Chapter 465: Tang Shedu (Si Wuxie, Alliance Leader)

His expression was serene, as if he was enjoying the scenery among the clouds. Decades of arduous cultivation had completely decoupled his inner self from his outward expression. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood gazing at the small peak slowly emerging before them.

Smiling, he looked at Tang Shendu and murmured, "Brother, why don't we go down and take a look?"

On the peak, two people stood in confrontation. One held a bronze alms bowl, releasing crackling lightning and shimmering purple light. His expression was fierce, and his robes were unfamiliar. The other held two sabers, with black and red smoky flames flickering around him. He too was visibly impatient, showing suppressed anger as he said coldly, "Miao Ye... you always have to go against me!"

Miao Ye held the two large bronze alms bowls, his expression very fierce. The two stood facing each other. In the center of the peak, a deep golden halberd stood silently. Its long blade was curved like a crescent moon, much taller than an ordinary person.

"There's no one here," one said. "And the grotto-heaven is probably closing soon... Why don't we have a proper fight?"

Yu Muxian stood in the clouds, looking down from above. Beside him, Tang Shendu held a halberd in his arms, appearing disdainful. However, his gaze towards the halberd showed a hint of interest as he murmured, "That's Situ Chen... the current young master of the Situ family. After so many years of turmoil in the Gold Gate, with so many young masters dying, it seems there's finally a capable one."

White light flickered in Yu Muxian's eyes as he also used a pupil technique to examine the magical artifact on the peak. His Immortal Foundation circulated within him; he was now at the late Foundation Establishment stage. This Immortal Foundation was much more miraculous than before, allowing him to immediately gather a lot of information.

He murmured, "It is indeed an ancient Foundation Establishment artifact... It must have belonged to a general of the Wei Kingdom back then. There's a distinct aura of Bright Yang Imperial Exchange. The Wei Kingdom had a strong martial tradition and favored crafting halberds and spears."

Tang Shendu paused, then chuckled, "When Emperor Zhaowu of Zhao collected Wei Kingdom weapons, he melted them all down to build the Heavenly Martial Hall. Weapons of this type then disappeared without a trace. It makes sense that some might still be found in this grotto-heaven."

"Is Brother interested?"

Yu Muxian chuckled. Tang Shendu stood with his hands clasped behind his back and murmured, "Although it doesn't perfectly align with my cultivation technique, it is an ancient artifact nonetheless. Studying it for a bit... would be quite beneficial."

"As for these two, the Miao family member should be killed! But as for the Situ family member... Situ Tang has an old acquaintance with master, so we should still show him some respect."

Tang Shendu raised the halberd in his hand and lightly tapped his belt. Immediately, streaks of golden light appeared on his body, consolidating into a majestic spiritual armor.

Yu Muxian, meanwhile, shook his feathered robe. He wasn't skilled in artifact crafting; he cultivated magical arts, so the feathered robe suited him better. He chuckled, "I wonder what Brother's current cultivation level is like. Why don't you go down and test it?"

"Very well!" Tang Shendu laughed heartily and flew towards the peak, holding his halberd.

Miao Ye and Situ Chen were in the midst of an intense battle. When Tang Shendu arrived, riding the wind, both men hesitated slightly, appearing ready to stop. To their surprise, Tang Shendu's face was cold. With a flick and a hook of his halberd, a long-prepared strike shot towards Miao Ye.

In a single breath, a white light rose from the halberd. Six sharp, long blades materialized in the air, all aiming for his neck. A white radiance flowed, sweeping away all the swirling lightning around him.

Miao Ye had never expected Tang Shendu to suddenly appear and attack him head-on. He cursed inwardly. He lightly tossed the bronze alms bowl in his hand, letting it spin in the air to block. With his other hand, he formed a fist, placing his thumb against the base of his neck and flicking open his other four fingers.

This technique immediately showcased the profound heritage of a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan disciple. By activating the closest mystic aperture in his body, he channeled his inner magical power, instantly unleashing four streaks of lightning that barely deflected the long blades, then conjured a spell and retreated.

However, the bronze alms bowl in front of him emitted a muffled thud and retreated clumsily at an even faster speed than it had come. The concentrated lightning dispersed into a violet glow. The power of the halberd in Tang Shendu's hand did not diminish. With an upward flip of his arm, the mystic patterns on his formidable arm guard caused a stinging pain in Miao Ye's eyes as the halberd tore through the air, aimed directly at his brow.

'Damn it! Such powerful halberd techniques, and he's closed the distance too.'

Unable to conjure a spell, he had no choice but to position both bronze alms bowls in front of him. He bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood that transformed into a bloody lightning bolt in the air, striking towards the halberd.

Among many artifacts, the halberd's blade was only slightly shorter than a spear's, yet much wider and thicker. It reached him almost instantly, colliding with the bloody lightning.

"Boom!" The blood lightning lasted only a moment, then instantly vanished into light. The two bronze alms bowls whirled back, simultaneously defending, barely managing to block the halberd. An invisible wave rippled through the air, and lightning and magical light flowed, pushing the surrounding cloud waves far away.

"Quite decisive, then." Tang Shendu glanced at him coldly, then gently retracted his halberd, hovering in mid-air. Seeing this, Situ Chen gasped, "Tang Shendu, the Long Sky Halberd!"

This person before him was a notorious killer and a long-established senior. Situ Chen clasped his hands together and instantly transformed into a crimson meteor, rapidly fleeing, trailing a long wake as he vanished into the sea of clouds.

Tang Shendu glanced at him with disdain. Miao Ye, meanwhile, conjured a spell while rapidly retreating, his heart filled with terror.

He naturally knew who this person was. When Tang Shendu roamed the world, Miao Ye was merely a minor Qi cultivator, yet he had heard of his infamous reputation. At that time, only a few like Yang Tianya and Yu Yuxie could rival him.

'If this man's cultivation technique hadn't reached its limit... he'd probably be breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm by now... Damn it! How did I end up provoking someone like this!'

Fear gripped his heart; after just one clash, he knew he was no match for this man. He realized that even using all his strength would only delay the inevitable for a moment or two, and he would eventually perish here. He could only plead, "Senior... I have no interest in this treasure, and I am willing to hand over everything I've gained in this grotto-heaven... I only beg Senior to spare my life!"

Tang Shendu, amused, chuckled, "I've killed so many people, and back then, the Heavenly Lightning Law wasn't prevalent. I've yet to encounter an Immortal Foundation with a lightning attribute. Killing you now would fill that void."

Tang Shendu's single strike sent Situ Chen fleeing in disarray and left Miao Ye begging for his life. Yu Muxian watched from the clouds, nodding inwardly.

'While these two aren't bad, Brother's strength is undeniable, and his attack was long-prepared and sudden, naturally startling them. If they were truly fighting to the death, it would probably take a hundred to eighty rounds to defeat this man.'

He secretly wondered if Tang Shendu could kill this man within a hundred rounds. Suddenly, his ears pricked with a sharp pain, buzzing loudly, and an ominous premonition arose.

"Hmm?" Just as a sense of panic arose in Yu Muxian's heart, it was quickly suppressed by a powerful force. He calmed himself and thought, "It seems... someone is coming to die!"