Chapter 272: Yun Short!
"So, this is an Immortal Jade?" Yun Xiao, with a hint of disbelief in his eyes, pulled a snow-white jade stone from his Pouch of Holding.
This wasn't any ordinary rock. Petite in size, yet it boasted a surface swirling with natural ley lines. Thanks to a long spell under the nurturing of the heavens, it was packed to the brim with Immortal energy. This was more than just a shiny pebble; it was a boon for cultivators to absorb the forces of heaven and earth, and also a handy piece of basic currency.
But in Yun Xiao's world, power was akin to the favorite snack of Red Moon! No sooner had he taken out the Immortal Jade than a tongue, bristling with backward-facing spines, shot out from his bosom, ensnaring the stone and dragging it into its mouth.
CRUNCH! Red Moon chomped down on it like it was a sugared pea, savoring every bit, and hollered, "Hurry up, more! I'm starving over here!"
"You've devoured all the spoils of war from the Heavenly Realm, and you're still hungry?" Yun Xiao exclaimed, a mix of amusement and disbelief in his voice.
This coffin soul beast was becoming more like a bottomless pit by the day.
Right after Yun Xiao had dealt with the aftermath of the great war with the Demon Continent, he had landed in the Eternal Sword Prison. All his worldly possessions were devoured by the beast during those three days of the Eternal Sword humming.
And now, a massive fortune of 10,000 Immortal Jades was about to vanish into thin air!
"At least this money's spent where it's needed," Yun Xiao thought, a tad resigned. "Their vitality's getting a much-needed boost."
Yun Xiao's approach was methodical. Shore up his base, and then focus on breakthroughs in due time. Survival was his priority. Then, he could leverage his talent as the Creator Immortal for a meteoric rise... This was his idea of a sensible, safe game plan.
So, the past three days in the Eternal Sword Prison were mostly about powering up Blue Star and Red Moon.
And now, it was almost Yun Xiao's turn. He reached into his bosom and took out another Pouch of Holding, this one brimming with enhanced Heavenly Dao Sariras, easily numbering over a hundred thousand.
All these were coughed up by Blue Star in these three days!
"The Sword Baptism Ceremony lasted three more days than expected. Not only did it fail to yield good results, it even cast doubt on the authenticity of my talents. Next time there's a test, I'll have to tone it down a bit. No use wasting time," Yun Xiao mused, scratching his chin in thought.
He did the math. Had he not frittered away those three days, he'd be in the Late Awakened Emperor Realm by now. For others, three days might mean a long nap, but for him, it was enough to conquer an entire map. What a colossal waste of time!
"Showing off too much can backfire," Yun Xiao lamented, a lesson learned the hard way.
"The Eight Mortal Realms are all about accumulating magic power through cultivation. At this stage, there's no need for enlightenment. Just focus on solidifying the foundation of the Dantian," Yun Xiao reminded himself. Using the tailor-made Heavenly Dao Sariras at this stage indeed had its merits.
Without a second thought, Yun Xiao fed all 10,000 Immortal Jades to Red Moon, then gobbled up the 100,000 Heavenly Dao Sariras he'd accumulated. As he channeled the Primordial Void Technique, he felt his cultivation growing stronger.
Yun Xiao, now adept and nearly able to control three bodies and three cultivation systems simultaneously, even found time to chat with Blue Star.
"Tomorrow's the Immortal Sword Rankings. Ling Chen will probably make a push too. What do you think about his growth rate?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Although he lacks Heavenly Dao Sariras, he has memories from his past life. Plus, his innate talents and foundation surpass yours. In the final sprint of the Eight Mortal Realms, he shouldn't be slower than you," Blue Star commented with a smirk.
"I have both the Nine Dragons Dantian and Nine Heavens Star Meridians, and he's still more gifted than me?" Yun Xiao asked, a bit incredulous.
