Supreme Sword Control Technique

Enemies!

Li Qingqiu sprang to his feet, grabbed the Heavenly Rainbow Sword beside him, and rushed out of the house.

In the courtyard, Jiang Zhaoxia had already emerged first. He gripped a wooden sword and stared into the distance. Following his gaze, Li Qingqiu saw a figure standing atop the mountain gate, backlit by the bright moon. His white robes snapped in the wind, a conical hat shadowing his face, and he held a saber in both hands.

That stance alone was enough to tell he was a master!

Zhang Yuchun and Wu Man'er came out of the house as well, while Li Sifeng leaned over the windowsill, peering outside.

Li Dongyue and Li Sijin were also pressed to the windowsill in their room, anxiously watching what was happening outside.

This was the first crisis Li Qingqiu had faced since becoming sect leader, and he was a little nervous. Still, he had some confidence: every member of the Qingxiao Sect had entered the Yangyuan Realm, and all of them could fight.

Yang Jueding leaped onto the roof behind Li Qingqiu and stared at the White-Clad Swordsman from afar.

"Luo Lie, you've chased me for a thousand li. Are you still not ready to give up?"

Yang Jueding's voice rang out, brimming with indignation.

The White-Clad Swordsman, Luo Lie, stood atop the mountain gate, dozens of meters away from Yang Jueding. The cold wind swept over him, but he didn't move. His head was bowed, his conical hat hiding his face, as his voice rang out:

"Give up? You offended the Azure Cult and think you can walk away unscathed? Hand over that manual, and I'll let you die quickly."

With a sharp hiss, Luo Lie drew his saber and leaped into the air, streaking toward Yang Jueding like a flash of light.

Li Qingqiu narrowed his eyes. He could see some kind of force propelling Luo Lie from behind, making him look as if he were flying.

Was this lightness skill?

As he passed a rooftop, Luo Lie's toes touched down as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water. The movement was so quick that Li Qingqiu would have struggled to notice it if he hadn't entered the Yangyuan Realm.

Good!

It wasn't all that supernatural. The fact that Luo Lie needed something to push off from meant his martial arts weren't as absurdly powerful as they looked.

Facing the charging Luo Lie atop the roof, Yang Jueding immediately sank into a horse stance. He swept his right palm up from his waist, turned his palm downward, then flipped it to strike at Luo Lie.

BOOM—

A thunderclap-like roar rang out. Li Qingqiu, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Zhang Yuchun watched as Yang Jueding unleashed a vast surge of force with one palm, stopping Luo Lie in midair like a wave crashing against him. Luo Lie was sent flying; he turned in midair before landing steadily in the courtyard.

Luo Lie looked up, his conical hat flying off and revealing a weathered face filled with shock and fear.

"Your power... How is that possible? You were clearly poisoned. Could it be that you've already mastered that divine art?"

By the end, Luo Lie's expression had twisted into a grimace.

Yang Jueding jumped down from the roof and landed on the ground. His lips curled into a sneer. "I've roamed the martial world for years. How could your despicable tricks take me down? As for that divine art you mentioned, it's fake. No one could possibly master it!"

Luo Lie gave a cold snort and charged at Yang Jueding with his saber.

They were only a dozen paces apart. In a blink, Luo Lie was right in front of Yang Jueding, his blade vicious and his movements as swift as a ghost. Yang Jueding raised a palm to defend himself, unafraid of the blade.

The two clashed in the courtyard, trading moves as their force surged in every direction. The snow on the ground melted into clouds of vapor that rose into the air.

Zhang Yuchun looked at Li Qingqiu, asking with his eyes what they should do.

Li Qingqiu gave a slight shake of his head, signaling him not to act rashly.

This was a good opportunity to observe the strength of martial world masters.

There was no denying that Yang Jueding and Luo Lie were formidable. In terms of reaction speed and strength, they were far beyond ordinary people. A first-layer Nurturing Origin Realm cultivator might not be able to take them down.

Of course, Li Qingqiu meant cultivators like the youngsters Li Sifeng and Li Sijin.

If he stepped in, he was confident he could kill both of them in an instant.

Their moves might be flashy, but Li Qingqiu could release Origin Energy faster. The moment a fight began, he could take them out in a flash.

Li Qingqiu also realized that there was a vast difference between Internal Energy and Origin Energy. Yang Jueding's Internal Energy might be thick and powerful, sending snow whirling everywhere, but if it faced Origin Energy, it would be pierced through in a single strike.

As things stood, even though Jiang Zhaoxia hadn't broken through to the second layer of the Yangyuan Realm, Luo Lie still posed no threat.

The only variable was if they let their guard down and failed to act decisively.

After watching for a while, Zhang Yuchun also relaxed.

As for Jiang Zhaoxia, a contemptuous smile had been on his face from beginning to end. He hadn't taken Luo Lie seriously at all.

After thirty exchanges, Luo Lie struck with a palm. His rolling Internal Energy turned his hand red-hot, but Yang Jueding didn't dodge. He met the blow with his own palm.

BOOM—

The collision of their powerful Internal Energy shook the rooftops and tiles around the courtyard. The windows creaked.

Luo Lie's conical hat was knocked away. His hair hanging loose, he clenched his teeth and struggled against Yang Jueding's Internal Energy. Yang Jueding wore a proud, almost arrogant smile, as though he had Luo Lie right where he wanted him.

But Li Qingqiu could tell Yang Jueding was forcing himself. His injuries hadn't healed, and his Internal Energy hadn't returned to its peak.

After holding out for three breaths, Yang Jueding thrust his arm forward and sent Luo Lie staggering backward. Luo Lie stumbled more than a dozen steps before steadying himself, then dropped to one knee and spat blood onto the ground.

