Chapter 293: Chapter 292: Tide Listening Garden (Seeking Subscription)
Heaven and earth’s will, in this world, exists in both a state of nothingness and reality.
If anyone swears by it, they must not go against it. Otherwise, they are merely gambling with their own destiny.
In the past, some didn’t take heaven and earth’s will seriously, but their demise was undoubtedly tragic. The words in their oaths all came to pass.
So upon hearing Shi Xiaole’s words, Master Tianzhi sighed with relief. On the contrary, Lady Bizan was filled with rage and bitterness, almost trembling in anger.
Such a malicious person he was!
After both sides exchanged their conditions, Master Tianzhi, with a face full of hesitation and pain, gritted his teeth and began to recite.
Once the recital was over, Shi Xiaole immediately relayed it to the system.
"Upon examination, the benefits are hindered, this is false," the system mechanically stated.
"You have two chances left. Before you deceive me, think it through," Shi Xiaole unsheathed his sword, pointing it at Master Tianzhi’s head.
Master Tianzhi started reciting again, but this time barely completed a few lines before Shi Xiaole interjected. "You have one chance left," he said, the chilling Sword Qi emanating from him.
"Young Hero, this is true,"
"If you want to gamble with your life, you can try again," responded Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole’s confident demeanor left Master Tianzhi in doubt. What was this young man’s background? Had he seen the Joyful Zen before?
The manifesting Sword Qi overhead left Master Tianzhi with no doubt that if his lies were exposed again, this green-robed young man could slash him apart with one stroke.
Would he gamble again?
"Forget it. After all, he has sworn an oath by heaven and earth that he won’t let anyone harm me. I’ll hand over the Joyful Zen first, and when all of this is over, I’ll find a way to find him and kill him with one palm," Master Tianzhi thought.
After deciding upon this, Master Tianzhi became honest and recited the Joyful Zen word by word.
"Upon system examination, this technique has severe deficiencies and is classified as a second-rate superior skill," the system finally declared.
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but feel disappointed. The Joyful Zen was incomplete. However, if Master Tianzhi had the complete Joyful Zen, his martial arts prowess would undoubtedly far exceed what it was now.
"Young Hero, quickly destroy this woman’s internal power, then she’ll belong to you," Master Tianzhi urged, a crafty gleam in his eyes.
He believed that Shi Xiaole wouldn’t be so stupid; it was merely an attempt.
Lady Bizan coldly stared at Shi Xiaole, her heart racing. "As long as you disable me, the evil monk will be freed and will surely kill you," she warned.
"My affairs are my own. Madam need not concern herself," Shi Xiaole turned and left.
The two thought that after obtaining the Joyful Zen, he planned to go into hiding; but he soon returned with a brightly colored fruit, which he crushed and sprinkled on Master Tianzhi using his internal power.
"Young Hero, what are you doing?" Master Tianzhi asked, somewhat bewildered and uneasy.
"Rest assured, this is the Five-Scale Fruit, it can clear heat and detoxify," Shi Xiaole replied with a rare smile, his charm outshining the sun.
About several significant breaths later, a hissing sound could be heard.
Nearby, the venomous snakes slithered over.
"No!"
At this moment, Master Tianzhi understood and his face turned deathly pale.
The Five-Scale Fruit could indeed clear heat and detoxify, but its aroma could also attract venomous snakes. Given his current condition, he was certain to die if bitten by a snake, as he had no way to expel the poison.
"Kid, you dare to defy heaven and earth’s will; you shall not die a peaceful death," Master Tianzhi exclaimed, his fear evident as he screamed in terror.
"Master, I’m not breaking my oath. I did say I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t let other things kill you. Sprinkling the Five-Scale Fruit on you was just to cool you down. I never intended to harm you," Shi Xiaole said as venomous snakes crawled onto Master Tianzhi and began biting him. The sight sent shivers down Lady Bizan’s spine.
Against the backdrop of sharp cries of defiance and cursing, the eleventh-ranked on the list of martial arts villains, the seductive monk who had harmed countless women, died there.
With Master Tianzhi’s death, the Destruction of All Great Method was automatically lifted, and Lady Bizan, with a wave of her hand, turned the surrounding snakes into dust.
"Young...Master, thank you," Lady Bizan said, looking complicatedly at Shi Xiaole.
She wanted to call him Young Hero, but felt that Shi Xiaole’s actions didn’t align with the traditional Righteous Path. Thus, she called him Young Master.
Shi Xiaole smiled, found no useful items on the evil monk’s body, and was about to leave when Lady Bizan stopped him. "Young Master, may I ask your name?"
"Shi Xiaole," he responded.
Lady Bizan smiled faintly. His cold and cunning demeanor contrasted sharply with his name. "Today, Young Master Shi saved my life, and I must repay this debt. If it’s convenient, could Young Master Shi leave an address so we can contact you later?"
"I’ll be staying at the Autumn Moon Inn in White Dyke Town these days," replied Shi Xiaole, before turning to leave.
"What an interesting young man," Lady Bizan muttered to herself, her long-standing gloom dissipated, as she looked one last time at the remains of Master Tianzhi.
Deep into the night.
White Dyke Town, Autumn Moon Inn.
In the best master suite.
"Due to Joyful Zen being an incomplete martial art, the system will not exchange equivalent martial arts for it. However, it can be converted into reward points for the host."
The first half of the system’s statement left Shi Xiaole somewhat disappointed. Upon hearing the latter half, he asked, "How much can it be exchanged for?"
"A second-rate superior martial art has a minimum value of around 5,000 reward points. The incomplete Joyful Zen can be converted into 6,000 reward points."
