Chapter 305 - 292: Scared Weak in the Knees

When An Fengrui heard Shen Lang was about to show him something, the Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven master grew even more vigilant.

Shen Lang casually tossed out an oddly shaped weapon, which embedded itself in the tabletop to his left.

The weapon was dazzlingly bright, its entire body gleaming. It was only two feet long, with a sword-like tip. One side was a sharp, straight edge, while the other was serrated.

At first glance, it appeared ancient and grand, yet it also exuded a uniquely sinister aura.

The moment his eyes fell upon it, An Fengrui was stunned. He could feel an incomparable power emanating from the strange weapon!

He was about to speak when a strange roar echoed in his mind, and his thoughts immediately became muddled and sluggish.

’Not good, it’s a trap!’

An Fengrui felt his entire body go weak, his head swimming. He couldn’t even lift his arms. The shock was immense!

Despite his extreme caution, he had never imagined this young man would possess such an Exotic Treasure. The moment it was revealed, it muddled his mind and stripped him of his ability to fight!

From Shen Lang’s request to speak with him alone to this moment, where he produced an item that neutralized him... ’Even a fool can see he’s out to get me!’

Alarmed, An Fengrui bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. The piercing pain restored a sliver of clarity. He stomped his right foot, and his body shot backward like an arrow.

"Shen Lang, you’re despicable!"

Once he had put some distance between himself and the strange weapon, An Fengrui could feel its bizarre power weaken significantly. Cursing under his breath, he slapped a Defense Talisman onto his body.

Immediately, the short whip in his hand flared with light, a powerful attack building, ready to be unleashed at a moment’s notice.

Shen Lang hadn’t spent much time studying the Limb Order. To see it emerge and immediately cloud the mind of a Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven master, who then treated him like a mortal enemy and called him despicable, made him give a wry smile.

He flicked his finger, sending a ray of Spirit Light into the Limb Order to pacify the Nightmare Beast within.

Only then did he speak, a hint of apology in his voice. "City Lord An, you’ve misunderstood. I truly have no other motive. I just wanted you to take a look at this item. I wonder, do you recognize this Exotic Weapon?"

How could An Fengrui, terrified by the Exotic Weapon, possibly believe him?

The dignified master of the Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven, the City Lord of Illusion Mist City, was now as tense as a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring.

His eyes were locked on Shen Lang, wary of any sudden movements, while the short whip in his hand remained charged with power, ready to strike.

However, after speaking, Shen Lang simply sat there, watching him calmly without another word, making no move at all.

After a long moment, An Fengrui noticed something unusual: there was no malice in Shen Lang’s eyes. Not a trace of Killing Intent emanated from his body. There wasn’t even the faintest sign of Spiritual Power Release!

’Unless someone has reached the King Martial Realm, even a Xuanwu Realm Ninth Heaven expert will show fluctuations of Spiritual Power when they’re about to attack. Can it be that he really has no intention of fighting me?’

As his head cleared, he realized he might have jumped to conclusions.

If Shen Lang had truly wanted to attack, that previous opening would have been the perfect opportunity.

’No, he probably doesn’t even need an opportunity. That effect was likely just the passive aura the Exotic Weapon gives off.’

’If that thing were truly activated, with my Cultivation, I wouldn’t stand a chance.’

’Forget the weapon’s true power. I couldn’t possibly resist its strange Spiritual Power alone, which can so easily plunge someone into an illusion.’

An Fengrui felt a pang of shame. He awkwardly lowered the short whip in his hand.

At that, Shen Lang sighed again and said with resignation, "As far as I know, not many people have seen this item. However, members of the Imperial Dragon Sect and its subordinate factions should have read about it in their Classics, right?"

"Ahem." An Fengrui coughed to hide his embarrassment, then focused his gaze on the Exotic Weapon on the stone table.

As he looked, he was stunned once more.

There, in the center of the blade, were two large, inky-black, calligraphed words: "Limb Order."

’What a strange name... But it’s odd. Why does it feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before? It’s a little familiar...’

Shen Lang clicked his tongue, a little exasperated. ’I should have just shown him Shangguan Feiyue’s Token. Was bringing out the Limb Order just making things complicated?’

’If this fellow doesn’t recognize it, I’ll have to go the long way around.’

"The Limb Order appears, supreme under heaven; the Imperial Dragon’s wild tide brings certain death."

Shen Lang muttered the verse, a hint of resignation in his voice.

The moment the verse left his lips, it was as if a clap of thunder exploded in An Fengrui’s mind. The shock of it, as he stood pondering in the corner, was so great that his entire body went weak.

CLANG!

The short whip in An Fengrui’s hand dropped to the floor, shattering a paving stone.

An Fengrui had lost all composure. Without even thinking to retrieve his fallen whip, he strode forward in a few quick steps and stared intently at the "Limb Order"!

"The Limb Order? It’s really the Limb Order! This is Shangguan Ancestor’s famous Imperial Artifact... Heavens!"

An Fengrui practically roared as he collapsed to the ground with a THUD, his entire body shaking uncontrollably.

The White Rainbow Sect was one of the Imperial Dragon Sect’s subordinate powers, so An Fengrui and his people naturally knew a little about the legends of the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Elder Ancestors.

Shangguan Feiyue was said to be the foremost among the Imperial Dragon Sect’s Elder Ancestors. His Cultivation was so powerful that he could cause a Mountain Collapse and an Earth Split with a mere flip of his palm.

In his day, he battled far and wide. His Lifebound Emperor Artifact, the "Limb Order," struck terror into the hearts of his enemies. It won him great renown and became the subject of countless well-known legends.

