*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
Yang Su moved as fast as he could to slash at Fei Yin's left side but it was quickly blocked. A follow-up strike came from Yang Su attacking his right side but once again he easily brought up his sword to block the blow. Yang Su didn’t let up and went for a direct attack to Fei Yin’s chest with the tip of his sword, but Fei Yin slanted his sword at just the right angle and skillfully parry Yang Su’s sword to his right.
Yang Su’s momentum carried him forward and Fei Yin took the opportunity to hit his thigh with his sword, resulting in a loud whack.
“I just chopped off your leg.”
Fei Yin said as Yang Su steadied himself from the blow.
Yang Su knew that compared to him Fei Yin’s sword skills had reached a higher level of mastery. But he still wasn’t discouraged and instead move towards Fei Yin once more.
The two exchanged more blows with Fei Yin calmly and skillfully parrying or blocking Yang Su’s attack. Both of them weren’t using any Qi in their attacks or movements as per Xi Shen’s instructions.
They were to purely focus on their sword skills and refine them to their limit, well, this was mostly training for Yang Su as compared with Fei Yin.
Xi Shen was still in his position leaning against the tree, occasionally moving his gaze to the darkening clouds in the sky.
Seeing Yang Su once again losing a limb, he reaffirmed it was best he focused on his sword skills instead of cultivation.
‘After that power-up, he needs to settle down and get used to his new strength.’
As Xi Shen was thinking that, he couldn’t help but move his attention to Lihua, who had rolled up his lift pants leg and was pinching more than massaging his leg. He saw her usually big nose and asked, “Of all the disguises why would you choose one that looked like this?”
Lihua upon hearing Xi Shen’s question move her sparkling gaze from his skin and turned to him before responding, “It’s a basics theory of disguise and human psychology. If you have a feature that stands out on your face, people would most likely focus on that instead of observing your face fully.”
Xi Shen frowned at that and said, “That would have the opposite effect. If you have a feature that stands out then you're more likely to get recognized for that.”
Lihua blinked upon hearing that, and with a hand under her chin, she thought for a moment then looked up at Xi Shen and said, “Our Zhi Clan places a lot of importance on our masks. Usually, we would only ever have one that we maintain and improve since we start our cultivation. It’s a tradition we always have, and this means after a few years this mask becomes a precious item for us that we would do anything to keep safe. Your point is somewhat accurate, but because we can’t change the appearance of the mask too much, having this big nose to distract people from seeing my entire face is right, since after I remove the big nose I would be somewhat unrecognizable. And...”
Xi Shen had zoned her out soon after she started speaking. He didn’t expect her to spiral out of control from his simple question. She was way too passionate about her family’s Secret Techniques, even now she hadn’t paused to take a breath and was just continuing to talk.
Xi Shen frowned a bit, but he didn’t interrupt her and just lean his head to one side while trying to focus on the dark clouds in the sky.
‘My birthday is in a couple of weeks, which means I’ll be living this new life of mine for fourteen years. Not much has happened after I reincarnated, but more interesting things have happened after I entered the Celestial Academy, maybe more are on their way.’
At times like these Xi Shen would reflect on his new life, and he couldn’t help but compare where he was in this life now, to where he was in his past life.
It was quite different, or more like it was like comparing heaven with hell. This era was peaceful to a certain extent when compared to the God Era, and Xi Shen liked it like that. He didn’t have to walk around with the threat of being killed at any moment handing over his head. Well, not that this life wouldn’t be the same very soon, but at the very least he had the power to stand up for himself.
As Xi Shen was in deep thought, Fei Yin suddenly hold up a hand to stop Yang Su from attacking again. He then reached into his robes and pulled out the Inner Disciples Rankings jade slip, and after a moment of silence reading the message, a fierce aura suddenly erupted from his body and his eyes became extremely cold.
Seeing this Xi Shen sat up.
Fei Yin then turned to Xi Shen and said, “Young Master, this is the final day for Bai Lu.”
Hearing that Xi Shen nodded.
Right after the events of the Bai Clan, Bai Lu had gone into seclusion saying he was in the middle of a breakthrough.
