The World’s Dazzling Talent - Demolition Demon
Golden Crow Moon Eater Manual was a special manual Gold and Silver Sect's ancestor formulated for the sake of trying to rule martial arts. To be precise, he was focused mainly on competing against Hero Shenzhou.
Golden Crow Moon Eater Manual possessed immense potential and was very profound. It empowered one to mix and match styles with totally different foundations, origins and even opposing key points. Usually, this wasn't possible for a single person to achieve. Once the practitioner was able to take it to its absolute maximum potential, they could even immediately replicate a style they just saw. The manual went on to become what Gold and Silver Sect was most reputable for in terms of martial arts.
There was never a shortage of bizarre styles in the pugilistic world. Schools created styles that were designed to conquer other style or certain aspects. For instance, trying to master a dao and Buddhist style simultaneously was extremely challenging. As another example, orthodox and unorthodox styles were markedly challenging to try and master simultaneously. Gold Crow Moon Eater Manual eliminated those clashes and melded the various styles together. Nobody had ever done that before. The accomplishment also contributed to the reasons they were crowned as one of the Seven Champion White Princes.
Despite sounding very flexible, as you might now assume, its mental cultivation was preposterously rigid. It insisted on following a set development route. As such, all those who trained in Golden Crow Moon Eater were always addicted to two things, namely women and pills.
Owing to Golden Crow Moon Eater's rigid mental cultivation approach, they were able to combine multiple styles together - which meant that the more advanced they were, the more they needed to regulate their Yin and Yang Qis. That was the reason Huo Clan was absolutely necessary to them, for they could provide their Taiyin Pills and women. That being said, that applied to only the average practitioners of the manual.
A modest number of those who had the right to practice the manual would be in the hundreds. Those who mastered its full potential, however, were far and few between.
The reason the manual was called Golden Crow Moon Eater was connected to Pacify the World Blade, Golden Crow Moon Eater. As a reminder, The Seven Dynasty-Founding Blades all had unique attributes. Golden Crow Moon Eater was given its name due to a very frightening attribute that it had. Said ability was absorbing one's internal energy.
It didn't absorb internal energy to boost the wielder's attributes. Instead, it turned the blade into the wielder. In essence, it could steal its enemy's internal energy, and use it to boost one's own attack power. However, Gold and Silver Sect's ancestor used it in a different way.
When Gold and Silver Sect's ancestor invented Golden Crow Moon Eater, he was inspired by the blade. So accordingly, the qi control method bore a striking resemblance to the way the blade absorbed other's internal energy.
Once one reached the peak of Golden Crow Moon Eater Manual, if the enemy also used it, then whoever wielded Golden Crow Moon Eater could absorb the other's internal energy for themselves.
Because Gold and Silver Sect's ancestor possessed superior internal energy that was rarely ever matched, he originally only used the absorption method as a means of punishing traitors. Practicing it for combat did more harm than good.
Due to the overbearing nature of the manual, if the user was to add another's internal energy into the mix, they may have more energy than they could control. The consequence of that would be enhanced physical attributes at the cost of losing their mind. They would turn into a fighting machine that would only be capable of that, fighting.
In Gold and Silver Sect's history, they were faced with extermination numerous times. Each time, the patriarch would be forced to sacrifice disciples to bring the killing machine under control. The killing machine was called Golden Crow Demolition Demon.
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"Get moving."
A stocky man irritably gave the weak Jin Wangsun a shove, leading to the latter staggering and nearly tripping. His long hair covered his face. The guard cursed as he pestered Jin Wangsun to move. Interestingly, the guard wore his uniform slovenly. The guard was none other than Long Zaitian, who guarded the imperial palace's main doors before.
Two members of the Seventeen Hidden Dragons were assigned as Jin Wangsun's escorts. One was rank fourteen, Unbreakable, Bai Laimu, who was from the Emperor's entourage and ranked fourteenth. The other escort was rank seventeen's The Dragon That Soars the Sky, Long Zaitian.
