Chapter 130: Iron Rules

　　Yunxiao laughed when he saw the hesitant look on his face. “It will be fine,” he told him, “just send the message. If Yuwen Bo blames you, you can rip me apart to vent your anger.”

　　Yin Zhaoyang’s face was uncertain, but then he seemed to make up his mind. He took out an object from his ring and carefully placed it on the ground. It was an array disk fully carved with numerous runes, above which hovered a warm-colored jade medallion that gave off a gentle feeling.

　　A trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes, and then he began to chant under his breath as he drew various symbols with both hands and sent a stream of divine sense into the jade medallion. The arrays on the disk were activated instantly, with traces of light drifting out of them.

　　The void around the disk began to distort, as if it was being twisted and pulled. Ding Ling’er’s pupils constricted as she watched in terror.

　　At the same time, somewhere thousands of miles away…

　　It was a place surrounded by water and rolling mountains that looked like a sleeping dragon, constantly exuding natural Primordial Qi. If someone looked at it from the sky, he would have a strong delusion as if the dragon was about to take flight and soar into the clouds.

　　Amid the rolling mountains was a calm lake that looked like a huge jade embedded on the ground. Far in the distance, the lake spread out through a narrow gap between two mountain ranges, flowing somewhere unknown.

　　The whole scenery was like the home of some immortals, especially when there was a small white tower floating in the middle of the lake. Its wall, white as the whitest jade, was carved with dragons and phoenixes, which emanated waves of faint colorful light that sprinkled on the water.

　　Under such a magnificent environment, in front of a railing on one side of the tower, a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar sat on a white jade platform. His figure was graceful, and his white robe was dustless, which made him look like a dewdrop rolling on a vibrant green lotus leaf, agile and delicate, as if he could fly away in a gust of wind.

　　The scholar’s eyes were half-closed, and streams of Primordial Qi were spreading out of him. Each word he said was like the most amazing dharma, and there was a group of men sitting on hassocks beneath him, listening attentively at his teaching.

　　Suddenly, the scholar stopped. His pupils constricted slightly, and with a surprised look, he spread his right hand, revealing a golden Long-distance Fly Sound that looked more advanced than Yin Zhaoyang’s.

　　The faces of those beneath him flickered. It must be a serious matter to send a message to Third Elder at this moment. Everyone grew nervous, and some were talking to one another in low voices, wondering what had happened.

　　“It is a message sent to me by Yin Zhaoyang from the Firecrow Empire in the south,” said the scholar, and his eyes gradually grew cold.

　　Sensing the change in the scholar’s aura, everyone became fearful and restless. The Firecrow Empire was just a small state in Heavenly Martial Continent, and no matter how serious the issue there was, even if the whole branch of Myriad Treasures Store was destroyed by someone, there was no need to make direct contact with the Third Elder.

　　One of them was in charge of the affairs in all the states in the south. His expression changed instantly, replaced by an angry look. Yin Zhaoyang was his direct subordinate, and the fact that his subordinate bypassed him filled his eyes with killing intent.

　　Yuwen Bo casually grabbed the flickering green jade medallion, and a stream of divine sense instantly flowed into his head.

　　“What?”

　　Abruptly, his leisurely, graceful, and calm air was gone as he lurched to his feet and cried out, his eyes showing an incredulous and terrified look. Meanwhile, the Primordial Qi swirling around him dispersed under the emotional fluctuation and blew toward the boundless lake, sending ripples across the calm surface and boiling the water.

　　“What happened, Third Elder!” The man in charge of the affairs in all the southern states, Xie Yuhang, could not help but ask in a state of trepidation. Yuwen Bo had never made such a gaffe in public. Could something serious really have happened to the Firecrow Empire’s branch?

　　Yuwen Bo held the jade medallion in his hand and his face was flickering. Rings of Primordial Qi spread out of him, showing the extreme restlessness of his mind. He performed a few quick incantation gestures and sent them into the medallion. In the next instant, a stream of divine sense was sent back through the medallion.

　　After that, he seemed to be lost in some kind of memory, standing in front of the railing and staring blankly at the lake and the sky. None of the people behind him dared to say anything, but their eyes were full of doubts as they all looked at Xie Yuhang, who felt his flesh creep with all the glances.

　　“Haha! Haha!”

　　Just as everyone’s mind was full of speculation, Yuwen Bo suddenly threw his head back and laughed. His voice transformed into dragon roars that pierced the sky, shattering the whole surface of the lake and sending water up into the air. As everyone was behind him, nobody saw the two lines of tears trickling down his cheeks, but only heard him laugh and speak, “I knew it! I know you are still alive!”

　　Meanwhile, Yin Zhaoyang, who was at the trade fair in Tianshui, was waiting anxiously. All of a sudden, the jade medallion in front of him flickered with a green light. He grabbed it hurriedly, and in the next instant, a stream of divine sense flew into his head.

　　After sending out the divine sense, the jade medallion immediately lost all its luster and color, breaking apart and shattering into a heap of powder. Meanwhile, the array disk carved with hundreds of arrays cracked and turned into a useless item.

