Chapter 265: Life and Death Chase!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Ming could not see through the old man's power, but he gave him a feeling that he was extremely dangerous. In fact, when Su Ming had executed his strongest slash, instead of acting on his own, he had used a divine ability that Su Ming did not understand and gathered up smoke to create that giant lizard.
Theslash might only have touched the lizard's tongue and caused it to crumble, but it also made Su Ming's strongest attack only kill one person!
More importantly, Su Ming had a strange feeling that besides using the smoke lizard's tongue to counter his slash and reduce its power, there was another meaning as to why he had summoned the creature.
That feeling was deeply rooted within Su Ming's mind. He had guessed that when his slash crashed into that tongue, countless pairs of invisible eyes appeared in the air and were all watching closely for the fine details when he drew that line.
It was… as if they were learning it!
That feeling turned into a sense of danger that made Su Ming run without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, he charged into the forest.
Su Ming knew that if he fought here and used all the attacks he had to keep that old man busy, due to the existence of other Shamans in this place, it would be difficult for him to survive the battle.
Instead of doing so, he would rather use the chance to escape. As he led them to chase after him, perhaps he could find a chance to counterattack.
Once Su Ming left, the remaining six people who had not died in the air turned towards their leader, their supreme Patriarch.
The old man's face was dark and he slowly closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them once again, and right at the instant he did so, the gigantic lizard that had lost its tongue and was now floating behind him immediately lifted its head and howled towards the sky.
As it howled, wisps of smoke appeared out of thin air around it. Most of them came from the place where its tongue had crashed into Su Ming's slash just now. They gathered up and seeped into the gigantic lizard's body, and soon, the shattered tongue appeared once again in the lizard's mouth!
The moment its tongue appeared, the lizard stuck it out and drew out an arc at lightning speed. If Su Ming was there, he would recognize that the arc was incredibly familiar to the one line he had drawn previously.
However, it was simply similar to it.
"I didn't expect… that the Berserker who entered our land this time would have gained such an epiphany. That one style I saw just now was incredibly different from what I saw in other Berserkers…
"I will capture this Berserker personally. I'll capture him alive and turn him into a Shaman Puppet. He will become the servant of our tribe's sacred spirit!"
As the old man spoke, another two pupils appeared in both of his eyes. It made him look bizarre, and at the same time, all those who looked at him would feel dazzled and not dare to look him in the eye.
A cruel smile appeared on his lips, as if this sort of chase excited him. With one leap, he charged into the forest, towards where Su Ming ran.
The people on the land looked at each other, and in their silence, they saw respect within the eyes of their comrades towards what had happened just now. After a long while, these people turned into long arcs and flew back to their tribe, supporting the wounded.
Su Ming's breathing was ragged as he ran. His body was like an illusion as he dashed through the forest filled with rotten leaves and mud. Sometimes he would leap up and jump from tree to tree. His feet would almost never touch the ground. It was as if he was flying at low altitude, and he was traveling so quickly it was difficult for anyone to catch him with the naked eye.
Su Ming was not unfamiliar with the forest. Yet as he continued running, the apprehension he felt became stronger. He did not even need to cast out his divine sense to know that there was someone chasing after him.
'I wonder how many people came…'
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes and a golden stone coin appeared in his hands. He hesitated for a moment before he changed it to a white stone coin. The stone coin quickly grew dull once he held it in his hands and turned into ashes after a moment. However, the area Su Ming could see with his divine sense increased by several fold, and as his head throbbed in pain, he directed that area behind him.
1,000 feet, 10,000 feet, several tens of thousands of feet… He swept through the area with his divine sense as far as he could.
After the time taken for an incense stick to burn, Su Ming's pupils shrank. Once the area he could expand with his divine sense reached its limit, he used a few more stone coins, and only then did he see a ghastly figure chasing after him from far behind him.
'He's alone…'
All of Su Ming's hair stood up on end and a wary look appeared on his face. He saw that the person chasing after him was that old man, and his familiarity with the forest far exceeded his own. This, however, was nothing. What really made Su Ming's heart sink was that the tracking skills he used were also incredibly difficult to understand.
As Su Ming was running away, he created several signs to throw his opponent off, but the old man did not change his direction at all. He merely continued with his pursuit. This not only made the sense of danger Su Ming felt become stronger, it also made him clearly sense the person's power once he swept through the area when his divine senses were stretched to the limit.
'This person's power must be equivalent to the Bone Sacrifice Realm, and by the looks of it, he's not any ordinary Bone Sacrifice Realm Shaman either… He might be in the later stage of the Bone Sacrifice Realm! But when I used my divine sense to scan the area, he didn't notice me. I wonder if that's true, or he's doing it intentionally…'
Su Ming was yet to reach the Bone Sacrifice Realm and it was difficult for him to be certain. He could only guess, and even though he had been prepared for this, his heart still sank.
Tens of thousands of feet away from Su Ming, the thin old man's lips curled up in a cruel smile as he continued walking through the forest. He had grown up in this forest since he was young, and even if he had become the Patriarch for his tribe, there were few who knew this forest better than he did in the tribe.
Using the clues provided by the forest to track down wild beasts was his favorite past time. Once in a while, he would personally lead his tribe to go through this activity.
Right now, he was hunting his prey alone, and this was nothing difficult to him.
'Looks like this little Berserker Child is also familiar with the forest. The tracks he set up are pretty good, but…he's still too naïve.'
The old man licked his lips and with one leap, he traveled several hundreds of feet forward.
'Run. Run faster…'
The old man's smile became even crueler. However, it was clear that he did not notice Su Ming had used his divine sense to scan the area.
Su Ming's face turned pale and his chest continued bleeding as he ran through the forest. This ceaseless fleeing not only made him tired, it also made the murderous aura in his eyes grow stronger.
He had brought out a medicinal pill multiple times as he ran, but a glint would appear in his eyes and he would force himself to not use it.
"It's not time yet… I was originally weaker than he was to begin with. With my injuries now, I'll give an even weaker feeling to that old man," Su Ming muttered under his breath and he started slowing down.
As he slowed down, Su Ming's divine sense immediately noticed that the old man became faster. The distance between them was closing down at an alarming speed.
'If I turn my head back suddenly, he'll definitely think I'm going for a desperate attack, but the weaker I am, the more he won't be worried about me, since he's so powerful!'
The murderous aura made the light in Su Ming's eyes flicker, and his body came to a halt before he changed his direction. He no longer ran away but instead dashed towards where the old man was.
The two of them might not be able to see each other in the forest with their naked eye, but they could both sense the other person's Qi. The instant Su Ming turned around and ran towards him, the old man immediately noticed his actions and a cruel sneer appeared on his lips before his speed increased.
'A desperate attack, is it? I'll fulfill your wishes!'
The old man charged forward, and the distance between him and Su Ming started diminishing rapidly…
When there were only several thousands of feet, multiple trees, and an innumerable amount of leaves between them in the forest that welcomed no light, Su Ming jumped past a big tree and the murderous glint in his eyes shone as he lifted his right hand and slammed it down towards the ground, his body landing.
The instant he slammed his hand down, a beast skin appeared between his right hand and the ground. The beast skin spread outwards until it reached a circular area of 100 something feet, and that area instantly turned into a red meadow. The meadow was red in Su Ming's eyes, but to other people this area still looked no different to the forest around it.
The moment the meadow appeared, Su Ming shuddered and instantly sat down cross-legged while bringing out some medicinal pills that could heal him. He quickly swallowed them, and the medicinal pills turned into wisps of warmth that began nourishing his body.
Once he swallowed the pills, a freezing glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He lifted his right hand and a white scale appeared in it.
This item was a gift from uncle master Bai. The scale contained some of his power, and this was Su Ming's final trump card.
The green sword mark shone in the center of his brows and lightning swam around his body. Black fog also appeared on his body and turned into his Divine General Armor, and at the same time, Han Mountain Bell's form began to form faintly within him!
Spirit Plunder was also brought out and placed by his side. The pearl floated in midair and shone with an enchanting glow, and like a vacuum that would endlessly suck in other things, it absorbed Su Ming's presence into its own body.
Dark clouds filled the sky and dusk was about to be over. The faint form of the moon appeared in the sky along with the setting sun. Not much light was shining on the land, and that little bit of light found it hard to penetrate through the big leaves in the forest. Only a little bit of moonlight fell through, but even so, besides the murderous light and calmness existing in Su Ming's eyes, there was a circle within his eyes that looked like the burning moon.
