Sword Among Us

The momentum created when a few elites at the dao of heaven fought against each other was great. Even though they did not make any unnecessary movements, they still caused the air around them to surge. Sand danced madly in the air and their sleeves fluttered, creating an illusion that a sandstorm had arrived.

Happy stood at the edge, even so, he was unable to avoid being in the area of attack.

Thousand-faced Human Fox might be Happy’s follower, but when he faced the mighty pressure from multiple elites from the dao of heaven, he felt as if his entire body had become stiff. He did not even have time to activate his body fortification, causing him to be encased in a suffocating atmosphere. He felt as if his mind was put into a grinder when it was caught between the forces, and he was only somewhat able to keep his mind intact, though his mind was at the verge of a breakdown as it was.

Happy frowned slightly.

Happy had Willpower, and he might not be affected by the pressure from the elites in the dao of heaven, but he could not help Thousand-faced Human Fox.

Thud!

During that critical moment, the only person in Happy’s party who was truly in the dao of heaven finally decided not to just watch by the side. Osaya saw how Thousand-faced Human Fox was struggling under the mental pressure from the elites in the dao of heaven, and her eyes focused. She slowly stepped into the circle where the elites in the dao of heaven were fighting against each other.

At the moment she walked out from behind Thousand-faced Human Fox, Osaya instantly attracted the elites’ attention. A lot of the pressure from these elites were distributed to her.

“…”

Thousand-faced Human Fox had been gritting his teeth tightly and was barely able to remain standing under the pressure from the elites in the dao of heaven. But when Osaya showed up, the qi flows that had been attacking him seemed to have split up to focus on her, and the pressure on him instantly disappeared.

He trembled.

Thousand-faced Human Fox felt lighter, as if a burden had been removed from his shoulders. He stared at Osaya’s back, and his gaze was full of gratitude.

“Huh?”

Martial Paragon Bi Xuan, Ye Gucheng, the old man with the zither, and Dongfang Bubai each had different temperaments, but all of them turned their attention from Evil King and Empress Yin to the new person who had invaded their territory. When they saw Osaya, they frowned slightly.

The four elites in the dao of heaven and Evil King as well as Empress Yin had been testing each other, but it had unexpectedly turned into a contest of strength. The fight for an empty spot in the area instantly became even more complicated.

The martial artists in the area had their hearts tremble in fear.

It was very difficult for them to run into an elite in the dao of heaven on usual days. He did not expect that because of a strange phenomenon and an old rumor that seven elites in the dao of heaven would be attracted to this place and gather together.

However, the more elites in the dao of heaven arrived, the more it proved that there were shocking treasures hidden in the desert palace. The players who were hidden among the various factions of power became even more excited.

Boom!

The qi of the seven elites formed layers of ripples that charged against the people’s bodies one after another.

Their sleeves fluttered and blew behind them.

Even Dongfang Bubai and Martial Paragon Bixuan gradually had grave looks appear on their faces. Initially, they had been nonchalant about the entire matter, but now, they started becoming serious.

The Myth Realm elites within their range might be protected, but none of them dared to move, worried that if they were careless, they would end up having the seven elites’ qi activity locking on them and attacking them. Their faces were filled with nervousness and caution.

Happy was the only person who remained somewhat calm and composed.

Ever since the seven elites in the dao of heaven entered a somewhat balanced contest of strength, he sensed that the pressure from the elites had seemed to disappear, and his spirit sense became clear once more.

What caused Happy to be in a greater state of disbelief was that when his spirit sense spread through the entire area, he noticed something even more astonishing.

When the elites in the dao of heaven competed against each other, they did not do so with qi or hidden force, but with incredibly profound skills.

The strength of the seven elites circulated in the entire area like a dazzling belt of light that with different colors. It seemed to have gained substantial form as it quickly moved between the seven elites.

No one instinctively controlled his own strength, but instead had the seven-colored power charge toward one person at an astonishing speed and momentum.

But when a person fused with the power in the dao of heaven, they seemed to be able to negate and transfer attacks to a certain degree.

When that power gathered on Osaya, a force that was similar to a vortex caused this power to quickly spin around her before it swiftly left her and went to the next target, who so happened to be Evil King.

Once it went by Evil King, it went to Empress Yin, then to Dongfang Bubai, and so on and so forth.

All seven of them entered an abnormal balance.

But Happy was shocked by the strange scene he saw with his spirit sense. He watched the power from the seven move from each person to the next. It went by them once, twice, and dozens of times. Oncee he observed it multiple times, he seemed to be able to sense something from it.

The elites in the dao of heaven were skilled in guiding the forces in the world. This was something Happy knew, but there seemed to be something hidden within this particular qi realm as well.

Happy frowned and thought about it. His gaze became sharper as he stared at the strange scene before him.

The battle between the seven lasted for nearly ten minutes.

Sands and stones flew everywhere. Dozens of tents were rooted from their spots and were buried in sand.

The seven remained in high spirits. No one showed any signs of not being able to keep up, and neither of them were willing to show even a sign of weakness to someone who was at the same level as they were.

This was Martial Paragon Bi Xuan’s thoughts, and he had entered the dao of heaven for the longest among the seven, and this was also Empress Yin’s thoughts, and she had just entered the dao of heaven.

Since the beginning, Happy only stood behind Osaya quietly and did not take even half a step forward. He did not have the thought of moving into the balanced circle of power between the seven. After all, this was no joking matter.

