262: Chapter 0262 The Reverse Scale

Having worked non-stop for nearly seven days without rest, Lin Xiao clearly felt his mood becoming irritable and his focus waning.

After all, he was only at the Dao Entry stage, not a true immortal; his physical body still had its limits.

However, since he had already arrived, Lin Xiao did not plan to rest; he felt it would be safer to finish off Prince Bai as soon as possible.

Once dawn broke, there was no guarantee Prince Bai wouldn't sign some order that would send those deranged Shadow Guards off to spread the plague somewhere else.

Quietly entering Yong Province, Lin Xiao saw the vast and imposing Bai Princes Mansion from a great distance.

It was more than twice the size of Prince Yans Mansion, clearly demonstrating the wealth and extravagance of the premier feudal prince of the North.

Lin Xiao navigated the streets and alleys, steadily closing in on his target. Aside from a few vendors just starting to set up their stalls, there was almost no one on the road.

"Have you heard? Sha Prefecture has been taken by the Zhenbei Army!"

"Is that for real? It hasn't been long; after E Prefecture, Sha Prefecture has surrendered too?"

"Although the officials are covering it up, there are many rumors, and everyone is saying so..."

"It's actually quite possible. Sometimes, the more outrageous something sounds, the more likely it is to be true!"

"Sigh... if the war reaches Yong Province, I wonder if we'll be able to survive..."

The vendors were filled with worry.

Lin Xiao heard this, but he was not surprised.

With the groundwork he had laid in advance, it was only a matter of time before Mu Wanying and her forces broke through to Sha Prefecture.

Listening to the people of Yong Province, he deeply felt that the common folk didn't really have many thoughts on who held power.

In the three hundred years of the Great Gan Dynasty, perhaps only the first few decades were decent; after that, it was just a question of who was worse than whom.

The gentry and powerful clans monopolized most of the fertile land and industries; it didn't matter who was in the imperial court, it was all the same crap.

Therefore, the people of Yong Province didn't think they would have a much better life even if their Zhenbei Army arrived.

Their only hope was that the flames of war would not reach them.

Lin Xiao sighed inwardly. In his original world, he had been one of them, so he could deeply understand their feelings.

This time, since he had the chance to change some things, he would give it a try!

It was already rotten to the core anyway; could it really get any worse?

He reached the vicinity of the mansion in one breath and released his perception, searching carefully.

"Oh?"

A powerful aura—judging solely by the feeling, it could actually rival General Yelu Chuku?

He leaped into the back garden of the mansion, and a few guards who happened to be patrolling were instantly knocked unconscious by his shockwave.

Wearing his cloak, Lin Xiao walked all the way to the edge of an artificial lake.

In the middle of the lake was a man-made island, with beautiful scenery, like a paradise away from the world.

One could only imagine how much manpower and wealth had been spent when it was built.

Although it looked like just a scenic island, Lin Xiao knew that the person he was looking for was right there.

With two light taps on the water, Lin Xiao skimmed across the distance of several dozen meters.

On the island, a wooden house built from expensive red pine was hidden amidst dense trees and bamboo forests.

In front of the wooden house, there were only some simple stone tables and stools, along with some fishing gear and tea sets.

"Heh... living the good life, aren't you."

Lin Xiao muttered to himself, then looked toward the doorway of the wooden house.

"Come out; hiding is useless."

After a while, a long sigh seemed to drift out from inside.

Immediately after, an old man walked out. Even in the middle of winter, he was wearing thin grey cloth clothes. His beard and hair were half-white, and his back was slightly hunched.

[Ji Wujiu, 109 years old, Grand Elder of Blade Mountain, Imperial Father-in-law of the previous Emperor, Aptitude: Earth Grade]

[Technique 1: Scale of Wrath (98 years of cultivation), one of the 'Three Peerless Blades' of Blade Mountain. Grade: Heaven Grade]

[Technique 2: Floating Light and Glancing Shadow (85 years of cultivation), a superior movement technique of Blade Mountain. Grade: Earth Grade]

[Tags: Martial Arts Legend (Legendary), Martial Arts Grandmaster (Special), Imperial Father-in-law]

Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised; this old man was actually the father-in-law of the previous Emperor of the Great Gan Dynasty?

