Nine Yang Sword Saint
chapter-145

Translator: Exodus Tales  Editor: Exodus Tales

After exiting the Mu Clan Docks, Mu Lianyi was standing in the middle of the road towards the north. She was waiting there for Yang Dingtian.

When she saw Yang Dingtian catching up, she immediately turned to run swiftly towards the north. She had such nimble maneuver skills that didn’t let out any noise or presence.

In the dark, Yang Dingtian followed behind closely, but he didn’t know where was Mu Lianyi going to. He originally knew that the Fire Chilling Pearl wasn’t stored in the Mu Clan Docks and at somewhere else. It was the proper way to do it, otherwise, it would be even more dangerous to keep it in the Mu Clan Docks.

Mu Lianyi kept on going north and further north.

In the darkness, she was truly like a cat which was fast and silent.

After running for more than 100 miles, there was a gigantic stone mountain ahead.

The stone mountain was so tall, it penetrated the sky. The side that was facing Yang Dingtian was a completely vertical and precipitous stone cliff.

Mu Lianyi didn’t say anything and immediately rushed to the bottom of the stone cliff and abruptly jumped up. She jumped around seven to eight meters and stuck her delicate body close to the stone cliff and climbed upwards rapidly like a gecko.

Yang Dingtian followed suit and jumped over ten meters before sticking to the stone cliff and climbing up.

Just like this, Mu Lianyi was leading the way, while Yang Dingtian followed behind as they rapidly climbed towards the mountain peak.

This stone mountain was more than two thousand meters in height. Yang Dingtian and Mu Lianyi were ascending the mountain silently and took around ten minutes to finally reach the peak of the mountain.

There were gusts of wind on the mountain peak. There were a range of hills below and a forest which looked like a giant beast that was pressed under a foot.

The mountain peak was flat land, which was only a few hundred square meters. The entire mountain looked just like an incomparably enormous boulder.

“I am the only one who knows where the Fire Chilling Pearl is hidden. Not even my father knows about it.” Mu Lianyi said, “I am about to go look for Xingwen, but I am going to hand the Fire Chilling Pearl to you before I leave. This was what I promised earlier. But, before I hand it over to you, I have a condition.”

“Speak,” Yang Dingtian said.

“After you obtain the Fire Chilling Pearl, leave my clan immediately.” Mu Lianyi said, “Don’t ever return to the Mu Clan Docks and sever all ties with my father. I hope he will not be related to the Cloud Heaven City anymore. Otherwise, there will be the day where he will die in all of your hands.”

Yang Dingtian didn’t reply. Because he originally didn’t intend to disturb Mu Liancheng’s peaceful life. The reason why he stayed behind was that Mu Lianyi met with trouble.

But when facing a rude woman that was filled with hostility, there was already no need for any explanation.

“I will take your silence as agreement,” Mu Lianyi said and crouched down at the middle of the mountain peak. She then used her finger to lightly tap at the surface of the mountain peak.

After tapping a few times, she laid down and knocked while using her ears listen.

“It is here,” Mu Lianyi said and lifted a piece of stone slab, revealing a two feet hole which had a square shape.

Yang Dingtian was surprised as he didn’t expect there to be a secret entrance in this place.

“Come in,” Mu Lianyi said and immediately jumped into this hole.

Yang Dingtian hesitated and jumped in.

Mu Lianyi then lit up a sulfur match.

Below the hole was actually a stone room, which was only a few dozen square meters. But there was a stone bed, a stone table, and a stone chair.

Who was the one that dug out a hidden room? Furthermore, the entire place was filled with solid stones, and it must have been a strenuous task to excavate a hidden room in this place.

“I discovered this place when I was young and no one else knows about this place except me.” Mu Lianyi said, “Hence, I hid the Fire Chilling Pearl in this place.”

Mu Lianyi squatted down in front of the stone bed and lightly patted on the bed. A narrow crevice appeared where Mu Lianyi drew out a stone sleeve that had a small hole in it. She reached in and took out a snow-white box.

The Fire Chilling Pearl had to be stored in a special cooling box, otherwise, its chilling energy would constantly leak out.

Just as Mu Lianyi was about to open the box, Yang Dingtian let out a hurried breath, which made Mu Lianyi let out a ridiculing laugh.

That’s right, Yang Dingtian really cared about this Fire Chilling Pearl. Only after obtaining it, was he able to enter the Fire Cloud Devil Cave and used the peak grade coal-seam fire to forge his soul sword. Otherwise, when he entered that place, he would be immediately killed by that thousand-year-old, guardian demonic beast. Not even a Master class expert would be able to escape that fate.

