Chapter 49

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there. Suddenly, at the end of the secret corridor, the phoenix's shadow fluttered, stunning all directions; dominating the heavens, stirring the clouds. It was the immortal phoenix, not of this world, but from beyond the heavens, that suddenly appeared!

Suddenly sensing the presence of a powerful figure, Li Yuanji, without a second thought, roared, "Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, have you two finally decided to show yourselves?" His voice had barely faded when he was stunned. For under the firelight, the one who appeared was neither Kou Zhong nor Xu Ziling, but a young man in white, of extraordinary beauty and exceptional demeanor.

Li Shentong, the first-rate expert of the Li clan, with profound cultivation and sharp eyes, flipped his hand backward and forcefully drew his unique weapon, the Three-pronged Halberd. He slammed the Three-pronged Halberd heavily on the ground, and his old eyes, far from dim, suddenly shone with intense light. He sternly demanded, "Who are you? Where are the two little thieves, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling?"

Xiao Sheng smiled and said, "I am surnamed Xiao, and my given name is Sheng. It is truly an honor to meet the dried bones from the tomb. I greet you." He then clasped his hands and made a bow to all directions.

The words "dried bones from the tomb" immediately enraged the Li clan's experts. Li Jiancheng, unable to contain his anger, scolded, "Little thief, what nonsense are you spouting? Who are the dried bones? Utter nonsense! For such disrespect, this prince will exterminate your entire clan and have you all executed by slicing!"

The Tang Dynasty's crown prince, blessed by the state and favored by heaven, held a position of utmost nobility and dignity. His angry roar carried a hint of heavenly might, enough to make ordinary experts lose all fighting spirit and surrender on the spot, bowing and declaring their allegiance.

However, it was utterly useless.

In terms of status, position, lineage, cultivation, and insight, Xiao Sheng was far superior to Li Jiancheng. The angry roar had no effect on Xiao Sheng. He smiled slightly and said, "Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about everyone here; you are all dried bones from the tomb."

Pausing, Xiao Sheng pointed at Mei Xun and said, "Lacking discernment, you cling to the wrong people, getting entangled in the struggle for succession. Fate has decreed that you will die a violent death." His finger moved to Ke Dazhi and continued, "You, not of our race, with a different heart, infiltrate the Central Plains to incite internal strife in the Tang Dynasty. Unfortunately, the Turkic Empire is in its twilight, and your fate is to be buried with it."

His finger moved again, pointing at Yang Xuyan, and he smiled, "You, a descendant of the former crown prince, raised by the Evil King, ambitious to restore the Sui Dynasty, and having an affair with Li Yuan's favorite concubine, giving birth to a child, hoping to replace the Tang. Overestimating yourself, you are destined to die at the hands of your fellow disciples."

Without further ado, his finger moved to Li Mi. "Li Mi, Li Mi, your time has passed. Even if you were to behave, you would only have a slim chance of survival. But your ambition remains, and you still hope for a comeback. It's simply a path to your own destruction."

"Then there's you," Xiao Sheng pointed at Li Shentong and smiled, "Your lifespan is nearly over, and you will pass away within three to five years. Even if you help the new ruler ascend, you won't enjoy wealth and honor. Why cause trouble? Go back and tend to your flowers and fish; you can still enjoy a carefree life. Otherwise, this day next year will be your anniversary of death."

"As for you two brothers, ha ha," Xiao Sheng shook his head and laughed, "One thinks he is the true emperor, but in reality, he is merely a stepping stone for Li Shimin. The other flatters and fawns, with ulterior motives, hoping to profit from the conflict between his two elder brothers. Thinking himself clever, he has only brought about his own downfall. Pitiful and laughable."

His words, though laced with ridicule, were deeply compassionate. Unintentionally, he had exposed the deepest secrets and fears of everyone present, laying them bare.

In an instant, the faces of the Li clan's experts changed. Li Yuanji, holding his steel-cracked horse spear, roared, "Impudent! How dare you openly sow discord! You are beyond redemption! Kneel now, reveal the location of the treasure vault, and commit suicide to atone. I might spare you a whole body. Otherwise, I will chop you into pieces and feed you to the dogs!"

Xiao Sheng remained unmoved. He smiled and shook his head, "What reason do you have to believe I will kneel and commit suicide? Tell me, and if it makes sense, I will do it."

"Don't waste time with him. Capture this little thief first," Li Jiancheng, with a grim face, ordered. His gaze fell on the surrendered Li Mi. Pu Shan Gong cursed inwardly but could do nothing. He steeled himself and roared, his voice like a thunderclap.

In an instant, Li Mi's pupils turned black and white. The Nine Heavens' Positive Energy penetrated the thick earth and entered his body through the top of his head. The Nine Earths' Negative Energy then surged up from his feet. The two energies, one from the heavens and one from the earth, merged, creating an explosive power!

Li Mi's joints crackled, and his muscles rapidly swelled. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a towering, fearsome figure, his hair and beard bristling, his face grotesque, like a demon from hell, causing those around him to shudder in fear.

Li Yuanji, unable to contain his shock, exclaimed, "The Nine Heavens' Energy! It's the Heavenly Chapter of the 'Heaven and Earth Malevolent Energy Technique'! Li Mi, you have secretly mastered this world-shaking art?"

