Chapter 138: Chapter 134: My Talent Will Find Its Use, and Wealth Lost Will Return
That was right. The flying sword in Feng Bin’s hand was the very one Du Youqian had used to kill Helan Ruojin, the one that had been lost along with his corpse.
No wonder this guy went from being an overlooked family disciple to suddenly reaching Foundation Establishment.
Finding my remains would indeed be a destiny-altering stroke of luck for a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator.
To be honest, the foundation of that flying sword was quite good.
After all, it was an investment from the Golden Core expert who had high hopes for Lin Sha. Du Youqian had once been very fond of it too.
It seemed the flying sword had been refined with some precious materials, and it had now impressively reached the level of a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact.
Now that it was about to be returned to its original owner, with interest, Du Youqian was all smiles, his mood joyous.
He thought, ’To show my gratitude, I’ll... refrain from torturing your soul and just send you swiftly into Reincarnation.’
’Wait... Besides this Spiritual Artifact flying sword, I seem to have other legacy items.’
’A Top Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact, a few Top Grade Spiritual Artifacts—of course, now that I’ve reached Foundation Establishment, those things aren’t much to speak of.’
’But besides those, there was also the Portable Array, the Sealing Array; and there were the Jade Pivot Divine Thunder Talisman and the Golden Radiance Breaking Talisman.’
’I’d better watch out. I can’t let this guy use my own legacy to turn the tables on me!’
Du Youqian moved silently.
In the next instant, the three Early Stage Foundation Establishment Tribulation Cultivators suddenly froze. Then, thousands of blood-red flowers burst forth from within their bodies, turning them into blood-soaked figures in a flash.
Feng Bin halted, his gaze turning cold.
He hadn’t seen what had just happened at all.
’What kind of technique was that?’
’Is this the power of a Great Sect’s Pride?’
’Was it Sword Qi?’
’A Demon Artifact with a special function?’
’Or some kind of Demon Secret Technique?’
In Magical Combat, the most frightening thing isn’t a powerful enemy, but an enemy whose methods you can’t comprehend.
’Damn it, I’ve been deceived. I actually used Li Tai’s strength as a benchmark to guess the power of a young genius from the Holy Blood Sect.’
’That idiot Li Tai... he wasn’t even worthy of carrying this man Yu’s shoes!’
Du Youqian chuckled. "Scared already? If you’re scared, then run. I can’t be bothered to chase you."
Feng Bin was cautious by nature. Coupled with the fact that Li Tai had been feeding him information, he had managed to narrowly escape encirclement by the sects and noble families multiple times.
So, he had originally intended to turn and flee.
But upon hearing Du Youqian’s words, he couldn’t help but think: ’He wants me to run? He’s deliberately saying he won’t chase me.’
’Could it be that he also suffered heavy injuries when he killed Li Tai?’
’Is he just putting on a brave front, but is actually on the verge of collapse?’
’Speaking of which, although Li Tai was trash, he wasn’t completely without merit.’
’He had one Demon Artifact that was truly terrifying.’
Thinking this, Feng Bin observed him closely.
Unfortunately, Du Youqian maintained a calm smile, revealing nothing.
In that brief moment, another Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Tribulation Cultivator was severely wounded.
The remaining two had fear in their eyes, and their attacks slowed considerably.
Without even looking, Feng Bin could guess that these two were also planning to flee the moment things looked bad.
Du Youqian used no other Magic, just a single flying sword that darted back and forth, its Sword Qi soaring to the heavens.
His masterful swordsmanship suppressed the three of them, leaving them unable to defend against his attacks.
Naturally, Feng Bin also felt immense pressure.
But if this was the extent of it, he wouldn’t be completely helpless.
Having escaped encirclement multiple times, he had a few tricks up his sleeve.
As for the three Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had just died, he had a flash of insight and figured it out. ’It must be Sword Intent.’
’Although it’s admirable and astounding that this "Yu Guardian Envoy" comprehended Sword Intent at such a young age...’
’In another thirty years, I would definitely have to give him a wide berth.’
’But his Sword Intent must still be in its weak and crude nascent stage right now.’
’Killing three Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators in one blow was probably his limit. I don’t need to be too afraid.’
’This fight isn’t over yet!’
’I might even be able to turn this around and kill him!’
’I can win!’
Thinking this, Feng Bin calmed down and decided to play the long game.
"Yu Guardian Envoy" still had a smile playing on his lips, his movements elegant and effortless.
The moment Feng Bin saw his expression, he grew furious.
’So you’re a major sect’s direct inheritance, huh?’
’Young and promising, are you?’
’Sooner or later, I’m going to chop off your head and see if you can still wear that aloof smile!’
Meanwhile, Du Youqian was standing off to the side. He took a Spirit Fruit from his Storage Treasure Pouch and began eating it, watching with great relish as the seven Tribulation Cultivators slaughtered each other.
Yes, seven Tribulation Cultivators.
Everything Feng Bin and the others had just seen was merely an illusion!
In reality, Du Youqian had already activated a Tier Two Middle Grade Illusion Array that he had secretly set up long ago, using that flawed Grand Array to conceal its presence.
This just goes to show that over-specialization is a terrible idea.
If you knew even a little about arrays—even if you only had the skill of a Tier One Upper Grade array master—you would have noticed something was wrong and wouldn’t have been so easily trapped.
This also highlighted the vast difference between an ordinary Loose Cultivator and a major sect’s direct inheritor.
If he were a direct inheritor of a major sect, he would surely have Secret Treasures or Secret Techniques for discerning falsehoods, eliminating delusions, and breaking illusions. He would never be so thoroughly defeated by a mere Tier Two Illusion Array.
