70: Greed

“Fake!”

“All of this is fake!”

Cloud Mirage’s hair was disheveled, her demeanor like a madwoman. On that once-beautiful face, hailed as the prettiest of the new generation of Emei, now only twisted ferocity and uncontrollable hysteria remained.

“Revered Master! Did you see it?! This absolutely cannot be him! This must be some kind of demonic art! An illusion!”

“How could he, a useless man who couldn’t even retain his Internal Energy, possibly… possibly?!”

She couldn’t accept that the man she had once trampled into the mud, regarding him as a lifelong disgrace, would now appear before her in such a divine posture!

This was a thousand times more unbearable than killing her!

The surrounding Emei Disciples exchanged glances, their pretty faces pale, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

This scene had completely overturned their understanding of martial arts.

Master Abbess Jingxuan ignored Cloud Mirage’s outburst. Her eyes, which were usually as calm as an ancient well, now churned with tumultuous waves.

She stared intently at the young man slowly emerging from the deep pit, her voice dry, asking word by word, “You… are you truly Xiao Huohuo?”

“Jingxuan Shaitai.”

Xiao Huohuo calmly swept his gaze over the person before him.

“Long time no see, I trust you are well.”

An invisible heavy hammer struck Master Abbess Jingxuan’s heart!

It really was him!

Not only had he returned, but he had returned with a heaven-defying Cultivation that they simply could not comprehend!

“Xiao Huohuo, it seems you’ve obtained a great Opportunity this past month.” Master Abbess Jingxuan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the shock in her heart, and slowly spoke.

Xiao Huohuo was noncommittal, neither admitting nor denying it.

He merely fixed his gaze on Cloud Mirage, who was still in hysterics, a hint of imperceptible pity flashing in his eyes.

Once upon a time, he regarded her as his heaven, his light, his lifelong pursuit.

But now, seeing her again, he only felt… ridiculous.

How could a frog at the bottom of a well know the vastness of the world?

Seeing his silence, Master Abbess Jingxuan didn’t press further. She just sighed softly and said to Cloud Mirage, “Lan’er, since there’s a battle agreement, then… show mercy.”

These words sounded like they were for Cloud Mirage, but in reality, they were for Xiao Huohuo.

Cloud Mirage could no longer suppress the jealousy and rage in her heart. Her longsword hummed, transforming into a streak of light, carrying the full power of an Acquired Peak Martial Artist, and thrust straight at Xiao Huohuo’s throat!

The Emei Sword Art, eighty-one Moves, was unleashed to its fullest extent at this moment. Sword light rained down, determined to tear the person before her to shreds!

Facing this earth-shattering sword strike.

Xiao Huohuo didn’t even lift an eyelid.

He just stood there quietly, as if the sharp sword light, powerful enough to cleave stone tablets and crack rocks, was merely a gentle breeze brushing his face.

Too slow.

Too weak.

In his eyes, every one of Cloud Mirage’s movements was like a slow-motion video, slowed down a hundredfold, full of flaws. The so-called Acquired Peak True Qi, in front of his Foundation Establishment magic power refined by the Bone Chill Cold Fire, was as fragile as a three-year-old child’s scribble.

Ridiculous.

Only these two words remained in Xiao Huohuo’s heart.

Just as the sword’s edge was about to touch his skin.

He moved.

There were no earth-shattering Moves, he didn’t even Move his feet an inch.

He simply, casually, raised his right hand and gently waved it at the myriad sword lights from a distance.

As if merely shooing away an annoying fly.

“Whoosh—”

A barely perceptible crimson Qi current flashed from his palm.

That was the purest fire-attributed magic power produced by the Fusion of his internal “Bone Chill Cold Fire” and magic power, only… half of his strength.

However, it was this half of his strength!

The moment that crimson magic power gently swept past!

“Bang!”

Cloud Mirage’s myriad sword lights, like ice and snow illuminated by the sun, silently melted away.

