Chapter 6: A Stunning Sword Strike

The wind blew silently past, lifting Xiulante's short hair before gently letting it fall. Though Xiulante stood perfectly still, the aura emanating from him compelled the four guards—Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning—to unconsciously gather their Qi energy!

Perhaps when they arrived, they believed that with their combined abilities, they could easily defeat Xiulante, even thinking that Bolt was making a fuss over nothing by sending all four of them to attack together!

But now, as they gazed at Xiulante's faintly smiling eyes and felt the vast Qi energy radiating from him, a sudden doubt arose in their minds. Who was stronger—Bolt or Xiulante?

"I have worked alongside you all for many years and should not cross swords with you. Today, I have decided to leave this place. If you would step aside and let me pass, we can still meet with smiles in the future. But if you insist on blocking my way, then we shall settle this with the blades in our hands!" Xiulante took two more steps forward, his killing intent surging dramatically.

Though pressured by Xiulante's overwhelming killing intent, the four guards—Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning—still steeled themselves, standing tall and ready for battle! However, their palms were already sweating, and their previously aggressive demeanor had completely vanished!

As if he had long anticipated this outcome, Xiulante merely smiled slightly, set down his bundle, and calmly drew his red-hilted iron sword with a backhand motion.

At that moment, a wild surge of Qi energy continuously erupted from his body, nearly causing the four guards to lose their footing!

"Is this the strength of the Dragon Knight Captain? Impressive, truly impressive!" Wind Guard exclaimed in astonishment, unable to help but feel admiration for Xiulante.

Though Wind Guard understood that Xiulante's power far surpassed their own, his loyalty to Bolt made him forget the fear of death. He gathered all his strength, prepared to carry out Bolt's orders even at the cost of his life!

"Wind rises, clouds surge, thunder and lightning clash!" With Wind Guard's loud shout, the four guards immediately assumed their accustomed attack formation, ready to resist Xiulante's overwhelming power with their combined strength!

Although Xiulante and Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning all served under Duke Bolt, they were largely ignorant of each other's true capabilities. Xiulante had spent years working within the Dragon Knights Regiment, primarily handling matters related to Bolt across the Relkes Empire.

The four guards, however, were different. They were Duke Bolt's personal bodyguards, accompanying him wherever he went.

As allies on the same side, the five had never had reason to confront each other. Now, they could only gauge each other's strength based on the aura they emitted!

Xiulante truly had no intention of annihilating the four guards. He merely wanted to use his extraordinary power to make them realize the difficulty and retreat. Unfortunately, the situation had completely exceeded his expectations. The loyalty of Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning to Duke Bolt far surpassed what Xiulante had anticipated—they were willing to fight to the death for him!

Before a battle began, Xiulante would do everything to avoid casualties. But once the fight started, he would show no mercy! Because Xiulante knew that on the battlefield, it was kill or be killed—there was no perfect solution that spared everyone. True to this martial philosophy, when the four guards raised their crescent blades high, Xiulante had already resolved to strike with deadly force!

The combat formation adopted by Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning positioned Wind and Cloud at the front, with Thunder and Lightning flanking from left and right, creating a three-sided encirclement! The crescent blades they wielded were small curved swords renowned for their peculiar speed and attack angles. Though Xiulante had faced opponents using such weapons before, he still dared not take them lightly.

Xiulante solemnly raised his red-hilted iron sword, concentrating his Qi energy onto the blade. He first adopted a defensive stance, as if to gauge his opponents' attack patterns before launching an effective counterattack!

The four guards surrounding Xiulante, of course, knew their opponent was no ordinary foe. Even though they saw Xiulante adopt a defensive posture, they dared not rashly initiate an attack.

Thus, the five remained locked in a silent standoff, each searching for openings in the other, waiting for the optimal moment to strike! One minute, two minutes... time passed second by second, yet the five remained as still as statues. To an outsider, it might seem like mere posturing, but for those on the field, it was a silent life-and-death struggle!

After several minutes, under the increasing pressure of Xiulante's aura, Wind Guard finally could no longer hold back. He lightly swung his crescent blade, attempting to break through the oppressive air surrounding him. But this slight movement gave Xiulante the perfect opening to attack.

A silver sword light shot through the air as Xiulante, moving like a phantom, charged straight for Wind Guard's throat!

One move triggered the entire conflict. The moment Xiulante acted, Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning all sprang into action simultaneously, attacking Xiulante with lightning speed!

