The Legend of the Stars: Prequel

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Star Chapter
! January, 551st year of the Black Luman Calendar, Free City of Poltegal
! "Come and see! Fresh fruit, delicious fruit!"
"Top-quality silk from the Silk Country, honest and reliable."
"A secret medicine imported from the Western Desert, keeping ladies young and beautiful, welcome to try it."
"Candied hawthorns, selling candied hawthorns!"
"Thunderbolt Monthly, this issue of Thunderbolt Monthly, last issue of Thunderbolt Monthly, next issue of Thunderbolt Monthly, has Ye Xiaochai's autographed photo!"
"Tales of Wind and Beauty, third issue of Tales of Wind and Beauty, subscribe now!
" In the southeastern part of the Wind Continent, two thousand years ago, it was the territory of the Duchy of Paroch. After the fall of the Duchy of Paroch, this area was jointly ruled by a merchant organization, which championed freedom and unrestrained spirit. Not belonging to any particular nation, each city was governed independently by elected representatives, focusing on developing free trade, thus becoming a unique region.
Polutgar, formerly known as Ada City, was the former capital of the Duchy of Paroch. After the disintegration of the duchy, it flourished due to its abundant resources and convenient geographical location with both land and sea access, becoming one of the most prosperous regions.
In the teahouse, monks from neighboring Japan and scholars from the Land of Silk engage in profound debates; in the market, merchants from Blackruman and illusionists from Ligas peddle their wares; in the taverns, bards from the Scarlet Cherry Empire and dancers from the Seven Islands Alliance sing and dance aloud. People of all races adorn Poltegal, transforming it into a port city brimming with exotic charm.
On the bustling streets, a traveler in black robes wanders aimlessly. Judging by his attire, he's probably some kind of monk!
His black robes stand out somewhat in the noisy street. However, the Wind Continent has many religions, and wars between them are not uncommon. Therefore, the people of various regions have long held a consensus not to question the beliefs of others.
"Esteemed guest, it must be so hot in this black robe! How about a bowl of our refreshing tea?" A rather plump shopkeeper greeted the customer warmly at the tea shop entrance.
"Where is the tea from?"
"Sir, you're quite the connoisseur. Our tea is from Heling in the southeastern lowlands, with a pure and authentic flavor. Or would you like our imported Darjeeling black tea? It was just shipped here last month." "
Something simple will do."
The traveler brewed a pot of tea, chose a seat near the door, and sat down to savor it.
"How's business lately, sir?"
"Thanks to you, it's been alright," the shopkeeper replied with a beaming smile and a bow.
"I heard you changed the price of your tea a few days ago?"
"How could that be? The price of our tea has been the same for three years, fair and square. You must have made a mistake!" The owner was a little annoyed that his reputation had been questioned.
"Ah! Traveling so much has made me a bit forgetful. I misspoke, please don't take offense."
After a few more words, the traveler turned his gaze to the street, watching the bustling crowds. From the conversation, he had learned what he wanted to know: prices in this city hadn't fluctuated much, and the people hadn't lost their ambition or their simple honesty. This made him feel at ease.
"Make way! Make way! Don't block the road!
" Several shouts rang out, followed by the thunderous sound of horses' hooves approaching from afar. Pedestrians scattered in disarray, roadside stalls were overturned, customers eating were drenched, fruits and vegetables were trampled, and goods were scattered everywhere. Some even attempted to loot in the chaos.
Several sturdy horses neighed past, seemingly clearing the way. Who was behind them, given the sheer force of their presence
? The traveler remained silent, his two exquisitely shaped eyebrows furrowed beneath his black robe.
"Boss, who were those people who just ran past?
" "Sir, you're from out of town, so you might not know," the boss said cautiously, glancing around. "They were envoys from Japan, here on official business."
For a long time, the Free City lacked a strong military, so Japan, as a powerful island nation in the East, could be said to have completely controlled the surrounding maritime trade, holding the lifeline of Polutgar.
If Japan were angered, Polutgar, known as the "Mirage on Land," would suffer the most devastating economic blow with its overseas trade completely cut off.
Therefore, having always been accommodating to Japan, in recent years, Polutgar's autonomous government had essentially become a puppet of Japan.
Consequently, the Japanese envoys were arrogant and domineering, openly soliciting bribes and extorting money on the streets, arousing considerable public resentment, though they dared not speak out.
The traveler, hearing this, was lost in thought.
"Watch out!" someone shouted outside the shop.
A little girl stood in the middle of the street, crying for her mother, probably lost in the chaos.
Not far in front of her, a second cloud of dust rose, and a herd of horses galloped towards them; judging by the speed, there were probably dozens of riders.
Although the people on the street screamed in alarm, they all hid to the side, standing by and watching, with no one intending to actually help.
Seeing that the little girl was about to be trampled into a pulp by the galloping horses, some timid women covered the child's eyes with their hands.
"Neigh!" A long neigh of horses was followed by a cacophony of voices.
The three leading horses stopped abruptly in the middle of the road, struck head-on by the horses charging from behind, causing immediate chaos. The riders fell off their horses in a comical fashion, having to dodge the kicking hooves.
In the center of the long street, the young man in black robes stood proudly, blocking the girl's path. No one saw how he appeared; his left palm was outstretched, and his imposing presence stunned all the onlookers. It was this very presence that made the galloping horse hesitate.
"Well done! Truly remarkable!
" "Damn, that 's impressive
!" The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, enthusiastically applauding this rare act of righteousness.
The young man's brow remained furrowed. If he had shielded the girl with his body and died a gruesome death, probably less than a tenth of those present would have been moved.
These people completely forgot their earlier disgrace, only cheering afterward. Deep down, the reason for their applause might simply have been because they had witnessed a spectacular acrobatic show. This was undeniably a strange mentality.
"You damned deer! Who dares block my way!" A furious shout drowned out all the noise, followed by an enormous figure on horseback leaping over the blocking herd of horses and landing abruptly.
The heavy thud sent dust and rocks flying, and the pedestrians on both sides fell silent once more.
The figure on horseback was imposing and awe-inspiring; a tall, muscular giant with deeply bulging muscles that inspired fear.
"You have quite the nerve, daring to block my path. State your name, and I will punish you accordingly."
"Before punishing others, you should reflect on your own actions. Besides, I have no intention of revealing my name to a barbarian who knows nothing of manners."
The face beneath the black robe was now revealed in the sunlight. It was a handsome and dashing countenance, a haughty smile playing on his lips, his icy blue eyes seemingly holding a cold, disdainful mockery—not the gaze of a young man. In a hazy light, he appeared almost like a centuries-old man, possessing an ageless beauty that added to his mystery.
"Very well, in our country, killing a commoner is no crime. Since you can't name me, you must be an insignificant commoner. In that case ," the giant said,
"you shall die!"
With that, the crimson spear hanging from his saddle flashed out like lightning. It was surprising that someone of his size could move so swiftly.
The spear was three times the width of an adult's arm; anyone struck by it would likely be cut in two before even having time to cry out in pain. In a split
second, the young man dodged to the side. But the opponent's martial arts were truly beyond his expectations. The thrusting spear instantly transformed into a sweeping strike.
The young man's body was quite thin; probably no one would have thought he could withstand such a spear. Except himself. The young man frowned, calmly raising his right hand to block in front of him, and uttered a low incantation: "Mekmi." A powerful force arose in his wrist, firmly gripping the rapidly sweeping crimson spear.
◎Mekmi: A hero-type incantation that temporarily grants the caster immense power.
The giant's eyes gleamed with elation upon seeing this, exclaiming, "So it's a mage! Good, very good, truly good!" The giant was a war-loving maniac. In Japan, there were no outstanding mages who could fight him, let alone withstand his spear, so he had long hoped to spar with him. He never expected to have such a good opportunity.
Among the many professions on the continent, mages were highly respected.
Mages used their personal secret arts to manipulate ancient spells and magic, communicating with spirits. They served in the court and among nobles, or traveled alone. They were not bound by worldly laws, only obeying the independent magicians' guilds that existed above national organizations.
A mage with wicked intentions will be punished by the guild, even expelled (Sadaka in the second episode is an example). Those with serious involvement may even be assassinated by assassins sent by the guild.
"General Katsuie." Just before the situation escalated further, a monkey-faced warrior emerged from the rear of the group. Judging by his attire, he was likely one of the leaders.
"General Katsuie, this is a main street. Please don't cause unnecessary trouble," the monkey-faced warrior panted.
"Enough nonsense." Katsuie, excited by encountering a rare opponent, couldn't tolerate any other voices, especially since this voice came from someone he hated most.
"Shut your mouth, monkey-faced bastard! Don't think that just because you received a name from the lord, you can change your identity. In my eyes, you'll always be a clown monkey." The voice was practically a roar.
The ape-faced general's face turned pale instantly; his previously flushed complexion lost all color from the humiliating whip.
Sheng Jia struggled to reclaim the spear, but the black-robed youth, whether exhausted or not, easily regained control.
"Whether he's out of strength or his magic has worn off, who cares? We'll find out soon enough." Like all warmongers, Sheng Jia was unusually obsessed with victory and was about to thrust again.
"Whoosh!" A sharp sound rang out as a spear pierced between the two, interrupting Sheng Jia's provocation and startling everyone present.
The spear thrower was a beautiful young woman, clad in armor, with delicate eyebrows, bright and spirited, her striking beauty radiating a vibrant, heroic air.
She was Leila, the captain of the Polutgart self-defense force.
"Guests from the East, please show some respect. This gentleman before you is a distinguished guest of Poltegal, Teacher Kadar."
Upon hearing Kadar's name, everyone present was deeply shaken.
The Great Sage Kadar was a household name on the Wind Continent, almost a mythical figure.
On the continent, there were three Archmages, transcending the Magic Guild. Each possessed a lifespan of several thousand years, were learned in both cosmology and the past and present, possessed godlike wisdom and unparalleled power, and had saved humanity from peril on numerous occasions. Two thousand
five hundred years ago, the Demon Race launched a massive invasion of the human realm, known as the "Battle of Kyushu Island." It was under the leadership of the three Sages that they united various forces, fought hundreds of battles, large and small, and drove the Demon Race back to their homeland. For two thousand years since, they have dared not invade the human realm again.
The Sage of the Day, Huang Taiji, was proficient in the technology and magic arts left over from the mythical era, especially skilled in ancient secret incantations.
After the Great War of Kyushu, due to a great disappointment, he vanished without a trace, and for the past two thousand years, his fate and whereabouts have remained a mystery.
The Moon Sage, Lu You of the "Sword Sect," also known as the Master of White Deer Cave, was the founder of Eastern magic and held the title of Sword Saint, excelling in both literature and martial arts.
After the Great War, he assisted the Black Luman Empire, receiving the title of Imperial Preceptor. In recent years, he has been in seclusion at White Deer Cave, where even emperors and nobles have been unable to glimpse him.
The Star Sage, Kadar, was well-versed in various arts, including medicine, divination, astrology, physiognomy, and other esoteric arts, possessing extraordinary talent.
After the Great War of Kyushu, he went into hiding, wandering the world, appearing and disappearing like a dragon, often helping the weak and oppressed among the common people.
He is the most frequently mentioned among the three sages in the legendary tales of wandering poets and is revered by the people.
"Kadar, huh? Interesting." A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Shibata Katsuie's eyes. On the battlefield, he was an unparalleled warrior, always finding pleasure in challenging the strong. Now, seeing such a formidable opponent, how could he not be itching with anticipation?
"General Katsuie, please be mindful of our mission. If you persist in your course, upon returning home, I will impeach you before Lord Nobunaga." The monkey-faced samurai beside him, seeing through Katsuie's thoughts, hurriedly tried to stop him.
Considering his lord's authority, Katsuie's fighting spirit diminished. He glared hatefully at the man beside him, swung his arm, and sheathed his crimson spear, saying, "Kadar, you are an opponent that interests me. We will meet again." With that, he led his men away in a cloud of dust.
The ape-faced warrior bowed respectfully from his horse, saying, "Master Kadar, I am Hideyoshi Hashiba of Japan. Please forgive my earlier rudeness. I have long admired your name and hope to have the opportunity to receive your guidance someday."
He cupped his hands in greeting and turned to catch up with Katsuie's group.
"Hideyoshi Hashiba has an extraordinary appearance; his future achievements are limitless!" Although it was only a brief encounter, Kadar had already discerned Hideyoshi's destiny from his face.
"Master," Kadar turned around, and Leila stood before him, her usually spirited face now flushed with a rare shyness.
"Hmm! Long time no see, Leila," Kadar said with a gentle smile after a moment's thought.
A night breeze stirred, and a crescent moon hung in the sky. The streets of Polutjar remained bustling, the vibrant lights and glittering neon signs giving the city a different look.
Alone in his hotel, Kadar listened to the noise outside, brewing tea and reading.
To avoid unnecessary disturbance, he declined Leila's invitation and moved from the post station to an inn.
"I built my hut in the midst of human habitation, yet there is no noise of carriages and horses. You ask me how this can be? My heart is far away, and the place naturally becomes secluded." This five-character poem, passed down from the Land of Silk, has a unique charm when recited now.
"Knock, knock, knock!" A knocking sound rang out;
a visitor had arrived. "Is Master Kadar in? A thousand guests have come."
"Since you have come, Kadar will not fail in his hospitality. Please make yourself at home!" The door opened, revealing the ape-faced warrior of the day, Hashiba Hideyoshi.
"I have long admired the name of the Sage of the Stars. To meet you today is truly the greatest fortune of my life." He was a seasoned warrior, having seen countless storms, but even facing this legendary figure, his voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"A fine night, a rare and precious moon; Kadar cannot bear to waste this precious time. General, if you have something to say, please speak frankly." Kadar's visit at night was not without reason. Having seen through Hideyoshi's purpose, Kadar went straight to the point.
