Chapter 96

PS: Unconsciously, it's already been released, and I feel the pressure. The baby is four months old, and there's a job transfer, among other miscellaneous things. But it's okay, I'll stick to two chapters a day.

Back at his residence, Nibosha's words made Li She fall into deep thought. He was actually an unknown variable in Nibosha's eyes.

"Indeed, the path of 'Drought Corpse' is shrouded in confusion and the unknown. So, there are infinite possibilities, then," Li She thought.

He took out the paper from his chest, on which Nibosha had written the method to open the brocade box, and examined it carefully.

"When the noon sun shines into the brocade box, reverse the Bagua disk on the box, and rotate it according to the reverse order of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the box can be opened."

A few simple words, yet they revealed the extraordinary nature of this brocade box. He never thought that such a thing could be created in the "Feng Yun" world. However, in a world where even dragons, phoenixes, and qilins exist, having a brocade box with holographic projection capabilities isn't surprising.

If one doesn't know the secret, it wouldn't matter if it were ten years, twenty years, or a hundred years; it would remain unsolvable. Since Xiong Ba received the prophecy from Nibosha about his first half of life, the development of the Tianxia Society has been like a god's assistance, rapidly advancing. As for the brocade box left by Nibosha, which contained the prophecy about his second half of life, Xiong Ba naturally treasured it as a precious gem. He carefully placed it in a hidden compartment in his room. For ten years, Xiong Ba, who considered himself a genius in both wisdom and martial arts, was helpless with this small brocade box.

The small and exquisite brocade box was adorned with a Bagua compass, with the Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and Nine Palaces engraved on it. Xiong Ba fiddled with it all day but still couldn't figure out how to open this tiny box. He sought out many skilled craftsmen, but they were all at a loss. Sometimes, Xiong Ba even thought of using the "Three Powers Reunited" to blast it open, but he was afraid of damaging the prophecy about his second half of life inside.

Today, in the secret room, after finishing his meditation and practice, Xiong Ba took out the brocade box left by Nibosha. For ten years, he had tried countless times, but he still couldn't open it.

This feeling was like a cat guarding a safe containing salted fish, unable to open it.

"Golden scales are not mere pond fish; once they encounter the wind and clouds, they transform into dragons. What is the second half of this sentence?" Xiong Ba muttered, holding the brocade box.

After fiddling with it for a while, the Bagua compass on the brocade box returned to its original state.

"It seems I need to find Nibosha to open this box," Xiong Ba thought to himself.

After putting away the brocade box, Xiong Ba left the secret room. Today was the day his three beloved disciples returned. Xiong Ba had summoned them to commend them and then send them out to find Nibosha.

Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng received Xiong Ba's message and hurried back to the Tianxia Society. The Tianxia Society was now beautifully decorated, with red lanterns hanging high and flowers adorning every corner. Wen Chouchou, holding a fan, directed everyone.

"Hey, Duan Lang, you rascal, be careful! Don't break the fine wine; you couldn't afford it even if you sold yourself! This is the 'Immortal Drunken' from the Mandala Manor, worth a fortune! Be careful, be careful," Wen Chouchou shouted at Duan Lang.

Duan Lang glanced at Wen Chouchou, carefully placed the wine jar, which was taller than a person, and then left.

Duan Lang, the son of 'Southern Sword Chief' Duan Shuai, was not living well in the Tianxia Society. Initially, Xiong Ba focused on Nie Feng, and Duan Lang was just brought along casually. Like the world's will had arranged for Duan Lang's childhood, this hidden major villain in the "Feng Yun" world had a tragic past that was hard to imagine.

At the age of five, Duan Lang began working as a servant in the Tianxia Society. To survive, he could only eat the worst food. Fortunately, Nie Feng, his only friend, often brought him some good food.

As a hidden major villain in the "Feng Yun" world, the world's will also took great care of Duan Lang. One could say that Duan Lang's potential and bone structure were not inferior to Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun. Although he didn't have the three great martial arts techniques taught by Xiong Ba, Duan Lang still practiced his family's martial arts to become a top-notch expert.

The authentic Duan family's internal martial arts and the 'Eclipse Sword Technique' that Duan Lang practiced to perfection, but without the 'Fire麟Sword,' he couldn't unleash the sword technique's full power. The 'Eclipse Sword Technique' required the Fire麟Sword to unleash its super attack. The technique consisted of eight forms.

