Chapter 549: The First Clash with Di Shitian

Just as Yu Liancheng defeated Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen, another figure drifted over and landed on a willow tree not far from Yu Liancheng.

This person steadied his form; he was burly, with long, snow-like hair swept high, his left face almost entirely covered by ice, and his eyes blood-red, filled with a violent aura.

That man revealed a cruel smile in his eyes, and his voice also leaked a chilling aura: "Kid, are you the one who compiled the 'Fourteen Terrors'?"

Yu Liancheng looked the man up and down, a thoughtful expression appearing between his brows. After a long while, he said slowly: "You are Di Shitian's subordinate, Bing Huang?"

The man was shocked. He was an inner disciple taken in by Di Shitian due to his exceptional talent. Di Shitian had once taught him the peerless art "Xuexue Zhua," and relying on this unique skill, he became the strongest expert in the Heavenly Gate territory.

But he had almost always operated within the Heavenly Gate, and no one in the pugilistic world knew of his existence.

And over a decade ago, because of a woman, he had challenged Di Shitian, only to be frozen in the Jiuchong Bingyu, never to see the light of day.

Even experts who had joined the Heavenly Gate in recent years might not know of his existence.

Yet this person had only glanced at him and pierced through his background and name, which was truly astonishing.

"Good! To be so learned and know so much, it seems you are undoubtedly the Fourteenth Jinghuang." Bing Huang gave a grim laugh.

He had been ordered by Di Shitian to investigate the person who compiled the Fourteen Terrors.

For this, he had first gone to Wushuang City and suffered a small loss at the hands of the Sword Saint.

However, with the help of the Heavenly Gate's intelligence network spread across the entire Central Plains, he still found clues, and so he rushed to West Lake.

The earlier clash between Yu Liancheng and Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen had caused quite a stir, drawing him over.

"Oh, and what do you intend to do?" Yu Liancheng smiled slightly.

"I 'invite' you to take a trip to the Heavenly Gate; 'God' wishes to see you," said Bing Huang.

"I am truly sorry, but I have no desire to visit your so-called Heavenly Gate," Yu Liancheng said calmly.

A cruel smile appeared in Bing Huang's eyes. His arms condensed with cold air, and amidst "crack-crack" sounds, they formed a layer of ice harder than iron at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if covered in a pair of ice gauntlets.

"That is not up to you!

"

As the words fell, Bing Huang leaped, suddenly appearing before Yu Liancheng.

He curled his fingers into claws, fast as wind and lightning, carrying a chilling and cruel intent as he struck through the air.

——Xuexue Zhua.

This was the very peerless art Di Shitian had taught him.

Once the Xuexue Zhua was unleashed, the surrounding cold air condensed, creating a scene of grim and desolate slaughter.

Back then, it was precisely by relying on the Xuexue Zhua that Bing Huang's status in the Heavenly Gate was second only to Di Shitian.

Seeing this strike about to land on Yu Liancheng, Yu Liancheng raised his eyes. These eyes were as deep as the source of the sea, and two invisible forces shot out like from a Divine Palace, rippling in mid-air and striking Bing Huang's chest before he could react.

In an instant, Bing Huang's body felt as if struck by lightning, flying backward for several yards. The floor beneath his feet shattered inch by inch, dragging out a long trail of ice, his eyes still filled with shock and suspicion.

"Attacking with the eyes? Could this be 'God's' Yanjing?" Red light flickered in Bing Huang's eyes, his brows furrowed.

"No, it is just an eye technique I just stole," Yu Liancheng smiled faintly: "Besides, I advise you not to make another move, otherwise you will surely die."

"Is that so?"

Bing Huang's expression shifted slightly, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He pushed his Internal Force to the limit, cold air raging; the temperature within a ten-yard radius plummeted, and a layer of ice even covered the surface of the nearby West Lake.

"I don't believe it!

"

Amidst a roar, Bing Huang waved his claws, spewing cold air like ten-thousand-year black ice, launching a round of violent attacks.

Gale winds howled, and the sky was filled with claw shadows, covering his vision; the surrounding air almost turned to ice, as if to turn this world into an icy hell.

Yu Liancheng remained unmoved, simply pointing his fingers like a sword and thrusting out one "sword." Though it was a simple sword strike, it wove a net of sword momentum, meeting the Xuexue Zhua that Bing Huang was unleashing with all his might.

Amidst the clashing energies, the two finally engaged.

But upon contact, Bing Huang's figure immediately retreated explosively, his face pale.

He looked down at his ice-covered claws; under this sword-finger, they were instantly covered in cracks, then shattered with a boom.

Within his thick palms, fine sword marks were dense, bursting into wounds as blood dripped incessantly. In just a momentary clash, his hands were nearly crippled.

What terrifying cultivation.

"No! Cannot be fought head-on!"

