Chapter 416: Black-clad Guard's Nightmare

"What is a Sword Holder?" Xu Qing murmured to himself.

He hadn't always understood what a Sword Holder was. His initial aspiration to become one wasn't driven by a grand desire to protect humanity.

Having experienced immense suffering from a young age, it was impossible for him to harbor deep sentiments of loyalty towards humanity or the nation.

His true desire was simply to survive, to live a better life, and to eventually kill the Crow and the Eagle.

As for why he became a Sword Holder: first, his captain wanted to be one; second, it offered him an extra layer of protection; and third, he planned to use the Sword Holder's authority to track down the Crow.

At critical moments, his identity as a Sword Holder would even serve as a weapon to slay the Crow.

These thoughts were inherently selfish, but Xu Qing wasn't alone in this. In fact, newly appointed Sword Holders from various prefectures often harbored similar intentions.

Apart from those who grew up immersed in the Sword Holding Palace, cultivators from other prefectures rarely possessed strong feelings about protecting humanity.

However, things began to shift slightly after the Sword Holder ceremony in Yinghuang Prefecture and the Emperor's Soul-Searching.

Yet, it was only a minor change, not significant. It merely helped Xu Qing understand the concept of a Sword Holder.

It wasn't until he arrived at the commandery capital that he encountered Kong Xianglong, who was unlike anyone else; several arrogant youths who were hostile but not malicious towards him; and the stern Palace Master, who clearly protected the Sword Holders.

He also experienced the Sword Holder's oath and learned about humanity's history.

All of these experiences could not simply pass through him like a breeze, leaving no trace.

Ultimately, they left an imprint, settling deep within his heart.

And now, he witnessed another scene that stirred his emotions.

It was the near-human youth with one hundred and twenty Dharma Apertures, the one who yearned to become a Sword Holder, the one who, despite being subjected to such brutal torture by the Sacred Ocean Race, refused to reveal any information.

The youth recited the Sword Holder's oath, smiled, closed his eyes, and then vanished as the formation collapsed.

Xu Qing didn't know this person and was seeing him for the first time. Moreover, Xu Qing had witnessed too much death, so it wasn't the youth's demise that stirred his emotions.

Rather, it was the youth's dream and his choice.

This person could have had a much brighter future, yet he chose this path of no return.

Xu Qing felt a touch of confusion, but he knew, deep down, that he actually understood.

However, his guarded heart made it difficult for him to easily accept any outsiders or factions, let alone truly identify with them or hold them deep in his heart.

Even now, it remained so.

Yet, he knew in his heart that, without realizing it, the Sword Holders had begun to look different in his eyes.

There was more respect.

He might not feel a sense of belonging, but he respected Kong Xianglong's sincerity, the Palace Master's strictness, the Sword Holder's oath, and the youth who sacrificed himself.

Thus, Xu Qing clasped his hands and bowed deeply towards the place where the youth had vanished.

At that moment, the wind swept in, stirring up the dust from the collapsed formation on the ground, scattering the youth's ashes, and carrying the unique scent from the opened wish box on the ground towards everyone present.

The scent was peculiar, carrying a fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

With grief and indignation in his eyes, Kong Xianglong walked step by step to the spot where the youth's body had disintegrated. He knelt down, scooped up a handful of earth, carefully placed it into a bottle, and only then picked up the opened wish box.

“Our mission is complete,” Kong Xianglong said softly, his back to the others, holding the wish box.

Xu Qing remained silent, as did the others.

The rendezvous mission had failed, but the intelligence was secured. Regardless of whether it was a success or not, the mission was accomplished.

“Kid, you should return to the commandery capital,” Kong Xianglong said in a low voice, raising his right hand and waving it. The wish box flew straight towards Xu Qing, who caught it.

Holding it, the scent of osmanthus intensified.

“You and the kid head back,” Kong Xianglong said calmly, without turning around. “I'm not in a good mood. I plan to find a place to wander around and clear my head alone.”

