Chapter 92: The Baptism of the Sun, Moon, and Stars' Power

A burst of laughter had barely faded when an aged figure slowly appeared in the void. His arrival was utterly silent, so quiet that even Jiang Chao failed to notice it.

When Xiao Yu below saw that indistinct silhouette, his expression instantly grew excited. It was none other than his master, the honorary leader of the Martial Alliance, and the undisputed foremost figure in the martial world of Flame Summer: Kong Wudao.

"Kong Wudao, your nose really is sharp. I only just got here, and you were already on my trail," Jiang Chao said with a cold snort.

"Come now, it's been so long since we last met. Shouldn't we sit down and catch up properly? Don't you think so, Brother Ruthless?" Kong Wudao smiled, speaking toward the empty space beside him.

"Indeed. Wudao speaks reasonably. We are, after all, people of the same generation. To live until today and still be able to see old friends from the past—what fortune is that?"

A voice rang out from nowhere. Then, a white-haired elder in a black robe slowly appeared beside Kong Wudao. This man was the Ruthless One Kong Wudao had mentioned.

"I never expected both of you to come," Jiang Chao said, frowning as he looked at the two of them, his tone turning solemn.

He had originally thought that his arrival alone would be enough to intimidate Xiao Yu. But now it was clear the situation was different. He knew the relationship Kong Wudao and the Ruthless One had with Xiao Yu; if he were to move against Xiao Yu, the two of them would surely strike at him without the slightest hesitation.

Their strength was not far below his own. If a fight truly broke out, the one who would suffer loss would only be him. At that thought, Jiang Chao could only glare fiercely at Xiao Yu.

"Let’s go!" Jiang Chao waved his hand and said to Wang Bo and the others behind him.

"Hall Master, Xiao Yu killed Elder Meng. Are we just going to let this go?" Wang Bo said unwillingly.

"And what would you have us do? The four vice hall masters already informed us of what happened by secret art. The order you received was clearly to invite Xiao Yu back to the Enforcement Hall properly, but look at what this has turned into. This is nothing but your own private grudge at work!" Jiang Chao said coldly, his eyes fixed on Wang Bo.

Wang Bo was frightened by that icy gaze and did not dare breathe loudly. He could only lower his head, then with a flicker of motion, descend into the deep pit to lift Meng Tong's corpse before returning to Jiang Chao's side.

As for Meng Tong, Jiang Chao had originally regarded him highly. After all, to become a Nascent Soul cultivator at such a young age was no small feat. Moreover, Meng Tong came from a prominent family in the cultivation world, and Jiang Chao had even once considered taking him as a disciple. Yet during this meeting, he had never expected Meng Tong to die by Xiao Yu's hand.

"Xiao Yu! This matter will not end here. You killed a genius of my Enforcement Hall. Even Kong Wudao and the Ruthless One cannot protect you!"

Jiang Chao said coldly to Xiao Yu. Then with a sweep of his hand, he and Wang Bo vanished instantly into the void.

Xiao Yu paid no heed to Jiang Chao's departing threat. Since the moment Kong Wudao and the Ruthless One appeared, his attention had remained fixed on the two of them.

"Master." Xiao Yu slowly rose into the air and came before the two men, greeting them respectfully. Though he had long grown arrogant enough to put little regard into the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, toward Kong Wudao and the Ruthless One, he held genuine reverence from the heart.

"Brat, two years without seeing you, and you've become even more outstanding. It seems this old man's judgment remains as good as ever," Kong Wudao said, stroking his beard with evident satisfaction as he looked at Xiao Yu.

"Brat, don't take that old fellow's words to heart. We martial practitioners are upright men who stand tall against heaven and earth. Whatever is in your heart, do it. As for us two old fossils, we can still move our bones a little," the Ruthless One said carelessly, with none of the bearing one might expect from a revered elder.

Looking at the two old men before him, who bore no blood relation to him yet treated him with such meticulous care, Xiao Yu's eyes reddened for the first time, though he forcibly held back his tears.

"All right, brat. Don't get so sentimental in front of us. Remember what your Ruthless Master said: even if the sky falls, we'll hold it up for you," Kong Wudao said with a smile.

"I can tell you seem to be injured. Since we're both here today, let us help you heal. Otherwise, the next time you encounter a truly formidable opponent, I'm afraid you won't be so lucky."

As he finished speaking, the Ruthless One waved his hand. A beam of light descended from the void and landed upon Xiao Yu. Sensing that gentle force, Xiao Yu did not resist at all. Instead, he closed his eyes, sat cross-legged in midair, and began to absorb it.

After about ten minutes, Xiao Yu still showed no sign of recovery. This caused Kong Wudao to be somewhat puzzled. But once he understood why Xiao Yu was behaving this way, shock could not help but rise in his heart.

"You old fossil, this brat is actually absorbing your stellar power. His胆子 is truly enormous." Though Kong Wudao said this, a smile appeared on his face.

"It will be fine. My Stellar Tempering Spirit Art was already learned by him to a fairly complete extent two years ago. This little bit of stellar power will not be hard for him to digest," the Ruthless One said indifferently.

"In that case, I shall lend him a hand as well. I hope that under the power of our sun, moon, and stars, this brat can create a miracle and fully release the force hidden within him."

After speaking, Kong Wudao murmured something under his breath, sounding like both a spell and a mnemonic, while his hands continuously moved before his chest. When his gestures came to a stop, a dazzling light suddenly flashed across the heavens. At Kong Wudao's pointing motion, that blinding radiance immediately fell toward Xiao Yu and then merged with the light summoned by the Ruthless One, enveloping Xiao Yu entirely.

Within the embrace of this combined power, Xiao Yu's utterly motionless body finally began to tremble faintly. His expression also turned somewhat ferocious, as if he were enduring some immense agony.

After a long while, Xiao Yu at last absorbed the force wrapped around his body into himself. The moment that power vanished, he abruptly opened his eyes, lifted his head slightly, and a howl that cut across the sky instantly echoed through the entire firmament.

"Ah!"

Seeing the aura now radiating from Xiao Yu, Kong Wudao and the Ruthless One both revealed satisfied smiles. Then the two exchanged a glance, their figures gradually fading before disappearing into the void.