But things soon took a turn. Hidden in the shadows was indeed a top expert capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen. He had probably seen the martial artists' morale collapse and finally been unable to resist showing himself.
With a burst of hearty laughter, a figure leaped out from behind the mountain on the other side. Each jump carried him more than ten meters, and after a few vaults through the air like a wild goose, he landed at the foot of the mountain. Everyone's eyes immediately gathered on him, and someone who recognized him shouted:
"It's Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong, Senior Xiao!"
The old man landed firmly, then smiled and cupped his hands toward the Golden Eagle Envoy, whose expression had grown solemn.
"It's been many years, Brother Wang. I trust you've been well!"
Wang Zhen returned the salute with clasped fists and said in a deep voice:
"Brother Yunzhong, you want that Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng too?"
Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong stroked his gray-black beard and nodded.
"Of course. Brother Wang should know that my life is nearing its end. I desperately need this Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng to extend my life. If you're willing to give it to me, I'll not only escort you back to the Central Plains, I'll also swear that from this day forth, wherever your Dushan Fortress goes, my Xiao family will retreat thirty miles."
Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen shook his head.
"Brother Xiao's proposal is very tempting. I should agree, but unfortunately, the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was specifically requested by the fortress lord. This envoy has no authority to give it away."
The smile slowly faded from Xiao Yunzhong's face. He asked in a low voice:
"King Dushan—has his cultivation already reached that level?"
Wang Zhen nodded. Xiao Yunzhong's expression grew even more solemn, and the aura around him rapidly surged.
"If that's the case, then I absolutely can't let you take the snow ginseng back."
With that, he suddenly looked up toward where Lin Xiao was and shouted:
"You should have heard me. If King Dushan obtains this treasure and advances another step, no one under heaven will be able to stop him. When that happens, the entire martial world will be plunged into catastrophe. You and I should join forces to seize this treasure, then split it afterward."
Everyone immediately looked in that direction. Lin Xiao, who had been sitting beneath a tree, froze for a moment. He glanced around, then saw the hundreds of gazes fixed on him and knew he had been discovered. With a helpless shake of his head, he patted his backside, rose to his feet, and walked out.
More than twenty Descenders stood in a depression halfway down the slope. Watching the figure flying down from above, He Qiu frowned and said:
"This is going to be difficult. With three peerless experts present, no matter which side gets it, it will be hard for us to take the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng from them."
He then looked toward the strongest person in the group and asked:
"If we join forces, is there any chance we could deal with one of them?"
That person did not answer. Instead, an astonished expression appeared on his face at some point, and his mouth fell open involuntarily, widening further and further. The others were likewise full of shock. He hurriedly turned his head and saw Lin Xiao leaping down from the mountaintop. His own mouth fell open as well, and after a long moment he muttered:
"How could it be him?"
Lin Xiao swept past them not far away, glanced back at them, and revealed an expression whose meaning was impossible to discern.
"Holy crap, when did the Descenders get someone this powerful?"
No one answered, and no one could. Everyone watched helplessly as Lin Xiao descended from the sky and landed on a rock not far from the Golden Eagle Envoy. He slightly curled the corner of his lips, then cupped his fists toward the equally astonished Golden Eagle Envoy and Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong.
"I am Lin Xiao. Greetings, seniors."
The two experts exchanged glances, neither able to conceal the disbelief in their eyes. Even Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong, who had exposed Lin Xiao's whereabouts, was the same. In an incredulous tone, he said:
"When did the martial world produce such a formidable young man? Why have I never heard of him?"
Xiao Yunzhong immediately grew delighted.
"Young man, you've arrived at just the right time. You and I can join forces to seize the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng from him. We'll split it evenly afterward. How about it?"
Lin Xiao nodded.
"Sure!"
At first, he had wanted to keep it all for himself, but it seemed that cooperating with someone was the only option now. He could not defeat either Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen or Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong. Perhaps he was no weaker than the two in internal power and Lightness Skill, but he was far behind them in practical combat experience and martial arts. Even now, he could only provide support from the side; Xiao Yunzhong was still the main force.
Once the two had reached an agreement, Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen's expression did not change. He merely said in a deep voice:
"Today's battle is unavoidable. As it happens, this old man would like to see whether Brother Xiao's skills have improved over the past few years."
As for Lin Xiao, he did not mention him at all. He merely cast a glance over, and the killing intent in his eyes stabbed at Lin Xiao's skin like needles, making it faintly ache.
"Damn it, this old bastard wants to kill me."
At his level of martial arts, his senses were far sharper than an ordinary person's. He could naturally feel the killing intent in the other's eyes, and he immediately raised his guard to the highest level.
With a soft shout from Xiao Yunzhong, he vanished. In an instant, he crossed more than ten meters and exchanged a palm strike in midair with Wang Zhen, who had likewise charged forward. With a sharp smack, the two separated at the first touch.
At the same time, a ring of airwaves spread beneath Lin Xiao's feet, and the rock trembled slightly. Behind the airborne Golden Eagle Envoy of Dushan Fortress, a figure appeared out of thin air and brought down a claw. The figure on the rock vanished into empty air like a bubble bursting.
Wang Zhen let out a cold snort and struck backward with a claw as well, precisely meeting Lin Xiao's claw. With a muffled boom, Lin Xiao felt powerful internal energy surge toward him like a tide. The stored-up internal power in his own strike exploded, smashing that force apart. A visible ripple swelled and burst between their claws, forcing the two apart.
In midair, Lin Xiao twisted his body, then snapped his sleeve and struck the empty air, halting his momentum. He rapidly flew backward and upward, drew the Hundred-Forged Fine Steel Saber from behind his back, and gripped it as he unleashed a slash of Galloping Waves. More than three centuries of internal power poured into the blade, and a dazzling blade ray extended nearly a foot from the fine-steel saber.
"Holy crap, a blade ray!"
Countless martial artists and Descenders alike revealed shocked expressions, and some could not help but blurt out a curse.
"How does that guy train? He looks even younger than us. Even if he'd begun training the moment he descended from the womb, it would be impossible for him to possess such profound internal power."
"Could he be a clone descent with cultivation brought along?"
"Impossible. He's clearly a projection descent."
"Maybe he had some fortuitous encounter!"
That was the most likely explanation. Everyone fell silent, their faces filled with envy and jealousy.
With the fine-steel saber in hand and more than two hundred years of internal power driving it, Lin Xiao forcibly produced a razor-sharp blade ray capable of cutting through anything. He brought the saber down four times in succession, then fused the final four slashes into one. It transformed into the final move of the Three Rivers Saber, Furious Waves. The blade ray unleashed by the four-in-one strike stretched nearly two feet.
At the same time, Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong did not remain idle. While Lin Xiao unleashed his full power, he flashed behind Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen. He raised both palms, and the sounds of wind and thunder erupted. As his palms came crashing down, thunder boomed like a series of thunderclaps.
Attacked by two experts of the same rank, Golden Eagle Envoy Wang Zhen remained utterly fearless. He raised both arms, and his sleeves exploded, revealing a pair of withered arms. In the blink of an eye, his yellow-brown skin rapidly changed to gold, transforming into a pair of golden arms gleaming with metallic luster. One palm struck toward Thunderclap Palm Xiao Yunzhong, while his other hand curled loosely and grabbed toward Lin Xiao's descending saber.
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