Three Swordplay Manuals

"Save me? Who wants to kill me?"

Yi Xiaofeng was stunned for a moment before asking.

He was secretly delighted.

Bai Hongxiao had actually not held a grudge!

That made sense.

The Pure Yang Pill had belonged to Wang Yanran's family to begin with, so he had not really deceived Bai Hongxiao.

"You possess Pure Yang Spiritual Energy, making you perfect nourishment for the Seven-Colored Glass Tree," the Straw Cape Man replied.

Nourishment for the Seven-Colored Glass Tree?

Yi Xiaofeng frowned deeply.

The viewers also began a heated discussion.

"Looks like there's something strange about the Seven-Colored Glass Tree!"

"Who exactly is this guy? That blade energy just now was terrifying. He's on a completely different level from those men in black."

"Yeah, most Qi Refining Realm cultivators are about as strong as martial artists in wuxia dramas. This Straw Cape Man has the powerful aura of the Sword Saint and Wei Qixin!"

"Someone next door found the Black Hole where the Seven-Colored Glass Tree is located. It's on the Back Mountain, but he was killed before he could enter."

"The Righteous Contestants and Demonic Contestants have already started moving. Zhuo Ye Fortress is about to be drenched in blood."

The Straw Cape Man grabbed Yi Xiaofeng and darted across the rooftops.

Taking the opportunity, Yi Xiaofeng took in the scenery of Zhuo Ye Fortress.

Buildings sprawled from the foot of the mountain to its peak, rising and falling in uneven layers. Beneath the dark clouds, the place possessed a bleak beauty that felt oppressive.

Soon.

The two landed in a courtyard.

After the Straw Cape Man released him, Yi Xiaofeng nearly collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and steadied himself, or he would have made a complete fool of himself.

Yi Xiaofeng swept his gaze across the courtyard. Fallen leaves littered the ground, cracks covered the walls, and branches hung over them. It had clearly gone untended for a long time.

His gaze suddenly froze.

A red light flickered from a crack in the wall.

An opportunity!

Yi Xiaofeng quickly withdrew his gaze and looked at the Straw Cape Man. "What do you need me to do next?"

Leaning against a millstone, the Straw Cape Man slowly said, "Stop pretending. You've already recognized me."

Yi Xiaofeng was instantly embarrassed.

"Ahem, back then..." Yi Xiaofeng forced himself to explain.

"It's nothing. Wang Yanran has never committed evil. Possessing Demonic Blood was not her choice. Though I hate Demonic Cultivators, I have not become so numb and heartless that I would slaughter innocents indiscriminately," the Straw Cape Man said calmly, his voice still hoarse.

The viewers immediately erupted.

Those words...

Sword Saint Bai Hongxiao!

The Sword Saint had actually come!

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior. Miss Wang saved my life. I could not stand by and watch her die," Yi Xiaofeng said with cupped fists.

The Straw Cape Man shook his head. "You've heard about the curse within Zhuo Ye Fortress, haven't you?"

Yi Xiaofeng nodded and analyzed, "It should be a trick meant to frighten people. Perhaps some kind of poison."

"Wrong. It truly is a curse."

Yi Xiaofeng froze.

There really was such a thing as a curse?

The Straw Cape Man raised his right hand and revealed his palm. It was blackened, though not as black as Zeng Shu's.

Yi Xiaofeng frowned. "When were you cursed?"

"Last night, when the Zhuo Ye Fortress Lord died. This curse distracted me, allowing the murderer to kill the Fortress Lord."

"Would it be convenient for you to tell me why you came here?"

"Two hundred years ago, when the Zhuo Ye Fortress Lord founded this fortress, he invited me as a guest. I saw that the Seven-Colored Glass Tree was no sacred object. It required human Essence Blood for nourishment and could even devour souls. I advised the Fortress Lord to give it up, but he refused. Over the years, Zhuo Ye Fortress did many good deeds and earned an excellent reputation in Northern Wei, so I gradually overlooked the matter. Then recently, I received a secret letter from the Heaven Sword Saint Sect. Zhuo Ye Fortress had committed countless atrocities, and I was asked to investigate. After all, I had trusted the Zhuo Ye Fortress Lord back then and spoken well of him before cultivators across the land. I bear an inescapable responsibility."

"And what did you find?"

"The ground beneath your feet is made from the piled bones of Zhuo Ye Fortress's people over the past two hundred years."

"Hm?"

Upon hearing this, Yi Xiaofeng instinctively looked down.

