Chapter 1845

Hu Xiaotian also stepped through the floorboards at the same time, raising his light sword with both hands; his technique had already changed into the Heaven-Splitting Sword, and he brought it down with full force toward Xiang Shanqing. Hu Xiaotian held nothing back against Xiang Shanqing, unleashing a killing move right from the start—not because he wanted to kill Xiang Shanqing immediately, but because he had just seen Xiang Shanqing attack Meizhuang and had accurately gauged his strength: Xiang Shanqing's martial arts were not inferior to Ren Tianqing's, and even if slightly weaker than his own, the difference would not be great. Against such an expert he could not afford to hold back. Moreover, Hu Xiaotian was certain that Xiang Shanqing was a lackey of Xue Shengjing, and Huo Xiaoru's current state was almost certainly due to his manipulation behind the scenes, which made Hu Xiaotian even more furious, so he struck without mercy.

Xiang Shanqing, while falling, repeatedly waved his hands, swatting away the bone needles Meizhuang had shot at him. Before his feet even touched the second-floor floorboards, he felt a tremendous force pressing down from above—this pressure came from Hu Xiaotian. Xiang Shanqing dared not delay; as his feet landed on the floor, he shook it, creating a large hole, and his momentum unabated, he continued to plummet downward. It was not that Xiang Shanqing wanted to adopt a defensive stance, but Hu Xiaotian's assault was too overwhelming, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

Hu Xiaotian closely followed Xiang Shanqing; the two smashed through the floorboards from the third level all the way down to the ground floor, while Meizhuang did not pursue them but instead seized this rare opportunity to escape.

As Xiang Shanqing's feet just touched the ground, Hu Xiaotian arrived shortly after; their eyes met, and both expressions were unusually solemn.

Xiang Shanqing said, "Prince, why must you press me so hard?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "What I despise most in life is being used by others." These words were not aimed at Xiang Shanqing; at that moment, the image of Huo Xiaoru appeared in his mind.

Xiang Shanqing said, "Prince only cares about dealing with me, but Meizhuang has already escaped." During their struggle, Meizhuang seized the opportunity and fled.

Hu Xiaotian said, "She is merely an insignificant figure; I give Manager Xiang two choices: either hand over the skull, or hand over Huo Xiaoru." In fact, he was merely trying to distract Xiang Shanqing's attention, buying enough time for Ji Feihua.

Xiang Shanqing snorted coldly, "Prince, why be so overbearing? Do you really think I, Xiang, fear you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't know whether you're afraid now, but I know you will certainly be afraid from today onward."

Xiang Shanqing nodded, then suddenly stepped back one pace, and at the same time drew a long whip from his waist; with a flick of his right hand, it shot forth like a spirit snake, winding toward Hu Xiaotian's throat.

Hu Xiaotian watched Xiang Shanqing's every move; the moment the latter attacked, Hu Xiaotian reacted, angling his light sword and striking the whip's tip precisely. With a crack, the point of contact burst forth with lightning-like purple arcs; electric sparks spun along the whip, and after being repelled by the light sword, they coiled in midair. As Xiang Shanqing twisted his body, the whip's power reached its utmost, and the flashing electricity struck Hu Xiaotian's waist with the force of tearing apart rotten wood.

Hu Xiaotian paused on the tip of his foot, leapt into the air, and the electrified whip, missing its target, swept past beneath his body. Hu Xiaotian's body was now suspended in midair; he inverted himself completely, pointing his sword straight at Xiang Shanqing's head.

The whip coiled around the corridor pillar; Xiang Shanqing exerted a little force, using that pull to launch himself forward like a bolt of lightning, instantly breaking free of Hu Xiaotian's sword pressure. His body crashed through the small building's outer wall; he gave the whip a hard tug, and the pillar, under his pull, snapped in the middle. With a tremendous boom, the building lost support and collapsed entirely.

Xiang Shanqing retracted his whip, glanced with satisfaction at the small building now reduced to rubble before him, turned to leave, and then noticed Hu Xiaotian smiling faintly behind him.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Manager Xiang, your demolition skills are first-rate." As he spoke, his light sword flashed, and a green blade of light sliced the sky, tearing open the ink‑black night.

Xiang Shanqing waved his long whip, which spun rapidly before him into a shield of crackling purple electricity. Hu Xiaotian's light sword came down heavily on that whip‑formed shield, emitting a dull "Thud!" as the purple electricity dissipated; the light shield instantly showed a breach. Hu Xiaotian changed his sword technique from a slash to a thrust, driving his blade through the gap straight toward Xiang Shanqing's chest.

Xiang Shangong retreated three steps in succession, his long whip coiling like a spirit snake toward the light blade; just then, Hu Xiaotian's left hand swung from behind, an arc of light flying upward, circling to his rear and then straight for his back—yet it was Hu Xiaotian unleashing the Lone Moon Slash, which he had seized from Ren Tianqing, studied carefully, and recently mastered the knack of using; although not as effortless as Ren Tianqing's, when facing a strong opponent a sudden Lone Moon Slash could still yield a surprise effect.