And poor Feng Bin couldn’t even force Du Youqian to play a single one of his trump cards.
Before coming out to act as Guardian Envoy, Du Youqian had demanded quite a few goodies from Feng Xiaoyi. For example, a Talisman Treasure that could unleash a strike comparable to a full-powered attack from a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator, usable three times. For example, the Upper Grade Demon Artifact "Soul-Linking Bell," which Feng Xiaoyi had used during her Foundation Establishment and which emitted an eerie, indefensible sound wave. For example, the Tier Three Middle Grade Talismans "Great Derivation Communication Talisman" and "Free and Wondrous Talisman," which could allow Du Youqian to briefly hold his own against a Core Formation Cultivator...
And in his two years as a Guardian Envoy, he had also scraped together a considerable amount from the various sects and garrisons of the Wu Kingdom.
A portion of it was used for his cultivation, practicing Secret Techniques, or concocting Spiritual Liquid to try and hatch the Stone Egg.
But most of it was used to strengthen his own foundation and reserves.
He had originally thought that a notorious Tribulation Cultivator like Feng Bin would force him to be at least a little serious.
But now it seemed he wasn’t even worthy of being practice for him.
His strength was only on par with a True Disciple of the Zhongxuan Sect.
He was probably even a notch weaker than that Helan Ruojin.
With Du Youqian’s current strength, even without resorting to any tricks, he could kill him in a direct fight in less than ten moves.
After finishing the Spirit Fruit, Du Youqian casually spat out the pit, and his flying sword shot out silently.
"I never gave my flying swords a name before. I always figured I’d be upgrading them too quickly for it to be worthwhile."
"But today, this flying sword was lost and then found. It feels too fated, as if it were a mandate of heaven. I’m going to re-refine it, add some rare materials, and hopefully turn it into an Upper Grade Flying Sword. In the future, I hope to rely on it to roam the world unchallenged, all the way until I reach Core Formation!"
"When life is good, one must drink to their heart’s content; let not the golden cup sit empty beneath the moon. Heaven gave me talent, so it must be put to use; a thousand gold pieces scattered can always be regained."
"This flying sword has returned to my hand. Its name... shall be the Jinhuan Sword!"
As Du Youqian muttered to himself, his Sword Qi erupted continuously.
A few breaths later, only the barely-breathing Feng Bin and the six other corpses remained in the ruined hall.
Having learned his lesson, Du Youqian was extremely careful when performing the Soul Search on Feng Bin. He didn’t let his Heart Lake Sword Technique react instinctively, and thus managed to harvest most of the information from Feng Bin’s soul.
After closing his eyes and organizing the information, Du Youquen was both shocked and delighted.
"This guy... So he had that kind of trump card? If I had fought him head-on, I’m sure I could have killed him in ten moves, but I might have been caught by a sneak attack and gotten seriously injured. But now, that trump card is mine."
"This guy really did find my body and change his destiny. He’s had several other fortuitous encounters, too. I guess you could say he was a man of great fortune."
"The Jade Pivot Divine Thunder Talisman and the Golden Radiance Breaking Talisman have both been used up by this guy... Damn it, those were worth two or three hundred Spiritual Jades! That was my inheritance, mine!"
"The Sealing Array is still there, though. But that Sealing Array is a bit outdated for me now. Besides, it involves my unique design philosophy, so I don’t want to sell it."
"A Concealing Breath Secret Technique? It can actually alter one’s aura and fluctuations? No wonder this guy could offend so many people and still hide for so long. This is exactly what I need. I’ve searched high and low for something like this, only to find it by pure chance."
"I really have you to thank, Li Tai. Not only did you deliver so many good things to me yourself, you even found a Wealth-Sending Boy to bring me more!"
His mood joyous, Du Youqian did indeed not make things difficult for Feng Bin’s soul, allowing it to enter reincarnation.
Speaking of Feng Bin, according to the information Du Youqian obtained from the Soul Search, the hateful man also had a pitiful side to his story.
For Du Youqian, however, it made no difference.
Since he had decided to ambush and kill Du Youqian, it was only natural for Du Youqian to strike back and kill him in return.
He couldn’t just spare his life because he had a pitiful story.
’However...’ Du Youqian mused, ’Feng Bin’s experiences could be useful.’
But that was a matter for another time. He would need to increase his strength a bit more before he could profit from it.
Not long after the battle subsided, Gu Xiaofang and Luo Jinyu hurried over.
Du Youqian teased, "You’re back so soon? Weren’t you afraid I might be the one to lose?"
Their answers revealed their different personalities.
Luo Jinyu said seriously, "If Brother Yu had been losing, I would have found a way to turn the tables, help you escape, and fight them again."
Gu Xiaofang, on the other hand, said nonchalantly, "Even though you’re not some beautiful woman, Brother Fei, dying with you wouldn’t be half bad."
Du Youqian smiled faintly, noncommittal.
The two of them began looting the corpses, handing everything they found to Du Youqian for him to distribute.
These Tribulation Cultivators didn’t carry much with them, only their respective Spiritual Artifacts, Talismans, and the like.
Through the Soul Search, however, Du Youqian learned that Feng Bin’s hidden stash was at Two-Finger Mountain, so he arranged for Luo Jinyu to retrieve it.
Meanwhile, Gu Xiaofang was to remain at Guiyan Mountain to plunder Li Tai’s years of accumulated wealth and properly handle the mining Cultivators.
Most were pacified and allowed to continue mining.
A portion of them, Loose Cultivators who had been abducted by Li Tai, were given some compensation and sent on their way.
Gu Xiaofang was very skilled at negotiations. He quickly handled the task that Du Youqian had considered quite troublesome.
