Interrogation (Thanks to Alliance Leader Yin Tian Shen Yin)

"Are you a body cultivator?"

Xu You was somewhat surprised.

He had assumed Xie Zhen was just a heretical cultivator skilled in talisman techniques, but he hadn't expected the kid to be a flying sword cultivator. Yet, as they exchanged blows, something felt off…

How could a sword cultivator allow someone to get so close!

And the fact that he took a hit from his spear with his bare body… and seemed completely unfazed.

"I dabble a little," Xie Xuanyi chuckled softly.

He quietly slipped a talisman from his sleeve and flicked it out with lightning speed—a One Qi Talisman of the Daoist Sect.

The moment the talisman was ignited by his spiritual power in mid-air, Xu You struck it with his spear!

A deafening BOOM erupted!

The sea of clouds and mist cleared, creating a pristine zone ten zhang in radius. The One Qi Talisman exploded, engulfing Xu You, who retreated rapidly, tapping his toes against the ground to dissipate the shockwaves from the blast. But in the next instant, a figure flashed behind him. Without turning around, Xu You reversed his spear, stabbing back from a vulnerable angle.

Another resounding clang.

Xie Xuanyi clasped his hands together, trapping the spear tip. The two instantly locked into a contest of strength.

Xu You reacted with incredible speed, immediately switching from an intensely aggressive offensive. He abandoned the spear, instantly closing the distance and slamming a fierce punch into Xie Xuanyi's chest.

Thud!

The punch landed on Xie Xuanyi's shoulder, like a hammer striking a bell, producing a dull thud!

Xie Xuanyi grunted, not dodging, but enduring the blow head-on. He crossed his hands, seizing the opportunity to snatch the sixth-grade treasure.

"Heh."

Xu You sneered, unfazed.

The reason a benming magic artifact is called benming is because, in all the world, only one person can wield it!

Even if it's released, even if it's seized.

The connection between him and the artifact remains!

With just a thought, the Cloud Piercer Lance will change ownership once more!

"Come!"

With a sharp shout, Xu You raised his hand.

The spear in Xie Xuanyi's grip began to tremble violently, like a true dragon awakening its consciousness. The quivering of the shaft resembled the dragon's body. Even though Xie Xuanyi gripped it tightly, doing his best to assume a dragon-taming stance, after several breaths, he was unable to control the force and was forced to release his grip… The cold iron spear flew into the air, returning to Xu You's palm.

The two collided again, like two wild horses!

Xu You's attacks were ruthless.

Xie Xuanyi, on the other hand, abandoned defense, directly using his flesh to clash head-on with Xu You's spear techniques. He completely abandoned the sword cultivator's advantage of focused attacks, purely using his physical body to engage in a brutal brawl with Xu You.

The cold iron spear emitted sparks of golden light!

These were all caused by Xie Xuanyi's punches and kicks!

The more he fought, the more Xie Xuanyi felt "unbelievable."

This body of his was truly a great opportunity, a great blessing!

It was practically a perfect body born in response to the spiritual fortune of heaven and earth…

The path of the sword cultivator wasn't limited to just "flying swords."

Some cultivate their spiritual souls, pursuing a multitude of flying swords for focused attacks.

Others cultivate their physical bodies, using swords as mere supplements, dedicating their entire lives to cultivating a single benming sword, capable of unleashing terrifying power that could shock the world!

The latter requires an extremely strong physical body to achieve.

In his previous life, after reading through all the Sword Palace's Daoist texts, Xie Xuanyi had conceived a grand ambition.

He wanted to try cultivating both paths simultaneously, but this idea ultimately ended in failure.

No matter how hard he cultivated, his physical body was always insufficient.

Constrained by the limitations of his physical body, there were many forbidden techniques on the second path that Xie Xuanyi could not perform.

But this time, it was different!

This new body seemed to be born for the second path. Even the most basic act of igniting the acupoints required Golden Qi, which was enough to show how strong the new body was!

The more Xie Xuanyi fought, the smoother things went.

And the more Xu You fought, the more bizarre he found it.

This kid kept seeking battle, constantly hitting walls, but he didn't feel any joy of "gaining the upper hand," because Xie Zhen was becoming more and more courageous as he fought… Many spear moves that could be dodged were not dodged, but taken head-on, and he was still full of energy afterward. What kind of terrifying close-quarters combat ability was this?

"Just who are you?"

Xu You stared intently at the white-robed youth.

"You really want to know?"

Xie Xuanyi chuckled.

An ominous feeling surged in Xu You's heart.

The two clashed again.

This time, the Cloud Piercer Lance didn't hit Xie Zhen… the latter stopped trying to meet the attack head-on, and instead grabbed the tip of the spear, exerting force from his palm.

A surge of powerful energy traveled down the shaft of the spear and into Xu You's palm.

"???"

Xu You instantly felt a surge of Blood Essence in his chest.

Looking down, he saw a jade-like palm pressed against his chest.

Then, with a bang!

Xu You flew backward, the great spear slipping from his grasp, arcing through the air before embedding itself in the ground.