Fei Yin had sent him a formal request for a ranking match through the Inner Disciple Rankings, but the Academy has a rule where disciples going through a breakthrough are given time, 20 days, to accept the ranking match. After those twenty days, they have to show up for battle.
For the past twenty days, Fei Yin had been going to the Battle Arena to wait for Bai Lu to appear, but until now he refused to come out of seclusion. Whether he was running from a battle with Fei Yin or he was actually going through a breakthrough was a topic that disciples in the Inner Academy were eagerly discussing.
Now twenty days were over and the truth of whether Bai Lu was running away would be revealed. He didn’t necessarily have to accept the match. as the only outcome was him dropping in rank on the Inner Disciple Rankings, but for him not to even dare show his face, he’ll never be able to lift his head within the academy.
Xi Shen got up and said, “I’ll accompany you this time. I have a feeling this Bai Lu isn’t the type of person to run from a fight after what happened to his grandfather and side branch of the Bai Clan. He’ll be even more eager to get revenge.”
Fei Yin nodded and they along with Lihua and Yang Su left the training grounds to leave through the main gate of the courtyard.
Xi Shen opened the gate to exit but suddenly came face-to-face with a male disciple.
Xi Shen frowned, but the male disciple upon seeing Xi Shen had his eyes go wide before he immediately did a 180 degrees turn and left the area.
Xi Shen stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face wondering what the hell was that about.
But Xi Shen suddenly thought back on the envelope in that disciple’s hand, and his eyes narrowed.
While walking out of the courtyard, Xi Shen said, “Yang Su, have any of those Puppet Factions approached you recently?”
Yang Su walking a step behind Xi Shen said, “They have approached me when I leave to go to the Techniques Library's fourth floor.”
Hearing that Xi Shen snorted, but Yang Su said again, “But they seemed to have been deterred by Master’s Soul Arts, as there were only a few people who approached me to join their Factions.”
‘Then it seems news of me becoming a Soul Cultivator has spread, including the fact that I’m creating a Faction of my own. The other Factions under the Seven Major Clans must be thinking of making a move.’
As Xi Shen was in deep thought, he and the rest continued to walk until they reached the foot of the Sword Pavilion mountain, but a sudden shout echoed out that drew their attention.
“You fucking bastard from the Bai Clan, what did you say?! Say it again I dare you!!”
Two groups of disciples wearing the Sword Pavilion’s white robes were arguing with each other. Xi Shen could see that on their chest was the crest of the Sovereign Sword Faction.
“The relationship between the Bai Clan and the Lin Clan has broken, now fights between their members are happening everywhere in the Academy.”
Lihua said from next to Xi Shen.
Xi Shen after thinking for a moment said, “Lihua, what does the Zhi Family know about the relationship between the Bai Clan and the Lin Clan?”
“Second Prince, I might be the daughter of the Zhi Clan’s Patriarch, but I don’t have access to that type of information in the Clan.”
Hearing that, Xi Shen turned to give Lihua a look that says he didn’t believe one word from her. This was precisely why he wanted her in his Faction as well, with her identity she knew or can find out about the information that the Zhi Clan gathers for his father.
Seeing Xi Shen’s look, Lihua hesitated for a brief moment before she said, “My Zhi Clan has figured out that the Bai Clan and the Lin Clan are planning to form a marriage alliance.”
Xi Shen’s eyes narrowed at that, as it would mean his father knows as well.
While rubbing his storage ring he asked Lihua again, “Does the Zhi Clan know why the Lin Clan would agree to an alliance with the Bai Clan? From the way I see it, allying themselves with the Bai Clan brings them no benefits.”
Lihua was silent for a moment then said, “The Bai Clan obtain a strange pill furnace that the Lin Clan wants, so using that the Bai Clan is pushing for a marriage alliance in exchange for the pill furnace. However, the pill furnace was stolen by someone and now both clans are at odds.”
Xi Shen’s heart seized upon hearing that.
‘Well damn, it looks like I have to be careful with the pill furnace even in the Imperial Palace. I knew the Zhi Clan was good at gathering intelligence but to think they were able to find out this much. This could only mean they have spies deep inside the Bai Clan.’
*******
Word Count: 1748
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