Chapter 586: Grief Befalls Heaven and Earth. Cycle of Four Seasons Palm.
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
With the unleashing of Dugu Chou's Grieving Sword, the tables were finally turned.
The dazzling sword light was tinged with grief and desolation. Countless people in Tiantang City felt an odd sense of depression from the bottom of their hearts. It was an indescribable angst.
Yun Yang who watched the battle from a close distance felt the pang of sorrow even more keenly. Although young, the grief and grudge in him could compare to anyone in the world; he was stricken with feelings, feeling his emotions whirl about, hardly containable. The thought of not wanting to continue living began to eat him up.
Once the thought sprouted, all else in his mind followed. Yun Yang's expression changed as the angst ate at him, his breathing turning labored. He was about to lose control of himself, retaliating against his internal demons.
"Roar!"
Ling Xiaozui let out a clear cry that woke Yun Yang up, having seen the change in the latter's expression and knowing that he could not take the attack.
Aided by Ling Xiaozui, Yun Yang broke out of his emotional trance and paid attention to the battle happening in the sky. There was only a dark curtain hanging in the air now, without any signs of life; only woe and depression wrapped the entire nightfall.
There was no other sound or pulse of life.
"Has the battle ended?" Yun Yang asked in disbelief.
"This is grief befalling heaven and earth." Ling Xiaozui said, "An atmospheric aura belonging uniquely to Dugu Chou. By combining this trick and his sword intent, he managed to trap Mr. Nian inside."
"I see. Then, has Senior Dugu managed to turn the battle around?"
"This is Dugu Chou's unique technique, his undefeatable trick. Even if Mr. Nian's cultivation base is higher than that of Dugu Chou's, he'll die inside if he can't charge out of the grieving range within a single breath's time." Ling Xiaozui's shiny eyes watched the sky, his gaze unprecedentedly cold.
"He should be able to come out." Yun Yang shook his head. "Mr. Nian will definitely not die like this."
'If he dies, who do I look for to sate my thirst for revenge?'
'In the end, this person, his life, can only end in my hands!'
"I didn't expect you to actually think the same way." Ling Xiaozui looked at Yun Yang in surprise and said, "I agree. Mr. Nian is trapped, but he won't die here. Dugu Chou's undefeatable record may have to end today!"
The corners of Yun Yang's lips jerked, thinking that what they thought were two different things.
'If not for my irreversible grudge and wish to kill him, how I hope Mr. Nian meets his end here, that he dies with his bones crushed and ashes scattered, without a burial ground!'
Heavy blows could be heard within the dark curtain. After a momentary lapse, a long howl tore across the darkness and soared up high. The dark curtain erupted as rays of sword light charged from the dark like an erupting volcano.
For a moment, the entire night sky was bright as day, being lit up by the sword light.
A silhouette with unkempt long hair rocketed thousands of feet high into the sky accompanied by a pillar of blood. A hoarse voice growled, "The Grieving Sword is not bad indeed. Grief to befall heaven and earth, what a terror! Dugu Chou, you live up to your name. I shall return this sword strike of yours in future!"
The explosions ceased. Dugu Chou stood tall in the sky as he scoffed, "If we meet next time, you won't be as lucky as you are today!"
According to normal circumstances, or perhaps normal martial world rules, Mr. Nian should already be high in the air or be leaving, since he had admitted inferiority. Unexpectedly, before Dugu Chou's reply finished bouncing off in the sky, Mr. Nian let out a long-drawn cry, "The world is vast, I shall see you again!"
Although he said that the world was vast and they would meet again, his form bolted down like an arrow.
His hand opened to grab Gu Chaliang.
At the same time, another oppressive force presented itself. It was the other person who had been hidden farther away; he had suddenly appeared. Dressed in black, the person's face was covered in the large black robe as well. He approached them like a sprinting shadow.
The intense aura washed over them like a falling mountain.
Mr. Nian's action was already abrupt and unexpected, but the other black silhouette's action was even more frightening. An arm crept out from the sleeve of the swiftly approaching black shadow and jerked. A gigantic hand then formed out of nowhere in the air, launching itself towards Gu Chaliang forcefully.
One man came from the sky while another came from the other side. Both directions saw movements that were incredibly fast speed and a resolute intention that was unshakable.
Ling Xiaozui, who was the closest to Gu Chaliang and had the highest cultivation base, responded the swiftest. With a clear cry, a brilliant sword light erupted from his hand; simultaneously, his composed form spread into dozens of shadows in the air. Each shadow held a gleaming sword light that was threatening to spill out onto the plains.
Dugu Chou who was still in the air did not slack either, immediately moving to counterattack.
Both swordsmen reacted as fast as they could to target Mr. Nian and the black shadow.
"I've been waiting for you!"
Ling Xiaozui's cold voice rang out clearly. The sword light lashed out endlessly, unstoppable, to block the black silhouette that was coming from the other side.
Almost in unison, Feng Xiange moved as well. With a quick grab and a flick of his wrist, a pot of wine exploded – the wine that splashed turned into clear, shiny, daggers that rained down like a shower.
Gu Chaliang laughed. "Not giving up even at this time. Should I be immensely honored?"
A wave of purple rose from the air as he spoke. It was the purple jade flute in his hands that he had triggered.
Everything that happened was a chore to be mentioned, but in reality, they had happened almost at the same time! Within the time it took to snap one's fingers, the six masterly experts had attacked and countered simultaneously!
The result of such a clash was stupendous.
With a loud explosion, a black form somersaulted with a laugh and flew back up into the sky before disappearing without a trace. As for the black silhouette in black robes that was coming from the side, it had promptly expanded and exploded without any resistance due to Ling Xiaozui and group's counterattack.
However, a hand, a long arm that was as fine as jade, had suddenly appeared and stretched itself out in the sky.
How long could a person's hand, including their arm, be?
Common knowledge would tell you that it would not be very long, but this arm had completely challenged that knowledge. As it extended, the arm seemed to stretch infinitely and struck Yun Yang's chest with a thunderclap.
Yun Yang was the weakest among all of them in terms of capability, he was not even comparable to anyone present. However, a cultivator's instinct towards danger allowed him to sense the arm the moment it extended itself. He reacted spontaneously, crying out as he hacked down harshly with his saber. It was too bad that the large hand had completely ignored Yun Yang's saber, passing through the saber light, and went right for Yun Yang's chest.
Pang, pang, pang, pang!
Four continuous blows.
The black-robed person flew back into the sky and said, "Ling Xiaozui, if you still want your young friend's life, bring Gu Chaliang for an exchange at Spirit Breeze Mountain within three days!"
Ling Xiaozui and the others were further infuriated, attacking in unison with all their might, forming a more vehement aura. The black-robed person suddenly lets out a thick fog of smoke that coalesced with a loud boom, covering the sky at once.
Bangs and thunderclaps were heard no lesser than hundreds of times in the thick fog. With a drawn-out shriek of hoarse laughter, the dark form escaped into the sky. Despite Dugu Chou and Ling Xiaozui's pursuing sword light, it was difficult to catch up with the silhouette as it had vanished mysteriously.
"Cycle of Four Seasons Palm, an affliction which is incurable in the known world!"