Abundant Martial Arts Virtue
Chapter 427 - 381: Matriarch

Chapter 427: Chapter 381: Matriarch

Skadi performed a ceremonial greeting and respectfully said,

"My Lady, is that all you wish to convey? If so, I’ll take my leave."

"Wait, how is Arian faring now? He had a fight with Caijing, and my spies tell me several major demons seem to have died by his hand," the Lady inquired.

Skadi didn’t respond.

Wu Xiaode thought for a moment before speaking, "He was afflicted by the double Tao Power of the demons, and at present, he can’t revert to human form. Besides that, all is well."

Skadi immediately repeated the statement.

"Unable to revert to human form temporarily? Hmph, Tao Power is too intricate and boundless. As long as there is no physical injury, such a trivial concern over transformation is not worth mentioning," the Lady declared.

Absolutely correct!

This was the proper viewpoint, but currently, it was extremely advantageous for Wu Xiaode.

The Lady’s expression changed subtly as she continued,

"Within the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm, the final human stronghold has been defended, and the demons have been repelled. It seems this victory truly belongs to Arian."

Wu Xiaode watched her, and suddenly a thought crossed his mind.

Perhaps...

The Human Emperor’s Secret Realm allows so many to enter, even members of the Destruction Council are permitted.

Initially, he had some scepticism about this.

Now, it seems the Human Emperor and other spirits had reasons for such actions.

Those chosen who have explored the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm for a significant time believe they can grasp all information regarding it.

But at this critical moment, the secret realm’s information has instead led them astray.

The outcome is—

He has gained the initiative.

Wu Xiaode suddenly felt that he understood the Human Emperor’s intentions.

"Indeed, Lord Arian is resting. Hence, he sent me back first to assess the situation," Wu Xiaode said.

"The situation? Hmph, he has already mastered the ’Infinite Soul’s End’, and now possesses the ’Human Emperor’s Tao Power’ as well, what situation is there to assess?"

The Lady pondered before abruptly saying, "Forget it, go tell him to come back here himself. I’ll give him one opportunity—hurry up!"

"As you command, My Lady."

Skadi left the garden.

She passed through several doors and once again traversed the corridors, stepping out onto the palace’s outer square.

"What do we do now?"

She asked Wu Xiaode who was hiding in the shadows.

Wu Xiaode thought for a moment and then said, "It’s my turn."

Rester stood by his side, emitting a spatial wave.

Skadi was enveloped by the spatial wave, and the enveloping Demon Mist soon hid her from the view of the numerous guards in the square.

—In reality, she remained in her original spot.

After roughly seven or eight minutes.

"Rester, create another spatial wave," Wu Xiaode commanded.

"Alright!"

A distortion in space occurred.

The Demon Mist dispersed, and Wu Xiaode appeared on the square in the form of a Dark Blood Tiger.

The guards observed him from a distance.

A few hesitant guards approached and said, "Council Member, we need to verify your identity now."

The Dark Blood Tiger stared at the guards.

When they verified Skadi’s identity earlier, they had called her "rubbish," only to be countered on the spot by Skadi.

Even as a council attendant, Skadi had not had her identity badge checked.

Killing intent flashed across the Dark Blood Tiger’s face.

—In the underground library of Qin City, his arrogance had been just this pronounced, even uttering such words as, "My worthless brother."

The Dark Blood Tiger let out a muffled roar,

"You dare to check my identity? You’re courting death!"

Without any visible movement, the guards were sent flying, skeletonized mid-air.

Dark Netherworld Grotto Heaven Sealing Hand!

The other guards started to clamor loudly, retreating continuously.

A white-haired, bespectacled old man quietly appeared, blocking the path of the Dark Blood Tiger, and said,

"This is Tao Power—It seems you’ve made some gains in the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm, Arian."

"Of course, otherwise why do you think I dared to return?" Wu Xiaode spoke lazily.

"After you lost to your brother, to survive within the family, didn’t you take on the task to kill Wu Xiaode in the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm?" the old man with white hair said.

"Yeah, I did initially go there to kill," Wu Xiaode agreed.

"Is the task complete?" the white-haired old man asked.

"What do you think?" Wu Xiaode grinned.

The white-haired old man frowned.

The opponent had acquired a rare form of Tao Power, and his attitude had become unpredictable.

"Arian, I’ve watched you grow up, and you’ve always been a sensible kid... after I’ve disciplined you," the old man said.

As he spoke, he leapt forward, surging toward him in an instant.

In the mist, two Demon Gods, the Ghost Queen, and a bone dragon all prepared to strike at any moment.

Wu Xiaode shook his head slightly, signaling everyone to keep calm.

He, however, stepped forward to meet the white-haired old man’s charge.

The white-haired old man sidestepped Wu Xiaode, throwing a hook punch without looking back.

The punch was unremarkable, with no additional force, but it was unexpected and sealed off all of Wu Xiaode’s escape routes.

Good!

The old man had used not even a hint of End powers, clearly just probing.

If Wu Xiaode had used some form of End, Ascension, or Tao Power, he would have seemed somewhat nervous.