The new rankings saw Heaven Shocker Holy Hands rise to sixteenth place. Meanwhile, Long Zaitian was assigned the spare seat. In addition, he had to run errands for the Emperor during his free time. People in the imperial court started conspiracy theories about Long Zaitian's fall from grace. According to them, he supposedly offended someone he shouldn't have. Though Long Zaitian was usually arrogant to a degree, he was a descendant of family of government officials, implying they knew what to say and what not to say. That was why they didn't dare to guess who he offended. In the end, they had no choice but to blame Liu Shan's Plague.
Now that's addressed, let us address Former Vice-Captain Long's frustration and anger. He was on guard duty at the door for two days straight, including on New Year's Eve's night. When he was finally allowed to go home, Eunuch Wang approached him and ordered him to escort Jin Wangsun…
Great Long Zaitian was furious! Jin Wangsun was an eyesore to him; therefore, after hearing that Jin Wangsun allegedly deceived the Emperor and was going to lose his patriarch seat, he made sure to take every advantage he could to kick the downed man, and let him know the great Long Zaitian was still the wolf warrior.
With a sigh, Long Zaitian poked Jin Wangsun in the head repetitively while braying: "Hey, does Gold and Silver Sect not feed you or something? Why are you so slow? What are you keeping your head down all the time for? I'm talking to you! Hey, hey, hey!! Answer me!"
Jin Wangsun put up with all of Long Zaitian's abuse in silence. Long Zaitian, on the other hand, relished the joy of poking Jin Wangsun. At the same time, he was looking for something to give Jin Wangsun more grief about. However, the man next to him intervened: "Officer Long, he is a criminal but has a special status, nonetheless. I do not think your behaviour is appropriate, wouldn't you agree?"
The man who spoke up was in his early twenties. He was a handsome man with a lanky appearance. He had his trusted broadsword by his waist. His tone was polite; however, his attitude didn't align, and he was stern. That said, he seemed laid back. He was the man with the alias "Unbreakable". He was rank fourteen on The Seventeen Hidden Dragons' rankings, Bai Laimu. He was young, true, but he hailed from a respectable clan, namely one of the Seven Champion White Princes, Canyon of Yearning's Bai Clan. He established himself as the lightning-fast broadsword wielder in the pugilistic world. They called nicknamed him "Gale Slasher".
He may have resembled a scholar, but he was not a pushover. The fact that he ranked higher than Long Zaitian said something. Either of them could match Jin Wangsun, which was why they were assigned.
Long Zaitian giddily chuckled: "Young Hero Bai, his crime is deceiving His Majesty. Do you realise how mad the Emperor is with him? I'm giving him some grief to vent on behalf of His Majesty. Why do you want to stick up for him?"
"All right, then." Bai Laimu smiled. A witty idea came to mind: "In saying that, what if he has some sort of ailment afterwards or gets hurt? If His Majesty questions people and finds out you were responsible, how much do you think you will have to shoulder?"
Jin Wangsun's crime was directly connected to the Emperor. The Emperor never mentioned what he'd do with Jin Wangsun. Jin Wangsun's status was rather special. It, therefore, was unlikely the Emperor would have him executing. Poisoning him and then explaining that he was sick, and therefore would be recuperating at the capital for a year or half a decade was a plausible plan, though. If Long Zaitian gave Jin Wangsun grief now and news of it reached the Emperor, the former would turn into a scapegoat.
Long Zaitian believed that logic of his to be sound the more he contemplated it: "Young Hero Bai, surely you jest. This one never hit him. It was clearly he who tripped."
Long Zaitian then stood properly next to Jin Wangsun, looked at him and pretended as though he never touched him.
Bai Laimu couldn't resist the urge to shake his head. He then turned to Jin Wangsun: "Master Jin, we are in charge of escorting you, so we will treat you fairly and justly. We will not harm or insult you. Having said that, we need you to cooperate. If you try to run away or try anything inappropriate, then we are sorry. His Majesty clearly stated that the two of us have permission to kill. I, therefore, would like to ask you to cooperate.