“What is the date today?” Yang Dingtian asked.

“Twin Suns Calendar, 10th of the First Month,” Mu Lianyi replied.

Yang Dingtian did some mental calculation. There was still less than twenty days before the peak grade coal-seam fire was about to burst out.

That peak grade coal-seam fire in the Fire Cloud Devil Cave only burst out once every decade and it would only last for six hours.

Just like a night-blooming cereus, after six hours, the peak grade coal-seam fire would automatically be extinguished and go back into a dormant state. It would only accumulate enough energy a decade later before it could burst out again.

Once the peak grade coal-seam fire was missed, one would have to wait for another decade. Hence the reason why the peak grade coal-seam fire was so precious and why soul swords were so rare.

The timing of the coal-seam fire bursting in the Fire Cloud Devil Cave was every ten years on the 28th of the First Month, midday.

The Fire Cloud Devil Cave was about 10,000 miles away from here and there was a vast sea in the between. Yang Dingtian was naturally anxious and had this urgency to obtain the Fire Chilling Pearl.

****************

The instant when Mu Lianyi opened the box, Yang Dingtian took a deep breath as he was afraid that this Fire Chilling Pearl might vanish all of a sudden.

Once the box was opened, there was this mysterious pearl resting in it. It looked white and blue, and colorless at time. It was incredibly beautiful, mystical, and mysterious.

That’s right, this is the Fire Chilling Pearl and it was one of the cardinal treasures of the world. The Fire Chilling Pearl which was of utmost importance to Yang Dingtian.

“Take it, this is to repay you for rescuing me back at the contest stage,” Mu Lianyi spoke in a serious tone and passed the Fire Chilling Pearl along with the box to Yang Dingtian.

Yang Dingtian didn’t try to be pretentious and extended his hand to receive it.

“Hahahaha…” Suddenly, there was a burst of bizarre laughter, which was immediately followed after by a black shadow entering the hole and appearing inside the hidden room.

“Apologies, this Fire Chilling Pearl doesn’t belong to either of you, it belongs to this lord.”

This person’s voice sounded very strange, as the cawing of crows. He was dressed in black clothes and wearing a mask of a malicious ghost. He only revealed a pair of eyes, which were looking at the Fire Chilling Pearl with avaricious eyes.

The two of them were startled as Yang Dingtian swiftly drew his sharp sword. Mu Lianyi instinctively withdrew the Fire Chilling Pearl to his back.

Yang Dingtian truly didn’t expect that someone would try to snatch the Fire Chilling Pearl just as he was about to obtain it.

Yang Dingtian took a step forward and stood in front of Mu Lianyi, asking in an indifferent voice, “May I know how are you?”

“This lord is the West Mountain Lonesome Crying Ghost(Lonesome Crying Ghost). Have you heard of my name?” That individual spoke in a sharp voice.

Yang Dingtian didn’t hear of this name, but Mu Lianyi had. This person was the most famous bandit in the southwest continent and it was claimed that he had nothing that he couldn’t steal.

“How did you know we are here in Ecstacy Cliff?” Mu Lianyi asked coldly.

“Haha…” Lonesome Crying Ghost laughed with a sharp pitch and said, “I am not as stupid as Tuoba Ye who came directly to rob the pearl and actually got himself crippled. I just had to keep track of Young Lady Mu and she would have to go retrieve the Fire Chilling Pearl one day. Finally, this day has arrived.”

Mu Lianyi had a change in expression, “You have been stalking me all this time?”

“That’s right!” Lonesome Crying Ghost said, “But don’t worry, when you are doing those private things, I am just lingering around and didn’t peek at you. There must still be morality in thievery! Furthermore, if I wanted to stalk someone, my target will never notice me. Alright, hand the Fire Chilling Pearl over. This lord doesn’t want to hurt anyone. If a beauty like you got injured, it wouldn’t be good.”

Yang Dingtian’s brows lifted and he instantly tightened his grip on the sword.

“Kid, you better don’t think of making a move. To tell you the truth, even if both of you were at your prime state, your combined efforts would still lose out to me. I am even more powerful than that Tuoba Ye. Furthermore, I will not be as foolish as him to fight you using mystic skills. I will use martial skills and my sword.” Lonesome Crying Ghost laughed and said, “If I was you, I will certainly not make a move and hand the pearl over obediently instead of taking the risk.”

