Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 2156: Chapter 2153: Single-Minded Martial Arts

In the boudoir.

Xiao Yi had already sat up, leaning against the bed, taking a deep breath.

He was adapting to and accepting the pain brought by the external injuries all over his body.

After a while, Xiao Yi breathed out lightly, glanced at Yiyi beside him, and noticed that Yiyi slightly frowned, a hint of urgency appearing faintly on her face.

"What’s wrong?" Xiao Yi asked softly.

Yiyi shook her head, "Nothing."

But it was evident that her slender, delicate hands were grasping the corner of her garment, fiddling with it.

"You think you can fool me?" Xiao Yi chuckled, "Have you forgotten how exceptionally intelligent your young master is?"

Yiyi hesitated for a moment but still shook her head, "Young master is injured; let’s wait until you’ve recovered before discussing this."

Xiao Yi smiled, patted the bedding beside him, and sniffed.

The bedding carried a faint fragrance.

"This is your boudoir, right?" Xiao Yi asked.

Yiyi nodded.

Xiao Yi chuckled lightly, "I heard that the Saint Lord dotes especially on you, the Holy Daughter."

"The Holy Heart Hall is the first palace of the Holy Moon Sect, apart from the Holy Moon Hall."

"That means this is the Holy Heart Hall, and I’m still within the Holy Moon Sect."

"Considering my enmity with the Holy Moon Sect, it’s surprising that I’m still here in the Holy Moon Sect, even on the bed of the esteemed Holy Daughter."

"Ha." Xiao Yi’s eyes flashed with complacency, "This also signifies that the Holy Moon Sect cannot control me now; to be precise, the Holy Moon Sect can’t even control itself."

"This place is the Holy Moon Sect’s territory, yet they can’t control me."

"It seems that the Eight Palaces have sealed this place."

"Thus, what you’re currently worried about is this matter."

Yiyi’s beautiful eyes widened, repeatedly flickering; her young master truly was exceptionally intelligent, easily guessing her concerns.

"You can share now," Xiao Yi teased with a smile, "Unless I have to endure my injuries and keep guessing?"

"Yiyi wouldn’t dare." Yiyi repeatedly shook her head, lowered her head, and murmured softly, "The eight senior hall masters have now sealed the entire sect."

"Sixty thousand elites from each hall have not left, sealing the end of the space."

"Everyone within the Holy Moon Sect, including the Hidden Hundred Families, cannot leave."

Yiyi’s head lowered even further, her voice becoming more complex.

Xiao Yi shook his head, just about to say something.

Knock knock...

The door of the boudoir suddenly knocked.

From outside the room came eight heavy breaths.

The Asura Hall Master knocked again and was the first to push the door open and enter.

"Kid, you’re awake." The Asura Hall Master was full of smiles, nowhere near the cold battle aura from earlier in the hall.

"Hall Master." Xiao Yi called out, intending to rise and pay respects.

"Hey, hey, hey, no need." The Asura Hall Master pressed down with one hand, saying in a deep voice.

The gentle yet solid palm power slowly pressed Xiao Yi back onto the bed.

"We are aware of your severe injuries, so there’s no need for such formalities."

"It’s not serious." Xiao Yi shook his head, his injuries had stabilized, and he just needed to recover slowly.

Aside from the pain, there was no other impact.

Xiao Yi generally didn’t care about such things.

The other seven hall masters entered one by one.

Xiao Yi looked at everyone, his face returning to its usual coldness.

Those clear eyes were cold once more.

"Xiao Yi kid..."

"Yi Xiao kid..."

"Xiao Xun kid..."

The eight elders clearly noticed the changes in Xiao Yi’s face and eyes.

They wanted to say something, but when the words reached their mouths, they paused.

For the Asura and Fengsha hall masters, this young man before them, whom they had always been familiar with, was lost once and now regained.

He was their hope; they had been enraged and almost despaired.

This young man returned in an even more terrifying manner, stepping forcefully into the Legend, and aggressively entering the Holy Moon Sect.

They had rejoiced but were later extremely worried.

This young man fell into captivity, battling the Hidden Hundred Families without losing ground, but he was ultimately in a perilous situation.

Now, this young man was unharmed, and they felt a sense of relief.

The series of twists and turns made them sigh heavily.

And for the hall masters of the Demon Hunting Three Halls, the images in their minds were more about Yi Xiao.

The masked, well-dressed figure, with a formidable fire control skill, unparalleled strength, and a cold yet extremely stubborn character.

The words ’If I violate the Eight Palaces’ ironclad rules, it will be a monstrous crime’ remain vivid in memory.

Despite being a young man, he could interact with them, the legends of the current era, with ease and even engage in mutual ’calculations,’ competing fiercely.

These images remain vivid in memory.

But even more so is seven days ago when the three of them delivered three palms, striking this familiar figure, who spat mouthfuls of blood, and weakly yet disappointedly questioned, ’Still fighting?’.

For Senior Luoo and the three others, their feelings could be described as a mix of emotions.

The young man in black robes, with a fearsome appearance yet strong and defiant, had brought them countless surprises and delights during the past six months.

They were extremely satisfied and regarded him as their hope.

The three of them also reminisced countless memories.

How this young man initially contradicted them, had no feelings toward them, and even was unwilling to interact with them at all.

And how this young man suddenly bowed to them half a month ago.

’If one day I’m gone, or die.’

