FRGNM -Chapter 301 An Overwhelming Trend

The black pupils involuntarily contracted. The man standing there suddenly retreated several steps, the Dou Qi in his hand winding forward. No matter how the dagger tried to advance, it could not move even an inch further.

Jiang Yu’s expression darkened. A sharp glint flashed through his black eyes as the petite figure abruptly stepped forward. In just one step, he had already reached the Eastern Capital King’s side. His right hand swiftly clamped onto the dagger, a cold light flickering deep in his eyes.
“Your strength is not bad.”

“Yours is the same. You look rather arrogant, but young people should still learn to keep a low profile and be steady,” the man replied with a faint smile. His body suddenly trembled, and he leapt backward at an even faster speed.

With a twist of his wrist, Jiang Yu drove the dagger straight into the ground. His body slid backward for some distance before coming to a halt. A fleeting, unreadable look flashed deep in his eyes. The man rose coldly to his feet and retrieved his dagger with an icy expression.

“Sometimes what you see is not what you’re good at!” Rage flared in his eyes as the black figure suddenly soared upward. The Dou Qi in his hand erupted, spreading out like a massive net and crashing down toward the person below.

He was fast—but the Eastern Capital King was faster.

The fiery-red figure leapt swiftly into the air. The two palms collided, and the entire ground shuddered violently.

“Heavens, that’s amazing!”

“Where did this kid come from? He’s way too strong! I heard even Shang Yong suffered at his hands, and now he can actually fight the Eastern Capital King to a standstill!”

“My god, what am I seeing?!”

Waves of shrill cries rang out. The people outside were itching to rush in, but as the shockwaves spread, before they could even react, those standing atop the walls were already flung away, nearly crashing to the ground.

So strong—so terrifyingly strong!

Even Yi Zhui was dumbfounded. In his heart, the Eastern Capital King’s strength was unmatched. Back then, he had attacked with all his might, yet he couldn’t even touch the corner of the King’s clothes. Now that the King had emerged from seclusion, the gap between them was even greater!

But why—why was that kid so powerful, able to fight Uncle Li on equal footing? He refused to accept this!

“Eat,” said the seated man, glancing up at the two above. His right hand sank slightly, and a streak of purple-black Dou Qi shot into the air.

Boom!

The two who were palm-to-palm in the air both changed expressions drastically. As the devouring Dou Qi erupted, they were forced to release their hands and quickly land on the ground. In terms of Dou Qi, neither of them could compare to Luo Mingyu.

That Nine Nether Qi—how could they possibly shake it?

“Uh… so we’re not fighting anymore? I was just thinking of eating a bit more!” Silver Wolf, his mouth already stuffed full, lifted his head to look at the two across from him. He quickly swallowed what was in his mouth. The food was simply incomparable to anything outside. If he’d known earlier, he would’ve made Luo Mingyu switch careers and become a chef—no more hassle, delicious meals every day. Though… he’d probably die a miserable death.

Yi Zhui and Yi Meng hurried over, grabbing Silver Wolf by his silver-white long hair and shouting angrily, “You—you have no manners! Everyone hasn’t even sat down yet, and you’re already eating! You—you—”

“I—I what? Manners or not, we’re all family. What’s there to fuss about? Besides, the food really is delicious. Don’t believe me? Try some!” Silver Wolf quickly picked up a chicken leg. Just as Yi Meng was about to take it, he turned and stuffed it into his own mouth.

“I told you to eat!” Yi Zhui stomped hard on Silver Wolf’s foot, glaring at him fiercely before turning and running over to Luo Mingyu, sticking out his tongue at Silver Wolf.

The Eastern Capital King sat down and looked at the two seated opposite him. He lifted a cup of wine, brought it lightly to his nose, and asked calmly, “Any news of Ling Feng yet?”

“Not for now,” Ling Ruoxi replied softly, her brows knit together. She still didn’t know when Murong Ming would tell her about her father’s whereabouts.

With a soft acknowledgment, the Eastern Capital King smiled faintly. “If you miss home, come back and have a look. I’ll help take care of Yi Zhui and Yi Meng, and I’ll supervise their studies as well. As for you, where is your next destination?”

“Linshui County. Eastern Capital King, do you know where Master Yin Liang lives? The one there,” Ling Ruoxi asked quickly. Given the King’s vast influence, he might know something about that old man.

Resting his chin on one hand, the Eastern Capital King raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Oh? Master Yin Liang—the forging grandmaster? I’ve heard of him. But that old man has a foul temper, and he’s even taken in an ugly apprentice. If you want him to forge a weapon for you, there are three things you must know.”

“First,” he suddenly extended a long finger and smiled lightly at the group. “A meeting gift. That old man accepts nothing short of peerless treasures. If you want his help, you must present a rare and precious gift from the continent. Second, you must be pleasing to the eye. Of course, that doesn’t mean handsome like you lot—it means whether he finds you pleasing. His temperament is strange. He may accept your gift, but if he dislikes you, he still won’t help.”

