A Beginning's Continuation

by Tony Tran

  “What?!” Grand Elder Du Zhao flared as he glared at Zhang.

  “A thousand essence stones each and a hundred flying chariots is out of the question but I can give you ten thousand essence stones and two flying chariots instead.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong said in a sincere tone.

  “Ten thousand essence stones and two flying chariots… The chariots alone cost a total of forty thousand essence stones…” The Eighth Elder mumbled as he heard Hua Xiong’s words.

  “If that's all you can give then I won't be the sort of person to try to exhort others. I'll consider us even once I receive the compensation.” Zhang said quickly since he hadn't really expected to get anything at all. He was simply trying to change the situation so, that he appeared to be the one who suffered a loss.

  Without saying another word Grand Elder Hua Xiong took waved his hand and made an interspatial ring appear in his palm. In a flash, the interspatial ring shot through the air and was grasped by Zhang who deposited it into his interspatial ring without bothering to check its contents.

  Throughout the entire time that this transaction took place, all of the elders and disciples of the Lunar Sect stood utterly speechless and dumbfounded as they could not possibly fathom why Grand Elder Hua Xiong would even give Zhang anything. As for Grand Elder Du Zhao, unlike the others he did not appear very stunned at all and his previously angry expression was now gone, leaving him with a cold gaze that he usually had.

  “If you ever visit the Lunar Kingdom please do stop by to visit.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong said in a kind tone, inviting Zhang to visit the Lunar Sect before gesturing for the rest of the forces of the Lunar Sect to begin their departure.

  “If I ever get the opportunity I will be sure to visit.” Zhang said with a smile, thankful that he did not have to fight and endanger the beauties. Such an outcome could be said to be entirely unexpected but a most welcomed one for Zhang, since he not only received a large sum of essence stones he also received two flying magical items for free.

  So, with a grin Zhang made his way back to the pit where the beauties and his people were.

  “It's safe to go now.” He bellowed down into the pit.

  Up above in the sky the forces of the Lunar Sect could be could be seen flying away with two figures leading the way.

  “Brother Hua Xiong why did you give that kid all of those essence stones and even two of our chariots.” Grand Elder Du Zhao said to Grand Elder Hua Xiong as they flew a fair distance away from the rest of their group.

  “Zhao, you need to learn to control that temper of yours, one day it'll end up costing you your life. Tell me what would have come from us battling against a saint of unknown origins who claimed to be a disciple of old man Dan Jin? Let's say we do kill him then we would simply be mocked for bullying a junior. But if he were to kill even one of us or a few of the sect’s elders, then inadvertently we would have caused our sect to suffer a loss in battle potential. Since he did not I click any harm on our people there is no need to fight.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong said to Grand Elder Du Zhao as if he was reprimanding a younger brother.

  “As things are, at least we are able to avoid conflict with him and maybe one day in the future it will pay off. As someone who is two hundred years older than you let me remind you that not all issues must be resolved by violence, only the short sighted instantly resort to killing and slaughtering. The wise plan and set up for the future, only killing when there is no other option. So, if a little bit of wealth can build us a bridge that could be used in the future then it is a worthy investment that could end up yielding endless benefits.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong added.

  “I'll make sure to reflect on this once we return to the headquarters.” Grand Elder Du Zhao said.

  “Now let's go search for the ingredients for the Pill of Rebirth and then return to the headquarters.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong said.

  Having found their missing disciples and elders, the highest priority left to these two grand elders, of course, was to collect ingredients for the Pill of Rebirth for their sect master. As something that will help them stand above all of the other sects within the Lunar Kingdom, the sooner they collected the ingredients for pill and returned to their sect headquarters the better.

  However, before the forces of the Lunar Sect could even begin their search for the ingredients for the pill, something unexpected occurred.

  All of a suddenly thousands of blades made of essence slashed through the sky, cutting through clouds and spaces before smashing into hundreds of the Lunar Sect’s disciples before anything could be done to stop them.

  “I knew we should have killed that bastard!” Grand Elder Du Zhao roared in rage as he witnessed hundreds of his disciples being cut to bits and pieces by the blades of essence. It wasn't because the attacker was so, strong that they could not stop the blades of essence, but it was because their forces were too thinly spread that the two grand elders could not shield everybody in time.

  “You bastard come out of here! I'll skin you alive!” Grand Elder Du Zhao roared while Grand Elder Hua Xiong’s eyes scanned the surrounding area.

  Before long from behind a large cloud, hundreds if not thousands of people dressed in dark red robes could be seen. Much like the disciples and elders of the Lunar Sect, many of these people in red robes were atop of flying chariots or flying demonic beasts. But that was not all because from behind the same cloud another group of people appeared. These people were all dressed in white robes that had brown trim.

  “Sun Hall Sect… Earthly Palace Sect…” Grand Elder Hua Xiong muttered as his brows furrowed.

