Chapter 301: Chapter 300: A Place that Harbour Filth and Evil
Shi Xiaole took the secret manual and glanced at it, his face immediately turning to one of shock.
Times have changed, even in the Martial World, even the top sects in the Great Cold State at most possess two or three medium-tier top grade martial arts - Shi Xiaole was different.
Just for Internal Power Mind Methods, he had the Brahma-I Unity, the Day Changing Great Method, the Mysterious Skill Secret Technique, and the Sword Marquis’ Primordial Life Heart Sutra in his possession.
For techniques, he had the Death Claiming Fifteen Swords, the Cloak Cane Technique, and the Sword Marquis’ Retaining Life Sword Technique.
Although the Mysterious Skill Secret Technique, the Primordial Life Heart Sutra, and the Retaining Life Sword Technique had been exchanged for killing techniques or reward points and could not be cultivated, they did not prevent Shi Xiaole from studying them for reference.
With a total of seven medium-tier top-grade martial arts, if this was announced, it would be enough to shake the Martial World!
So, Shi Xiaole’s martial arts may not be high, but his insight was even better than some of the experts on the ranking list.
How could he not see that the two secret manuals given to him by Jing Xincheng were far more profound than the medium-tier top-grade martial arts, they should be the legendary top-tier martial arts!
The only regret was that the martial arts were incomplete.
"My master once said that our founders weren’t being selfish by not passing on the unparalleled martial arts. Rather, it’s because once this Outer Heaven Secret Record is cultivated to a certain level, the body undergoes observable changes that bring about calamity."
Jing Xincheng suggested from the side, secretly admiring the magic of Outer Heaven Secret Record.
She knew her own cultivation level was far from being as high as her master’s. But if she were to go all out, not even the top five experts on the ranking list would necessarily be her match.
Shi Xiaole continued to read and could not understand many parts. Still, one must say that top-tier martial arts are too profound; with his current realm, even if handed to him, he could not cultivate them.
"Can it be exchanged for reward points?"
With his consciousness entering the system, Shi Xiaole asked.
After a moment of silence, the mechanical voice from the system responded, "After examination, the two secret manuals are severely incomplete and classified as inferior-grade top-tier martial arts; they cannot be exchanged for equivalent-grade martial arts, but they can be exchanged for fourteen thousand reward points."
Ding!
All at once, Shi Xiaole’s reward points reached an astounding twenty-seven thousand five hundred. (The martial technique of Sword Marquis has been exchanged for two techniques, so they cannot be additionally considered as reward points)
The value of low-level top-tier martial arts is usually twenty thousand, while their purchase price is fifty thousand points. In other words, Shi Xiaole was less than half the distance away from purchasing a low-level top-tier martial art.
The value of the Outer Heaven Secret Record was not just that. He found that even though it was challenging for him to study, every bit he understood brought significant benefits.
Just like understanding some challenging points in advanced mathematics, going back to normal math problems immediately felt simpler.
Jing Xincheng said, "Martial Uncle Shi, have a look first, if there’s anything you don’t understand, we can discuss it together."
What Shi Xiaole didn’t know was that after Jing Xincheng noticed him a few days ago, she secretly investigated his background. After that, and combined with what she had seen and heard today, she finally confirmed his identity.
Therefore, she knew that Shi Xiaole was talented and had reportedly reached about eighty-five percent of Sword Heart. However, the Outer Heaven Secret Record was too arcane and hard to understand. Even with her strength and talent back then, she only managed to get to where she was now with her master’s pointers.
"Thank you, Head Jing."
Shi Xiaole looked up and sincerely thanked her.
"Martial Uncle Shi, don’t be a stranger, just call me Xincheng,"
The expression on Jing Xincheng’s face was sincere. Through observation, Shi Xiaole realized that under her refined and transcendent appearance, she seemed to strictly adhere to protocol. This could be seen from her every move after she had confirmed his identity.
If he deliberately kept his distance, he would be the inferior one. With this in mind, Shi Xiaole said, "Xincheng."
Jing Xincheng just smiled and left the room.
Practicing Internal Power at night, training sword techniques in the morning, and studying the Outer Heaven Secret Record in the afternoon. Whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand, he would go ask Jing Xincheng for help. Shi Xiaole’s life at Red Jade Temple was peaceful and fulfilling.
His martial arts did not show any significant progress. Yet unknowingly, he had taken a step ahead of countless others, gaining a deep understanding of the top-tier martial arts, thus laying a solid foundation for his future development.
In a room in the backyard of the Red Jade Temple, the bright moon hung high.
A burst of pure and profound energy suddenly erupted, shaking the paper windows and making a soft pop sound. The tables, chairs, and stools in the room were drawn by an invisible force, moving significantly.
"Brahma-I Unity has finally reached a ninety percent realm."
Shi Xiaole exhaled a breath, his eyes gleaming.
Indeed, medium-tier top-grade internal power is exceedingly competitive. However, those genius disciples from top-sect backgrounds have basically all learned medium-tier top-grade internal power so what everyone is compared on is realm.
The top level of Brahma-I Unity has already made Shi Xiaole stand out, but it’s still not as good as the younger generation, or those old hands of the Martial World.
But now, with ninety percent of Brahma-I Unity, Shi Xiaole believes that in terms of internal power realm, as long as it’s not an expert from the ranking list, he is not afraid of anyone.
With a stretch of his hand, Shi Xiaole gently retracted his hand, and all the tables, chairs, and stools returned to their places. His Internal Power had grown so thick and long, far surpassing before the breakthrough.
If he were to fight Zheng Dan again, Shi Xiaole suspected that he might not even have to use the Death Claiming Fifteen Swords. The Eclipse Eight Forms might be enough to finish him off.
