Each of the Four Fiends of the He Family wore a savage grin, their pairs of eyes sweeping toward Lu Chen.
They had not expected Lu Chen not only to feel no fear, but to actually dare approach them on his own.
Worthy of someone on the Kirin Ranking.
Whoosh!
As Lu Chen strode forward step by step, an invisible force of momentum seemed to surge between the two sides.
Dust and fallen leaves beneath their feet began to whirl wildly.
Grains of dust obscured their vision.
"Attack!" One of the fiends suddenly let out a shrill howl, his voice like an old ape crying in the night.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The four men pounced at the same instant. Their auras erupted, sending sand flying and stones rolling, and their weapons flashed from their sheaths together with terrifying force.
"Watch out..."
Liu Jinglan cried out in alarm.
Boom!
Suddenly, Lu Chen's saber left its sheath, creating a hazy illusion. It was as though they had arrived beside a river where water and sky merged into one, beneath a setting sun at dusk. Desolate and boundless, with only oneself remaining.
A lone swan cried mournfully in the distance, beating its wings as it flew far away.
Its body drifted up and down between river and sky.
Loneliness, despair, pessimism, abandonment by all living things...
All manner of emotions flooded the heart in an instant, making one nearly want to raise one's head and howl in grief. Heartbreaking Saber Technique!
Lone Swan Absolute Shadow!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Blood splattered, thick and pungent, instantly shattering that silent, despairing scene. Their vision spun, and every illusion vanished.
Inside the ruined temple.
Clang!
Lu Chen's saber returned to its sheath. His black robes fluttered, and he stood ramrod straight, as though he had never moved.
Before him, four headless corpses had appeared.
Four heads rolled to one side, their faces frozen in astonishment.
It seemed that even in death, they could not believe they had simply died like this.
[You killed four vile guests of the Martial World. Merit Points +500]
Liu Jinglan sucked in a sharp breath, his mind roaring as shock filled him.
What kind of strength was this?
Why did he feel that Lu Chen's saber technique had become faster and more terrifying than before?
"Heartless Blade, Heartless Blade... its reputation is well deserved..."
Liu Jinglan muttered to himself.
By then, Lu Chen had already crouched again and begun searching the four men.
The newly fused saber technique truly was formidable.
Unfortunately, he had killed them too quickly and had not had time to leave anyone alive!
Otherwise, he could have forced some martial arts techniques out of them.
"They were implicated with you because of that young lady as well?"
Lu Chen asked.
"Yes." "Who exactly is that young lady?"
Lu Chen asked, "If you do not reveal her identity, I will not involve myself in this matter."
"This..."
Liu Jinglan hesitated inwardly, then gritted his teeth. "Her name is Cui Qingqing. She is the only bloodline of Cui Zhengxuan, the current King Zhenbei."
"King Zhenbei?"
Lu Chen raised his brow.
"Yes. The Northern Barbarians are invading now, and the Imperial Court has argued without end over whether to fight or negotiate. Yet most of the Imperial Court wants to cede land and pay reparations in exchange for temporary peace. Over the past century, our Great Yu has yielded territory and endured humiliation more than once. Righteous men throughout the Martial World are all filled with righteous indignation..."
Liu Jinglan spoke in a complicated tone. "Twenty years ago, Prince Cui enlisted in the army as a commoner. He accumulated military merit step by step and was eventually granted the title of King Zhenbei.
Over the following ten years, he won seven battles out of seven and continuously recovered Great Yu's lost territory. Countless people were stirred beyond measure. But high achievement invites a ruler's suspicion. Five years ago, the emperor sent thirteen gold-edged decrees in succession to summon him back. Afterward, his military authority was stripped, and he was left idle at home. Now that the Northern Barbarians are invading once more, some in the Imperial Court fear that King Zhenbei may rise again. Thus, they want to seize his only child and use her as leverage..."
"So that was it."
Lu Chen replied.
Why did this story sound so familiar?
Was this not the otherworldly Lord Yue?
He had always respected loyal and righteous men.
"Then why not have King Zhenbei send someone personally?"
Lu Chen asked.
"It would be useless. King Zhenbei is watched by spies from every side now. If the matter of his illegitimate daughter is exposed, it will only cause greater trouble."
Liu Jinglan shook his head. "Moreover, my Lineage is full of people with mixed loyalties and prying eyes. I do not dare casually send letters to seek help. This time, I was entrusted by someone else and only then risked escorting her."
"So you dared come to me? Were you not afraid I was a murderous demon king?"
Lu Chen raised his brow.
"I..."
Liu Jinglan was momentarily speechless. "I had no choice but to seek medical help in desperation. If too much time passes, they will move her elsewhere. Besides, I have read about your deeds. I feel you are not as the rumors portray you. You destroyed a Beggar's Den for an ordinary friend, and killed a County Magistrate for a group of commoners. You should not be someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong..."