“Alright, Brother Long, it's good for you to clear your head alone,” Shan Hezi said, clenching his fist, veins bulging. “Kid, you all head back. I have some personal matters to take care of, so I won't be joining you.”

“Coincidentally, me too,” Wang Chen said flatly, his expression grim, glancing at the distant horizon after speaking. “I need to go back to my hometown and won't be returning for a while.”

“I'll stay with Brother Long,” Ye Ling said, looking at Kong Xianglong with determination.

Xu Qing watched them. After a few silent breaths, he tossed the wish box to a Sword Holder from the field office behind him. The man caught it, about to speak, but hesitated.

“I have personal matters to attend to. You all return,” Xu Qing said slowly, his expression impassive.

As soon as he spoke, Shan Hezi, Wang Chen, and Ye Ling all turned to look at him, their expressions showing some surprise.

Kong Xianglong turned around, looking at Xu Qing as well.

“Kid, you don't have to do this.”

“I'm going to return the courtesy,” Xu Qing said earnestly, looking at Kong Xianglong.

Kong Xianglong was silent. After a moment, he nodded, turned, and shot off into the distance.

Shan Hezi and the other two quickly followed. Their direction was precisely the border of Fenghai Commandery.

It was also the border of the Sacred Ocean Race territory.

Xu Qing likewise strode forward, like an arrow released from a bow, heading straight for the four.

He naturally knew what they intended to do.

It wasn't unusual for Kong Xianglong to disregard rules on missions, and seeing the youth brutally tortured by the Black Clothed Guards firsthand was something Kong Xianglong, with his personality, simply could not tolerate.

Furthermore, the indifferent voice left in the Black Clothed Guards' jade slip still echoed in Xu Qing's memory.

Xu Qing felt that since the other party had given a 'gift' to the Sword Holders, it was only polite for them to return the favor.

As the five figures rapidly sped away, the Sword Holders from the field office remained, watching in silence.

Their eyes held both admiration and emotion, but ultimately, after performing the Sword Holder's salute to Xu Qing and the others, they chose to return.

Not all Sword Holders disregarded the rules.

They couldn't go, because at that moment, they had a more crucial mission.

To safely deliver the intelligence item back to the commandery capital.

This was their core task.

So, after the Sword Holder's salute, the Sword Holders from the field office departed into the night.

The biting wind now carried the chill of the night, accompanying the five advancing figures like a harbinger of death wielding a scythe.

It howled past them, making their clothes flap, and stirring strands of their hair.

Yet, when it touched their faces and seeped into their hearts, it was still less chilling than the murderous intent rising within them.

Killing intent surged from each of them.

It grew stronger and stronger as they accelerated.

Though the moon was absent and the wind was high, it was still a night for killing.

They had unleashed their speeds to the maximum, holding nothing back. From the moment Xu Qing chose to 'return the courtesy,' Shan Hezi, Wang Chen, and Ye Ling all looked at him with eyes entirely different from before.

There was more recognition.

Shan Hezi radiated a blood mist, his entire being engulfed in the fog, resembling a bloody specter from the Underworld.

Ye Ling had re-transformed into a demon. This time, he wasn't a green-faced ghoul, but a crimson-boned firebird carrying death itself.

Wang Chen's ethereal form receded, and his coffin opened for the first time. From within emerged a dwarf clad in luxurious robes.

Kong Xianglong, moreover, was enveloped by an entire dragon, radiating terrifying fluctuations. Each stride covered hundreds of feet, making him extraordinarily mighty.

As for Xu Qing, he was no less impressive compared to them.

His shadow covered his entire body, the power of his seven-palace physique surged wildly, his speed was like roaring thunder, and he moved like a spirit of the dark night, breathtaking and alarming.

They sped through the darkness like five vengeful specters seeking lives, steadily closing in on the Sacred Ocean Race's Black Clothed Guards who were returning and had not yet left Linlan Prefecture.

