96: Chapter 96 The Ten Evil Dojos

They were no longer on the bustling streets of the Imperial Dynasty, but standing atop a mountain peak wreathed in clouds and mist.

The Spiritual Qi in the mountains was so dense it had almost materialized, swirling like wisps of milky-white smoke around their fingertips, sleeves, and hair tips.

Taking a deep breath, they felt their internal organs cleansed and refreshed, and the dormant spiritual power within their bodies spontaneously accelerated, like a slumbering river suddenly awakening, surging and roaring.

Beneath their feet was a bluestone plaza polished as smooth as jade, with faint golden spiritual patterns carved into every stone; stepping on them allowed one to feel a trickle of Spiritual Qi flowing through the soles of their feet into their body.

Ahead stood an ancient and imposing palace, with black tiles like ink, vermilion pillars like blood, and upturned eaves like a goshawk about to take flight.

The plaque above the main entrance of the palace was inscribed with four vigorous, dragon-like characters that seemed to pierce through eternity—Ten Fiends Dao Palace.

Every stroke seemed to contain the power to swallow heaven and earth; just one glance made one's scalp tighten and their Divine Soul tremble slightly.

This was the new Ten Fiends Dojo that Chu Changsheng had entrusted Qian Wanguan to find within the Great Wu Dynasty.

Meanwhile, on the streets of the Imperial Dynasty.

The four Imperial Guard commanders hiding in the shadows, along with Commander Yingsha and his subordinates, were still maintaining their posture of "secretly following."

Yet the four people and Xiao, who had been right before their eyes a moment ago, had vanished into thin air, leaving only the empty street stretching silently under the moonlight.

They looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion and horror—Where were they?

They had clearly been right in front of them just now; how could they, along with that terrifying Vicious Beast, have just... disappeared in the blink of an eye?

There were no fluctuations of spiritual power, no traces of spatial tearing, not even a wisp of wind disturbed.

It was as if they had never existed, or perhaps what they had just seen was nothing more than a fleeting yet realistic dream.

Such means were already far beyond the scope of their cognition.

They froze in place, forgetting even to breathe, cold sweat sliding silently down their spines.

"Revered Master, what Divine Ability is this? It is too profound! Can you teach me?"

Xuanyuan Zhanxian was the first to recover.

He felt the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi around him, which was several times denser than in his memory; his eyes shone brilliantly, his tone filled with undisguised admiration and yearning.

Jian Tanghuang closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the pure Spiritual Qi unique to the Ten Fiends Dojo, as cool and clear as a spring.

When she opened them again, a comfortable, relaxed smile spread across her pretty face, and her tone was as light as a skylark that had finally returned to its nest: "It is more comfortable here! The Imperial Dynasty has so many rules it is suffocating, and the Spiritual Qi is mixed and turbid; staying there too long is stifling. Our Dojo's Spiritual Qi is nourishing; just one breath makes my Divine Soul feel refreshed!"

Although Chu Zhanxiao did not speak, the shoulder line that had always been taut like a bowstring quietly relaxed the moment he stepped onto the bluestone plaza.

His fingertips moved almost imperceptibly, feeling the familiar and reassuring flow of Spiritual Qi around him, and the habitual cold hardness in his eyes faded slightly.

To him, this Ten Fiends Dojo was the only place in the chaotic Southern Region where he could completely let down his guard and feel at peace.

Chu Changsheng walked into the Ten Fiends Dao Palace and sat calmly in the main seat at the highest point of the hall.

As his robes draped down, an air of natural, unforced authority and the demeanor of one looking down upon all living beings naturally flowed from him.

Xiao, like the most loyal ancient guardian, followed silently behind his side.

Its body, as large as a small mountain, slowly merged into the shadows of the hall, yet it radiated a suffocating, invisible pressure, like a world-destroying Vicious Beast awakened from ancient times to guard this palace.

The three followed him into the hall and respectfully sat on the cushions below.

Their posture was twelve times more solemn than when they were in the Imperial Dynasty—the solemn Dao rhythm permeating the palace and the unfathomable majesty of their Revered Master made them unconsciously restrain all frivolity, making their breathing light and slow, their spines straight as pine trees.

Chu Changsheng's gaze slowly swept over his three Disciples and finally landed on Xuanyuan Zhanxian.

His eyes were calm, but carried the absolute weight capable of settling the world: "Zhanxian, you are my head Disciple. From now on in this Southern Region, if you want to do something, go do it; if you want to walk a path, go walk it; there is no need for any hesitation."

He paused, every word clear and steady, like an eternal, immovable mountain: "With me here, within this Southern Region, no one can touch a hair on your head."

Chu Changsheng's voice fell within the Ten Fiends Dao Palace, as light as a falling feather, yet it crashed heavily into the depths of Xuanyuan Zhanxian's heart, stirring up a thousand waves.

His body jolted violently.

The white jade folding fan he was holding clicked, almost slipping from his fingers.

When he slowly raised his head, he collided with his Revered Master's bottomless eyes—there was no ripple within them, yet they seemed to contain the vastness of the entire galaxy, while also revealing an absolute power capable of crushing mountains and rivers, and grinding down eternity.

Just one glance made his churning mind involuntarily settle down, returning to an unprecedented state of stability.

There was no impassioned tone, no exaggerated vow.