Jin Wangsun hid his face behind his hair and responded, "Uhm."
Bai Laimu responded, "Great."
The group slowly headed back to the place Jin Wangsun stayed. It was formerly surrounded by Shuntian Prefecture's men and patrolled by Qilin Guards and Liu Shan Men's supervisors inside, but they were all recalled before today. Nevertheless, guards were outside when they arrived. Clearly, the Emperor had plans to deal with Jin Wangun. Many of his adepts were inside. The Emperor had his men seize the place after Jin Wangsun entered the palace. Gold and Silver Sect's family slaves and martial arts adepts were all apprehended, restrained and thrown into the filthy firewood room.
Jin Wangsun's family slaves didn't panic when they saw him. As Gold and Silver Sect's slaves, they had to be considerate and prioritise their master. They knew Jin Wangsun's relationship with the imperial court was of utmost importance. Accordingly, they obediently allowed themselves to be apprehended when the imperial court's members arrested them. They, however, never imagined Jin Wangsun would also be apprehended.
Jin Wangsun sent his slaves an eye signal. Those who saw it shuddered. They revealed melancholic expressions. Long Zaitian wanted to put Jin Wangsun in a separate room; however, Jin Wangsun suddenly bellowed, "Long Zaitian, I'm done taking shit from you!"
He leapt up and aimed a punch toward Long Zaitian's nose! Being fast as he was, Long Zaitian wouldn't let Jin Wangsun, who also couldn't access his internal energy for the meantime, land his punch. He performed a chopping motion toward Jin Wangsun's arm, but the latter altered the trajectory, causing Long Zaitian to miss. Jin Wangsun's technique was Night Net Book's The Shoulder Belongs to Me Grand Art, the derivative of Daluo's Empty Palms.
Owing to his lack of internal energy, Jin Wangsun's palm attack lacked its usual lustre. He circled around Long Zaitian's arm to hit Long Zaitian on the left cheek. It lacked any internal strength, so it didn't hurt. Still, it was a sonorous slap.
You could imagine the look on Long Zaitian's face after he was caught by someone without any internal energy: "That one was free!"
Long Zaitian front kicked Jin Wangsun straight into the firewood room.
Bai Laimu drew his broadsword and raced over and held it up to Jin Wangsun's neck: "I warned you! If you resist, you will be killed! Master Jin, are you ignoring this one's warnings?!"
Jin Wangsun struggled to lift his head. He snickered: "Young Hero Bai, you are impartial; for that, Jin Wangsun admires you. However, Officer Long is taking his bullying too far. Jin Wangsun is a man with pride. How can Jin Wangsun allow him to just insult Jin Wangsun?"
Bai Laimu said to himself, "So it was an emotional response. They say the Qilin Guards are overbearing and unreasonable. I see that there is truth to it. Troublemakers."
Jin Wangsun then added, "This one admits to his wrongs. If His Majesty wishes to punish this one, this one will be happy to oblige. However, that does not give others the right to assume His Majesty's authority as his own. Jin Wangsun has always wholeheartedly served the imperial court. The heavens can prove Jin Wangsun's innocence. Time will prove everything."
Bai Laimu sheathed his broadsword then helped Jin Wangsun up. He was impressed with Jin Wangsun, reason being the latter maintained his refined conduct despite having charges pressed against him and was placed under arrest.
Jin Wangsun was quite hurt by Long Zaitian's kick. He had to lean on the table and chair. He couldn't move; he panted quite heavily. His face was bright red, which was a sign of him suffering an internal injury.
Bai Laimu said, "Master Jin has suffered an injury. As such, there is no need to find him a room. Let him rest here."
"Stop!" interjected Long Zaitian, startled. He cursed, "Don't you try feigning ignorance to bullshit me, you shifty worm."
Long Zaitian yanked Jin Wangsun out with one arm.