During this time, they also communicated, clarifying their battle plan. Although they didn't know the exact number of enemies, their experience and understanding allowed them to easily assign targets.

Finally, just before dawn, at the moment when the night was deepest, and less than an incense stick's worth of travel from the border, they spotted dozens of figures speeding ahead.

Each wore black Daoist robes, totaling over sixty individuals!

Their speed wasn't particularly fast. Clearly, they were in high spirits after completing their mission, chatting and laughing occasionally as they sped along.

However, their vigilance remained high. Almost the instant Xu Qing and the five charged forward, the Sacred Ocean Race Black Clothed Guards immediately detected them. Many whirled around, their expressions changing.

But discovery was useless.

Kong Xianglong charged first, letting out a low roar as he plunged into the fray.

Xu Qing was the second, striking a five-palace Black Clothed Guard like a black bolt of lightning. With a deafening crash, the Guard was mangled, his shrill scream abruptly cut short as blood erupted.

Amidst the eruption of blood, Shan Hezi and the other two also charged in.

The slaughter erupted violently at that instant.

Roars of fury emanated from the Black Clothed Guards as they instantly retaliated.

As a squad that had ventured deep into Fenghai Commandery, their combat strength and experience were naturally extensive.

Among them, over forty had five or six palace combat strength, and twelve possessed seven palace strength.

Most of these seven-palace cultivators possessed the Black Clothed Guards' unique imperial-tier cultivation methods.

There were also two with eight-palace combat strength.

These two had not opened their Heavenly Palaces with five fires; rather, they had reached the peak of four-fire seven-palace cultivation and, combined with imperial-tier cultivation methods, achieved eight-palace combat strength, which was quite formidable.

Additionally, there were three leaders.

They were, remarkably, at the Half-Nascent Soul stage.

Such power would be a core force in any sect, but for the Sacred Ocean Race, which dominated the Sacred Ocean Domain, this was merely a small squad.

And if one included those who had previously ambushed Xu Qing and his group, it was clear that the Sacred Ocean Race's squads not only had more members and experts but also possessed stronger cultivation.

After all... the Sacred Ocean Race was the ruler of the Sacred Ocean Domain. The foundation formed by the people of an entire domain meant they had more powerful individuals.

In comparison, a single commandery naturally paled.

However, this particular Sword Holder squad was different from those they had encountered before!

As the two sides clashed, the battle erupted. The three Half-Nascent Soul cultivators immediately lunged at Kong Xianglong. Two eight-palace Black Clothed Guards were about to follow, but a coffin suddenly descended, blocking their path. Wang Chen, now a dwarf, revealed a sinister grin, and his Ethereal Tribe clone appeared beside him.

At the same time, Ye Ling appeared beside him, and Shan Hezi also arrived. The three combined their efforts to fight these two, buying time, waiting for Kong Xianglong, and waiting for Xu Qing.

The former was fighting the three strongest Half-Nascent Soul cultivators present.

The latter was fighting everyone else.

This was the assignment they had made on their way here.

At that time, Xu Qing had said something.

“I excel at group combat.”

Now, Xu Qing took a deep breath and drew his dagger.

The Poison Ban Pill in his Third Heavenly Palace fully activated at this moment, erupting outwards from his body with a roar.

Countless small black insects spread from Xu Qing, forming an astonishing black mist that carried terrifying aura and lethal poison, engulfing everything in all directions.

The poison acted swiftly.

As agonizing screams emanated from the Black Clothed Guards, Xu Qing's expression remained calm. He lowered his head slightly and charged fiercely into the crowd.

Moreover, the black iron skewer containing the Vajra Sect Ancestor transformed into a red lightning bolt at this instant, darting wildly around.

And the eyes of the shadow on Xu Qing's glabella blinked rapidly, spreading out and merging into the shadows of the surrounding Black Clothed Guards, beginning to devour them.

At this moment...

Nightmare descended.