Chapter 160: Encountering Resistance, Ksitigarbha!

Seeing the Xuanyuan Sword vanish into the void, Xiao Yu and the others did not hesitate for a moment. They leaped outside, soared into the air, and gave chase in the direction the sword had disappeared.

However, the Xuanyuan Sword seemed to be in extreme haste. After pursuing it for over a quarter of an hour, Xiao Yu and the trio still could not catch a glimpse of the blade. Just as the three of them prepared to accelerate and continue the pursuit, several fierce auras suddenly swept out from the void, plunging toward the spot where they stood.

The sudden turn of events startled the three of them, prompting them to instantly maneuver and dodge the strike. Looking up into the void after evading the attack, they found not a single soul in sight.

Right at that moment, a sense of danger washed over them, and with a flash, they retreated to the ground. No sooner had their feet touched the earth than three figures slowly materialized in the void above.

Xiao Yu fixed his gaze on them, and his expression darkened instantly. To his astonishment, none of the three figures were from Yanxia; they were martial artists from the Sakura Country!

The leader among them wielded a long blade emanating a thick, ominous demonic aura, exuding an air of supreme arrogance. Behind him stood two warriors, equally radiating formidable power, holding long sabers and suspended in mid-air. Their gloomy gazes locked ruthlessly onto Xiao Yu and his companions.

"Xiao Yu? We have been waiting for you for a long time."

The man holding the demonic blade looked at Xiao Yu with a smile, speaking in a calm tone.

"Sakura Country martial artists? Who are you?"

Xiao Yu asked with a deep frown.

"Jizang!"

Hearing the newcomer declare himself as Jizang, Xiao Yu could not help but be stunned. Aside from Jizang and the former master of the Divine Palace, he had practically met all of the Sakura Country's secluded grandmasters. This was the very first time he laid eyes on the legendary, myth-shrouded Jizang.

Yet, this was hardly the time to dwell on such matters. He could not comprehend why experts from the Sakura Country would appear in Yanxia, especially coinciding with the attacks on the three major first-rate sects of the Ancient Martial World. Could it be that all of this was connected to the Sakura Country?

"You two should return to your respective sects first to see what has happened. Leave this to me; I can handle it," Xiao Yu whispered to Gu Jian and Lu Yining while keeping his eyes locked on Jizang and his two subordinates.

Both of them were deeply worried about the safety of their sects, and without any polite refusals, they nodded heavily.

"Be careful."

After cautioning Xiao Yu, the two figures flashed away into the distance, vanishing from the scene in the blink of an eye. Strangely, Jizang and his men made no attempt to stop Gu Jian and Lu Yining from leaving. Instead, they kept their focus entirely on Xiao Yu, as if he was their sole target all along.

"Tell me, the borders have always been guarded by the Dragon Group, the Twelve Heavenly Descent Group, and members of the Law Enforcement Hall. No matter how powerful you are, it is impossible to bypass their defenses without a sound. You must have been deliberately let through by someone within these three groups," Xiao Yu said slowly, looking at the three figures in the void. In fact, the very moment Jizang appeared, this thought had crossed his mind, though a part of him had been unwilling to admit it.

"Want to know? I'll tell you once you're dead!"

Jizang sneered. With a wave of his right hand, the two Sakura Country warriors standing behind him instantly vanished into thin air.

Seeing them disappear, Xiao Yu's lips curled into a cold smirk as he said, "Do you take me for a fool? How dare you display your petty ninja arts and try to show off before me!"

The moment his voice fell, Xiao Yu flicked his right wrist, and a long sword materialized in his hand. With a fierce pivot, he thrust the sword backward. At the same time, he lashed out with a kick, forcing one of the Sakura Country warriors to materialize and fly backward in a rapid retreat.

Immediately afterward, Xiao Yu flashed forward to a spot not far away, employing the exact same tactic to force the second ninja slowly into view before his eyes.

The long sword in Xiao Yu's hand pierced straight through the warrior's chest. A stream of bright red blood welled up and poured continuously. With a single palm strike, Xiao Yu sent the man flying. Both warriors crashed to the ground, convulsed twice, and completely ceased breathing.

The two assassins who had ambushed Xiao Yu were both at the Ninja Emperor level. In the past, dealing with two Ninja Emperors might have strained him somewhat, but now, it was no longer a difficult task.

Witnessing the death of his two subordinates, Jizang showed no sign of anger. A faint smile still lingered on his face as he watched Xiao Yu.

Suddenly, that gentle smile froze into absolute ice. Gripping his demonic blade, Jizang pointed it straight at Xiao Yu. In the next second, his figure flashed across the space, appearing directly in front of Xiao Yu. Wielding the blade high above his head, he slashed down ruthlessly.

Xiao Yu's expression shifted drastically. From Jizang's disappearance to his reappearance, Xiao Yu had not even had time to react. It was only when the demonic qi assaulted his senses that he managed to move hastily to the side.

A powerful blade aura crashed down upon the spot where Xiao Yu had just been standing, instantly splitting the earth into a long, deep fissure. The might of a single strike was truly terrifying.

"The martial artists of your Sakura Country always claim that Feng Qingge and Ming Ji are the top martial artists in the Sakura Country. Although I do not know Ming Ji's true strength, it is quite obvious that you are much stronger than Feng Qingge."

Xiao Yu stroked the sword in his hand while speaking calmly. At the same time, the aura surrounding him steadily climbed. He held not the slightest shred of contempt for Jizang, for the title of the foremost martial artist was never earned undeservedly.

"I have heard Feng Qingge mention you. You are strong—so strong that someone like him was forced to retreat without a fight. But what I, Jizang, love most is dueling with experts. Today, allow me to witness firsthand just how capable Yanxia's top Battle King truly is!"

As Jizang finished speaking, an overwhelmingly powerful aura surged into the heavens. Instantly, a terrifying force cascaded down from the highest vault of the sky, completely enveloping Xiao Yu. The destructive pressure felt as though it would tear the very space apart, and fine cracks spread at an astonishing rate around Xiao Yu, ultimately weaving into a massive net that trapped him entirely.

Simultaneously, the moment the net enclosed Xiao Yu, a deafening explosion resounded. The net binding him shattered instantly, transforming into wild, raging forces that swept outward into the surrounding skies.

Having landed his initial blow, Jizang simply stood quietly in place, gripping his demonic blade without pursuing the advantage. Although he was supremely confident in his technique, he knew deep down that Xiao Yu would not fall so easily.

A gentle breeze swept past, scattering the white mist generated by the explosion, and Xiao Yu's figure slowly emerged once more in Jizang's field of vision.

Just as Jizang had anticipated, Xiao Yu had not sustained any severe injuries from the attack. Orbiting protectively around Xiao Yu was an ancient-looking long sword, and his body was now cloaked in a thick layer of refined elemental energy.

The instant Jizang launched his assault, realizing he had no time to evade, Xiao Yu had instantly condensed a powerful surge of elemental energy to shield himself. Without that protective barrier, he certainly would not have emerged completely unscathed.

"The blade in your hand must be Muramasa, the premier demonic sword of the Sakura Country. Rumor has it that you were a disciple of the Onmyoji lineage, and you only left the Onmyodo because you refused to continue serving the imperial family. I can only wonder how your strength compares to that of Abe no Harutsuka," Xiao Yu said flatly, before waving his right hand to grasp the sword hovering beside him.

With the sword now in his grip, Xiao Yu exuded a razor-sharp presence so fierce that even Jizang could not help but sidelong glance at him, his gaze turning grave and solemn.