With a freezing glint in his eyes, Su Ming brought out another item – the golden stone coin Tian Lan Meng had given him. Once he held it in his left hand, a vast and seemingly endless amount of spiritual power surged into his body and traveled through the opened path within his body before granting incredible power to Su Ming's divine sense, and it was just waiting to attack!
Su Ming's breathing gradually evened out until it was eventually so quiet that it could practically not be heard. His eyes were extremely calm, and the murderous aura in his right eye had sunk down as if it was waiting for the critical moment to strike.
Su Ming stood up and stepped onto the red meadow, andthe moment his presence disappeared, the old Patriarch that had closed in was taken aback.
However, there was already only 2,000 feet between him and Su Ming.
Right when the old man stopped, stunned, a powerful divine sense along with a shocking sword aura sliced through the air from the direction before him, and it did so in a manner that spoke of absolutely wanting to end him with a calmness dripping with killing intent.
Chapter 266: Battle against the Patriarch!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
As the power of the divine sense swept outwards, a pressure that seemed like a gust of wind that could cause people to suffocate rose within the quiet forest and crashed into the old man in an instant. It caused the trees before the old Patriarch to shatter and explode into pieces. The leaves dancing in the air seemed to have turned into sharp blades that were flying in-between the sky and earth.
The mud on the ground also let out loud cracking sounds as if there was lightning hidden underneath. As it erupted, the mud flew into the sky and a rotten stench spread all over the place.
The sky was dark. The forest itself was originally dark, but when that divine sense suddenly struck, the trees in the area, including the leaves and everything else, were blasted into smithereens. They flew all over the place and allowed moonlight to descend upon the ground unhindered, though the light was still scattered by the shards from the trees and leaves.
The scattered moonlight made it seem as if the moon itself was killed!
The old Patriarch was stunned but quickly regained his wits. Yet since at the critical moment he was taken aback by the sudden loss of Su Ming's presence, it made him lose the initiative!
The invisible divine sense came charging and crashed onto the old man with a bang. He did not feel pain, but at that instant, his mind was thrown into disarray and chaos, and he let out a grunt as his eyes, ears, nose and mouth bled.
This attack with his divine sense was the strongest attack Su Ming could muster after he obtained the ways to train his divine sense, and to top it off, he had even used the golden stone coin Tian Lan Meng had given him.
The spiritual power contained within the golden hue of that stone had even tempted Su Ming when he first saw it.
This stone coin was definitely not a common object. When Su Ming held it in his hands, he used the power stored within without any hesitation to strengthen the power of his divine sense up to a level that was similar to the feeling as if his divine sense was about to experience a transformation.
He was in a life threatening situation and the disparity between his power and the old man's was great. If Su Ming wanted to live, then he had to do whatever he could to arrive at the strongest state he could possibly be.
As he attacked, Su Ming's calmness reached a state he had never encountered before. He could remembered that he was still by his Master's side two days ago, and three days ago, he was still in the ninth summit.
Yet now, he was outside Sky Mist Barrier, in the land of the Shamans. In this forest that housed a Shaman Tribe, he had killed dozens of Shamans, and he was now fighting against the strongest Shaman of that tribe!
When Su Ming's divine sense crashed into the old Shaman, the old man was pushed backwards and his mind roared in his head. His vision had also become clouded, and fear rose within his heart. As that fear appeared, an ancient legend that was buried deep within his heart surfaced along with deeply rooted shock and disbelief.
"This… This is…"
The old man's pupils shrank. As he moved back, his thoughts were interrupted by a piercing sword aura. It was a sword flashing with green light, and it had fused together with that divine sense as it sliced through the air, closing in on him in a green arc.
The sword was so sharp that as it passed through the air, the shards that were dancing in the air were blown into smithereens and a tunnel was ripped through the air. All the shards that once existed in the tunnel had turned into ashes in the blink of an eye.
When that sword and that green light closed in on the center of the old Shaman's brows and were about to pierce through his forehead, the old man's originally normal looking pupils turned into four as if they had been divided as he continued retreating quickly!
"Stop!"
The old Shaman let out a loud bark, and as he shouted, veins started popping out densely at the corners of his eyes, spreading all over his face, turning into a complex looking Tattoo!
The small virescent sword immediately came to a halt and let out a piercing screech as if it was rubbing against something, but it could not move forward!
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He was sitting on the red meadow that concealed his presence and his body as he watched the old man fight against the small virescent sword.
This was the first time Su Ming saw someone using such a strange method to force that sword to stop as he stood right before it after he was attacked by the divine sense.
This was not any form of resistance. This was a power that was similar to his divine sense. Su Ming's mind trembled. He could clearly feel the divine sense gathered on the small virescent sword being attacked by a dark and chilling presence. That presence was filled with cruelty and malice, causing the divine sense Su Ming placed on the small sword to be destroyed.
At that moment, Su Ming felt as if he heard harsh panting from that chilling presence, though he was not sure whether it was just a figment of his imagination.
Those pants were very odd. They sounded as if they were mixed with chewing sounds.
Yet since Su Ming decided to act, then he would definitely not stop with just his divine sense and the small virescent sword. Almost at the instant the small sword was forced to stop and Su Ming's mind trembled, the calm killing glint in his eyes flickered and he lifted his right hand—Spirit Plunder instantly rushed out.
Once Spirit Plunder charged out, it was followed by bolts of lightning that appeared out of thin air. As they rumbled in the sky, the dark forest was filled with blinding light.
With a flash, those bolts of lightning charged towards the old Shaman.
At the same time, Su Ming bent his body like a drawn out bow and stared intently at the old man not too far away from him. His right hand was still tightly clenched.
With his face covered in veins, the old man lifted his head swiftly. He no longer looked at the trembling small sword but turned his gaze, his terrifying eyes that contained four pupils, towards the incoming bolts of lightning and Spirit Plunder.
The moment he looked over, Su Ming's body trembled. Once again, he felt the same cold and malicious presence he had sensed previously on his virescent sword coming from the Origin Lightning within his body.
Under that presence, he felt as if all his lightning was gathered together, and Su Ming heard that strange panting sound accompanied by chewing noises once again.
At that moment in the forest, thunder stopped rumbling, and bolts of lightning could be clearly seen frozen in midair before the old man, unable to move.
There was a vicious look on the old man's face as the four pupils in his eyes shone with an enchanting and alluring glow. Yet at that moment, something that could not be forced to stop shot out suddenly from among the frozen lightning, it broke through the bolts of lightning and charged towards the old man.
That old Shaman turned his gaze towards it, but the moment he saw it, the disbelief and shock that appeared when he saw Su Ming's divine sense just recently surfaced once again in his eyes.
"Soul Catcher Pearl!"
The moment these two words slipped out of the old Shaman's lips in shock, Spirit Plunder suddenly shone with a black light and floated in midair. As that light spread out, it caused the medicinal pill to turn into a vacuum in air. A surge of power that seemed to absorb the souls of humans itself spread out swiftly and surrounded the entire area, causing the old Shaman to feel as if he was being absorbed into the pill when he turned his four pupil eyes towards it. He could not move his head, neither could he move his eyes.
"Divine sense… Soul Catcher Pearl… This… This is… You're not a Berserker. Who are you? Why do you have the skills of the other world's Immortals and my people's supreme and sacred Core..?
"And that slash of yours, it was built based on the structure of the Totem's power which we Shamans worship!"
The old man struggled, trying to tear his gaze away from Spirit Plunder. As he roared, Spirit Plunder trembled viciously, and a murky hue appeared within its black light. Gradually, besides the sealed thread of Si Ma Xin's Berserker Spirit contained within, an eye also appeared inside the medicinal pill, and two pupils within that eye.
However, the old Shaman was not any ordinary Shaman. As he struggled madly, thin cracks immediately started appearing on Su Ming's Spirit Plunder. A barely noticeable glint shone within the old man's eyes and a secret thought bloomed in his head as he continued struggling.
All of these things happened in an instant. Almost at the moment the old man's eyes were to be absorbed into Spirit Plunder and he looked as if he could not move away, Su Ming's bent body, which was curved as if he was a drawn out bow, shot out silently and abruptly like an arrow from where he was hidden within the red meadow!
The charging Su Ming was entirely surrounded by black fog, which turned into his Divine General Armor. Lightning swam through his entire body and weaved around in and out of the black fog, making him appear to be filled with an indescribable might.