  “You!!!” Grand Elder Du Zhao roared as he finally realized that it wasn't Zhang who attacked his disciples but rather it was the H people from the Sun Hall Sect and Earthly Palace Sect.

  “My my if it isn't Du Zhao and Hua Xiong, here I thought we might run into some bigger fish.” A man dressed in red robes who a scar shaped like flames on his right cheek laughed.

  “I apologize for accidentally attacking you, I was just having my disciples practice their sword techniques on some clouds.” A bald man dressed in white robes said with a snicker.

  “Enough of the small talk, how did you know we were here!? This couldn't possibly be a coincidence!” Grand Elder Du Zhao said as a lance appeared his hands while a bow appeared in Grand Elder Hua Xiong’s hands.

  “What could you possibly mean? I was simply on a little stroll with a few of my disciples.” The man with the flame shaped scar said causing Du Zhao and Hua Xiong to glare at him with displeased faces.

  “Let's say a little birdy told me.” The bald man from the Earthly Palace Sect said.

  “I guess since you're both going to die anyway there's no point in keeping secrets.” The man with flame shaped scar laughed.

  “There aren't too many secrets out there that a few essence stones or some torturing can't pry.” The man added.

  “Like the man said, enough small talk. Everyone attack!” The bald-headed man yelled as he brandished a long sword in his hand and slashed at the air creating dozens of crescent energy blades that were aimed toward an area in the skill filled with disciples belonging to the Lunar Sect.

  “As you wish, Grand Elder Wu Guo!” All of the people dressed in white said in unison as they began to unleash a fury of attacks.

  “Also, leave no living witnesses.” The man with the flame shaped scar commanded.

  “As you command, Grand Elder Huo Yan!” All of the people dressed in red said as they joined their white-clothed counterparts.

  While their people began to attack, the two grand elders of the Earthly Palace and Sun Hall Sects along with a dozen or so, of other experts began a standoff with Grand Elder Du Zhao, Grand Elder Hua Xiong and a group of their experts. Since in a battle between experts even a single mistake could mean certain death, the two groups simply stood waiting for their opponents to move first as to observe and spot possibly openings.

  In the meantime, the disciples and various low-level elders of the Lu
nar Sect were vastly outnumbered as they combined might of the Sun Hall and Earthly Palace sect fell upon them. As the nearly one-sided battle continued and escalated, even people who were not remotely involved at all were alert, these people, of course, were Zhang, the beauties and the elite guard who were not too far away.

  “Brother look there's a fight happening up there.” Ai said as she pointed to the sky after rising out from the pit that cut deep into the ground atop a fluffy cloud.

  “Let’s get out of here before things get out of hand.” Yuying said as she saw how furiously the two sides were fighting.

  But of course, sometimes, there are things that are unavoidable as a small group consisting of members of the Sun Hall Sect began to descend toward Zhang’s group from the sky with weapons in hand.

  Chapter 87: Ah, My Back!!

  “Be gone… I will not be dragged into your fight.” Zhang’s voice reverberated through the air as he unleashed his powers and exerted a heavy pressure across the area around him choking and compressing upon the group of men dressed in red robes that were charging toward him and the beauties.

  As the pressure that Zhang released enveloped them the disciples of the Sun Hall Sect stopped in their tracks and stood motionless in the air. Realizing that Zhang was, in fact, a saint and upon having an unbelievable of force pressing at them from all sides, they knew that they were absolutely no match for Zhang.

  “It seems our sources were wrong and there's actually one more saint than expected, not that it matters since the addition of a single small fry doesn't mean a thing when we’ve brought twice the number of people they have.” Grand Elder Huo Yan of the Sun Hall Sect snickered as he waved his hand and signaled for a few lesser saints and a full Saint to descend toward where Zhang was.

  “I'll handle them, everyone else head toward where the fortress and stay a safe distance away from the fighting.” Zhang said as his gazed shifted from each one of the beauties and to the faces of some of the elite guard. As things were, it was likely impossible for them to avoid being dragged into the battle so, the best option for Zhang was to have his people and his wives leave so, if needed he could escape on his own without having to be slowed down by moving in a large group of people.

  “Come back soon or else I won't save any leftovers for you to eat.” Ai said before following the others who had begun to move according to Zhang’s orders.

  “Collect their corpses for me, although we won't get much heavenly energy from the lesser saints absorbing a few full saints may allow us to break through.” Yuying said as she tossed the Ruler’s Domain Ring to Zhang so, he could store away the corpses of the saints that he manages to slay.

  As the beauties and elite guard began to depart, Zhang launched himself through the air and toward the group of saints that were aiming to attack him.

  A total of twelve lesser saints and a full saint descended and surrounded Zhang from all sides once they met in midair.

  Since trying to talk his way out of the current situation wasn't an option, with a thought he condensed two crystal blades using the power of the Underworld Heart and rushed toward the nearest lesser saint while extruding an intense amount of bloodlust that caused all of his opponents to be taken back.