As expected, Xiang Shangong's attention was focused solely on the light sword, not expecting Hu Xiaotian still had a follow‑up move; caught off guard, his right shoulder was sliced by the Lone Moon Slash, his outer robe tore open to reveal the azure inner armor; even with the Lone Moon Slash's ferocity it only left a deep gouge on the azure inner armor, failing to cleave it.

Xiang Shangong was greatly alarmed; if not for the treasure armor protecting him, he would likely have lost an arm by now.

Hu Xiaotian gave him no chance to breathe, twisting the light sword to slash at Xiang Shangong's right hand; forced, Xiang Shangong dropped the long whip. Hu Xiaotian's control of the Lone Moon Slash was still not effortless; after launching one attack he could not follow with a second, but his left fist was also mighty—he stepped forward and punched Xiang Shangong's chest.

Xiang Shangong felt his chest constrict, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, flipping twice in midair before landing in the front bushes; Hu Xiaotian gave chase but found the man's silhouette already gone.

At this moment Xia Zhangming and Liang Yinghao arrived one after another; Liang Yinghao bent down, pushed aside the bushes, revealing a hole—Xiang Shangong had just slipped into it.

Liang Yinghao whispered, "Should we pursue?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head; at that moment a calm voice came from behind him: "The cavern below is labyrinthine—one could easily get lost."

The three turned simultaneously, only to see a green‑clad figure wearing a silver mask appear before the ruined small tower, holding a person in hand—it was Rong Shi, motionless, unknown whether dead or alive.

Seeing Ji Feihua return safely, Hu Xiaotian felt instant relief; Xia Zhangming and Liang Yinghao did not know Ji Feihua's identity, but seeing Hu Xiaotian's expression they also understood she was a friend, not a foe.

Hu Xiaotian walked over, pointed at Rong Shi, and asked, "Are you still alive?"

Ji Feihua said, "He's fine." She tossed Rong Shi onto the ground.

Hu Xiaotian told Liang Yinghao, "Go back at once to gather men, take control of the Yunshao Prefecture vicinity, thoroughly investigate the Dongfour Archway area, and detain all suspicious persons for interrogation."

"Yes!"

Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua walked to a distance, and he whispered, "So you've been following me all along."

Ji Feihua replied, "The road isn't yours alone, Hu Xiaotian; if you can come, I can naturally come too."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "I never expected Xue Shengjing's influence to have reached this place."

Ji Feihua shook her head, "Xue Shengjing is merely a pawn; the true mastermind behind him is someone else."

"Wuji Guan?" Hu Xiaotian blurted out.

Ji Feihua frowned, lifted her head to gaze at the night sky, only to find the full moon from moments ago now hidden behind clouds; the sky had no moon nor a single star, and the atmosphere made one feel oppressed from the heart.

Ji Feihua asked, "Did Huo Xiaoru take that skull?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Meizhuang, in exchange for Rong Shi, had given the skull to Xiang Shangong, so the skull should now be in Huo Xiaoru's hands.

Ji Feihua said, "The skull has no effect on ordinary people."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Xue Shengjing is not an ordinary person." He even suspected that Xue Shengjing likewise possessed the bloodline of the Heaven‑Mandated; the Da Yong imperial family itself has an inseparable, tangled relationship with the Heaven‑Mandated. If his conjecture is correct, then as Xue Shengjing's daughter, Huo Xiaoru naturally also possesses the Heaven‑Mandated bloodline. Yet Hu Xiaotian still could not fathom one point: is it not that only blood‑related descendants can comprehend the information contained in the skull? Huo Xiaoru, Ji Feihua, and Qiqi—any one of them—seem to have no connection whatsoever; what use would it be for her even if she took the skull? Could it be merely to assist Xue Shengjing in his affairs?

Ji Feihua said, "Ren Tianqing and Xiang Shangong are probably the so‑called immortal envoys." Her attention was drawn to the flashing lightning in the distance; she walked over and picked up the long whip on the ground—Xiang Shangong had fled in such haste that he didn't even bother to take his weapon.

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Who is the one pulling their strings behind the scenes?"

Ji Feihua replied, "To find out who is pulling the strings, we must first locate Wuji Guan."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Do you know where Wuji Guan is located?"

"The secret ought to be inside the skull they took."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, if the secret truly lay within, then wouldn't Qiqi know the exact location? He could just turn and ask her.

Ji Feihua guessed Hu Xiaotian's thought and whispered softly, "It's hard to say what she's thinking; right or wrong, good or evil—it all hinges on a single thought of yours."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "You say that and I feel pressured; she's always been opinionated, so my words may not sway her."

Ji Feihua said, "If you can't change her, I'll kill her."

Hu Xiaotian reflected, that day at Tianlong Temple you clearly had a chance to kill Qiqi, yet you ultimately let it slip, missing the perfect opportunity—likely because you share the same origin.

Newly formed Octopus Alliance, group number: 516764203, welcome new and old readers to join, Zhangyu presides. (To be continued~^~)