His speed as he rushed out was so quick it seemed as if he had suddenly appeared out of thin air. With one step in the air, a loud bang rang through the area, causing the air to tremble. As the space distorted, a layer of ripples formed between the sky and earth and started spreading out under Su Ming's feet.
His second step was taken right after he took his first, and his body bounded right into the air. Once he left the ground, he immediately crossed over 1,000 feet in distance before he fell from the air, and the direction to which he fell was where the old Shaman was!
Su Ming lifted his right hand and a long sword made of ice appeared in his hand.
That sword was naturally Freezing Sky Sword! That sword exuded a chilling air when Su Ming held it in his right hand. That chill covered Su Ming's entire right hand and fused it together with the sword. At that moment, with the chilling freeze wrapped around the sword, Freezing Sky Sword's shape suddenly changed.
The sword suddenly became larger by one fold and looked like it was not a sword that could be lifted with just one hand but was instead a two-handed sword!
Su Ming's left hand gripped the sword as he dove down towards the old Shaman, and instantly, his left hand was covered in a layer of freezing ice. Once he held the sword with both hands, ice spread through his entire body at an indescribable speed and he was instantly covered in ice. His Divine General Armor gained an additional layer of armor, one that used the Armor itself to build its shape and used ice to give it physical form, turning his Armor into the Divine General Ice Armor!
Su Ming fell with a bang. He held the sword with both hands and charged towards the old Shaman with an air around him that screamed of wanting to cut him down. At that moment, crystalline light began shining in Freezing Sky Sword, and when it was beside Su Ming, an illusion that looked like the manifestation of a Berserker Mark appeared.
There was a powerful looking man within that illusion. That man also held a sword in both hands, and as he leapt up, he swung his sword towards the ground fiercely.
"The sword which I create only has one Style! Cut! Cut down everything!"
Su Ming's ears echoed with the arrogant words of the illusionary person formed by the Art, contained within this Freezing Sky Sword. All other things disappeared from his sight, and the only thing remaining was the person who was coming closer to him on the ground… the old Shaman!
With a swing of the sword, he slashed down!
Translator's Notes:
The old Shaman was talking about Spirit Plunder, but the word he used was actually 荒丹 (huang dan), which is literally translated as Barren Core and also happened to be what I used, but later on, a few more Shamans will pop up asking why Su Ming has the 攝魂珠 (she hun zhu), which is translated as Soul Catcher Pearl. Based on their descriptions, I believe they were referring to the same thing, so Barren Core here was also changed to Soul Catcher Pearl.
Chapter 267: Bai Chang Zai!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
That one slash contained all of Su Ming's power.
His body became as cold as an ice statue after that one slash. In his mind, there was only one thought – to kill the old Shaman.
Just as Su Ming's body charged down, and his sword going straight for the old man's head was only a few dozen feet away, the old man's eyes suddenly shone and a cruel sneer appeared on his lips once again. Along with it came the disappearance of all the panic he previously had on his face.
"So you're a Divine General of the Berserker Tribe! You're finally out! Looks like this sword attack is your final move!"
The old Shaman lifted his head and raised his right hand to point towards the incoming Su Ming.
He was indeed frozen in place by Spirit Plunder just now, and was indeed shocked by the appearance of the divine sense as well as that of Spirit Plunder, but his power was much stronger compared to Su Ming. Even if he froze, it only lasted for an instant. That was why he could recover his ability to move the instant Su Ming rushed out.
He had kept with his act of struggling because a hint of fear had appeared within his cunning mind from all the strange things done by Su Ming. He was not afraid of Su Ming himself, but of whether he had any other strange and shocking methods.
His words to Su Ming might have been filled with scorn, but in truth, right from the moment they started fighting, he had regarded Su Ming highly. With his age, there were many times when his expression was not reflective of what he truly thought. He might be showing scorn on his face, but his true thoughts reflected his high opinion of Su Ming. But he would not show them until when he attacked.
As the Patriarch and leader of a tribe, there was no way his head would be empty.
When he finally saw Su Ming reveal himself and try to cut him down, his worries were lifted. He believed that he hadn't exposed his true intentions, and that would mean he was giving his opponent a 'chance'. In a situation where the enemy could not move, anyone would use the chance to use their full strength and execute their strongest move to attack their much stronger opponent.
Because this might be their only chance. The old Shaman believed that if he was in Su Ming's place, he would do the same!
That was why when he saw Su Ming swinging that sword, the old Shaman's worries were set aside. With a dark smile, he pointed towards him. He moved his finger and a black scale covered it quickly. In an instant, that finger turned into something that no longer looked like a human finger but that of a beast's finger!
His black fingernail shot out, and the scales on his finger let out a dark and malicious presence. He tapped his finger at air, and it crashed into Su Ming's sword with a bang.
Rumbling and booming sounds reverberated through the air. Many cracks appeared on the ice enveloping Su Ming's Freezing Sky Sword. As those cracks spread out, they caused Freezing Sky Sword to instantly shatter to pieces. Only when it turned from a two-handed sword back to a normal sword did the cracks stop spreading. However, there was still a deep crack on the sword itself.
The layer of ice on Su Ming's hands exploded under the power of the old man's finger. As it did so, cracks appeared on the ice on the other parts of his body as well. Once they spread through his entire body, the layer of ice crumbled with a bang.
When it fell, Su Ming once again felt that cold and malicious presence surrounding him. It surged into his body, and as shudders wrecked his insides, he heard the strange, panting-and-chewing filled sound once again by his ears.
He opened his mouth and coughed out a large mouthful of blood. His face turned pale, and as his eyes became dull, that power forced itself into his body. He tumbled backwards in the air, and the Divine General Armor covering his body started crumbling and recovering rapidly but eventually fell apart, causing blood mist to surge out of his body. A wound on his chest was torn open and blood spilled into the air.
Su Ming fell to the ground with a bang. There was a tree behind him. When he fell down, due to the power of the shock, it made blood flow out of his mouth once again. His eyes lost their glow, and he struggled to lean against the tree as he glared at the old Shaman.
Su Ming's right hand was held loosely by his side. No one could see his palm; they could only see that seemingly powerless struggle of his.
The power contained within the old man's finger may have seemed ordinary, but in truth, that old man had gathered all of his power to his finger. If Su Ming could fight against that one strike from his finger, then he could fight against all the old man's other divine abilities as well!
It may have seemed like only one strike from his finger, but it was in truth everything he had!
The disparity between their power caused Su Ming to be powerless to resist against that one strike, especially when the old man had not been frozen by Spirit Plunder and was just baiting him.
The old Shaman lowered his right hand slowly. As he did so, his previously scale-covered finger started returning back to normal. Once he completely put it down, his finger had regained the form of a human's finger.
A thin wound appeared on his finger pad and a drop of blood fell down. The old man put his finger in his mouth and licked away his blood. With a cruel sneer, he walked towards Su Ming leaning against the tree.
"It's a pity that such a talent is wasted. How could your Master let you come alone to the Shaman Tribe… He just let me have something so good so easily. Or else, if you'd had more time and your level of cultivation was higher, then when I met you again, I wouldn't have been your match.
"If you had truly escaped, you would have taken with you the experience of fighting against the Shaman Tribe. The next time I met you, trying to capture you would have been difficult!
"Barren Core, divine sense, Divine General, and the power from that one slash that contains a similar structure to that of the Shaman Tribe… Just how many secrets do you hav..?"
The old Shaman slowly approached Su Ming. His gaze was like a knife that cut through Su Ming as he sized him up. Once he did so, he became certain that the youth had lost all ability to fight back.
"Oh, that's right. There's also the thing you did when you hid your presence and your body. All these will belong to me… Don't be afraid, I won't kill you, I couldn't bear to kill you… I'll turn you into a Shaman Puppet…"
The old man came to Su Ming's side and crouched down. He looked at Su Ming, and the smile on his face could not hide the ecstasy within his heart.
Su Ming's eyes were dull, but there was still an aloofness within them. He wiped away the blood from his mouth and met the old man's gaze.
"What a nice look you have in your eyes. Once I turn you into my Shaman Puppet, I'll make sure that look in your eyes remains."
"How did you discover me?" Su Ming asked hoarsely, and his voice came out incredibly weak.
"Once I bring you back to my tribe, you'll know."