Thunder and Lightning, positioned left and right, launched a pincer attack from both sides, while Cloud Guard rushed forward, trying to join Wind Guard in a dual-blade defense to block or delay Xiulante's overwhelming assault!

Though their tactics were flawless, they had chosen the wrong opponent! A lesser warrior facing their attack would either abandon the offensive or turn to parry Thunder and Lightning. But Xiulante did neither—or rather, he felt no need to! Just as Thunder and Lightning's swords seemed to strike Xiulante's body, he vanished like a reflection in water!

"An afterimage!" Before Thunder and Lightning could even process this, thousands of sword lights assaulted them from left and right! Meanwhile, Wind and Cloud, who were in the path of Xiulante's main attack, only faced feints and suffered no harm!

"Not good!" Seeing their comrades under attack, Wind and Cloud instantly realized their foolish mistake! They should not have rashly attacked Xiulante, allowing their brothers to fall into the trap he had set!

But how could they know that the gap between them and Xiulante lay not only in strength but also in practical combat experience! Perhaps their abilities weren't so weak as to be defeated in two or three moves, but the difference in experience made them as helpless as unarmed children facing a fully armed soldier!

Xiulante, who had survived years of battle, immediately understood upon seeing the four guards' formation that to defeat them, he must first take out their main attackers. If Wind Guard hadn't deliberately shown an opening to lure Xiulante in, Xiulante might not have been able to identify the formation's key players. But once Wind Guard revealed that intentional flaw, everything became clear to Xiulante.

His initial attack on Wind Guard was meant to draw Thunder and Lightning into attacking from the sides while closing the distance between them. Once that goal was achieved, he used his blinding speed to move beside them and launch his real assault!

Typically, in a formation, one person directs the overall strategy while others handle protection and offense. When Xiulante feigned an attack on Wind Guard, he successfully drew Cloud Guard to Wind Guard's side, leaving Thunder and Lightning isolated as they advanced. At that moment, a breathtaking sword stroke erupted from his hand, giving Wind and Cloud no time to think or react.

Sword strikes fell like rain. Only now did Thunder and Lightning realize the vast gap between themselves and Xiulante! With no chance to counterattack, merely defending against this storm of blows completely drained their energy!

"Blazing God Sword, Heaven and Earth Share the Same Fate!" Seemingly unwilling to prolong the fight, Xiulante, now in complete control, unleashed a brilliant flash of sword light. From his fluid movements, countless sword energies soared into the air. Before Wind and Cloud could even cry out in alarm, hundreds of sword lights surged forth from his hand!

This time, Thunder and Lightning were powerless to defend. The wild sword lights were impossible to block with any weapon. Without combat ability on par with Xiulante's, they stood no chance of stopping these formless yet immensely powerful sword energies with their ordinary blades.

In an instant, two warriors whom Bolt had trained for years, who had always believed themselves exceptionally powerful, were dismembered into hundreds of pieces amidst the sword radiance!

As the sword light faded, Wind and Cloud still stood dumbfounded, their eyes fixed on the stunning sword technique Xiulante had just displayed!

As if unwilling to witness the bloodbath he had caused, Xiulante turned to gaze at Wind and Cloud. After just half a second, he sheathed his iron sword with a backhand motion and slowly walked back toward his bundle! He knew the will to fight had left his opponents' eyes—all that remained was boundless fear and an indescribable mix of emotions!

Xiulante was a warrior. He knew the expression on the face of a once-confident fighter utterly defeated by an enemy's sword! He understood even more that Wind and Cloud were now like dead men. If they could not overcome the shadow left by this defeat, they would never make the slightest progress in their martial arts for the rest of their lives!

Slinging his bundle over his shoulder, Xiulante slowly walked past Wind and Cloud. As he was about to pass by them, they still hadn't snapped out of their shock from earlier, not even noticing Xiulante's departure!

Perhaps out of pity, or perhaps unwilling to see two martial arts experts become useless, Xiulante suddenly stopped beside them and said, "For a warrior, facing defeat is difficult, but admitting defeat is even harder! If one day you figure out what you truly should do, you may come seek revenge on me. Otherwise, even if you find me, it will be in vain!"

After speaking these words, Xiulante lingered no longer, striding purposefully toward the courtyard gate!

