Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Heaven and Earth Net Force
Shi Xiaole did not expect at all that Perception Tactics would be ranked as a high-grade, third-tier skill in the system. This came as an unexpected surprise.
Compared to the substantial reward points, advanced martial arts held a stronger allure for Shi Xiaole, given his current progress.
His several powerful martial arts skills have basically reached their peak — it was difficult to make further improvements. With his current strength, if he were to face Xue Long again, his outcome would remain the same — defeat.
The only solution was to practice a higher-grade martial art, raising his level once again.
So, without hesitation, Shi Xiaole chose to redeem a high-grade, third-tier martial art skill.
A box, glowing and shimmering, appeared, but Shi Xiaole’s heart was calmer than before. The system had told him that it was impossible to draw a blank in this exchange.
With a thump.
"Congratulations, host. You have drawn the high-grade, third-tier martial arts technique, ’Heaven and Earth Net Force’."
Heaven and Earth Net Force — so, it was this martial art.
Shi Xiaole felt relieved.
This introductory martial art technique of the Ancient Tomb Sect required practitioners to use their palm power to freeze sparrows in place, stopping them from escaping their control. The achievement of stopping eighty-one sparrows at once signifies the completion of the technique.
The aim of practicing this art was not for attacking, but more of a strategic means. Within the range of palm power, anyone would be disturbed, leading to their inability to fully utilize their skills.
"Very well, it’s not safe to go out yet. I might as well practice ’Heaven and Earth Net Force’ first," he thought.
In the following days, Shi Xiaole began to devote his efforts to mastering ’Heaven and Earth Net Force’.
Although he didn’t have spare sparrows, this did not hinder his progress. After all, sparrows were merely tools, Shi Xiaole only needed to ensure that he mastered every detail of the technique, and its power would naturally manifest.
He slept for four 2-hour periods each day, ate dried meat and drank water when he was hungry, and went to the bathroom next to the stone room when needed. Time passed quietly as he practiced monotonously, yet fully immersed.
On the third day, Shi Xiaole executed a series of palm strikes, and a subtle sound of wind was made in the room.
On the fourth day, his palm movements became more fluid, and the sound of wind was like a tearing cloth — unusually loud.
By the sixth day, there was no set pattern to Shi Xiaole’s palm strikes, and the wind noise became as silent as a blooming cotton flower.
Yet at this moment, ants three feet away from him on the ground seemed to be fixed in place, unable to free themselves from the invisible force, no matter how hard they struggled.
"It’s probably because my previous four martial arts have all reached the Transformation Phase completion. Why do I feel that practicing ’Heaven and Earth Net Force’ is even easier than the Miao Family Sword Technique?" Shi Xiaole wondered.
Ending his practice, Shi Xiaole felt both sorpresed and elated.
The elation came from achieving the Transformation Phase completion of ’Heaven and Earth Net Force’ in the day. It was not far from perfection now.
And his surprise — even though it was a high-grade third-tier martial art, why did he feel exercising it was only a bit harder than eating or drinking?
For ordinary people, it would take years to master a high-grade third-tier martial art to reach Spirit Integration completion.
As for reaching Transformation Phase, it was not something that could easily be achieved over time. It required more understanding. If there was no insight, even a lifetime of practice would not bear fruit.
But Shi Xiaole achieved this in only six days, which was shocking.
"I really don’t know, at this point, how powerful will I become if I use all my strength?"
After contemplating, Shi Xiaole decided to leave the stone chamber.
For one, he was now confident enough to protect himself.
For another, the dried meat on the stone table had mostly spoiled due to the extended period of time, and the edible part had been finished by him the day before. Continuing to stay would only lead to starvation.
"My benefactor, thank you for leaving me this opportunity," he said gratefully.
After bowing to the stone chamber, Shi Xiaole tidied up, and left without looking back.
...
The day after Shi Xiaole entered the stone chamber, Charming Fox, unable to open the secret mechanism, angrily left the Third Eye Cave Residence from another direction.
The others, including Xue Long, were all despairing.
Being trapped in the maze, they were like headless flies, whirling around without any sense of direction. Fortunately, one of the underlings managed to find his way out.
After he reported back to the Xue family, Elder Xue immediately deployed a substantial number of people, each equipped with a compass, to find people in the labyrinth, and they finally managed to rescue Xue Long and his party on the third day.
However, having been rescued, the Xue family was not at all looking good.
This time, they rushed in with confidence and the support of the entire city to siege a teenager. But in the end, they failed to kill him and instead got themselves trapped. It was utterly humiliating!
Neither the insidious Xue Long nor the arrogant Xue Tianmu could bear such humiliation.
So, after they had gotten out, they sent out a large number of Xue family experts to guard the broken arch bridge day and night, so as to prevent Shi Xiaole from escaping.
"Uncle, I think that kid probably died in the maze, there’s no need to wait any longer," said Xue Tianmu with a laugh on the morning of the seventh day.
In his view, he was too impulsive. That complex maze was not something anyone could get out of without a guide map, let alone Shi Xiaole, who was injured at the time.
Xue Long stroked his beard, thought about it, and said, "Let’s wait one more day and let everyone retreat tomorow."
Xue Tianmu laughed. He had been entwined with the courtesan from the Fragrance House all night and was now feeling dizzy and weak. He needed to go back and rest.