"His reborn body is a hidden top-tier Seed of Creation. How else could it have been chosen for rebirth? With his memories, it won't take long to fully activate his talent," Blue Star explained, casting a disdainful glance at Yun Xiao. "Your Nine Dragons Dantian? In these Sword Ruins, that's practically the bottom of the barrel. The cultivators here have ten times the magic power of an average Divine Continent cultivator in the same realm."
Essentially, this was the gap between Ye Guying and the Sword Cultivators of the Sword Ruins. It was perfectly normal.
"And Ye Xingchen's Nine Heavens Star Meridians were actually snatched by you right at the start. It's a bit of a waste they didn't get to develop," Blue Star added. That's why he suggested that Yun Xiao should let Ling Chen mature a bit.
Yun Xiao could certainly nurture his Nine Heavens Star Meridians to a formidable level on his own, but that would take ages. Instead, he thought it wiser to add a new Seed of Creation directly onto his meridians.
There were two kinds of talents! One was the innate talent of a living being. The other was the Seed of Creation.
Innate talents were those bestowed by the Creator Immortal when creating a living being. These, for the time being, were irrevocable.
But the talents from the Seed of Creation, now those were a different story. They were pilfered by the Six Ancestral Gods from the Creator Immortal and gifted to all living beingsa part that wasnt originally theirs!
The Sword Cultivators of the Eternal Sword Prison naturally boasted talents far exceeding those of Divine Continent cultivators. And yet, there were over a million people here gifted with bonus talents from Seeds of Creation on top of that.
As Blue Star elucidated these points, Yun Xiao was feeling the pinch himself. His Nine Dragons Dantian was struggling to withstand the vastness of the Primordial Void Techniques sacred power. Despite consuming a hefty amount of Heavenly Dao Sariras, much of his power was leaking away, leading to wastage.
When Yun Xiao reached the Perfect Saint Realm, his Dantian hit its capacity, teetering on the brink of collapse.
"Stop cultivating for now; it's too risky," Blue Star warned.
"Got it," Yun Xiao nodded, a tad disheartened. "Seems like my enlightenment talent is top-notch, but physically, I'm still bottom-tier in the mortal world."
This was the stark contrast in Yun Xiao. His enlightenment was his trump card, but his physicality was his Achilles' heel. The 100,000 resonances of the Eternal Sword, his talents in the sword, and his comprehension abilities were all linked to his perception.
"Maybe you should rename yourself to Yun Short," Blue Star mocked mercilessly. "Hehe. You know, cause that frail body of yours really does fall short."
"Buzz off." Yun Xiao rolled his eyes as he stood up and walked outside, speaking calmly, "I planned to hunt a few Seeds of Creation in the Immortal Sword Rankings to solidify my foundation. Now, it seems my Nine Dragons Dantian won't make it till then."
Dantian, flesh, and meridians Yun Xiao was considered bottom-tier in the Eternal Sword Prison. The overwhelming talents of his opponents inevitably impacted his ability to fight above his level. Even defeating Feng Ruolin had been a close shave, requiring an unexpectedly ruthless approach.
Fortunately, Yun Xiao's prowess in his Sword Soul and Sword Aura had surged, propelling him to the pinnacle of the Sword Ruins and bolstering his strength. With this in mind, he didnt hesitate and stepped outside.
There, Yun Xiao saw a lively duel underway. One of the combatants was a young girl in a pale yellow skirt, wielding a delicate golden Sword Soul. This was Mu Xiaolong, just fourteen but already at the Establishment Awakened Emperor Realm, a mere step away from the Dao Heart Realm, and a Supreme Disciple of the Sword Ruins.
Her opponent was a boy in dark clothing. His Sword Soul, more a curved blade, displayed a mix of four colors, veiled in a blood red hue and adorned with five Sword Rings, with over 1,600 layers of Sword Aura. His youth and mere presence in the sealed off Valley of Ruins spoke of a high status.