The old man waved his right hand and a gust of wind instantly charged towards them. It lifted Su Ming's body into the air, and at the same time, the old man took a step towards the sky. He was just about to turn into a long arc and bring Su Ming back to his tribe…
Yet at that very moment, in the wind, a brilliant light suddenly burst forth within Su Ming's dull eyes. He had been waiting for this chance. He had taken his injuries for this chance as well.
A chance where his enemy had shed all defences around him and was completely relaxed in his presence!
This chance should not have existed. The old man was cunning and would not have given Su Ming this chance. He had to create this chance himself.
Tthe moment that light flashed in Su Ming's eyes, he clenched his right hand tightly, and the white scale he had kept in his palm all this while as he waited for this chance was crushed.
The instant the scale was crushed, the old Shaman's, who was about to fly back with Su Ming, expression suddenly changed. Before him, an illusionary hand covered in white armor appeared around Su Ming. That hand came out of nowhere as if it had come out of thin air itself and struck its palm against the completely defenceless old man's chest.
The old man let out a shrill and pained cry and coughed out a large mouthful of blood. There were even pieces of torn flesh from organs along with that blood. His chest crumbled and he tumbled backwards as he continued coughing out blood.
His face was filled with hatred and madness. As he fell back, he lifted his head and roared towards the sky, then raised his arms and pressed them against his ears. Once he did so, his crumbled chest started recovering at a bizarrely swift speed.
Yet the scale which uncle master Bai had given Su Ming containing some of his power was definitely not so simple and over so quickly. The right hand that stretched out in midair tore through space at its side and with a boom a crack was torn open in midair. Then from within, a man walked out covered entirely in white armor!
That man's face could not be seen clearly. The only thing that was clear about him was the aloof look in his eyes. He stared at the retreating old Shaman and killing intent appeared in his eyes. However, his body was not real and seemed to be an illusion. White mist floated out from the lines of his body.
"Bai Chang Zai!"
The old Shaman's pupils shrank. That white armor was like a nightmare in his memories. Practically no Shaman, especially those living near the borders, did not know that there was an incredibly terrifying entity stationed on Sky Mist Barrier.
That person was a Divine General and had a set of white armor with him. The Shamans who had died at his hands could not be counted. He was so terrifying that even his presence was more alarming that the Berserkers in the Berserker Soul Realm!
"You're just a Divine Clone! You won't be able to kill me when I'm here in the land of Shamans!"
The old Shaman's face was deathly pale, and as he continued retreating, a serious expression appeared on his face, one that had never appeared on him prior to this. He groaned in his heart. If he had not suffered that strike to his chest just now, then he would still have confidence that he could fight against Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone until it disappeared.
However, now… the old man's chest throbbed in pain. That strike had almost shattered his heart!
'So this is the little Berserker bastard's true final attack. Damn it, how could he be so cunning when he's so young?!'
The old man did not have time to pay any attention to Su Ming, but his hate towards him had already reached an intensity that could burn the heavens.
With his experience, he had already understood that when he was plotting against Su Ming, he had also fallen into a trap. He had pretended to be frozen to lure him out and baited him to use his final attack.
Yet while Su Ming had fallen into his trap, he did not bring out his true final attack. Instead, he used his injuries to create a chance where the old man would shed all his guard around him!
'This child's level of cultivation isn't that high, but he has a lot of attacks. The Barren Core, divine sense, his identity as the Divine General, and he even has Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone protecting him. He must be a prodigy in the Berserker Tribe, revered by others.
'He's a person of such status and is already so cunning… If he has enough time to grow, then he'll end up a disaster to the Shaman Tribe!
'Even if I give it everything I've got, I have to make sure this Berserker Tribe prodigy dies here!'
The instant the thought formed in the old Shaman's head and he looked back, the person in white armor in the sky took a step towards the old man.
Chapter 268: Lizard Shaman Tribe!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The old Shaman knew that a prodigy like the young man before him would not have stepped onto the land of the Shamans so easily. Once a person like this died, it would deal a huge blow to the Berserker Tribe.
'I once heard a Shaman Follower of the Great Patriarch of the South say that there are some really excellent prodigies in the Berserker Tribe. They are trained with all the available resources provided and are known as the people who are the most likely to become the fourth God of Berserkers!
'I heard that Bai Chang Zai was one of these prodigies, but due to an accident he was excluded. A person like him, who was excluded, already contains such frightening power and battle prowess.
'Then the prodigies who are in the list of people trained to be the God of Berserkers must be much stronger. This young man must definitely be one of them!'
The old Shaman was absolutely certain of his judgment. He had seen some Berserkers before, and none of them had had as many divine abilities as Su Ming, much less the protection of Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone.
If someone told the old Shaman that a prodigy like this was not in the list of people trained to become the God of Berserkers, he would definitely not believe them!
'If I can turn him into the Shaman Puppet for Lizard Shaman Tribe and offer him to the Great Patriarch of the South, then my position in the God of Shamans Temple would surely increase exponentially!'
As these thoughts raced in the old Shaman's head, he continued retreating. His eyes shone brilliantly as he fixed them on the man in white armor walking towards him in midair.
A serious expression that had never appeared on the old man's face formed there. Bai Chang Zai was so famous it could be said that his name was known through the entire region. The rumors surrounding him had been circulating around the many Shaman Tribes near Sky Mist Barrier for many years.
Su Ming immediately sat down in midair and brought out many medicinal pills, swiftly putting them in his mouth. He watched the old Shaman with an aloof gaze, and the light in his eyes flickered.
He was thinking whether he should use this chance to immediately escape and buy time to avoid the old man's subsequent chase, or to stay back and see whether he might have a chance to deal a heavy blow to the old Shaman before his uncle master Bai's Divine Clone vanished.
'If uncle master Bai was here personally, then that old Shaman would definitely die, but if it's just his Divine Clone… Uncle master Bai told me that day that I could use this to protect myself when he gave me the scale.
'By the looks of it, when he said it could offer me protection, he meant that his Divine Clone could hold back powerful foes while giving me enough time to escape…'
The light in Su Ming's eyes flickered and a chilling glare appeared within.
'I… most likely won't be able to fulfill my promise with Master… There��s still one day left. With my current injuries and with this person chasing after me, it'll be difficult for me to return back to my Master's side alive.
'If that's the case…'
Su Ming lifted his head swiftly and determination along with firm resolution appeared on his face. He turned his head back to look at the sky in the distance. That place was where he came from. It was where Sky Mist Barrier was located, and in that direction, his Master was waiting for him.
Su Ming had never expected that the experiences he obtained with the appearance of his purple robed Master would end in separation. Things happened far too quickly, so quickly that he had no time to prepare for anything.
He Feng's fusion with the Wings of the Moon was still ongoing inside his cave abode in the ninth summit. If Su Ming did not return for a prolonged period of time, then there would be no one who could calm He Feng's agitation, and disaster would definitely occur.
There was also Zi Che who was still guarding his cave abode and waiting for his orders.
Then there was his second senior brother, who would lift his head to look at the sky so that sunlight would fall on his side profile as he smiled, and there was his third senior brother, who would grin foolishly as he bragged about how smart he thought himself to be.
There was also his eldest senior brother, who showed his love for him quietly and gave him a treasure to protect himself.
There was his Master as well… Perhaps he would never see them again. Perhaps it would take an unknown amount of years and months before he could be reunited with him…
There was also Bai Su, the girl who looked incredibly similar to Bai Ling. Su Ming did not even need her to stand in front of his face, and signs that his heart was changing appeared within him. He could choose to destroy her, fight against something, or choose to forget her.
All these things made Su Ming fall silent. Right before his eyes, he saw the boy who stared at him in a daze as he stood there stunned and panicked with a crude bow in his hands after Su Ming killed the white robed Split Dawn.
'A moment of weakness, one mistake, and the price I have to pay… is so big.'
Su Ming closed his eyes. When he opened them once again, he saw that uncle master Bai's Divine Clone had already closed in on the old Shaman and was now far away from him.
Wisps of white smoke seeped out of the white armor covering his body. It floated into the sky, and once the smoke completely dissipated, that person would also disappear.
Su Ming knew this, and the old Shaman too knew this. He was retreating to stall for time, but even though he was fast, the heavy blow on his chest that had nearly brought about his death not only made his speed as he ran back slow, it also allowed uncle master Bai's Divine Clone to close in on him like lightning.
The distance between the two of them did not widen due to the old Shaman's retreat. Instead, they just became closer to each other. The moment Su Ming opened his eyes to look, there was already less than 100 feet between Bai Chang Zai and the old Shaman.