Just as he was about to walk away, he suddenly heard someone shouting from afar, "Master Xue, young Master Xue, there’s someone in the water!"
Bang!
A splash of water erupted, and a figure shot up from the water, landing on the shore, glaring coldly at the members of the Xue family.
"You’re still alive?!"
Turning his head, Xue Tianmu’s face turned ghostly white as he recognized the person. He found it hard to believe, how had Shi Xiaole survived these past few days?
Could it be, he had obtained the inheritance?
Xue Tianmu was not dull, he quickly realized something crucial, otherwise, it would be impossible to explain how Shi Xiaole had managed to stay so lively under conditions without food and water.
"Kid, you’re lucky! Come on, let’s go back to the Xue Residence together," said Xue Long. Greed flashed in his eyes as he casually chuckled, hands tucked behind his back.
What Xue Tianmu thought about, wouldn’t Xue Long think of as well? In his eyes, the inheritance from a place like the Third Eye Cave Residence wouldn’t be simple. As long as they obtained it, the Xue family would definitely rise to greater heights.
As for Shi Xiaole refusing to confess, heh heh, Xue family had thirty-six methods of torture. He hadn’t seen anyone who could endure even five. This kid would definitely suffer!
At the same time as Shi Xiaole appeared, a dolled-up little girl at a nearby tavern by the window stood up excitedly: "This guy’s still alive, Uncle Fu, this is going to be interesting."
Uncle Fu shook his head, sighing, "The Xue family is full of masters. Once he’s caught, I’m afraid it’d be even worse than death for the poor lad."
The little girl thought for a moment, then said, "Uncle Fu, could you help him later? After all, he has no grudges with the Xue family, it’s all my fault for causing this."
Uncle Fu widened his eyes as if he’d discovered new land. When had this naughty girl developed such a conscience?
"Ah, there you are," The same joy lit up the face of Charming Fox who was at a street corner at the same time.
These past few days, she often remembered Shi Xiaole’s face, even when she was with other men. A woman’s intuition told her that Shi Xiaole was alive.
"This kid, why doesn’t he hide for a while, does he really desire for death?" Charming Fox stamped her foot, starting to get anxious too.
On the lake shore, Shi Xiaole stood unwavering under the Xu family expert’s encirclement, saying calmly, "Go, what if I don’t go?"
A cruel grin spread across Xue Long’s face. He said, "If you don’t want to go kid, I’ll have people break your legs and then carry you."
Xue Tianmu let out a loud and cold laughter, "If you had just let me search you that day, none of this would’ve happened. You reap what you sow, this is the perfect example, ha ha ha!"
"Attack!"
Not having the patience to wait, Xue Long commanded the Xue family’s experts to attack.
Seeing Shi Xiaole holding a knife, it reminded him of the Draw Sword Skill in the maze, so he wanted someone to force Shi Xiaole to draw his sword. That way, Shi Xiaole naturally wouldn’t pose any threat.
"Attack!"
The experts of the Xue family from all directions charged towards Shi Xiaole, the clash of knives and swords causing the onlookers to shiver in fear.
Shi Xiaole kept silent. As soon as the crowd began to attack, he had already taken action, targeting Xue Long and his nephew Xue Tianmu.
"Ignorant fool."
In Xue Tianmu’s midst of laughter, three masters of the Xue family with six levels of Hidden Qi blocked him.
"Get lost."
With a chilling look in his eyes, Shi Xiaole drew his sword.
Swish!
At this moment, the entire lakeside went quiet momentarily. As the sword swept across the air, it took three lives along.
The three Six Hidden Qi Xue family masters had been killed by Shi Xiaole’s sword!
Back when he was at the fourth level of Hidden Qi, Shi Xiaole’s Draw Sword Skill could kill a sixth level Hidden Qi master. Now, with his internal power greatly increased and the Xue family masters underestimating him, this shocking result immediately ensued.
"This kid?!"
Xue Tianmu was taken aback, his panic was so sudden that he even forgot to move.
"You dare to kill my Xue family’s men, I’m tearing you apart!"
Xue Long hadn’t expected this outcome either. In his mix of shock and rage, he bellowed and aimed his sword at Shi Xiaole who had exhausted his sword momentum, thrusting it fiercely.
If this had been seven days earlier, Shi Xiaole could have only awaited his death. But now, with a smirk, as his right hand parried Long’s sword with his Hundred Battles Blade, his left suddenly changed into a palm and shot out in swift succession.
Just as Xue Long’s sword was about to pierce through Shi Xiaole’s shoulder, even Uncle Fu was about to interfere, Xue Long’s pupils suddenly shrunk. An invisible force enveloped him, as if he was stuck in a swamp.
This move was so sudden that Xue Long couldn’t react in time.
Shi Xiaole’s Hundred Battles Blade, glowing with a cold blood-colored light didn’t stop and chopped towards Long’s neck.
"You wouldn’t dare to kill me, the Xue family will..."
His voice abruptly stopped as Xue Long’s head shot up towards the sky, his blood splattering on the dumbstruck face of Xue Tianmu.
"If I don’t kill you, will the Xue family spare me?"
Unmoved, Shi Xiaole’s gesture was not paused for a moment. His Hundred Battles Blade rose again, with a swift sound, Xue Tianmu followed Xue Long’s footsteps.
At this moment, all the Xue family experts were nearly going crazy, their bodies as cold as ice.
Even Charming Fox standing at a distance was taken aback.
