Volume One: Kingdom of the Endless Night Chapter Sixty-One: I Shall Not Let Xie Wuxing Down in This Lifetime

Boom, boom, boom...

The sound of crashing waves echoed endlessly.

Yet the shore was shrouded in thick white mist, as if this river were the only thing left in the entire mortal world.

Jiang Wang looked at the approaching man surnamed Xiao and asked, "What kind of divine ability is this?"

The man surnamed Xiao replied indifferently, "You may understand it as a talisman array."

Xie Wuxing said in astonishment, "There is an aged celestial master in the Qingxuan Bureau who can turn talismans into arrays, but he is the only celestial master in the entire Sui Kingdom capable of such a feat. How can Brother Xiao effortlessly set up a talisman array?!"

However, Jiang Wang realized something amiss. A talisman array is a talisman array, so what did he mean by "you may understand it as"? Didn't these words imply that it was not a talisman array at all?

This fellow surnamed Xiao had quite a few secrets.

Jiang Wang looked down at the churning river surface and suddenly asked, "I seem to have never learned Brother Xiao's name?"

The man surnamed Xiao glanced at him and said, "Xiao Shinian."

Shinian... Ten years?

Xie Wuxing's spirits stirred.

Liu Pian first made his mark ten years ago, yet the Qingxuan Bureau had been unable to trace a single trace of his whereabouts prior to that decade, as if Liu Pian had simply not existed before ten years ago. Coincidentally, the man surnamed Xiao was named Shinian. How very strange.

Although he knew it made little sense to think this way, Xie Wuxing could not help himself. Ultimately, it was because he subconsciously suspected that Xiao Shinian had a problem.

"Sword Pavilion cultivators are supposed to be aloof, yet they also resort to sneak attacks."

The old man broke the water's surface, surveyed the surrounding mist, and said in a deep voice, "Unless it is that Celestial Master Zhang in the Divine Capital, only a peak Bathing Snow Realm cultivator could possess such means. But if you had such cultivation, how could Wuhou have escaped with his life?"

"Having the ability to repel Wuhou and possessing such extraordinary mastery over talismans, Young Friend, your aptitude must be extremely high, and you must undoubtedly be the most delectable."

He grinned at Xiao Shinian, his entire face contorted in a ferocious smile.

Xiao Shinian coldly said, "I worry you might suffer from indigestion."

The old man laughed, "My appetite has always been very good."

Xie Wuxing and Jiang Wang were also whispering to each other.

"Is this the great demon you said was lurking behind the scenes?"

Jiang Wang replied, "Highly likely."

Xie Wuxing nervously said, "If so, he must be even stronger than Wuhou."

He had always considered himself the foremost among the young generation of cultivators in Kutan.

Until his mentor spoke of the young woman surnamed Zhao, until he was defeated by Jiang Wang, and then defeated by Xiao Shinian, remaining powerless against Wuhou—and now, another demon potentially stronger than Wuhou had appeared. His self-confidence had suffered a severe blow.

Though he knew very well that harboring such thoughts would weaken the sword in his hand, he simply could not control it.

"Not necessarily." Jiang Wang narrowed his eyes slightly. While in control of the Divine Kingdom's power, he could also perceive demonic aura. On the surface, the old man's demonic aura was indeed extraordinary, but it felt somewhat flashy and devoid of substance.

It was much like someone putting on a fiercely aggressive facade while being terrified to death on the inside.

Of course, this was merely Jiang Wang's intuition, and he could not directly judge the old man's cultivation level based on it.

The river water boiled, carrying layers of dark Qi. The old man stood upon the river, spreading his arms. Two "black dragons" roared, one charging toward Xiao Shinian, and the other toward Jiang Wang and Xie Wuxing.

Xiao Shinian swung his sword, the blade cleaving the black dragon in two. Yet immediately afterward, two more black dragons materialized, sandwiching Xiao Shinian between them and crashing into him fiercely.