In the night, Xiulante walked alone through the streets. Wind and Cloud ultimately did not pursue him for a final battle. For some reason, this outcome did not bring him peace. On the contrary, his heart felt as if something were missing, leaving him with a faint sense of discomfort!

However, Xiulante had little energy to ponder Wind and Cloud's future at that moment. He only wanted to reunite with those youths and live alongside them. So instead of heading out of the city, he made his way toward the Dragon Knights Regiment's garrison.

The deep red Flying Dragon flag still fluttered imposingly in the night. There was a time when this emblem had made Xiulante's blood boil with passion! Yet today, he stood outside the walls that had accompanied him for half his life, as if reminiscing about all that had passed. This was the Dragon Knights Regiment's headquarters, the garrison of the combat unit Xiulante directly commanded. But today would be his last visit here, for he had resolved to leave this land filled with both joy and pain!

"Captain, good evening!" As Xiulante entered the main gate, two Dragon Knights on duty greeted him loudly.

Xiulante nodded slightly and quickly disappeared from their sight. He had come here today for one reason only: to reunite with Mels and the others as quickly as possible. His goal was the most advanced magic teleportation array on the entire continent, located right here!

"Captain, what urgent matter brings you here so late at night?" As Xiulante entered the Magic Teleportation Center, the senior knight on duty hurriedly stood up to inquire.

"I wish to use the teleportation array to reach the southern port city of Boqi in Fiji Nando," Xiulante stated directly.

"This... does Captain have a written order from Duke Bolt or His Majesty the Emperor?" the duty officer asked.

Hearing his question, Xiulante gently shook his head and replied, "This is my decision. If it's not permitted, I can leave! Don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble. If anyone asks, just say I forced you to activate it!"

Hearing Xiulante's words and seeing the travel bundle he carried, the officer suddenly understood. He saluted Xiulante and said, "The Captain's command is the Knight Regiment's duty!" Then he turned to the other knights on duty behind him and ordered, "Immediately summon all first-rank Archmages to prepare the teleportation array!"

After hearing this, Xiulante's eyes grew slightly moist. After all, on this land he cherished, there were still things worth remembering, things for which he had devoted decades of his youth.

At that moment, Xiulante suddenly felt that his many years of effort had not been in vain. He had gained things that others could hardly obtain in a lifetime!

By the port of Boqi, Mels and the others had already disembarked from the *Statue of Liberty* and gathered with Emma and the rest at the spy's home. Mels, who had been emotionally agitated, had gradually calmed down after some time, and his mind had settled! However, the news he had heard earlier still shocked him greatly, even making it difficult for him to rationally explain the entire matter.

Seeing Mels unusually agitated, Sol and the others knew something major must have happened. Though eager to learn the details, all they could do now was wait for Mels to explain what had transpired!

Accepting the teacup Emma handed him, Mels mechanically took a sip and finally spoke: "After hearing what I'm about to say, you might think I'm talking nonsense, but this is truly everything I heard! And when combined with all our past experiences, I suddenly feel this might be the most reasonable explanation!" Mels' cryptic words left Sol and the others exchanging confused glances. It was then that Mels slowly began to recount everything he had heard that night.

After listening to Mels' account, everyone was stunned. If not for Mels' unusually serious expression, they might have thought he was joking! Even so, everyone's gaze remained half-believing, half-doubting, unable to be certain.

"Boss, it's not that I don't believe you, but do you really think one person can 'create' another person? Even if possible, how many people and how many years would it take to create billions?" Sol cautiously asked.

Sol's question was simple, but Mels couldn't answer it, for even he wasn't sure if his thoughts were correct! However, just as Mels struggled to respond, Bagina suddenly said, "This question is actually quite simple. If those mysterious people really could create humans, then it's entirely possible that all people now were created by them!

Think about it—they only needed to create a few hundred pairs of men and women thousands of years ago. Then, through long development, humans could increase their numbers on their own! But why would they create people? And do they truly have the ability? Also, if we were created by them, why would they initiate some plan to eliminate everyone?"

Bagina had touched on the crux of the matter, but these were not answers these young people could guess! After a discussion that yielded no definite conclusions, they remained clueless about those mysterious people. The only answer they obtained was that the *Statue of Liberty* was not the ship used by the black-clad assassins.

Knock knock... Just as Mels and the others were racking their brains, utterly confused, a sudden knock came from outside the door.

"Who is it?" Since the owner of the house was already resting, Sol stood up to ask.

