406: Chapter 17: Demon Slaying 406: Chapter 17: Demon Slaying Xie Xuanyi had not expected Li Chen to swallow this affront.
After he killed Qi Yu that day, the lockdown of North Suburb Villa lasted only half a day before being lifted.
It was said that the Pavilion Master of Tai Shang House arrived at the villa, silently took his disciples away, and didn’t utter a single word.
Xie Xuanyi had been prepared to face the retaliation from Tai Shang House.
But unexpectedly, nothing further happened…
In recent days, he, with Duan Zhao, had been visiting various Martial Sects, asking about fists and swords, while Huang Su followed silently behind, guarding against any “assassination.”
But the Imperial City was perfectly peaceful.
It was heard that the Pavilion Master, with his disciples, found an inn in the city and just settled in, never going out or wandering around.
Xie Xuanyi was aware.
This matter was not over yet.
The case at North Suburb Villa, although shelved for the time being due to insufficient evidence.
However, Li Chen knew very well who had killed Qi Yu.
Given his personality, his two most beloved disciples dying under his own sword, he would certainly not let this go.
Li Chen was waiting.
But Xie Xuanyi was also waiting.
Actually, he hoped that Li Chen would make his move “sooner”; now he had Huang Su and Qi Lie supporting him if this Pavilion Master really made up his mind to wait for a perfect opportunity… then his trouble would be even more troublesome.
“Young master of the villa, I still don’t quite understand the third movement of Liao Sword Form.”
Inside the courtyard of Chen Mansion, Duan Zhao swung his heavy sword fiercely, this young fellow possessing incredible strength, as if he harbored endless energy within him.
A sword swung upward then abruptly stopped in mid-air.
Duan Zhao frowned as he watched his sword, pointing diagonally towards the sky.
This heavy sword was not sharpened, somewhat resembling a large ruler.
“Which part do you not understand?”
Under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, Xie Xuanyi sat on a rattan chair with his eyes closed, healing his spirit, seemingly in a light sleep, but in fact, he was silently pondering the Principle of Life.
“The other day, when I sparred with Lin Yu from the Martial Sect, I always lost.”
“You said, if he jumps to dodge the sword strike, then I could use the Liao Sword Form.”
Duan Zhao sighed, “But my Liao Sword Form is always a bit slow, he always manages to step on my sword and break this move… Is it because I’m not using it right?”
Xie Xuanyi slowly opened his eyes.
It seemed there were only two people in the vast Chen Mansion, but actually, there was another who remained hidden and did not show herself.
Huang Su enjoyed tranquility.
The Floating Cloud Sword Formation provided exactly that for her.
On usual days, as Xie Xuanyi instructed Duan Zhao, Huang Su would set up the sword formation and hide her Qi.
For Xie Xuanyi, this was rather troublesome, as when instructing Duan Zhao, he had to “speak and act with caution” so as not to let his little junior sister detect anything.
He knew why Duan Zhao was losing.
Thanks to the top-tier Body Refining Technique from Wangyou Island, Duan Zhao had a unique advantage in heavy sword cultivation, but this young man had been tricked by the Island Master into practicing false techniques for several years, and to suddenly shift to the sword was not only about learning the sword techniques but also to clear the corresponding acupoints and change his punching habits.
His sword strikes were always a bit slower because the meridian pathway of Heavenly Spring, Crooked Marsh, Great Tomb, and Labor Palace was not yet washed through by Primordial Energy.
If Huang Su were not here, Xie Xuanyi would have pointed out the truth directly.
But now…
Xie Xuanyi could feel that a strand of Divine Thought slipped out from within the Floating Cloud Sword Formation.
Huang Su, clearly having heard Duan Zhao’s question, was quite curious about his answer.
After a moment of thought.
Xie Xuanyi calmly responded, “Reading a book a hundred times, the meaning shows itself; the same is true for practicing swordsmanship.
If your sword strikes are slow, then the best method is to practice a thousand times.
If still slow, practice more.”
