Chapter 00121: Visitors from the Guihai Family
# Visitors from the Guihai Family
Chapter 121
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 121: Visitors from the Guihai Family
A voice rang out from afar, echoing with a hint of joviality.
"Haha, which friend has come to my Crescent Moon Pill Tower..."
The voice swiftly approached Lan Xiaobu, but as it did, he saw the shopkeeper of the Crescent Moon Pill Tower beneath his foot.
Suddenly, the lively tone was replaced by a chilling intent to kill.
The speaker was a man in his thirties, with sharp eyebrows and thin lips, giving him a handsome appearance.
A peculiar longsword hung over his back, its hilt adorned with a spiderweb-like design surrounding the grip.
"You have quite the nerve, sir. Is my Crescent Moon Pill Tower merely a platform for you to trample upon?" The man's lips curled into a sardonic smile.
Without waiting for further explanation, he summoned his longsword, which flew up with a swirl of eerie, cold sword energy.
An extreme chill enveloped Lan Xiaobu, causing even his thick and powerful true essence to shudder involuntarily.
His divine sense spread throughout the area, making him realize that the threat lay in the hilt of the man's sword.
In the blink of an eye, Lan Xiaobu understood: the cold sword energy could bypass his giant axe, flowing around it and tearing through his protective true essence like it wasn't even there.
He had never encountered such a strange technique before; attacks that could ignore one's defenses were rare, and most unsettling.
A wave of intense pain hit him, and Lan Xiaobu couldn't help but feel surprised.
If not for his cultivation of the Undying Technique, which had strengthened his skin, he would surely be on the brink of death from this blow.
In response, he unleashed his giant axe, swinging it straight at the man.
This moment made Lan Xiaobu realize that he needed to step out more and train; otherwise, he would only become more ignorant, no matter how strong his true essence and divine sense became.
Combat experience was essential.
The murderous intent surged as the man grew frightened.
He hadn't expected his relentless cold sword energy to fail in incapacitating Lan Xiaobu, who now swung his giant axe toward him.
If he didn't evade, he could only imagine being cut in half.
In desperation, the man attempted to retreat, only to realize he had overestimated his capabilities.
Within Lan Xiaobu's massive aura, he found himself unable to escape swiftly.
Lan Xiaobu, however, struggled with controlling his giant axe; it was largely guided by his powerful true essence, displaying the overwhelming strength of his cultivation.
With no time to waste on tricks, the man focused his energy, and radiant lights erupted from the longsword as its hilt transformed into a wide web, resembling fine hair.
Boom! The net blocked Lan Xiaobu's giant axe, causing it to pause.
Seizing the opportunity, the man rushed out of the axe's deadly range, falling to the side, panting, and staring at Lan Xiaobu in shock.
This move—the technique he had developed for lethal strikes—was now used solely for self-preservation.
A formidable young man appeared suddenly; this individual's power likely rivaled that of the Guihai family's leader, Guihai Shenxie.
Despite Guihai Zhao's courteous facade, only he understood the reality.
Although he was in the Golden Core stage, very few could best him within that realm.
In life-and-death battles, he was among the top three competitors.
His invisible sword net wasn't genuinely formless; it lay hidden in the hilt of his sword.
Once deployed, it was near impossible to avoid.
It effortlessly bypassed any true essence or divine sense protection, capable of trapping a living person and reducing them to dust.
Typically, he would ensnare a target with his cold sword energy, then employ the invisible net; therefore, no one had ever survived.
Yet today, he was using his ace to save himself, shifting his focus from offense to defense.
Had he not blocked Lan Xiaobu's axe, he would have been cleaved in two.
"Who might you be?" Guihai Zhao found himself wary of Lan Xiaobu.
Similarly, Lan Xiaobu was taken aback; the net had completely disintegrated the true essence binding his axe, nearly causing it to slip from his grasp.
Fortunately, he held the upper hand; otherwise, he might have been caught off guard.
Ignoring the man, Lan Xiaobu stepped forward and swung his axe again.
At that moment, Lan Xiaobu thought to unleash a soul thorn and slay the man's head.
Yet he hesitated—not because of fear of the Crescent Moon Pill Tower or the Guihai family, but due to an ominous presence he sensed lurking in the shadows.
Someone was closely observing him—someone formidable.
Using the soul thorn was a trump card meant for when it was truly necessary.
