Chapter 273: Golden Cloud Sword Art?

"Cai Sen, what's wrong?"

Wang He's face revealed a look of worry.

Cai Sen was the only Blood Clan member in the guard group, and also the one with the strongest overall strength.

That he had suddenly returned injured, the meaning behind this could not be more obvious.

Beside them, the others in the guard squad also furrowed their brows.

Huang Hun's brows were locked even tighter.

"I went out today and passed by a small alley. In the alley, a one-armed Blood Clan member appeared. He knocked me to the ground with a single punch, then looked at me coldly and left directly," Cai Sen said, his face still carrying a trace of fear.

That Blood Clan member gave him a feeling of being extremely powerful.

He was likely a powerhouse even among Elite Vampires.

Nowadays, the Blood Clan is divided into levels: Ordinary Vampire, Elite Vampire, Commander-level Vampire, and Royal-blood Vampire.

Ordinary Vampires are no different from ordinary people, but they possess a few weak supernatural abilities.

Elite Vampires not only master powerful abilities, but their physiques are also very strong.

Even if besieged by a hundred well-trained soldiers, they can still break through.

Of course, there is a prerequisite: those soldiers must not be carrying new-style weapons and equipment.

As for Commander-level Vampires, they are even more terrifying; the methods they control are unfathomable, and their life-saving means are extremely strong.

It is a level that Cai Sen cannot reach.

"It's him, Qi Lin!" Huang Hun furrowed his brows, his face revealing an angry expression.

A one-armed Blood Clan member with that kind of strength must be Qi Lin.

Qi Lin is a subordinate of Yang Kai.

Yang Kai is the highest controller of Linhai City and a capable general under Zhang Yuanmou.

This person is fond of grandiosity, fickle in mood, and has average military ability, but he is good at flattery and is very much liked by Grand Marshal Zhang.

It is very obvious that Yang Kai sent someone to injure Cai Sen to warn Huang Hun.

Huang Hun's face revealed a trace of guilt: "Sorry, I've implicated you all."

When the others heard the name Qi Lin, they understood the Prince's meaning.

"We are His Highness's guards; being injured for His Highness is our duty. Why must His Highness blame himself?" Zhang He said.

His parents and family died because of the New Army, and he deeply detested the faction of Grand Marshal Zhang.

The other guards all had, to a greater or lesser extent, grudges against the New Army controlled by Grand Marshal Zhang, or were loyal members of the Royalist Party.

They all agreed with Zhang He's words.

However, they also felt the severity of the current situation.

Yang Kai allowing his subordinate to injure Cai Sen was a clear signal.

These New Army members now do not put the Prince in their eyes at all.

"Sigh," Huang Hun let out a sigh.

If this were several hundred years ago—no, even several decades ago—how could a member of the Royal Family suffer such bullying?

Unfortunately, today, imperial power has declined.

The Royal Family has no real power at all, not even counting as a mascot.

An official of a single city can bully them at will.

It is truly stifling.

"Before Qi Lin left, he also said one thing: as a member of the Blood Clan, not being loyal to the Grand Marshal but following the Royal Family is truly... death-deserving."

At this moment, Cai Sen, who was on the side, suddenly said this, his face still carrying a trace of fear.

"Going too far, Yang Kai is going too far!

He is threatening you!

As a member of the Blood Clan, is loyalty to anyone not loyalty?

What, can't a member of the Blood Clan be loyal to the Prince?" Zhang He's face carried anger.

Huang Hun is, after all, a Prince and the only direct bloodline of the Shang Dynasty Royal Family.

Huang Hun has no real power, but his symbolic significance is great.

Yang Kai's move is because he is dissatisfied with His Highness Huang Hun building up his own forces.

Consequently, he threatened Cai Sen to make Cai Sen withdraw.

After all, Cai Sen is a member of the Blood Clan, not an ordinary person.

Huang Hun's face revealed a helpless expression: "Cai Sen, from today on, you don't need to protect my safety."

