Chapter 331: Record

Chapter 331: Records

Eight concealed doors, eight bookshelves.

They held tightly packed bamboo scrolls.

Su Mo walked up and casually grabbed one, intending to skim through it quickly. But the moment he read it, his face twisted in confusion.

After a pause, he put the scroll down and picked up another.

"What’s wrong?" Yang Xiaoyun asked right away.

Su Mo scowled harder.

"Something’s off about White Tiger City.

"This scroll records one of their experiments.

"It says they placed the Sacred Artifact inside a tiger. The tiger wailed in pain for three straight days before finally dying."

"The Sacred Artifact..."

Yang Xiaoyun froze. The Grand Priestess had brought it up before.

Their main reason for going after Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron was to repair the Sacred Artifact.

So why would they place it inside a tiger?

After a short pause, Yang Xiaoyun started flipping through scrolls with Su Mo, while Xu Lu searched elsewhere among the shelves.

Each bookshelf held different records.

Su Mo’s first discovery was some old experiment, but he couldn’t find any more about it.

Yang Xiaoyun, though, found something. She said quietly,

"I found something here. It says here that the Emperor’s Heart Sutra is a deep, god-given power.

"But even though divine power covers White Tiger City, the Sacred Artifact traps them here.

"The Emperor’s Heart Sutra’s power can only be used within White Tiger City.

"If they leave, they lose all their martial arts.

"Moreover, it says the Tiger Lord gave them this land to live and grow.

"Leaving carelessly goes against the Tiger Lord’s will.

"And anyone who disobeys dies a bad death out there."

Su Mo’s face twisted in confusion. "What kind of nonsense is this?"

They didn’t find much else.

The records were tossed around, not sorted.

Apart from the two scrolls Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun had found, most were just chronicles of White Tiger City itself.

For example, in a certain year and month, a plague broke out in White Tiger City.

The Grand Priestess offered sacrifices before the Tiger Deity for seven days, received an oracle, and ultimately refined a spiritual elixir that saved everyone.

Another account stated that White Tiger City was once besieged by powerful foes in a certain era, nearly facing annihilation.

The Grand Priestess again offered sacrifices before the Tiger Deity, who then issued a divine decree, summoning all the tigers in the mountains to pour forth.

Thousands of tigers descended the mountain, tearing the enemies to pieces...

Legends of questionable authenticity were truly countless.

Beyond these, there were also records of martial artists visiting White Tiger City.

However, these mentions were cursory, as the people of White Tiger City clearly paid little attention to them.

Finally, Yang Xiaoyun spoke up:

"Xiao Mo, come take a look at this..."

This time, she held a large scroll of bamboo slips in her hands.

Among the eight bookshelves, it stood out like a crane among chickens.

Su Mo immediately went to Yang Xiaoyun's side. The first sentence recorded on the bamboo slips read:

"Four martial arts masters of Da Xuan launched an assault, seeking our clan's Emperor’s Heart Sutra!"

"Found it."

Su Mo nodded, unfurled the scroll on the ground.

Xu Lu also approached the two, studying the bamboo slips.

Overall, the words spoken by the Grand Priestess that day were substantially accurate.

Back then, the four masters came to White Tiger City to obtain the Emperor’s Heart Sutra and struck a pact with the city.

Each of the four masters faced off against the martial arts masters of White Tiger City.

If the four masters of Da Xuan won, White Tiger City would hand over the Emperor’s Heart Sutra without protest.

Conversely, the four masters would leave, and Da Xuan would not invade.

Reading further, it turned out that only three of the four masters fought that year.

Each of the three had their own unique skills.

One possessed icy true qi, whose martial arts could freeze water solid.

However, this person was the first to be driven back, as the arena of combat in White Tiger City had no water to begin with.

It also didn’t rain that day. Though they defeated several opponents, they were no match for the martial arts masters of White Tiger City.

After successive duels, they were forced to retreat.

"Fighting opponent after opponent..."

Yang Xiaoyun shook her head at this point. "At such a critical moment, those who stepped forward must have been extraordinary martial artists."

