Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword—Who Was the Behind-the-Scenes Black Hand?

So this gave him the strength to contend with Liu Ruyan?

Seeing the text before his eyes, Ren Xiaoyao instinctively thought his vision was playing tricks on him.

According to Li Chunfeng, Liu Ruyan was a First-Rank Martial Dao expert. He had only just entered the Dao Realm First Heaven, yet he could already contend with Liu Ruyan?

But as the Martial Arts Technique: Qi Sword appeared in Ren Xiaoyao's mind, he became certain that he was not hallucinating.

In other words, Ren Xiaoyao truly now possessed the strength to contend with a First-Rank Martial Dao expert.

Joy naturally appeared on Ren Xiaoyao's face.

According to Li Chunfeng, no matter how talented a Martial Artist was, entering the First-Rank Realm still required more than a decade of hard cultivation.

Yet Ren Xiaoyao had cultivated immortality for barely half a month and already possessed the same combat power!

Sure enough, cultivating immortality was the great road leading to heaven.

Following the guidance in his mind, Ren Xiaoyao did not need to undergo hard cultivation for the rewarded technique. He merely needed to inherit it to master it.

Ren Xiaoyao did not hesitate and directly inherited the Qi Sword.

Qi Sword.

This was a Martial Arts Technique. To use it, one first had to gather all the true qi or True Essence throughout the body, then release it from the body and turn it into an illusory sword of qi to slay one's opponent.

Ren Xiaoyao had neither true qi nor True Essence in his body, but according to the guidance, the spiritual power within him could replace true qi and True Essence in operating Martial Arts Techniques.

Accepting this inheritance meant that Ren Xiaoyao now possessed the means to actively kill when facing enemies.

However, Ren Xiaoyao had no intention of exposing his strength.

Even though he was a Cultivator, he had only just entered the path.

This world had no shortage of top-tier Martial Artists who could suppress him.

What Ren Xiaoyao needed to do now was cultivate immortality quietly and break through one realm after another in secret.

Leaving aside immortality, he at least had to become invincible beneath heaven!

As Ren Xiaoyao began cultivating the Qi Sword, more text appeared before his eyes.

[Your comprehension is heaven-defying. By cultivating the Martial Arts Technique: Qi Sword, you have comprehended the top-tier Martial Arts Technique: Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword.]

As he read the text, Ren Xiaoyao quickly came to understand the Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword.

Originally, the Qi Sword merely consumed true qi or transformed it into a sword to unleash slaughter. Many Martial Artists had mastered this sort of technique; it was an ordinary technique found everywhere.

The Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword, however, was different. A Gang Sword surpassed a Qi Sword by an entire dimension.

Strictly speaking, Gang Qi also counted as a kind of true qi. However, its degree of condensation surpassed ordinary true qi—and even True Essence—by dozens of times. This meant that Gang Qi of the same scale possessed killing power dozens of times more terrifying than true qi.

However, cultivating the Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword required Gang Qi, and among a hundred thousand Martial Artists, there might not be even one who could cultivate Gang Qi.

Thus, the Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword was utterly useless to ordinary Martial Artists.

But Ren Xiaoyao's spiritual power could also evolve into Gang Qi, and he could naturally transform Gang Qi into a Gang Sword.

Having obtained a top-tier Martial Arts Technique, Ren Xiaoyao did not dare slacken. He immediately began practicing, hoping to master the Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword as quickly as possible.

After all, this world was fraught with danger for him. He had to keep more trump cards at his side.

The next day.

Just as Li Chunfeng had expected.

Two people arrived beneath Fulong Mountain and found Li Chunfeng and Ren Xiaoyao.

The leader was an Old Man, plump in build and around fifty years old. He wore official robes, had a long beard, and a kindly face.

The man behind the Old Man was around thirty. His expression was cold, and he wore armor with a longsword hanging at his waist. He gave off an icy aura that warned strangers not to approach.

Li Chunfeng introduced them to Ren Xiaoyao.

"Ren Xiaoyao, this is the Pavilion Master of Facing Heaven Pavilion, Pavilion Master Ying Huai. Behind him is Fang Yuan, the Left Mighty Guard's great general of Facing Heaven Pavilion."

Ying Huai?

Ren Xiaoyao searched through the memories of his former self and understood the identity of the man before him.

Ying Huai was a confidant of the Empress, the third-generation Pavilion Master of Facing Heaven Pavilion, and one of the most powerful figures in Great Gan. He was especially skilled at solving cases. The Empress had repeatedly sent Ying Huai to the borderlands to inspect and govern in her name, granting him the authority to execute first and report afterward.

As for Fang Yuan, he was Ying Huai's adopted son and one of the top Martial Dao experts in Facing Heaven Pavilion. Since Ying Huai did not cultivate Martial Dao, Fang Yuan had relied on his skills to protect him at close range year-round.

When Ying Huai saw Ren Xiaoyao, he asked about yesterday's matter concerning Liu Ruyan.

Other than concealing the matter of the Great Evolution Tome, Ren Xiaoyao answered truthfully.