With an aloof gaze shining through the armor, uncle master Bai's Divine Clone lifted a palm and pushed it at the space separating them of about 100 feet.
The instant he struck, the old Shaman's pupils shrank once again. A strong sense of danger rose abruptly within him. At that instant, he suddenly stopped, lifted his arms, then pushed them towards Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone with a roar.
Many scales rapidly spread through his body and covered him entirely in an instant. It made him look as if he had just gone through a Beast Transformation. The scales were completely black and a ghastly and malicious presence exploded from him.
His hands had turned into claws, and just as he was about to crash into Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone's attack through the air, a glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes, and he lifted his right hand to point at the Spirit Plunder that was still floating in midair!
With that one finger pointed towards it, that strange, dim light from Spirit Plunder erupted once again even though there were cracks on the medicinal pill. An eye that seemed to have two pupils also appeared within the pill. It could make those who looked at it become dazzled, and now it turned to look at the old Shaman.
As the dim light appeared, the power of the pill that sucked in human minds spread out, and when the eye with two pupils that had absorbed some of the old Shaman's mind looked over, the old Shaman's hands froze for an instant in the motion of raising.
This pause was not voluntary. Even if it was a pause that lasted only for an instant, even if this was a pause that Su Ming would be unable to use for a chance to launch a counterattack, but…
Bai Chang Zai could!
A loud rumble spread out abruptly, and as layers of ripples spread out, wind flowed backwards. Many trees and bushes on the ground were destroyed. Even the ground cracked.
Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone took a step back and the speed of the white smoke dissipating from his body became faster. However, compared to him, the old Shaman could only be described as a wreck.
His arms were torn to bloody ribbons and many scales crumbled and fell. His arms looked as if a layer of skin had been torn off, revealing his flesh, blood, and veins underneath. His chest, which had healed up, sank once again. Lots of blood spilled out from his mouth. He fell back and staggered a few hundred feet back before he finally stopped. When he lifted his head, blood could be seen flowing from his mouth. He looked pathetic, but his eyes were brimming with rage that could burn the heavens.
A roar towards the sky tumbled out of his lips. The old Shaman's shirt was instantly ripped to shreds; only a few pieces were left on him. His thin body looked as if a lot of power was stored within him. His furious expression and vicious roar was enough to make all those who looked at him feel terrified.
"You little Berserker bastard, once Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone disappears, just watch how I'll turn you into a Shaman Puppet!"
It was clear that the old Shaman's rage had reached its peak. If it was not due to Su Ming's sudden ambush, he would definitely not have been so heavily injured by this fight.
His hate for Su Ming had already reached a monstrous level, because this wasn't the first time this had happened but the second!
As the old man roared and raged, Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone moved towards him quickly once again with an aloof expression. In an instant he closed in on the old Shaman. Su Ming watched everything that transpired from the distance in the sky with a calm gaze. Not a hint of emotion stirred within him.
He still had one last attack he had not brought out – the power of his Berserker Mark!
The power of his Berserker Mark might not be powerful to the old Shaman, but Su Ming believed that if he grasped the timing, then even if his Berserker Mark had the power akin to slapping that old man with grass, perhaps he could still turn it into the last bit required to defeat him.
As Bai Chang Zai closed in once again, the old Shaman found himself unable to retreat anymore. Not only did he have to fight against the Divine Clone, he also had to pay attention to Su Ming's attacks. This made him let out a low growl with a fierce expression as he knelt on the ground.
The moment he knelt down, he slammed his bloodied hands onto the ground and lifted his head. His eyes were filled with sinister intent. He did not kneel on both knees but chose to go down on one knee. His left leg was stretched out straight behind him in a bizarre fashion that made him look as if he was trying to position his body to look like a beast.
Almost at the instant he positioned himself in that manner, the endless sea of forest in the vast land turned deadly silent. The leaves did not move, the wind became still, even the birds and beasts within the forest all turned quiet at that moment.
A ghastly and malicious presence that far exceeded the one coming from the old man surged forth from all directions, and along with it were panting sounds mixed with chewing noises.
Su Ming was shocked. He turned his attention towards the ground swiftly and his expression instantly turned serious. Once he spread his divine sense around the area, he sucked in a sharp breath. The ghastly and malicious presence was coming from every leaf on the trees, every inch of mud, every bird and beast, every single rotting carcass and beast bone buried under the mud, and from every corner of the forest.
At that instant, it was as if the entire forest had become one with the old Shaman!
"The Totem of Lizard Shaman Tribe, the sacred beast of Lizard Shaman Tribe. O Great Lizard God, I am your servant, and I ask you… to come upon your land and let loose your raging fire upon the enemies who offended you. Let them burn in the depths of hell…"
Chapter 269: God of Berserkers Song!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Once the old man finished speaking, he lifted his head and roared towards the sky. That roar did not sound like it came from a human but instead like the roar of a wild beast.
The instant he roared, streams of black fog charged forth from all directions in the forest. That black fog was so quick that it surpassed the speed at which Bai Chang Zai moved. Almost in an instant, the entire sky, earth, and forest were covered by this endless mass of black fog.
In the old man's tribe located deep within the forest, almost all the members of the Shaman Tribe there were kneeling down. They linked their hands together and surrounded a black statue that was about 100 feet in size with devout expressions, worshipping it relentlessly.
That statue was not a person but a gigantic lizard. That lizard had a vicious expression on its face and exuded a cruel and malicious presence. It had its head lifted towards the sky, and within its gigantic mouth was a child. That child did not seem to be dead and was struggling as it cried.
That statue looked almost alive. When anyone looked over, they would find the child's pained expression was so clear that it would make them feel as if they could hear the child's wretched cries.
They could also see that the child's face was not filled with the Tattoos of the Shaman Tribe, but… a Berserker Mark!
Under the lizard's four legs were three people. They were an old man, a woman, and a young man. These three people who were carved on the statue were also crying out shrilly. Berserker Marks could be seen clearly on their faces.
Around the terrifying statue were hundreds and thousands of Shamans. They had the statue surrounded in multiple circles. Among them were old people, children, women, and even Shamans. Their voices blended together, and the instant the sky and earth was covered by that black fog, their voices reached out as well.
It made all those who heard those voices to feel as if they contained an endless amount of malice and ghastliness. When that sound fell into anyone's ears, they would feel their hearts racing, fear filling them up, and chills running down their spines.
At the same time, at the place where Su Ming was fighting against the old Shaman, the old man became the source that attracted all the black fog. As it continuously surrounded the old man and enveloped him, the fog turned into a gigantic lizard!
That lizard was lying on the ground and swinging its tail. Red light shone within its eyes and its tongue was stuck out its mouth when it lifted its head to roar at the sky. Its face was the exact same as the statue's that was being worshipped by the hundreds and thousands of members of the Shaman Tribe within the tribe in the forest!
The size of the lizard was about 100 feet, and it grew larger as the black fog continued surging. The presence that came from within it was filled with ghastliness and malice. As it roared and chewed something in its mouth, that panting sound Su Ming had heard multiple times appeared once again.
At that moment, Su Ming finally understood to whom that voice belonged to!
When the lizard roared, it turned its head and glared at the incoming Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone, and Su Ming immediately noticed that the lizard had two pupils in each of its eyes!
The instant the lizard looked at Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone, it swung its giant tail. With a shocking whistle, it struck the air, which caused a faint crack to appear in the air, and it charged straight towards Bai Chang Zai.
Bai Chang Zai did not even bother stopping. He had already mostly disappeared, and whatever remained of him looked almost transparent. The moment the lizard swung its tail, he lifted his right hand and hurled out his fist.
That punch may seem ordinary, but the moment the lizard's tail touched it, the lizard was forced to retreat a few steps. A few parts of the tail shattered and blood spilled into the air.
Yet at the same time, Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone became even more faded out, as if he would disappear at any moment.
Right then, the giant lizard took a leap and a large amount of black fog from midair gathered around him. It allowed him to grow until he was nearly 1,000 feet in size, and with a body built like a small hill, it charged towards Bai Chang Zai.
"Your Divine Clone is about to disappear, let's see how you'll deal with the descent of my tribe's sacred beast!" a raspy voice shouted out from within the lizard's mouth. As that voice reverberated through the air, the lizard rapidly closed in with Bai Chang Zai.