  Although Zhang lacked the fundamental basics that were taught to every disciple of a sect, although the number of techniques he knew could be counted with the number of fingers that a person possesses, what he did have was a vast amount of combat experience and an immeasurable amount of bloodlust that most people apart of sects did not.

  As members of prestigious sects there was no real reason to engage in mass slaughter or fight to the bitter end time and time again, but as a general of an army who had carved out an empire from the ashes and corpses of hundreds of thousands of enemies, Zhang’s hands were stained red by the blood of the countless people who fell to his blade.

  “Thank you for your belongings.” Zhang said in a merry tune as arrived behind a lesser saint and plunged his twin swords into the man’s back. As the delicate looking crystal blades pierced through the lesser saint’s body, with a twist of his hands Zhang not only bisected his victim’s body into two but also decapitated the man before anyone could intervene.

  With his kill secured, Zhang activated the power of the Ruler’s Domain and in a flash deposited the fallen saint’s body away before speeding toward another enemy.

  Realizing how powerful Zhang was the saints of the Sun Hall Sect backed off and created some distance between themselves and Zhang while falling into formation.

  Simultaneously they all pointed their swords at Zhang and lashed out with purplish colored flames in the shape of fierce lions. As the purplish lion shaped flames charged through the sky and toward Zhang, his cape that acted as a gate into the abyss fluttered and began to expand.

  Before long the cape wrapped around Zhang’s entire body as dozens of Abyssal Eagles shot out from the darkness and collided with the purplish lion shapes flames.

  Once the Abyssal beasts collided with the flames, they were instantly returned to the shadows while also scattering the purplish flames causing hundreds of fist sizes flames to shower down from the sky before dissipating.

  “Initiate the Heaven Scorcher Formation!” Someone yelled, prompting the members of the Sun Hall Sect that were surrounding Zhang to fill the sky with fire.

  Eleven torrents of flame shot into the heavens and the toward the earth as Zhang found himself within a ring of scorching flames. The combined heat generated by the saints apart of the formation burned away the air and ignited a sea of fire on the ground that threatened to turn Zhang into ashes.

  “I guess now would be the best time to use that technique since they don't have vision on my any longer due to the walls of fire.” Zhang though as eleven slits through space appeared around him.

  Employing the second ability granted to him by the Dragon Heart Necklace, Zhang plunged his swords into the eleven slits that cut through space one after the other.

  “As you can see like that small fry there, you all will fall one after the other.” Grand Elder Huo Yan of the Sun Hall Sect said in a snicker as he watched the dancing flames conjured by his subordinates.

  While smiles appeared on all of the faces of the saints of the Sun Hall Sect and Earthly Palace Sect, scowls appeared on the faces of the saints of the Lunar Sect.

  Being in the desperate situation they were, seeing a possible ally fall was rather disheartening.

  “I didn't practically like him but dragging an innocent bystander into our battle leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” Grand Elder Du Zhao said with a sigh.

  “Looks could be deceiving, what appears to be defeat may actually be a victory.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong said as the torrent of flames that shot into the heavens began to dwindle.

  As the towering flames evaporated, the group of eleven saints from the Sun Hall Sect could be seen levitating in midair before their bodies slumped downward and they began to fall out of the skies.

  But before any of them crashed onto the ground, small portals opened up underneath them and deposited their corpses into the Ruler’s Domain.

  Flabbergasted everyone had a face filled with shock besides Grand Elder Hua Xiong.

  “Since I was involuntarily dragged into their battle, I might as well make them compensate my wasted time.” Zhang said as his gaze was focused on the chaotic battle taking place between the disciples of the three sects.

  Hundreds of demonic beasts, flying war chariots, and countless attacks littered the sky but all Zhang saw were thousands of money bags that were ripe for the picking.

  With money signs in his eyes, Zhang shot through the air with his weapons ready to strike down everyone in his path.

  “Little friend, ten thousand essence stones and ten war chariots along with anything you manage to collect off of the enemies you kill of you agree to help us.” Grand Elder Hua Xiong said with a smile.

  “Deal!” Zhang’s voice could be heard as hundreds of thousands of a
rrows instantaneously were withdrew from his interspatial ring and appeared in the air.

  “Since I was going to kill them all anyway.” Zhang thought as a wicked grin crept onto his face before he waved his hand and made a sea of arrows pierce through the sky.

  As the arrows screamed across the air blocking out the sun, the disciples of the three sects all ceased what they were doing and either fled or tried to shield themselves. Seeing that all of their disciples may end up dead the saints of the Sun Hall and Earthly Palace sect had the entirety of their attention stolen, giving the saints of the Lunar Sect an opportunity to turn things around.

  “Although they too were worried about their disciples, since Zhang’s attack was on such a massive scale, Grand Elder Hua Xiong had secretly used his divine sense to reassure them not to worry.

  So, while some of the saints who were from the Sun Hall or Earthly Palace tried to break off and save their disciples, they found themselves instead being bombarded by attacks from the Lunar Sect.