Chapter 256: Chapter 256: The Swordsmanship Close to God
Inside an inn in Pass City.
Shi Xiaole laid out a hundred Mystic Crystal Stones before him and picked up one in each hand, beginning to absorb them.
Ten stones.
Twenty stones.
The breakthrough was harder than Shi Xiaole had expected, as his roots were too solid and hence required more spiritual energy. It was only after absorbing thirty-five stones that his internal power, transformed from spiritual energy, reached its peak. Under Shi Xiaole’s guidance, it abruptly crashed into the barrier within his body.
BOOM!
The impact sent qi scattering, turning the stone debris on the ground into fly ash, even the paper on the windows rustled.
The initial stage of the Qi Realm Nine Layer.
For ordinary prodigies, a breakthrough to one realm above the seventh layer of Qi Absorption was not easy. Even Xue Changqing, who was amazingly talented, was merely at the eighth layer at the age of twenty-one.
But at this moment, seventeen-year-old Shi Xiaole had advanced to the ninth layer of Qi Absorption.
With a flicker of thought, his internal power flooded through his meridians like surging tide, giving Shi Xiaole a sense of limitless strength. He was confident that if he were to duel with Wu Qing again, he could defeat him within five moves.
Without any delay, Shi Xiaole continued to absorb the remaining sixty-five Mystic Crystal Stones. Unfortunately, these did not lead to further breakthroughs. It could only be said that the ninth layer of Qi Absorption required an enormous amount of internal power.
Shi Xiaole estimated that he would need at least five hundred Mystic Crystal Stones to advance to the Xuanqi Realm.
The next day.
"Have you all heard that the ’Wandering Dragon Swordsman’ from Spring Garden, Yue Tianlin, recently advanced to the ninth layer of Qi Absorption and then challenged Xue Changqing at Snow Listening Mountain Villa?"
"And the result?"
"Hehe, they say that due to the stimulation of his previous defeat at Hero Mountain, Xue Changqing broke through to the first level of Xuanqi! He defeated Yue Tianlin, who was at the ninth layer of Qi absorption, with just three sword strokes."
The people in the inn drew a sharp breath.
"It is said that after defeating Yue Tianlin, with a casual sword stroke, Xue Changqing defeated a swordsman of the third level of Xuanqi."
If a moment ago there was inhaling sound, now there was only silence.
"This Xue Changqing is really a genius. When he fought with Shi Xiaole before, I felt they were on par. Now it seems that he is probably much stronger than Shi Xiaole."
Someone sighed.
"That may not be certain. A few days ago, I also received news that Dong Hao, a student of the Revenge Gathering and at the Xuanqi Realm, challenged Shi Xiaole at the Golden Phoenix Tower and was completely defeated. That Dong Hao is as powerful as a general expert at the third level of Xuanqi."
Another person poured a drink and sneered.
The crowd looked at each other.
"The young people of this generation are all exceptional! In my opinion, a province cannot accommodate two kings. In the next twenty years, it should be an epoch where Xue Changqing and Shi Xiaole struggle for dominance. We are in for a treat."
"It depends on who wins the ultimate glory."
The inn was buzzing over the Martial World.
Hearing this, Shi Xiaole gave a light smile. Although he was somewhat surprised that Xue Changqing broke through to the Xuanqi Realm so early, he was not particularly concerned.
On the contrary, the stronger Xue Changqing was, the better. Otherwise, before long, even if he didn’t want to leave Qingxue State, he would have to.
Being here, he no longer feels the pressure of competition among his peers.
Leaving a silver ingot behind, Shi Xiaole stood up to depart.
"Hey, doesn’t that man look like Shi Xiaole?"
"How could it be? Do you think everyone who wears green and carries a long sword has the surname Shi? These days, I see so many men in green everywhere."
"You’re right."
...
Riding on his horse, Qingfeng, Shi Xiaole galloped all the way and arrived at Yunfeng Domain after seven days.
That’s right, Yunfeng Domain, where Peach Forest Town was located.