Hideyoshi was taken aback, then said, "Very well, Master, you are quick to speak. I have learned much." After they sat down as host and guest, Hideyoshi said, "Fujikichiro rose from humble beginnings, and was repeatedly promoted beyond the usual ranks by Lord Nobunaga, which led to his current glory. I will never forget this. However…" He sighed slightly and continued, "Lord Nobunaga is a man of unparalleled courage and ambition, but some of his actions are truly difficult to describe.
" Kadar, having traveled extensively, had heard of this unparalleled ruler of Japan.
Oda Nobunaga, starting from nothing, suddenly rose to power, swiftly defeating the then-leading figure, Imagawa Yoshimoto, and becoming the most powerful feudal lord in Japan at that time.
His methods and actions have been viewed by some as those of a tyrant, and by others as those of a ruthless madman.
However, those who achieve great things are capable of anything, and sometimes, their actions cannot be judged by ordinary standards.
Hideyoshi looked up for a long while, then sighed, "The Oda clan is now beset by the Takeda and Uesugi tribes on the border, and internally there are unstable voices. Following Lord Nobunaga, I am truly worried. However, Lord Nobunaga is a man of exceptional talent and arrogant, while I, Hideyoshi, am of low rank and insignificant, unable to accomplish anything. I do not know how to conduct myself, therefore I have come to seek your guidance, my mentor."
Kadar looked at Hideyoshi with great interest. Having lived for thousands of years, he had witnessed the rise and fall of human affairs, and the rise and fall of a mere nation was something he understood perfectly. However, this young man had indeed piqued his interest
. "Before answering, Kadar has a question," Kadar said slowly. "As far as I know, your Lord Nobunaga is of a strange and volatile temperament. If General Hashiba's words today were to leak out, are you not afraid of losing your head?"
"My loyal heart shines through history, what fear is there of fleeting clouds obscuring the sun?" Hideyoshi remained steadfast and fearless, sitting upright in his seat.
Kadar merely smiled. This answer didn't satisfy him. Hideyoshi's words were nothing but blind loyalty. However, this man's destiny seemed to possess the countenance of an emperor, far from being an ordinary warrior. What would become of him in the future
? This was quite interesting. To see the future changes, he would lend him a hand!
"Alright! I will cast a divination for the general, but in the future, the general must grant me one request."
"As far as it is within my power, Hideyoshi will do his utmost." The two struck each other's palms three times as a vow.
With the vow made, Kadar surveyed his surroundings. Outside the wall, a commotion arose. Judging from the sounds, it was two women and a man.
Several birds perched on the branches; upon closer inspection, they were two males and one female.
Having observed this, Kadar had a conclusion. Looking up at the sky, he saw countless stars, their constellations shifting. After a while, the situation was settled.
"The upper trigram is yang-yin-yang, belonging to fire, and obtains the Li trigram; the lower trigram is yin-yin-yang, belonging to mountain, and obtains the Gen trigram. The two combine to form the 'Traveler' hexagram, representing a mountain."
"What does this mean?"
"Small success, auspicious for travel. Greatly favorable for long journeys."
"My mentor wants me to avoid a distant place."
"Indeed. Just now, observing the stars, the General's 'Traveler' star is moving, indicating a long journey is imminent. The General should delay his journey and return slowly to avoid death."
Hideyoshi pondered these words. Indeed, he already knew that Lord Nobunaga intended for him to conquer China (a place in Japan), a long journey indeed. However, Kadar's words about avoiding death... death, death... could it be that the Oda clan is facing calamity
? Kadar raised his head, a confident smile on his face, seemingly confirming his guess.
"I am deeply grateful for the guidance my mentor has given me. However, as a retainer of the Oda clan, how can I stand idly by while my lord is in trouble? I will follow him to the death," Hideyoshi said proudly, puffing out his chest.
Kadar smiled upon hearing this. What the man said was within his expectations. However, fate is hard to defy
. "The fate of the Oda clan is predetermined. There is no need to worry too much. If the general insists, then for the sake of our meeting today, Kadar has something to offer you." He took out a lock made of an unknown metal. It was crystal clear, shimmering with iridescent light, and emanated a rare and precious object.
"This is a talisman. General, carry it with you, and it will protect you from great calamity."
Hideyoshi knew this was a rare stroke of luck, and respectfully accepted it, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Master. I will not thank you today, but if we meet again someday, I will repay this great favor."
After bidding farewell to Kadar, Hideyoshi stepped out, facing the destiny that was about to unfold.
Kadar looked at the contents of his cup, silent. Today, he had broken his rule again to perform a divination for someone; the last time he did so was four hundred years ago.
Heavenly secrets, heavenly secrets—why is everyone's fate always tied to Heaven? Whether wise or foolish, noble or lowly, emperor or general, none can escape this predetermined destiny. Will he ever have a day when he can say, "My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of Heaven"
? "Knock, knock, knock!" There was another knock at the door.
"Is Master Kadar in?" "Looks like I won't be sleeping tonight!" Visitors kept coming, and Kadar could only smile bitterly.
The door opened, and there stood Leila, the visitor.
"Teacher!"
"It's you! Come in!" Leila, a far cry from her heroic daytime demeanor, had removed her golden armor and was dressed in simple home clothes. Her beautiful face and shy expression added a touch of allure.
Kadar took out tea leaves from his pouch, brewed a new pot, and began chatting with Leila about everything under the sun, from Kadar's journey since their last meeting to their current situations, and reminiscing about the past.
"Really? It's been so long! It feels like just yesterday I held you in my arms, and now you've grown into a beautiful young woman."
"You've forgotten, even my name was given to me by Your Highness!" "
I'm no longer a prince, you don't need to call me Your Highness anymore."
Kadar was originally a prince of the Duchy of Paroch. In his youth, he was exceptionally talented, leading his army to sweep across the land. During battles, he would compose poems while wielding a spear, astonishing all who witnessed his skill.
In his leisure time, he would enjoy the breeze and moonlight, befriending heroes from all over, his romantic affairs numerous. He proclaimed himself "the most romantic man in the world," a prodigy admired by all.
At the age of sixty-seven (the average lifespan is about five or six hundred years), he suddenly lost interest in all worldly things, resolutely abandoned them, and retreated into the deep mountains to pursue the infinite Dao. After two hundred years of success, he stepped forward when the demon race invaded the human world. After three battles, he became famous throughout the world.
During the war, he met Huang Taiji and Lu You, who were collectively known as the Three Sages. Among the three, Kadar was ranked last due to his age, but considering their combined talent and achievements, Kadar was truly the foremost of the three.
After the war, the Duchy of Paroch had long since perished. Kadar, desiring to focus on his spiritual path and having no intention of restoring his homeland, wandered the world alone, only returning to Polutgar every three or four years as a way of remembering his homeland.
Twenty-two years ago, during his revisit, Leila was born. Kadar took a liking to her and, unusually, stayed temporarily, instructing her in literature and martial arts until she was five. Therefore, Leila and Kadar's relationship was exceptionally different from ordinary people.
"Teacher, with abilities like yours, there shouldn't be anything difficult in the world. Why do you always look so melancholy?"
Kadar shook his head. At their level of cultivation, they had transcended the physiological cycles of ordinary people, but that didn't mean they were immortal.
"For the past thousand years, I have continuously used the sands of time to reverse the aging of my body and maintain my youth, but I have reached my limit." "
Is there no other way?" Leila asked.
"Fate is predetermined; how can mere human power reverse it?" Kadar said with a bitter smile.
"What I worry about is not the limitations of nature, but the divine punishment."
"Divine punishment!"
In the cycle of nature, every few hundred thousand years, when the evil energy of the human world accumulates to its limit, the heavens will send down a celestial tribulation, using a thousand bolts of lightning to annihilate all impurities on earth.
The arrival of the celestial tribulation is the most terrifying catastrophe for humankind; each bolt of lightning is accompanied by radiant fire, holy ice, solar wind, and cosmic light, possessing boundless power to destroy all living things.
To avert the heavenly calamity, a person with the destiny of an emperor, possessing unparalleled courage and might, must use their peerless martial arts to withstand the heavenly lightning. If they can catch more than six hundred lightning bolts, the calamity can be averted. However, if they miss even one, it will be a catastrophe that destroys humanity.
The first two heavenly calamities were met by Atropos, the leader of the three goddesses, and the Yellow Emperor of the Scarlet Cherry Empire, but both were also killed by the calamities, their bodies and souls annihilated.
The so-called heavenly punishment is when someone defies the laws of heaven, heavenly lightning strikes down to kill them, continuing until the person is mortally wounded.
Living for thousands of years is indeed defying the will of heaven. The other two of the three sages, Huang Taiji, are missing, and Lu You has been living in seclusion in the White Deer Cave for over a thousand years, never to be seen again.
"Over the years, I've used the ancient Soul-Concealing Technique to deceive the heavenly senses, but this has also resulted in my cultivation being sealed down to less than half its original strength. If even the slightest mishap...
" "Teacher!" Leila didn't know how to answer. In her memory, Kadar had always been intelligent and wise, the answer to every question, his words flowing effortlessly, making her tremble with fear. She never imagined that he would be so bewildered.
"It's just a small matter, yet it has caused my little Leila unnecessary worry." Reaching out to gently stroke Leila's face, Kadar smiled warmly, "I no longer care about the fate of life and death. If it weren't for an unresolved matter, being struck by heavenly lightning and annihilated, thus avoiding the suffering of reincarnation, would have been a clean and tidy end."
"Teacher!" Leila was so shocked that tears streamed down her face.
Kadar smiled, stood up, and slowly walked to the window. Facing the evening breeze, he gazed up at the stars, lost in thought.
He relinquished worldly riches and diligently cultivated himself, all for the sake of gaining a longer lifespan.
Thousands of years of life, endless travel, all for the sake of seeing those two again, speaking to her once more, apologizing to him once more; wandering for so long, witnessing the vicissitudes of life, yet still unable to meet them. Could it be that lost time can never be regained? Could wrongdoings never be undone
? His affinity with Leila stemmed from her resemblance to him.
If Heaven truly has a spirit, why not grant this thousand-year-old doubter a chance after his arduous pursuit?
If he could have another chance, he would even defy the laws of nature, he would definitely
… Thinking of his lifelong love, Kadar was overwhelmed with grief and sorrow.
Seeing this, Leila made a decision.
Behind him, a soft rustling sound arose.
"Teacher! Leila has something she wants you to see."
Turning around, a woman of unparalleled beauty appeared before him. Her body
was perfectly sculpted, flawlessly rounded, a jade-like naked body that could make any man forget to breathe.
"Leila.
" Leila approached, her slender hand stopping Kadar's words.
"That's right, this isn't the time to talk." Kadar smiled, flicking his sleeve to extinguish the lamp. His snow-white body, like jade, was exceptionally alluring in the bright moonlight.
Kadar took Leila's delicate fingers and, tracing the skin of her arm, kissed them gently, his kisses lingering on her cherry lips.
He sealed Leila's mouth, gently sucking on her rose-petal-like lower lip, then his tongue plunged into her mouth.
Leila let out a soft moan, her whole body tingling, the saliva on her tongue emitting a rich, musky scent.
She felt a little dizzy, unable to think clearly, only feeling something soft and cottony moving in her mouth.
Tongue to tongue, they licked each other, stickily intertwining, saliva being sucked, the tongue tip almost being drawn in as well.
All the saliva was sucked away, yet her mouth didn't feel dry; saliva seemed to flow from nowhere again. Occasionally, her tongue felt a sharp pain from being sucked, and when the base of her tongue or the roots of her teeth were licked, Leila closed her eyes, but her eyes rolled back.
Her lips parted, and Kadar carefully examined Leila's body.
At twenty-two, her body was a mixture of girlishness and mature womanhood; her neck, arms, and slender waist were almost frail, while her pink legs and breasts were quite full.
The soft valley at the base of her thighs, with its swaying pubic hair, was sparsely diamond-shaped.
He had long noticed that Leila's breasts were very high, but seeing them up close, their fullness far exceeded his expectations.
They didn't give off a bad impression like a bull's; the bell-shaped breasts, with their beautiful shape, were even more alluring.
"Your breasts are so beautiful."
The light pink areolas and small nipples exuded a sweet fragrance.
Leila, with a shy expression, cautiously cupped her breasts with her hands.
Compared to her full, firm breasts, her slender hands couldn't even cover half of them.
Kadar buried his head in her breasts, inhaling the delicate scent of a virgin, the waves of masculine heat enveloping Leila, her mind a jumbled mess.
Suddenly, Leila's hand, which was cupping her breasts, moved slightly, bringing her already erect nipple to Kadar's tongue.
Seeing this, Leila leaned forward further, the tip of her left breast deeply entering Kadar's mouth.
"Ah,"
Leila moaned, her mouth hotter than she had imagined, closing her eyes. The fact that this was an act of her own volition made her blush to her ears.
Kadar's intense sucking completely dispelled her shame.
He took her breast into his mouth, sucking gently and sometimes lightly, his teeth brushing against it.
When his tongue touched the areola, Leila's lips trembled slightly.
"Okay," he said
. "Want some from this breast too?"
After fully enjoying his right breast, Kadar began to kiss his left. Meanwhile, his nimble fingers continued to caress his right breast.
The sensations from both sides gave Leila intense sensuality.
The skillful movements of his tongue made Leila feel adored; her breathing quickened, and she began to pant softly.
Kadar, focused solely on Leila's beautiful breasts, breathed through his nose.
This breathing moistened her soft breasts. The sensation of his tongue touching the nipple was different from the areola, and the subtle changes in Leila's expression reflected this.
Kadar gazed at her expression from her breasts.
His mouth finally left her breast, but he continued to play with her nipples. He pinched and pulled with his index and middle fingers, sometimes pulling hard, sometimes squeezing and pressing them flat. Each movement caused Leila to change her expression and the tone of her voice.
