Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Shock of Wu Family’s Father and Daughter (Please bookmark, please recommend!)
Under the silvery moonlight, Wanlin Mountain was all the more tranquil.
A faint sound of penetration suddenly echoed, followed by the collapse of a figure.
"On to the fifth."
With an impassive face, Shi Xiaole retrieved two secret manuals from the fallen man and then moved on.
Since he’d sprung into action, he had consistently killed five people, all of whom were accomplished practitioners at the first level of Qi Absorption.
If news of these accomplishments spread in the martial world, it would surely cause a stir.
One must understand that in the unified standard of the Cloud Triangle region, young prodigies can be divided into three ranks.
The third rank is capable of resisting a master of the ninth level of Hidden Qi with a cultivation base at the seventh level of Hidden Qi.
The second rank, on the other hand, can combat a master at the first level of Qi Absorption using the cultivation base at the ninth level of Hidden Qi.
However, Shi Xiaole, with a cultivation base at the seventh level of Hidden Qi, effortlessly killed five masters at the first level of Qi Absorption. This level of strength could even be considered as top-tier among the second rank prodigies.
As for the first rank, one would need to enter the Qi Absorption Realm before the age of eighteen. Given Shi Xiaole’s current progress, it should be imminent.
Having discarded distracting thoughts, Shi Xiaole’s face turned grave.
Having two remaining opponents who were also the trickiest ones; experts at the second level of Qi Absorption.
During the clan wars, Shi Xiaole had once killed Kong Zijian, the second level Qi Absorption master from the Black Evil Gang, but it was because he had taken a Blood Essence Pill that momentarily boosted his strength.
Now, to challenge a second level Qi Absorption master with his genuine strength, he could hardly remain calm. However, beneath his nervousness, Shi Xiaole was somewhat excited.
Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.
In the darkness of the night, the wind stirred up the leaves, creating a series of sounds.
The sword-wielding man paused his steps, suddenly feeling the sensation of being watched.
A shadow flashed in front of him. The sword-wielding man laughed heartily and said, "Kid, you have finally shown up," hastily chasing after him with the power he’d mustered.
Being a master at the second level of Qi Absorption, the sword-wielding man’s internal strength far surpassed the previous opponents. The moment he began to exert his power, he soared through the forest like a diving swallow, quickly catching up to Shi Xiaole, and launched his murderous attack with a jab of his sword.
Clang!
Shi Xiaole turned around with a swift slash of his sword, using the momentum to propel him forward.
"There is no escape for you."
The sword-wielding man exerted his wrist strength, causing his long sword to vibrate intensely, then launched a formidable attack.
A third-class, upper grade sword technique, Continuous Ninefold Kill.
In an instant, nine illusory figures appeared, launching layers of attacks on Shi Xiaole’s back, determined to put him to death.
Feeling his hairs stand up, Shi Xiaole pedaled on a big tree trunk, borrowing its force to make a backflip and initiated the Taiyue Three Green Peaks technique.
Clang! Clang! Clang...
Sparks spattered out in a flurry.
"You’ve been hiding your true strength?"
A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the sword-wielding man.
Earlier on the mountaintop, Shi Xiaole had been wounded by his Continuous Ninefold Kill technique, but how could Shi Xiaole’s current level of prowess be compared to before? The sword-wielding man couldn’t imagine how Shi Xiaole, with his seventh level Hidden Qi cultivation, could ever block his sword attack?
The internal skill, it must be the internal skill!
"Kid, surrender all your secret manuals and the Mist Flowers you have in your possession, and I might consider sparing your life."
Coveting greed flashed in the eyes of the sword-wielding man.
"Come and get them yourself."
Shi Xiaole responded, gripping his sword.
"If you insist on seeking death, I shall grant your wish."
All of a sudden, the sword-wielding man raised both his arms, gripping onto his sword hilt tightly, and with a slight push of his toes, lunged himself swiftly at Shi Xiaole with his sword leading the way.
Fast, too fast.
This was by far the fastest sword Shi Xiaole had ever seen in his life.
It wasn’t until the sword was merely three inches away from Shi Xiaole’s heart that he managed to react.
"Thread of Life!"
Waving his arm, Shi Xiaole unleashed his ultimate swordplay technique.
With a clang, this dangerous strike, akin to a antelope hanging its horn and like a horse soaring in the sky, miraculously found a gap in the opponent’s attack from an impossible angle.
The two swords immediately clashed. However, due to the lower grade of the Green Edge Sword, it created a notch on the sword of the sword-wielding man.
"Where did this little fellow learn his bizarre sword technique?"
At this moment, the sword-wielding man was truly shocked. How could it be that even with his second level Qi Absorption cultivation, he couldn’t even bring down a kid with seventh level Hidden Qi?
Feeling both angry and unwilling, he used all his strength to thrust out his sword, acting like a man possessed.
Shi Xiaole wasn’t faring much better. With his Fuyang Qi Skill fully operational, he continually performed the Thread of Life technique, almost pushing himself to his limits.
The two of them fought from the bushes to the trees, and from the trees to the hillside, their swords flashing continuously and battling in a mad frenzy.
Being at the second level of Qi Absorption, the sword-wielding man gradually gained the upper hand after dozens of moves.
"Kid, I have to admit, you are formidable. It seems I must use my secret technique to finish you off."
The sword-wielding man suddenly broke out into a cruel laugh.
The killing move he spoke of was a secret technique to stimulate himself, similar to the effect of a Blood Essence Pill, but not as exaggerated.
"You’re dead!"
With a surge of momentum, the attack of the swordsman increased about thirty percent, once again thrusting out a sword— so swiftly, only a sword shadow remained.