Now, he could overpower the opponent in an open setting, so he refrained.
"Hold!" Guihai Zhao said in alarm.
If Lan Xiaobu's violent axe momentum pressed down, he wouldn't last much longer.
His strength differed from Lan Xiaobu’s; he thrived in quick exchanges.
Typically, in just a few moves, he would have dealt with foes easily.
Yet Lan Xiaobu, who hadn't been subdued after several exchanges, posed a unique challenge he had never faced.
In terms of true essence, he simply couldn't compete—Lan Xiaobu's was far superior.
To “hold” meant little to Lan Xiaobu.
Had he already struck, could a mere command stop him? He had already decided that once he dispatched this man, he would head to the Guihai family to wipe them out.
Lan Xiaobu had encountered many at the Golden Core stage, and now faced another one.
He was eager to test his power after reaching the Alchemy stage.
He hadn’t even used his soul thorn when teaching others, after all.
"Crack!" Guihai Zhao’s longsword shattered, making his heart bleed tears.
This sword represented half of his strength.
It took him years and a fortune to obtain this cold sword; now it lay broken due to his inadequate true essence.
Losing it felt more devastating than his death.
"Pfft!" Blood burst forth, and cold sweat dripped from Guihai Zhao’s brow.
He had momentarily lost focus and nearly met his doom from Lan Xiaobu's axe.
"We can negotiate, Blue Sect Master. Let’s call this fight off for now—in White Feather Immortal City..."
A gentle voice intervened.
Lan Xiaobu sighed inwardly and stopped his pursuit of Guihai Zhao.
He had sensed a powerful figure hiding nearby, and this person likely was the city lord of White Feather Immortal City.
If he killed someone from the Guihai family here, it would undoubtedly lead to a feud with them.
He had no intention to avoid conflict with the Guihai family, but a clash with the city lord was something he wanted to prevent.
Ignoring the city lord would be a declaration of war.
His assumption was correct; the voice belonged to Meng Ao, the lord of White Feather Immortal City.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu cease his attack, Meng Ao was satisfied and stepped forward, performing a respectful salute.
"Blue Sect Master, your journey from afar is appreciated. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."
"Your words are too flattering, Lord Meng," Lan Xiaobu replied, bowing slightly.
"I am Lan Xiaobu, the sect master of Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect. I didn’t mean to act recklessly in White Feather Immortal City without the lord’s permission. I am grateful for your understanding and will come to apologize once this matter is settled."
"Haha..."
Meng Ao laughed heartily.
"Blue Sect Master, you're undervaluing me. This incident stems from a mistake made by my city’s guards. They didn’t notice that the Crescent Moon Pill Tower hung one of your core disciples outside, in violation of our rules. This oversight is on us."
Guihai Zhao finally understood the situation.
Despite having swallowed a medicine, his face was pale as he approached Meng Ao and offered a greeting.
"I am Guihai Zhao from the Guihai family. Thank you for your help, Lord."
Meng Ao waved dismissively.
"Zhao, your Crescent Moon Pill Tower has been rather reckless. How can you beat a core disciple from Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect and leave him hanging outside the pill tower? The fault lies with the Pill Tower, but I won't meddle in your dispute. I'm just speaking from a neutral perspective."
Before interacting with Lan Xiaobu, Meng Ao didn’t know his status.
However, witnessing Lan Xiaobu easily overwhelm Guihai Zhao indicated that his future cultivation would surely far exceed the Alchemy stage.
Such a person was worthy of goodwill.
Lan Xiaobu pondered: Although Meng Ao claimed to be neutral, he clearly leaned in favor of Lan Xiaobu.
Otherwise, he wouldn't need to point out the Pill Tower's prior error.
"Indeed, the lord is correct. I was careless," Guihai Zhao admitted, then turned to Lan Xiaobu, clasping his hands together, "Sect Master Lan, please forgive me. Once I clarify this matter, I will handle it with fairness."
Guihai Zhao's "carelessness" was not due to immediately attacking Lan Xiaobu recklessly or the mistakes of the Crescent Moon Pill Tower, but rather his failure to investigate Lan Xiaobu's strength before acting, which was the real folly.
Having merely heard of Lan Xiaobu's background from the Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect, he felt no need for caution.
What was the Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect to him? He could single-handedly bring it down without concern for one of its members.
Now, he realized that Lan Xiaobu could easily eliminate him.
(End of Chapter)