He never, ever imagined that the Limb Order would one day be sitting right in front of him!

The aura of this Limb Order, its mysterious and extraordinary power, and the soul-shaking Ancient Demon Beast’s Beast Soul sealed within... ’There’s no way it’s a fake!’

’But... how did it end up in the hands of this strange young man?’

’Could it be that this young man, Shen Lang, is from the Imperial Dragon Sect?’

’Even if he were from the Imperial Dragon Sect, it’s impossible that he would be carrying the Limb Order.’

’Even the Sect Leader of the Imperial Dragon Sect wouldn’t have that right, would he?’

’What kind of person could possibly compel Shangguan Ancestor to gift them his own Lifebound Emperor Artifact?’

By now, the Limb Order’s aura had receded, and the Nightmare Beast within had been pacified by Shen Lang. But An Fengrui felt even more light-headed than before, completely unable to think straight.

His legs were so weak he could barely stand.

’Just moments ago, I was preparing to lead a host of experts to attack Qingfeng Stronghold and kill this young man who came out of nowhere...’

’I even suspected he was using some treacherous scheme to deal with me.’

’Now, looking back, it’s all just a joke...’

The Limb Order of an Imperial Dragon Sect Elder Ancestor was right here. The message was simple. ’You said I was arrogant and didn’t know my place, didn’t you?’

’You wanted to storm the mountain and annihilate Qingfeng Stronghold, didn’t you?’

’Well, look at this thing. Who’s going to be killing whom, exactly?’

’Looks down on Illusion Mist City? Looks down on the White Rainbow Sect?’

’The three Elder Ancestors of the White Rainbow Sect would be scared out of their wits if they saw this Limb Order!’

"City Lord An, if you’ve confirmed that this is the Limb Order, can we discuss our transaction now?" Shen Lang’s cool voice echoed in the room.

He had only intended to use the Limb Order to intimidate An Fengrui, but he had underestimated its true power to shock and awe.

Having absorbed all of the War Emperor’s memories, the current Shen Lang wouldn’t bat an eye even if he met an Emperor Martial Realm expert. But An Fengrui was not the same.

With An Fengrui’s status, he probably wasn’t even qualified to meet some of the White Rainbow Sect’s more powerful figures, let alone an Elder Ancestor from the Imperial Dragon Sect.

"Ah? Ah! Yes, yes, of course..."

Hearing Shen Lang’s voice, An Fengrui snapped back to his senses. He stammered an incoherent reply and began frantically wiping away his cold sweat.

Only now did he finally understand just how merciful the mysterious young man before him had been.

Let’s not even mention the strength Shen Lang had displayed above the City Lord’s Mansion, which was already enough to make him, a Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven master, feel apprehensive. Even if Shen Lang had no strength of his own, if he wanted the men attacking the mountain dead, it would be as easy as lifting a finger!

The Limb Order of an Imperial Dragon Sect Elder Ancestor... for a minor figure like him, it was like a low-ranking official seeing the Supreme Emperor’s own Golden Belt.

And this "Golden Belt" was unbelievably powerful. Just by being tossed out, without even being actively used, it had nearly trapped a Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven Martial Artist!

"Young brother, I... I was truly out of line before. I..." Cold sweat dripped from An Fengrui’s brow as he struggled to form a coherent sentence.

Shen Lang reached out and retrieved the Limb Order, saying calmly, "You’re overstating things, City Lord. There’s no offense to speak of. If anyone offended me, it was Zhang Cheng... but he has already been punished."

"Here’s the situation. I’ve discovered a Black Iron Vein on Celestial City Peak, but the people of Qingfeng Stronghold lack the manpower to mine it. That’s why I came to you. You provide the labor, and I’ll give you a twenty-percent share. What do you think?"

"Black Iron? Young brother, are you talking about the ultimate binding agent, the Black Iron that can perfectly fuse multiple materials? With Black Iron, many otherwise incompatible ores and materials can be flawlessly combined. It’s the one thing all Artifact Refiners covet most! But it’s almost unheard of in the Purple Chu Country, and I don’t think any Black Iron has ever been discovered in the Chuyun Mountain Range. Even if some was found, it would be a minuscule amount. How could there be an entire vein on Celestial City Peak?" An Fengrui said in disbelief.

Shen Lang frowned. He touched his Sumeru Ring and placed a chunk of Black Iron Ore on the table. "Do you think I’d be mistaken about Black Iron Ore? Just give me a straight answer. Are you in or not?"

An Fengrui picked up the Black Iron Ore from the table, and another wave of cold sweat broke out. "I would follow young brother’s orders through hell and high water... Holy crap, it really is Black Iron Ore! And the purity is this high? This vein is... it’s a treasure trove!"

Seeing An Fengrui caressing the Black Iron Ore, unable to put it down, Shen Lang rolled his eyes and said nonchalantly, "Bone Demon doesn’t understand social niceties. Perhaps he went a little too far before, but that was the extent of it."

"The Lone Wolf Mercenary Corps and two other factions attacked Qingfeng Stronghold on Zhang Cheng’s orders. They intended to wipe it out completely. A matter like that is usually a fight to the death. The fact that I let them go and they’re still alive and well means they’re already incredibly lucky."

An Fengrui’s heart skipped a beat. ’Why is he bringing this up again?’ he wondered.

He put on a look of righteous indignation. "Yes, yes, I agree! Those fellows are unbelievably lucky, especially that little bastard Zhang Cheng! I’ll make sure his father teaches him a harsh lesson! That scoundrel! As for those three factions, I’ll make sure they pay for what they’ve done!"

As An Fengrui said this, he had already made up his mind. He would indeed make those factions suffer for their actions.