"That boy has a Seed of Creation," Blue Star observed keenly.
"I know," replied Yun Xiao calmly, without a hint of malice in his eyes. The allure of Seeds of Creation no longer captivated him as it once did. Seeing a Seed of Creation in the Eternal Sword Prison was too common.
Including the Sword Warden, Mu Dalong, and Mu Xiaolong, all possessed Seeds of Creation. Yun Xiao couldnt possibly slay them all.
At this stage, he was selective, focusing on the bigger fishthe Six Ancestral Gods. The Seeds of Creation in the Nine Hells were merely sipping from the cup.
"His Dantian is the Hundred Scales Dantian, with a hundred interlocking scales on its inner wall. While it doesnt amplify power much, its strength lies in its endurance, ideal for the Primordial Void Technique. Its an excellent choice as an intermediary to tide you over," Blue Star persuaded.
"Eat him, and you won't be Yun Short anymore!" Red Moon cackled.
Ignoring them, Yun Xiao turned to Mu Xiaolong and asked, "Who's this?"
As he emerged, Mu Xiaolong and the dark-clothed youth had ceased their duel and respectfully approached Yun Xiao.
"Exile Yun, his name is Zhang Yang. He's my cousin," Mu Xiaolong said sweetly.
"Did you hear that? He's her relative. I have a good relationship with the Mu Family; how could I just go about slaying her cousin upon meeting?" Yun Xiao whispered to Blue Star.
Blue Star rolled his eyes, aware that in the world of humans, sentiments and reason often dictated actions. Yun Xiao might be wrathful, foolish, and greedy, but even he had his own sense of rationale.
A raw talent alone with no reason would only create a heavenly fiend.
Mu Dalong was also nearby, but she wasn't paying too much attention. This was the Valley of Ruins, the safest place in the Eternal Sword Prison. She felt at ease here, squatting down, tending to the flowers and grass in the courtyard, her back to Yun Xiao and the other two.
Then, the moment arrived.
"Yun Xiao..." Zhang Yang's eyes immediately turned bloodshot at the sight of Yun Xiao. The rage in the young man's chest burst forth like a volcano! He was reminded of Feng Ruolin's death, the demon spawn rumors, and the suppression and silencing of those who spoke out.
"You evil demon, die!!!" Zhang Yang growled. All his grievances and righteous fury converged on his Wind Moon Sword Soul. This was a Silva grade Sword Soul, three grades higher than Galaxy grade!
The attitude shift was too abrupt. Even before Zhang Yang's killing intent was fully unleashed, his Wind Moon Sword Soul transformed into a Flying Sword streaking straight for Yun Xiao.
Rather than a sword, it was more like a throwing knife! The blood-colored blade, swirling close by, was like a flash of lightning, slicing towards Yun Xiao's throat!
Flying Sword Technique, Demon Wind Blood Moon!
This was Zhang Yang's signature move. To perfect it, he had practiced it hundreds of times on his way here. His fury was channeled into this single, deadly strike. Even if it meant his own death, he was determined to execute justice.
"AHHH!!" Mu Xiaolong, still giggling as she introduced Yun Xiao to her cousin, even calling him a big dummy, was suddenly startled pale as the deadly move exploded out of nowhere.
Instinctively, she tried to shield Yun Xiao with her body. But, obviously, how could she match the speed of a close-range Flying Sword?
"Hmm?" Yun Xiao, who was just lecturing Blue Star, never imagined he'd be caught off-guard like this! His gaze sharpened, but his expression remained unchanged. In a flash, he flicked his finger, and an invisible vortex suddenly entwined around Zhang Yang's flying knife!
BUZZ! The knife, as if stuck in a quagmire, trembled violently, emitting a mournful wail.
In the blink of an eye, no one could discern that this was a miniature, modified version of the Wuji Dao Art, a skill derived from their ancestor Gongshu Dao. It resembled a spatial transfer technique!