"It's me, Xiu Lante!" A familiar voice suddenly came from outside. Hearing it was Xiu Lante, Sol hurriedly quickened his pace, rushed out of the room, and opened the door for him.

After the greetings, Xiu Lante set down his luggage, and Mels immediately asked, "Uncle Xiulan, how did you get here so fast? Is there any new news?"

"Yes, I came here because I have a few things to tell you! First, I have resigned from my position as Dragon Knight Captain. Second, I can confirm that those causing trouble in Feijiananduo are definitely not the killers who eliminated Blue Whirlwind!

Also, I am now a man with no home. If you're willing to take me in, I'll just tag along with you all." Xiu Lante said with a smile to Mels and the others. Although he spoke very lightly, Mels and the others were stunned!

"Uncle Xiulan, what did you say? You're not going to be the Dragon Knight Captain anymore? Why?" Sol asked, dumbfounded. "Hah, there are many reasons, but the most important one is that I'm tired of that dull life and want to try a new way of living." Xiu Lante's expression changed slightly, but he still said, still smiling.

The change in Xiu Lante's expression didn't escape Mels's notice, who was sitting opposite him. Sol wanted to press him, but Mels spoke first: "Actually, resigning isn't a bad thing. After all, a person can't do just one thing their whole life! Since Uncle is willing to tag along with us, from now on we can do as we please and be unbeatable!" As he spoke, Mels shot a look at the others, signaling them not to question Xiu Lante further about his reasons for leaving the Dragon Knights.

Hearing Mels' words and seeing his look, Sol and the others got the message. With the cooperation of Sol and Mels, the awkward atmosphere became lively again, and a sincere smile gradually appeared on Xiu Lante's face!

"Uncle Xiulan, we have a secret to tell you! Before, you were the Dragon Knight Captain of the Relkes Empire, so we couldn't tell you everything. But now it's different—you're one of us, so of course you have the right to know everything. Actually..." Mels suddenly changed the subject, explaining everything about Emma and what they encountered on the Statue of Liberty to Xiu Lante!

After listening to Mels' account, Xiu Lante found it just as hard to believe! However, his reaction was more mature than Sol and the others'. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "If things are really as you say, then disaster is about to befall the Kaxiu continent!

Now is not the time for us to argue about whether they created humans! Because they already want to exterminate all of humanity! Even if the woman you mentioned doesn't hand over the Divine Crystal to those mysterious people after she sails tomorrow morning, they will find another way to collect enough of the same thing! Mels, let me ask you: do you think revenge is more important, or solving the crisis for the people of the continent is more important?" The question Xiu Lante suddenly posed gave Mels pause.

However, after thinking for a while, Mels finally made up his mind and said, "My foster father often taught us to prioritize things. Although avenging my foster father is something we must do, saving the people of the continent is more important right now! Uncle, tell us, what should we do? Should we destroy that ship tonight?"

Hearing Mels' answer and seeing the identical look in the eyes of the five, Xiu Lante nodded approvingly and said, "No, we can't act hastily! Right now, you know the enemy's secret, but the enemy doesn't know their plan has been exposed. That's our greatest advantage! But if we attack recklessly, we'll only alert them!

Moreover, we have no idea what the 'crystal' they mentioned actually is, so we can't even search for it! If we sink the ship along with it, this is just a port—they could recover it quickly! So for now, it's better to try our luck and hope that woman doesn't hand over the item to the so-called council!"

"Then aren't we just doing nothing? They said that even without the crystal, it would only take a few years to gather another batch. We don't have much time either!" Mels said with a worried expression.

"No, we must first understand who our enemies really are! As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated!' As long as we know the true face of the enemy, we can figure out the best way to defeat them!" Xiu Lante said.

"How do we understand the enemy? We can't just capture one of them and interrogate them, can we?" Sol suddenly interjected. "No need. We already have the best helper right here—this young lady!" Xiu Lante said, turning his gaze toward Emma.

Seeing Xiu Lante's look, everyone suddenly understood what he meant.

But one question simultaneously arose in everyone's minds: "Emma has lost her memory. How can we uncover everything about those mysterious people from her?"

Just as everyone was pondering, Xiu Lante suddenly said, "You must be wondering how to make Emma tell us everything she knows. Maybe you won't believe it, but I know a method that can restore a person's memory to some extent or make them reveal everything about themselves while asleep!"

After hearing Xiu Lante's words, Bagina suddenly spoke up: "Are you talking about hypnosis?"

