – he might not even have caused any major loss to them!
The differences in their capabilities was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Luckily he had always been able to vaguely perceive the foe's strength as it approached and avoided the crisis before an attack was actually launched. Otherwise, he would have long been dead!
In spite of this, how long could such good luck last?
Another night passed.
The brewing storm over Tiantang City did not stop, but instead, grew more devastating. Countless night crawlers flew above the city's sky, both coming and going. For a moment, the ghoulish wind cried; then, wraiths came in wisps; for a moment, killing intents soared upwards; then, the cries of ghosts were heard…
The officials in charge of law and order in Tiantang City almost aged a few years within a single night from the sheer weight of worrying.
"Why are there so many experts flocking to Tiantang City all of a sudden? Does this world really have so many experts?"
Facing such an unprecedented situation, they were helpless with worry. There was simply nothing they could do other than to let events take their course.
The saying that martial people violate the law with their martial skills had never just been a mere saying. Martial experts who were equipped with excellent cultivation base rarely regarded the so-called imperial law. They came and went as they pleased. Not only would they kill a few people to vent themselves when they were unhappy, they could kill a few more to celebrate when they were happy too. No reasons, fairness, or law…
"According to an old saying, one serves the emperor no matter what they learn, but now… sigh!"
"Many years ago, it was said that most of the martial artists were still proud to be an official of the imperial court. Such titles were a big attraction to these people. It's unknown exactly when, but the martial world forces grew and overcame the strength of such worldly empires. This caused the martial world people to disregard emperors, heaven, or justice; they only knew about doing things with their brute skills. The situation now was a result of forceful suppression and balancing by generations of emperors."
"I wonder if such phenomena could be reversed in the future."
An official sighed in his house.
"It's been a long time since the era of supreme imperialism. The reason the martial experts had initially submitted to the imperial court in the past was because they were greedy for wealth and fortune in this world. But such materialistic luxury is no more attractive to such high and mighty legendary figures."
"Because now those are things they can easily acquire."
"What can tempt them, or perhaps, what they are concerned with now, is being the only man standing at the top overlooking the world, immortality, and the eternal pride of lonesomeness."
It was the official's wife who said this. She hooked arms with her husband and said softly, "this is no longer something you can solve. This world… it's just too big…"
"Unless the world comes under the reign of a sole conqueror one day, and this sole conqueror uses strong forces and all sorts of methods to oppress the martial world influence to a barely sustainable low position, only then would there be recognition of justice and fairness. Only then will order be returned to everyone. Until that happens, the only thing we can do is watch from the sidelines."
The official sighed, he had nothing more to say for a long time.
…
The wisp of a wraith emerged and instantly engulfed a quiet yard.
But the yard was not rustled at all from the sudden occurrence. It was still as silent as before, like no one existed there.
The wraith drifted for a bit before a human form slowly appeared. The person spoke in an eerie voice, "A good friend has come. Which decision maker of The Merciless Tower is here?"
This small ordinary looking yard was actually the base of The Merciless Tower in Tiantang City. A strange voice was heard in this seemingly empty yard, "I see it's King Chujiang of the Concourse of the Underworld's ten Yama Kings. I wonder what is King Chujiang's purpose in this visit?"
King Chujiang smiled faintly as he answered, "Is Hen Bieli here?"
"Does King Chujiang believe that no one in The Merciless Tower is qualified to speak to you other than our leader?" The voice asked coldly.
King Chujiang replied, "I don't mean it like that. It's just that the main purpose of my visit is related to the life and death of both our organizations. I must be cautious."
The voice chuckled strangely. "The life and death of our organizations? Heh heh, King Chujiang is honest indeed. The Concourse of the Underworld is at its end, true, but us, The Merciless Tower is right in the middle of its prime. The life and death matters of our respective organizations are at a complete contrast!"
King Chujiang scoffed and answered coldly in return, "If The Merciless Tower thinks so, then there's no need for me to say more. I bid my leave."
The ghoulish wind rose again accompanying the wraith as King Chujiang disappeared in an instant, without a trace.
When met with a cold shoulder, King Chujiang lost interest in prolonging the conversation. They were famed experts, he treasured his dignity; there was no need for him to endlessly pursue the issue.
The person lurking in the dark scoffed and quipped, "The audacity of him to come here to ask for help yet he puts up this annoying front of being the world's top assassin organization. Even your own father wouldn't fall for it."
A few pandering voices appeared from the dark, "Assistant leader is domineering. We've been oppressed by the Concourse of the Underworld for so long previously, we can finally vent it out today. We shall sit and watch their fall while The Merciless Tower shines eternally."
"That's right. King Chujiang's eyes have always been on top of his head, never once regarding us. But now he dares not do or say anything. How gratifying!"
"Assistant leader has scored this for us brothers!"
The assistant leader snorted, replying after everyone was done bootlicking, "Stop pandering to me, I won't fall for this. Hide well now, we wait for our leader's orders before making our move."
"Yes."
Just as they spoke, a dazzling ray of sword light appeared while indescribable murderous intent engulfed the entire yard. At that moment, all the Merciless Tower's assassins' swords, their main weapon worn at their waist, clanged loudly at the same time.
A cutting voice spoke, "Wait for your leader's order? Heh, I'm afraid you won't be able to in this lifetime!"
"Venerable Lord Sword?!"