Chapter 728: The Purple Jade Flute

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Hearing these words, Ling Xiaozui grew stock still, as did Dugu Chou.

"When the Nine Supremes unite, there will be an upheaval of heaven and earth, of the world and empires alike. The Supreme shall reign unchallenged."

These four lines were part of a famous saying that far too many people had heard of before. It was on everyone's lips!

However, unrivaled experts like Ling Xiaozui and company were not too bothered with such sayings. After all, they had stood at the pinnacle of this world. Their knowledge of this world's cultivators was incredibly proficient. Although the Nine Supremes' power was magical, it was still within the extreme limits of this realm. To overthrow heaven and earth, however, sounded very much like exaggeration!

Yet, when these four lines fell out of Heaven's Inquisition, Gu Chaliang's mouth, it was somehow different from anything that had been heard in the past. At the very least, it sounded different to Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou. It had to contain a deeper meaning!

There was a glint that flashed across the eyes of Feng Xiange who stood by their side, as he said, smiling, "When the Nine Supremes unite?"

He spoke as if he was rather curious, "The restoration of the Nine Supremes is a matter for the Nine Supremes anyway, what does it have to do with your purple jade flute? Is the incredible destiny you spoke of all tied down to this flute?"

As he spoke, his arm stretched forward to take the said item.

Gu Chaliang had intended to pa.s.s the purple jade flute to Ling Xiaozui and send it quickly to the Residence of Nine Supremes in Tiantang City. Thus he did not hold it in his hands as he would usually have but had held it balanced on his palms, kneeling on the floor to wait for Ling Xiaozui's consequent action. As for Ling Xiaozui, he was still deep in thought, not ready to come back from his trance, so he had not managed to take the flute.

The timely extension of Feng Xiange's arm seemed slow, but it was actually incredibly swift. Before the three other experts could think of stopping him, he had already had a tight grip on one end of the purple jade flute.

Gu Chaliang was extremely swift, grabbing onto the other end of the flute almost instinctively, and cried out anxiously, "What are you doing? Give it back!"

Feng Xiange said with a smile, "It's only a purple jade flute – why are you so panicky over it? Is there anything hidden within? Let me look at it."

He spoke jokingly but his grip was powerful. Gu Chaliang felt an unstoppable force coming towards him and before he could secure his hold on the flute, his hand was already empty; Feng Xiange had grabbed the purple jade flute.

Gu Chaliang spat out blood, overwhelmed by panic. He cried hoa.r.s.ely, "Feng Xiange! You!"

He turned to look at Ling Xiaozui and roared with dreadful rage, "What are you waiting for? It's over! It's over!"

Ling Xiaozui turned abruptly. There was really no more time for him to consider anything further as he stretched his arm towards Feng Xiange.

"Give it to me!" His gaze was cold and stern.

At this critical juncture, he had still instinctively chosen to believe Gu Chaliang.

Even rationally – disregarding Gu Chaliang's action just now that showed how urgent the matter was, which disallowed any disruption, that a moment of delay was worse than sin, Feng Xiange's state should have been the worst out of the four as he was severely wounded previously. He should not have possessed the capability he currently had. It begged all sorts of questions!

Feng Xiange chuckled. "Brother Ling, what is this for? It's only a flute. Should there be any argument over me having a look and toying it for a moment, based on our acquaintance?"

Clang!

It was the sound of a sword being pulled out of its scabbard and cutting through the air. Turning towards where the noise emanated, Feng Xiange saw Dugu Chou's icy glare with his sword tight in his grip, already ready to fight. His eyes bored into Feng Xiange like two rays of sword light that pierced the sky, his voice ominously low, "Hand it over!"

Feng Xiange seemed to turn furious from embarra.s.sment as he shouted, "What is the meaning of this? What are you all trying to do? Ridiculous! Are the both of you really casting greedy eyes over this so-called incredible chance?"

He held the purple jade flute in his hands like he was utterly enraged. "We've shared so many instances of life and death, and just because of one absurd conversation here, you're going to attack me?"

"Hmph! Forget about the Nine Supremes uniting – look at how I will destroy this flute first to cut your wild wishes away, in case your state of mind is flawed and your cultivation journey halts!"

He held one end of the purple jade flute, huffing, and determinedly folded it downwards!

"How dare you!" Gu Chaliang screamed in horror.

A sharp gleam of sword light flashed – Ling Xiaozui pulled his sword out of his scabbard as well and pointed it right at the middle of Feng Xiange's brows. "Hand over the jade flute. It isn't too late yet!"

The iciness that surged caused the muscles on Feng Xiange's face to twitch, chilling the man like he had been dipped into an ice pool.

Feng Xiange raised his head slowly and stared back at Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou in disbelief. Suddenly, his rage flared as he shouted. "Are your honest intentions blinded just because you saw an opportunity? Trying to attack me? Come! Come together! See if I'm scared of you!"

Gu Chaliang's cry was anguished. "Quickly! It's already late…"

Feng Xiange triggered his mystical power as he held the purple jade flute and said, "Come! Win this fight against me and the purple jade flute is yours!"

Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou frowned simultaneously but made no impulsive moves. If they were to really start fighting, what Gu Chaliang had said would surely be too late, no matter the outcome. Furthermore, it was highly possible that Feng Xiange would destroy the purple jade flute once the battle, began judging by his current behavior; he could even leverage on their attacking force and shatter the treasured item with their combined power.

"Feng Xiange, who are you really? Why act further when things have come to this stage?" The threatening glare in Ling Xiaozui's eyes was growing more intense as an overwhelming sense of sword energy began flowing and converging on him.

Feng Xiange laughed. "Ling Xiaozui, you didn't drink any wine. Why are you spewing drunk words? Don't you recognize me anymore? Just for the vague opportunity that isn't necessarily present, you're going to fight me?"

Ling Xiaozui nodded slowly and said, "Hand the purple jade flute over before I reach the count of three. Otherwise, it would be hard to avoid being crushed by my sword core!"

"I believe you know what that means!" He lay heavy emphasis on his words.

Feng Xiange's gaze zeroed in as he, too, enunciated his words. "I know. More so, you too. Why not try? I dare you!"

The sword energy that wrapped around Ling Xiaozui intensified and soared as he nodded again. He said slowly, "One!"

Feng Xiange laughed. "Do you have to go to this extent? I'll just believe you…"

"Two!" Ling Xiaozui cried. He did not slow down, evidence that his previous words contained no hesitation.

Feng Xiange's eyes darted before he said, "We're all friends. No point harming each other. I'll give it to you."

Suddenly, there was a loud holler. "Dugu Chou! Act now!"

Before the words echoed in the air, his body shot up from the ground like a cannonball while his mystical Qi rushed into the purple jade flute right at that very moment. Feng Xiange rose rapidly like a beam of light.

Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou's swords pounced at the same time, their sword light pursuing Feng Xiange who was in midair.

The sword energy tore through the sky.

Feng Xiange cried aloud, his form staggering in the sky. With a quick spin, his head was at the bottom instead of his legs, his entire person engulfed in an endless threat.

At the very next moment, a loud explosion rent the air.

Upon the powerful collision, Feng Xiange was tossed far away like a broken kite, while Dugu Chou let out a low grunt as he took a step back. Ling Xiaozui let loose a long howl, advancing instead of retreating, despite the ma.s.sive pressure he was under. His sword energy shot through the air as he bellowed, "You're not Feng Xiange indeed!"