Chapter Fifty-Seven: Enemy of the Martial World

These men were not just nameless wanderers; any one of them, if singled out, bore a formidable reputation in the martial world. Most crucially, each and every one of them had an immensely powerful force backing them. Setting aside their personal strength, the influence behind each of these individuals traced back to a legendary figure in the realm of False Core.

Though in the world of martial arts, those who reached the False Core stage had become myths, hidden dragons whose true forms were rarely seen, in reality, every force worthy of being called a great sect possessed an ancestor of False Core strength. Otherwise, how could they lay claim to being a true power?

What Zhou Yi had just done was not a trivial matter. It amounted to offending all the major factions of the martial world simultaneously. If that was not terrifying enough, to be more precise: for every person he killed just now, he had made an enemy of a False Core legend behind them.

Was that not terrifying enough?

Indeed, Zhou Yi’s strength was considerable, even fearsome. But as always, it depended on the comparison. Against the ordinary denizens of the martial world, he was a towering mountain and they mere ants. Yet, when measured against these legendary False Core figures, Zhou Yi himself became the ant. Each person who had achieved the False Core realm was far beyond the ordinary martial world—a world that included Zhou Yi.

His current strength was not enough to transcend the confines of the martial world. No matter how formidable he was, he would not last even a single round against someone of the False Core realm.

This was precisely why the three had been so slow to react. They could not believe that anyone in this world would dare to offend, in one stroke, so many—nearly all—of the legendary False Core figures. Such an act was nothing short of courting death.

And so, matters gradually spiraled out of control, leading to the present situation.

Of all those who had come, save for these three, everyone else was dead.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Zhou Yi halted, his face calm, and responded to their incredulous words with serene composure.

The three were stunned. Yes, why not? Why indeed?

Even if they spared these people now, would they not still be pariahs in the martial world?

Since they were already branded as outcasts, what difference did it make to kill a few more?

As this thought occurred to them, their expressions gradually stiffened. Suddenly, they realized that their situation had already reached its most desperate. There was no path left behind them, nor could things get any worse.

They had no retreat left. Even if they did not kill these people, would their circumstances improve? Clearly, that was impossible. From the moment the death warrant was issued by Peerless Isle, the outcome was sealed, no matter how many they killed or saved, whether their deeds were good or evil.

Regardless of the backgrounds of those they killed, or the importance of those they saved, none of it would affect the final outcome.

As the three pondered this, Zhou Yi was far from idle.

Though he had, in an instant, dealt with all the others, that did not mean the matter was settled. On the contrary, things were only just beginning.

Of the group that had arrived this time, these three were the leaders. Their strength was polarized; the others Zhou Yi had dealt with easily, with little effort.

But as for these three before him, he could not claim that any one of them would be easy to handle. They each gave off a faint sense of danger.

In fact, in terms of sheer presence, these three were more dangerous than all those who had come before combined.

In other words, the three standing before him were overwhelmingly powerful.

As Zhou Yi’s thoughts raced, so too did the thoughts of the other three.

Yet at this point, they no longer dwelled on the fact that Zhou Yi dared to offend the entire martial world. Even if they spared these people, their sins were already unforgivable in the eyes of the world. So what difference did it make to kill or not to kill?

What preoccupied them now was the memory of that False Core aura, the dazzling flash of a blade. Where was the one who had unleashed it?

Truth be told, they were no saints. Each harbored his own schemes. Though they were shocked by Zhou Yi’s ruthlessness, in truth, they did not take it too much to heart.

After their initial astonishment, what truly worried them was that they had yet to find the owner of that blade.

From the moment they emerged, only two people stood before them: Zhou Yi, and Song Hai.

Zhou Yi, since their arrival, had given them a harsh demonstration—wiping out everyone else in an instant, even after they had drawn their own immortal relics. His strength was undeniable.

But while formidable, and even astonishing, he was still far from the level of a False Core. He could not compare to the legendary figures in their minds.

With the strength Zhou Yi had shown, never mind the False Core realm—even among the three of them, any could confidently claim to do the same.

Perhaps not as effortlessly or fluidly as Zhou Yi, but not far off.

Strictly speaking, Zhou Yi was on par with them.

If this was the case, then the one who unleashed that blade must not have been Zhou Yi.

That left only Song Hai, standing not far behind Zhou Yi, hand gripping his sword and regarding them with a grave expression.

He was not weak.

The three scrutinized Song Hai from all angles. But after a moment, they dismissed him as a candidate for the False Core realm.

Could this man be a legendary figure of such caliber? Impossible.

Though he had presence and ability, in their eyes, his displayed strength was a notch below even Zhou Yi, to say nothing of the true legends of the False Core.

The two were simply parallel lines that never met, utterly incomparable.

But if neither Zhou Yi nor Song Hai was the one behind that blade, then who was?

Could it be that the true master had concealed himself after striking?

But who was he? And what connection did he have to Zhou Yi and Song Hai? Why intervene on their behalf?

Having eliminated the possibility of either Zhou Yi or Song Hai, the three found themselves beset by a host of new questions.

They had no choice but to be cautious. The power of a False Core was simply too great—one misstep could be fatal.

Moreover, after discovering Zhou Yi’s true strength, the three were filled with confidence. He was only on par with them; such strength, even one of them could handle alone.

Although their strengths were similar, they each possessed hidden cards. Others had immortal relics; as peak practitioners of the Human-Immortal realm, with powerful factions behind them, so too did they.

Comparing pure strength, Zhou Yi was their equal. But if they brought out their immortal relics, Zhou Yi would not stand a chance.

The only thing they truly feared now was the mysterious wielder of that blade, suspected to be a False Core legend.