According to the task information, in recent years, a one-legged demon has been hiding in a mountain, using the ordinary people from the nearby villages and towns as nourishment to practice his demonic skills, causing an enormous amount of casualties.
Even many high-level martial artists of the Xuanqi Realm who happened to pass by were killed by him. Over time, this region became an absolute death zone in the heart of many martial artists.
The Feiyu Hall also confirmed his identity based on this clue after various comparisons.
Shi Xiaole, in black attire and a mask, boldly appeared nearby.
Ironically, compared to annihilating the Demon Blood Sect’s sub-division and killing a one-legged demon in the Spiritual Passage Realm, for Shi Xiaole, it was easier.
However, fortune doesn’t always favor, after three consecutive days, Shi Xiaole hadn’t even seen the shadow of the one-legged demon.
During the night, under the solitary moon illuminating the barren mountains.
"Ah...!"
A scream was heard from afar.
Shi Xiaole paused, and without thinking, immediately sprang to his feet with the Bird Crossing Skill .
"Senior, we are from Spring Garden, and we accidentally intruded into your territory tonight. We apologize for any disturbances, and hope you will be lenient."
A middle-aged man was clasping his hands, his mouth smeared with blood, and his voice almost pleading.
He was an elder from Spring Garden whose cultivation was at the astonishing ninth level of Xuanqi, and he thought that he could handle any situation when he came to explore Yunfeng Domain.
Who could have expected that he wouldn’t be able to handle even a single stroke from this demon? If he had known this, even if they had to behead him, he wouldn’t have come.
Six young men and women were on site, all handsome men and beautiful women, among which a girl was looking terrified as she was held by a one-legged, long-haired old man.
"You think you can just leave after coming? Do you take my turf for a marketplace?"
The one-legged demon cackled sinisterly.
"What can we do to make you let us go?"
The middle-aged man was forcibly calming himself.
"Be my slaves for ten years, and I might spare your lives."
Being alone, there was only so much he could do. The one-legged demon indeed wanted to keep a few people, so it would be easier for him to capture the ordinary people for practicing his skills.
And these three girls were top-notch, ready to satisfy his needs at any time.
Everyone’s face changed at his words, especially the three girls, who almost felt like throwing up. To serve this filthy old man as a slave, who knows what they would suffer.
"Alright, elder, we are willing."
The middle-aged man bowed his head in a fist salute. The moment he looked up, he suddenly threw two pellets from his hand, screaming, "Run!"
Boom boom!
Sparks were fluctuating everywhere, as if a thunderstorm had broken out.
It turned out to be two Wind Thunder Bombs, secret weapons of the Tang Sect.
The Wind Thunder Bomb is a higher-level explosive than the Thunder Bomb. A single Thunder Bomb could be enough to injure a lower-level Xuanqi master. But a Wind Thunder Bomb, if used properly, could easily kill a peak Xuanqi master, it’s not impossible to even injure a master in the Spiritual-Passage Realm.
The middle-aged man didn’t expect to kill the One-legged Demon, but as long as he could delay the opponent briefly, that would be enough for them to escape. As for the female disciple who was captured, he could only say sorry; the compromise of one was better than everyone’s catastrophe.
"Master, what about senior sister Ruan?"
The other five young people screamed, but they didn’t slow their escape.
Just as they were about to escape, a gloomy voice sounded from above, "A bunch of fools."
With two bangs, infinite shadows of legs descended from the sky, giving the middle-aged man no time to resist. He was directly kicked, his chest sunk, and fragments of his liver were spat out on the ground.
The five young people were left paralyzed with fear, and they were dumbfounded.
"Dare to play tricks with me, you’re overestimating yourself."
The One-legged Demon slapped out, sending the middle-aged man flying again. He was almost caught in the trap. These people all needed to be disciplined properly.
With an ominous gleam in his eyes, he tore off the outer robe of the woman he had captured.
The woman’s face turned pale, and her mind ceased to function.
"Old demon, let her go."