With 6,000 points, plus the several second-rate inferior secret records obtained from the Heavenly Treasure Ruins and the previously accumulated 7,500 points, Shi Xiaole’s reward points suddenly reached 17,500 points.
However, it was still far from enough to purchase a set of first-rate martial arts.
The lowest value of a first-rate inferior martial art is around 20,000 reward points. According to the requirements, you need at least 50,000 reward points to buy it.
From this, it can be seen how expensive first-rate martial arts are. However, the more it was so, the higher Shi Xiaole’s expectations were.
You must know, even in the Martial World of the Great Cold State, first-rate martial arts are considered taboo. The last time it emerged was hundreds of years ago, when the entire Martial World went mad and almost 30% of the elite masters died in that fight.
If the secret record had not finally disappeared without a trace, no one would know how many more lives would have been lost.
Of course, Shi Xiaole could also obtain it by triggering a task. The problem was that first-rate martial arts correspond to three-star tasks, which are extremely difficult. If he fails, he would be on a path to death.
"Why think so much? I haven’t even mastered a second-rate superior internal power, there’s no need to set my sights too high."
Shaking his head and chuckling, Shi Xiaole discards his distracting thoughts and starts to run Brahma-I Unity.
...
There is a palace group composed of jade-green bricks and tiles in the vast plain, with women in green shuttling back and forth. They all have exceptionally elegant demeanors.
This is the Jade Moon Palace.
Lady Bizan had just arrived and immediately sent someone to investigate Shi Xiaole’s situation. Seven days later, a dossier appeared before her, detailing Shi Xiaole’s activities in the Great Cold State and even Qingxue State.
"What a audacious young man. However, he is only eighteen years old and is suspected of having comprehended more than 90% of Sword Heart. This aptitude might soon catch up with the Four Junior Sword Marquises."
Putting down the dossier, Lady Bizan was genuinely surprised.
Originally, her plan was to give Shi Xiaole a second-rate middle-ranked sword technique obtained externally. However, it now seems that such a gift may not be appropriate.
"How about this."
After thinking about it, Lady Bizan suddenly had an idea.
...
The days passed quickly during cultivation.
Another month passed.
There was no obvious progress in Shi Xiaole’s Sword Heart, but his Brahma-I Unity finally made a breakthrough to 70%, and his Internal Power had improved significantly compared to the past.
"Are you Young Hero Shi Xiaole?"
One day, a woman found the Autumn Moon Inn and knocked on the door.
"And who might you be?"
"I am from the Jade Moon Palace. The Palace Master instructed me to give you this letter and ask you to go to the Tide Listening Residence. You will receive guidance from the Tidal Waves Sword Marquis."
The woman handed over a letter, observing Shi Xiaole with curiosity.
The Tidal Waves Sword Marquis is the ninth-ranked distinguished swordsman on the Dust Ranking, and he has always had a good relationship with the Palace Master.
However, the Tidal Waves Sword Marquis has always been aloof and has only taken two disciples in his entire life. Why would the Palace Master go to trouble him for this young man this time?
"The Tidal Waves Sword Marquis?"
Shi Xiaole was stunned.
Anyone called Sword Marquis must indeed be a swordsman with a complete Sword Heart.
Shi Xiaole had indeed heard of the Tidal Waves Sword Marquis, who, it was said, comprehended Sword Heart at the age of thirty-two and is considered the most outstanding swordsman before the Four Junior Sword Marquises. He has a good chance of taking the throne of the first person in the Martial World of the Great Cold State in the future.
Lady Bizan would not introduce him without a reason, so had she investigated him?
Suddenly, Shi Xiaole thought of something.
However, it can’t be denied that Lady Bizan’s gift is to his liking. At present, his Sword Heart is stagnant, and if someone gives him suitable guidance, it will undoubtedly speed up the insight.
Tide Listening Residence is located in Sky Sea City, in the northern part of the Great Cold State, and is situated by the seaside cliffs. When you look up, you can see the roaring waves in the distance, which is spectacular.
On the huge stone platform built against the cliff, a man and a woman are sword fighting.
The swordsmanship of the girl is incredibly stunning, like a peacock spreading its tail. Once her sword comes out, all kinds of Sword Qi sweeps across all directions. In contrast, the man’s swordsmanship is like a mountain, strong and steady, remaining unmoved no matter how changes are made.
Clang clang clang.
After dozens of strikes, the girl is defeated.
"Senior Brother, you are so strong. I’m afraid there are few rivals in our generation."
Lan Xiaodie is not concerned about her defeat. On the contrary, she admires Tao Xingyu with a look of admiration.
Her father often praises her as a swordsmanship prodigy that appears once in decades. However, since childhood, she has never won against her Senior Brother.
Tao Xingyu said with a faint smile, "Junior Sister, once you see the Four Junior Sword Marquises, you’ll stop saying that."
"Are they really that strong?"
"At least in the next few decades, it’s doubtful if the Great Cold State will produce any better swordsmen."
Only those who have really seen the Four Junior Sword Marquises can understand how outstanding they are. In Tao Xingyu’s eyes, Lan Xiaodie, who inherited Blue Tidal’s talent, might be the only prodigy comparable to the four, but she falls far behind in temperament.
"Young Master, Young Lady, the Master is calling you to the Reflection Wall."
Just then, a servant ran over in a hurry.
The two exchange a glance.
The Reflection Wall is the place for testing sword techniques in the Tide Listening Residence. The question is, they had just tested the day before yesterday. Why would their father [Master] call them again?