Even though everyone was their own protagonist in the World of Martial Arts, there were plenty of times where the players had to size up their own strength. If they were not strong enough, declaring their presence in front of the elites in the dao of heaven might not be good. Besides, this time, the seven elites were testing each other, if they showed up, the most possible outcome from it was that they might end up having the seven attack them, and they would end up as the first sacrifice from this test.

Just like that, as countless players bore with the pressure, another ten or so minutes passed.

The seven elites’ faces became graver as time passed, but their skill in using the power from the dao of heaven to negate the power of the seven as they worked together to attack each other became more refined.

“Hahahaha…”

Hoarse laughter spilled out from the black cloak hanging low over the old man’s face. Then, he spoke with a voice like someone was scratching against metal, and his accent was also strange. “They weren’t lying when they said that talented people come from the world of wanderers! I didn’t expect that after Evil King and Empress Yin, I would still be able to run into such a young’un in the dao of heaven in this deserted desert. I’m beginning to look forward to my trip in the desert palace.”

The first person to break this stalemate was the mysterious old man among the barbarians, he was the one who only had six fingers to play his zither.

His hands were placed lightly over his old zither. As he spoke, he slowly plucked the strings, and a series of notes drifted into the air.

The other six people’s bodies trembled. The tense and suffocating atmosphere within a circular area of 328 feet was suddenly destroyed, and it was replaced by a jolly atmosphere, as if they were in a mountain with a flowing river, surrounded by birds and flowers.

The old man played beautifully, and it shattered the stalemate created by the seven. At the same time, he placated the flying sand around him.

The sand fell.

The sounds around them also died away.

Whoosh!

The fires which had been oppressed so much that they were nearly extinguished burned with renewed vigor. They crackled fiercely to illuminate the calm expressions on the Myth Realm elites in the area.

Martial Paragon Bi Xuan’s expression had become normal once more.

Ye Gucheng only stared at the mysterious old man, and his gaze became graver.

Dongfang Bubai schooled his face and started eating the grapes his servants put in his mouth. His relaxed demeanor and lackadaisical air gave the illusion that nothing had ever happened.

Evil King and Empress Yin gained a seat from Ye Gucheng, who moved for them.

However, when Osaya moved to the empty spot provided by the old zither player, Martial Paragon Bi Xuan said in a nonchalant manner, “Evil King and Empress Yin are both the giants and leaders of the evil cult in the Chinese plains, and I will naturally have nothing to say when they enter the desert palace together. But both of you are children, and you brought an old man with you. Even so, you want to get a seat from among us and fight for the treasures in the desert palace?”

Aside from Dongfang Bubai, the others had surprised expressions appear on their faces.

During the fight just now, Osaya’s strength in the dao of heaven had already proved that she was at the very least not weaker than Empress Yin, and she should have obtained the right to enter the desert palace as well as fight for the treasures in it, but why was Martial Paragon Bi Xuan deliberately complicating the issue right now? Did he want to create enemies?

Osaya instantly stopped moving.

The Sacred Ladies of Holy Fire Sect had to present themselves perfectly at all times. Aside from possessing extraordinary strength, they must also have great tempers. But now, when Osaya was looked down upon by Martial Paragon Bi Xuan in front of so many elites at the same level as she was, she could not help but frown. Anger flashed in her eyes.

“Martial Paragon, what is the meaning of this?”

“Everyone here is a great fighter who can compete to rule over the world. All of us have come with our own goals, and we want to take the treasures from the desert palace to overturn the Chinese imperial court. You’re a woman, and you have a lover with you, along with an old servant. When you enter the desert palace and the fight truly starts, they will just be losing their lives in vain,” Martial Paragon Bi Xuan said slowly, “Out of the kindness of my heart, I’m telling you that this isn’t the place where you should be.”

“Oh?” Osaya said coldly, “If that’s the case, I’ll have to thank you.”

“Hmph.” Martial Paragon Bi Xuan was a sect master. There was no way he could not hear the underlying mocking tone in Osaya’s words, but he did not fly off into a rage. Instead, he said, “Since you insist on going in, I will not stop you. But the desert palace is full of traps, and there are hundreds of paths in it. I don’t want anyone to follow behind me by then. Do not even dream about having anyone clear the traps for you. If I see any of you following me, I will show no mercy, regardless of who you are!” His last two statements might seem to be directed to Osaya, but everyone in the area turned their gazes to Evil King and Empress Yin.

Behind Martial Paragon Bi Xuan was an army. He had more than fifty Myth Realm elites with him. Naturally, with this lineup, it was impossible for Osaya to be able to fight against them.

But the evil cult had two elites in the dao of heaven, and this caused Martial Paragon Bi Xuan to be slightly wary. This time, the evil cult did not send a lot of people over. Evil King, Empress Yin brought only Wan Wan and Hou Xibai. After they entered the desert palace and started facing the traps inside, they might start thinking about using others to clear those traps for them.

Even though they were all elites in the dao of heaven, Martial Paragon Bi Xuan did not lose the alertness that he should have.

The evil cult’s Empress Yin was infamous for using every method in her disposal for her own goals, and Evil King was a peerless fighter in the Chinese plains who ruled over a territory. After they entered the desert palace, these two people brought about the greatest threat. It was impossible for Bi Xuan to not be on guard against them.

Right now, once he stated this out right, when they entered the desert palace later and attacked each other, they would not lose the initiative, and they would also have a reason to fight.

Happy and his party sat down in the spot Osaya had fought for them. Their neighbours were the old zither player and Dongfang Bubai.

Thousand-faced Human Fox cast a glance at the moon, which was gradually covered by dark clouds in the distance. He murmured, “The sandstorm will arrive during midnight, and it will last for less than an hour…”