Chapter 763: Chapter 763

"Master Jiang, since you have come, why not come forth and meet an old friend?"

As Jiang Dali heard the commotion from the water, a lilting, melodious voice also carried over from the nearby water surface.

All the disguised mountain bandit brothers on lookout on the deck also cast their attention to a boat approaching slowly from a hundred yards away, their expressions changing one after another.

The newcomer was able to project their voice clearly from a hundred yards away.

Such power was no small feat.

On the deck of the distant boat, Zhu Yu Yan sat silently in a Taishi Chair, draped in heavy gauze, the very picture of tranquil leisure.

Jiang Dali’s calm yet authoritative voice emanated from within the cabin, each word reaching across the hundred yards without fail.

"Queen Yin, it’s been a long while since we’ve seen each other. You’ve also broken through to the Unity of Heaven and Man, but with the situation as it is today, it’s not something you should meddle in. Why bother stirring into these troubled waters? Could it be that Wan Wan has also come?"

Jiang Dali stepped out of the cabin alongside Kou Zhong and the others, looking towards the oncoming boat with hands clasped behind his back.

"Village Chief, you once promised to help me personally take down Shi Zhixuan. Today presents the perfect opportunity, how could I not come? As for Wan Wan, she has no intention of seeing you, the man who betrayed her heart."

Zhu Yu Yan rose to her feet with an elegant poise.

As still as well water, her gaze penetrated the veil and stared from afar at Jiang Dali who wore a broad-brimmed hat.

Though Jiang Dali could not see her eyes, he could feel her icy stare and responded with a faint smile, "How can there be betrayal where there was never any affection? I wonder who else has arrived? Why hide and not come out to meet?"

"Ha ha ha, the Village Chief of Black Wind is truly remarkable. I, Song Que, deliberately concealed my presence, yet you still discovered me."

A hearty laugh rang out as a strikingly handsome middle-aged man strolled out of the cabin.

He had a flawless visage, with thick brows that framed shimmering, spirited eyes like jewels, and a broad forehead that hinted at an intelligence far surpassing that of mere mortals.

Even with touches of grey at his temples, Song Que carried no trace of aging. Instead, it lent him an air of nobility and an intimidating, unapproachable presence.

His stature was as straight as a javelin, draped in a cyan robe that swept the ground, standing tall and majestic as a mountain. His black hair was tied atop his head with a red knot, hands kept behind his back, and at his waist hung a slanted saber—the renowned Heavenly Blade Daffodil!

In him was an air of unrivaled dominance and a disdain for the world.

Even his aura seemed to overshadow that of Queen Yin Zhu Yu Yan by much, instantly becoming the center of everyone’s attention.

Nobody is perfect, hence there’s always a flaw, but Heavenly Blade Song Que was a rare exception of perfection!

Jiang Dali’s gaze sharpened.

Although he wasn’t surprised by Song Que’s arrival, he was still amazed by the state of peaceful unity with nature the man seemed to embody at all times, as if every action hinted at an understanding of the Heavenly Dao.

This ability of Song Que to resonate with the Heavenly Human Realm seemed to exceed Jiang Dali’s imagination.

The Heavenly Human Realm emphasizes aligning with the Heavenly Destiny, following the Heavenly Will, and Song Que seemed like someone favored by this Will, always in a state of harmony with it.

"Well done, Heavenly Blade, well played Heavenly Blade Song Que!"

Jiang Dali’s eyes sparkled as he called across the river, "Are you here today for Evil King Shi Zhixuan, or for Yanggong’s Treasure Vault?"

Song Que responded with a clear laugh, looking down at the surging river waters and replied lightly, "Both, but the real reason Song Que decided to take this trip mainly concerns you, Master Jiang."

Jiang Dali replied indifferently, "If it’s for me you’ve come, then you’re bound to be disappointed. Your arrival won’t prevent anything that’s meant to happen."

Song Que maintained a leisurely demeanor, casually saying, "How can we know without trying? Martial Arts is like Sword Dao; to not advance is to retreat. To exchange blows with a powerful figure like Master Jiang has always been a wish of mine.

However, now is not the time for that, don’t you think so, Master Jiang?"

Jiang Dali chuckled, his gaze piercing as he looked out over the undulating river waters, "Whenever the fight takes place, in the end, hands will have to be laid. Song Que, have you considered what will happen to your Song Family should you die by my hand?"

Song Que laughed it off, "In the path of Martial Arts, we forget life and death. If a man dies at the hands of an opponent he acknowledges, isn’t it a fitting end in the Martial World?"

After a pause, Song Que continued, "If Song Que is fortunate enough to overcome you by even a minor technique, I only hope Master Jiang will agree to abandon the pursuit of Yanggong’s Treasure Vault and also spare my worthy son-in-law, Kou Zhong. What say you?"

Kou Zhong stood up, visibly shaken and moved, his tiger-like eyes staring at Song Que.

Just by calling out ’worthy son-in-law’ in front of everyone, Song Que’s intentions were clear.

His presence here today was largely for Kou Zhong.

But at this moment, he knew full well.

Strong as Song Que was, he could never match the Village Chief.

Kou Zhong had once sought Song Que’s help, but he had given up over a month ago and had urged Song Que to abandon his efforts as well.

For at that time, none in the Sui Kingdom could rival the Village Chief of Black Wind.

Yet, Song Que still came.

"Ha ha ha, Kou Zhong, having such a father-in-law willing to fight to the death for you is your fortune in life."

Jiang Dali laughed heartily, then looked coldly at Kou Zhong, "But today I would like to ask you, do you need me, the Village Chief, to spare you? If you do, not only will I spare you today, but I will also spare Xu Ziling.