"Little girl, your expression is so alluring."
"Oh, not at all.
" "Your voice is alluring too.
" Encouraged by her beloved, Leila grew bolder and made more intimate advances.
"Teacher, let Leila serve you."
She gently knelt down, facing Kadar's crotch.
In an instant, Leila felt a breath, then her tongue met the glans; the feeling was indescribable.
Her tongue seemed to automatically wrap around his penis, as if to determine its shape.
"Mmm, good.
" His penis swelled to the point of bursting, and Kadar groaned.
At some point, Leila grasped the base of the penis with her right hand, its erection evident in her grasp.
With great interest, she licked the strangely scented glans with the tip of her tongue, like a tender wife carefully entwining it with her soft tongue.
This made the glans completely smooth, the sensation on her tongue exquisite, evoking images of deliciousness.
This was oral sex, something she had only heard of before; she had never imagined such a lewd act could be so flavorful and sensual.
Leila, as if in worship, gripped the penis with both hands, plunging it deep into her mouth, rubbing it with her tongue. Saliva overflowed from the corners of her mouth, dripping down her chin.
It wasn't just her chin that was wet; as Leila sat on the ground, her legs spread wide, honey-like fluid flowed down her buttocks.
The penis, like a fish caught on a hook, throbbed incessantly in Leila's mouth, a testament to the body's peak vitality. Leila's tongue, like a kitten playing with a mouse, entwined around, refusing
to let go. The tip of her tongue pressed
against the groove beneath the glans, rubbing as if trying to dig something out, kneading the soft, protruding part with the belly of her tongue. She used the tip of her tongue to flick the short tendons on the back, like playing the piano, enjoying the elastic pleasure.
This movement wasn't learned; it was natural for Leila.
"Mmm, it's coming out.
" Before she could understand the words, the penis in her mouth swelled abnormally, as if something was pressing against her gums, like the feeling of hot water being sprayed from a water gun.
The hot substance flowed deep into her throat, which Leila swallowed completely.
"Something's coming out."
Her voice was a little hoarse from the long sucking.
"You didn't know what it was, and you just swallowed it all."
Seeing Leila's innocent expression, Kadar chuckled.
"I'm not afraid of anything that belongs to the teacher.
" Kadar lifted Leila onto the bed, gently kissing every inch of her skin.
"Can I touch this?"
"Ah, uh?
" His fingers slowly moved towards her labia, and Leila seemed a little flustered.
Looking at her blushing cheeks, Kadar felt an inexplicable surge of tenderness.
He kissed Leila while playing with her still-tender vulva.
Kadar parted the soft pubic hair, caressing the mysterious flesh, and Leila's body trembled slightly.
"I want to see all of Leila, everything about you, I want it all."
"Ah! How embarrassing!
" Leila covered her face with her hands, the blush spreading to her neck.
It was hard to imagine that the usually cheerful and spirited Leila could be so alluring.
Kadar shifted his body, spreading Leila's legs apart.
He gazed intently at her; soft, golden pubic hair subtly adorned her lower body.
Her tightly closed labia formed a straight line, neither sagging nor discolored.
"Ah! No, don't look like that!
" "I can see it clearly! Leila, you're completely different from when you were little!"
Despite knowing each other for years, Leila still seemed very shy.
Kadar placed his fingers on her vulva, slowly spreading it into a V-shape.
The open slit was a vibrant pink.
Looking into the center of the opening, he saw the walls of her vulva rising and falling gently with her breathing.
"Ahhh, ahhh!"
Kadar plunged his tongue deep into Leila's fleshy hole, and Leila shook her head from side to side, her body trembling adorably, his tongue stirring the center of her honeypot.
"Ahhh, so embarrassing!"
"But, isn't it good? Look, it's already all wet."
Kadar deliberately made lewd squelching sounds while diligently caressing her secret shell.
Sticky liquid gradually gushed from Leila's mysterious spring.
"Ahhh, umm, no!"
"Really no?
" Kadar jokingly asked Leila, who shyly shook her head and wiped away her tears.
As the captain of the royal guard, she had probably never been asked such a question before!
"Ahhhhhh!
" Her secret garden, glistening with saliva and love juice, was wet and glistening. The petals, licked vigorously by her tongue, had already bloomed in full glory.
Leila's alluring flesh responded to Kadar's tongue and fingers with burning heat and elasticity.
The honey-like juices overflowing from her labia gradually soaked the snow-white sheets along Leila's anus.
"Alright, Leila, we can almost begin," Kadar whispered gently in Leila's ear.
He laid Leila down on the bed, then slowly pressed the head of his penis against the center of her labia.
He spread her legs, carefully aiming at the entrance.
"It's going in!"
"Yes! Leila wants to give everything to her teacher."
Leila's body tensed considerably, preparing for this moment.
Kadar bent Leila's legs, pushing his hips forward slightly.
"Don't strain. You can relax, don't be afraid!"
"Yes, yes."
Kadar's hips thrust in little by little, and Leila's body kept jerking towards the headboard, probably unable to bear the pain and fear.
"It's in!"
Despite the pain contorting Leila's face, a hint of pleasure remained; *squeak, squelch, gurgle*
... Kadar began to slowly thrust his hips forward, Leila wincing in discomfort.
But once you've experienced that velvety pleasure, it's impossible to stop.
"It won't hurt anymore soon, just bear with it a little longer."
Kadar gradually increased the speed of his thrusts. At the point of contact, the copper-red penis plunged unreservedly into Leila's slit.
The wet, slippery steel rod, stained with the blood of her broken hymen and clear love fluid, was a pale pink, glistening with light.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!
" Leila began to moan sweetly. The pained expression on her face vanished, replaced by a look of pleasure.
Kadar changed positions, making Leila lie face down, forcefully holding her waist, and then thrusting all the way in one go.
"Ahhh, ahh! Ahhh!
" "Mmm, Leila, that's amazing
!" Kadar savored the sensation inside Leila's flesh again and again, the intense thrusts producing a series of slapping sounds.
Leila's white back rose and fell like waves, her long hair swaying incessantly.
Due to the extremely violent thrusting, the huge penis was covered in a pale pink, foamy fluid.
At the most intense climax of the piston-like motion, Leila beneath him suddenly covered her face and sobbed, crying out in pain.
Kadar stopped, his fingers gently tracing the smooth, bare back, and asked softly, "What's wrong, little girl? Are you feeling unwell?"
Leila wiped away her tears, tossed her hair aside, and smiled again, saying, "It's nothing, Leila is just so happy.
" Kadar knew that this woman with whom he had formed a bond had something on her mind, but now was not the time for a heart-to-heart talk.
"Leila, I'm almost there!" Kadar began his final thrust, and Leila seemed ready.
"Oh oh oh oh oh!" An indescribable sweet numbness spread between her legs. Kadar pushed Leila's waist forcefully, thrusting in one last time, and then released all his desire in one breath.
Within the spasming, narrow walls of flesh, his glans began to swell and twitch intensely.
In an instant, a magnificent ejaculation occurred, the intermittent jets of semen boiling within Leila's secret cave.
"Ahhhhhh!" Leila collapsed weakly onto the bed.
After the passion subsided, Kadar covered them both with the quilt, his left hand gently caressing Leila's naked body, savoring the afterglow.
Leila hesitated, turning for a long time before finally murmuring, "Teacher, you can say something to me..."
"Leila, I love you." Sensing the unspoken feelings of the girl in his arms, Kadar gently expressed his affection.
As if struck by a great shock, Leila stood frozen for a long time, then burst into tears of joy.
"Silly girl! Crying over this." Kadar kissed her trembling long eyelashes, wiping away her tears.
"Thank you, teacher. Leila loves you."
2
Birds chirped, and the fragrance of flowers and grass in the courtyard was delicate and elegant. As the morning light climbed through the third windowpane, Kadar awoke.
The faint scent of her hair lingered on his pillow, a subtle fragrance that stimulated his nose. Recalling the passion of the previous night, Kadar couldn't help but smile.
"A single bed is a bit cramped for two people."
Leila left before dawn. Kadar felt her get up and dress, and before leaving, she gave him a deep kiss, a kiss filled with endless affection and love.
It seemed he would have to stay in this old house for his little lover.
As he pondered this, he faintly heard the sounds of gongs and drums outside the stone wall, the suona horns growing louder as they approached—a joyous orchestra.
"What kind of wedding is this, so extravagant?" Kadar was in high spirits. He strolled outside, admiring the solemn and magnificent procession and feeling the long-absent joy.
"Master Kadar. Greetings." Upon seeing Kadar, a knight in the procession rode up on horseback—none other than Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
"Oh! So it's your country's wedding procession." Political marriages between lord and vassal states were commonplace; such a grand display was not surprising.
"It is the wedding ceremony of Lord Oda of our country. We have been ordered to bring the bride back to Japan."
"I wonder whose daughter she is, so fortunate." This was Kadar's insincere remark. If even a tenth of the rumors about Oda Nobunaga were true, it would be unbearable. This bride was truly unlucky. Kadar sighed three times for her.
"You know her, too. She's Miss Leila, whom I met the other day."
"What?" Even with his exceptional composure, Kadar was momentarily flustered upon hearing this. His expression changed slightly, and his right hand, hidden behind his back, dug its nails deep into his palm.
Hideyoshi, oblivious to Kadar's expression, continued gleefully, "Last month, the merchant corps from Yada City came to Kyoto to pay tribute. Miss Leila accompanied the corps as an escort. Lord Nobunaga was captivated by her beauty and has already arranged a marriage, ordering us to come and fetch her."
Recalling Leila's erratic behavior during their passionate encounter last night, Kadar suddenly understood. "No wonder she reacted that way last night; it was because of this."
His right hand clenched and unclenched with his fluctuating emotions, clearly showing his inner turmoil.
"Master, is something the matter?" Hideyoshi asked hesitantly, noticing Kadar's displeasure.
"No, nothing," Kadar sighed, his heart adrift and unsettled.
Hideyoshi was no ordinary man; his mind was incredibly sharp. He could deduce the general situation from these mere clues.
"Master, she's just a woman, nothing more. The greater good must come first!"
The greater good, the greater good, Kadar knew that Leila's marriage to Japan was for the sake of the livelihood of all the people of Poltegar. If the wedding were disrupted, Nobunaga would surely exact a bloody revenge.
But ultimately, this was Leila's own choice. If he were to intervene, would it just be wishful thinking?
Besides, were his feelings for Leila truly love?
The bigger picture was at stake!
His own desire remained unfulfilled; before seeing that person again, he couldn't allow any unforeseen complications.
With this thought, his expression softened, and his tightly clenched right hand slowly relaxed.
Seeing this, Hideyoshi also breathed a sigh of relief, releasing his grip on his weapon.
If Kádár had made a different decision, he truly had no idea what the consequences would have been.
The long, drawn-out band passed by, and Leila's float arrived. Kádár waved his right hand lightly, bidding a final farewell. Perhaps, one day in the future, he would visit old friends in Japan.
Leila, dressed in a traditional Japanese bride's attire, was elegant and beautiful on the wedding float. Upon seeing Kadar, her eyes lit up, as if she were about to speak. But upon seeing his farewell wave, her hopeful expression instantly dimmed, followed by a sorrowful smile, and she never looked back.
Kadar's heart trembled violently, yet tears welled in his eyes. That smile, so beautiful, carried a hint of farewell. This was no good omen. Had he made a mistake? —
January, 551 of the Black Luman Calendar, Japan
. Kyoto was brightly decorated, red candles hung high, and the traditional Japanese bridal chamber was filled with joy. Leila, dressed in simple traditional Japanese clothing, was elegant, but her face showed loneliness as she sat alone in her room, spending her wedding night.
After midnight, the door was roughly pushed open, and a man, exuding immense authority, strode into the room. It was none other than Oda Nobunaga, the ruler of Japan.
Following Japanese etiquette, Leila gracefully bowed to welcome her husband.
"Such a beautiful face, no wonder I ordered a thousand men to marry you," Nobunaga said, cupping Leila's pretty face in his hands and examining her closely.
"Take off your clothes." Without any respect, Nobunaga's simple command.
Knowing she had little autonomy, Leila endured the humiliation and slowly removed her clothes. The sound of the fabric falling to the ground rang out, and when her last undergarment fell from her shoulders, her beautiful body was revealed to the world. She
had expected Nobunaga to immediately embrace her after she undressed, but there was no movement.
Nobunaga crossed his arms, staring at her naked body.
"Lie down, spread your legs." Another cold command. Leila was on the verge of collapse, her voice trembling as she said, "This is too much! This is so unreasonable
!" "Don't say such things. There's no affection between us, nor is it necessary. I married you because your body aroused my interest. You married me only to protect Poltegar."
Nobunaga coldly said, "You don't need to be rational. If you object, I'll immediately order a three-month blockade of the sea routes and see what the consequences are."
Hearing such a cruel conversation, Leila had no choice but to accept her fate. Biting her lip, she straightened her back, walked to the bed, and spread her legs.
Even if her body was being ravaged, she absolutely could not lose her proud spirit.
"You're still obedient. Now, you are a slave and should actively ask your master."
"Master, fuck me," Leila desperately held back her tears, speaking softly.
"Louder."
"Please, Master, fuck me." Unable to hold back her tears, she burst into tears.
A cold, massive male body pressed down on her, offering no foreplay whatsoever, thrusting his penis directly into her dry, secret place. The tearing pain made Leila cry out.
Showing no mercy, Nobunaga began his thrusting, a storm of pumping that made Leila writhe in agony.
"Ugh, you filthy bitch! *slap*" Halfway through his thrusts, Nobunaga glanced down at his lower body, but didn't see the expected blood.
He slapped Leila across the face, her pale cheek instantly swelling.
"Knowing I was going to marry you, you dared to give your virginity to someone else." He slapped her again, nearly knocking her unconscious.
"Who is that adulterer?"