After hearing Ren Xiaoyao out, Ying Huai nodded and did not press further. He merely glared at Li Chunfeng and said,

"Li Chunfeng, you rascal. I told you before that I had Ren Xiaoyao stay by your side so that you could protect him. Yet you nearly got him into trouble. Fortunately, the Demonic Maiden and Xiao Ren bore no grudge against each other. If those people had taken advantage of weakness, how would you have answered to me?"

Li Chunfeng smiled awkwardly. "I can't explain this matter clearly in just a few words, but isn't Xiao Ren perfectly unharmed now?"

Ying Huai merely snorted.

"What exactly happened in the Capital City last night?"

Li Chunfeng hurriedly changed the subject.

"More than ten years ago, the old site of your Imperial Observatory in the Capital City was turned into a new Golden Light Zen Temple under the Empress's orders, wasn't it? Last night, a force of unknown origin slaughtered every Zen Master in Golden Light Zen Temple for some unknown reason. The entire temple was then burned clean in a great fire. This happened in the Capital City—it has already touched the Empress's Reverse Scale."

Ying Huai stroked his beard and frowned.

"By rights, this case should be investigated by my Facing Heaven Pavilion. Yet the Empress ordered Facing Heaven Pavilion not to dig too deeply, merely to handle the aftermath properly. She said she would have True Martial Sect capture the culprits. But based on my many years of experience solving cases, I have a faint feeling that this matter is far from as simple as it appears. There must be an enormous conspiracy hidden within it. These waters run deep!"

"When have the waters in the Capital City ever not run deep?"

Hearing this, Li Chunfeng rolled his eyes at Ying Huai. "Didn't the Empress forbid you from meddling in this matter? Let True Martial Sect handle that dirty, exhausting work. Why are you worrying over it?"

"Indeed."

Ying Huai chuckled.

"My main purpose today is to investigate the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult Saintess infiltrating the Imperial Observatory as an Undercover Agent. Matters involving Demonic Cults were originally under True Martial Sect's jurisdiction, but the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult's Saintess was previously released by the True Martial Sect Master's son. Thus, the Empress ordered True Martial Sect to avoid suspicion and sent me to investigate instead."

Then Ying Huai looked toward Li Chunfeng. "Brother Chunfeng, according to what you said before, weren't you on Sun Gazing Peak? How did you learn the Demonic Maiden's identity and rush back to Night Gazing Peak?"

"The Director told me. He said he had deliberately recruited this Demonic Maiden into the Imperial Observatory. If you want to know anything, ask him."

Li Chunfeng spoke.

"I also have no idea what medicine that old madman is selling from his gourd. Liu Ruyan entered the Imperial Observatory only after receiving his approval. Now that something like this has happened, he bears the primary responsibility."

"The Director?"

Hearing this, Ying Huai gave a bitter smile.

"You're putting me in a difficult spot, brother. Even the Empress can do nothing about the Director. What could I possibly question him about? If he gets angered, pretends to be mad, and slaps me to death, I would have nowhere to seek justice! Since Liu Ruyan has already fled without leaving any traces behind, let this matter end here. Have the Ministry of Justice post a few more Sea Catch Official Documents. As for capturing her, that still has to be left to True Martial Sect."

Once the serious business was done, Ying Huai was in no hurry to leave and began chatting with Li Chunfeng.

They had known each other for many years and both held high positions. The matters they discussed were earth-shattering in the eyes of outsiders.

Ren Xiaoyao listened with great interest, and one matter left a particularly deep impression on him.

Li Chunfeng had a Senior Brother, the Director's eldest disciple, who had been dispatched years ago to infiltrate one of the Four Great Demonic Sects—the Illusory Sun Demonic Cult—as an Undercover Agent.

In the end, that ruthless man had climbed from being an undercover disciple all the way to becoming the Illusory Sun Demonic Cult's leader.

With that, he had slipped beyond the Great Gan Imperial Court's control.

Now, that ruthless man had even become the nominal Co-lord of the Four Great Demonic Sects.

The Devil Master of this generation!

At this point, Ying Huai could not help sighing.

"Over the years, the Four Great Demonic Sects have planted quite a few spies and Undercover Agents within our Great Gan Imperial Court. Their methods are so exquisite that even this old man can only marvel in admiration. I imagine the Devil Master must have been behind the scenes, devising strategies for them?"

Li Chunfeng nodded in agreement.

"My Senior Brother is somewhat lacking in Martial Dao, but in crooked paths and unorthodox ways, few can surpass him. Of course, he learned all that from the Director. Their line has always been like this."

"Oh? You are also the Director's disciple. Why are you not part of that line?"

Ying Huai smiled meaningfully.

Li Chunfeng rolled his eyes at him. "I disdain crooked paths and unorthodox ways. I walk the path of righteousness and openness, so naturally I do not count."

At those words, the atmosphere became awkward. Ying Huai laughed heartily and changed the subject.

More than half an hour later, Ying Huai finally left Night Gazing Peak and headed for Sun Gazing Peak.

This matter still needed to be investigated. Liu Ruyan had been recruited by Sun Gazing Peak, after all.