"Although his internal power isn’t strong, it’s very profound, the realm isn’t low!"
At the time of Shi Xiaole’s breakthrough, Jing Xincheng, who was in another meditation room, sensed the movement and a look of surprise appeared on her pretty face.
The realm she referred to as ’not low’ was at least approaching the perfect level of internal power, and this young Martial Uncle has reached this point already at his age?
As you know, the higher the internal power realm, under the same conditions, each circulation of internal power is more efficient, and breaking through the level is easier. Those with less talent than Martial Uncle Shi will be left further and further behind.
But thinking of Shi Xiaole’s understanding of the Outer Heaven Secret Record, Jing Xincheng was relieved again. His comprehension skills were certainly the best she’d ever seen in her life.
She just didn’t know how he would compare with the all-powerful founder her master talked about?
Later in the night.
Step... Step... Step...
A series of covert footsteps sounded in the backyard.
Shi Xiaole, who had no intention of sleeping, looked outside and couldn’t help but smile.
In the moonlight, it was one woman and two men. the woman was at the eightfold Xuan Qi stage and the men at the seventh and sixth respectively. They were sneaking into the temple, thinking they were undetected.
"Boss, are you sure it’s here?"
One of the men asked quietly.
"Would my tracking technique be wrong, huh! This convent, seemingly sacred and peaceful, is actually a hideout for filth, a sad disgrace to humanity."
The woman, pretty-faced but with dusky skin, dressed in black, wore an angry face.
The trio settled in the shadow of a tree, about to take their next action when suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared in front of them, giving them quite a scare.
"So the convent does hide men in its backyard. Figures, it isn’t a holy place after all!"
After the instinctual guard, the woman became even more furious, not even bothering to hide it.
The lad appeared to be under twenty, although he had a sword, how good could he be? Thinking talent is as common as cabbage, found at every corner?
Today, come what may, she planned to destroy this den of thieves and bring justice for the people of the town below the mountain.
"Thief, talk! Where are the missing children? If you confess, I can spare you a dog’s life."
The woman pulled out her knife and inquired coldly.
"Children? What do you mean?"
Shi Xiaole was puzzled.
Seeing the self-righteous expressions of the trio, he became even more baffled.
"Birds of a feather, still trying to play dumb. Boss, let me teach this pretty boy a lesson."
The bald man to the left gave a cold shout, pulling out his broad-backed sword, and aimed a slash at Shi Xiaole. With the augmented internal power of six levels of Xuan Qi, the chilling flash of the blade was like white water in the dark night, striking the eye.
With his fingers pressed together, Shi Xiaole pointed out casually.
The flash of the blade shattered, and the bald man was sent flying backward, he cried out, "Old Second, join me!"
Without needing him to remind, the jujube-faced man with the seventh level of Xuan Qi also made his move. Both, left and right, their dual blade flashes seemed like grinding wheels to crush Shi Xiaole.
It was the same move; Shi Xiaole did not even change his strength. To him, although their attack looked formidable, it was actually full of flaws.
Boom!
The two blades were pinned to the ground, the shock sent chills down their spine, they roared, "Boss, run!"
Foolishly breaking their combined strikes, this lad’s strength might be much stronger than their boss with eight levels of Xuan Qi. Damn it, they shouldn’t have gone out tonight without consulting the almanac.
Reacting more shocked than the two men, because at that moment, she was locked by Shi Xiaole’s aura, and just that was enough to render her, a person with eight levels of Xuan Qi, immobile. Who exactly is he?
"Evil does not triumph over righteousness, even if you kill us, someday somebody will fight for justice and eliminate scum like you."
The woman wore an expression of grief and despair.
"I’ll give you a chance to explain everything clearly."
Shi Xiaole was even more curious.
The woman sneered, "Feigning innocence, you nuns from the Red Jade Temple went ahead and captured the children of the town, dare you plead not guilty?"
"Lady, please don’t falsely accuse."
Before Shi Xiaole could speak, several people walked out, led by a woman in her forties. As soon as the trio had just infiltrated, many nuns had already heard the commotion.
The woman stiffened her neck and angrily said, "Falsely accuse you? You dare to do it, but don’t have the guts to admit it?"
"Lady, do you have any evidence?"
The nun asked in a deep voice.
"I once studied a tracking technique and placed a strand of aura on a child. I followed it all the way and arrived here."
The woman looked like she was waiting to see how they would respond.
She had come to understand, the convent concealed more than she could imagine. Holding in her regret of having to be buried here today, unable to send the message out.
There was a hint of surprise in the nun’s eyes. After a long while, she slowly said, "Innocent people will be cleared. We nuns don’t know what you are talking about. Go back, don’t cause trouble."
She waved her hand, leading a few people away.
The woman and two men looked incredibly incredulous. Were they letting them go? Weren’t they afraid they would spread the news to the Martial World?
"Let’s go."
Still on edge, the woman murmured and led the two young men quickly into the night. Only when they ran about ten miles away from the Red Jade Temple, they stopped, panting heavily.
"Boss, did we make a mistake?"
The bald man scratched his head.
"Impossible, my tracking technique is passed down from the elders, it would never be wrong."
The bald man opened his mouth, thinking the "elder" she was referring to, wasn’t he just an old beggar who leads a dog, maybe just a scammer in the Martial World.
The jujube-faced man hesitated and said, "Boss, the Red Jade Temple is not simple, it’s not something we can handle, I think we should...."
"No! As people of the Martial World, when we come across injustice, we ought to draw our swords to help, otherwise, what’s the use of practicing martial arts?"
Black Hibiscus, with her deep black skin, said resolutely.
Swoosh!
Unexpectedly, just as the words fell, a powerful surge of internal power from the dark attacked Black Hibiscus’s back. The force was so strong, it caused the air to produce a boom sound.
