novelraw Chapter 1102: Fate
Chapter 1102: Fate
The name "Firecloud Evil God" wasn’t taboo, nor did saying it bring misfortune—it was just a name many people didn’t want to bring up.
Debuted at sixteen, entered the Dao through martial arts at twenty-six. He roamed the world freely, climbed Mount Kunlun, entered Fengdu City, pulled the Heavenly Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain off his pedestal, and even shattered the turtle shell of the previous Black Tortoise clan chief.
The legendary feats of Firecloud Evil God were built almost entirely on the disgrace of countless top figures from both the Daoist and Demon worlds. Even now, many of those once humiliated by him would feel waves of sorrow when recounting their past encounters.
At this moment, the others finally realized that the masked man wearing a black hood, like a SWAT member from a Hong Kong film, was actually that powerhouse stationed by the Management Bureau in the Forbidden City—how was this the weakest team? It was clearly the strongest.
No one could guess the identity of the other hooded mystery man.
Unexpectedly—
“Firecloud Evil God? Never heard of him,” the masked man said calmly. “Everyone who knows me just calls me Old Fool! Come on, you look pretty strong. I'll fight you. If I lose, just say Old Fool lost.”
What the hell?! Weren’t we talking about the terrifying figure who wrecked the Daoist and Demon worlds?! Now he’s shamelessly calling himself Old Fool?! At that moment, the Daoists and Demon clan members present couldn’t help but feel the same thought.
But the other Bureau members looked completely unfazed—it was nothing new to them. Firecloud Evil God caring about face? Please! Beating up kids and bullying the weak was practically a monthly routine!
“Old Fool, huh?” the handsome youth on the Jade Dragon Pillar said coolly. “Then let’s see what you’ve got.”He raised his hand toward Old Fool, spinning it sharply.
Boom—!
The ground exploded. Dirt and grass flew as a three-meter-wide crater instantly formed under Old Fool’s feet.
Old Fool laughed, his palms dancing in the air. Countless palm strikes wove into a massive net and swept toward the youth.
Unfazed, the young man formed a sword seal with his fingers and launched a burst of sword energy, piercing the net.
Old Fool shifted from palm to fist, instantly changing techniques. His fist roared like thunder, creating a storm-like sound.
The youth leapt from the pillar. In the blink of an eye, both men turned into blurs—their speed too fast for the naked eye.
Even so, the sheer force of their clash weighed on everyone, making it hard to breathe.
Just then, the other black-hooded team member—who had kept his eyes closed until now—suddenly spoke: “Everyone, attack the Jade Dragon Pillar!”
Startled from their daze, the team remembered their mission.
But before they could act, shouts rang out around them—more than a dozen black-clad men with bronze masks charged in!
Clearly, the sixth Jade Dragon Pillar wasn’t guarded by just the youth—reinforcements had already been arranged.
With no choice, the team scrambled to meet the attackers head-on.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots and spiritual blasts echoed without pause.
...
Meanwhile, Old Fool and the handsome youth pulled back, each standing on separate boulders, staring each other down.
Old Fool said, “That was a nice warm-up. If we don’t get serious, we might accidentally destroy the pillar ourselves.”
The youth chuckled. “Very well.”
A white aura rose from him, and a spiritual phantom slowly formed behind him.
“Xuanyuan Battle Spirit,” Old Fool laughed. “Not bad! The Gongsun clan of Xuanyuan Palace finally produced someone decent.”
The youth said nothing. With a flick of his wrist, waves of sword energy formed solid blades, crashing down like a river.
Old Fool inhaled deeply, turned his palms into blades, and swung—releasing a saber aura dozens of meters long!
Ch-ch-ch-ch—!!
Saber and sword energy clashed and held in deadlock.
This young man was Gongsun Shiyu, bearer of the most awakened Yellow Emperor bloodline in his clan. He had entered the Dao by force centuries ago and was nearly unmatched in his time.
Yet, the Firecloud Evil God—who had only emerged within the past hundred years—was matching him blow for blow.
Their attacks canceled each other out. Neither gained ground.
Gongsun Shiyu narrowed his eyes… clearly, his opponent was an equal. Continuing might not end in a clear victory.
“Firecloud Evil God,” he said, lowering his hands. “Xuanyuan Palace is known as a sacred land of martial arts, but the mortal world has also produced peerless warriors capable of rivaling us. You’re proof that martial excellence isn’t monopolized. I admire your hard-earned power. Why not join me? I’ll grant you access to Xuanyuan’s library.”
“Tempting offer,” Old Fool replied, lowering his hands too. “But I promised someone a drink once this is all over. If I accept your deal, that drink will stay buried forever. What a shame.”
“My offer stands,” Gongsun Shiyu said with a wave. “If you change your mind, come find me… but today, I’ll push you back.”
The earth trembled slightly. A golden sword shadow appeared beneath his feet.
Old Fool’s expression turned serious. “The Xuanyuan Sword…”
The sword shadow leapt into Gongsun Shiyu’s hand. In that instant, overwhelming pressure descended from the heavens—the ground quaked even harder.
Far off, the Management Bureau’s joint team fighting the masked attackers felt a chill. This terrifying energy wasn’t isolated—it stretched for dozens of miles. Even the other two task forces sensed it.
Gongsun Shiyu slowly raised his arm, then brought the sword down.
A burst of golden sword energy exploded forth, tearing off Old Fool’s hood and revealing his gray-white hair. The shockwave rippled across his face.