Though Ying Huai did not wish to pursue it too deeply, the matter still had to be investigated clearly.

As for how he would write the memorial to the Empress, that was Ying Huai's own affair.

After Ying Huai left, only Ren Xiaoyao and Li Chunfeng remained. Ren Xiaoyao asked, "Master, was it Pavilion Master Ying who arranged for me to come to the Imperial Observatory?"

"Yes."

Li Chunfeng nodded and explained.

"The Empress dislikes you, and Ren Xuanji loathes you. Only Ying Huai can protect you. He has an old friendship with your Birth Mother, and he is not a bad man. He can be trusted."

Although Ren Xiaoyao was a menial disciple in the Imperial Observatory, no one actually treated him like a menial. Naturally, someone had been pulling strings behind the scenes.

"Liu Ruyan should be connected to last night's upheaval in the Capital City. Master, why didn't you tell Pavilion Master Ying directly?"

Ren Xiaoyao remembered Ying Huai's kindness and continued asking.

Liu Ruyan had hurriedly left only after detecting the commotion in the Capital City. That indicated she must also have been connected to the upheaval there.

Moreover, Li Chunfeng had immediately linked Liu Ruyan, the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult, and the Capital City together last night.

Ren Xiaoyao had also reached a conclusion: Li Chunfeng definitely knew what had happened in the Capital City.

Yet before Ying Huai, Li Chunfeng had pretended to know nothing, even feigning interest in what had happened there last night.

Li Chunfeng wanted to deliberately conceal some crucial information.

"Didn't he fail to ask?"

Li Chunfeng chuckled, glanced at Ren Xiaoyao, and said, "Xiao Ren, some things are best merely heard. Let them enter through your left ear and leave through your right. If they cannot leave, let them rot in your heart. There is no need to insist on speaking them aloud."

Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao wisely refrained from asking further.

After all, no matter how deeply this matter was entangled or how deep its waters ran, it had nothing to do with Ren Xiaoyao.

Over the next half month, the Imperial Observatory returned to its former peace. Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Liu Ruyan, as though she had never come at all.

One day, in a secluded corner of Fulong Mountain.

Ren Xiaoyao raised his right hand, formed a sword with his index and middle fingers, and pointed toward a boulder.

Whoosh!

A streak of Sword Qi formed from Gang Qi burst from Ren Xiaoyao's fingertips.

Before him stood a boulder roughly the height of a person and three feet thick.

The Gang Sword Ren Xiaoyao unleashed pierced through it in an instant, like a blade slicing through tofu.

Ren Xiaoyao's eyes naturally lit up.

What if this struck a person?

However, Ren Xiaoyao did not become carried away.

According to Li Chunfeng, top-tier Martial Artists were invulnerable to blades and spears. His Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword might not necessarily be able to harm them.

He had merely gained one more small means of self-preservation.

Then.

Ren Xiaoyao called upon the information in his mind.

Name: Ren Xiaoyao

Lifespan: 16/80

Race: Human

Talent: Heaven-Defying Comprehension

Cultivation: Dao Realm First Heaven

Technique: Pure Yang Heaven Breaking Gang Sword

Spell: Nothingness

Artifact: Nothingness

Seeing his Attribute Panel, Ren Xiaoyao had no questions regarding the cultivation and technique fields.

It was only the Lifespan field that confused him.

The sixteen at the front represented Ren Xiaoyao's current age, while the eighty at the back should represent his present maximum lifespan.

But Ren Xiaoyao remembered.

Before entering the Dao Realm First Heaven, this line had read 16/18. In other words, Ren Xiaoyao's maximum lifespan back then had been eighteen.

That was unreasonable.

After all, even ordinary people in this world had an average lifespan of around fifty years.

At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao remembered.

When spiritual power had begun to grow within his body, the surging spiritual power seemed to have expelled certain impurities from his body. Only after those impurities were removed had Ren Xiaoyao felt completely refreshed.

Then it was highly possible that someone had tampered with Ren Xiaoyao's body long ago, perhaps even secretly administering some kind of Hidden Toxin.

According to that person's plan, Ren Xiaoyao should have died silently two years later.

But after spiritual power began growing within Ren Xiaoyao's body, he could use its circulation to automatically expel the toxins from his body, allowing his maximum lifespan to return to normal.

Since a Behind the Scenes Black Hand wanted to eliminate him silently, they would definitely not rest until their goal was achieved.

Ren Xiaoyao had to remain cautious and vigilant.

Of course,

Ren Xiaoyao also understood in his heart.

There was only one way to completely resolve this crisis.

That was to eliminate the person who wanted to harm him.

"Ren Xuanji?"

Ren Xiaoyao muttered to himself.

That day.

Bai Su, the chief disciple of Sun Gazing Peak, hurried up Night Gazing Peak. She found Li Chunfeng and Ren Xiaoyao.

"Little Martial Uncle, Ren Xuanji has arrived at Fulong Mountain. He is currently on Sun Gazing Peak and has specifically summoned the two of you, saying he suspects you are involved in the previous major Golden Light Zen Temple case in the Capital City."