At the critical moment, a man in a black robe and mask appeared, causing the One-legged Demon to pause.
"A lurking rat, you dare to command me?"
The One-legged Demon yelled harshly, but surprisingly did not move. Like Wu Qing, he also recognized the outfit of the Demon Alliance. Since the opponent dared to find him, it meant his strength was exceptional.
Shi Xiaole grasped his sword hilt, demanding, "I will only say it twice - let her go."
An overwhelmingly strong killing intent erupted from him, causing the temperature at the scene to drop. Not to mention the middle-aged man and the six young disciples, even the One-legged Demon felt a sudden chilling numbness.
This is a formidable master!
"If you dare to move, I will kill this woman."
The One-legged Demon internally pushed his power to the limit, again placing Ruan Sisi in front of him.
He dared not move, fearing to provoke the opponent’s attack. But as long as the opponent made the first move, he could exploit the opponent’s flaws, pushing Ruan Sisi out. If he couldn’t kill his enemy, he should at least be able to escape.
"Why is it that some people always like to think they’re smart."
As a sigh rose, Shi Xiaole drew his sword without warning.
What kind of swordsmanship is this?
They saw a flash of the sword, and then the shadow of the swordsman seemed to disappear.
There was a kind of swordsmanship that no one could see, because those who did were already buried in the earth.
There was a kind of person who was nearing the realm of gods, because he was ruthless.
Ruthless sword, ruthlesser man.
At this moment, all the people present were frozen with shock.
The One-legged Demon regretted it. At the moment when Shi Xiaole drew his sword, he regretted it. His calculations, his reliance on his reputed leg skills to roam the Martial World, were simply ridiculous against this cold-blooded strike.
Whoo.
Shi Xiaole wiped off the blood on his sword, sheathing it again.
"Eh, who exactly are you? There is no swordsman like you in Qingxue State."
Blood flowed from the One-legged Demon’s throat, he asked stiffly.
"I am Ximen Chuixue."
Shi Xiaole said.
He had said that he would let the brilliant names of his past life shine one by one in the night sky of this world.
"Ximen Chuixue..."
The One-legged Demon’s head shot up into the sky, rolling around on the ground. Until his death, he still couldn’t believe that such swordsmanship existed in the world.
Ruan Sisi unconsciously fell to the front, until she leaned against a warm and sturdy shoulder, did she gradually come to her senses. She looked up, it was a face-masked man. She wasn’t scared, instead, an unfamiliar emotion began to spread.
Shoving Ruan Sisi aside, Shi Xiaole picked up the head of the One-legged Demon and walked away.
"Swordsman Ximen."
The middle-aged man climbed up from the ground, his face filled with extreme shock and gratitude.
The five young disciples were still immersed in that divine sword-strike from earlier.
Shi Xiaole didn’t stop, walking further and further, until he disappeared into the moonlight. And this scene became an unforgettable memory for the few people left behind.
"The killing skill extracted from the Mysterious Skill Secret Technique has been used up again."
After having left the crowd far behind, Shi Xiaole smirked to himself. Luckily he didn’t regret it; as long as he could acquire the Stone Touching Skill and increase his perceptivity, everything was worth it.
Every target location for a mission would have a designated contact.
"Congratulations, you have completed a Xuan-level mission. According to the rules of the Demon Alliance, you are now promoted to Executor. In addition to the regular reward, you will also receive fifty Mystic Crystal Stones."
The contact handed over a red robe, a red facemask, and a box of Mystic Crystal Stones, full of praise.
Every time a promotion mission was involved, the contact would prepare all kinds of things, to prevent any unexpected changes. This showed just how detailed an organization the Demon Alliance was.
"Thank you."
Shi Xiaole couldn’t deny his excitement, with a smile tugging at his lips, he left after receiving the items.
"In the 798th year of the Flying Horse Dynasty, Wind Evil killed the One-legged Demon unscathed, suspected to be a Xuanguan Realm master."
After he left, the contact recorded the detail in a book, then also left the room.