No stark white bones could be seen on the ground.

The Straw Cape Man lightly stomped his foot, and the ground instantly split apart, frightening Yi Xiaofeng into hurriedly leaping aside.

What terrifying spiritual energy... Is this guy a Nascent Soul Cultivator?

Yi Xiaofeng was secretly shocked.

A single stomp had cracked the ground!

Suppressing his horror, he lowered his head and saw shattered skeletons embedded in the layers of earth on both sides of the fissure. The sight was horrifying.

Rumble—

Lightning suddenly crashed down, illuminating Zhuo Ye Fortress.

Yi Xiaofeng was startled, and so were the viewers.

"Damn! Supreme Lord Lao, obey my command!"

"So many bones... Oh my god..."

"This Zhuo Ye Fortress is actually a den of demons..."

"No wonder. The Main Quest for the Righteous Contestants next door isn't to find the real murderer or protect Shan Tiange, but to investigate the truth and seek justice for the dead."

"The more I think about it, the scarier it gets. Did Shan Tiange send the cultivators to investigate everywhere so he could create panic and cover things up?"

"It's fine. Brother Yi has already latched onto the Sword Saint. Nothing will happen to him."

Yi Xiaofeng took a deep breath and asked, "Then why don't you act directly? With your cultivation, why not simply raze Zhuo Ye Fortress to the ground?"

The Sword Saint was incredibly powerful. Without even drawing his sword, he could suppress the demonic path of Da Qian Province!

Could this be the power of the plot?

The Straw Cape Man calmly replied, "Zhuo Ye Fortress is connected to the Bei Wei Royal Family, and I owe them a favor. It would not be appropriate for me to raze Zhuo Ye Fortress as the Sword Saint. Besides, I have been cursed and cannot use too much spiritual energy."

Yi Xiaofeng frowned.

What kind of reason was that?

"Furthermore, a Nascent Soul Old Demon is hidden within Zhuo Ye Fortress and is currently in seclusion. I want to deal with everyone in Zhuo Ye Fortress first, then fight that old demon without holding anything back. Help me!" The Straw Cape Man stared at Yi Xiaofeng seriously.

Yi Xiaofeng felt somewhat dazed.

A mere Demonic Contestant like him was actually going to uphold justice?

What irony!

Yi Xiaofeng was no fool. He hesitated. "With my strength..."

The Straw Cape Man raised his left hand. The ring on his middle finger suddenly lit up, and three Blue-Scripture Ancient Books appeared in his hand.

Lethal Plum Blossom Sword!

God-Slaying Swordplay!

Matchstick Swordplay!

"Pick one. I'll teach it to you. Combined with your Pure Yang Spiritual Energy, dealing with a few minor lackeys will be no problem," the Straw Cape Man said indifferently.

The viewers exploded!

That was possible too?

"Damn it, I refuse to accept this!"

"Has Bai Hongxiao taken a liking to Yi Xiaofeng?"

"Obviously. Did you forget that they spoke at the City Lord's Mansion? The Sword Saint appreciated Yi Xiaofeng even then!"

"He should definitely choose God-Slaying Swordplay. It sounds incredibly powerful."

"I'd choose Lethal Plum Blossom Sword!"

The Show Team also switched Yi Xiaofeng's livestream to the main screen.

Yi Xiaofeng's heart pounded like a drum.

He stared intently at the three manuals in the Straw Cape Man's hand. Information about them appeared before his eyes:

Lethal Plum Blossom Sword: A swordplay created by the Sword Saint during the Foundation Establishment Realm. Once mastered, it allows one to dominate the Foundation Establishment Realm.

God-Slaying Swordplay: A swordplay created by the Sword Saint at the age of thirteen. He spent his days dreaming of slaying immortals and slaughtering gods. Once mastered, it allows one to dominate the Qi Refining Realm.

Matchstick Swordplay: A mysterious swordplay containing immense power. The Sword Saint obtained it in an Ancient Secret Realm during the Golden Core Realm. As he did not know the swordplay's name, the Sword Saint looked at the bonfire before him and was inspired to give it this name.

Yi Xiaofeng was speechless.

The ridiculously awesome-sounding God-Slaying Swordplay had actually been created by a thirteen-year-old kid. That was painfully edgy.

The Straw Cape Man spoke in a hoarse voice. "Choose one."

This boy will surely choose God-Slaying Swordplay.

If he does, there will be no need to consider taking him as my disciple.

Which one would you choose? (Remember to vote with recommendation tickets!)