The Southern Sea Sect's leader, Mei Xun, equally horrified, said, "The 'Heaven and Earth Malevolent Energy Technique' is divided into two volumes. The Earthly Chapter, it is said, allows one to continuously draw Earthly Negative Energy as long as their feet remain on the ground, ensuring an endless supply of internal energy. When Li Mi only mastered the Earthly Chapter, he led the Wagang Army to countless victories."

The shadow assassin, Yang Xuyan, added, "The Heavenly Chapter of the 'Heaven and Earth Malevolent Energy Technique' allows one to open the crown of the head and draw in the Nine Heavens' Positive Energy, making it three times more powerful than the Earthly Chapter. But that's not all. The highest realm of the technique is the unification of heaven and earth, making it three times more powerful than using the Heavenly Chapter alone!"

"Three times more powerful? That means he could even surpass experts like Ning Daoqi or Song Que?" Li Jiancheng, with an expression of disbelief, exclaimed, "How formidable! Li Mi is still Li Mi, even in his current state, he cannot be underestimated!"

Li Shentong, with a serious face, said, "But this is for the best. Ha ha, with such a super expert, that little liar is definitely dead. Killing a chicken with a bull's knife, killing a chicken with a bull's knife!"

Li Mi stood there, not eager to act, listening to the whispers behind him. His face, once full of resentment, now showed a hint of satisfaction and pride.

"Hmph, have you all seen it? This is my true strength! From now on, who will dare to look down on me or mock me? A tiger in the plains is still a tiger, not a mangy dog you can bully!"

"But now, the demonstration is enough. It's time to crush this hateful little thief. Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, is he one of your subordinates? Fine, I'll take some interest from him first. When you return, we'll settle our old accounts!"

With his mind made up, Li Mi wasted no time. He roared like thunder and strode toward Xiao Sheng, raising his fist and shouting, "Boy, blame your poor judgment for choosing the wrong side. Behave..."

"Whoosh! Crack!"

A sharp, invisible wind suddenly sliced through the air. Li Mi's words were cut off, his facial muscles stiffening, as if he were wearing a mask. Then, a hole appeared in the center of his forehead.

A small hole, no bigger than a finger. At first glance, it seemed insignificant. However, when it penetrated Li Mi's entire head, no matter how small, it was—absolutely fatal!

With a loud thud, Pu Shan Gong, transformed into a hellish demon, crashed to the ground. Yellowish-white fluid flowed from the hole, covering the floor. Li Mi's eyes remained wide open, truly dying with his eyes un-closed!

Silence, a deathly silence. Shock, a shock like the collapse of heaven and earth! In an instant, all the Li clan's experts were left with their mouths agape, unable to close them. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiao Sheng calmly brought his right hand, shaped like a gun (a weapon from the ocean world that uses gunpowder to fire projectiles), to his mouth and gently blew.

"Armed Color Haki—Finger Gun. Sorry, my time is very valuable, so I had to finish you quickly."

Xiao Sheng looked up and smiled at the remaining Li clan experts, "So, shall we begin?"

Despite the young man in white's calm demeanor and the complete absence of any killing intent, the fact that the once-mighty Pu Shan Gong, who had just mastered an unparalleled technique and intimidated everyone, was so easily killed by Xiao Sheng, made everyone feel a deadly threat was imminent.

Without further ado, in a flash, the five great experts, to save their lives, pooled their entire lifetimes of cultivation and attacked together!

Mei Xun screamed, "Separate and Combine Knife Qi—Ten Thousand Cuts!" He slashed with his palms, releasing a storm of invisible knife qi!

Yang Xuyan drew his shadow sword, leaped into the air, and shouted, "Shadow Sword Technique—Moon Full of Deep Cold!" Man and sword became one, raining down a devastating attack. The sword technique was subtle and fierce, leaving no trace and no opening!

Ke Dazhi, not to be outdone, swung his Sandstorm Blade and roared, "Taste my blade! Sandstorm Blade Technique—Sandstorm Scroll!" In an instant, man and blade merged, spinning and slashing. The blade carried the vast, desolate atmosphere of the desert, and the heat of the desert, aiming to dry out the enemy's body and turn them into a mummy!

The three great experts attacked simultaneously, and Li Shentong and Li Yuanji, uncle and nephew, did not retreat. They swung their heavy weapons, the Cracked Horse Spear and the Three-pronged Halberd, and shouted in unison, "Little thief, take this! Eightfold Divine Movement—Pangu Opens the Heavens!" A mighty, invincible giant's form appeared behind them, so powerful that it seemed to defy the heavens and the earth!

The combined attack of the five great experts was so powerful that it could shock the spirits and gods, making them invincible! However...

It was still utterly useless.

Faster than lightning, Xiao Sheng's figure flickered and vanished from his original spot. It was "Armed Color Haki—Shave!" In the next second, five Xiao Shengs appeared before the five great experts, calmly flicking their fingers.

"Armed Color Haki—Finger Gun! Finger Gun! Finger Gun! Finger Gun! Finger Gun!"

Striking and retreating in an instant, Xiao Sheng returned to his original position as if he had never moved.

Looking at the five great experts, five sounds, "Plop, plop, plop, plop, plop," rang out in quick succession. Li Yuanji, Li Shentong, Ke Dazhi, Yang Xuyan, and Mei Xun all went limp, kneeling, and then fell to the side, lying dead on the ground.

In the center of their foreheads, each had a small hole, no bigger than a finger. Their insides were shattered, and they were... beyond saving!