Martial Intent (1)

A grey billowing smoke painted a particular sky of Cloud Creek Sect, an impact from a powerful blast that echoed through the entire area. It attracted not only Cloud Creek Sect's disciples but also passersby.

However, their foremost concern was not about the smoke but a brief moment during the explosion. Somehow, they felt like they'd died because of a terrifying aura.

"Just now... did you feel it?"

Adorning his face with a rueful smile, a disciple tried to ease himself. "Maybe experts are fighting in our territory."

"Back up! Back up!" Suddenly, law enforcers shouted. There were more than fifty of them, with each wearing black armor and having different weapons. "The martial art hall area is closed. Don't let anyone from entering!"

As law enforcers swept the area, Cloud Creek Sect Master Cui Jianjun and several experts circled Mao Nianzu's bed. The room had become a flat ground, only the bed unscathed, thanks to Elder White Line's protection.

"Who are you?" Cui Jianjun had a gloomy face. He knew Cloud Creek Sect was a mere fifth-rate sect; he would not offend the first-rate sect like Misty Flowery Palace. However, it does not mean others can ruin the sect's property like this!

Elder White Line ignored the question and put his senses on scanning Mao Nianzu's condition. Frowning, he put his right ear on Mao Nianzu's chest.

After getting rid of the foul black liquid, he immediately performed his best medicinal skills and acupunctured several points while consuming some pills and elixirs to recover his strength.

'As expected of an ancient remnant. Even after my third reawakening, I still find it difficult to locate the remnant. When I almost get it, it's as though the remnant has its own consciousness and escape in a critical moment.'

"Elder, why your cultivation base is only at late of Zifu Master?" Luo Xiulan blurted her thoughts as she handed over an acupuncture needle.

Receiving the needle, Elder White Line sighed. He narrowed his eyes as the needle carefully poked one part. "Child, there's much more about me that you don't know."

"Is it because of the Grim Dao Era?"

Straightening his back, Elder White Line asked Mao Nianzu. "Young man, how do you feel?"

"Not bad." Mao Nianzu replied.

"Elder, are you ignoring me?" Going out of the room, Luo Xiulan would her voice. "Until when will you sacrifice yourself?"

Elder White Line watched the back of the child he once protected, who had grown up into an outstanding individual. "Let her be. She must've kept a lot to herself."

"Then answer us. How did you know about our sect's secret, the True Yellow Cloud?" Cui Jianjun asked in a threatening tone. Elders on his side slightly leaked their oppressive aura.

"If you're trying to intimidate me, it's no use." Elder White Line waved his hand lazily. "The True Yellow Cloud is a great treasure left by your predecessor. Thousands of years ago, your predecessor successfully refined it and used it to cure someone of an ancient illness."

"Seems like you've read enough." Cui Jianjun did not buy the explanation and kept his cold expression.

"Use that treasure only if you don't want everyone here get a cultivation deterioration." Elder White Line stared at Cui Jianjun. "Including you."

"What is a cultivation deterioration, to begin with?"

"It's a type of Qi Deviation," Elder White Line replied. "One's cultivation will deteriorate to a certain degree with an unknown range. It can be slightly lowered from the second layer of Zifu Master to the first layer of Zifu Master. It can be extreme, down rock bottom."

"I'm sorry, but that's nonsense. Qi Deviation will never be an infectious disease like that." Cui Jianjun coldly refuted.

"Then you leave me no choice. I will steal it and use it myself."

***

"A destructive talisman." Huang Yue realized the type of talisman the servant created. A high-quality talisman that triggered a natural phenomena where the temperature slightly lowered.

The servant's turned vivid, and she took a deep breath after exerting an enormous concentration. However, a look of disappointment adorned her face.

Su Shun was about to feel joy, yet she found the servant's complexion was bitter. 'This is a high-quality talisman! Why do you feel down when you have never reached this accomplishment before?'

Handing the talisman over to Hang Yue, the servant respectfully faced the representatives. "Inscription is not my main mastery. However, I believe I have a significant improvement."