Leila glared at Nobunaga, then suddenly spat a mixture of blood and drool, along with her fallen teeth, onto his face, snarling, "You can humiliate me, but you can't defile him."
"Even if I were to massacre Poltegar, would it be the same?" Leila didn't answer; the unwavering determination in her eyes said it all.
"Good, interesting. I like it this way." Nobunaga laughed, abruptly pulling out and turning Leila around, her round buttocks raised high.
"He took your virginity, now I'm taking another."
These words echoed in her ears, then the head of his penis pressed against her anus.
"Ah, no!" The head of his penis began to thrust deeper, and Leila's body stiffened.
"I told you not to use so much force." Nobunaga slapped her peach-like buttocks.
"It'll hurt a lot if you don't relax!" The penis thrust in hard, and Leila had difficulty breathing. Her anus felt like it was on fire, and she couldn't help but clench her teeth, trying to push harder, but then quickly exhaled the breath she was holding.
"Ah!" When the penis was pulled out, Leila felt as if her internal organs were being pulled out as well.
"Hmm." It was thrust in again, this time with a feeling of fullness in her stomach. The intense pressure made Leila groan. Nobunaga began to thrust rhythmically.
"Amazing, you can have sex with your ass like this." Nobunaga didn't back down, forcing open the strongly contracting walls of her anus while forcefully penetrating.
The anus, deeply penetrated by the copper-colored erect penis, opened several times its normal size, even the wrinkles disappeared.
"Ah, ah, ah!" As if dragging out his entrails, he thrust violently, like a piston.
Leila's anus contracted intensely, like a carnivorous plant, gripping the penis tightly.
Nobunaga growled repeatedly, his nails tearing at Leila's body, quickly covering her snow-white skin with bloodstains and bruises.
"You slut!" His left hand crushed Leila's wrists with a sudden, powerful squeeze.
"Ah, ahhhhh!" Leila's eyes rolled back, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish, unable to utter a complete sentence, only able to moan.
"Ahhh, I'm going to cum!" He thrust forcefully into her anus, a sweet, numbing sensation spreading between her legs, her urethra enveloped in an imminent wave of pleasure.
He withdrew his penis, then inserted it back into the opening. After a few thrusts, he ejaculated powerfully, shooting every last drop into the uterus.
The trembling vagina was filled with boiling white lava. Leila groaned, unable to move.
"Don't think this is the end. The real punishment is just beginning," Nobunaga gasped.
The semi-conscious Leila suddenly felt a strange force, starting with numbness in her fingertips, passing her elbows, and heading straight for her lower abdomen. Then came a bone-scraping pain, as if it were corroding her entire body, sending all her essence to her abdomen.
"A woman like you is perfect for bearing my children." A piercing scream echoed in the Kyoto night sky, lingering for a long time.
February, 551 of the Black Luman Calendar. The free city of Jess
was bustling with activity, a common sight in all free cities. In a restaurant somewhere in the city center, a chattering voice rang out:
"Hey! Do you know about that thing in Japan?"
"You mean the matter of Nobunaga's bride?"
Inside the restaurant, merchants exchanged information from various places.
"I heard that on their wedding night, the bride was stripped naked and hung outside for passersby to admire. Was she too ugly, so she was thrown out?" "
Nonsense! That bride was Captain Leila of Polutgart. I've seen her; she's a real beauty!"
"That female leopard! I've seen her; she was indeed fucking beautiful. It's a pity."
"What happened after that?"
"She was hung on the city wall for three days, then sent to the palace. I don't know what happened after that."
"I know that. My brother-in-law, who's in the royal guard, told me about it," said a Japanese businessman.
"Oh! What happened?"
"Nobunaga said that a lewd woman doesn't deserve to live in his house. He tied that woman up in the square and let passersby have their way with her. My brother-in-law said that woman is really horny; every man who's been with her is completely exhausted, like he's had a serious illness." A
black-robed man sitting by the window, upon hearing this, shattered his wine glass into powder.
"Was it really a mistake? Kadar, do you still deserve to be called a wise man? You can't even see something like this
." Kadar knew that his decision that day had been a grave error.
"Because you keep repeating the same mistakes!" How familiar that voice was; Kadar didn't know how many times he had dreamt of it.
He turned sharply, and a lovely young girl stood silently behind him.
The girl was charming and adorable, with large, bright eyes that sparkled with a mischievous light. Her exquisitely shaped oval face made her all the more endearing. Her
slender body seemed to be shrouded in a wisp of smoke, making her indistinct and difficult to see clearly.
This was almost impossible. With Kadar's current cultivation level, there were definitely no more than five people in the world who could enter within three zhang of him undetected.
But Kadar wasn't surprised.
"I've finally seen you again!"
"No, Kadar," the girl shook her head with a smile, "You're still the same as before, only thinking about yourself."
There was a stubborn and willful air about the girl's face, strangely, it bore a resemblance to Kadar's nonchalance.
"Two thousand years have passed. For these two thousand years, you have constantly repented for the past, endlessly tried to find true love, wanted to learn how to love someone. But when true love appeared before you, what did you do?"
Upon hearing this, Kadar was struck dumb, as if struck by lightning.
"You have been chasing after what you have lost, and you don't cherish what you have. Therefore, you will never get what you truly want." The girl tilted her head, a hint of sadness in her voice, and slowly said, "What are we to you? Kadar, you are truly a cold-blooded and heartless wretch."
"Elsis! I—
" "Even so, I still deeply love you. Isn't that strange, brother?" The girl lowered her body and kissed Kadar's lips.
Kadar reached out to embrace her, but his arms met empty air.
The girl smiled, slowly walked away, and her figure faded away.
Kadar cried out, as if waking from a dream. He looked around, but there was no trace of her; only a faint, lingering fragrance remained on his lips.
"Not a dream, Elsis, is this what you wanted to tell me? Even in death, you come to correct me!
" His thousand-year-old wish, half fulfilled, overwhelmed with emotion, Kadar was too excited to utter a single word.
"Let's go! Let's do what I must do." With a flick of his black robe, Kadar appeared thirty meters in the air and then flew eastward.
February, 551 of the Black Luman Calendar
. The Japanese and Chinese armies were engaged in fierce combat. Although the war was brutal, it was nearing its end. The Oda clan's army had gained an absolute advantage, and victory was inevitable.
All of this was thanks to the man on the mountaintop.
On the mountaintop, Hashiba Hideyoshi gave his final instructions to his subordinates.
"Tell Taisuke to lead his men to attack from the rear. That way, we can achieve complete victory. The rest is up to you!"
Several samurai received the order and went to fight.
"This battle is almost over. It's time to advance to the next stronghold."
Hideyoshi was satisfied with his current achievements; the day of his triumphant return was not far off.
Suddenly, a large number of enemy soldiers poured out from the dense forest on both sides—a pre-arranged ambush.
"Kinoshita Tokichiro, prepare to die!"
"Give me your life!
" Hideyoshi's personal guards fought bravely, but outnumbered and outgunned, they suffered heavy casualties in an instant and were unable to fight any longer.
"Go to hell and atone for the people you killed!" The enemy hacked at them wildly.
"Ah! My life is over!" His mind raced, but he couldn't think of any way out. Hideyoshi could only close his eyes and await his death.
"Ah!" In the blink of an eye, a long-range, divinely shot arrow of light killed the assassin instantly.
"What is that?" The words had barely left his lips when a barrage of arrows shot from the opposite hilltop, their speed too fast to follow.
When Hideyoshi noticed something amiss and opened his eyes, he was surrounded by the corpses of the assassins and Kadar, clad in black robes.
"Master Kadar, I will remember your life-saving grace, and one day..." As if he hadn't heard Hideyoshi's words, Kadar stared at him coldly, his expression indifferent, making Hideyoshi's heart tremble.
He wasn't stupid; seeing Kadar's expression, he knew the other's intentions and where he was headed.
"Master, regarding Miss Leila, I don't know why things have come to this. I can only say: I am very sorry." Kadar's icy gaze made Hideyoshi feel guilty, and he dared not look up.
After a long pause, Kadar sighed, "Enough. The fault lies with me, not you. You don't need to feel guilty."
Hearing the unspoken meaning in Kadar's words, Hideyoshi was even more startled, realizing something was wrong. He quickly said, "Master, Hideyoshi still says, the bigger picture is more important!"
The bigger picture is more important, the bigger picture is more important, why is the bigger picture still more important?
But what use is the bigger picture to him now
? Kadar suddenly asked, "Hideyoshi, in your eyes, what kind of person am I?"
Hideyoshi, caught off guard by the question, froze on the spot, his mind frantically searching for legends he had heard before, and he stammered, "Master, your talent is astonishing to humanity...
" Kadar waved his hand, interrupting Hideyoshi, and looked up at the sky, laughing desolately, "In the eyes of the world, the Great Sage Kadar is a peerless hero. I fight for humanity, for the weak, for the lonely and helpless, for justice and fairness in the world. But, until today, I've discovered..."
"I have never truly fought for myself."
A raging fire ignited in Kadar's eyes, and his every move exuded confidence and arrogance. In Hideyoshi's eyes, Kadar at this moment was dazzlingly frightening.
"General Hideyoshi, in this conflict, each side serves its own lord. Kadar's visit is merely to give you a heads-up. From now on, we shall each go our own way and have no further dealings with each other."
Having said this, he didn't linger, chanting an incantation, transforming into a shooting star and disappearing into the sky.
Hideyoshi, seeing this, secretly groaned, knowing that his lord had provoked an unprecedentedly powerful enemy. He immediately sent a message to Kyoto, and he himself prepared his equipment, rushing back as quickly as possible.
February, 551 of the Black Luman Calendar
. Near Kyoto, Japan, an army, its ranks impressive and its long column stretching along the mountain path, was a sight to behold.
A general, clad in his commander's armor, sat on his horse, his hands clasped together and then released, clearly troubled and unable to make a decision. After pondering for a long time, he raised his head, his face showing unwavering determination.
"Go! Go to the very edge of hell! Anyway, I have no way out." Based on various assessments, he had already made this decision.
He raised his voice: "Change direction! The enemy is at Honno-ji."
February, 551st year of the Black Luman calendar, Honno-ji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
. Honno-ji Temple, a large temple in Kyoto, where Oda Nobunaga suddenly led his troops seven days ago and has remained ever since.
In the main hall of the temple, the original Buddha statues were abandoned to one side. Nobunaga sat in a chair, coldly watching the scene before him.
No lights were lit, and in the darkness, the sounds of men and women panting could be heard.
"My hole is so tight, I can't hold back anymore!" A long scream followed, and then silence.
"A month ago, you were still an innocent little girl, but now you're already wiggling your hips to please me. It seems ten strong men a day aren't enough for you anymore."
Nobunaga clapped his hands twice, a signal to summon someone in.
"Enjoy yourself! Anyway, there should still be some time before that person arrives! Hahahaha!
" A strange laugh echoed in the main hall; only he understood its meaning.
Another man pressed himself against her body, and as he penetrated her deeply, she cried out her beloved's name through tears.
"Teacher, teacher...
" At the temple gate, several guards were conversing.
"What is our lord planning to do at Honno-ji Temple this time?"
"Who knows? Surely he hasn't suddenly seen through the illusions of the world and wants to enter a monastery?"
"Entering a monastery? Then why bring that woman along?" "
You don't understand. I've heard that some high-ranking monks can practice 'joyful meditation'."
"That's great! I want one too!"
"You, look at you, you pig! Wait until your next life!
" Three gatekeepers, bored with their work, were joking and laughing, avoiding their superior's gaze.
Suddenly, they realized they had work to do.
A man in a black robe appeared before the temple gate, his expression cold and aloof, like a block of ice.
"Hey! Kid, if you want to do magic tricks, go somewhere else. This isn't a place for you."
"Why are you saying so much! Kid, what's with that face, trying to look cool?"
"Wearing a black robe in this heat, are you a pervert?!"
The man's face remained cold and expressionless, without a trace of a smile. He simply uttered two words, "Open the door."
The two guards burst into laughter.
"This kid's gone mad! He tells us to open the door, and we just open it? That's so embarrassing
!" "Exactly! Even though we're just extras with very few scenes, we're still extras with dignity."
"What's worse, we only have nine lines, so readers must remember us."
"Open the door, or die." The man spoke again, his voice not like a human's, but rather like the eternal snow of the Tianshan Mountains.
"Are you kidding me? Who do you think you are? Even Ye Xiaochai wasn't this arrogant when he stormed the Demon Realm."
"For the sake of all the supporting characters' dignity, we'd rather die than open the gate."
"That's right, let the heroic figures of our minions A, B, and C remain forever in the hearts of the readers of *The Tale of Wind and Clouds*."
"Then die!" Hearing this conversation, he almost went mad. Before he could regain his senses, he raised his left palm, and demonic light condensed, flashing with seven colors. Then
… "Demon Bow Flash Arrow!"
A blinding light instantly filled the heavens and earth, shaking the ground. When the light disappeared, the magnificent temple gate, along with the archway behind it and the walls on both sides, vanished in the light.
Kadar stepped onto the path created by the arrow's destruction and entered Honnoji Temple.
"Oh!" To his astonishment, a massive army, numbering in the thousands, was already prepared for battle in the plaza of Honnoji Temple.
"Kadar, you won't escape today!"
A burly man, arrogant and triumphant, laughed wildly. It was his old friend, Shibata Katsuie.
Kadar wasn't surprised. He had fought countless battles and was no match for such a small scene.
"Kadar doesn't want to commit further bloodshed or implicate orphans and widows. Those who value their lives, please leave."
As expected, not a single person heeded his words. The entire army roared and surged forward like a tidal wave.
Thousands of soldiers had come for him alone.
"Come on, children!
" He smiled, but only smiled.
Kadar moved with the agility of a fish, weaving through the hail of spears and swords.