Xie Wuxing made the same motion, his black dragon also splitting in two and swallowing with wide-open jaws. As the torrential river water rushed down his throat, Xie Wuxing instantly felt suffocated; no matter how he struggled, it only kicked up a few splashes.

Jiang Wang soared high into the air as the split black dragon pursued him relentlessly. He fiercely swung his saber down, sparks of biting frost erupting, directly freezing the black dragon into a block of ice before it shattered and plunged into the river.

Seeing this, Jiang Wang did not hesitate for a moment. He slashed his saber again at the black dragon entangling Xie Wuxing, while simultaneously plunging down from the sky, thrusting his hand through the black dragon's body to grab Xie Wuxing by the collar and pull him out.

Xie Wuxing coughed violently, looking utterly disheveled.

Before Jiang Wang could go to save Xiao Shinian, he saw that the latter had already broken free.

A sword intent as brilliant as a rainbow soared into the sky, shattering the two black dragons. It then lunged toward the old man, whose raised arm blocked the falling blade, his skin displaying tortoise-shell-like patterns.

Xiao Shinian's figure retreated several yards.

Jiang Wang and Xie Wuxing separated, surrounding the old man in a triangular formation.

"To be able to withstand Brother Xiao's sword shows that your cultivation is indeed higher than Wuhou's."

Jiang Wang stepped on the river surface, causing ripples to spread. Finding it rather amusing, he lowered his head, treading the water as he spoke, "Yet you are now a turtle in a jar. Either kill all three of us, or we kill you, or we all die here."

The old man glanced at him and said, "The last two are impossible."

Jiang Wang smiled, "The very last one is indeed impossible, but the second is highly likely."

The old man smiled as well, "You are quite confident."

Jiang Wang flew and landed on the small boat drifting near the shore, slumping down casually as he said, "I am a genius, and I work very hard, which has made my power overwhelmingly formidable at a young age. If I told you just now was merely a warm-up, would you believe me?"

The old man smiled, clearly not believing it.

Jiang Wang shifted into a lying position and said, "I knew you wouldn't believe it. How about this: let's make a gentleman's agreement. I won't move right here; if you can kill me in a single move, I'll let you leave."

He then looked at Xiao Shinian and Xie Wuxing and said, "You two serve as witnesses. If I truly die, neither of you may go back on your word."

The old man raised an eyebrow and said, "What trick are you trying to play?"

Xie Wuxing also said anxiously, "Brother Jiang, do not be so reckless! You will surely die!"

Jiang Wang smiled slightly, *Taking your kind words.*

Xiao Shinian said nothing, but directly turned and flew away, landing on the opposite bank.

The old man frowned deeply.

At this distance, if he wanted to kill Jiang Wang, Xiao Shinian would definitely not have time to rescue him.

"I've given you the chance; it's up to whether you know how to use it."

Jiang Wang lay comfortably on the small boat, even crossing his legs as the boat bobbed gently.

The old man stood on the river, testingly taking a step forward.

Xiao Shinian showed no reaction whatsoever, simply sitting down and lowering his head to stare blankly at the river surface.

Xie Wuxing was terribly anxious, yet utterly powerless to threaten the old man.

He looked at Jiang Wang lying in the boat and narrowed his eyes.

Regardless of whatever scheme Jiang Wang harbored, if he could be killed, it would naturally be a wonderful thing. Even if an accident occurred, he figured he wouldn't lose anything.

Jiang Wang hummed a little tune, thoroughly relaxed.

The Night Wanderer's voice sounded, "The time has come. But even if you wish to use him to draw upon the true power of the Divine Kingdom once more, you may not necessarily be his match."

"Moreover, having just borrowed that power, I will be weak for a period, making it difficult to help you afterward."

Jiang Wang replied in his mind, "As long as I can confirm that guess, our chances are still fifty-fifty. Even if I guessed wrong, I can just run back to Xixia Street. My power is greatest there; there's no way I'll lose my life."

