Gu Jian!
The young man watched Li Renjie walk away with a hint of astonishment.
This young boy was quite brave.
Nonetheless.
Smiling, he slowly extended his right hand as purple mist began to billow from his body.
Just as he was about to attack he suddenly felt a chill run through his body.
He froze.
Turning his head he quickly located the cause.
A man about twenty-six years old sat causally at the outdoor seating of a nearby restaurant. In front of him was a cup of tea and a small cake, they looked quite appetizing.
He was adorned in a simple black silk robe and had short dark brown hair. His brown eyes appeared calm and collected, overall he looked quite normal.
If one had to point out a special trait about the man, it would be the scar that stretched from the right side of his chin all the way down the left side of his neck.
He was sitting at a slight angle so one could partially see his back.
On his black robes a single image could be seen.
A white lotus.
Shudder.
The young man's mind automatically recalled the discussion he had before arriving to Azure Island.
Three days ago.
Crash!
Blue waves crashed into the bow of a massive ship!
It cruised under the clear blue skies.
Behind it were fifty more!
All the ships were massive, and all had an appearance similar to a galleon.
The lead ship was at least twice the size of the others, it had its massive sails unfurled, the wind pushing it ever forward!
At the very top of ship an intricately patterned flag could be seen dancing in the wind!
On it, a coiled purple python!
Behind, the others also had their sails unfurled and flew smaller identical flags, they followed behind in strict formation.
The fleet was a sight to behold.
Strangely enough though, the bottom of each ship was covered in strange interlocking circles that shined with an ocean blue light.
The blue light seemed to be properly ships even faster than the wind could alone.
At the lead ship, at the very port, a young man kneeled in front of a gentleman whose face was obscured by a thick purple mist.
"Repeat what've I told you," the older man spoke while staring at the young man.
"Don't antagonize The White Lotus."
"Again."
"Don't antagonize The White Lotus."
"And why is that?"
"Qiao Haoqiang."
"Correct, Qiao Haoqiang will not tolerate any of his people being attacked. No matter what, do not provoke them under any circumstance."
The man with the obscured face paused for a moment to allow the young man to digest his words.
"Remember son, Azure Island is a pile of loose sand, each of the major cities is governed by a different city lord, you need not worry much about them. Qiao Haoqiang and that woman have even managed to establish themselves there. I'll only be gone for a week so there shouldn't be any problems.
That woman is dangerous, but she has no interest in the mortal world, the chances of you running into her are minuscule. Even if you did, my name should dispel any thoughts she may have.
However, Qiao Haoqiang knows no fear and his strength is unquestioned!"
As he spoke, the older gentleman had a tinge of admiration in his voice.
Strength would always command respect, no matter the time or place.
Even the young man's eye couldn't help but gleam.
One day he would command such respect!
"That being said, we're pirates! We are the Mystic Court! It's in our blood to act wildly! As long as you heed my words, then you may do as you please son. I've given you all you need to protect yourself."
The young mans eyes blinked and he found himself standing back on the golden steps.
He retracted the purple mist as well as his hand before turning and walking back towards the pit.
'Is he with the White Lotus?'
He couldn't help but think as he thought of that strange eyed little boy.
Yun Sheng who had been ready to act had also noticed the young man in black robes.
"Tch!"
Clicking his tongue he turned and began to walk away.
Right then.
"Yun Sheng! What have I told you about summoning your avatar in the city!"
A woman's voice sounded above the golden steps before a hazy figure a riding a massive blue cloud suddenly appeared!
The blue cloud was dazzling, it did not consistent of only one shade of blue but many!
All the different tones ebbed and flowed as if made of ink, but oddly never mixed.
It was mesmerizing to watch.
"We pay respect to the city lord!"
All the citizens of the city immediately bowed after spotting the voluminous blue cloud in the sky.
It was a symbol of their city lord!
One of the five great city lords of Azure island!
The Rising Sky Lord!
Whoosh!
The massive blue cloud suddenly rushed down towards Yun Sheng!
"W-Wait! Nooo!!"
Yun Sheng's cries could be heard from within the thick blue cloud, he seemed to be in pain!
After a few seconds, the cloud cleared and he had vanished.
Without a moments pause; the blue cloud quickly flew out of sight!
After it left a voice sounded in the air.
"Young man, take this as a warning! For the sake of your father, I'll leave the corpses of your comrades to you."
The young man in white and purple robes smiled slightly before continuing towards the pit.