　　Yin Zhaoyang’s expression changed drastically after he received the divine sense. The way he looked at Yunxiao suddenly became a little stiff and respectful, and he used a voice transmission to say, “Third Elder makes me ask you what comes after ‘Lying in the depth of the night I listen to the winds blowing in the rain?’”

　　Yunxiao laughed, his eyes seeming to be full of memories as he said, “And iron-clad horses o’er frozen rivers, as of old, invade my dreams again!”

　　Yin Zhaoyang sucked in a cold breath. He bowed in haste and fear and said respectfully, “The Guardian of Myriad Treasures Store Firecrow Branch, Yin Zhaoyang, offers greetings…greetings… greetings to Young Master.”

　　He stuttered because he did not know Yunxiao’s name, so he just called him Young Master. He did not use voice transmission this time, and his body language had said it all, which stunned all of the two thousand people around and almost made them faint.

　　A Martial Grandmaster was bowing to Young Master Yun?

　　All of them felt that their hearts were too weak to withstand such a visual impact, and their breathing became difficult. Ding Ling’er and Yu Rong were gaping at the scene as well, completely petrified.

　　What were the two of them talking about just now?

　　The people around felt they were being driven crazy by their curiosity. If it could be revealed, Ding Ling’er was even willing to buy it with all her wealth.

　　Yunxiao chuckled and said, “You may rise. Just calling me Young Master Yun will do. What did Yuwen Bo say?”

　　Beads of cold sweat oozed out of Yin Zhaoyang’s forehead as he answered gingerly, “Third Elder said ‘If he can’t answer it, kill him and feed him to the dogs. But, if he answered correctly, treat him the same way you treat me.’”

　　“Haha!” Yunxiao burst out laughing. He did not use voice transmission this time, but said openly, “You can go back now, everyone! It is a misunderstanding. He’s one of us.”

　　One of us…

　　Xiao Qingwang, Li Chunyang, and the others looked at each other, their faces covered in cold sweat. Luo Yunshang, on the other hand, was extremely excited, and she thought, ‘It must be! He must have revealed the information about that man! Otherwise, how is it possible that a Martial Grandmaster suddenly bows his head in submission? Lord Gu Feiyang, when can I see you again?’

　　“Go back now, all of you!”

　　At Chen Dasheng’s order, the two thousand members of the Dubhe dispersed into all directions. Yian waved a hand as well, sending the first unit of the State Guardians away.

　　Yunxiao pointed at the dead bodies on the ground and said, “I’m sorry for the trouble, Elder Yin. Not only have I violated Myriad Treasures Store’s rules, but I have also brought you endless trouble. I really don’t know how to explain it to you.”

　　Yin Zhaoyang understood what he meant. The direct descendants of the Cheng Family and Xingyang Family were murdered in Thousand Treasures Trade Fair, and it was very difficult for the Myriad Treasures Store to escape the responsibility. It was indeed a headache. But, when he thought of Yuwen Bo’s message, his heart calmed down instantly. No matter how serious this would turn into, he had someone shielding him from above. He put on a serious face and said, “Explain? Aren’t these bodies an explanation? Since they dared to rob others by tricking and forcing at the Thousand Treasures Trade Fair, they had violated Myriad Treasures Store’s rules, and this is the consequence they have to face!”

　　Ding Ling’er and Yu Rong almost fainted!

　　They could not believe Myriad Treasures Store, who was said to have iron rules, would evade responsibility and lie in public!

　　Their hearts were filled with extreme shock. They knew that there was room for discussion in everything, and the so-called iron rules only applied to common people. Even iron could be broken with a punch in the face of a mighty force, and many a times, iron could be even melted into liquid form.

　　Both Ding Ling’er and Yu Rong thought of that at the same time, and there was a look of horror in their eyes and a great wave within them. For hundreds of years, Myriad Treasures Store had never broken its own rules in the Firecrow Empire, and it had never given anyone favor, not even the backer of the Firecrow Empire, Jutian Sect.

　　What did that mean?

　　It meant Yunxiao had the power to melt Myriad Treasures Store’s iron rules into liquid!

　　Yin Zhaoyang clapped his hands, and in the next instant, dozens of warriors clustered over. Then, he pointed at the dead bodies on the ground and said coldly, “Xingyang Jie of Xingyang Family and Cheng Feiche of Cheng Family had violated the rules, and they have atoned for their crimes with death. Tidy up their bodies and send them back to the Firecrow Empire. As for the rest, drag them outside the city and burn them.”

　　“Understood!” The warriors answered in unison and began to collect the bodies.

　　With a big smile on his face, Yin Zhaoyang turned to Yunxiao and asked, “Do you have any other orders for me, Young Master Yun?”

　　Xiao Qingwang, Li Chunyang, and the others who stood nearby could not bear to watch anymore, so they turned their eyes away. A Martial Grandmaster, whom they held in high esteem, was talking and behaving in such a humble manner! No one would have believed that he was a Martial Grandmaster had he not frozen more than two thousand people just now with only his aura.