From Cai Sen's tone, Huang Hun heard fear and the intention to leave.

Since that was the case, he would no longer force him to stay.

The guilt on Cai Sen's face grew even more: "Thank you, Your Highness. After I leave, I will certainly not join the New Army."

He is a member of the Blood Clan, and an Elite Vampire at that; he should still have a lot of future.

He did not want to fall here because of this.

Cai Sen said his goodbyes and turned to leave.

In the room, fewer than ten people remained.

These few were all the people Huang Hun trusted most, and also Huang Hun's final core team.

At this moment, the expressions on everyone's faces were different; there was anger, and there was also helplessness.

"Yang Kai is becoming more and more excessive," Zhang He spoke, his face carrying a look of wariness, "Your Highness must be careful recently and try to go out less."

Nowadays, royal power has declined, with almost no chance of recovery.

Originally, Zhang Yuanmou was willing to keep Huang Hun, holding the Son of Heaven to command the vassals, occupying the name of legitimacy.

Waiting until the world was unified, he would ascend the throne as emperor.

However, in three years, the situation would undergo a great change.

If Huang Hun were alive, there might be variables.

Therefore, these members of the defense team understood that within these three years, the probability of Zhang Yuanmou making a move against Huang Hun was as high as over sixty percent.

"With Cai Sen gone, our defense team's strength is greatly reduced," someone sighed.

Indeed, when it comes to assassination and protection, the Blood Clan is the strongest.

It can be said that in the eyes of Ordinary people, the Blood Clan is like those with supernatural abilities.

The methods of these people are impossible to guard against.

Now that Cai Sen is gone, if Yang Kai wants to harm Huang Hun, it will become extremely simple.

Of course, if Zhang Yuanmou tears off the mask and truly kills Huang Hun, even if Huang Hun's defense team were ten times stronger, they would not be able to stop Zhang Yuanmou's people.

"By the way, didn't a new Blood Clan member join today?" At this moment, a tall woman spoke; there was a knife scar on her face, which gave her a unique charm.

As for the Blood Clan, Ordinary people do not know.

But they are the ones who know best.

Every member of the Blood Clan is very precious and worthy of being valued.

"Yang Kai will warn Cai Sen, and naturally, he will also warn that Blood Clan member," Zhang He said at this moment, frowning.

The number of the Blood Clan is not large.

Every one of them can be considered elite.

It is also quite normal that Qi Lin did not kill Cai Sen.

"Later, go and inform Mr. Xu Ling about the matter of Qi Lin; his staying or leaving will be decided by him," Huang Hun said, his words carrying a hint of regret.

When he recruits Ordinary people, Yang Kai does not interfere.

But when recruiting the Blood Clan, Yang Kai will directly threaten them.

"Understood," the others replied.

Their eyes carried a look of helplessness.

In their opinion, that Blood Clan member named Xu Ling would naturally leave as well.

……

Inside the small building.

Lin Chao looked at Yang Feng in front of him, his gaze calm: "Blood Clan? I am not one.

I promised Ji Hongyang that I would protect His Highness Huang Hun for three years, so it shall be three years; I will never break my word."

Beside him, Yang Feng's face carried a hint of surprise.

He had originally thought that if he told Xu Ling about the matter of Cai Sen, Xu Ling would choose to leave.

He did not expect that Xu Ling would continue to stay here and not choose to leave.

Thinking of something, Lin Chao continued: "This sword, just give it to His Highness Huang Hun."

This sword was given to him by Lao Huangtou.

Remembering the old friendship with Lao Huangtou, he would naturally look after Huang Hun a little.

This sword shall be lent to Huang Hun for self-defense.

This sword, having been nourished by Qi-Blood for so many years, is almost spiritual; using it to protect Huang Hun should not be a big problem.

"Ah?" Yang Feng was stunned, not understanding Lin Chao's meaning.

Why take a sword to His Highness?