She waved her right hand in the air, then another talisman appeared. "This is the highest quality talisman I created last night. Only then do I realize that I have a breakthrough."

Pausing for a moment, she sighed. "My point is, I believe my improvement is a gift from Young Master. The other servant also has an improvement in her drawing skills. Perhaps, anything related to a quill."

The representatives listened while appraising the talisman. After all of them had laid their hand on it, one elder spoke: "Alliance Leader, I have a doubt."

"Please tell."

"This child hasn't done anything to Young Master. And this sect does not leave a considerably good impression on him too. Why would he grant a chance of breakthrough like this?" asked the elder.

"She is green and has a long way to go." Phoenix Empress added. "Since when a breakthrough is something that we can give easily? If that's true, we all elders will give our descendants as many as possible."

"On point." Huang Yue nodded. He would stare at one elder who came along with him and Su Shun before asking, "Patriarch Yuan, do you mind checking the said pavilion? Your keen sense is suitable to trace what's happening."

The elder, Patriarch Yuan, clasped his hand, saying, "Leave it to me!"

"Now," Huang Yue watched Patriarch Yuan fly out. "Shall we listen to the part where that child attacks Young Master?"

Patriarch Yuan was a long-bearded older man. He wore a light brown robe with oblivious wrinkles adorned his face.

Despite not being familiar with the Misty Flowery Palace territory, he could arrive at the pavilion in less than an incense stick of time.

When he arrived, the pavilion was dead silent. The pool around it was still and calm, and no significant movement could be detected. This made Patriarch Yuan frown in confusion, forcing him to land with interest.

"A trace of fighting." He noticed damage to the bridge. It looked like a slash mark, and one wooden plank floated on the pool, seemingly the former part of the bridge.

Before he stepped his foot to the bridge, faint hazy yet dense spiritual Qi subtly splashed his body. It was like fresh morning air; Patriarch Yuan felt relaxed.

"Oh?" Several youths appeared in his vision. They all sat cross-legged in their respective seats while closing their eyes.

"This state.." Patriarch Yuan noticed an odd variable. Since this place was a public place, cultivating like this was very dangerous. One slight distraction could cause Qi Deviation, which would end the cultivators' career!

Moreover, the state these youths were in was not normal. It was as though they had already forgotten the surroundings, ignoring five senses and diving through their own path!

This state is called Martial Intent! It was none other than the legendary Martial Intent!

With mouth agape, Patriarch Yuan suppressed his movement to be as quiet as possible. He backed up to the land again, then sent a message talisman.

-------

"..Young Miss tells Rocky Mountain tale—"

"Let's move." Huang Yue cut the servant's words. He immediately turned into a blurry image, moving out at a frightening speed. The representatives had various thoughts, but they immediately followed him.

Before they reached the pavilion, Patriarch Yuan stopped them mid-air. He opened his palm, signing them to slow their speed, and stayed next to him. Then, he pointed with an index finger.

The representatives traced the index finger and found one open pavilion. Twenty-nine youths sat in a lotus meditative position with spiritual qi revolved around them.

Seeing this, they naturally sharpened their stare with divine sense. To their surprise, the spiritual Qi seemed denser than the surrounding, as though they were in an amplified array that would multiply the cultivation effectiveness.

But obviously, they knew there was no array formation stationed. Thus, they reached one conclusion; Martial Intent!

A look of surprise adorned the representatives' faces. One breath later, their face turned ugly, realizing that if what the servant said was true, then this was the said gift!

"Set protective array. Don't let anyone disturb this moment," said Huang Yue to Patriarch Yuan.

Receiving the request, Patriarch Yuan landed and circled around the pavilion at approximately ten Zhang or thirty-two meters distance. He did it three times, and right after that, he raised his right hand and then clenched it in the air.

The path he stepped on slightly trembled, then an illusionary barrier formed. From the outside, it looked like an empty pavilion. He created another barrier, a protective barrier that would attack anyone who attempted to enter the area.