Of course, the most complex feelings were held by Senior Luoo.

The name "Xiao Yi" was already full of complexities for him.

And when the identities of Xiao Xun and Xiao Yi overlapped, the torment reached its peak.

The young man in the black robe had repeatedly refused him this past half year, often making him so angry that he fumed. He now understood the reasons.

At this moment, the eight were speechless, and the atmosphere became awkward once again.

After a while, it was the Medicine Venerate Master who first spoke, taking a few steps forward to the bedside, "Little girl, stand to the side for now."

"Yes, Senior." Yiyi stood up and obediently retreated to the side.

"Come, let this old man take a look for you." The Medicine Venerate Master’s hand, aged yet gentle, rested on Xiao Yi’s hand.

After sensing for a while with closed eyes, the Medicine Venerate Master nodded.

His perception was naturally far deeper than Senior Swordswoman and others.

"The injuries are basically harmless now, but you mustn’t become lax; many wounds are seriously grave, even if they are stabilized now, they must not relapse."

"Several of the wounds, if they flare up again, will inevitably leave lasting repercussions in the future; it will be to your detriment."

Xiao Yi nodded indifferently, without speaking.

Senior Luoo, who had been silent, spoke with displeasure, "Serves you right, getting injured was deserved."

"Had you told the three of us your identity earlier, do you think Tianji and I would hurt you?"

"With the three of us, who would dare harm you in the slightest?"

Senior Luoo’s icy tone carried a hint of blame.

But, what responded to him was a cold stare.

"Ha." Xiao Yi sneered, "Do you expect me to reveal my identity directly and then wag my tail like a dog and beg you not to attack me?"

"You..." Senior Luoo’s face turned cold, "You know full well I didn’t mean that..."

"I’ve said it." Xiao Yi said coldly, "I owe you nothing, and you owe me nothing."

Indeed, he owed nothing to Senior Luoo and the three; nor did they owe him anything.

The two do not owe each other.

So what right does he have to stop Senior Luoo and the three from striking him?

Just because he knows his identity as Xiao Xun and is favored by Senior Luoo and the three, revealing it would keep them from striking, or even make them turncoat, and thus revealing it would constitute manipulation?

The identity of Yi Xiao is similar.

If it weren’t for the speed at which the six attacked earlier being too fast, his Flame Formation hand seal would already have been cast.

His identity would forever remain hidden.

Though, the Flame Formation reinforced by 15 Martial Arts Relics boosts tremendous power, the backlash is equally terrifying.

Should Xiao Yi need to confront the Saint Lord, he is sure to kill him.

With the Sword Dao Formation, plus an enhancement from 15 Martial Arts Relics, he is sufficiently confident.

Of course, the cost would inevitably be Xiao Yi dying from the backlash.

That’s why Xiao Yi stated, that day, he would die, but the woman would also die.

Xiao Yi had already prepared to surrender his life to the Holy Moon Sect.

Choosing death over revealing himself may seem foolish.

But if one is determined to forsake everything just to keep living, can such a person truly guard their core self and reach the Martial God status at the end of Martial Arts Dao?

Xiao Yi absolutely does not believe so.

If to keep living means losing even one’s heart, abandoning even one’s principles.

Then is he still Xiao Yi?

Would the Sword Dao demon who rose from mere Postnatal Realm to today’s heights still be Xiao Yi?

Once more, the atmosphere fell silent.

"Enough." At this point, the Asura Hall Master spoke solemnly, "Xiao Yi boy, we’ve come now looking for you about the Eight Palaces inheritance issue."

"The Eight Palaces have ironclad rules, inheritance cannot rest on a single person."

"You need to give up one..."

Xiao Yi shook his head, interrupting, "The Eight Palaces, I will not inherit any palace."

"What?" The eight hall masters’ faces changed in unison.

"Not inheriting our two halls either?" The Asura Hall Master frowned.

Xiao Yi nodded earnestly.

He had previously stood up and saluted because the Asura Hall Master and another had always treated him well, as his respected elders.

But that doesn’t mean he wishes to inherit the Asura and Wind Demon halls.

"You are being ridiculous..." The Asura Hall Master, Demon Hunting Main Hall Master, and others collectively rebuked.

Xiao Yi shook his head, interrupting again, "Originally, I indeed revered the Eight Palaces."

"But now the Eight Palaces are nothing like the ones I imagined."

"So, I won’t inherit any palace."

"I apologize to you all for your kindness."

The eight hall masters were stunned, not knowing what to say.

They fully understood what the internal conflict within the Eight Palaces signified, and knew even more clearly how disappointed this young man must be.

At this point, Xiao Yi propped himself up and looked towards Yiyi, "For some reason, I feel somewhat stifled."

"Yiyi, accompany me for a walk."

"Okay." Yiyi quickly approached, concerned, "Young Master is injured, shouldn’t you rest a bit more?"

"No." Xiao Yi shook his head, leaving the bed.

At the corner of the bed was a neatly folded set of Young Master’s clothes.

Xiao Yi casually picked it up, put on the clothes, and left.

Behind him, the eight hall masters spoke with complex expressions, "Without inheriting the Eight Palaces, what will you do from now on?"

Xiao Yi didn’t turn, just paused his steps and said deeply, "Dedicate myself to Martial Arts."

After speaking, he continued without stopping, leaving the room with Yiyi.

...

Second update.