Secret Passage

"It's a blade technique..."

Although Chu Qing had never thought he'd go all the way with sword techniques, he hadn't expected a blade technique to appear so soon.

And it was this Blood Blade Technique...

The next moment, the profound mysteries within the blade technique had fully integrated into his mind.

It contained all sorts of tricks for wielding and using a blade, as well as the stances of the technique.

At the same time, Chu Qing felt that familiar warmth spread through his body once more, only subsiding after a moment.

"The Blood Blade Technique... originates from the Blood Blade Scripture of the Blood Blade Sect.

"I've only obtained the blade technique, not the Internal Energy Technique from the Blood Blade Scripture.

"That's fine though... I have my own Internal Energy to wield it."

Chu Qing let out a soft breath, feeling it wasn't a bad thing.

The idea of "biting off more than you can chew" only applied to normal people; he was a cheat and didn't fall into that category.

Furthermore, as an assassin, sometimes one couldn't pick their weapons.

When infiltrating and assassinating, there were many places swords couldn't be brought in, so one had to adapt to the situation and use whatever weapon was available.

Now that he had this blade technique, he had another means of dealing with enemies in combat.

If he encountered a situation where he had no sword, he could still use the blade technique.

Of course, compared to blade techniques, martial arts that didn't require weapons, like fist techniques, palm techniques, finger techniques, or leg techniques, would naturally be even better.

Chu Qing held some anticipation for other martial arts, but he could only wait for them to be unlocked later.

Making up his mind, he sat down cross-legged and slowly circulated his Internal Energy.

The Purple Cloud Void Scripture was currently at the seventh level, and he still needed to work hard.

His entanglement with the Sin Mirror Platform, though temporarily severed.

These people were like hounds; it was hard to say when they would come back. While he was safe now, he naturally had to cultivate diligently.

Although cultivating the Purple Cloud Void Scripture was much more difficult than the original Void Scripture, he wouldn't expect to reach another level for several months.

And even after several months, it was uncertain if he would unlock another Internal Energy Technique, leading to another leap in his Internal Energy.

But every bit of foundation he improved would not be wasted.

Even with the current Purple Cloud Void Scripture, if he hadn't raised the original Void Scripture to the fourth level, he wouldn't have reached his current realm even after obtaining the Purple Cloud Divine Skill and merging them.

Therefore, he couldn't relax even slightly.

Besides that, he had something to do tomorrow.

When he was at Luoyu Hall earlier, he had used that Sleeve Arrow, and he needed to find a way to get another one to replace it.

This thing was actually very useful.

That fellow from the Iron Horse Seven Bandits had only used it as a trump card to beg for mercy and save his life, but he didn't realize how unexpected it was to suddenly use it during a fight.

Tang Yinfeng's Blood Transformation Divine Palm practically had the words "this palm technique is problematic" carved onto his forehead. How could Chu Qing possibly clash with him head-on?

Breaking the deadlock with that Sleeve Arrow not only forced him back, allowing him and Wu Qianhuan to escape Luoyu Hall, but also poisoned him.

It couldn't have been better.

"Good stuff, I need to get more arrows ready."

Chu Qing was an assassin. Assassins didn't question their methods; as long as they could kill, all methods were good.

Only Jianghu heroes would engage in straightforward combat.

The stormy night for Chu Qing had temporarily come to a close.

However, for others, it was merely the beginning.

Inside Luoyu Hall.

Wu Qianhuan had already entered the secret door in Tang Xi's room.

She was currently sitting in a room, flipping through letters on a bookshelf.

The more she read, the darker her expression became.

These letters were all evidence of the collusion between Luoyu Hall and Ten Thousand Night Valley, interspersed with arrogant boasts about how they would conquer Heavenly Dance City after its fall.

Especially that scoundrel Tang Xi, he had written many filthy and unspeakable things in the letters, making Wu Qianhuan feel that killing him had been too quick.

He should have been cut into a thousand pieces!

Who would have thought that a person who appeared so upright and proper in daily life would be so despicable behind closed doors.

As she was reading the letters one by one, a Heavenly Dance Guard came to report:

"Young Lady, we've finished searching here. We found a lot of gold, silver, jewelry, and various weapons, though the inventory is not yet complete.

"Additionally, we found over ten previously missing civilians in the underground passage.

"Also... this secret tunnel is very long, leading all the way out to Cicada Forest beyond the city."

"Cicada Forest..."

Wu Qianhuan nodded thoughtfully. Cicada Forest had always been rumored to be strange, with tales of people seeing unclean things within its bounds, making no one willing to approach it easily.

Even after the City Lord's Mansion sent Heavenly Dance Guards to search several times and confirm it was just a rumor... the common folk didn't believe it. No matter how eloquently you spoke, they still wouldn't dare to set foot there.

Thinking this, she was about to speak when she saw Wu Ganqi dragging Tang Yinfeng over, holding the blood-stained Purple Gold Xing Tian Axe in one hand and treating him like a dead dog with the other.

Tonight's battle had ended in silence. Liu Shijie was the first to be felled by Wu Ganqi's axe. Tang Yinfeng could struggle a bit, but only a bit.

He was poisoned, and most of his Internal Energy was used to suppress the potent toxin within him.

To still be able to fight Wu Ganqi in this state, it had to be said that the man indeed had some skill.

It was worth noting that during their fight, Wu Ganqi hadn't seen him use the Hate Heart Demonic Art... It was presumed that only Tang Xi practiced the Hate Heart Demonic Art.

Wu Ganqi flicked his hand, tossing Tang Yinfeng onto the ground, and looked at Wu Qianhuan.

"Did you find anything?"

Wu Qianhuan stood up, her expression unreadable.

"Father, the secret passage leads to Cicada Forest. They intended to use this passage to lure Ten Thousand Night Valley into Heavenly Dance City for a pincer attack to break our city!"

Wu Ganqi chuckled, not angered. He merely looked at Tang Yinfeng on the ground, whose meridians had been severed and was completely unable to move.

"Old Tang, ever since you joined my Heavenly Dance City, I believe I've treated you well.

"Now, with this scheme of yours, coordinating from the inside and outside, it truly leaves me baffled.

"Why are you acting like this?"

Even now, Wu Ganqi's tone was amiable.

Tang Yinfeng chuckled upon hearing this.

"The world bustles for profit; the world clamors for gain.

"My goal was merely fame and fortune.

"Ten Thousand Night Valley promised me that if this matter succeeds, Heavenly Dance City will belong to me.

"Tell me, was this risk worth taking?"

"It was."

Wu Ganqi stated decisively.

"But it wasn't enough!

"Your appetite can't stomach my Heavenly Dance City, nor do you have the qualifications to challenge Ten Thousand Night Valley after they destroy it.

"Old Tang, you're not a fool, and don't treat me like an idiot.

"Where does your confidence come from?

"Where did this demonic art of yours originate?

"Who... are you, exactly?"

Tang Yinfeng's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Wu Ganqi.

"I dare to say it, do you dare to listen?"

Wu Ganqi smiled.

"Your words pique my curiosity, but speak freely. I will listen attentively."