Crimson Firmament's Pact

Three days later, Li Xuan moved into a standalone courtyard.

With blue bricks and grey tiles, an old locust tree stood in the center of the yard, with a stone table and stone stools beneath it. Compared to the servant's quarters and the dilapidated side rooms, this place was practically paradise.

But he didn't have time to enjoy it.

Forcing himself to use the Mountain Slaying Style during the grand competition had caused more severe meridian damage than he'd imagined.

Although he had used potential points to forcefully recover most of it, his foundation was still somewhat unstable.

For the past three days, he hadn't gone anywhere, just meditating in the courtyard.

[Stamina: 3.8]
[Strength: 2.44]
[Agility: 1.84]
[Spirit: 1.6]

After his Stamina broke through 3.8, his recovery speed doubled.

His fractured ribs had already healed, and the dull ache in his meridians was gradually receding.

However, with the Northern Territory trial approaching, his strength at the Body Tempering fourth layer was barely enough.

According to Chen Feng, the weakest of the three disciples who survived last year's Northern Territory trial was at Body Tempering fifth layer.

He had to break through to Body Tempering fifth layer within a month.

As he was thinking, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

"Is Junior Brother Li here?"

It was Chen Feng's voice.

Li Xuan opened the door.

Chen Feng stood outside, holding two jars of wine in his hands.

"I heard you moved in, so I brought this to celebrate your new place," he said, shaking the wine jars with a smile.

The two sat down by the stone table.

Chen Feng broke the mud seal and poured two bowls of wine.

The wine was a special brew from the martial arts school called "Blood Spring." Its color was a dark, blood-like red, and it was spicy upon entering the mouth, but it turned into a warm current that nourished vital energy and blood.

"Congratulations," Chen Feng raised his bowl. "Top ten in the grand competition, inner court disciple, a spot in the Northern Territory trial... Who would have thought a month ago?"

Li Xuan clinked his bowl against Chen Feng's and drank it down in one gulp.

The wine burned like fire as it went down his throat.

"What about Zhao Wuji..." Li Xuan put down his bowl. "Has he been bothering you?"

"Him?" Chen Feng sneered. "He'd like to, but his father won't let him. Zhou Zhengyang is down, and Wu Ming is dead. Two instructor positions have opened up at the martial arts school. Zhao Wuji's father, Elder Zhao, is fighting hard for them. At a time like this, he won't let his son cause trouble."

Li Xuan nodded.

He didn't want to get involved in the factional struggles of the martial arts school.

But sometimes, one's fate was not in their own hands.

"By the way," Chen Feng lowered his voice. "Those two envoys from the Crimson Firmament Sect met with the Headmaster for a long time yesterday. I heard... they want to take you directly."

"Take me directly?" Li Xuan frowned.

"Yes, direct admission without examination," Chen Feng looked at him. "The Crimson Firmament Sect selects disciples from various martial arts schools every year, but they all have to go through rigorous assessments. Direct admission without examination... it hasn't happened in at least ten years."

"Did the Headmaster agree?"

"No," Chen Feng shook his head. "The Headmaster said that with the Northern Territory trial approaching, the martial arts school needs manpower. We'll talk after the trial."

Li Xuan fell silent.

The Headmaster was using him as a bargaining chip.

The Northern Territory trial was dangerous; one more strong person meant one more layer of security.

Once he returned alive, his value would increase, and then he could negotiate with the Crimson Firmament Sect, allowing the martial arts school to gain more benefits.

A cunning old fox.

"What do you think?" Chen Feng asked.

"I have to go to the Northern Territory," Li Xuan said.

"Why? Direct admission to the Crimson Firmament Sect without examination is a tremendous opportunity. If you go to the Northern Territory, what if..."

"What if I die?" Li Xuan smiled. "Senior Brother Chen, do you think I haven't been risking my life every time in the martial arts school this past month?"

Chen Feng was taken aback.

"From a refugee to a servant, from a servant to an outer court disciple, and then to an inner court disciple," Li Xuan looked at the wine in his bowl. "Every step was earned with my life. Now I have the chance to go to the Northern Territory, the chance to kill Barbarians, the chance to become stronger, why should I give it up?"

He paused. "The Crimson Firmament Sect is powerful, but I'll just be a bottom-tier disciple if I join. Without strength, it's the same everywhere. Although the Northern Territory is dangerous, it also offers many opportunities."

