Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 323: News of the Star Blade Spreads

Xixuan City, once a bustling and bustling city, was now shrouded in a gloomy haze. The sky seemed covered by a vast gray curtain. The sun struggled to penetrate the clouds, casting only a few dim rays of light on the earth, as if it was the last vestige of the city's fate.

The Cao family mansion, once a magnificent structure, now lay in ruins. The shattered remains lay scattered like the skeleton of a wounded beast. The vermilion gate, shattered and crumbling, lay askew. The bronze nails had lost their luster, some even falling off from the powerful impact, scattering on the blood-soaked ground. Entering the mansion, the air was filled with the sickening smell of blood, a pungent, tangible scent that clinged to everyone who entered. The blood on the ground had pooled into dark red puddles, and the occasional fly hovered above, making a buzzing sound, as if playing a melody of death to accompany this sudden disaster.

Corpses lay everywhere. Among them were strong men in the attire of the Cao family's guards, their weapons still clutched, their eyes etched with the terror and fury of death. Some guards wore expressions of disbelief, as if they could never accept until their death that the home they had protected had been destroyed overnight. The bodies of the servants were even more pitiful, huddled in corners or slumped in the hallways, their eyes filled with despair. Innocent family members, elderly and children alike, were not spared. Beside the body of an elderly woman lay the sweaters she had knitted for her children and grandchildren. The colorful yarn shone brightly against the bloodstains, as if telling of the family's former warmth and present misery.

Amidst this hellish scene, figures from various factions moved like ghosts. They hailed from various sects and organizations, each harboring their own agenda. Some wore long black robes, their hems rustling in the wind. Mysterious patterns embroidered on them were faintly visible in the dim light, exuding a mysterious and menacing aura. These black-robed figures held sinister glares, and as they rummaged through the ruins, their movements were swift and brutal, each one tinged with eager greed.

"Hurry! Look more carefully! The Star Blade must be here!" a middle-aged man in a gorgeous brocade robe shouted. He stood on a relatively intact stone slab, commanding the crowd from a high position. His brocade robe was embroidered with exquisite patterns in gold thread, highlighting his extraordinary status. His face flushed slightly with anger and impatience, his brow furrowed, and his eyes gleamed with fanaticism, as if the Star Blade had become the most important thing in his life, and he would stop at nothing to obtain it. In his hand, he tightly grasped a sword, the blade of which looked even more sinister because it was stained with blood. In the dim light, it reflected a dark red light, as if telling of the slaughter it had just experienced.

"Elder, we've searched everywhere, every corner, and we haven't found any trace of the Star Blade," a disciple said wearily. His clothes were splattered with blood and dust, and his once-clean face was now grimy. A hint of helplessness lingered in his eyes. The constant searching had stretched his body to its limit, but the elder's command kept him from slacking off. He held a wooden stick, prying against a floor tile, hoping to find the Star Blade beneath.

The elder frowned, his face showing a mixture of anger and confusion. He glared at the disciple fiercely: "Impossible! The news is definitely not wrong. This Star Blade has disappeared for a thousand years. Now it reappears in the world. It must be in the Cao family. Keep looking! No one can leave until they find it!" His voice echoed in the ruins, with an unquestionable majesty, which made the surrounding disciples shudder and had to continue searching.

In a dark corner of Xixuan City, far from the city center, lies the gathering place of various underworld intelligence dealers. The narrow alleyway is filled with the smell of dampness, moss grows on the walls, and sewage flows on the ground. Several underworld intelligence dealers gather together, their eyes gleaming mysteriously, and they talk in low voices.

"Have you heard? The Star Blade wasn't found in the Cao family, and now all the major factions are in chaos," a thin man with a scar on his face said mysteriously. The scar stretched from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth. As he spoke, it twisted slightly with the movement of his muscles, making his expression even more eerie. He glanced around from time to time, as if worried someone was eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Hmph, this isn't that simple. I've heard the Star Blade wasn't originally in the Cao family." A one-eyed man shook his head proudly. His single eye gleamed cunningly in the darkness, as if he possessed a profound secret. He wore a tattered black cape, its edges frayed and tattered, which fluttered in the wind as he moved.

"Oh? Who has it?" The others gathered around curiously, their eyes gleaming with excitement. In this world, possessing crucial intelligence was tantamount to wealth and power, and they all longed to be the one holding the key information.

The one-eyed dragon lowered his voice and said in a volume that only a few of them could hear: "I heard that it is in the hands of a man named Lin Feng." Although his voice was low, it was full of confidence, as if he had seen the Star Blade in Lin Feng's hands with his own eyes.

"Lin Feng? I've never heard of him. Who is he?" Everyone was puzzled. They had been in the martial arts world for many years and thought they had heard of all the celebrities in the martial arts world, but this name was so unfamiliar to them.

"This Lin Feng is no ordinary person. He's said to possess the combat power of a Grandmaster, and he's a mysterious figure in the martial arts world. Few people usually see him, but whenever he appears, something big is bound to happen," the one-eyed man explained. His lips curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile, proud of having such exclusive information.

At this time, in the strongholds of various major forces, people were also discussing new clues about the Star Blade.

Inside a magnificent palace, a vast hall was ablaze with candlelight. The walls were adorned with precious calligraphy and paintings, the floor paved with polished marble. In the center sat a massive throne, upon which sat an elderly man with white hair and a sharp gaze. He wore a magnificent purple robe, embroidered with gold thread, symbols of power and status. His face was lined with wrinkles, but his eyes were like those of an eagle, deep and piercing, as if they could see into the heart. Around him stood a group of subordinates, each standing tall and respectful, awaiting the old man's orders.