"Facing a succession of challenges, this man was only defeated in the end, which already demonstrates his extraordinary martial prowess."

"Moreover, according to this bamboo scroll,"

"if this man were in a place abundant with water, wouldn't he be truly unbeatable?"

Su Mo nodded lightly and continued reading.

The second to strike from Da Xuan's side was the one the Grand Priestess had mentioned—who appeared to lack martial skills.

However, these records in this manual were far more detailed.

This person was not unskilled in martial arts but rather had learned something extraordinary.

Using the technique of string-puppet manipulation, though alone, he could suddenly unleash hundreds of phantom figures darting about before him.

Upon closer inspection, these figures were actually mechanized puppets.

Controlled by his ten fingers, each puppet had its own intricate mechanisms.

After this person made his move, almost none of the martial arts masters within White Tiger City could stand against him.

In the end, it was the Chief Attendant of the Imperial Court from back then who, relying on his wit and wisdom, used others to distract the puppets while he broke through to reach the puppeteer himself.

Only then did they secure victory in this bout.

Reading this, Su Mo, Yang Xiaoyun, and even Xu Lu frowned slightly.

"This string-puppet technique seems somewhat similar to the Shadowcraft of Eternal Night Valley."

Shadowcraft itself also uses threads to control shadows.

The so-called shadows are human skins.

The Night Monarch flays the skins of martial arts masters, preserving the martial characteristics of their original owners, and then uses the secret arts of Eternal Night Valley to craft them into shadows.

When deployed under the cover of night, they are truly without form or substance.

Moreover, these shadows, steeped in alchemical solutions, become all but immune to blades, fire, and water.

Under such conditions, they naturally possess otherworldly might.

This shares an uncanny similarity with the string-puppet technique.

Yet, after a moment, Su Mo shook his head again, carefully reviewing this section's description before saying quietly:

"There are still some differences."

"The demonic arts of Eternal Night Valley are rooted in the Eternal Night Demon Record."

"As for what martial arts this person practiced, the people of White Tiger City clearly didn’t know, so it wasn’t recorded."

"But what this person truly relied on were these mechanized puppets."

"His own martial arts were not his true strength... which is clearly an entirely different approach from Eternal Night Valley."

"However, martial arts lineages are often obscure."

"Perhaps it was a master craftsman who once witnessed the martial arts of Eternal Night Valley, found the skin-control method too vile, and thus replaced them with puppets."

"Perhaps it was someone from the Eternal Night Valley faction who once witnessed this Martial Arts Master's technique of puppeteering with silk threads but didn't know the secrets of mechanical arts.

"So they came up with a twisted alternative, replacing puppets with human skin, creating a new method..."

At this point, he gently shook his head:

"The martial world has endured for millennia. When peerless martial arts are created, who knows how they might evolve through the sands of time?

"Take, for example, the Whale Devouring Skill that Xiaoxiao possesses.

"The original creator of this martial art sought to attain vast inner power.

"Yet, before perfecting it, they were overwhelmed until their body burst from the internal force.

"Later, some used it to refine human pills, harming others for personal gain... but the original intent behind this martial art was never such."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded slightly upon hearing this and said no more, continuing to read.

The last to act was the Martial Arts Master who cultivated Pure Yang inner energy.

With two of the four masters having already pushed back to the Chief Attendant's position,

Now, the third master suddenly burst into action and engaged the Chief Attendant in battle.

However, the records in these ancient texts were brief.

In the end, there was only one line:

"The Martial Arts Master of Da Xuan struck like a blazing sun that could lift the sky, with nine purple suns manifesting behind him and his hands condensing Purple Yang energy. The Chief Attendant pushed himself to the limit but could not match him."

"Purple Yang..."

Yang Xiaoyun's expression darkened as she shot a look at Su Mo.

Su Mo remained silent and continued reading.

The following content contradicted the Grand Priestess's account.

The Chief Attendant, unable to defeat the Da Xuan master wreathed in nine purple suns, ultimately had to call upon the Grand Priestess to intervene.

Throughout the ages, the Grand Priestess has reached the pinnacle of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra.

When she clashed with this Da Xuan master, the battle was earth-shaking.