"Used for self-defense." Lin Chao saw Yang Feng's confusion, could not be bothered to explain, and said it casually.

"Very well, Mr. Xu Ling." Yang Feng did not say anything more, took the sword, and left Lin Chao's room.

In the bedroom, Lin Chao's eyes carried a hint of a strange look.

"Yusu cut off the Qi-Blood Martial Dao, and that Supreme Treasure must have also affected the Blood Clan in Foreign Lands. How do these Blood Clan members survive?"

"When I have time, I will catch one or two Blood Clan members and study them."

He had always been curious about the Blood Clan.

Unlike Lao Huangtou, who had actual combat experience with the Blood Clan.

Lin Chao had merely seen the Blood Clan.

He still had many things he did not understand about the Blood Clan.

"Cultivate." Lin Chao closed his eyes and continued to cultivate the Qi-Blood Martial Dao.

Nowadays, the most important thing for him was to cultivate the Qi-Blood Martial Dao to perfection.

Secondly, to be a passerby in the mortal world, or perhaps, to temper his state of mind.

This had great benefits for breaking through to the Ninth Tier.

……

"Mr. Xu Ling chose to stay?"

Upon receiving this news, Huang Hun was slightly stunned.

Beside him, the other members of the defense team were slightly dazed.

They did not expect that that Mr. Xu Ling would actually choose to stay.

"Did you make the matter of Li Kai and Cai Sen clear?" Huang Hun asked again.

"I made it clear. Mr. Xu Ling said that the agreed period is three years, so it is three years.

Also, Mr. Xu Ling denied that he is a member of the Blood Clan."

"Ah?" Huang Hun did not expect to receive such an answer.

He felt quite moved in his heart.

There are many people in this world who fear death; this is human nature.

In this world, there are still many people who disregard life and death, which is admirable.

In his opinion, Xu Ling was just such a person.

"Mr. Xu Ling also handed his own sword to me, saying it was for His Highness to use for self-defense." Yang Feng handed over the sword.

Huang Hun drew the sword from its scabbard, and immediately a baleful blood aura permeated the air.

On the blade, there was a bewitching red, extremely strange.

"What is this sword made of? It's too strange." Zhang He did not recognize the material of this sword.

A blood-red metal crafted into a sword is truly rare.

Moreover, looking at the blade, one could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

"Since Mr. Xu Ling has bestowed the sword, I shall accept it." Huang Hun sighed.

Speaking of swords, he thought of his uncle, Huang Zhongqian.

That uncle was the sworn brother of Huang Hun's father and could be considered a member of the Royal Family; that uncle loved swords as if they were his life and held the Qi-Blood Martial Dao in high esteem and longing.

Huang Zhongqian had carefully studied the biographies of the Royal Family as well as various secret martial arts manuals.

If this sword were given to his uncle, his uncle would certainly be very pleased.

Of course, Huang Hun was just thinking about it.

This sword was the property of Mr. Xu Ling, only temporarily lent to him.

Furthermore, his uncle commanded a navy and was deeply feared by Zhang Yuanmou.

He had not seen this uncle for many years.

Inside the villa, Yang Kai was soaking in a hot spring, drinking red wine, with two young women in bikinis serving him; he wore an expression of enjoyment.

At this moment, a one-armed man walked over with a respectful expression on his face: "General."

The two scantily clad women climbed out of the water and left.

Yang Kai put on a bathrobe, picked up a glass of red wine, took a small sip, and then asked, "Qi Lin, how is it going?"

"The vampire beside His Highness Huang Hun has already left, but... another person suspected of being a vampire has chosen to stay by Huang Hun's side."

"Is that so?" A trace of killing intent flashed in Yang Kai's eyes. "To think there is still a vampire who dares to serve Huang Hun; this is courting death!"

Within the eighteen provinces, all vampires are considered private troops by Grand Marshal Zhang.

His own private troops serving others is something Grand Marshal Zhang is unwilling to accept.