Bai Laimu and Jin Wangsun were both rendered dumbstruck, but Long Zaitian blustered, "My eyes have been refined in the former Emperor's furnace, you smart ass! You've been acting dubiously ever since we entered. Your gaze has been focused on those crook slaves of yours ever since. You deliberately provoked me into kicking your sorry ass into the firewood room so that you could be locked together with your cronies. If my suspicions about your trying to pull some shit are wrong, I'll change my official surname to Dagang (Big Vat) to match yours!"
Bai Laimu might've been young, but he wasn't stupid. When he weighed what Long Zaitian said with what transpired, he found that Long Zaitian's reasoning was perfectly sound. See, if Jin Wangsun wanted to lash out, why choose the moment they reached the firewood room of all times? Would there really be something so perfectly coincidental in real life? It was fishy.
"That is blatant slander!" argued Jin Wangsun, trying to break free of Long Zaitian's hold while his face was still red. He fumed, "I, Jin Wangsun, have nothing to be guilty of! If you don't believe me, I shall kill them to prove my loyalty to His Majesty!"
Jin Wangsun tried to snatch Golden Crow Moon Eater from Bai Laimu all of a sudden. Unsurprisingly, the latter stopped him. Jin Wangsun seemed to be blinded by his rage. He ignored Bai Laimu's hold on it and dragged the latter along as he swung it down onto his slave!
Pacify the World Blade was renowned for its sharp edge. Despite Bai Laimu's quick reaction and backward yank, the blade already sliced into the servant's skull, splattering his blood on the ground. Never in Bai Laimu's wildest imagination did he think Jin Wangsun would actually kill one of his own at the drop of a hat. He was stunned by the sudden kill. Meanwhile, Jin Wangsun impaled the servant's corpse with the blade. He wore a freaky smile on his blood-stained face.
"Are you crazy?!"
Bai Laimu felt a chill down his spine. He moulded energy to try and snatch Golden Crow Moon Eater back to no avail. He increased his output by a third, but it still wouldn't budge. In what shape or form was that the state of a man without the ability to use his internal energy?
"You!!"
Long Zaitian belted, "What a son of a bitch!"
Wasting no time with words, Long Zaitian launched a punch toward Jin Wangsun's face. The latter had his two hands on Golden Crow Moon Eater, and therefore copped the full brunt of Long Zaitian's punch that sent him stumbling. He was tall; he wasn't shorter than Long Zaitian for sure, but the punch sent him far as if he couldn't stand the force. Nevertheless, he kept a vice-like grip on Golden Crow Moon Eater.
Jin Wangsun fell into the pile of firewood; however, he managed to jump to his feet as if it didn’t even tickle.
Bai Laimu drew his broadsword and got into his guard stance. He shouted, “He has regained his strength! Officer Long, be careful!”
Long Zaitian could tell that things didn’t bode well. He clenched his fists and prepared to use his signature Song of Everlasting Regret Fist.
The two hidden dragons were prepared for combat.
Jin Wangsun didn't even spare them a glance. Instead, he stabbed his sabre through another family slave. His face was red enough for one to suspect it might implode, yet he didn't seem to suffer any discomfort in the slightest. If anything, his smile resembled one of a maniac under the influence of some drug.
Even more bizarre was that the family slave he just thrust his sabre in didn't show any pain. His slave appeared as though he knew it was coming. He looked nonchalant despite death awaiting him. Afterwards, however, the slave groaned tragically for a short moment. The pain wasn't one he could overcome just by calming his mind. Jin Wangsun didn't let him die so peacefully.
The spot the slave was impaled began to shrink similarly to a scene of someone having their blood and life essence sucked out of them. Very soon, he was just a dry corpse. The other corpse was also in an identical state.
Long Zaitian and Bai Laimu both felt a chill down their spin. They were both seasoned veterans of the pugilistic world. It was the first time they witnessed some so unorthodox and freaky, nevertheless. To add, it was one of the Seven Champion White Princes who did it.
Golden Crow Moon Eater's blade began to glow demonically as if it was nourished. Jin Wangsun swung his sabre, littering the air he sliced with blood and unleashed a gale at the same time. Bai Laimu and Long Zaitian were both surprised that they almost lost their balance.