1. 'White Sun Dawn' - The rising sun, bright but not intense.

2. 'Sword Stacking Glory' - Sword shadows burst forth, radiating heat.

3. 'Midday Sun' - The sword technique is hot and fierce, like the midday sun, making it hard to defend.

4. 'Sun in Sorrow' - Sorrow, making an opponent feel overwhelmed, like a dense sword net, leaving no room for counterattack.

5. 'Sun Exhausted Heart' - Dissolving the opponent's intent, reducing the damage to oneself.

6. 'Sun Filled to the Brim' - Powerful and enduring, wearing down the enemy.

7. 'Evening Sunlight' - A counterattack when suppressed, changing the tide of battle.

8. 'Fire麟Eclipse' - A dense sword net like dark clouds, impenetrable, like an eclipse.

Duan Lang's feelings towards Nie Feng were complex. He saw Nie Feng as his only friend and brother, but sometimes he envied him.

Both entered the Tianxia Society, but their treatments were vastly different. Nie Feng was the beloved disciple of the leader, while Duan Lang was a lowly servant. Nie Feng never abandoned their friendship and even said, "Even if Duan Lang lies, what he says is true." Duan Lang once had his fortune told, learning that he could become a great dragon but would become a 'rat in the street' because of Nie Feng. To maintain their friendship, Duan Lang cut his palm, 'Severing the Palm to Break Destiny,' to show his resolve. Later, their friendship changed, and it was a cause for sorrow.

At the beginning, human nature is good. Who is born with a wicked heart? Who doesn't want to be a hero? Often, things go against one's wishes. The hardest thing to grasp is the human heart, and the most changeable is human nature. The root of all this is desire. Why can he have it, but I can't? Why can he enjoy it, but I can't? Jealousy, resentment, and other seemingly insignificant things can quietly change a person's heart.

To cultivate Duan Lang, the hidden major villain in the "Feng Yun" world, the world's will went to great lengths. A tragic childhood, a diligent and indomitable heart—these are all the psychological qualities of a hero. Patience, ruthless means to achieve goals—these all made Duan Lang stand at the height of a hero.

Meanwhile, the Tianxia Society, with its colorful flags, was a scene of joy and peace. Kong Ci, dressed in white, was also helping to decorate the main hall.

Built among mountains and water, the Tianxia Society, after years of expansion, was no less impressive than the Mandala Manor. The high walls were patrolled by the Tianxia Society's disciples.

A disciple on the lookout tower suddenly saw three groups of iron cavalry approaching. Nowadays, no one dared to ride horses in the territory of the Tianxia Society. Recognizing the riders' clothing and appearance, he immediately shouted to the gatekeepers, "Open the city gates! Young Master Shuang, Young Master Yun, and Young Master Feng are back! Quickly inform the leader. The three young masters are back!"

"Open the city gates! Open the city gates! The three young masters are back."

The gatekeepers quickly sprang into action. Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng were now the most famous three people in the Tianxia Society. Even the martial arts world of Central Plains regarded Xiong Ba's three disciples as the leaders of the young generation.

In the past three years, Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng led their troops to sweep through the major martial arts sects in the south. Bu Jingyun even killed over a dozen innate experts, earning the reputation of a 'Death God.'

Nie Feng, with his 'Wind God Leg,' elegant posture, and handsome appearance, earned the title of 'Wind God.'

Qin Shuang, Xiong Ba's eldest disciple, also reached the innate expert level with his dominant and fierce 'Heavenly Frost Fist.'

The return of Xiong Ba's three disciples naturally warranted a grand welcome.

Nie Feng, still handsome and elegant, with a gentle smile on his face, greeted Qin Shuang and Bu Jingyun first, "Elder Brother, Second Brother, it's been a while."

Bu Jingyun, still cold, nodded in greeting. Over the years, Nie Feng and Qin Shuang had gotten used to it. Qin Shuang and Nie Feng chatted as they rode their horses into the city.

The drumbeats and horn sounds echoed, a grand welcome ceremony for the heroes of the Tianxia Society.

Xiong Ba, dressed in a black robe with golden edges, his long beard flowing in the wind, his eyebrows majestic, looked exceptionally powerful.

Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng dismounted and knelt, shouting, "Disciples pay respects to Master."

"Ha ha ha!! Well done! Well done! Young eagles soaring, you three have not disappointed me," Xiong Ba laughed loudly.