"Should I send the Blood Guard over tonight?" Qi Lin made a throat-slitting gesture.

Yang Kai shook his head: "I just received news from Grand Marshal Zhang; in a few days, Huang Zhongqian will be coming, so let's not move against Huang Hun for the time being."

"Huang Zhongqian is actually coming to Linhai City?" Qi Lin was shocked.

The navy commanded by Huang Zhongqian is located at Shaotai Island.

Huang Zhongqian rarely comes ashore.

After all, it is easy to encounter assassination attempts on land, leading to the loss of military power.

This time, Huang Zhongqian was actually willing to come to Linhai City; how could he not be surprised?

"Grand Marshal Zhang wants to cooperate with Huang Zhongqian," Yang Kai said. "For this cooperation meeting, Grand Marshal Zhang will personally come to Linhai City to discuss the matter of cooperation with Huang Zhongqian."

Qi Lin was his most trusted subordinate, so there was no need to hide these things.

"Huang Zhongqian is coming in person; is he not afraid...?" Qi Lin was puzzled.

If anything were to happen to Huang Zhongqian, the navy in his hands would certainly fall apart.

"Some time ago, a Commander-level vampire invaded Shaotai Island and was slain by Huang Zhongqian with a sword."

"What?" Qi Lin was truly shocked this time.

Qi Lin naturally knew how powerful a Commander-level vampire was.

Even in Grand Marshal Zhang's hands, there were not many Commander-level vampires.

Huang Zhongqian was actually able to kill a Commander-level vampire, and he relied on the sword in his hand.

This is too outrageous.

Even when the Qi-Blood Martial Dao still existed, it was rare for a martial artist to be able to kill a Commander-level vampire.

Thinking of something, Qi Lin immediately asked: "Are there results from the Gene Serum that Huang Zhongqian has been researching?"

Qi Lin guessed that Huang Zhongqian relied on the Gene Serum to defeat the Commander-level vampire.

If that were really the case, it would be too terrifying.

Once the Gene Serum is mass-produced, the greatest advantage of their Blood Clan will disappear.

"The Gene Serum is only one aspect; the most important thing is that Huang Zhongqian has mastered a martial art: the Golden Cloud Sword Technique.

This martial art is rumored to be extremely exquisite; it was precisely because Huang Zhongqian took the Gene Serum and relied on this martial art that he was able to slay that Commander-level vampire."

Being able to slay a Commander-level vampire shows that Huang Zhongqian's strength is very powerful and he has the means to protect himself.

That is why Huang Zhongqian dared to come ashore this time.

"Golden Cloud Sword Technique? A martial art of the Qi-Blood Martial Dao?

No, this kind of martial art cannot be practiced at all now!" Qi Lin was puzzled.

"Not so; it is said that this martial art is not of the Qi-Blood Martial Dao.

Rather, it is a special martial art that Huang Zhongqian obtained by accident.

It is said that after taking the Gene Serum, Huang Zhongqian's physical fitness improved, and only then did he barely manage to master this martial art." Yang Kai's eyes lit up.

Such martial arts, he naturally coveted them immensely as well.

Although he held power and had many Blood Guards at his command.

Yet, when it came to having powerful personal strength, he feared no one would refuse that.

"How could there be such martial arts? Strange," Qi Lin was still puzzled.

Yang Kai had a smile in his eyes: "Perhaps, it is a martial art from beyond the heavens."

"What?" Qi Lin frowned.

If that were the case, then it would be easy to explain.

After all, the beyond the heavens is mysterious and powerful.

And in the years prior, people from beyond the heavens had some contact with the people of their world.

Three years later, the opportunities of this world would also be related to the beyond the heavens.

Huang Zhongqian was able to obtain martial arts from beyond the heavens in advance; how could that not make people envious?

Thanks to 【Goodnight to the Whole World】 for the tip, thank you.

I will strive to finish updating before two o'clock tonight, and slowly return to normal daytime updates later.

(End of this chapter)