This part of the bamboo scroll was expansively detailed.

First, it raved about the might of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra, then praised the Grand Priestess's unrivaled power.

The text glorified them excessively.

Finally, the narrative shifted—the master wreathed in nine purple suns was forced onto the defensive.

Yet, though at a disadvantage, he did not retreat.

The two fought from the arena to the rooftops, then from the rooftops to the bridge.

One was wreathed in nine purple suns, his inner energy boundless.

The other, wielding the Emperor’s Heart Sutra, possessed a limitless reservoir of energy.

In the end, they could only rely on techniques to prevail.

Yet after thousands of exchanges in this battle, neither could best the other.

Earlier, the Grand Priestess had told Su Mo and the others that when the Grand Priestess of that era took action, she directly forced the three elite warriors of Da Xuan to team up against her.

They fought the Grand Priestess for three days and three nights.

But now, this single Da Xuan warrior, wielding nine purple energies, alone traded thousands of blows with the Grand Priestess, ultimately ending in a draw.

After their fierce battle, White Tiger City bore the brunt.

Under the clashing energies of the two martial arts masters, buildings either caught fire or collapsed.

Eventually, the fight reached the Tiger Lord’s Hall.

Then, they disappeared into the Tiger Lord’s Hall.

The remaining three martial arts masters of Da Xuan immediately followed them into the hall.

From this point onward, the records noticeably became scant.

The events after these individuals and the Grand Priestess entered the Tiger Lord’s Hall were summarized tersely.

It merely stated that the battle lasted for several days, and under the overwhelming might of the sacred artifact wielded by the Grand Priestess, the four martial arts masters were outmatched and driven back.

However, to prevent the Da Xuan martial arts masters from returning, White Tiger City ultimately surrendered.

The Emperor’s Heart Sutra remained with the four martial arts masters.

The Grand Priestess believed that the "Emperor’s Heart" would invite royal envy, so the Emperor’s Heart Sutra was renamed the Amber Scripture.

With this, the account concluded.

Yet after reading it, the expressions of Su Mo and the other two grew peculiar.

It seemed as though the records reeked of self-aggrandizement by the White Tiger remnants.

"Ever since they entered the Tiger Lord’s Hall, many details were conveniently omitted.

"But if that’s the case, why mention the power of the sacred artifact at all?"

Yang Xiaoyun instinctively looked at Su Mo: "This sacred artifact has to be the same one the Grand Priestess mentioned that day, right?"

"Most likely."

Su Mo tapped his temple thoughtfully before speaking:

"That day, the Grand Priestess said the sacred artifact of the White Tiger remnants was itself a legendary armament.

"It had been deployed repeatedly to ward off foes.

"The four martial arts masters of Da Xuan coming to attack were clearly elite warriors.

"Using the sacred artifact to defend against them was only natural...

"But back then, some pivotal event must have happened inside the Tiger Lord’s Hall."

"In the past, the wielder of the Nine Purple Flames could hold his own against the Grand Priestess for thousands of rounds without either gaining the upper hand.

"If the others had joined in, the Grand Priestess would have stood no chance.

"However, the truth behind this is likely too profound, so they were deemed unfit for bamboo records."

"Hmm… What’s our next move?"

Yang Xiaoyun asked.

Su Mo had accomplished his first goal in White Tiger City—wanting to see the detailed records of the four legendary masters of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

Now, he had clearly seen them.

Yang Xiaoyun let the matter drop…

The wielder of the Nine Purple Flames used a palm technique that was a perfect match for Su Mo’s Purple Sun Divine Palm.

The conclusion was inescapable: this person practiced the Nine Purple Flames Burning Heaven Art.

Back at the Purple Sun Sect’s Pure Yang Hall, Duan Song had once mentioned that throughout history, only the sect’s founder had ever reached the highest level—the Nine Purple Flames Piercing Heaven.

All evidence pointed to the Purple Sun Sect.

But Su Mo had since cooled his temper.

Whether the Purple Sun Sect originated from the Imperial Office or not, it remained his martial home.

As long as there was no direct proof of ulterior motives, he’d play dumb for now.