But at that critical moment, Old Fool’s eyes suddenly opened. A red-black flame swirled in his palm.
He slashed with a palm-turned-blade: “Tiger Soul… Break the Sea!”
Darkness fell.
A massive dark red saber aura shot skyward, cutting through sword light and even parting the thick fog above!
The resulting shockwave blasted outward in all directions like tidal waves.
Caught in the storm, Gongsun Shiyu’s face changed dramatically.
The golden sword light—meant to be unstoppable—was being torn apart by this red-black saber energy!
At this moment, in Old Fool—Firecloud Evil God's—hands, a massive blade seemed to materialize, letting out a roar like a tiger howling through the forest. His gaze turned sinister, his eyes glowing dark red!
"Tiger Soul Blade..." Gongsun Shiyu's expression changed in shock. "The seventh forbidden technique of Chiyou’s ultimate arts… You’re a descendant of Chiyou?!"
But Firecloud Evil God seemed deaf to Gongsun Shiyu’s cry. Surging with dark red energy, he shot into the sky.
In his hand, the shadowy demonic blade fully solidified—Evil God! At that moment, he seemed to truly become one.
"Mountain Collapse—!"
He gripped the blade with both hands and cleaved down toward the earth.
The destructive force swept outward indiscriminately, engulfing friend and foe alike!
Gongsun Shiyu bore the brunt of the strike and had no time to think. He pulled out the Evil Dragon Pearl, and an immense power surged from the ground into him. A pitch-black aura then infected his Xuanyuan Battle Spirit!
The battle spirit roared in defiance, charging straight into the wave of destruction.
BOOM—!!!
A deafening explosion cracked the sky like thunder. The ground for dozens of miles trembled. The entire mountaintop erupted from the force!
Massive rocks rolled down, instantly burying those on both sides of the fight.
...
The Mountain Collapse technique obliterated the mountain, yet Firecloud Evil God still hovered midair, dark demonic energy billowing from his body.
From beneath the debris, a figure burst forth—it was the other masked man: Mr. Blind!
He stepped on an ancient sword flying beneath his feet and quickly approached Firecloud Evil God. The latter instinctively slashed down with the demonic blade!
Mr. Blind took a deep breath, and his ancient sword shot forward, clashing with the magic blade—it shattered instantly.
But Mr. Blind hadn’t come to clash head-on. He just needed to stall! In that moment, he flipped his hand, revealing seven long needles between his fingers.
He flicked his hand—seven needles shot out, piercing seven acupoints on Firecloud Evil God's body.
As they embedded, the raging demonic aura recoiled. Firecloud Evil God’s body shuddered as the deadly energy was forcibly expelled.
The released aura struck Mr. Blind, slamming him into the ground.
He spat out a mouthful of blood. Lying on the ground, he focused entirely on listening—until he heard the sound of someone gently landing.
Firecloud Evil God finally descended. Eyes closed, he began meditative breathing. Only after a long time did he exhale a breath of turbid air.
"Blind, thanks." His face was pale as he smiled bitterly. "I really didn’t want to use the Tiger Soul Blade, but that Gongsun guy summoned the Xuanyuan Sword’s shadow—it completely triggered the blade’s ferocity."
Clutching his chest, Mr. Blind staggered to his feet. "The fate between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou... When Chiyou lost back then, this peerless demonic blade absorbed a great deal of resentment. You really shouldn't use it unless you must."
Firecloud Evil God let out a long breath and said nothing more.
Looking around, he saw the mountain had been destroyed—but the Jade Dragon Pillar remained intact, now floating in midair.
A massive beam of light shot into the sky.
"The enemy’s gone, but the pillar was successfully planted. We failed this mission." Firecloud Evil God shook his head.
Mr. Blind silently recalled his ancient sword—it now had a deep gash, left by the Tiger Soul Blade.
"Let’s regroup with the other two teams first," Mr. Blind said solemnly. "The sixth pillar has appeared. I can calculate the location of the last one."
...
In the thick fog, a figure moved rapidly—until it reached a forest and finally stopped.
Gongsun Shiyu leaned against an old tree, then coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"If it weren’t for the Evil Dragon Pearl enhancing my Yellow Emperor bloodline..."
Recalling Firecloud Evil God’s terrifying strike, he still felt fear—his second defeat.
First to that blonde woman. Now, to a descendant of Chiyou—the ancient rival of the Yellow Emperor.
A wisp of dark energy quietly seeped from the Evil Dragon Pearl into his palm.
His eyes flickered with a demonic glint before returning to normal.
Gongsun Shiyu clenched his jaw and struck the tree, snapping it in half, then stumbled deeper into the forest.
...
Inside a strange cave, a severely wounded masked man lay beneath a sacrificial altar.
"...My lord, mission complete. The sixth Jade Dragon Pillar is set."
The bronze-masked figure atop the altar nodded. "Well done... you may go now."
The furnace below the altar opened. The wounded man stripped off his clothes and slowly stepped inside.
The bronze-masked figure returned to the altar’s center and sat cross-legged.
"So, Gongsun Shiyu actually lost to a descendant of Chiyou..." he murmured. "No wonder I couldn’t read your fate, Firecloud Evil God. That demonic blade must’ve clouded the heavens."
"Brilliant, limitless potential… Firecloud Evil God… you must not be allowed to die."
He slowly closed his eyes.
...
This time, the portal remained open a little longer—about five seconds.
A figure stepped through.
It was... Jiang Zuo.
(End of Chapter)