Su Ming stood up. Blood-red light flashed in his right eye and he lifted his right hand. With a determined look on his face, Dark Mountain appeared behind him. A mighty pressure came from the five-peaked Dark Mountain, and as Su Ming pointed a finger at the giant lizard, the mountain charged towards it.
Almost the instant the giant lizard closed in, Bai Chang Zai's illusionary body lifted his head and a brilliant glare suddenly appeared in his eyes. Within that glare was an indescribable fighting spirit.
That was a feverish battle spirit that was so hot it could burn another person's eyes. The moment that glare appeared, on the endless Sky Mist Barrier which was located far from the battle, Bai Chang Zai's real body also lifted his head from his position where he had been sitting on the wall quietly meditating. The same glare appeared in his eyes, and his body instantly became thinner!
At the same time, back at the spot where the battle was ongoing in the forest of the land of the Shamans, Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone returned from the illusionary and almost transparent state to the form of when he looked almost real. Right then, he clenched his right fist and charged towards the incoming lizard.
A shocking bang reverberated through the area. Bai Chang Zai's fist landed on the lizard. With that one punch, his body began to quickly dissipate, and in the span of a breath, he became almost invisible.
The lizard let out a piercing screech, and the spot where Bai Chang Zai's fist connected started to crumble. Its body began to be torn to shreds, which spread through his whole form. Its gigantic body also started falling backwards as if it could not withstand that punch.
Bai Chang Zai's almost dissipated body took one step forward and appeared right before the lizard. He lifted his right hand. This time, he did not use his palm or his fist. Instead, he used a finger and tapped it against the lizard's head.
Through the entire process where the finger was lifted and fell, Su Ming, who was not too far away, had the misconception that the dark sky had just suddenly turned brighter.
"This attack is my own creation. Its name… is White!"
As the calm voice sounded, Bai Chang Zai's right index finger turned into a white light that could chase away darkness. It became the brightest spot in the world, and at the moment it fell on the giant lizard's body, the lizard instantly turned white.
As it brightened up to a blinding degree, loud booming sounds reverberated through the world. The lizard let out a piercing screech that shook the sky and earth. Its body crumbled entirely, and its destruction did not start at the spot where Bai Chang Zai tapped with his finger but its tail. It started crumbling apart inch by inch and turned into black fog that scattered away, revealing the old Shaman's left leg within it.
The next thing that was destroyed was the lizard's body. As its body continued shattering and disappearing in the form of black fog, the old man's bent right leg that made him seem like he was kneeling and his body were revealed.
Soon after, the gigantic lizard's destruction spread to its front legs. Once they shattered with a bang, its head, where Bai Chang Zai's finger was, exploded. A large amount of black fog scattered away, revealing the old Shaman's head, and with a pale face, he coughed out a fresh, red blood.
With that tap, Bai Chang Zai let out a soft sigh as if he was regretting something. His illusionary body could no longer continue existing and disappeared from the world along with the black fog that appeared once the lizard started shattering.
When it happened, the Dark Mountain that was formed from Su Ming's Berserker Mark crashed into the old Shaman, who was still vomiting blood. At the same time, Su Ming charged forward like lightning. The blood-red light shone in his right eye, and an illusionary tribe appeared around the old Shaman.
That tribe… was naturally Dark Mountain Tribe!
When it appeared, a blood red that seemed like it was burning rose in the world around the old man!
The Picture of the Blood Moon and Dark Mountain!
Once the picture was completely revealed, the area within it seemed to have turned into another dimension, and the pressure formed within that dimension caused the injured old Shaman to cough out blood once more. His eyes became dull, but there was madness within them.
He might be heavily injured, but he was not about to breathe his last just yet. He was on the land of the Shamans, and especially in the forest where his Totem Beast rested. His life force was still aplenty. He would not die that easily.
Su Ming's quick charge made it seem like another line had been added to that Picture of Dark Mountain in the world. He rushed towards the old man, and when the old man came towards him with a roar, the two of them clashed into each other.
Loud booming sounds reverberated through the air. The five-peaked Dark Mountain's attack, the grief contained within the buildings in Dark Mountain Tribe, and the red glare shining from the blood moon in the sky fused together with Su Ming's body, causing another line to appear in the Picture of Dark Mountain. It made it seem almost complete.
The instant the two people closed in on each other, Su Ming lifted his right hand and drew a line at the old man!
Right when he did so, then entire Picture of Dark Mountain moved and twisted as if it had turned into ink. It was absorbed by Su Ming's line, and once it fused together with that one line, they sliced at the old Shaman!
At the same time, a grief filled with age radiated off Su Ming's line. That feeling had not been there even when he had drawn out his strongest line before. This presence had only existed when he instinctively drew that line when he fought against Si Ma Xin.
As that presence appeared, a faint voice that did not seem to exist but also seemed to have been in existence since the beginning of time spoke from within Su Ming's line.
"When I was born, everything was still…"
Su Ming raised his hand.
"After I was born… The Berserkers had weakened…"
The line was drawn.
"If the heavens are heartless, then we will all be separated…"
Su Ming lifted his head, and his eyes were filled with grief.
"The earth was heartless, and it made my Dark Mountain die…"
That one line contained the entire Dark Mountain, contained Su Ming's everything, and slashed across the old Shaman's chest.
Once that line was finished, Su Ming knew that the first Style of his Picture Creation was finally complete. It contained the life he went through in the passage of time, contained his emotions, and contained his world…
If Si Ma Xin was there and saw Su Ming's line, he would definitely feel utterly shocked. If he heard the voice within that one line, that shock would reach a monstrous level.
Because within the four lines, besides the first line that would appear in a faint whisper when the first Style of the God of Berserkers Transformation was executed, the rest of the lines were completely different from the God of Berserkers Song.
Because the God of Berserkers Transformation was created based on a Berserker Tribe war song that was created by the first God of Berserkers when he had reached the peak, and it was also called… God of Berserkers Song!
Chapter 270: Master
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Once the line was drawn, a crack that seemed to divide the sky and earth appeared in the air under the dark sky. Su Ming's right index finger was like the tip of a brush. When he drew past the old Shaman's chest, his body moved along with it. Like the falling of leaves in autumn, he drew an arc, then turned his back towards the old Shaman right in his face and walked away.
The old Shaman coughed out blood and staggered a few dozen steps backward before swiftly lifting his head. The moment he trained his gaze on Su Ming, a terrifying long line appeared on his chest and blood poured out of that line. His blood dropped on the ground, causing the place to be filled with a bloody stench.
The old Shaman's bones from the wound on his chest could be seen shattering inch by inch, and the organs under those bones had turned into a pool of blood…
The old man's face instantly turned pale. He lowered his head and looked at the long wound on his chest. Slowly, as if he could not stand straight, he knelt down on the ground, and blood poured out once again from his mouth.
Su Ming stood before him and closed his eyes. In his mind, the words that did not seem to have existed but had appeared during the process he drew the line reverberated in his head.
A raspy voice tumbled out of the old Shaman's mouth weakly, "Such a Style that beats even the makings of nature itself has proven my assumptions. You are definitely not an ordinary Berserker. In the Berserker Tribe, you're definitely one of the prodigies who are known to have the highest possibility of becoming the God of Berserkers…"
Su Ming did not speak. He still had his eyes closed, immersed in the experience of drawing that line.
"It's a pity, even if that Style of yours feels like an attack from nature itself, but… the difference between our power makes it so that even if I am heavily injured, you still won't be able to completely kill me that easily!"
The old man knelt on the ground and struggled to lift his head. A dim light appeared in his dull eyes and blackness immediately formed on his body, even though he was mortally wounded. That blackness came from the wound on his chest and spread around his entire body.
Su Ming opened his eyes and looked at the old Shaman calmly. He had to admit that the old man was right. Just as he said, he could not kill this person completely.
Because the instant he used that line to destroy the old man's life force, Su Ming sensed that ghastly and malicious presence once again. That presence had become one with the old man, and because of it, while he could destroy his body, Su Ming could not destroy his soul.
He had to have the same level of cultivation as Bai Chang Zai, or else he would not be able to cut down the connection between the old man and the Lizard Totem which he worshipped.
"Thirteen years later, when the sacred beast of Shaman Lizard Tribe remakes my body, I'll wait for you in the land of the Shamans… The fight between us has not ended!"
The old Shaman's voice grew increasingly weaker. His half kneeling body had already turned completely black, and every spot that was covered in black turned the old man's body into a statue. His body swiftly became rigid.