He looked up at the steps leading upward and suddenly smiled.

"White Tiger City has occupied Tiger Lord Mountain for centuries, maybe even millennia, yet its disciples never ventured beyond.

"Whether the events recorded in that account are true or not is irrelevant.

"They even tunneled through Tiger Lord Mountain to conceal their purpose.

"That alone speaks volumes about the secret’s importance.

"But for us? Hardly worth the trouble.

"My purpose in coming here was twofold—to learn about the four legendary masters of the Da Xuan era,

"and to hold the Grand Priestess accountable… not to pry into their affairs.

"Now that we’ve found what we were looking for, let’s go meet the Grand Priestess."

Yang Xiaoyun shot Su Mo an amused look.

"The secret is right before us, ripe for the taking, and you can actually resist?"

"Right before us, yes—but whether it’s truly ripe for the taking, who knows…"

Su Mo booped Yang Xiaoyun’s forehead.

"After you…"

Yang Xiaoyun and Xu Lu naturally looked to Su Mo for direction.

Just as the group was about to turn and leave, a thunderous tiger's roar shattered the air.

The roar originated from the stone steps leading upward.

From where they stood, they could see a door beyond the steps.

As the roar resounded, the door visibly shuddered, and even the ground beneath their feet shook slightly.

That a mere roar could wreak such havoc!?

All three stood rooted, stunned.

Xu Lu, in particular, went white as a sheet:

"The Tiger Lord!?"

Su Mo's mouth twisted in disbelief:

"No way."

As a transmigrator, he should have been the most inclined to believe in supernatural tales—after all, his very existence was living proof of soul transmigration.

Yet, in all his travels through the *jianghu*, he had never encountered ghosts or gods—only frauds pretending to be mystical.

But now, if this wasn't the Tiger Lord, how else could a single roar carry such devastating power?

For a moment, even Su Mo was genuinely shaken.

In that brief moment of stunned silence, the door splintered open with a crash.

A figure came hurtling out like a cannonball.

He must have been struck and sent flying—not only was his body in midair, hurtling backward, but he was also leaving a crimson arc in his wake.

The macabre spectacle was by cruel coincidence aimed directly at Su Mo and the others.

Su Mo and his companions just stood there watching as the figure soared toward them before slamming into the earth with bone-breaking force.

Upon impact, his body bounced once, gushing a fresh torrent of blood before collapsing heavily.

Just as his eyes were about to widen in pain, he suddenly caught sight of Su Mo and the others.

He froze, his pain momentarily forgotten.

The next moment, he gasped out:

"What the... you..."

But after just two words, the life drained from his eyes.

Dead before he hit the ground!

He really had it coming.

Not because he had flown such a distance and fallen from the top of the steps.

But because his chest wound was absolutely brutal.

Not only was his entire chest and abdomen completely caved in, but three claw marks had also torn straight through his torso.

Wherever the claws had passed, his internal organs were sliced clean through, leaving his body barely held together by a thin layer of skin.

After this fall, he was barely human anymore.

At this moment, blood soaked the surrounding ground, turning it red.

Yang Xiaoyun casually drew out a section of the Dragon Abyss Spear's shaft and eyed the wounds on his body before turning to Su Mo:

"Could it really be the Tiger Lord?

"These claw marks are huge..."

Su Mo smirked. As the door opened, the muffled sounds came flooding in.

The roars of a tiger echoed repeatedly, mingled with screams of agony coming in waves.

Su Mo stood there listening for a moment before suddenly saying:

"So tell me, if there’s no Tiger Lord in this Tiger Lord’s Hall...

Then who the hell have those Chief Attendants been serving all this time?"

As if in response to his words, the next moment, another body came flying out of the stone door.

However, this person was way tougher than the last guy. After twisting midair a few times, he managed to land smoothly.

But upon raising his head and spotting Su Mo and the others, he went stock-still:

"What are you doing here?"

Su Mo looked the man over and suddenly smiled:

"Well well, Chief Attendant. Look at you, all spry and lively—those wounds healed up nicely? Let's pop some champagne!"

……

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