“Then wouldn’t the gift be for nothing?” Silver Wolf exclaimed in surprise, eyes wide as he stared at the Eastern Capital King.

Qing Yi pressed down on his head, half laughing, half exasperated. “A gift is meant to be given away. When has anyone ever taken one back? Use your brain!”

“Well, hehe,” the Eastern Capital King chuckled softly and nodded. “If he finds you unpleasant, he’ll naturally throw you out along with the gift you brought. So don’t worry about not getting your gift returned. As for the third point—that’s the most important.”

He swept his gaze over everyone, then pressed a hand to his own chest and tapped lightly. In a low voice, he said, “Anyone who asks him for help will be required to take out their heart. Can you accept that?”

“Take out the heart?!” Silver Wolf nearly jumped up. His eyes bulged as he stared at the man before him, swallowing hard. What kind of joke was this? If your heart was removed, could you even live? Even if the first two conditions were met, this third one was absolutely impossible!

Nodding, the Eastern Capital King rested his cheek on one hand, took another sip of wine, and said calmly, “Many people have gone. Many passed the second trial, but countless failed at the third. However, on the entire continent, only two people have ever succeeded.”

“Which two?” Silver Wolf leaned in eagerly. He had to meet them—people who could remove their hearts and still live. That was insanely powerful!

Pointing toward Luo Mingyu, the Eastern Capital King raised an eyebrow with a smile. “The first is the one sitting beside you—Luo Mingyu, the inheritor of a legacy weapon. That Bloodthirsty Black Scythe of his was forged by Master Yin Liang. He merely refined it further, making it even more sinister than before and capable of withstanding the erosion of Nine Nether Qi.”

So amazing! Yi Zhui and Yi Meng both turned to look at the man beside them. They hadn’t expected their father to be so heroic—able to take out his own heart! But then again, how could someone as godlike as their father fail at something like that?

“My god, Luo Mingyu, don’t tell me you’re heartless now!” Silver Wolf reached out and pressed a hand against Luo Mingyu’s chest, trying to find out.

But he was fast—Luo Mingyu was faster.

With a flip of his right hand, Luo Mingyu quickly seized the hand on his chest and raised an eyebrow. “You’re making this very awkward for me. And besides, I’m a married man.”

“Pfft! My orientation is normal, damn it. Fine, I won’t look!” Silver Wolf broke out in goosebumps, staring at him in horror and shivering before hastily withdrawing his arm. What a joke—if he kept this up, not only would Luo Mingyu kill him, Ling Ruoxi probably would too.

Two grown men—this really wasn’t an appropriate thing to be doing.

Taking a sharp breath, Ling Ruoxi looked at the man before her. Had he really taken out his own heart? Was such a thing truly possible?

Wrapping an arm around the person beside him, Luo Mingyu smiled softly. “Whether I have a heart or not—don’t you already know?”

“Ugh, disgusting!” Silver Wolf shuddered. Clearly sensing Ling Ruoxi’s sudden emotional fluctuation, he quickly changed the subject and looked toward the Eastern Capital King. “So then, who’s the second person? Don’t tell me it’s you—I can’t handle that.”

With a chuckle, the Eastern Capital King shook his head helplessly. “Of course not me. I’m merely the storyteller. The second person is also someone you know—though you’ve never met him. Ling Feng.”

“What? Another man—Ling Feng?!” Silver Wolf nearly leapt up, eyes bulging. Wasn’t that Ling Ruoxi’s father? My god—wandering all over, ignoring his wife and child—no wonder he was heartless!

Ling Ruoxi’s face changed drastically. She suddenly stood up, staring at the man before her as if something had clicked. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Th-then let me ask you… do you know what my father had forged?”

“That?” The Eastern Capital King smiled calmly, as if seeing through her thoughts. A cold glint flashed in his wise eyes as he slowly stood. “I can tell you—and you have the right to know. You should have heard your mother mention it. Your father, aside from his medical skills, rarely showed anything else in front of her. In her eyes, he was merely a foolish physician. The weapon he asked Master Yin Liang to forge was meant to heal others—the Silver Needles. The Purple Bamboo Silver Needles!”

Purple Bamboo Silver Needles!

It was like a heavy hammer slamming into Ling Ruoxi’s heart. No wonder—no wonder only she could play the Demon-Slaying Zither and subdue the purple bamboo. Before her, her father had used the same method.

But why did he do this? After painstakingly forging the Purple Bamboo Divine Needles, why did he suddenly change his mind and scatter them across different regions, letting them grow freely? Was it because of that Snow Maiden from the Southern Barbarians?

Drawing in a sharp breath, Ling Ruoxi sat down blankly, her small hands clenched tightly. What she couldn’t understand even more was why Murong Ming wanted her to gather the purple bamboo and forge the Purple Bamboo Divine Needles again.

Why did that ominous premonition keep growing stronger? What on earth was going to happen?