“Why do you sound so much like my dad?”
Duan Zhao sighed helplessly, “Indeed, there’s no shortcut in sword training.”
Despite saying this.
He wasn’t discouraged at all and continued to practice diligently.
This young man had a wildness about him.
Xie Xuanyi had seen many talents.
Some understood everything at the slightest hint, possessing extraordinary gifts… some even didn’t need a teacher’s guidance; as long as they held a sword, they could comprehend many principles.
These talents were, of course, what all sects wished to recruit.
However, they might not necessarily make it to the end.
Youths with a singular focus like Duan Zhao were more suited for sword training.
Day after day, delivering a thousand, ten thousand swords… this diligence of accumulating small gains was more important than talent that could extrapolate from one example.
When the sword was unsheathed, the sweat that sprinkled down would not deceive you.
“Hum.”
Just as Xie Xuanyi was about to close his eyes again, the Ruyi Order inside his garment suddenly trembled.
He became alert and took out the token.
Chen Jingxuan’s voice arose from the token.
“Imperial City South Suburb, fifty li away, Moss Ridge.”
With those words, the Roundness Instrument delivered an extremely precise location into the heart lake of Xie Xuanyi’s Purple Mansion.
A fuzzy image reflected above the Purple Mansion Heart Lake.
This was an image captured by the Black Scale Guards using Divine Soul Treasure Technique; Xie Xuanyi saw thirteen cultivators in black robes, varying in height and build.
The demeanor of these cultivators was starkly different from those of clans and holy lands; they were clearly evil cultivators from the South Border.
“The earlier intelligence was correct; all of these individuals are in the Cave Heaven Realm, including three Quasi-Yin Gods who have comprehended the Power of Dao.”
Chen Jingxuan’s voice was grave: “The extent of their Dao consolidation is yet unknown… It is worth mentioning that one of them is a true disciple of the Yin Mountain White Ghost.”
“Oh?”
Xie Xuanyi smiled meaningfully.
“Currently, you are only at the Grotto Heaven, and they have three Quasi-Yin Gods.”
Chen Jingxuan spoke earnestedly: “You must be careful.
Also… the Imperial City Department has already dispatched a Special Enforcement Officer to rendezvous with you.”
“Understood.”
Xie Xuanyi calmly stated, “I will end this quickly.”
With this.
The communication ended.
Duan Zhao, who had been diligently practicing swordsmanship, looked solemn as he put away his heavy sword.
Just then, the sound of the wind in the courtyard suddenly changed.
The branches of the banyan tree surged, emitting a fierce whistling noise!
“Young Master?”
Duan Zhao’s eyes lit up.
He did not know why, but after the North hunt ended, the Young Master had treated him extremely well.
These past few days, he not only took him to the Martial Sect to inquire about boxing, but he also pointed out the intricacies of the Sword Dao and even told him that if an opportunity arose, they would go out of the city together to slay demons—
He had heard the ringing of the token just now.
He had felt the surge of Sword Qi in the courtyard.
Was it time to go out of the city to slay demons?
“Pack up and get ready to leave the city.”
Xie Xuanyi raised his head, looking at the sky over the Imperial City.
Tonight was supposed to be cloudless, but for some reason, a thin shade had covered the sky at this moment.
The moonlight took on a chill, and the wind grew colder as well.
It looked like it was going to rain.
He stood up and walked to the corner, picked up the umbrella sword that Chen Jingxuan had given him, and gave it a light twist.
This umbrella sword was very useful, very sharp… it was the closest thing to the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella, perfect for sheltering from rain in the wilderness as well as killing and dismembering.
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(PS: Perhaps due to staying up late, or maybe due to the temperature drop, I have caught a cold today, feeling drowsy and lethargic, unable to concentrate.
The upcoming plot is crucial, and some details are yet to be smoothed out, hence only one chapter today, with fewer words, to adjust my routine.
Everyone take care, wear more clothes as the weather cools, and the next update will be before noon tomorrow.)