"Is that so?"
Lu Chen sneered and shot him a glance. "So when you said earlier that you were ninety percent certain you could have a superior cultivation method bestowed upon me, you meant having King Zhenbei give it to me?"
"Yes."
Liu Jinglan answered awkwardly. "How laughable."
Lu Chen said coldly, "You are not him. What right do you have to make decisions for him? If he truly cared about her, why would he begrudge a mere cultivation method?"
Liu Jinglan flushed red again and hurriedly said, "If you agree, I am willing to give you my own cultivation method."
"You are doing this willingly, not because I forced you?"
Lu Chen swept his gaze over him.
"Yes, it is all of my own free will."
Liu Jinglan hurriedly replied.
"Mm. Tell me about it."
"The superior cultivation method I practice is called the Nine Heavens Cultivation Method. My sword technique is a second-rate sword technique..."
As Liu Jinglan recounted it in silence.
Corresponding words soon appeared on Lu Chen's panel.
Nine Heavens Cultivation Method (Not Initiated). Sun Sword Technique (Initiated).
"Young Hero Lu, have you remembered it all?"
Liu Jinglan asked. "Can we go save Miss Qingqing now?"
"Who abducted that young lady? Where is she now?"
Lu Chen said.
"We were captured by a group of vile guests from the Martial World and imprisoned in a village. I only managed to break free and escape at the risk of my life. Miss Qingqing should still be inside."
Liu Jinglan said.
"Roughly how strong are the people inside?"
"I do not know the specifics. I only know that there must be a Sixth Rank expert holding the fort."
Liu Jinglan gritted his teeth.
The West Mountain Nest of Ghosts and the He Family brothers had merely been appetizers. "Sixth Rank? Forget it. We will see when we get there. Lead the way!"
Lu Chen said.
He had a superior cultivation method in hand and could add points at any time.
Even if the other side had a Seventh Rank expert, he was not afraid.
[Consume 400 Merit Points to convert the internal force in your body into the Nine Heavens Cultivation Method?]
A line of words appeared.
"Consume them!"
[Ding!] [Your Azure Wave Art internal force and True Heaven Art internal force have been successfully converted, all becoming Nine Heavens internal force!] [Your Nine Heavens Cultivation Method has successfully been initiated, reaching the first level!]
Boom!
The panel changed in the next instant. His internal force surged like waves, rapidly transforming, while an entirely new circulation emerged within his body.
All his internal force automatically became Nine Heavens internal force.
It was as though he had cultivated for seven or eight years.
This newly converted internal force surpassed his previous one several times over in both resilience and recovery.
And that was not all.
The panel soon changed again.
[Continue upgrading the Nine Heavens Cultivation Method?]
"Yes!"
[Ding!] [You consumed 500 Merit Points. The Nine Heavens Cultivation Method has been raised to the second level!] [Your cultivation has reached Sixth Rank (35%)!] [You consumed 700 Merit Points. The Nine Heavens Cultivation Method has been raised to the third level!] [Your cultivation has reached Seventh Rank (3%)!] [The next upgrade requires 1000 Merit Points!] Name: Lu Chen Cultivation: Seventh Rank (3%) Cultivation Method: Nine Heavens Cultivation Method (Third Level) Martial Arts: Heartbreaking Saber Technique (Perfected · Lone Swan Absolute Shadow), Sun Sword Technique (Initiated), Four Absolute Martial Arts (Perfected), Grass on Flying (Perfected), Blood Shadow Sword (Perfected · Blood Fiend), Blood Fiend Art (Perfected · Double Strength), Sky Severing Finger (Perfected · Heaven Robbing Claw), Big Dipper Seven Stars Array (Initiated) Talents: Convince Others Through Virtue, Bronze Skin Iron Bones, Lightning Law King Merit Points: 144 ...
Lu Chen gently exhaled.
Comfortable!
Worthy of a superior cultivation method! He had risen two ranks in no time!
With the support of his three great talents, he would not fear even an Eighth Rank expert!
Furthermore, the divisions of this superior cultivation method differed from the fine-grade cultivation methods from before.
This cultivation method had nine levels in total.
Its divisions were far more detailed!
That also meant he would not need to worry about cultivation methods for quite some time.
"Merit Points, add points to the Sun Sword Technique."
Lu Chen continued inwardly.
[Ding! You consumed 100 Merit Points. The Sun Sword Technique has reached the Rudimentary Mastery realm.] [The next upgrade requires 140 Merit Points!]
Boom!
Wave after wave of invisible Sword Qi and sword intent radiated directly from his body. It was as though a blazing sun burned within him, giving off an indescribable sensation, while threads of Sword Qi wound endlessly around his body.
Before you continue