Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Perilous Situation
"So the top young talent of the Golden Phoenix Tower, he’s nothing special after all."
Wang Bufan gained an advantage, let out a hearty laugh and suddenly swung his long knife with the speed and precision of a gust of wind.
"This move."
Jin Wuwei gritted his teeth. He had previously been defeated by this very blade.
Faced with the fierce onslaught, Shi Xiaole abruptly thrust the hilt of his sword into his chest, using his internal power to send his sword swiftly at Wang Bufan.
"Are such tricks going to work?"
Drifting sideward in the air, Wang Bufan immediately struck down with another knife.
Shi Xiaole had, of course, no hope for the previous sword thrust; his true purpose was to gain time for drawing his sword.
Bang!
When he drew his sword, it was with even more momentum than Wang Bufan, and he was able to block the opponent’s blow completely.
"Kid, you should feel privileged, you have forced me to use my tenth blade!"
His body hadn’t completely fallen yet, when Wang Bufan’s chest boldly pulsed, as if he was gathering all his power into his hands and slashing from left to right ferociously.
Just like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves. Although the speed of the blade was so fast that people couldn’t see it clearly, it still made people feel unstoppable.
Lan Ning’s eyes gawk as she bit her lip. She recognized that the power of Wang Bufan’s knife had surpassed her own Light Sword Great Method.
If she had been on the stage, she would have been powerless to retaliate.
How would Shi Xiaole respond?
All eyes were on the youth in the green robe, wide open for an attack.
In the height of the tower, Su Yanru had already readied her body technique, preparing to rush outside the Golden Phoenix Tower.
Time seemed to slow down, but thoughts raced.
Shi Xiaole forced himself not to use the Stone Touching Qi Cyclone, otherwise defeating Wang Bufan would only take a few tricks.
Of course, not using the Stone Touching Qi Cyclone didn’t mean Shi Xiaole was defeated.
He suddenly dropped his knife and gripped the Qingfeng sword at his waist, thrusting it forward with its sheath. In his mind, he was picturing a dangerously steep mountain, Mount Hua.
A strong vibration spread out with this sword. Shi Xiaole seemed to be standing on top of a mountain, recklessly jumping down towards the foot of the mountain.
This incredibly strange and risky move forcibly stopped Wang Bufan because he knew that if he were to slash down with his blade, it would result in mutual destruction.
This was not the outcome he wanted.
Shi Xiaole did not unsheath his sword, following his inner feeling. He swung his sword stroke by stroke. The strokes got more and more dangerous and he became increasingly forlorn.
Cold sweat started to bead on Wang Bufan’s forehead.
That’s because he realized, the moment he hadn’t committed to his first blade, he had lost some of his fighting spirit. And then facing increasingly terrifying swordplay, his courage wavered.
Kang!
Shi Xiaole parried Wang Bufan’s knife and, while still sheathed, the sword harshly whipped across Wang Bufan’s face, sending him flying a yard away. After tumbling a few times on the ground before coming to a stop.
"Stone...you... you’ve grasped the artistic conception?"
Wang Bufan looked at Shi Xiaole as if he’d seen a ghost, even forgetting to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Artistic conception? After the Transformation Phase, comes the artistic conception?"
Shi Xiaole’s puzzled words made Wang Bufan more shocked and scared.
As a disciple of a righteous martial arts sect, Wang Bufan naturally knew more than those present. In the realm of martial arts moves, the first three stages - Shape Mimicry, Spirit Integration, Transformation Phase – are merely the beginning.
In fact, these three stages can be considered as a higher form of Shape Mimicry. Only those who truly integrate these stages can understand the artistic conception of the moves.
The problem is, such individuals are extremely rare, even in the traditional martial arts forces that Wang Bufan is affiliated with, almost non-existent.
And yet, Shi Xiaole, who seemingly has no idea what artistic conception is, has somehow grasped it?
What kind of person is he?!
Seeing the once arrogant and haughty Wang Bufan now looking at Shi Xiaole as if he was a monster, those around were at a loss for words.
Everyone found Shi Xiaole’s past swordplay techniques to be simple, but they seemed terrifying now.
"Artistic conception?"
Su Yanru forcibly stopped herself, her charming face a bit stupefied.
As a newcomer, she had once tested herself on other martial world ways and was not unfamiliar with these martial arts levels. But when this appeared in the fifteen-year-old Shi Xiaole, it was nothing short of astonishing, no matter how you looked at it.
"Little Lele, I underestimated you."
Su Yanru mused in a trance.
Without saying a word, Wang Bufan, among the mocking laughter of the Golden Phoenix Tower disciples, led the Spring and Autumn Hall disciples and shamefully walked away.
Of course, he was not willing to accept such a defeat.
Especially when, in his heart, the threat level of Shi Xiaole had risen a tier. If such a person started to develop, the martial world landscape of Feiyan City would change.
"This kid must die, I need to inform my foster father."
Wang Bufan thought maliciously.
"Elder Brother Shi is so powerful."
""Compared to the previous time, Senior Brother Shi has become even more unfathomable."
The disciples of the Golden Phoenix Tower looked at Shi Xiaole, their faces full of excitement.
If the previous internal competition of the tower was Shi Xiaole’s battle to prove his name, then this time, it undoubtedly solidified his position among the disciples of the Golden Phoenix Tower.
This was a testament to his strength, regardless of his identity.
"Has he become stronger again?"
Lan Ning stared at Shi Xiaole, a vibrant light bursting from her eyes.