Xiu Lante was indeed surprised. With a slight smile, he looked at Bagina and said, "I didn't expect you to know about such a miraculous art! That's right, I'm talking about hypnosis! And I happen to know a master who has deeply studied this art. He lives in Kabo Town, less than two hundred kilometers from here!"

"Hypnosis? What kind of magic is that? I've never heard of it!" Sol suddenly asked.

In fact, not only him, but even Mels and the others had no idea what the hypnosis Xiu Lante and Bagina were talking about was.

"Hypnosis is an ancient technique. Unlike magic, it's not sorcery either. It uses certain methods to make a normal person enter a trance in a short time and completely obey the commands of the practitioner during that state. Using this technique, you can not only inquire about all the secrets of the subject but even control their entire life! That's why, a long time ago, this art was completely banned by the Mage Association as sorcery. I never thought someone would still know how to use it now!" Bagina explained.

"That's right! Although it's a very dangerous technique, if used properly, it can still be very useful. I think if Emma regains her memory, she might not necessarily tell us all her secrets. But if we can use hypnosis, the situation would be different!" Xiu Lante said to Mels with a smile.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's set off for Kabo Town first thing tomorrow morning. Everyone, go to sleep now!" Mels stood up excitedly and said to everyone.

In truth, the mysterious people who occasionally appeared had been a big mystery to Mels for a long time. Now that he finally found a way to uncover the answers, of course, it excited him!

Amid Mels' urging, everyone gradually left the living room. Although Emma didn't know what everyone intended to do to her, she could sense from their eyes that they meant no harm. So, accompanied by Bagina, she obediently went to rest.

However, after everyone had left, Xiu Lante and Mels remained. The two sat in silence, looking at each other, as if waiting for the other to speak first.

"Sigh, why can I stay calm when facing ruthless enemies, but I just can't with you?" Xiu Lante said helplessly.

"That's because I know Uncle isn't someone who lies, and I know Uncle has something to tell me!" Mels said.

"You knew I was lying? Why are you so sure?" Xiu Lante asked.

"Although I don't know the reason, I can be sure that the black-clad troublemakers in Feijiananduo are the killers we're after! The reason is simple: when you told us those people weren't the killers, your gaze kept dropping, and when you urged us to pursue the mysterious people, you specifically asked me whether revenge or saving the continent was more important! So I can say with absolute certainty that you lied to us just now, Uncle!" Mels smiled slightly and then stated his deduction.

"Haha, it seems even after over thirty years in the court, I still haven't mastered the art of being an official. Even a young brat like you can see through my thoughts, it's really... Mels, I don't want to deceive you, but I must tell you, your enemy is far too powerful. Even I am no match for him! Wait another thirty years—maybe after another thirty years, you could fight him. But right now, no matter how many helpers you have, you are absolutely no match for him!" Xiu Lante said seriously.

Listening to Xiu Lante's words, Mels fell silent for a moment. Then, as if making up his mind, he said, "Uncle, you really aren't good at lying. Even if you wanted to cover for his identity, you couldn't do it! How many opponents on this continent could make you this nervous?" As soon as Mels finished speaking, Xiu Lante's expression suddenly changed drastically!

But before Xiu Lante could speak, Mels cut in: "Uncle, don't worry. I understand what you're saying. If the real culprit is indeed him, I am truly no match for him right now. Going after him would only get my brothers killed for nothing! I will wait. I will wait for the perfect moment. And when that time comes, I hope you won't stop me anymore!"

Listening to Mels' words, Xiu Lante was left speechless. He had always thought Mels was very clever, but he never imagined Mels' wisdom far exceeded his expectations. With just a few simple exchanges, everything had been revealed from his own mouth. A long-decided battle to the death would inevitably draw closer with the passage of time!

Xiu Lante's reaction seemed to be within Mels' expectations. At this moment, Mels didn't want to discuss those annoying matters with Xiu Lante any further. Mels gently stood up, walked to Xiu Lante's side, and said, "Uncle, let's not talk about this today. Since we met, we've never had a proper chat. I know a nice tavern. How about we go have a good drink?"

Looking into Mels' sincere eyes, Xiu Lante suddenly felt his worries were unnecessary. Perhaps the change in mood made his heroic spirit surge. After agreeing loudly, the renowned Dragon Knight Captain, accompanied by the youth, set aside the burdens in his heart and strode toward a new world!