But the protectiveness and absolute self-confidence wrapped in these words were heavier and deeper than any Soul-stirring heroic declaration.

It was like a red-hot giant hammer, carrying the power to burn the sky and boil the sea, instantly smashing the hidden concerns in the depths of Xuanyuan Zhanxian's heart that he had not even fully sorted out himself: the roundabout plans made for stability, the sharpness deliberately restrained when facing various forces, the cautious weighing of pros and cons for fear of causing turmoil... in the face of this calm declaration, they all suddenly seemed pale, superfluous, and even ridiculous.

He had long known that his Revered Master was very strong. From that fleeting glimpse at their first meeting, he knew his Revered Master's Realm was unfathomable.

But only now—hearing this calm-as-water promise with his own ears, feeling the vast Aura upon his Revered Master's return that was like an abyss or a sea, as if a single breath could overturn the winds and clouds of the Southern Region, and catching a glimpse of the terrifying existence of Xiao beside him, which made space stagnate and even light seem to be swallowed—did he truly realize: his Revered Master's "strength" might have long since far exceeded his wildest, most arrogant imagination.

Was it enough to look down on the Southern Region? Or could he overlook the entire Taichu Continent?

No.

When his Revered Master said this, his tone was as flat as if he were stating "The weather is nice today."

As if this had never been an ability worth boasting about, but merely a simple, undeniable fact.

Xuanyuan Zhanxian took a deep breath.

The emotions churning in his chest were almost about to break through his throat and turn into a long roar.

The careless, faint smile that had hung on his face for years, as if everything were under his control, completely disappeared at this moment.

Replacing it was a sharpness that seeped from the depths of his bones and blood, like a quenched and sharpened blade—like an ancient sword that had hidden its edge for a thousand years, finally breaking free from all scabbards and restraints, its sharpness exposed, its cold light biting, carrying the determination to sever all shackles.

Even the air around him seemed to hiss as it was cut by this suddenly erupting sharpness.

He stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to Chu Changsheng on the main seat.

His back was bent straight, as if he wanted to pour all his lifelong respect and hot blood into this gesture.

His voice carried a trace of irrepressible trembling that originated from his Soul, yet it was exceptionally clear, echoing sharply in the vast hall: "This Disciple—will respectfully obey Revered Master's order!"

At this moment, he was no longer the Xuanyuan Zhanxian who hid behind a folding fan and was skilled at calculating gains and losses, nor was he the "strategist" who cautiously maneuvered between various forces.

He was just the head Disciple of Changsheng Peak.

He was a "madman" who had a Revered Master standing behind him capable of suppressing the entire Southern Region and even looking down upon a wider world!

That sense of wantonness and flamboyance, having unloaded all shackles and broken free from all restraints, made the air in the hall seem to suddenly heat up and boil.

Even the clouds and mist swirling outside the palace seemed about to be violently scattered by this Aura that soared into the sky.

"Great!"

Jian Tanghuang watched from the side, her eyes shining brightly, a brilliant and extraordinary radiance rippling in her beautiful eyes.

She liked seeing her Senior Brother in this true form, no longer disguised and with his sharpness fully revealed, the most.

She stepped forward a few paces, waved her pink fist with a grin, her tone full of excitement: "Now we are in for a good show! Senior Brother, which family's stall do you intend to overturn first? Your Junior Sister will go wave the flag and cheer for you! If anyone dares to stop you, I will help you raze their mountain peaks to the ground!"

Chu Zhanxiao remained silent.

But his fist hanging by his side quietly clenched, his knuckles turning pale from the force, and on his arm, a pale golden power of blood and Qi flowed and surged like lava—this was his silent yet most firm stance.

No need for many words.

As long as his Senior Brother needed it, he could draw his sword at any time to slash through all obstacles ahead.

Chu Changsheng watched Xuanyuan Zhanxian's reborn appearance, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes, and he nodded slowly: "Hmm. If you need manpower later, let your Junior Brother and Junior Sister go to assist. If you need someone to hold the fort—"

He paused, his gaze turning to Xiao, who was as silent as a black mountain beside him, his tone calm but carrying the absolute confidence capable of settling the world: "Let little Xiao go with you. With his Early Stage Lianxu strength, as long as those old things hiding in coffins do not come out into the world, within this Southern Region, no one can be his match for even a single exchange."

Xiao's pair of pure golden vertical pupils slowly turned to Xuanyuan Zhanxian.

It did not nod, did not make a sound, not even a ripple of emotion in its eyes.

But everyone in the hall understood—this silence was the most solid, most terrifying guarantee.

It was the trump card that could make any enemy tremble in fear at the mere mention of its name, and make thousands of Sects silent as cicadas in winter.

It was more powerful than a promise of a thousand words.

The last trace of doubt in Xuanyuan Zhanxian's heart melted away like spring snow, vanishing into thin air.

An unprecedented heroic spirit rushed from his Dantian straight into the clouds, making his chest burn and his blood surge.

He laughed loudly, the sound clear and resonant like a sword chime, echoing in the hall: "Many thanks, Revered Master! But there is no need to trouble Junior Brother and Junior Sister, nor to trouble Senior Xiao. As for those clowns, this Disciple has his own means to deal with them cleanly. It is just that when the time comes—if there really are those blind old antiques who dare to try to bully the small with the big..."

His eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light flashing: "Then I will ask Revered Master, or Senior Xiao to make a move... just to hold the line!"