"When we meet again, I will…"
The old man's dull eyes shone with a cruel and deeply rooted hate. He glared at Su Ming. The moment he closed his eyes and opened his mouth, wanting to say his final words before this body of his died…
… Su Ming's aloof voice cut him off.
"You will find that your Lizard Shaman Tribe has been destroyed thirteen years ago," Su Ming stated calmly. His words held no hint of bloodiness, but when they fell in the old man's ears, his eyes flew open.
"You!"
The moment the old man opened his eyes, his breathing turned rapid as if he was struggling to escape from death. Blood flowed from his lips, but he found that he could not even form a complete sentence. He could only force out one single word, and as he struggled, his head became rigid and his entire body turned into a statue. He was rooted to the ground and soon enveloped by a ghastly and malicious presence. Unless one's power was greater that the sacred lizard's worshipped by Lizard Shaman Tribe, then no one could destroy this, much less take it away.
This statue had turned into a part of the forest.
Su Ming's cold eyes were fixed on the dead old man now turned statue. His heart was very calm. Once again, he gained a new understanding of the Shaman Tribe's strangeness.
If the old man was a Berserker, perhaps he would have truly died. Yet right now, his physical body might have been destroyed, but his soul was still around and had fused with the forest. With some time, his body would be remade.
Su Ming did not understand this mysthical ability, but he could still sense that this skill truly existed.
He brought out some medicinal pills and placed them into his mouth. He took in a deep breath and lifted his head to look at the weather. The sky was no longer dark. Dawn was almost over and the first rays of sunlight were about to shine through. In fact, if he looked into the distance, he would find that the horizon had become bright.
"Shaman Tribe…" Su Ming mumbled.
His trip to the land of the Shamans had allowed Su Ming to gain first hand understanding of the Shaman Tribe. That understanding was much more impactful and useful than if he had listened about the Shamans from other people or read about them in ancient scrolls.
If his eldest senior fellow disciple had not given him the treasure to protect himself, then he would have died during the day. When he was surrounded by that dozen Shamans, if he had been held back and made a single mistake, he would have been unable to come back.
If it had not been for the scale that turned into his uncle master Bai's Divine Clone, Su Ming knew that he would be the one lying on the ground right now.
He stared at the old Shaman who had turned into a statue. His expression was the one he'd had in his final moments of life – a rage filled face that seemed to want to say something. This person could be considered to be the strongest enemy Su Ming had ever run into!
Su Ming touched his chest. The injury over there had become even worse, but after he used many medicinal pills to recover, he could control it somewhat.
'There's still one day… with my speed, I won't be able to go back in time…'
Su Ming lifted his head and looked in the direction his Master was waiting for him. He fell silent for a moment.
'I'll be late by about half a day. Master said he'd wait for three days…'
Su Ming closed his eyes. Right now, he had to make a choice.
One of the choices was for him to leave this forest as quickly as possible. Even if he could not make it in time, perhaps his Master would still be waiting for him.
As for the second choice, it would be…
Su Ming opened his eyes, and within them was determination and viciousness. He turned his head around and looked towards the deeper parts of the forest.
'If I go back now, I'll definitely question my decision for doing so!'
He turned around calmly and put away all the things he had brought out in this place before turning into a long arc and charging into the forest. In his dash, he disappeared from the place. His direction was clear. It was the place where Lizard Shaman Tribe was located deep within the forest!
Su Ming might not know the exact location of where the Lizard Shaman Tribe was located, but he had lived in a forest since he was young. If there was a part in a forest where a tribe of more than a hundred people lived, then there would definitely be tracks and clues that showed where they were in the forest.
It might be a little difficult for other people to look for a tribe hidden within a forest based on those clues, but to Su Ming, this was not difficult, especially when he had his divine sense helping him. With that, the search became even easier.
'This tribe is definitely not a big tribe and there aren't a lot of powerful Shamans in there. Since I killed quite a number of them and the old Shaman from their tribe died… If I don't bring an end to this, I'll regret it!'
Killing intent flashed in Su Ming's eyes. He had harbored no hostility and grudge toward the tribe, but because of one moment of weakness, he had fallen into a situation where he almost died.
Not long after Su Ming left, at the place that had just been a battleground moments ago, rustling suddenly could be heard in the midst of the silence right beside the old Shaman that had turned into a statue.
That sound was of someone walking slowly from the distance. Before long, a person came out from the forest.
That person was dressed in purple robes. Naturally, he was Tian Xie Zi!
Tian Xie Zi walked towards the old Shaman now turned statue and stood beside him with a calm look. Once he lifted his eyes and cast a look in the direction Su Ming had left, his gaze fell on the old Shaman's statue, and at that instant, his eyes were filled with a powerful killing intent.
"How dare you try to hunt down my disciple..! Since you provided a chance to sharpen his skills, I'll grant you death."
Tian Xie Zi lifted his right hand and slapped the statue gently.
With that slap, the statue trembled, and with a loud bang, numerous cracks appeared on its body before it shattered into pieces that scattered in the air. A faint sound that sounded like a pained cry echoed in the air.
The moment Tian Xie Zi 's palm struck the statue, he broke the connection between the old Shaman and the sacred lizard in the forest, which in turn destroyed his soul and brought about his true death!
"And you, you little reptile… You are merely a thing that gained sentience after a small Shaman Tribe worshipped you. Do you really think you are a sacred beast of the Shaman Tribe?!" Tian Xie Zi said to the air unhurriedly and lifted his right leg before stomping on the ground.
The instant his foot landed, a violent gust of wind passed through the forest. The earth trembled, and many piercing, moaning sounds rang out. Su Ming, who was running through the forest, could not hear it. Only the cause of that sound, Tian Xie Zi, could notice it.
As his foot landed and the piercing moan echoed in the air, a lot of black fog began forming in the air before him. Right before Tian Xie Zi's face, the black fog gathered together and turned into a gigantic lizard.
The lizard was indistinct. Its originally cruel eyes now showed panic, terror, and a plea for mercy as it looked at Tian Xie Zi. It trembled, and right on the spot where it was, it bowed its head and worshipped Tian Xie Zi.
Tian Xie Zi remained silent for a moment before he let out a cold harrumph.
"Looks like the Lizard Shaman Tribe has worshipped you quite a lot. Not only have you gained a form because of it, you also have intelligence… I can grant you mercy. Stay here, and when you meet my disciple again, you must follow him and protect him with your life!
"If you disobey my words, then I will send you back from whence you came!"
Tian Xie Zi's voice was serene, but when his words fell into the illusionary lizard's ears, it made the creature shudder, and within its eyes, gratitude and obedience appeared.
"Begone!"
Tian Xie Zi waved his arm, then walked towards the direction Su Ming had left.
The illusionary lizard turned into black fog once again and disappeared into the ground.
While running through the forest, Su Ming would occasionally stop to observe the signs around him, then change his direction according to what he discovered. The sky gradually brightened, and when the sun reached its brightest point at noon, a glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He had already discovered the location of Lizard Shaman Tribe. That tribe… was somewhere before him!
Su Ming's body floated forward like an apparition, but when there was still about tens of thousands of feet between him and Lizard Shaman Tribe, he suddenly came to a halt. He saw a person standing before him!
"Mas… Master!"
Chapter 271: This is My Creation
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The person standing before him was dressed in purple. That familiar robe and familiar presence shocked Su Ming. A feeling of having found his family instantly spread through his heart and body.
As the word 'Master' spilled out of his mouth, Tian Xie Zi turned around. His expression might still have been dark, but there was a smile curling up at the corner of his lips.
"You went through a lot," Tian Xie Zi said softly, praise evident in his eyes.
Su Ming sucked in a deep breath. He had originally thought that it would take years before he found his Master again, or even worse, perhaps he would never be able to see him again. He did not expect that Tian Xie Zi would appear outside Lizard Shaman Tribe.
"Master…"
Su Ming touched the wound on his chest and shook his head.
"Go, do what you should do. I'll wait for you, then… let's go home together."
Tian Xie Zi looked at Su Ming, and the praise in his eyes grew stronger.
Su Ming fell silent for a moment, then wrapped his fist in his hand and bowed towards Tian Xie Zi. Without stopping, he charged towards the Lizard Shaman Tribe behind his Master.
Tian Xie Zi looked at Su Ming's back and an eager look appeared on his face.