Though blades, spears, axes, and halberds clashed, not a single one could touch his clothes.
He used a secret incantation to freeze the soldiers blocking his path, and with unparalleled speed, he reached the center of the plaza in the blink of an eye.
"You bunch of idiots, get out of my way!" With a roar, Shibata Katsuie charged forward on horseback, his spear preceding his rider, striking directly at him with a crimson spear.
Knowing Katsuie's swift reflexes, Kadar lightly dodged to a distance with a flick of his left foot, then with a swift reach, snatched a spear from a nearby soldier and hurled it at Katsuie.
Sheng Jia casually deflected the spear, cursing, "Child's play, Kadar, is this all you've got?"
Before his words even finished, dozens of spears rained down upon him. Even with Sheng Jia's quick reflexes and sharp eyes, he was overwhelmed and thrown into disarray.
"Kadar, you despicable villain, using such tactics! Where are you? Show yourself
!" After the barrage of spears subsided, Kadar had already used the opportunity to disappear, infuriating Sheng Jia.
"I'm here!" Sheng Jia turned around at the sound of the voice, a dazzling, multicolored light blinding him. A dark figure, like a swallow in flight, gracefully landed on his horse.
"Foolish thing, you don't even know I held back last time."
The voice was so close, Sheng Jia was terrified. Before he could turn to face his enemy, a cold hand was already pressed against his back.
"Exploding Hell!"
The sound carried away the energy, and Sheng Jia felt a powerful force surge into his body, instantly expanding, severing his meridians, and nearly bursting out of his body.
Sheng Jia knew that if he didn't react immediately, he would be pulverized to pieces.
He forced in a breath, channeling the energy throughout his body, his bones cracking, and with a roar, he unleashed his unparalleled potential at this critical moment, forcing out the strange energy within his body.
The powerful recoil instantly turned his steed into a bloody mess, and within a three-zhang radius, everything—people, objects, and equipment—was flung into the air like broken kites.
Sheng Jia coughed up blood, collapsed to the ground, and was rescued by soldiers and carried back to the inner palace.
Kadar used the recoil to retreat, hovering lightly in mid-air, activating a protective light shield to deflect all the flying arrows.
He didn't want to kill, so he only used 20% of his strength just now; otherwise, Katsuie would have been turned into a pile of mud immediately. Even so, Shibata Katsuie's upper body bones were shattered, and even if he could be healed, he would only have 30% of his strength left for the rest of his life.
Later, Shibata Katsuie fought against Toyotomi Hideyoshi for the throne and suffered a crushing defeat, which was undoubtedly due to this injury.
"Whoosh!" Kadar used his Soul-Locking Technique to try and pinpoint Leila's location, but saw a cone-shaped metal object, trailing a long white smoke, shooting towards him.
Kadar was greatly shocked. He knew exactly what this was. Since the Great War on Kyushu Island, he had never imagined that he would see such a weapon again in his lifetime.
His black robe billowed, creating layers of figures, and Kadar's figure spun rapidly, quickly descending.
"Boom!" The metal object exploded, transforming into a fireball in mid-air. Flames soared, and the powerful impact slammed Kadar to the ground.
The power of the explosion was beyond imagination; some soldiers on the ground were caught in the blast, their flesh and blood torn apart, leaving no trace of their bodies.
"Haha, you thought Kadar was some kind of god-like figure? In front of me, he's nothing but a rolling gourd."
As the words finished, a massive figure appeared at the entrance of the hall.
The newcomer was burly and imposing, exuding an aura of dominance—it was none other than Oda Nobunaga himself.
"Oda Nobunaga!" Kadar had reacted quickly to the explosion, strengthening his protective aura and escaping unharmed.
"Kadar, you've come from afar. I'll present you with a Chaos Fire Crossbow; is that not a lack of hospitality?"
"It really is a Chaos Fire Crossbow!" Kadar's heart trembled.
The Chaos Fire Crossbow is a divine weapon passed down from ancient times, possessing immense destructive power. During the Great War of Kyushu, countless people on both sides perished beneath its power. After the war, to prevent further harm to the world, all related data was destroyed. For a thousand years, it had been lost to the world. No one could have imagined it would reappear here today.
"How could this be? Could it be that person? No! It can't be him!"
Kadar immediately dismissed his own thought. Although all data was destroyed that day, perhaps a few fire crossbows remained, which Nobunaga might have obtained by chance. That must be it; in this world, it's impossible for anyone to manufacture fire crossbows anymore. With a formidable enemy at hand, there was no time for distraction. Kadar steadied himself and said in a deep voice, "Hand over the man. Kadar doesn't want to take any more lives."
Nobunaga laughed loudly, "Kadar, you're thousands of years old! Your words are laughable. You broke in today, wounded my general, and killed my soldiers. If I let you escape unscathed, how will I maintain my foothold in Japan?"
Hearing this, Kadar knew that things were far from peaceful. Without replying, he used the spell "Black Bird Storm Flight," dodging the swords and spears on either side, and pounced on Nobunaga like a giant bird. He was the commander-in-chief; capturing him meant the rest were no threat.
Seeing the enemy's fierce approach, Nobunaga neither dodged nor evaded, and said in a deep voice, "Good."
He drew his longsword (Japanese sword) from his waist and, with a simple, swift strike, slashed at Kadar.
Kadar, already in mid-air, had calculated his next move dozens of steps. No matter where Nobunaga dodged, he would be met with a fierce attack. But this seemingly simple sword strike, though unassuming, blocked all his escape routes and subtly emitted a powerful current of energy, restraining his movements—clearly, innate true energy.
Kadar was greatly surprised, thinking to himself, "This demon's reputation is indeed well-deserved; his martial arts have reached the realm of returning to simplicity and innate mastery."
Without time to think further, he shifted his position like a ghost, using Nobunaga's sword as leverage with his right foot
, and gracefully retreated. Nobunaga's sword strike incorporated innate true energy, coupled with his unique sword technique; he was confident no one could escape unscathed. However, Kadar, just before the sword's power reached its peak, withdrew instantly, leaving without the slightest hindrance—something he had never done since mastering his art.
However, Kadar, renowned for millennia, had never expected an easy victory. If this sword truly killed him, he himself would be the one surprised.
After a single, astonishing exchange, the two stood frozen, reassessing each other's strength.
Kadar suddenly felt a chill on his feet; a long, gaping wound had appeared on the sole of his right shoe—the result of Nobunaga's sword.
This also shocked Kadar. His clothes, his companions for many years, though not rare treasures, were enchanted. A mere touch had cleaved them in two, and the sword's power was latent, striking only after contact—a first-rate divine weapon.
Upon closer inspection, Nobunaga's longsword was 1.5 inches and 3 inches long, its design ancient and simple, engraved with strange patterns. A faint radiance shimmered on its blade, and a chilling aura emanated from it.
"Kadar said in a deep voice, 'Kikuichimonji Munechika.'
" Nobunaga laughed loudly, saying, "Indeed, this is Kikuichimonji. Kadar is a discerning man. Today, I will take your life with Kikuichimonji, and I bet you will die smiling."
On the Wind Continent, knights use two types of swords: pure energy lightsabers and solid swords. Each has its advantages. Generally speaking, those who wield lightsabers must possess considerable skill, so those who wield lightsabers are often first-rate martial artists.
However, true masters use solid swords, because when a solid sword is forged, the essence of the swordsmith can be added to it, making it an invincible divine weapon—something lightsabers cannot match. Those
that possess both the characteristics of lightsabers and solid swords are even rarer. The Crimson Sakura Empire's holy sword of divine might, Ruknabard, and later King Lance's Kusanagi sword, are among these rare treasures.
Ordinary martial artists only need to consider their own cultivation level.
However, when they reach the level of top masters, the grade of their weapon often becomes the key to victory when competing with other masters of the same level.
If one obtains a divine weapon, relying on its spiritual energy, one can often unleash power exceeding one's own strength. This is the reason why countless people have pursued divine weapons since ancient times.
Nobunaga's "Kikuichimonji Munenori" is one of the most powerful weapons in Japanese history. The combination of the two is immeasurably strong.
However, this still couldn't defeat Kadar.
Kadar slowly said, "Having a weapon doesn't necessarily give you the upper hand."
This is true. Compared to the grade of the sword, the synchronization rate between the wielder and the weapon is a more important factor.
Although the Kikuichimonji is powerful, its synchronization rate with Nobunaga is still unknown. There might be an opportunity to exploit this.
With a quick thought, Kadar devised his next attack strategy. He stood still and began spinning rapidly like a top, his speed increasing exponentially. The strong winds whipping around him tossed soldiers within a five-zhang radius far away.
Just as everyone was stunned, the black shadow split into eight, flying around Nobunaga at a speed invisible to the naked eye, like ghosts.
Nobunaga laughed wildly, "A mere illusion, daring to embarrass yourself like this!"
Listening closely, although all around was the whooshing of the wind, a particular sound could be discerned as exceptionally heavy.
"Here it is!" With a swift slash, the Kikuichimonji cleaved the black shadow in two. Upon closer inspection, it was merely a tattered cloth. Nobunaga was startled. At the same time, all the illusions vanished, and a voice sounded behind him.
"Why do you believe that one of the eight clones must be real?"
Nobunaga was shocked. Kikuichimonji, with lightning speed and at the smallest angle, counterattacked from behind.
"Too late." Kadar unleashed magic from his left hand, unleashing the power of Explosive Hell once more.
Unexpectedly, the released magic did not cause any real damage, disappearing without a trace into Nobunaga's body as if it had vanished into thin air.
Kadar felt something amiss with his tentacles and knew something was wrong. Kikuichimonji was already aimed at his chest. Without thinking, he hastily transformed into a phantom and retreated.
"Hiss!" A long gash appeared in Kadar's robe, tearing from his chest to his abdomen. Had he not withdrawn in time, he would have been disemboweled.
"What are you wearing?" Kadar demanded.
Nobunaga didn't answer, secretly relieved. If it weren't for his "Bondias Armor," he would already be severely injured and unable to fight.
The Bondias Armor, a masterpiece by the renowned demon craftsman, Lon Beethoven, was created in recent years. It could form a protective barrier, completely negating all magical attacks, making it a nemesis of mages.
Most mages, because of the cultivation of magic, offset their innate energy, resulting in a relative decline in physical strength. Their speed and stamina were inferior to ordinary people. Although they could practice martial arts, they couldn't reach any high level. The same applied to knights.
This is why mages and knights must cooperate.
Throughout human history, only a very few geniuses have been able to overcome physiological limitations and simultaneously cultivate two disciplines; the Moon Sage Lu You is a representative figure among them.
Of course, some martial arts techniques mix magical power with internal energy to achieve terrifying destructive effects. However, these mixed techniques are not purely physical forces and cannot break through barriers specifically designed to counter magical power.
In other words, Kadar, as a mage, has exhausted his options. Nobunaga
is quite confident in this.
Kadar's brows furrowed, clearly having grasped the key point and racking his brains for a solution.
"It's my turn to retaliate." Nobunaga wielded the Kikuichimonji, slashing at Kadar. He had suffered greatly from Kadar's elusive movements earlier and, having learned his lesson, was unwilling to repeat it. He took the initiative to attack, determined to seal off the enemy's movements.
Kadar did not underestimate the power of the Kikuichimonji. Knowing that his protective aura was insufficient, he quickly retreated, dodging the attack.
Seeing this, the soldiers scattered, and the two engaged in a fierce battle in the square.
Kadar, relying on his masterful magic, shifted his form repeatedly, separating and reuniting, fighting Nobunaga to a standstill. However, this defensive approach inevitably created openings, and gradually, Nobunaga gained the upper hand. Several times, the Kikuichimonji grazed Kadar's face, narrowly missing him.
"No choice, I'll have to use that move. I haven't used it for over a thousand years; hopefully, I remember it."
In this disadvantageous position, Kadar devised a new strategy, attempting to approach Nobunaga and launch another attack, but the Kikuichimonji danced like a sudden downpour, offering no opening.
"Ah!" Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a piercing female scream shattered the atmosphere of the fierce battle, echoing from within the hall.
Upon hearing the sound, Kadar was thrown into disarray, nearly cleaved in two. In the nick of time, without a second thought, he risked taking a blow to close the distance to Nobunaga.
Nobunaga was overjoyed. "This old man's gone mad, actually trying to fight in close combat!" He swung his longsword at Kadar's waist, determined to kill him in one strike.
In a flash, Kadar had broken through Nobunaga's sword net. Just before the Kikuichimonji was about to strike, he raised his five fingers together and lightly placed his palm down on Nobunaga's chest. It was none other than the Great Brahma Palm, the supreme Buddhist technique of the Land of Silk.
This was pure physical force; the Bondias Armor shattered instantly, leaving fragments scattered on the ground.
Nobunaga felt as if his chest had been struck heavily by a giant iron hammer, leaving a hollow space. Then, an overwhelming force surged through his entire body from the point of impact.
"Whoa!" The first strike, accompanied by a spray of blood, erupted from Nobunaga's back.
Nobunaga stared at Kadar, his eyes filled with astonishment. Although Kikuichimonji was less than an inch away from Kadar, he was powerless to lift it again.
"You...you're a magician! How...how can you possess such powerful martial arts?" As he spoke, thick blood gushed from his throat, making him look utterly terrifying.
"Magic and internal energy are both forms of energy. As long as you grasp the key, using them interchangeably is not difficult," Kadar said coldly.
Kadar spoke casually, but this was truly an unprecedented achievement. Although both are forms of energy, their properties are polar opposites. In the present world, only the master of the Scarlet Sakura Shrine could switch between the two with the aid of the rare treasure "Sage's Cloud Covenant (Bracelet)." Kadar, with his own power, could perform this extraordinary technique. While not without successors, he was certainly unprecedented.
Upon hearing this, Nobunaga unleashed a second wave of palm force, roaring like a tiger. His meridians ruptured, blood gushing from every pore of his body, turning him into a blood-soaked ball as he slowly collapsed.