The Night Wanderer said, "I hope your estimation isn't wrong."

Watching the old man take another step forward after a brief probe, Xie Wuxing's expression turned grim.

Jiang Wang seemed to be awaiting death.

And Xiao Shinian turned a blind eye.

Yet Xie Wuxing could not simply stand by and watch this happen.

Thinking of how he had suffered immense blows from repeated setbacks in Huncheng yet had never truly given up, why should Jiang Wang lose his fighting spirit?

At this thought, Xie Wuxing regained the courage of a Sword Pavilion disciple, launching a ferocious sword attack against the old man with unstoppable momentum!

Even though he was casually swatted away by the old man, he still charged forward unflinchingly, defying death.

The old man grew somewhat annoyed, striking Xie Wuxing down with a heavy blow before moving at top speed to arrive directly above the small boat. A shadow with a gaping bloody maw emerged, swallowing the entire vessel whole.

"I thought you actually had some strategy, but it turns out you were just seeking your own death."

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that his earlier caution had been utterly ridiculous.

Yet the moment his words fell, the shadow suddenly churned. Immediately afterward, the old man was struck as if by a heavy blow, his face turning pale as a biting blade of cold light slashed the shadow to pieces and continued forward with undiminished momentum, slamming fiercely into the old man's body.

"Now, I've just started to get a little serious. How does it taste?"

Jiang Wang grinned, delivering a fierce kick that sent the old man flying like an arrow released from a bow. The old man crashed into the mist as if hitting a wall, his body pitching forward before he slowly tumbled into the river.

Xie Wuxing, lying on the shore, was utterly shocked.

He had not expected that in such a short span of time, Jiang Wang had grown even stronger?!

Was this fellow even human?

Immediately afterward, he felt deeply moved.

Since Jiang Wang had not lost his fighting spirit, what was the reason for him acting this way?

Xie Wuxing suspected that Jiang Wang had perceived the mental turmoil within him and sought to help him regain his confidence through this act.

*Brother Jiang treats me with such sincerity, I shall certainly never fail him in this lifetime!*

Seeing Xie Wuxing gazing at him with tear-filled eyes and a tender, soulful expression, Jiang Wang was first bewildered, then terrified.

*What is the meaning of this?*

*What kind of look is that?*

Jiang Wang strongly suspected that Xie Wuxing harbored that particular inclination—usually hiding it deeply and denying it to the death, but now finally showing his true colors!

He was utterly nauseated!

He even felt a lingering wave of fear.

Xie Wuxing had clearly intended to lower his guard while harboring intense, covetous desires. He hadn't deliberately distanced himself from Xie Wuxing recently and had even chatted idly with him; if he hadn't been jolted awake just now, his innocence would surely have been compromised sooner or later!

Meanwhile, seeing Jiang Wang suddenly change his expression, Xie Wuxing was even more moved.

*Brother Jiang is truly a kindred spirit. He took risks to help me regain my conviction, yet feared I would see through his intentions; he must be thinking right now of how to deny it. So be it, I shall keep this matter locked in my heart and repay him in the future.*

Seeing Xie Wuxing return to normal, Jiang Wang grew even more apprehensive.

*This scoundrel concealed his emotions in a split second, hiding his joy and anger—truly terrifying!*

*He definitely wants to keep deceiving me!*

*I shall pretend to be oblivious and wait for an opportunity to teach him a lesson he will never forget in this lifetime, letting him know that provoking me is the greatest mistake!*

Their respective thoughts raced like lightning, yet they quickly recovered their composure, refocusing their gazes on the old man as he broke the water's surface once more.

Facts proved that Jiang Wang had guessed correctly.

Although there was a gap between the power of the Divine Kingdom and the power borrowed from the Night Wanderer, it was not so vast. Had he miscalculated, he could never have directly inflicted such heavy injuries on the old man.