"You Shuanglong, from now on, have the vast sea where you can leap like fish, the endless sky where birds can soar freely. But if you offend in my hands again, I will show no mercy."

Kou Zhong’s body trembled, he looked towards the opposite Heavenly Blade Song Que, then towards Jiang Dali, his mind filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts.

But in the end, he gritted his teeth and said to Song Que, "Mr. Song, I am ashamed. I wish to follow the village chief from now on, and I do not need the chief to let me off. I hope Mr. Song will no longer risk himself for my sake."

Heavenly Blade Song Que knitted his brows slightly.

Jiang Dali slapped Kou Zhong’s shoulder with a palm and laughed heartily, "Song Que, this worthy son-in-law of mine wasn’t forced into pledging allegiance to me. Do you see now?"

Just then, a beautiful young woman suddenly ran out of the cabin, glaring at Kou Zhong as she shouted, "Kou Zhong you big fool, why? Why won’t you leave even after my father has already come?

Do you plan to stay in the mountain village as a mountain bandit for life, unwilling to marry me?"

Kou Zhong’s expression changed slightly as he immediately said, "Actually, Black Wind Village is not an ordinary Green Forest Force, and the chief is not just a common mountain bandit leader. Following the chief, it’s also possible to carve out a piece of heaven and earth. I’ve thought it through. I will marry you openly and honorably."

"That’s right, my Black Wind Village is certainly no less than your Song Gate. It’s a good match. Miss Song, rest assured, on the day you and Kou Zhong get married, I will also send a generous gift."

Jiang Dali laughed heartily, quite satisfied with Kou Zhong’s now completely changed attitude.

In fact, some of the interactions between Kou Zhong and Heavenly Blade Song Que were not hidden from him; he simply didn’t care.

It was he who had once personally instructed Kou Zhong to seek out Song Que and learn Saber Skill, how could he not imagine what might happen subsequently.

But no matter what happened, he always had the confidence to deal with and control it.

Originally, in Jiang Dali’s worst-case scenario for today, Kou Zhong would have betrayed him, attempting to use the power of Heavenly Blade Song Que to break away from Black Wind Village.

Then, with no mercy, he would have resorted to iron-blooded methods to dispatch both Kou Zhong and Song Que.

But now, Kou Zhong’s change of heart meant that he had completely become part of the shape of Black Wind Village, truly integrated into the collective of the village.

From initial hostility and resistance to present acceptance and integration.

This kind of transformation was normal for someone like Kou Zhong.

To think, in the previous lifetime Kou Zhong clamored to Conquer the World, only to suddenly decide to give up at the end, not to fight, leaving his following brothers and even his father-in-law Song Que bloodied and swindled.

At this moment, Queen Yin Zhu Yu Yan, who was already growing impatient with the noisy Song Yuzhi, said, "Alright, if you want to discuss marriage, do so after we go back."

With that said, her eyes peeked at Jiang Dali, "Master Jiang, Evil King Shi Zhixuan is right now within Yanggong’s Treasure Vault below us. Since he has informed us of this vault’s location, and is not afraid of our arrival, it shows he has already prepared thoroughly.

"Most likely, he has already absorbed the powers of all the Demon Sect strong practitioners within the Evil Emperor relics. When do you plan to make your move?"

Jiang Dali responded calmly, "However..."

Jiang Dali hadn’t finished speaking when suddenly, the water below roiled and surged dramatically.

Five figures, one leading and four behind, rushed through the water like large fish. They burst through the water surface, revealing their figures.

Four shadows surrounded the one in the middle, radiating evil energy, attacking with an overwhelming barrage of palm and fist shadows.

But the surrounded man simply waved his left hand, shooting a trail of fire straight into the sky, while his other hand drew a circle, creating an immensely powerful force that erupted with a low thunderous blast, immediately sending the four figures flying back, crashing onto the water’s surface and spitting up blood in unison.

Zhu Yu Yan and the others all changed their expressions and looked toward the middle-aged man in the air, who seemed to be floating down slowly with the spray of water as if supported by the air.

Jiang Dali did not even glance at the Xiangxi Four Ghosts, but carefully observed Evil King Shi Zhixuan, who was emitting a strange evil energy.

He knew this man very well from the past life, aware that he had three completely different faces.

One is that of Buddha Light, appearing in all respects a high monk from Wulou Temple named Fang Wen;

The second was that of a destitute scholar harboring endless agony and loneliness;

And the last was the present Shi Zhixuan, in his true colors of the Evil King, showing no mercy,

With half of his hair ghostly white and the other half pitch black, he looked extraordinarily bizarre, his body full of evil energy.

Employing the Illusion Demon Body Technique, he flew across the sky, with the air of one who ruled over the world; his evil gaze slowly sweeping across the crowd. He then suddenly threw his head back in a long laugh, holding a pearl emitting sinister light in his hand, bringing it to his eyes, and with fanatical gleam shining from his eyes, he laughed loudly.

"You all have come, good, good, just in time to witness me fully absorbing the Devil Skill from the Evil Emperor relics, hahaha!!"

"Evil Emperor relics!"

Jiang Dali’s eyes were fixed on the pearl in the Evil King’s hand, with burning eagerness, fright, and hesitation in his gaze. He said in a low voice, "Shi Zhixuan, no matter what you have obtained from these relics, now, it would be best if you handed over the Evil Emperor relics to me!"

Saying this, he slowly extended his robust arm, splaying his fingers, his eyes glinting with a fierce glow...

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