The Great Brahma Palm, truly a first-class martial art, had utterly destroyed his internal organs in a single strike, leaving him beyond saving.
Seeing their lord dead, the soldiers' morale plummeted. Someone started it, and with a roar, they abandoned their armor and fled towards the door. Having defeated his formidable enemy, Kadar didn't even have time to catch his breath before rushing into the
inner palace.

In the darkness, nothing was clearly visible, only a vaguely discernible female body could be seen, wailing in the shadows.
"Leila! Is that you?"
"Old teacher
." Knowing the beauty was unharmed, Kadar breathed a sigh of relief, hurried forward, silently chanted an incantation, and lit the surrounding lights.
"Ah, teacher, don't look!
" As the lights ignited, Leila cried out in anguish. Upon seeing the scene before her, even Kadar, accustomed to grand occasions, froze, speechless.
On the left side of the hall, piles of desiccated soldiers lay scattered haphazardly, clearly drained of their life force, withered and lifeless.
However, all of this paled in comparison to the strange transformation of Leila's body.
Leila's limbs were chained to the ground by iron chains as thick as a child's arm.
Her ornate kimono was now disheveled and open, her legs spread wide, the area around her secret place slick with white semen, remnants of their lovemaking.
Leila lay forlornly on the ground, her eyes glazed. Bright gold rings adorned her nipples and clitoris, which were suspended by thin ropes.
Her once full breasts, now brimming with milk due to pregnancy, flowed freely. Her entire body was covered in semen; she looked like a broken toy.
Shockingly, Leila's round, swollen belly, though only two months along, had grown larger than that of a woman ten months pregnant.
Her lower abdomen undulated with waves of skin, and fetal movements rippled with an eerie frequency.
Leila's lower body was a patch of crimson, filled with foul-smelling, dried blood—the blood of the abnormally swollen fetus bursting from the mother's body to absorb its nutrients.
Suddenly, warm liquid flowed between Leila's legs—her water had broken, and the baby was about to be born.
Kadar, experienced and knowledgeable, immediately knew what had happened and that he was too late.
"Demon Seed!" Kadar muttered hatefully.
He regretted not having executed Nobunaga by a thousand cuts. This kind of demonic art, harmful to others and self-serving, was extremely insidious; the caster would surely die a horrible death. However, due to the irresistible temptation, people still flocked to try it.
Her once gleaming golden hair was now dull and lifeless, and her once radiant skin had turned sallow. It was clear that the child in her womb had drained her of her essence. Her former pride and arrogance had vanished after being ravaged, but she possessed a pitiful and tragic beauty that was even more captivating.
"Leila,"
Kadar said, "Teacher, don't look. I hope to remain in your heart as the most beautiful version of myself.
" Leila, tears streaming down her face, tried to cover her eyes with her hands, but was bound by iron chains. She could only turn her head away, avoiding Kadar's gaze, letting the tears fall silently.
"In my heart, your image will forever remain that night, your most beautiful self."
Kadar held back his tears, forcing a smile. Seeing the many signs on Leila's body, the demonic seed's gestation had reached the moment of birth. The host's life force was exhausted; even a great immortal could not save her.
"Even if you're lying to me, I'm still happy, really happy."
"Leila," Kadar cupped Leila's face and kissed her passionately. Leila responded to his feelings with all her might.
She tasted a bitter, salty flavor on her lips—the tears that had unknowingly flowed.
Finally, both had cast aside their reservations and were willing to truly love each other, but then tragedy struck, and they were about to lose each other.
Why? Why? Why does fate always play tricks on us
? Since longing is unbearable, separation is the most painful; since separation is inevitable, why must it be forever
? A passionate and intense kiss etched their final love deep into their hearts. This love, burning with their lives, had no past, no future, only this final moment.
"Teacher, Leila is unlucky; she won't be able to see you again! Don't forget me while you're still alive!"
As their lips parted, Leila seemed to regain her spirits; her pale cheeks regained their vibrant color, and she murmured softly.
Kadar barely suppressed his grief and nodded.
He knew this was a final burst of energy before death; their time together had come to an end!
So many words he wanted to say, yet so few could be uttered.
"Farewell, my love." Leila smiled gently, closed her eyes, and lay peacefully in Kádár's arms, passing away peacefully.
"Leila, Leila!" Kádár held her tightly, his eyes filled with tears, calling her name repeatedly, his voice gradually turning into a sob. For two thousand years, he hadn't seen his own tears.
In the great hall, a low, soft weeping sound drifted through the air.
"Howl!" Kádár roared, his emotions surging, and with his abundant inner strength, the sound shook the roof tiles, beams, and pillars, causing earth and stones to fall. His howl contained his sorrow, his pain, his regret—all his emotions were contained within it.
"Boom!" The mournful cry had barely filled the air before the wooden beams of the entire temple were loosened by the shockwave. A moment later, a deafening roar followed, and the roof of Honno-ji Temple was completely ripped off by the sonic impact.
Rubble and debris littered the ground, pulverized by Kadar's protective aura.
"Plop!" Blood splattered, and after a series of convulsions, the fetus burst forth from its abdomen.
A blood-stained ball of flesh rolled and throbbed eerily on the ground.
Kadar was in turmoil, unsure what to do. With his power, killing this demonic creature would be a simple matter, but this child was Leila's only offspring. Thinking of this, his heart ached, and he lowered his raised hand.
"Kill them all!"
"Kill the enemy!
" "Protect our lord, punish the traitors
!" Outside the temple, the sounds of battle grew louder, seemingly from afar. It appeared two armies were clashing, their strength evident in the intensity of the noise.
Kadar sensed something amiss. He gently laid Leila's body down and stepped out of the hall to investigate.
Before he could even see clearly, a terrifying innate sword aura shot through the air.
Caught off guard and overwhelmed by grief, Kadar's reaction was slow; he only managed to turn his head to dodge.
Blood splattered; Kadar's left shoulder was severely wounded.
"It's you.
" "Didn't expect that?
" In the plaza, a gigantic man stood towering, covered in blood and grime, a truly terrifying sight. But even more startling was the expression on his face—a relaxed, carefree smile, a confident gaze that conveyed a deep, impending storm.
If he had been an erupting volcano just moments before, he was now a bottomless abyss, restrained and calm, far more terrifying.
It was none other than Oda Nobunaga, who should have been dead.
"You should be dead already," Kadar said, somewhat surprised. A vague feeling crept into his heart that today's events were far from simple; an unseen hand was manipulating everything from the shadows.
Blood flowed incessantly from his shoulder wound, thick demonic energy corroding his flesh like hydrochloric acid. Kadar glanced at Nobunaga's hand; the Kikuichimonji sword was translucent red, its blade deformed, shrouded in a hazy, bloody light, like a living, strange object.
"The demon sword Shiranui!" Kadar exclaimed.
The demon sword Shiranui was a legendary demon sword in Japanese history.
According to legend, during the Warring States period, a master swordsmith, after discovering a rare mineral, returned home to find his entire village ravaged and slaughtered by scattered bandits.
He stood frozen, staring at the corpses of his parents, wife, and children. He cursed his own powerlessness, the injustice of heaven, the cruel murderers, and all the living.
Overwhelmed by regret, resentment, and grief, he sold his soul, committing heinous acts.
For three days and three nights, the craftsman extracted the blood of the entire village from the corpse, filling seven large jars with the blood of everyone in the village. He then used this blood to forge a sword, sealing endless sorrow and tears of blood within its blade. Finally, he threw himself, along with his profound resentment, into the furnace.
With a deafening roar, the furnace shattered, and the demonic sword Shiranui was born. The appearance of this divine weapon was indeed a curse upon the world. Countless calamities were caused by it afterward; every wielder suffered a tragic fate, dying in madness.
Yet, those who flocked to it continued to do so. In the midst of bloodshed, Shiranui vanished from history, supposedly taken to the demon realm.
A divine weapon like Shiranui possessed unimaginable power; however, swords can be imbued with spirits, let alone a demonic sword.
The backlash of resentment, the manipulation of people's hearts, is a common occurrence. Moreover, in actual combat, a sword will constantly absorb its master's life force as energy, making it virtually impossible for a human to use.
"You are not human!" Kadar asked.
Nobunaga smiled, gave a gentlemanly bow, made several enigmatic gestures with his left hand, which finally transformed into a soaring flame, and slowly said, "In the name of the Great Demon King Kestella, may the light of my demon race shine upon the world."
"So it really is a demon," Kadar instantly understood everything. From the moment Nobunaga wanted to marry Leila, it had been a carefully laid trap, using his relationship with Leila to lure him into a trap, then kill him.
Having slain countless demons in the Kyushu war, this was not surprising to him; he only felt sorry for Leila, an innocent victim.
"Teacher Kadar is indeed formidable. No wonder he once wounded over ten thousand of my demon brethren. It was not in vain that I appeared in the mortal realm in my true form. Ah, it feels so good to be like this. I haven't had a proper breath of fresh air in eight hundred years."
Nobunaga spoke slowly and deliberately, his refined demeanor a stark contrast to his previous wild and brutal nature.
But Kadar knew that Nobunaga was now far more terrifying than before. Having fully recovered his demonic form, Nobunaga revealed his true nature. Powerful demonic energy emanated from him, almost tangible, eroding the surrounding earth in waves.
The commotion outside the temple grew closer, occasionally punctuated by a dying scream. Soon, hundreds of fire arrows rained down like a storm, igniting anything they touched. In the blink of an eye, Honno-ji Temple was engulfed in flames.
"That brat Akechi Mitsuhide, at least he has some guts, daring to rebel against me," Nobunaga said leisurely.
Both he and Kadar were protected by protective auras, preventing the falling arrows from penetrating even within a three-zhang radius.
"I greatly admire Master Kadar. If possible, I would love to learn from you, but unfortunately, I must kill you first!"
"No need to feign heroism. If you were truly righteous, why resort to such underhanded tactics?"
Nobunaga didn't reply, but instead raised his hand, rapidly channeling his true energy, and pointed Shiranui at Kadar.
Sensing the attack, Shiranui began absorbing its master's essence, gradually turning crimson, its soaring demonic energy locking onto its opponent, and whispered, "Please!" The
wound on his shoulder felt like it was being burned, the blood beginning to evaporate. Shiranui lived up to its reputation; Kadar, despite his best efforts, couldn't expel the demonic energy that had entered his body. It seemed he needed to find a place to heal, but there was no time for that now. He had no choice but to finish the fight quickly.
To avoid divine punishment, Kadar had deliberately suppressed his power to below 50%. Even during his long and fierce battle with Nobunaga, he had only used 20% of his strength. Now, in order to quickly defeat his powerful enemy, he let out a long roar, raising his full power to 40%.
"Magic Bow Flash Arrow!" Kadar launched the first attack, his magic arrows multiplying and raining down on Nobunaga. Both their power and speed were significantly different from before.
However, for Nobunaga, who had regained his true power, this posed no threat.
"Using only third-rate spells like Magic Bow Flash Arrow, does my mentor underestimate me?"
Shiranui, with an uncanny angle, deflected all the arrows.
"The Emperor's Sword Technique!" Kadar was startled again. This Emperor's Sword Technique was the ultimate skill of the Kolas Dynasty in the Demon Realm, passed down only to royalty. It was incredibly powerful, and legend had it that only the third emperor of the Demon Realm, Zhu Di, the originator of the technique, could master it to its full potential.
Judging from Nobunaga's stance, he had only mastered half of the technique, yet he was already extremely difficult to deal with.
The combined power of Shiranui and the Emperor's Sword Technique was astonishing; even a protective aura capable of deflecting countless blades was cleaved in two upon contact.
Kadar dared not be careless any longer and focused all his attention on his opponent.
In the end, although Nobunaga was powerful, the Star Sage had been renowned for millennia and was no ordinary person. In terms of individual skill, the Star Sage was far superior to Nobunaga.
Faced with the astonishing power of the demonic sword, Kadar did not wish to take it head-on. He retreated repeatedly, using unorthodox footwork to appear and disappear, calmly maneuvering amidst Shiranui's fierce attacks.
As Kadar retreated, he channeled his spiritual power, filling the air with Taiyi Five Silks to hinder the enemy's movements. By the time Nobunaga felt his body become heavy and his movements sluggish, it was too late.
"Huh!" Nobunaga sensed something amiss and channeled his inner energy into Shiranui, unleashing a blazing inferno to melt the Five Silks.
Kadar pounced like a ghost, appearing before him in the blink of an eye, unleashing the Great Brahma Palm once more.
This time, having learned from experience, he exerted his full strength, his palm strike splitting into three, hitting the head, chest, and abdomen—three vital points.
Nobunaga roared in fury, spitting out blood as he was blasted into the air by the force of the explosion. His internal energy surged violently, clearly about to burst forth.
Nobunaga endured the excruciating pain and used a demonic life-saving technique to release his pent-up energy.
"Bang!" With all his might, he finally forced the energy out of his body, but the remaining true energy exploded in his right arm, his right hand turning to dust at the shoulder. Shiranui flew far away and disappeared without a trace.
"Rumble!" Although he survived, he had exhausted eighty percent of his true energy, unable to exert any force, and fell from mid-air, crashing to the ground. This was only because Kadar's power was only forty percent; if the force had been another ten percent, Nobunaga wouldn't have had a chance to struggle and would have died instantly.
The sounds of battle erupted at the temple gate; the defending side had finally collapsed completely, and the rebellious army stormed in.
Seeing Nobunaga covered in blood, the soldiers were overjoyed and rushed forward, eager to dismember their former master and claim their new glory.
"Even a fierce vulture dies under the claws of an eagle, not trampled by ants!"