Xiong Ba's eyes scanned the three. The honest and loyal Qin Shuang, the elegant Nie Feng, and the still cold Bu Jingyun. Xiong Ba nodded in satisfaction. His three disciples, all under twenty, had already broken through to the innate level. Such strength was rare in the martial arts world. In ten years, Qin Shuang and the others had grown into his sharp swords, making Xiong Ba even more determined to find Nibosha.

While Xiong Ba was observing Bu Jingyun and the others, Bu Jingyun was also staring at Xiong Ba. Although his cultivation had already broken through to the innate level, he still couldn't gauge Xiong Ba's depth.

Bu Jingyun thought to himself, "The gap is still so great?"

The entire Tianxia Society was filled with a festive atmosphere. The return of the three heroes and the iron-clad south made the Tianxia Society reach its peak.

That night, Xiong Ba summoned Bu Jingyun and the others.

Xiong Ba got straight to the point, "I need you to find Nibosha for me!"

Hearing Xiong Ba's words, Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng were taken aback. They didn't expect Xiong Ba to call them back for this. They had heard of Nibosha, the first divine fortune-teller in the martial arts world, known for predicting life and death, judging yin and yang, and foretelling fortune and misfortune.

They didn't expect Xiong Ba to ask them to find this first divine fortune-teller.

Nibosha was one of the most mysterious people in the martial arts world. No one knew his lineage or if he knew martial arts. What made Nibosha famous was his infallible prophecies.

The wheels of the Tianxia Society began to turn again. Ten thousand disciples posted Nibosha's portrait everywhere, searching for this elusive Nibosha.

Dugu Yifang, the lord of Wushuang City, was also alarmed by the Tianxia Society's actions. In the past three years, the Tianxia Society had swept through the south, completely controlling the entire region. The south had been transformed into an iron bucket by Xiong Ba. Wushuang City, controlled by Dugu Yifang, dominated the land north of the Yellow River, creating a situation where the two powers dominated Central Plains.

However, the current Dugu Yifang was not the original Dugu Yifang. The real Dugu Yifang had died twenty years ago during the duel between Wu Ming and Po Jun at the Sword Sect.

Moreover, Wushuang City relied on the Sword Saint's reputation to exist. Dugu Yifang's own skills could not compare to Xiong Ba, the hero.

The Sword Saint, originally named Dugu Jian, was known as the "Northern Sword Saint" and was as famous as "Wu Ming" in the martial arts world, known as "Southern Wu Ming, Northern Sword Saint." The elder brother of Dugu Yifang, the lord of Wushuang City, Dugu Jian started learning swordsmanship at the age of five and achieved mastery at thirteen. He created the "Holy Spirit Sword Technique." The Sword Saint once fought the first assassin organization "Tianchi" for seven days and seven nights, killing 108 assassins, leaving only the twelve strongest, the "Twelve Demons," to escape. In a duel with Wu Ming, he was defeated by the "Mysterious Sword Technique" and subsequently retired from the martial arts world. Later, to revive Wushuang City, he returned to the martial arts world. In a challenge against the Tianxia Society, his fate was about to end. Before dying, he realized the shocking "Holy Spirit Sword Technique" 'Sword Twenty-Three,' and with an indomitable spirit, his soul fought Xiong Ba. At a critical moment, his body was struck down by Bu Jingyun, and his soul dissipated, but he severely injured Xiong Ba. Bu Jingyun then obtained the "Holy Spirit Sword Technique" from the Sword Saint's remains.

This was the life path arranged by the world's will for the 'Sword Saint.' However, due to Li She's appearance, the 'Twelve Demons of Tianchi' were recruited by Li She before they could develop into the 'Tianchi Assassin Organization.' The 'Sword Saint' did not have the great achievement of fighting the 'Tianchi' assassins for seven days and seven nights, but the world's will still arranged another opportunity for Dugu Jian to gain fame, the 'Pursuit of the Eighty-One Green Forest Bandits in the South,' which lasted nine days and nine nights, during which the 'Sword Saint' killed 320 famous bandits.

Meanwhile, upon learning that Xiong Ba wanted to find Nibosha, Dugu Yifang immediately ordered Wushuang City to search for Nibosha within its territory. Outwardly, he claimed he was turning sixty and wanted Nibosha to read his fortune, and he sent his only son, Dugu Ming, to the Tianxia Society to