He never planned on leaving any of them here anyway.
Up in the sky, among the clouds and hidden from all, two figures could be seen.
"C-city Lord, you can't just- Ah! "
Smack!
"Shut up and watch!"
"..."
The two quietly watch the young man approach the pit.
After stepping in he slowly began to materialize his ethereal purple python.
Slowly it took form and circled around him, weightless.
"It's just the Mystic Court's core cultivation technique…what's the big deal?" Yun Sheng remarked casually as he cleaned out one of his ears.
Smack!
"Do you ever shut up? Just watch."
"City Lord, you're far too violent…"
Yun Sheng held his head and acquiesced.
The young man didn't move for an entire minute, the spectators at this point felt no threat so just watched on curiously.
What was this guy up to?
Just then!
The young man's body began giving off a faint blood red mist.
Without pause, he brought his right hand forward and struck his chest!
Pah!
He coughed blood!
The blood landed on the python's body and began to sizzle as steam began to rise.
Hissss!!!!
The python seemed to be crying in pain yet didn't attempt to flee.
Slowly, its body began to take on a deep blood red color and it gradually began to shrink in size.
"So the rumors are true."
The Rising Sky Lords eyes twitched.
???
Yun Sheng became curious.
The blood red snake stopped sizzling after fifteen or so seconds and had become the size of an index finger.
"Go."
The young man commanded with a smile on his face.
The snake slithered towards the corpse of the middle-aged man before biting down!
The moment it bite down the point at where its fangs made contact began to sizzle.
Twitch!
"Eh?" a woman in the crowd suddenly took a step back.
Twitch!
Twitch!
"What the hell?!"
A few more began to notice the bodies strange movements and retreated.
Twitch!
Twitch!
Twitch!
The middle aged mans body began to twitch unnaturally.
"W-What's happening?!"
"What's he doing?"
"That's disgusting! Isn't he dead?!"
At this point every one of the spectators were terrified by the body's sudden and unnatural movements!
Red light began to shine from the middles aged man's body as his bones began to crack and return to place.
He was being repaired!
As the snake maintained its hold, its body was growing smaller by the second!
Suddenly!
"Uhhhhhhh!!!!!"
The middle-aged man turned on his back and took a deep breath!
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
He coughed violently as his eyes began to adjust to the light.
"I-I'm alive?"
He was sure he was a goner, slowly his body rolled over and noticed a young man in white and purple robes smiling back at him.
"Y-Young master!"
Tears began to form in the middle aged mans eyes as he quickly realized what had happened.
The young master had used his bloodline to save him!
"Steward Zhou, I'm sorry I couldn't get you're carpet back." The young man said with an all-new expression, one of guilt.
"How could I be so pity as to get hung up on such a minor thing!"
Bang!
The middle-aged man was still feeling hazy but still managed to muster the energy to kowtow towards the young man.
"Thank you for saving me, Young Master Jian! "
"How could I let you die?"
The young man smiled before walking over to the two corpses that had been beaten black and blue by Li Renjie and Yun Sheng.
A similar scene played out as the young man summoned two purple pythons before coughing two mouthfuls of blood onto each of them.
He was beginning to look bit pale, yet the smile of his face remained all the same.
The two bodies twitched madly as they sizzled all the while covered in red light. Slowly the bruises faded, and the broken bodies repaired.
"Uhhhhhhh!"
"Uhhhhhhh!!!"
The two similarly took in deep breaths as they returned from the other side.
"H-He can revive the dead?!"
"What sort of power is this?!"
The spectators gasped as they saw the strange happenings before them!
Those three were all dead!
There was no question!
And yet!
"City lord…" Yun Sheng's eyes grew serious.
"It's as you suspect…Black Grade, same as you."
"...."
The city lord stopped watching and began heading towards the city center bring Yun Sheng along.
Down below the young man had gone over and finally repeated the process for the last man who had been smacked initially by Yun Sheng.
A few minutes later.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The three siblings from earlier kowtowed as they cried.
The two that had been revived saw their brother being revived and immediately understood what had happened.
Their young master saved them!
"Thank you! Young Master Jian!"
The three cried in unison, their heads pressing into the ground.
The young man smiled as he looked at the four he had just revived.
He didn't mind what they did.
They were his family.
He wouldn't let them die.
Smiling he helped the three stand before walking over towards their group.
All of them had shining eyes as they stared at the young man.
This was their young master!
Gu Jian!