Though wounded, exhausted, and missing an arm, Nobunaga stood tall, exuding an awe-inspiring presence that deterred any rash actions. Kadar, observing this, secretly admired him. The
surrounding soldiers, terrified, dared not move, but the thought of the enormous bounty, blinded by greed, overshadowed their awe. They roared to embolden themselves and hacked at him indiscriminately.
"Demon Emperor's Starburst!" Nobunaga roared, unleashing his full power. In an instant, an extremely intense light source appeared before everyone's eyes, like a newly born supernova, scorching everyone's retinas. Then, an incomparably powerful shockwave, accompanied by a raging gale that swept everything away, with heat enough to melt the heavens and earth, spread outwards instantly.
The surrounding soldiers melted into nothingness in a fraction of a second. People, things, and objects within a radius of ten square meters were first torn to pieces by the gale, and then forced into a semi-liquid state by the blazing flames. The entire world was
like a hellish hell, filled with wails of agony. Because they couldn't distinguish friend from foe, the most pitiful were the guards of the original Noji Temple. Some of them were still fighting bravely against the enemy when they suddenly heard a scream from behind and turned into piles of minced meat.
The entire event lasted no more than two minutes. As the power of the starburst gradually subsided and the atmosphere returned to calm, the ravaged land was revealed. Within a radius of ten square kilometers, there was not a trace of life; not a single person, insect, or blade of grass remained. It was a desolate, barren wasteland, with green mountains reduced to scorched earth. In the very center, the surface of the ground had even turned into black glass—a strange phenomenon formed when the soil melted under intense heat and then instantly cooled and solidified.
Ten square kilometers away, the remnants of the army, who had fallen behind due to their slower pace but had thus narrowly escaped the cataclysm, were terrified by this earth-shattering spectacle. They screamed and fled in all directions.
"This guy is incredibly skilled; he's even mastered the three ultimate techniques of the Demon Dragon Emperor Fist," thought Kadar, who was surrounded by a protective aura and floating in mid-air, utterly horrified by the power of this move.
However, despite the power of this move, Kadar remained unfazed. The Demon Emperor's Starburst, as its name suggests, was a powerful, wide-range attack capable of striking multiple targets. However, due to its vast range, its individual concentration was significantly weaker. In other words, if the power of a ten-thousand-square attack were concentrated on a small area, Kadar might not be able to withstand it.
Later, Oda Kaori improved this technique, concentrating it at a single point and using the black fire of the Demon Realm to power it—the pinnacle of fire-based spells, "Deathly Black Nuclear Explosion Hell."
"The Demon Dragon Emperor Fist is only passed down to the Great Demon King. He used it desperately, and the backlash from the punch should have pulverized him to pieces."
Looking at the billowing smoke and lingering steam on the ground, Kadar secretly admired his opponent's indomitable will.
Suddenly, a burst of energy shot towards Kadar from the smoke.
The attacked party didn't seem to care at all, casually brushing the attack aside, a look of appreciation appearing in their eyes.
As the dust settled, Nobunaga's imposing figure stood resolutely on the spot. Although he was a demon, the injuries he had sustained should have already sent him to his death. Why
? "Was it anesthesia?" Kadar guessed most of it, and once again, he understood the enemy's determination to complete their mission to the death.
He was right. In order to hold out against Kadar until the very end, Nobunaga had been consuming trace amounts of the Flower of Life and Death for several years to enhance his physical abilities, and it had indeed had a remarkable effect in today's battle.
"Although you are a demon, I must show you respect, but," Kadar said solemnly.
"You can't kill me. I'm curious why the Demon Clan would send you as an assassin. In my memory, your lord never fights a battle he's not confident of winning."
"No need for your concern. I have my final weapon." Nobunaga looked up at the sky, watching the heavens behind Kadar. The moon was almost setting; it was about time.
"Kadar! Take my final blow!" Nobunaga shouted, pressing a button. A Chaos Fire Crossbow, prepared long ago, burst from the ground and shot towards Kadar.
Kadar neither dodged nor evaded. He flicked his left hand, releasing a magic arrow. The two objects collided and exploded in mid-air.
The crossbow seemed to contain dust, which scattered throughout the air with the explosion. Kadar confirmed the dust was non-toxic and ignored it, for he had more pressing matters to attend to.
This time, Kadar examined it closely. This Chaos Fire Crossbow was newly made, not a relic from a thousand years ago.
"How is this possible? In this world, how could anyone still create a fire crossbow? Could it really be him
?" Thoughts raced through his mind, Kadar filled with doubt and surprise, forgetting the enemy on the ground.
Just as he was pondering this, dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight piercing through layers of clouds, illuminating the earth and creating a scene of sun and moon reflecting each other with the still-blooming crescent moon.
At this moment, something even more astonishing happened to Kadar. From the instant the sunlight touched him, all his magical power seemed to vanish without a trace. With his magic gone, he could no longer remain in the air and fell to the ground with a "whoosh."
Upon closer inspection, the mysterious dust from the fire crossbow now reflected the light of the sun and moon, forming a large protective shield that enveloped an area within a radius of [missing information], creating a large barrier.
"Kadar, this Heavenly Net Demon Cave, built with countless efforts and resources of my clan, was specially prepared for you. You should feel honored."
Nobunaga unleashed several palm strikes at Kadar, determined to kill him while his magic was exhausted.
Kadar, suddenly caught off guard and in mid-air, remained calm. He mustered his inner energy and abruptly rose higher, dodging Nobunaga's attack.
During the previous battle, he had converted 30% of his magical power into internal energy. Even now, facing this sudden change, he still had the ability to react and was not yet at the mercy of his opponent.
Nobunaga, suppressing his injuries, seized this golden opportunity, launching a furious attack. His palms either unleashed sword energy or delivered close-range blows, pushing his martial arts to their limits.
In contrast, Kadar appeared riddled with weaknesses. Although he could wield supreme martial arts with magic, he was still a mage after all. His innate reflexes and movements couldn't compare to a true warrior. Once he lost his magic, he was immediately at a disadvantage.
After barely dodging a few blows, he was finally struck by Nobunaga. Kadar staggered back three steps, his chest and abdomen churning with blood. Nobunaga struck again, and Kadar met it with a palm strike. With a loud thud, blood spurted from Kadar's left shoulder. He then remembered that his left shoulder injury hadn't healed. Now, without the magic to heal, and
further aggravated by the force of the palm strike, the wound burst open. Kadar tried to withdraw his palm, only to be shocked to find that the opponent's palm force had transformed from exhalation to absorption. An extremely flexible internal force stuck to his palm, preventing him from escaping. Even more astonishingly, Nobunaga was using some secret technique to absorb and neutralize Kadar's internal force.
"What a fool I was! Knowing he was a member of the demonic path, how could I not have imagined he could absorb others' power, and yet I stupidly fought him?" Kadar cursed himself inwardly. He had no time to think now; he had to break the barrier immediately and restore his magic power. Otherwise, with the enemy outnumbering him, he would soon be a dried-up corpse.
The barrier's design was peculiar, its flowing light completely different from anything he had ever learned. Everything he could think of seemed inconsistent. In a daze, a dialogue flashed through his mind
: "The three lights are the sun, the moon, and the stars; the three powers are heaven, earth, and man."
"Brother, do you intend to use this to set up a formation?"
"Indeed, Second Brother, Third Brother, this method is unprecedented in ancient times. If we can arrange it accordingly, we will surely achieve the effect of attacking the enemy unexpectedly."
"But these six elements are mutually generating and mutually restraining. How can we harmonize them seamlessly? It's not easy!"
"Hmm! Second Brother is right. There are indeed many things to ponder. The Three Powers
..." Thinking of this, his mind cleared. "The Three Lights are the sun, moon, and stars. This formation is precisely the Three Lights Barrier." Kadar suddenly understood.
The sun, moon, and stars rarely appear simultaneously. Therefore, something else must be used to replace starlight. Nobunaga's "Demon Emperor Starburst" technique, seemingly reckless, actually contained hidden secrets. It used human light to attract celestial light, then mixed it with the radiance of the sun and moon, preserving it with special materials to form the Three Lights Barrier.
Once the structure of the barrier is understood, the method to break it will immediately emerge. With just two forces attacking from within and without, the barrier can be broken in the blink of an eye. Although finding external forces is difficult, it cannot trap Kadar. With his cultivation level, he can easily use the power of the surrounding gods to break the spell. However,
"Breaking a barrier of this scale is not something that two or three gods can accomplish. To rely on divine power on a large scale and consume one's own energy is an unimaginable amount. If one uses more than half of their energy, wouldn't divine punishment descend upon them
?" This thought shocked Kadar. All along, he had been in control of this struggle, and even when facing danger, he firmly believed that he could escape on his own.
However, from this moment on, the fear of death began to creep into his heart. The ingenious design of the architect had unknowingly drawn him into a trap.
Having cultivated to Kadar's level, he was no longer harmed by ordinary human calamities. The only thing that could threaten their lives was the heavens.
The designer's mind was ruthless and meticulous. First, they used Leila to lure Kadar into their trap, then Nobunaga to make Kadar careless, and finally, they laid a trap to summon the Heavenly Punishment.
Such a scheme required a deep understanding of Kadar's life, personality, and cultivation.
"Could it really be him who devised such a plan and set up such a barrier? If it is, my life is over!"
Thinking of that person's methods, Kadar knew he had a slim chance of survival. Hesitating, one-tenth of his power was already absorbed. Seeing the enemy's excited expression, Kadar thought to himself, "Even if I die, I will die with value." He
then
silently recited an incantation. Nobunaga absorbed Kadar's power, feeling his entire body full of energy, which was very beneficial. The Star Sage's unparalleled cultivation was indeed extraordinary; if they faced each other head-on, he would have no chance whatsoever.
Just as the mission was about to succeed and the demons were overjoyed at eliminating a major enemy, a faint voice echoed in their ears.
"I address the four heavens and four earths, the eight million gods of the Land of the Rising Sun, who guard my homeland and my native land, who obey the ancient covenant! Assist my destiny and vanquish evil!"
Nobunaga was greatly alarmed. "You want to use your own gods to break the barrier? I will not let you succeed!"
He disregarded the need to absorb more power, channeling all his strength into his left arm, determined to kill Kadar in one strike.
However, it was too late. Outside the barrier, from the direction of the sun, a seven-colored rainbow rose, shining upon the barrier's light shield. The barrier's radiance immediately diminished, and Kadar seized the opportunity to cast a spell with his remaining magic.
"The wind sweeps away the clouds, transforming into a vortex that blows in all directions, Maha Tenri Svaha, Wind God."
The peaceful atmosphere suddenly spun violently, instantly transforming into a powerful hurricane that swept in all directions, blowing away the dust that had condensed the barrier.
With the dust gone, Kadar's magic power was fully restored. He then used the Star Shift technique to deflect Nobunaga's palm strike, his body transforming into billions of phantoms as he suddenly rose into the air. He formed hand seals and shouted, "Nobunaga, go to the underworld!"
He chanted an incantation, "Sage of the underworld! Use the seven keys to open the gates of hell."
A dazzling crimson flame formed between his hands, growing stronger and stronger. It was a powerful move of fire magic.
"Seven Guardian Gods!" With a roar, Kadar unleashed his full power, unleashing the strongest of his fire spells, Seven Guardian Gods, which transformed into raging flames and devoured Nobunaga.
This move was similar in effect to "Demon Emperor's Starburst," the only difference being that one was a demonic flame, and the other a celestial fire.
The ultimate move was unleashed, its dazzling light surpassing even the power of the previous starburst, the surging heat instantly spreading to every corner of the world.
The destructive power obscured everything.
However, Kadar deliberately suppressed the power of this move, making it appear less astonishing than its previous impact.
Faced with such a powerful attack, having lost the initiative, the wounded Nobunaga poured all his strength into raising his protective aura to its peak, his meridians twisting and cracking, his bones creaking as he desperately resisted the shadow of death.
However, the dragonfly could not shake the stone pillar. After a brief stalemate, Nobunaga, exhausted, was swallowed by the raging flames.
The enemy was finally defeated, but Kadar's face showed no joy. "In the end, I couldn't escape fate!" Kadar laughed bitterly.
Looking up at the sky, the once brilliant sunrise was now obscured by rapidly rising dark clouds. Lightning flashed within the dense clouds, a terrifying sight. The entire sky instantly turned as dark as night—a sign of impending divine punishment.
Kadar stood suspended in the air, lost in thought, recalling his life's experiences.
Suddenly, he sensed movement on the ground. Kadar stared intently and was shocked to see an object slowly moving towards the ruins of Honnoji Temple.
"What kind of anesthetic is so potent?" Nobunaga's resilience, even Kadar, gasped in shock.
The demon race's vitality, combined with the effects of the Life and Death Flower, was indeed extraordinary.
At this moment, Nobunaga's lower body was charred, and his upper body's skin was completely carbonized, yet he could still drag himself towards Honnoji Temple.
What kept him from collapsing was probably the indomitable fighting spirit unique to his people—never giving up until the goal was achieved!
Honnoji Temple, having suffered two devastating attacks at such close range, had its rooftops and earthen walls reduced to ashes, but amidst the scorched earth, something remained unharmed, pulsating eerily.
Kadar suddenly realized the opponent's intentions and hurriedly descended from the sky to intercept, but it was too late.
"I still have a demonic fetus!" Nobunaga held the pulsating ball of flesh in his palm, intending to absorb it. If he succeeded in absorbing the demonic seed, he would become the first person in history to cultivate a demonic seed through external force, greatly increasing his power, saving his life, and allowing him to fight again.
"Stop!" Kadar shouted sharply.
A terrifying thing happened in that instant. As soon as Nobunaga unleashed his palm force, an even stronger suction force returned from his palm, sucking away his life essence like a mighty river. Nobunaga let out a long, miserable scream.
