Chapter 97: Returning to the Land of Cherry Blossoms

Nanke, one of the two great Protectors of the Hall of Enforcement.

His origins were wrapped in deepest mystery. No one knew where he had come from, and no one knew what strength he truly possessed. Yet even the four hall masters of the Hall of Enforcement treated him with profound deference.

Feeling the lingering aura of the battle around him, Nanke closed his eyes and said softly, “The power of a divine artifact... I never expected there to be one in this lower realm. Truly unbelievable.”

Seeing him like this, the people around him did not dare even breathe too loudly. All of them bent their backs and looked up at him in silence.

After a long while, Nanke let out a faint smile and murmured, “The Kunlun Mirror... interesting.”

With that, his figure slowly vanished from the void. Only after he was gone did the others straighten up and exhale heavily.

“I never thought the appearance of this divine artifact would even alert that mysterious Protector of the Hall of Enforcement. It seems this time, all we can do is think about it,” the man in white said with a bitter smile.

The others also smiled wryly at his words. Though they all came from various powers in the cultivation world, they still felt deep fear toward a colossal force like the Hall of Enforcement. If the Hall of Enforcement intervened, then no matter how much they coveted the divine artifact, they would have no choice but to give up those thoughts. Soon after, they all flashed away in different directions, leaving the place.

In an instant, the entire void fell back into silence.

Meanwhile, after leaving, Nanke had already returned to the Hall of Enforcement.

Within the spacious great hall, there were two figures. Nanke sat quietly on the highest steps, while in the hall itself a man stood respectfully with a slight bend at the waist. A closer look revealed that this standing man was none other than Jiang Chao, the second hall master of the Hall of Enforcement.

If anyone from the Hall of Enforcement or the cultivation world had seen this scene, it would have been nothing short of a sensation. The dignified hall master of the Hall of Enforcement, Jiang Chao, a man rumored to be a terrestrial immortal, was actually treating a mere protector with such respect. Could Nanke really be only a protector?

“Lord Protector, are you certain it really is a divine artifact?” Jiang Chao asked, his voice trembling with excitement.

“A divine artifact. More than that, one of the ancient Ten Directions Divine Artifacts. As for which one it is, that is still unknown. The Ten Directions Divine Artifacts were scattered across countless light-years, and yet one has appeared in your lower realm. If it can be recovered, that will be a great merit indeed,” Nanke said calmly.

“Issue the order. Tell the disciples of the Hall of Enforcement to keep a close watch. If they discover who holds the artifact, seize it at any cost,” Nanke said with a cold, dark gaze.

“Yes!” Jiang Chao replied at once, then cast a spell seal to arrange the matter below.

“Have your cultivation bases all reached the realm of terrestrial true immortals?” Nanke asked after a moment of thought.

“For the time being, only I have reached the true immortal realm. As for the other three hall masters, they should not need much longer to break through. By then, with the four of us as terrestrial true immortals, we will certainly be able to open the passage leading to the upper realm,” Jiang Chao said, his excitement growing even stronger.

“Mm.” Nanke nodded lightly, then fell silent.

The great hall once again became still.

Three days later, at Cherry Blossom Nation International Airport, several sturdy figures walked out of the arrival gate. They then got into a car already waiting by the roadside and left.

“Big Brother, you’ve finally come. If you were any later, the rest of us would have been driven crazy sitting here,” the driver said excitedly.

These people were none other than Xiao Yu and part of the Twelve Descenders. His promise had been kept, only much earlier than he had said that day. They had set foot on Cherry Blossom Nation once again.

During those three days, Xiao Yu had worried about the safety of Ye Family and his companions, and had specifically sent Ye Shihan and the others to the capital’s martial alliance, placing them under the care of his two masters. Only then did Xiao Yu feel at ease taking Taishui and the others to Cherry Blossom Nation.

“Where are the others?” Xiao Yu asked calmly.

“At the old base of Wolf Shadow. Although Wolf Shadow is dead, his base and his men are still holding their ground. They are waiting for the day they can avenge him,” Taichang, who was driving, said in a cold voice.

At those words, not only Taichang but even Taishui and the others all began to emit killing intent. Before long, the group arrived at Wolf Shadow’s former base. Fire Phoenix, Azure Dragon, and all the remaining members of the Twelve Descenders were already there.

By then, the night in Cherry Blossom Nation was deep. In order to be in better condition for what came next, no one exchanged much pleasantry; each of them simply returned to their rooms to rest.

Yet Xiao Yu, after returning to his room, did not sleep.

About half an hour later, he slowly stepped out of the room, rose into the air, and quickly vanished into the darkness of night. The Twelve Descenders had no idea he had left.

In a grand villa estate somewhere in Cherry Blossom Nation, several elderly men of advanced age were gathered.

Before them, Tojo rested one hand against his head while his other hand drummed rhythmically on the table.

“Gentlemen, I have already clearly sensed Xiao Yu’s aura appearing in Cherry Blossom Nation. What are your thoughts?” Tojo asked the elderly men before him.

“Xiao Yu destroyed my Ise Shrine. I will not rest until he is dead!” roared the chief priest of Ise Shrine, Kui Muramasa, slamming a hand onto the table before him.

“Indeed. Not only was my headquarters of the Two-Sword School destroyed by Xiao Yu, but my entire lineage was slaughtered until fewer than twenty remained. This blood feud is unendurable. He must die!” said Suzuki, the head of the Two-Sword School, in a chilling voice, before turning his gaze to the others.

“Don’t look at me like that. My Yagyu Half-Moon School suffered heavy slaughter at Xiao Yu’s hands as well. Even the two personal disciples I had raised as my own were buried by his people,” Yagyu Wei said with a dark expression.

“Then why are we still talking? Since Xiao Yu and the others are so reckless as to come to our territory, with the strength of our ten schools and the five great shrines, are we really supposed to let a mere dozen people escape?” Minji, the master of the Iaijutsu School, said sharply.

“Don’t rush. Don’t rush. Tojo, there is one thing I would still like to make clear. What exactly is Miyamoto Musashi’s stance on this matter?” Momoi, the master of the Mirror Heart Clear Insight School, asked lightly.

At Momoi’s words, Yagyu Wei and the others also turned their eyes toward Tojo. In their minds, if Miyamoto Musashi held the same view as they did, then it would be nothing short of a tremendous blessing.

Miyamoto Musashi, the foremost martial artist of Cherry Blossom Nation. That reputation was no empty boast.