Hmph, temporary leadership counts for nothing, I will catch up eventually.
Sha Zongheng shook his head with a bitter smile, seeing Jin Wuwei already silently returning to the Golden Phoenix Tower, he hurriedly followed.
Shi Xiaole immersed himself in his own realm.
After the recent battle, his comprehension of this realm had evidently deepened. Hence he found it amusing that the realm he comprehended was one aimed at the mind.
What is strange? What is dangerous? Mostly subjective factors, nothing more.
If Wang Bufan was mentally tougher, or a bit more ruthless towards himself, he definitely had a great chance to break my realm. In that situation, Shi Xiaole thought he would undoubtedly lose.
Unfortunately, there are no ifs.
"I’ll call you the realm of danger and wonder for now."
With a faint smile, Shi Xiaole looked up, seeing the luminous gaze of Su Yanru looking at him from afar. He smiled at her, put away his sword, and walked into the Golden Phoenix Tower.
The news of Shi Xiaole defeating Wang Bufan quickly spread.
In the following days, the streets and alleys of Feiyan City, anywhere there were martial artists, Shi Xiaole’s name was being mentioned.
Everyone knew that Golden Phoenix Tower had produced an extraordinary genius who, at such a young age, had realized a realm that ordinary people could only dream of.
Many great figures in the martial world, upon hearing the news, came knocking on the door one after another. They all wanted to meet Shi Xiaole, hoping to learn the method of realizing a realm from his mouth.
After all, the legend was that the realm greatly enhanced one’s strength.
Especially these big figures in the martial world, having exhausted their potential, it was difficult to improve their internal power cultivation, so they all aimed at the realm of techniques.
Shi Xiaole didn’t have any methods. If he had to say that there was, it was probably the combination of talent and hard work. However, how could he say that out loud?
The big figures in the martial world returned disappointed one after another, and the matchmakers started coming.
In the past, Shi Xiaole was not well-known. But now, he emerged as an outstanding talent, known as the number one young master in Feiyan City, and the future tower master of Golden Phoenix Tower. His future prospects were limitless, naturally, he became the ideal son-in-law in the hearts of many parents.
The doorstep of Golden Phoenix Tower was almost worn out by these matchmakers.
Shi Xiaole was keen to avoid them, fortunate to have his aunt blocking them. He comfortably stayed in the backyard to practice his martial arts.
"The realm of danger and wonder, I have merely understood a little, and for the short term, it seems impossible to progress."
One day, Shi Xiaole sat meditating in the courtyard.
After the duel that day, Su Yanru had taken him to Ru Garden and told him everything she knew about the realm. This gave Shi Xiaole a tremendous revelation.
Shi Xiaole guessed that the realm needed to be simulated according to specific situations or objects. At the outset, having a reference made it easier to get started.
Trying to understand the general idea from techniques was just too difficult.
"Perhaps, I can go back to Mountain Luyan."
The Mountain Luyan stretch was continuous. There were many places of danger and wonder which could to some extent serve as a substitute for Mount Hua. Vague thoughts of returning to the Huajian Sect started to form in Shi Xiaole’s mind.
"You’re going back to the sect?"
Hearing his plans, Su Yanru was first startled, then a thick reluctance appeared on her face.
In the past, she was also fond of Shi Xiaole, but it hadn’t reached the point where she didn’t want to part with him. This time however, Su Yanru couldn’t bear the thought of Shi Xiaole leaving.
"Little Aunt, in a little over a month, the Huajian Sect’s inter-sect competition will start. As a direct disciple, I can’t not go."
Shi Xiaole explained.
"Okay, but as soon as you’re done, come back quickly. There’s no need to stay at the Huajian Sect. I’ll write a letter to Yu Fangge, asking him to give you special permission to return to Golden Phoenix Tower."
Shi Xiaole was speechless at her words.
Why does it feel like the Huajian Sect’s Sect Master, Yu Fangge, is just a servant in little aunt’s eyes?
Although he couldn’t bear to leave, early the next morning, Shi Xiaole quietly left Golden Phoenix Tower.
The main reason for leaving quietly was because in the past few days, there had been so much commotion. Both Shi Xiaole and Su Yanru suspect that someone was encouraging this, wanting to secretly stir up trouble.
Sure enough, no sooner had Shi Xiaole left Feiyan City than he was ambushed by several groups of people, including a Qi Absorption Realm master!
Luckily, Su Yanru had prepared for this, leading the Golden Phoenix Tower masters to follow behind Shi Xiaole. When trouble arose, they promptly appeared and stopped everything.
Still worried, a willful Su Yanru even went as far as escorting Shi Xiaole to the foot of Mountain Luyan. Only after much begging from Shi Xiaole, she reluctantly left with her group.
Shi Xiaole felt both amused and touched. He waited until the figures of the Golden Phoenix Tower’s group disappeared, before turning around to ascend Mountain Luyan.
Following the mountain path, several 2-hour periods later, Shi Xiaole returned to his small courtyard.
But when he walked in, he was shocked and angry to find that his small courtyard had been occupied by others.
"Senior Brother Shi, it wasn’t us...it was the Grand Elder...The Grand Elder said that you disappeared without a trace, acting suspiciously with intentions of wrongdoing. He took over the role of the Sect Master and expelled you from the sect."
Inside the room, several Huajian Sect disciples who were sleeping in the large shared bed immediately explained upon seeing Shi Xiaole.