Yang Dingtian said, “This Fire Chilling Pearl might be a cardinal treasure, but it is only in regard to those people who need it. What does this sir need the Fire Chilling Pearl for? If it is for selling, then I can pay with double the price.”

Lonesome Crying Ghost responded, “Cut the nonsense, hand the pearl over and I will let you go!”

“Don’t even think about it!” Yang Dingtian spoke with a cold voice.

“Then you two will die here,” Lonesome Crying Ghost’s voice instantly turned cold. His sword shook as he thrust towards Yang Dingtian.

“Cling…” Yang Dingtian raised his sword up and blocked.

Clost combat!

An extremely crafty mystic qi passed through the blade and entered Yang Dingtian’s body, sending him flying more than ten meters, while swallowing a mouthful of fresh blood that was about to spurt out.

In just an instant, half his arm had turned cold and numb. He had lost all senses in his hand and nearly couldn’t grip his sword properly.

That’s right, this person’s cultivation was far superior to Yang Dingtian!

“Have you tasted my prowess? This is merely 50% of my mystic qi.” Lonesome Crying Ghost spoke in a cold voice, “I will count to three. If you don’t hand the pearl over, I will not be merciful and let the two of you die here. You can be a pair of mandarin… a part of corpses.”

“Three!””Two!””One!”

As he counted down, Lonesome Crying Ghost’s expression turned into a chilling face as he said, “It seems like the two of you really want to die. Do you rather the treasure than your life? Then I shall help you with it.”

Finishing his words, his sharp sword shook, as it burst with a huge amount of mystic qi, causing tremors in the stone room.

“Swish…” Lonesome Crying Ghost’s sword was extremely fast and extremely severe. It had powerful mystic qi which thrust at Yang Dingtian’s head with lightning speed.

Yes, it wasn’t aimed at the chest, it was aimed at the head!

The speed was at the extremity and it was the fastest among all the foes Yang Dingtian had faced. It was so fast that it couldn’t be evaded.

Just as Yang Dingtian’s head was about to be penetrated.

Yang Dingtian stood still and said, “You aren’t that West Mountain Lonesome Crying Ghost.”

The sword paused while Lonesome Crying Ghost laughed loudly, “If I am not West Mountain Lonesome Crying Ghost, who am I?”

“Stop acting, Wu Xingli. Or should I address you as Wu Xingwen?” Yang Dingtian spoke indifferently.

“Ahh…” Mu Lianyi suddenly called out with her delicate voice. “Impossible, it cannot be him!”

“Haha…” Lonesome Crying Ghost laughed heartily and said, “Kid, are you mad? Even if you want to live, you don’t have to use such ways. I am the magnificent West Mountain Lonesome Crying Ghost, why do I have to pass myself as Wu Xinglie or Wu Xingwen?”

Yang Dingtian said, “If you are not Wu Xinglie, then take your mask off.”

“Do I have to do it if you tell me to? What are you?” That individual sneered.

“I want you to take off your mask.” Mu Lianyi spoke apathetically.

“Swish…” No one knew that Mu Lianyi pressed, a stone wall suddenly opened at her back. It was a bottomless abyss which constantly emitted horrific and chilling energy.

No one expected this. There was actually nothing below the stone room, the interior of this few thousand meters tall stone mountain was actually empty.

Mu Lianyi extended the box with the Fire Chilling Pearl in it and put it above the abyss. “Take off your mask, or I will throw this Fire Chilling Pearl down. This is a bottomless abyss that contains toxic and magma, even an absolute expert would die without a corpse if they drop it. Once I loosen my hand, you will never obtain this Fire Chilling Pearl.”

“Don’t throw,” That individual spoke nervously and his voice became erratic.

It looked as though he was hesitating and struggling.

Two minutes later, that person said, “What if, I do not wish to take down the mask?”

Mu Lianyi’s delicate body shuddered as she responded indifferently, “Then you will never get this Fire Chilling Pearl. I will countdown from three.”

“Three!””Two!””One!”

Mu Lianyi counted down quickly and loosened her fingers as the box containing the Fire Chilling Pearl was dropped.

“Ahh…” That individual gasp and wanted to pounce over, but was forcefully intercepted by Yang Dingtian.

Mu Lianyi was extremely fast and just as the Fire Chilling Pearl fell about two feet, she quickly caught it.

“Take off the mask and let me see your face,” said Mu Lianyi.

That individual took a deep breath and said in a cold voice, “You want to see my face? Fine, I will let you see it. I hope you don’t regret this.”

Subsequently, he slowly took off the mask.