Of course, Yun Xiao's magic power wasn't sufficient to fully harness it. This miniaturized Wuji Dao Art could only slow down the flying knife, not completely stop its deadly trajectory. But that was enough.
Yun Xiao looked coldly at Zhang Yang, his hand suddenly wielding a three-foot azure blade wrapped in 10,001 layers of Sword Aura. Holding the sword with both hands, he slashed down!
KLANG! Yun Xiao, swift as lightning, struck the Wind Moon Sword Soul caught in the spatial vortex! His Heaven Burial Sword Soul's 10,001 layers of Sword Aura met Zhang Yang's 1,600 layers.
With a loud explosion, Yun Xiao was blown back by the tremendous force behind the attack!
As the Wind Moon Sword Soul, it couldn't even let out a wail before exploding into smithereens!
"NO!" Zhang Yang's eyes, filled with anticipation, split open in shock. His face twisted in anger and pain. In the next moment, he was flung away by a golden storm of force, crashing heavily to the ground. His flesh and bones shattered as he was nearly flattened into a pancake.
Of course, the person who'd incapacitated Zhang Yang was Mu Dalong. She'd just been arranging flowers in the courtyard, never expecting him to attack Yun Xiao. Her panicked response left Zhang Yang nearly dead. But with his Sword Soul shattered and his spirit fading, he was destined for death anyway...
Covered in blood and buried into the earth, Zhang Yang looked up at Yun Xiao. In his dying breath, his eyes flickering with madness, he snarled, "Demon spawn, you will die!"
THUD! He collapsed back to the ground, eyes wide open in death.
"Exile Yun!" Mu Dalong instantly appeared before Yun Xiao. Her eyes were red with worry, her face pale with tension. She clutched Yun Xiao's arms and asked with a quivering voice, "Are you alright?"
"What kind of joke is that? A kid killing me?" Yun Xiao remained composed throughout, though slightly irked, particularly because Blue Star was cackling in his mind. Still, he'd resolved his pressing issue with the acquisition of the Hundred Scales Dantian.
Mu Dalong breathed a sigh of relief. If he still has the energy to joke around, he should be fine.
She quickly stepped back, pulling her bewildered daughter beside her. The two knelt before Yun Xiao, bowing their heads deeply, as she lamented, "Exile Yun, I've failed to protect you and put you in danger. Please punish me."
"Stand up," Yun Xiao said, his two words carrying an irrefutable authority.
The mother-daughter duo hastily stood up, bowing respectfully.
Mu Dalong glanced at Zhang Yang's corpse, her voice filled with sorrow, "That was Zhang Mu's child. I had no idea he would do something so foolish. Rest assured, Exile Yun, we will investigate thoroughly and provide you with an explanation."
Since the passing of her husband, her contact with Zhang Mu's family had been limited, with only Mu Xiaolong and Zhang Yang maintaining a good relationship.
"I... I didn't know either," Mu Xiaolong stammered, hiding behind her mother, her small face ashen.
Just then, the Sword Warden appeared.
"Dalong, take care of the body first. Then detain Zhang Mu and bring him to the Valley of Ruins," the Sword Warden ordered.
"Dad, it might not be related to Zhang Mu. Maybe someone else incited this," Mu Dalong speculated.
"We'll find out after investigating," the Sword Warden replied.
"Wait," Yun Xiao said. He walked over and squatted beside Zhang Yang, as if he were investigating something. After a moment, he stood up and turned to Mu Dalong, "You can take him away now."
"Did you find anything, Exile Yun?" the Sword Warden asked.
"No." Yun Xiao shook his head. It was just a fortunate resolution to his urgent problem.
"Given this incident, it's our responsibility to ensure your safety. I'll assign more Overseers from the Sword Ruins to guard you day and night," the Sword Warden declared.
"Will they all be women? Young ones?" Yun Xiao asked, curious.
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