"This is the pinnacle of Golden Crow Moon Eater Manual. It's called Golden Crow Demolition Demon. Not only have I regained my strength but also increased it beyond what I previously had," explained Jin Wangsun.
Jin Wangsun's red face turned redder. With a villainous smile, he asked, "So, who's first?"
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Princess Hongzhuang and her sister went to search for their father on their own, since he didn't return after their conversation. Unexpectedly, their father had already returned to Yangxin Palace. He wasn't surprised they went to see him, either. To be fair, he knew his daughters.
Among his three daughters, Jingan was the most accomplished, while his youngest daughter was doted on most. For some reason, nonetheless, he felt Hongzhuang resembled him most. There was a time he was as driven as she was.
"You've come, Hongzhuang."
"Father… I…"
"Hahaha, I know you have many question on your mind, correct? Come over and have some tea with me. I'll explain it to you."
The Emperor then recounted Jin Wangsun's deeds, his set up to convict Jin Wangsun and the reasons for the various events to Hongzhuang.
Hongzhuang was stunned when she heard the entire story. It never occurred to her that there were so many intricacies, twists and turns. Jin Wangsun wanted to marry her to receive the imperial court's assistance; she knew that. What she didn't know was that there was already a contest for power in the martial world far away. She also didn't know her father was involved with it.
"Also," said the Emperor, stroking his beard. "Hong'er, I can tell that you don't like Jin Wangsun, nor do you want to marry him. Obviously, I don't want to betroth you to the useless Ming Feizhen, either. Only those two and I know the results of today's contest. Jin Wangsun has fallen from power. I'll give Ming Feizhen his warning tomorrow. Thus, your betrothal is cancelled. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, you'll be able to find a suitable husband."
"I am not worried about that. I am not very eager to be married. I want to continue pursuing mastery of the sabre."
That being said, she was strangely disappointed to learn that her marriage to Ming Feizhen was cancelled. At the end of the day, she hadn't confirmed his identity yet.
The Emperor started rambling. Hong'er was a strong-headed and loved sabre arts since she was a child. If she really went off as a wanderer to pursue the pinnacle of sabre arts, she might've ended up dying as a lonely woman. She didn't want that.
The two conversed for a while. Hongzhuang then asked, "Jin Wangsun and his subordinate, A Hu, are both skilled and should not be underestimated. Father, will two people really be enough?"
The Emperor chuckled: "Hong'er, don't underestimate the two I sent. Bai Laimu may be young, but his skills with a broadsword sit among the top-tier. He is from no accounts inferior to Jin Wangsun. Long Zaitian looks abrasive no the surface, but, in reality, he's courageous and meticulous. He is unquestionably talented. A Hu has surrendered himself. Therefore, the two of them can definitely escort Jin Wangsun, who has lost his internal energy, without any hurdles."
"Reporting!" said Eunuch Wang, hurriedly running into the palace out of the blue.
"Your Majesty, we have trouble!"
"What is it, Wang Tushui? It's the middle of the night; this is unbecoming."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty, your servant has neglected the formalities," replied Eunuch Wang, panic-stricken. "But this is a serious problem, Your Majesty. J-Jin Wangsun suddenly went mad at his guesthouse. He snatched Golden Crow Moon Eater, freed his subordinates and dozens of other warriors. He has gone on a massacre! By the time backup arrived, he already escaped with his subordinates. He has reportedly gone off to Liu Shan Men!"
Glossary
*Wolf Warrior - A new term in Chinese used as English's equivalent of "Like a boss," or "Like a soldier" and so forth.
**Long Zaitian's Refined Eyes Joke - I didn't realise people missed it, but it seems we don't have many xianxia readers here. Anyway, oftentimes in xianxia, characters refined pills in cauldrons/furnaces. This is also referenced in some wuxia/history/war genre stories with the immortality pursuers. The aim of refining the pills in cauldrons was to power them up. Long Zaitian is, therefore, trying to say he has a pair of all-seeing eyes.
***Yangxin Palace - Literally Palace of Tranquillity.