He knelt on one knee, staring at the distance in shock.

The sea of clouds and mist had, without him noticing, become thick again.

Xie Zhen's figure was swallowed by the Qi cloud formed by the Azure Origin Pill.

Only a vague outline remained.

Xu You's expression gradually paled. He raised his hand, and the Cloud Piercer Lance shot up from the ground in the distance, flying straight into his palm… With his Natal Treasure in hand, the unease in his heart didn't disappear; it only intensified!

The next moment, he suddenly saw a pair of eyes as golden as the great sun!

The youth, enveloped in the sea of clouds, radiated golden light, with the sound of wind and thunder crackling from several of his major acupoints.

Xu You's pupils instantly contracted.

Wait…

Golden light?

That was the Golden Qi that only a very few cultivators in the Grotto-Heaven Realm could condense?

Grotto-Heaven Realm, Xie Zhen was in the Grotto-Heaven Realm?!

Before he could react, Xu You saw a palm reach out from the sea of clouds and mist, instantly pressing down on the top of his head—

With a thud!

Xu You was forced down, his head slamming into the ground. When he looked up again, his face was covered in blood.

Xie Xuanyi looked down at Xu You.

This was a good opponent, much stronger than Reverend Heavy Mist.

The battle just now had reminded Xie Xuanyi of the years more than a decade ago.

If he didn't use Qi… then this battle might not have been so simple. Perhaps this was the source of the "sense of danger" in his heart.

However.

It was all over.

Xie Xuanyi took out a second Azure Origin Pill.

A crisp sound.

"Crack!"

The second Azure Origin Pill… shattered directly!

Instead of being absorbed by Xie Xuanyi, the majestic Qi wrapped around his arm!

Boom!

Xie Xuanyi struck down again, hitting Xu You on the top of his head. The latter raised his spear to block, but was smashed directly into the ground!

Xu You, who had been unstoppable just moments before, was now subdued in an instant. That powerful and domineering aura was dispersed by Xie Xuanyi's killing intent. The Deputy City Lord of Taian City, his face covered in blood, was as pale as gold paper, gritting his teeth and standing with his spear, his feet sinking into the ground.

Xu You's eyes were full of fear, his knees bent, on the verge of kneeling on the ground—

Unprecedented despair filled his heart.

He did his best, roaring as he thrust out his spear!

The great spear shot out like a dragon, slamming heavily into Xie Xuanyi.

Before launching the spear, Xie Xuanyi chuckled.

The hundred-odd sword lights that had been circling in the sky swept back, dispersing their sword shapes and turning into a dense array of Qi scales, blocking in front of Xie Xuanyi. They arrived at the same time as the spear tip, colliding together!

This was the simplest armor, and also the most solid barrier!

Xu You's desperate spear strike was quite powerful, the spear tip tearing through nine-tenths of the recalled Qi scales, but ultimately, one-tenth remained unbroken.

This was an insurmountable gap, and also fate.

The great spear pressed firmly against Xie Xuanyi's white robes, unable to get any closer. As Xie Xuanyi stepped forward, the shaft of the great spear, forged from cold iron, began to bend.

Finally, with a resounding crash!

The cold iron spear flew out of control, landing heavily in the distance, its shaft vibrating wildly!

Xu You's hands were covered in blood, his palms split open, trembling uncontrollably.

He stared blankly at the unfamiliar yet familiar young man with an incomprehensible look.

"City Lord Xu, this is truly disheartening. Just an hour ago, we were drinking and laughing together..."

Xie Xuanyi asked softly, "What hatred, what grudge, could possibly make you want to kill me?"

Without waiting for an answer.

Xie Xuanyi released the hand that had been pressing down on Xu You's head.

At the same time, he casually threw a punch!

Bang!

Xie Xuanyi channeled the Qi of the Azure Origin Pill into his fist, striking Xu You directly in the lower abdomen. The Deputy City Lord of Taian City's expression changed drastically, his entire body bent over like a shrimp, his knees slamming heavily onto the ground as he spat out a mouthful of blood, along with several broken teeth.

Xu You's vision was blurry.

He looked up, staring at the white-robed youth in disbelief.

He confirmed it again.

Qi Refining Stage.

This was the Qi Refining Stage?!

"This Spirit Severing Array is quite well-crafted. Who taught you? Shen Yan's affair was also arranged by you, wasn't it? ... Tell me, who is behind you?"

Xie Xuanyi squatted down in front of Xu You, and after asking, waited for a moment, but received no response.

Seeing the dazed look in the latter's eyes.

Xie Xuanyi did not hesitate.

He raised his hand and delivered a slap.

Smack!

The palm, infused with Qi, landed on his face, producing an unprecedentedly loud sound!

The sound of this slap reverberated throughout the entire Spirit Severing Array!

Xu You instantly regained consciousness.

Xie Xuanyi's voice rang in his mind like a great bell.

"You will answer every question I ask next truthfully!"

Thanks to Brother Cloudy Sky for the Alliance Leader~ Heavenly Fate All Burned is very good~ Recommendation~