"My fourth disciple, what will you choose…?" he mumbled.
As Su Ming ran forward, a big village appeared before him. Large amounts of wood had been used to build a fence around the village, and bubbling laughter could be heard coming from within. Those voices belonged to the elderly, the children, the women, and the fighting men, Shamans.
That sound made Su Ming slow down. He looked at the village, and even though he was still a bit of a distance away, he could feel the happiness that was shared by the tribe members within the village.
"If I was captured by the old Shaman, then that laughter might have even increased when he returned to the village…"
Su Ming sighed. He did not know whether what he was about to do next was correct, but he understood that he had paid the price for a moment of weakness in a world where only the strong survived.
He walked towards the village silently. The moment he was only thousands of feet away from the village, a piercing whistle pierced the air.
That sound worked as an alarm. The moment it reverberated through the village, four people shot out from within. Right when those four people saw Su Ming, their expressions immediately changed.
Su Ming was not unfamiliar with these four people. They were the few who had survived his strongest attack because they were saved by the old Shaman!
The instant he saw those four people, killing intent rose in Su Ming's eyes. He leaped up and the small virescent sword at the center of his brows shone before shooting out in a green arc, flying as quickly as lightning. Then the moment the four people closed in, a bell chime suddenly echoed from within Su Ming's body.
That bell chime was like a funeral bell. When the rippling sound spread out, a green light flashed in the sky. The small sword penetrated through one of the people's chest with a speed of lightning, bringing with it fresh blood and screams of devastation. The curtains for the massacre were lifted.
After a moment, four corpses lay on the ground before the village. There was blood on Su Ming's body as he walked calmly forward. The instant the deathly silence fell within the village, the small virescent sword cut down the village's gate.
A loud bang cut the air and the gate instantly shattered. It shattered into countless shards and tumbled to the ground. With a great cloud of dust shooting up into the sky from the destroyed gate, Su Ming walked into the village.
The moment he entered, five people charged towards him and fought against him amidst the flying dust.
Rumbling sounds continued echoing in the air. Su Ming did not stop in the slightest. The moment he was engaged with his enemies, black fog surrounded him and the Divine General Armor materialized on his body. It blocked his enemies' attacks. At the same time, green light shone and thunder spread out. When Su Ming walked away from the dust that had rose up because of the destruction of the village gate, five corpses lay behind him.
Almost the moment the five people died and Su Ming walked into the village, nearly one hundred arrows sliced through the air towards him, but they froze a few feet away from him and exploded into smithereens.
These arrows were not shot by Shamans but from the normal tribe members within the village. The normal tribe members glared at Su Ming with bloodshot eyes filled with hatred. Even if their arrows were destroyed, more of them whisked through the air once again.
Su Ming saw not only hatred in their eyes, but also a determination that said they would not stop unless they died.
At that moment, a low growl rang through the air, and a man walked out from one of the tents in the village. That man was half-naked, and with a stomp on the ground, he leaped towards Su Ming. Soon, a dozen more Shamans stormed towards him from various corners of the village.
Su Ming closed his eyes in silence. With his right hand lifted, he drew a line. That line was like the might of heaven itself. The instant he finished drawing the line, the man in the lead shuddered and his body was instantly torn to shreds. His head flew into the air.
The remaining people all let out shrill, pained screams the moment Su Ming finished drawing the line with his eyes closed. They fell from the sky, and once their bodies crashed onto the ground, they breathed their last and died.
Su Ming opened his eyes and swept his gaze through the village. This was not a big village. There were many tents, and there were hundreds of men and women staring at him darkly. Their eyes were filled with burning hatred, and those gazes made Su Ming's heart hurt.
Those gazes belonged to the elderly, the children, and the women…
There were some who were still shooting arrows at him even though they knew it was impossible. Those arrows kept getting destroyed, but that still did not stop them.
Su Ming walked calmly forward and spread his divine sense around the entire tribe. Once he scanned the area, he lifted his right hand, and the small virescent sword charged out with a whistle towards some tents. It shot through them and brought back blood on its blade.
All the places which the sword went to were where the Shamans lay. However, those people were unconscious due to heavy injuries and could not get out.
When the small virescent sword returned to Su Ming's side, there were no longer any warriors left in the entire Lizard Shaman Tribe. The remaining hundreds of people were all normal tribe members.
Yet even though they were normal people, the hate filled gazes and arrows exuded a frenzied rage of Su Ming.
Sobbing sounds came from within the village. They contained the weeping of the women, the fear of the children, and most of all, the tears that fell soundlessly from the eyes of the people who they stood on the ground covered by the corpses of their dead Shamans.
Su Ming stared at these people quietly. He understood the hate within these people's eyes. However, if he did not come here in this manner but was instead captured back by the old Shaman, stepped on, and turned into a Shaman Puppet, none of them would have shown any pity to him. They would instead have been cheering with cruel excitement.
This was the sorrow of a person who did not belong in a battle between two different populations.
He could either not enter the fight, or… shoulder the burden brought by this sorrow.
The arrows that flew towards him did not stop, especially those from a certain boy. His eyes were red and his left hand had already been cut by the bow string. Blood flowed down his hand, but he did not seem to know pain. He gritted his teeth and drew his bow again and again to shoot, even though he knew that his arrows could not injure the enemy he wanted to kill.
Su Ming's eyes finally fell on the boy.
He looked at him and walked closer. When the boy saw Su Ming walking towards him, he let out a loud roar and charged forward with his bow and arrows. There was a look on his face that said he was prepared to die; it held a madness that said even if he died, he still had to go up and bite his enemy.
Yet after he rushed up, he could not help but stop under Su Ming's gaze. There was an authority within that gaze that made the boy unable to control his own body. He could only stop before him.
Tears fell from his eyes. Within those tears were madness and hate…
Su Ming looked at the boy, then lifted his right hand to wipe away the tears on his face.
"It… shouldn't have been this way…" Su Ming said softly. "I saved you. I killed that snake… There was no hate between us…"
The boy glared at Su Ming, and the hate in his eyes turned into loathing.
"Why did you tell them..? Was it just because I am from the Berserker Tribe and you are from the Shaman Tribe..?" Su Ming looked at the boy and wiped away the tears from a corner of his eye.
"For that one show of mercy, I paid a very huge price… This is my mistake, and I must remember this mistake.
"You are the same, because you were also wrong," Su Ming stated calmly.
The boy shuddered and a lost look appeared in his eyes. More tears fell down his cheeks, and Su Ming saw a hint of regret in his eyes.
"It shouldn't have been this way…"
Su Ming looked at the boy and turned around to walk towards the destroyed village gate. Once he walked out, he heard a wretched scream from the boy behind him.
Within that scream were hatred, madness, and deep regret…
Su Ming did not turn his head back. He walked out of the village, into the forest, then back to Tian Xie Zi's side.
"Master, let's go home…" Su Ming's voice was filled with fatigue.
"I thought you chose to come back here because you wanted to destroy the village." Tian Xie Zi looked at Su Ming calmly.
Su Ming was silent for a moment. He did not look at Tian Xie Zi but chose to look in the direction of where Sky Mist Barrier was located and spoke in an exhausted voice, "I felt your presence on him."
"I was the one who woke him up. This is the Shaman Tribe. They have a deep seated hatred with us Berserkers. If you still don't understand, you will have to pay the price with your life during Sky Mist Battle," Tian Xie Zi said, his eyes closed.
Su Ming was silent.
"Killing the Split Dawn alone and beheading him is worthy of praise!
"Not panicking while getting attacked by dozens of Shamans in the forest and killing them one by one after you calmed down is worthy of praise!
"Running into people who are more powerful than you and using your strongest attack to rip apart the sky, then not staying in battle and escaping because you knew your limits is worthy of praise!
"Knowing not to blindly escape using brute force, then turning back to fight after accessing the situation and not being afraid of the people more powerful than you is worthy of praise!
"Working together with Bai Chang Zai's Divine Clone and reaching an epiphany towards your first Style is worthy of huge praise!
"However, showing kindness and sparing the boy the first time was a mistake!
"And yet after knowing all these and returning to the place, you still chose to spare the boy. That is… a huge mistake! As your Master, I will right your wrong!"
Tian Xie Zi turned around and started walking towards the Shaman Tribe.
"Master!" Su Ming looked at Tian Xie Zi. He might appear exhausted, but his eyes were calm. "This is my Creation…"
Tian Xie Zi's footsteps faltered.