Then, in all likelihood, he was Prince Bai's maternal grandfather?

The "Martial Arts Legend" tag indicated that his influence on the martial arts world was significant and had lasted for over fifty years.

No wonder Prince Bai had so many experts from Blade Mountain among his subordinates, and his martial arts master was someone like Master Gao Jinyi, who also came from Blade Mountain.

Despite his advanced age, Ji Wujiu's aura was still so solid and profound.

In terms of realm, General Yelu Chuku probably couldn't compare to him.

Of course, the fact that there was a difference of several decades in their ages was also a major reason.

For this old man with Earth Grade aptitude to reach this level, it wasn't just about hard work; he also had to be very good at playing it safe!

"Your Excellency, this old man is merely someone with one foot in the grave, just living out my remaining days here; I have no intention of getting involved in worldly affairs."

"Whatever you intend to do here, I will not interfere. I ask that you please show mercy."

Ji Wujiu was very polite, with a humble and amiable expression; one would never guess he was someone who had dominated the martial arts world for decades.

Lin Xiao was not surprised by this. This old fellow was infinitely close to the Great Grandmaster realm, so he could naturally sense the danger.

As soon as he had scanned with his perception, the old man had deliberately hidden himself, wishing he could turn into a grain of sand so as not to be noticed.

"Oh? And if I said I was here to assassinate Prince Bai, you wouldn't care either?"

Ji Wujiu did not change his expression, waving his hands repeatedly: "This old man has already faded from the martial arts world for over a decade. Even if you were to burn the mansion to the ground, it would have nothing to do with me."

"Heh..."

Lin Xiao couldn't help but laugh; he could actually understand.

Having lived to this age with great difficulty, and being able to catch a glimpse of the dawn of the Great Grandmaster realm, he would naturally use any means necessary.

After all, once one stepped into the Great Grandmaster realm, one could extend their lifespan to around 200 years.

Never mind that Prince Bai was only his grandson; even if it were his own son, Ji Wujiu wouldn't risk his life for him!

For a person like this, if you asked him to be emperor, he would think it was a waste of time!

"In that case, thank you, elder, for your leniency."

Lin Xiao smiled and bowed politely with cupped hands.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..."

Ji Wujiu had a beaming smile on his face, but in his deep eyes, there was not the slightest relaxation of vigilance.

Lin Xiao turned and walked away silently.

He reckoned that if he attacked directly from the front, this Ji Wujiu would definitely run away.

He didn't have much of an advantage in movement techniques, and besides, it wasn't suitable to engage in a major fight inside Yong Province.

It would be best to find an opportunity, wait for the old man to lower his guard, and then launch a surprise attack with Jinghong...

But just at this moment, from behind him, Ji Wujiu unleashed a surging, turbulent blade intent!

He lunged forward, his movements agile, looking nothing like a centenarian.

With one hand, he snatched up an ordinary-looking fishing rod. Using the rod as a blade, he ferociously slashed out an invisible blade of energy, powerful and heavy, which surged to several dozen meters in length!

"You deceitful brat! Taste this old man's blade, 'Scale of Wrath'!!"

Lin Xiao heard the commotion, couldn't help but smile.

Alright then, it seemed he had discovered his intentions; was this old man planning to fight to the death and strike first?

The "Three Peerless Blades" of Blade Mountain were all Heaven Grade techniques, but many of Blade Mountain's talented disciples refused to practice them.

Because these three blade techniques, from beginning to end, only focused on practicing one single strike!

If you mastered it, you could conquer the world with that one strike!

If you couldn't master it, this Heaven Grade technique was not even as good as an Earth Grade one!

Beyond requiring talent, only the most hardworking and persevering disciples could comprehend the essence of this strike!

Lin Xiao felt that this Scale of Wrath was all about "explosive power"!

Like a giant dragon whose Scale of Wrath had been touched, it instantly opened its blood-thirsty maw, and the dragon's fangs snapped down!