For a moment, Mu Lianyi felt as though she couldn’t breathe as she was afraid Yang Dingtian might be right.

That person took off the mask completely.

“Ahh…” Mu Lianyi cried out in surprise.

Because, it was a hideous face, and it was so ugly that it was on the level of a nightmare. The entire face looked as though it was corroded by acid and fried in oil. It wasn’t the face of a human, it looked as though a malicious spirit that came from the netherworld.

“Take a look then, are you satisfied?” Lonesome Crying Ghost spoke in a sharp voice, “Girl, hand over the Fire Chilling Pearl and you can live. I will certainly kill this man.”

“Stop acting, Wu Xinglie, or should I call you Wu Xingwen,” Yang Dingtian spoke coldly.

Before that individual could speak, Mu Lianyi couldn’t help but speak with rage, “He isn’t Wu Xingwen. When are you going to stop slandering Xingwen? You have already seen his face and you still insist that he is Xingwen. What intentions do you have?”

“Hmph…” Lonesome Crying Ghost sneered and said, “Kid, you insist that I am Wu Xingwen. But what proof do you have?”

Yang Dingtian replied, “Earlier when you mentioned that you want to kill me and Mu Lianyi and let us be a pair of mandarin ducks. But you stopped halfway and changed it to a pair of corpses. That entire sentence was very uncoordinated. Obviously, you didn’t wish to say mandarin ducks, because you are Wu Xinglie and you have an intense possessive desire for Mu Lianyi. Thus, you were unwilling to let her be involved with another man, even in speech.”

“Haha…” Lonesome Crying Ghost laughed sarcastically and said, “What kind of ridiculous proof is that?”

Yang Dingtian smiled and said, “There is another thing…”

“Enough!’ Mu Lianyi interrupted Yang Dingtian and scolded, “Don’t use your vile heart to criticize a gentleman’s character. Don’t think that your dark and despicable mentality can vilify Wu Xingwen. If you dare to say another statement that slanders Xingwen, I will kill you! Yang Dingtian!”

Under extreme anger, Yang Dingtian’s name rushed out from her mouth.

“Yang Dingtian?!” After hearing this name, Lonesome Crying Ghost cried out in alarm, while his body shivered and looked at Yang Dingtian.

But soon enough, he acted as though it was nothing and smiled. “So you are not Yan Nantian but Yang Dingtian. The renowned Yang Dingtian!”

“Xingwen, it really is you,” Mu Lianyi let out a sad cry as her delicate body shuddered, while she looked at that person with eyes of disbelief.

Lonesome Crying Ghost laughed grimly and said, “Girl, are you mad too? What nonsense are you talking about.”

Mu Lianyi’s beautiful eyes were tearing up and her beautiful face had this extremely disappointed expression as she said, “Stop the act Xingwen. You are Wu Xingwen. When I accidentally shouted out Yang Dingtian’s name, you cried out in surprise and forgot to disguise your voice. Once I heard it, I knew it was you. Because that voice, appeared in my dreams countless times.”

“Hehe…” That person sneered and said, “You must be silly from all the dreams and treat anyone’s voice as your lover’s voice.”

“Rip off your hideous face, or else I will destroy this Fire Chilling Pearl!” Mu Lianyi screamed as though an injured beast. She lifted the Fire Chilling Pearl high and was going to smash it on the ground.

“No!” That person exclaimed and gritted his teeth before ripping off the ‘face’ and exposing a dashing face.

That’s right, he was Wu Xingwen, also Wu Xinglie.

Mu Lianyi instantly collapsed with despair.

“It really is you, it really is you…” Mu Lianyi’s body trembled while she asked with sobbing voice, “Why? Why? Why are you doing this to me?”

Mu Lianyi then took two steps back and stood on the edge of the bottomless abyss.

“Don’t be agitated, come over here. Come over here quickly.” Wu Xinglie said and was about to rush over.

“Don’t come over, or I will jump.” Mu Lianyi screamed, “Wu Xingwen, I trust you completely and I am willing to give you everything. Why are you doing this to me? Tell me! Tell me! Is it all for this Fire Chilling Pearl? Then I will destroy it, destroy it!”

Finishing her screaming, the irrational Mu Lianyi was about to throw the Fire Chilling Pearl down the abyss.

“No!” Wu Xinglie yelled out, “If you destroy it, then our happiness will truly be finished!”

“Hmph!” Mu Lianyi spoke in a cold voice, “The two of us are already finished. Now tell me why are you doing this. Is this Fire Chilling Pearl worth it for you to act like a clown?”