Although Bing Huang possessed a century of Internal Force and was confident that apart from "God," he could find no match.

But today, having been wounded in succession by Yu Liancheng's one look and one finger, he could not help but lose heart and turn to flee.

Under extreme pressure, his movement technique was faster than usual, and in the blink of an eye, he had already fled over ten yards away.

At the same time, Bing Huang did not forget to look back at Yu Liancheng, fearing his opponent would pursue.

Fortunately, Yu Liancheng just stood where he was with his hands behind his back, watching Bing Huang with a smile: "I said, if you make another move, you will surely die." But his figure remained motionless.

Bing Huang sneered; could he kill him from ten yards away?

He did not believe it.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the blood inside Bing Huang's body began to flow rapidly, even making a sound like a rushing river.

Blood is the mother of Qi; amidst the surging blood, it actually drove the essence, energy, and spirit within his body to burn like a prairie fire, turning into surging, pure power. It continued to build within his body, like a volcano about to erupt.

Bing Huang could guarantee that his next strike would be the strongest of his life, enough to shake the heavens and earth.

But after this strike, even if he could survive, he would be but a candle in the wind.

"This, what is happening?"

Bing Huang was terrified to the extreme.

Could it be that Yu Liancheng had done something to his body?

No, the opponent had only used one look and one finger.

Even though the second finger-sword had sent Qi into his body, it should have been expelled by him completely.

But apart from this unfathomable "Terror of Terror" before his eyes, who else could have played tricks on him, Bing Huang, without him noticing?

No!

There really is one more person!

In Bing Huang's mind, there emerged the image of that massive figure wreathed in profound ice, as well as the "Evil Blood Calamity" from the "Four Calamities of the Sacred Heart" that could manipulate blood.

"Di Shitian, you will not... die a good death!"

Bing Huang's expression was ferocious and despairing; in an instant, he understood Di Shitian's intention, which was actually to use his life to test a technique.

It is just a pity that he could no longer take revenge on that fellow who styled himself as "God".

Boom!

Accompanied by an earth-shattering roar, Bing Huang's entire body suddenly exploded, bursting into a mist of blood.

The blood mist carried a vast, irresistible current of air, surging toward Yu Liancheng.

At the very front of the blood mist, it condensed into a cold, indifferent face, filled with a majesty that rivaled the heavens, as if it were a God who held the universe in his hands and looked down upon all living beings as mere ants.

Wherever the "God" passed, it raged and surged, tearing everything apart, pulverizing everything in its path as it lunged toward Yu Liancheng.

"This old ghost is truly cautious, using Bing Huang to launch a long-range strike; does he really think I cannot hurt him..."

Yu Liancheng looked at this blood-colored "God" formed from Bing Huang's essence, Qi, and spirit, a cold sneer crossing his lips.

Hum!

With a thought, a small sword appeared before Yu Liancheng.

The small sword was not particularly remarkable, only carrying a unique, sharp aura.

Just looking at it with the eyes was enough to make one feel a stinging pain.

"Go!

"

The small sword named "Li Jing" flew out, and after stalemating with the blood-colored deity for a moment, it shattered the blood-colored deity with a boom, turning it into a rain of blood that scattered across the sky.

"Old ghost, this sword strike must not have been easy to take."

Heavenly Gate.

It can be called the strongest sect in the Central Plains, with its influence so widespread and its experts so numerous that even the Tianxia Hui, which swept through the Central Plains, is far inferior. It was originally hidden without a trace, but was exposed due to "my" decree of the Terror Ranking, shaking the entire martial arts world.

But even though the martial arts world knows of the existence of the Heavenly Gate sect, if one is not guided by a Divine Official of the Heavenly Gate, no one can ever find this mysterious and unfathomable martial arts sect.

This is because the Heavenly Gate is hidden within a massive ice cave.

The ice cave is divided into three realms: Heaven, Earth, and Man.

The first level is the Budong Renjie, where there are nearly a hundred statues. Most of the statues are prominent experts of the Central Plains who secretly defected to the Heavenly Gate; Di Shitian used their likenesses to create ice sculptures, allowing them to accompany God by his side.

The second level is the Zizai Dijie, which is the place where the Divine Officials under Di Shitian reside. It is filled with strange, massive ice pillars and is bone-chillingly cold.

And the third level is the Xukong Tianjie, misty and obscure. The most conspicuous thing within it is a massive block of ice, crystal clear, like a mirror.

And in this level, only God can reside.

"Did I fail? 'I' am indeed a difficult opponent." In the Xukong Tianjie, an ethereal and unfathomable voice whispered without a trace of emotion.

"Ah!

"

Suddenly, a low cry escaped from that voice.

On the massive ice surface, a strange figure was also reflected, clutching its head as if in pain.

"Damn it!

