Chapter 509

The waiter saw Xiao Aoshi and immediately drew his blade, pointing it at him.

Xiao Aoshi couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity—how dare a mere Grandmaster-level lackey point a blade at him?

"Wuming! Is this how you manage your subordinates?"

Though he did not fear Wuming, Xiao Aoshi did not wish to fall out with him right away, so he directly circulated his true essence and sent his voice into the Zhonghua Pavilion.

A burst of erhu music sounded, and immediately countless white birds arranged themselves into formation high in the sky.

"Please enter!"

In the end, under the erhu music, the birds actually transformed into two rather complex characters.

"Florid nonsense!"

Xiao Aoshi mocked, yet he also felt the weight of Wuming's strength.

To be able to use true essence to manipulate the elemental forces of heaven and earth already counted as a remarkable expert within the supreme Mythical Realm.

The fact that Wuming could use the sound of his instrument to control birds showed his cultivation had reached an extremely high level!.

"Get lost!"

Xiao Aoshi flicked his sleeve, and a wave of qi sent the waiter flying.

Then his figure moved, and he flashed into the Zhonghua Pavilion.

By this time, Xiong Ba had long been escorted by the people of the Zhonghua Pavilion into the small courtyard at the back.

Seeing Xiao Aoshi come in, the Shopkeeper did not dare slight him,

"Esteemed guest, my boss is inside waiting for you."

"Mm!"

Xiao Aoshi wore a haughty expression and walked in the direction the Shopkeeper indicated.

He pushed open a door and entered a small courtyard.

Xiong Ba, heedless of his dignity and status, had actually knelt before a door.

Inside the door sat a person, leisurely playing the erhu.

It was none other than "Heavenly Sword" Wuming!

"Xiong Ba! For all your renown as a mighty lord, to save your life you have actually stooped to this?"

Xiao Aoshi did not greet Wuming first, but instead turned to mock Xiong Ba.

Xiong Ba paid no attention to Xiao Aoshi, looking like a wronged little bride.

He said to Wuming inside,

"Senior, please save me!"

Now that both principals had arrived, Wuming stopped playing the erhu.

He casually set it on a nearby table, stood up, stepped out with his hands behind his back, and helped Xiong Ba to his feet.

"Xiong Ba! Though your hands are drenched in blood and your sins run deep,"

"these past years, the imperial court has done nothing."

"Had you not founded the Tianxia Society, who knows how many in Yunzhou would have perished in the chaos."

"But today your fate has run out, and all your grand ambitions have come to nothing."

"It is no trouble for me to save you today. All I ask is that you abolish your Wu Gong and withdraw from the Jianghu."

"I can then guarantee your safety. What say you?"

Xiong Ba listened, dumbstruck.

How could this famed "Heavenly Sword" Wuming seem so saintly and soft-hearted?

But no matter what, following Wuming's words, as long as he abolished his Wu Gong and withdrew from the Jianghu, his life would be preserved!

Xiong Ba was after all a generation's overlord, able to stoop and to rise.

He immediately nodded and agreed,

"So long as I can keep this broken life of mine, and share these final days with my daughter Miss Youruo."

"What do grand ambitions and Wu Gong cultivation amount to?"

Saying so, he raised both hands at once.

The true essence on his body surged forth, pouring directly into the heavens above.

Once all his true essence had left his body, he collapsed weakly.

Wuming pointed a finger, sending him into the room behind to rest in a chair.

"'Boss,' Xiong Ba is finished. Let us let the matter rest here, what say you?"

After dealing with Xiong Ba, Wuming turned his gaze to Xiao Aoshi.

Xiao Aoshi had not interfered with the actions of Wuming and Xiong Ba at all.

Hearing Wuming's words now, he burst into wild laughter that took a long while to subside,

"Wuming, do you think I'm as soft as you?"

"Besides, who told you I came to rid Yunzhou's Wu Lin of a menace?"

"I'm here only for Xiong Ba's head."

"Whether he is good or evil, whether he still possesses Wu Gong—his head is mine today, no question."

Wuming looked utterly bewildered and could not help but ask,

"Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot; do a favor for others, do a favor for yourself!"

"'Boss,' why must you hunt Xiong Ba to the death?"

"Let me put it this way! I'm going to pay my respects to the Grand Dragon Head, and I need Xiong Ba's head as a greeting gift!"

Xiao Aoshi smiled coldly and laid it out plainly.

"Great Dragon Head?"

Wuming's whole body trembled—how did killing Xiong Ba get tangled up with the Qinglong Society?

Thinking of how seniors like Xiao Sanxiao, after ascending Qinglong Peak, all wore such evasive expressions.

Now Wuming was also uncertain whether he should continue meddling in this matter.

But his temperament was just like that—in his view, Xiong Ba's crimes did not warrant death!

"No matter what, since Xiong Ba has already given up everything, I will not kill him."

Wuming deliberated at length, then finally answered firmly.

"Good!"

Xiao Aoshi's gaze fixed on Wuming,

"When I was in You Dongying, I heard that you, Wuming—one man, one sword—slaughtered Jue Wushen and other You Dongying experts at Shanhai Pass until they fled in disgrace."

"All this time, I never had the chance to cross swords with you!"

"Since you are so determined, today I shall use my 'Consciousness-Only Sword Intent' to meet your 'Heavenly Sword'!"

Saying so, Xiao Aoshi struck without hesitation.

A thread of spiritual force invisible to the naked eye suddenly shot out from his body.

It transformed into a sharp sword, attacking toward Wuming's Sea of Consciousness!

This move was yet another of Xiao Aoshi's ultimate arts—Consciousness-Only Sword Intent, also called the Heart Sword.

Every sword was formed from spiritual force, condensing intent directly into a single strike.

Every sword carried tremendous power; once thrust out, not only was it nearly impossible to guard against.

What was even more terrifying was that if one failed to block it, one's spirit and body could both be annihilated!

All this time, Xiao Aoshi had rarely employed this move.

Only because this move was born from "Myriad Dao Forest," and likewise still had flaws.

But facing "Heavenly Sword" Wuming this time, Xiao Aoshi wished to match sword with sword!

This strike of Consciousness-Only Sword Intent, which should have been formidable, the moment it came within three feet of Wuming—

Was directly scattered by a burst of sword intent emanating from Wuming's body.

"Good! Truly worthy of being 'Heavenly Sword'—again!"

Xiao Aoshi laughed heartily, his thoughts surging in rapid succession, continuously unleashing Consciousness-Only Sword Intent.

Every sword was no weaker than the previous one.

Wuming sighed, just as he was about to activate "Heavenly Sword" to meet the attack.