Shi Xiaole remained calm, his eyes filled with a terrifying indifference. Just as the sword was about to pierce into his body, he casually swung his sword.
In an instant, the swordsman was shocked to discover that this strike was actually a step ahead, landing on his body—did this young man also have a killing move?
With a shout, he had no choice but to retreat rapidly. But just as he took a step back, the swordsman was suddenly startled, realizing that Shi Xiaole’s sword wasn’t as fast as it seemed, but rather an illusion created by the sword strike.
Just as this thought rose in his mind, Shi Xiaole’s next strike was already there.
This strike was exceedingly slow, causing the swordsman to subconsciously drop his guard and his sword technique suddenly slowed by a third in rhythm with it.
A streak of cyan light rushed through the air, and with a hiss, fresh blood spurted out.
"Impossible!"
The swordsman shouted in alarm as blood flowed from his chest, staring at Shi Xiaole like he was seeing a ghost: "What is this sword technique?"
"Guess."
What Shi Xiaole used was certainly not just any sword technique, but simply supplemented by his newly comprehended Chaotic Intent Realm.
Unlike the Precarious Intent Realm, the Chaotic Intent Realm is derived from the Hundred Blunders Fist, but was realized in the midst of the mist. Simply put, it’s an insight of the mind and spirit.
Therefore, it does not rely on the Hundred Blunders Fist for existence; it can be added to any of Shi Xiaole’s moves.
From this perspective, the Chaotic Intent Realm has a wider range of uses than the Precarious Intent Realm, and its impact is greater.
Of course, nothing is absolute.
The power of the Chaotic Intent Realm lies in its huge impact on the mind. To some extent, this is similar to any hypnotic technique.
The Precarious Intent Realm initially also relies on the momentum to overcome the opponent’s heart and mind. But now, it has officially tilted towards the killing and danger of the techniques, and it is a substantial killing move.
If one must compare, the Precarious Intent Realm is more stable and practical; one is one, and two is two, and there would be no major fluctuations.
On the other hand, the Chaotic Intent Realm relies on the strength of the opponent, but if the opponent’s mind is not stable, it can be remarkably effective. However, if the opponent is weak but mentally resolute, it won’t affect them.
This swordsman, his mental strength was obviously much weaker than Shi Xiaole’s, and the Chaotic Intent Realm had him at his wit’s end, barely able to tell up from down.
Shush, shush, shush.
Shi Xiaole was relentless, alternating between the Precarious Intent Realm and the Chaotic Intent Realm, causing the swordsman who has just barely adapted to be in disarray again.
"You...you are a devil."
After dozens of strikes, hundreds of moves, the swordsman had unknowingly accumulated several sword wounds, his entire body soaked in blood. He realized in despair that he became Shi Xiaole’s practice target, as if Shi Xiaole was using him to familiarize himself with something.
"The power of the Chaotic Intent Realm can be big or small, it all depends on who the opponent is."
Having fully understood the Chaotic Intent Realm, Shi Xiaole was too lazy to continue, and with a single stroke, he finished off the swordsman. After searching his body and finding nothing, he left without looking back.
Half an hour later, the scar-faced man was lying in a pool of blood, dead.
Thus, all the people in the martial world who had the strength to chase after Shi Xiaole were killed by him, with not a single survivor.
He glanced at the low-grade martial arts secrets he had managed to obtain, most of them were inferior or mediocre three-stream sword skills, which were meaningless to Shi Xiaole.
After a thought, Shi Xiaole did not exchange them for equivalent martial arts, but chose to convert them into reward points instead.
With his current level, practicing more same-level martial arts would not increase his combat power much. It would be better to prepare enough reward points for unexpected needs.
Another reason was that because Shi Xiaole comprehended the Chaotic Intent Realm, he received an extra opportunity to extract martial arts.
He said "draw", and the square halo began to flicker.
Ding.
"Congratulations to the host for drawing a middle-grade second-stream martial arts, ’Sunflower Treasure Manual’."
Upon hearing that it was second-stream mid-grade martial arts, Shi Xiaole was overjoyed. But when he heard the four words "Sunflower Treasure Manual", he almost spat out blood.
He wouldn’t learn martial arts that could endanger his life, even if they were god-level.
Ignoring the extra content in his mind, Shi Xiaole couldn’t help checking out some of the second-stream martial arts, and found that most of them were priced between two thousand to five thousand reward points.
According to the specified exchange formula, a martial art priced at one thousand points ultimately requires two thousand five hundred reward points.
Shi Xiaole just received two thousand four hundred reward points, and with the two hundred points left over from the last exchange, he had a total of two thousand six hundred reward points.
That is to say, with his current "wealth", he still couldn’t afford to buy a set of second-stream low-grade martial arts.
Although feeling regretful, thinking that this was an unexpected prize and could exchange it for enough training time, Shi Xiaole quickly smiled again.
Half an hour later, Misty Smoke Mountain Peak.
As expected, Wu Taishan and his daughter were still waiting there.
"Xiaole."
Seeing Shi Xiaole return safely, Wu Taishan’s eyes were filled with an intense excitement, and he hurried over. Wu Xiaoxian also let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face for the first time.
"Uncle Wu, this is for you."
Shi Xiaole handed out the Mist Flower.
"This, Xiaole, those people who were chasing you..."
"They are all dead."
Both Wu Taishan and Wu Xiaoxian shivered, staring at Shi Xiaole in disbelief.
Dead, all of those Qi Absorption Realm masters were all dead. How did they die? The Wu father and daughter were not fools and could naturally guess who the murderer was, but this was just too unbelievable, right?