The excruciating pain of having his bones scraped and flesh eroded surged intensely to his head, yet his mind remained perfectly clear. This kind of pain was truly beyond description. Seeing this
, Kadar knew that he had been devoured by the demonic seed instead, and he was horrified, thinking to himself, "Since ancient times, those who cultivate demonic seeds have never died a good death. How can you be an exception?"
Without the support of his power, Nobunaga's suppressed injuries erupted all at once. Blood gushed from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, instantly vaporizing into wisps of smoke due to the intense heat.
His screams gradually weakened until finally, Nobunaga was engulfed in flames, reduced to ashes by the hellish fire.
Kadar, who had fought Nobunaga fiercely for a day and was now on the verge of death, admired Nobunaga's unwavering fighting spirit. Seeing his fate, while feeling it was deserved, he couldn't help but feel pity. He whispered a prayer, seeking peace for his enemy.
Suddenly, a black-haired, golden-eyed girl appeared in the flames before him. Her beauty was breathtaking, her radiant spirit vaguely familiar. She glanced at Kadar expressionlessly, then turned and vanished.
As the flames burned away, the thick amniotic sac of the demon seed suddenly split in two, revealing a bright red baby girl lying on the ground without uttering a sound. Her bright golden eyes, devoid of any emotion, gazed at the sky.
Kadar knew he was witnessing an unprecedented event. Cultivators who reached the pinnacle of their practice possessed what were called "Dao Embryos" or "Demon Seeds," but these referred to an individual's essence, energy, and spirit, not a physical fetus.
The art of creating demon seeds must not be taken by shortcuts, for no one had ever succeeded in it since ancient times, and no one knew what the final outcome would be. Yet today, the demon seed's creation had failed, Nobunaga's ritual had backfired, resulting in his own death by incineration, while the demon seed, which should have been absorbed, had instead developed into a fetus. This was truly an inexplicable absurdity.
Because this fetus was not naturally formed, it lacked consciousness. Although it breathed and had a heartbeat, it neither cried nor laughed, possessing no emotions or feelings—just a lump of flesh.
Looking at the baby's face, Kadar thought of Leila, and a pang of pain shot through his heart.
"In the end, she is Leila's daughter. I owe her mother too much; I will repay her with this child!"
Kadar made his decision, his fingers forming a hand seal, radiating light, intending to use an ancient secret technique, risking a great depletion of his own vital energy, to awaken the child's innate consciousness. He
chanted the incantation "Apoziduojiedijiedi Moshili" rapidly, placing three fingers of his left hand on the child's forehead, infusing it with spiritual power.
The moment his fingers touched the child, he was horrified to find that, as if touching a magnet, his own inner strength vanished without a trace.
"This girl's constitution is so strange." Kadar was startled. Instead of withdrawing his inner energy, he expelled it. He knew he couldn't escape the Heavenly Punishment and was doomed to die today. The amount of inner energy he retained was irrelevant, so he spared no effort to open the child's spiritual apertures.
"Drink!" With a roar, a loud baby's cry rang out. The secret technique was complete. Kadar closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, sweat pouring down his face.
In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Kadar's left arm was drained dry, his inner energy reduced by thirty percent. Combined with what he had just gained, this girl, born with Nobunaga's full power, plus Kadar's forty percent spiritual energy, had risen to the ranks of unparalleled masters.
Kadar picked up the child and examined her closely. Her delicate eyebrows and fair skin, like her mother, suggested she would grow into a great beauty.
Kadar silently prayed that the child's future would be blessed with good fortune, longevity, and freedom from illness and disaster.
The girl's left hand, which had been tightly clenched, pried open Kadar's fingers out of curiosity.
In an instant, a rich, sweet fragrance filled the air, and a wisp of crystalline white light appeared in her tiny palm. A perfectly round, translucent pearl softly radiated light, and the character "生" (life/birth) faintly appeared within it.
Kadar sensed something amiss and looked at the infant. The child giggled softly, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes darting around, watching him intently.
Kadar's reflection appeared in those golden pupils
. Golden! Kadar suddenly remembered the phantom he had seen in the fire earlier. Could it be
...? In a daze, a realization dawned on him
. "Master Kadar!" A figure slowly approached from afar—it was none other than Hideyoshi Hashiba.
After their parting that day, Hideyoshi knew a series of fierce battles were imminent, so he hurriedly led a small elite force back to Kyoto.
On the way, they encountered Akechi Mitsuhide's army, and a fierce battle ensued for the defense of Honno-ji Temple. Unexpectedly, midway through the battle, a powerful shockwave emanated from Honno-ji, wiping out both sides under Nobunaga's "Demon Emperor's Starburst."
"Last time, I said you shouldn't return, but I didn't expect you to come back anyway."
"Hideyoshi thanks his mentor for saving his life." With that, Hideyoshi bowed deeply.
The power of the Starburst had spread in all directions; he had survived only thanks to the amulet given to him by Kadar, which shattered in his place, thus saving his life. Therefore, he was deeply grateful to Kadar.
As a subject, how could he stand idly by when his lord died at someone's hands? But having just witnessed Nobunaga's true identity, he knew this involved a serious matter between humans and demons, far beyond ordinary matters. Looking at Kadar, also wounded and exhausted, how could he possibly bring himself to do it
? The clouds in the sky grew denser, and the rumble of thunder grew louder; the time for the divine punishment was drawing closer.
"Brother Hideyoshi, we swore an oath with our fists together, do you remember that promise?"
"A promise made by a hero is as good as his bond. But wherever the doctrine lies, and within my power, Hideyoshi will do his utmost."
Kadar nodded, catching a glimpse of the flashes of lightning in the sky. He knew his time was running out.
"Kadar is doomed today and will soon return home. Before I go, I entrust him with one matter: please, Hideyoshi, raise this girl to adulthood."
"This girl is..."
"She is the orphan of your Lord Nobunaga."
Hideyoshi was filled with doubt. He had only been married to Leila for a little over a month; how could she be pregnant and have a child? But remembering that Nobunaga was not human, he quickly understood.
"Rest assured, Master. Since the princess is your lord's flesh and blood, Hideyoshi will treat her as his own and do his utmost to raise her to adulthood."
"Very well. I will trouble you with your life's work, Hideyoshi." Kadar knelt on the ground and bowed three times.
"I dare not!" Hideyoshi returned the bow.
"Has the princess been named?" Kadar pondered for a moment, then said, "This girl was born with a wonderful fragrance, so let's name her 'Fragrance'!"
"Oda Fragrance, Oda Fragrance, what a beautiful name." Taking the child in his arms, Kadar took out a brocade box from his robes and carefully handed it to Hideyoshi. The silk threads of the box were mottled, and the outer shell was yellowed; it looked like a very old antique.
"Inside the box is a magatama, containing all my life's learning. When this girl grows up, please give it to her."
Hideyoshi knew the importance of this matter and nodded in agreement.
Kadar stared blankly at the child's little face.
In his heart, a faint voice whispered to the child:
"Your mother and I shared a painful memory. Because of my cowardice and incompetence, she suffered misfortune, and in the end, I myself paid with my life to atone for my sins. I do not regret this punishment.
So, my child!" What kind of life will you lead in the future?
Whatever you do, I hope you can leave a fresh trail and avoid repeating the same mistakes
. "The Heavenly Punishment is imminent; I will use teleportation to send you thousands of miles away."
"Master!"
"Farewell!
" With a surge of spiritual power, Hideyoshi's figure was enveloped in a halo of light, gradually disappearing.
"Heavens, you've been kind to me, even giving me a chance to say my last words." Kadar stood with his hands behind his back, gazing proudly at the sky.
His wish fulfilled, he had no regrets.
Amidst a deafening roar, the first wave of heavenly lightning descended, demonic thunder and lightning transforming into dancing electric dragons, devouring Kadar.
"Hah!" Kadar unleashed all his power, pushing his protective shield to its limit, colliding with the first bolt of heavenly lightning, creating a deafening explosion.
The incredibly sturdy shield didn't even have a chance to withstand the attack; the lightning blasted through it the instant of contact, striking Kadar directly.
"Great Brahma Palm!" Kadar concentrated his power in his right arm, striking back with his palm.
Before the palm strike even arrived, the blazing fire contained within the heavenly lightning, intensely burning towards Kadar's arm, was immediately frozen solid by the Holy Spirit Ice. Solar wind and cosmic light assaulted him, almost completely necrotizing his muscle tissue, followed by the most powerful burst of lightning.
"Pfft!" With just one strike, Kadar was struck so hard that blood flowed from all seven orifices, leaving him severely injured. He spat out a mouthful of blood two zhang high, using all his strength to completely dispel the lightning that had invaded his body.
"The power of heaven and earth is indeed not something ordinary people can withstand."
No longer daring to be careless, he launched a long-range attack, his spiritual light rapidly forming a shield, determined to deflect the heavenly lightning before it struck his body.
A single bolt of heavenly lightning could instantly level an area of five hundred square meters. If a second bolt were to explode in conjunction, its power would multiply exponentially. In other words, a thousand bolts of heavenly lightning forming an apocalyptic catastrophe truly possessed the ability to destroy the entire world.
Kadar parried and deflected the first batch of fifty lightning bolts in the blink of an eye.
Under the immense destructive force of the impact, his seemingly unharmed body was riddled with holes, as if blasted by a bomb. His previously withered left hand suddenly exploded into a bloody mist.
"Ha, retribution comes so quickly!" Despite losing an arm, Kadar wasn't particularly panicked. He took a deep breath and leaped up to face the second wave of lightning.
He had just done everything in his power to hold his ground, yet he was already severely injured. To launch a preemptive attack now would undoubtedly be suicidal. But knowing he couldn't escape his fate, he decided to risk everything, wanting to leave behind an eternal brilliance in his final moments.
In truth, if he had committed suicide, he could have escaped the heavenly punishment. Though he would have died, he could have been reincarnated. However, this would have inevitably caused the heavenly lightning to rage across the earth, resulting in unimaginable natural disasters, and Hideyoshi and the others would have been unable to escape
. Therefore, he was willing to perish, body and soul, to face the heavenly punishment. Kadar floated in mid-air, his fists and palms flying, unleashing all his potential at the critical moment of life and death, elevating his cultivation to another level.
He used both martial arts and magic; his palm strikes and spiritual light erupted simultaneously, deflecting the heavenly lightning far away and blasting it outwards. Entangled in demonic lightning and lightning, he was awe-inspiring, like a war god.
However
, human strength has its limits. After the 198th bolt of heavenly lightning was shattered by a single palm strike, Kadar suddenly felt breathless, a sign of overexertion and the dissipation of his power.
Caught off guard, a bolt of lightning struck from behind, slamming into Kadar. His protective aura shattered instantly, unleashing five destructive forces that sent him crashing to the ground.
This attack aggravated all his old wounds; his internal organs exploded, his spine shattered, destroying all his power and rendering him unable to rise again.
In truth, if Kadar hadn't previously lost forty percent of his power, though he would certainly have perished, his cultivation level would have allowed him to withstand more than three hundred strikes.
Kadar shakily sat up, his mind racing with memories: his youthful riches, his unforgettable love, his cultivation in the mountains, the battles of Kyushu, and his reunion with Leila—
every detail of his life flashed before his eyes.
His weary face flickered with worry and joy, sometimes smiling, sometimes weeping, before finally settling into stillness.
After his memories of his entire life had played out, he vaguely saw some scenes.
It was a massive war, two sides clashing fiercely, blood splattering, corpses piling up endlessly—humans, elves, and demons alike, a cataclysmic event. And amidst it all,
a short-haired woman moved with astonishing speed across the battlefield, her fiery sword energy like a rising sun, too dazzling to behold. An elven girl
continuously fired magical arrows, each one hitting its mark, accurately felling an enemy general. In
the southeast corner, a girl in a kimono wielded a sword with leaping, dynamic movements in her left hand, while her right hand cast ancient spells, instantly causing massive casualties wherever she went.
Behind her, a breathtakingly beautiful young woman rode a flying dragon, wielding a long spear with divine grace.
In the commander's chariot, a tall, imposing man, exuding regal authority and confidence, issued commands to his generals.
Beside him, a woman offered advice, her wise eyes gazing intently at the man she leaned on.
On the battlefield, a handsome, elegant man, his voice gentle and pleasant, commanded with unwavering composure.
Upon receiving his order, a woman from the left flank plucked the strings of her zither. As the melodious music flowed across the battlefield, the undead soldiers were reduced to mere skeletons.
Scenes flashed before Kadar's eyes, as if foreshadowing the future.
Kadar opened his eyes and saw a purple dragon-like aura rising slowly in the west.
"I really don't want to die!" Kadar murmured.
The two hundredth bolt of heavenly lightning swirled down, striking Kadar's vitals.
Kadar closed his eyes, motionless, and remained silent.
The divine punishment had passed; the azure sky cleared again, returning to its usual bright state, as if nothing had happened.
A gentle breeze blew, caressing the earth, and Kadar's body, in the wind, turned to dust, vanishing without a trace.
Kadar was utterly destroyed, body and soul.
This event was later recorded in history as the "Honnoji Incident." In this battle, Akechi Mitsuhide betrayed the regime, leading his troops to storm Honnoji Temple.
Oda Nobunaga, the unparalleled ruler of Japan, perished in this battle.
Afterwards, Hashiba Hideyoshi, formerly under Nobunaga, declared independence, changed his name to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, raised an army to punish Akechi Mitsuhide, and quelled the rebellion.
He then vied with Shibata Katsuie for supremacy, and with his talent, finally achieved great success, becoming a powerful figure who commanded the world.
The Great Sage Kadar, however, vanished without a trace, never to be seen again.
The name of the Star Sage became merely a whispered legend.
The wind blew gently, in the warm morning light, carried by the flowing air, floating on the ocean, carrying the salty scent of seaweed, drifting inland.
A soft sigh, like a whisper, mingled with the wind, traversing thousands of miles, heading to the next stop in the tale of wind and clouds: the Kingdom of Sfilendo.

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