That fellow was actually able to injure my soul through a sliver of divine sense I left behind." Di Shitian's breathing was slightly rapid; after a long while, he stood up again, resuming the posture that belongs to God.

"I will let you know that the majesty of God must never be lightly offended!

"

When these words were spoken, the entire ice cave shook, and the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Man trembled incessantly.

And the Divine Officials remaining in the Earth realm and the martial arts experts in the Man realm felt a great majesty envelop them. They immediately knelt on the ground, their expressions terrified and pious, as if they were worshiping the most revered... God.

But can a God who is so easily injured really be God?

Tianshan.

Tianxia Hui.

Tianxia Diyi Lou.

Xiongba was reviewing a scroll.

As the martial arts hegemon who rules half of the martial arts world, Xiongba is by no means just a martial artist; he handles political affairs with ease, and I fear that even the Emperor cannot compare to him.

And after he finished reviewing a stack of files, Wen Chou Chou, who was by his side, would take the files out of the Tianxia Diyi Lou and hand them to the various branch halls to strictly execute Xiongba's orders.

After the last batch of files for the day was reviewed and Wen Chou Chou left with them.

Xiongba let out a long sigh, and the face that naturally possessed the air of a hegemon also relaxed, appearing much older and much more exhausted.

"This is the first time I have seen you so exhausted, so old..."

A weathered voice sounded, and before the words were finished, a wall beside Xiongba's bed suddenly slid aside, and a figure shrouded in purple robes appeared.

One could see that this man in purple had a severed arm, his temples were gray, and he was already quite old. His entire body exuded a domineering aura, and his face was even very similar to Xiongba's, as if he were Xiongba twenty or thirty years from now.

Xiongba did not look at him, only sighing: "Sometimes I really feel that I am old. Originally, the Tianxia Hui was pushing through the martial arts world in an orderly fashion, and I had the confidence to unify the martial arts world. However, since the Terror Ranking was released, I can no longer understand this martial arts world. If there truly are God and Demon level figures in the world, silently looking down upon the world, then everything I have done is nothing more than their chess pieces. As long as they are willing, they can take away the pieces at any time, or even overturn the Chessboard..."

The man in purple patted his shoulder: "Do not overthink it. You are a natural hegemon, destined to dominate the martial arts world and be revered by ten thousand people. That so-called Terror Ranking, I see it as nothing more than a mix of truth and falsehood, used to disturb the hearts of the martial arts world."

Xiongba's gaze sharpened: "That may be so, but there is one thing I have never been able to set my mind at ease about."

"What?"

"The 'Panic' of the 'Thirteen Panics'." Xiongba's expression grew increasingly grave; his face, which resembled gold and Iron, naturally carried an indescribable air of majesty that made people feel awe-struck against their will.

"The other thirteen 'Panics' may be true or false, but this person truly exists and has inextricable ties to Wushuang City. I previously dispatched spies from the Under Heaven Society to inquire about this person's news day and night, and finally uncovered some secrets. This person was previously hiding in Wushuang City, and not long ago appeared at West Lake, seemingly having fought someone there."

"Furthermore, I have scoured ancient records and found a very valuable piece of information. In the West Lake region, there is a legend regarding the Divine Stone among the Four Great Strange Stones; that person may have already found the Divine Stone. Now, that person is already on the road returning to Wushuang City. If I really let him return to Wushuang City with the Divine Stone, I fear it will be disadvantageous to my Under Heaven Society. Therefore, this person must be intercepted and killed, but I must remain stationed at the Under Heaven Society to steady people's hearts and cannot leave..."

Speaking to this point, Xiongba fixed his gaze on the man in purple: "This time, it depends on you."

The man in purple remained silent for a long time, finally exhaling a long breath toward the sky and sighing: "Very well, for the sake of this position as hegemon of the Under Heaven Society, I will make this trip for you."

"Then... I will have to trouble you, Father."

After the man in purple left, Xiongba's eyes flashed, and a cold sneer suddenly appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Over these years, this father of his, who once became the leader of the "Seven Demons of Pursuit" for the sake of wealth, had always been behind him helping him conquer the world, just like the Tianchi Twelve Killers.

But he was quite at ease with the Tianchi Twelve Killers, yet felt wary toward this father.

Because he knew this father also possessed a heart that sought to dominate the world and reign supreme over the martial arts world.

Who knew if, after the Under Heaven Society reigned supreme over the martial arts world, a situation of father and son killing each other would arise.

Therefore, this time, regardless of whether his father or the 'Panic' of the 'Thirteen Panics' won or lost, or who was defeated and who died, it seemed like good news to him. Thinking of this, Xiongba relaxed slightly.

Since the Panic Ranking says he has ten years of great fortune, then there seems to be no need to worry too much about these ten years. As for after ten years, what destiny? This old man does not acknowledge it.

"Heh heh."