Wu Xiaode’s hand, like a trailing shadow, pressed against the punch and said,

"For you, landing such a punch is already the limit of your understanding in a lifetime,"

Crack.

The punch from the white-haired elder exploded into a mist of blood. He tried to dodge with a quick movement but was pursued by Wu Xiaode, who kicked him several times in succession and then punched him, sending him flying dozens of meters away.

After rolling on the ground for a while, the elder stood up and looked at his own bloodied and blurred fist.

"It seems the young master has learned some trifling claw techniques. It looks like I have to use my real skills next," he said.

"Real skills? Old man, when did you become so ignorant and arrogant?"

Wu Xiaode raised his hand.

The drooping eyes of the elder suddenly opened wide, flashing with sharp brilliance.

—It was only at this moment that he realized Wu Xiaode had one hand behind his back, and the other was wrapped in bandages, revealing only one finger.

One finger.

In the entire exchange just now, he had only used one finger!

What an incredible mastery of Martial Arts!

But Arian was originally not skilled in Martial Arts combat.

Human Emperor Zhenwu...

That was the only possibility.

"Hahaha," a pleasant female voice rang out. "Alright, Rovsky, you’re old now. Go attend to the Family Head. Lovely Arian, come to me and tell me about the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm."

The white-haired elder adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and elegantly bowed in the direction of the palace:

"Yes, my lady."

He glanced at Wu Xiaode, his expression suddenly becoming friendly and smiling with squinted eyes:

"Ah, Master Arian, you are now capable of carrying the family’s mantle. This old servant is overwhelmed with excitement!"

Wu Xiaode grinned but said nothing.

—The more one speaks, the more mistakes one could make. Better to say nothing.

Who knows if this old guy is loyal to the Family Head, to Abner, or stands with the lady of the house.

The elder bowed to him too and then vanished in a flash.

Wu Xiaode took confident steps, ascending the steps, heading toward the garden with a familiarity.

Upon entering the garden, he saw the lady of the house.

However, this time, she was not aloof and above; instead, she turned around and looked eagerly at Wu Xiaode.

Her eyes were veiled as if with a layer of mist, enigmatic and beautiful yet inscrutable; the contours of her face were sharp, but they were softened by glittering jewels and wavy long hair, hiding her edge.

Her figure was curvaceous and full, wearing an elegant gown with a slit on the side that revealed a stretch of black silk underneath, yet when you looked into her eyes, you could still feel a superior’s dignified aura.

Wu Xiaode watched her, somewhat at a loss.

—How did Arian use to interact with her?

In such private settings, how did they address each other?

How did they discuss matters?

What was their usual style of conversation?

Who was accustomed to taking the lead, initiating dialogue?

Was he to flatter her eagerly, or maintain distance with respectful deference?

In an instant, numerous thoughts flashed through Wu Xiaode’s mind.

The next moment.

He made a decision.

"Look."

He pointed to the Void between them.

The lady was taken aback, looking in the direction he pointed.

A bronze arm appeared in the Void, emitting a dim flame.

The lady’s eyes flickered, and she walked up, gently touching the bronze arm.

Her expression softened as she whispered, "Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, darkness, sound—this is darkness, representing death and the end."

Wu Xiaode let out a sigh of relief.

This way of conversation avoided their usual interactions and didn’t make her feel out of place.

"Yes, I used it to defeat Caijing, won the trust of the Human Emperor, and received his inheritance," Wu Xiaode said.

The lady looked at him with a complex expression, whispering, "I told you to surrender and save your own life, but you wouldn’t listen, and insisted on taking a gamble in the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm. I was restless, thinking that you were dead."

"It was very dangerous, but I have returned alive," replied Wu Xiaode.

"This moves our plan forward a step. Even though you didn’t defeat your brother, you’ve gained entry to the Human Emperor’s Secret Realm, which is the ’gate’ to the other realms," she said.

A gate?

Wu Xiaode, unaware, didn’t respond but listened intently, indicating he was waiting for the lady to continue.

It was quiet all around.

The lady caressed the bronze hand, silent for a few moments, then suddenly reached out and pulled something from the Void.

"Go, kill your brother, and win the position of Family Head—this is the last chance I can give you."

She handed the object to Wu Xiaode.

—It was a semi-translucent human figure made of glass.

When Wu Xiaode took the glass figurine, the Book of the Dead immediately displayed lines of icy crystal text:

"You have obtained the Disguise Holy Object: Diamond Tears."

"Using this item will turn you into another being and directly replace their destiny, taking you to the place they are supposed to reach."

The lady suddenly leaned in close, whispering in Wu Xiaode’s ear:

"This object has been set to take the form of ’Wu Xiaode.’ Abner is currently dueling with him, and the flow of time there is different from ours."

"Go, impersonate ’Wu Xiaode’ and kill your brother."

"If you can truly achieve this,"

"I will elevate you as the new heir to the family, and in the not-too-distant future—"

She breathed a fragrant and warm breath into Wu Xiaode’s ear.

"I will be yours too."