Yang Jueding lowered his hands, exuding the air of a grandmaster. He pointed at Luo Lie and said, "Get lost. Go back and tell the Azure Cult that if you come again, I won't show mercy."

Luo Lie looked up. He held his saber in one hand and wiped the blood from his mouth with the other, sneering. "Let me go? Seems you're not as strong as you look."

Yang Jueding's expression turned cold. "Do you really want me to beat you to death?"

As soon as he spoke, his expression changed. He looked down and saw red welts appearing on the palm of his right hand. They quickly swelled into blisters, as though he'd been scalded.

"You'll block any palm that comes your way, won't you, Dragon Subduing Great Hero? Don't you know how famous your palm strikes are?" Luo Lie got to his feet, grinning mockingly.

Yang Jueding realized something was wrong. He had been focused on driving Luo Lie away quickly so he could flee with Li Qingqiu and the others, and he had let his guard slip during the fight.

He hurriedly pressed the acupoints on his right arm with his left hand and circulated his energy to expel the poison.

Luo Lie walked toward Yang Jueding with his saber. He was just about to speak.

Whoosh—

A sound split the air. Luo Lie's eyes widened in an instinctive stare, and his expression froze. Yang Jueding, facing him, felt a sharp force whip past his cheek, leaving it stinging.

Yang Jueding focused his gaze and saw a bloody hole in Luo Lie's forehead.

Thud!

Luo Lie fell straight to the ground. Yang Jueding then saw Jiang Zhaoxia, still holding his hand up.

"Enough of your nonsense!"

Jiang Zhaoxia snorted coldly.

Zhang Yuchun, along with Li Dongyue, Li Sifeng, and Li Sijin inside the house, was stunned. They had seen Jiang Zhaoxia's Origin Energy. They hadn't expected him to dare kill someone.

"You..."

Yang Jueding stared at Jiang Zhaoxia, utterly shocked, unable to get the words out.

Jiang Zhaoxia glanced at Zhang Yuchun. "Second Senior Brother, bury him."

Zhang Yuchun came to his senses and quickly nodded, instinctively walking toward Luo Lie's body.

"Wait. First see if he has anything on him."

Li Qingqiu followed Zhang Yuchun. He wasn't particularly surprised; instead, he was pleased by Jiang Zhaoxia's ruthlessness.

If Luo Lie had left tonight, the Qingxiao Sect might have been in danger. Killing him here was the best outcome.

Yang Jueding came back to his senses. Looking at Jiang Zhaoxia, he couldn't help asking, "Why did you kill him? Aren't you afraid the Azure Cult will retaliate?"

Jiang Zhaoxia scoffed. "If we didn't kill him, would the Azure Cult spare us? And since you're already a disciple of the Qingxiao Sect, anyone who comes after you is coming after us."

He was only fifteen, yet the domineering way he spoke left Yang Jueding momentarily dazed.

"Who exactly are you?" Yang Jueding asked, dumbfounded.

Jiang Zhaoxia turned and walked toward the house without looking back. "The Qingxiao Sect's deputy sect leader."

Li Qingqiu was in the middle of stripping Luo Lie's clothes when he heard that. He couldn't help looking up. "Did I agree to that? Don't go claiming titles for yourself!"

This kid sure knew how to put on airs!

Jiang Zhaoxia didn't answer. He hurried back into the house. As soon as he entered, Li Sifeng came out, followed by Li Dongyue and Li Sijin, who emerged from the women disciples' quarters.

Li Qingqiu sighed inwardly.

It was obvious Jiang Zhaoxia had killed someone for the first time. He'd just hidden it flawlessly. When he'd gone inside, Li Qingqiu had noticed that the hand he'd used to kill Luo Lie was trembling.

After searching for a while, Li Qingqiu found nothing on Luo Lie but hidden weapons, provisions, and a token. Dissatisfied, he then sent three junior brothers to bury him.

He got up and walked over to Yang Jueding, who was circulating his energy to force out the poison. Yang Jueding was still dazed and hadn't quite wrapped his head around what had happened.

"What is that manual you mentioned? Hand it over. Consider it repayment for saving your life tonight," Li Qingqiu said, staring at Yang Jueding.

Yang Jueding replied helplessly, "That manual is fake. It doesn't work at all."

"Hand it over."

"Wait."

Yang Jueding stopped circulating his energy, took off his shoe, and pulled a piece of thin hide from its sole. When he unfolded it, it was as large as a human face.

Li Qingqiu reluctantly took it and then tossed it to Li Dongyue, asking her to wash it.

Li Dongyue gave him a resentful look, pulled a piece of cloth from inside her robes, wrapped the hide in it, and walked over to the well.

"Does he have any companions?" Li Qingqiu asked Yang Jueding.

Yang Jueding shook his head. "He's the only one who's been chasing me. He ambushed me while I was badly wounded from a duel. Despicable!"

Li Qingqiu felt relieved.

He let Yang Jueding tend to his injuries, then walked over to Li Dongyue and waited for her to finish washing the hide. He took the thin piece of skin back to the house.

It was thin as a cicada's wing and cool to the touch. Tiny characters covered it from end to end. He strongly suspected it was human skin.

Back in the house, he left the door open in case something unexpected happened outside. He sat at the table, lit the candle, and examined the hide carefully.

"Hm?"

Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow in surprise.

No wonder Yang Jueding thought the manual was fake. It was actually a spell.

The spell didn't describe how to absorb energy at all. It went straight into explaining how to channel it, and some of its acupoints differed from those in martial arts. To Yang Jueding, it must have seemed like complete nonsense.

Only when he reached the end did Li Qingqiu learn the spell's name.

Supreme Sword Control Technique!