The steel longsword in her hand shattered inch by inch, turning into dust, without even a whimper!

Immediately after!

A terrifying, irresistible force slammed into her chest!

“Puff!”

Cloud Mirage’s body flew backward like a kite with a broken string. A mouthful of fresh blood drew a tragic yet beautiful arc in the air, then with a “thump,” she heavily crashed onto the edge of the plaza dozens of feet away. Her delicate body twitched twice before she completely fainted.

Instant kill!

A thorough and complete instant kill!

All the Emei Disciples’ eyes widened, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg, as they stared blankly at the black and red figure!

“Thank you… for showing mercy.”

After a long while, Master Abbess Jingxuan’s dry voice slowly sounded.

She walked forward, checked Cloud Mirage’s breathing, and finding that she was only severely injured and unconscious, with no life-threatening danger, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Then, she stood up and solemnly declared to Xiao Huohuo, “This battle, Xiao Huohuo… wins!”

Xiao Huohuo said nothing, turned, and prepared to descend the mountain.

This Karma was settled.

He had no further connection with Mount Emei or Cloud Mirage.

Just then!

“Revered Master! You can’t let him go!”

A sharp and ill-timed voice suddenly rang out!

It was Ding Minjun!

She rushed out, pointing at Xiao Huohuo’s back, her eyes filled with greed and jealousy, and loudly shouted:

“This person’s origin is unknown, his Cultivation Technique is bizarre. He must have Cultivated some evil Dao of the Demonic Cult! How can we, members of the Righteous Path, tolerate such a Devil Head running rampant?!”

“I implore Revered Master to take action and capture him! Cripple his martial arts and force him to reveal the origin of his evil techniques! This would also be a great service to our Righteous Path Martial Forest!”

Her words were spoken with such “righteous indignation.”

But the greed in her eyes could not be concealed.

“Slap!”

A crisp slap echoed throughout the entire venue!

Master Abbess Jingxuan backhanded Ding Minjun, making her spin three times in place, half of her face instantly swelling high.

“Get out of here! Haven’t you disgraced our Emei Sect enough?!” Master Abbess Jingxuan angrily rebuked.

Although she was also tempted by Xiao Huohuo’s Opportunity, she was, after all, a Sect Head, and she still needed to maintain some dignity.

But at this very moment!

“Jingxuan, you’re still as indecisive as you were back then! Not even as good as a Disciple!”

An old, cold, yet supremely authoritative voice, without any warning, rumbled from the back mountain of Mount Emei!

Before the words finished falling!

A figure, as fast as a ghost, shot out from the Forbidden Ground in the back mountain, silently landing in the center of the plaza!

The newcomer wore a gray monk’s robe, held the Heaven Reliant Sword, had a withered face, but her eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, as if they could pierce through people’s hearts!

A terrifying aura that made heaven and earth change color erupted from her body!

Heavenly Human Realm! Middle Stage!

“Junior… Junior Martial Uncle?!” Master Abbess Jingxuan’s face drastically changed when she saw the newcomer, and she immediately knelt down.

The previous Sect Head of the Emei Sect, Abbess Miejue!

Abbess Miejue, however, did not look at her. Her cold eyes locked onto Xiao Huohuo, her voice devoid of any emotion.

“Boy, you injured my sect members on my Emei Golden Summit, and you think you can just leave?”

“Stay.”

“Once this old one clarifies the origin of your Cultivation, if it has nothing to do with the Demonic Cult, I will naturally let you leave.”

Although she said this, the greed and killing intent in her eyes were no longer concealed!

Facing this sudden turn of events, and the terrifying pressure of a Heavenly Human Realm Middle Stage expert!

Xiao Huohuo, however, smiled.

He slowly turned around, his face not only devoid of any fear, but instead… filled with extreme excitement and fanaticism!

“Have you ever… heard of… Buddha’s Angry Flame Lotus?”