Chen Feng stared at him for a long time before finally sighing.

"You're more ruthless than I am."

"Not ruthless," Li Xuan said, "I had no choice."

The two drank several more bowls.

Before Chen Feng left, he took a booklet from his embrace.

"This is my father's Iron Bone Skill insights," he said. "I can't practice it anymore. You take it; it should help you break through to the fifth level of Body Tempering."

Li Xuan accepted the booklet and said solemnly, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Chen Feng waved his hand. "I'm just investing. When you return from the Northern Territory, just don't forget your senior brother."

With that, he staggered away.

Li Xuan opened the booklet.

Inside were dense notes, recording the key points of Iron Bone Skill cultivation, precautions, and experiences for breaking through bottlenecks.

Iron Bone Skill was the core Body Tempering cultivation method of the Iron Fist martial arts school, a top-tier mortal technique. When cultivated to completion, one's bones would be as hard as refined iron, making them difficult to damage with swords or blades.

He was currently practicing an incomplete Body Tempering technique, with only thirty percent completeness.

If he could switch to Iron Bone Skill, his strength would increase by at least thirty percent.

But switching cultivation methods required time.

And he only had one month.

That afternoon, the headmaster sent someone to deliver a message.

"Li Xuan, the headmaster wants to see you in his study."

The messenger was an inner disciple, speaking respectfully.

Li Xuan changed into clean clothes and went.

In the study, the headmaster was not alone.

There were two other people.

A man and a woman, both wearing blue robes with crimson cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs.

The man was around thirty, with a stern face and a sword at his waist.

The woman was in her early twenties, with a delicate appearance but sharp eyes, like two blades.

"Li Xuan greets the headmaster," Li Xuan said, cupping his fists.

"Mm," the headmaster nodded. "These two are envoys from the Crimson Firmament Sect, Steward Liu and Senior Sister Yun."

"Greetings to you both, envoys," Li Xuan bowed again.

Steward Liu sized him up, his gaze like a hawk's. "You are Li Xuan?"

"Yes."

"The one who split the arena during the competition, that was you?"

"Yes."

"What cultivation method did you use?"

"A self-created saber technique," Li Xuan said.

"Self-created?" Steward Liu raised an eyebrow. "Seventeen years old, and you created a saber technique that could split the arena?"

"It was luck," Li Xuan replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

Steward Liu stared at him for three breaths, then suddenly smiled.

"Good, arrogant enough." He turned to the headmaster. "Headmaster Lin, name your price."

The headmaster slowly took a sip of tea. "Steward Liu jokes. Li Xuan is a disciple of my martial arts school, not a commodity."

"Then what does he want?" Steward Liu asked.

"We'll discuss it after the Northern Territory trial," the headmaster said. "It wasn't easy for the martial arts school to nurture him; he must contribute something to the school."

Steward Liu frowned but didn't lash out.

He looked at Li Xuan. "Boy, the opportunity to enter the Crimson Firmament Sect without an examination is not something everyone gets. If you miss this chance, the next might be three years from now."

Li Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "This disciple wishes to go to the Northern Territory."

"Why?"

"This disciple wants to become stronger," Li Xuan said. "The Crimson Firmament Sect is powerful, but this disciple would only be an outer disciple. Although the Northern Territory is dangerous, there are opportunities."

"Opportunities?" Steward Liu sneered. "The Barbarians in the Northern Territory are ferocious. Last year, thirty percent of the disciples sent by the Crimson Firmament Sect for the trial died. Do you think you're stronger than them?"

"This disciple doesn't know," Li Xuan said. "But this disciple wants to try."

Steward Liu stared at him, then suddenly raised his hand.

A palm strike came flying!

It was just a casual palm strike, but the force of it made Li Xuan's breath catch!

Body Tempering seventh layer? No, at least the eighth layer!

Li Xuan instinctively used Shadow Step, retreating rapidly.

But the palm strike followed like a shadow, impossible to dodge.

Just as it was about to hit his chest—

Li Xuan gritted his teeth, circulated his entire body's vital energy and blood, and threw a punch!

A head-on clash!

A wave of energy exploded.

Li Xuan flew backward, crashing into the wall, a sweetness flooding his throat.

But he stood his ground.

He didn't fall.

"Oh?" A flicker of surprise flashed in Steward Liu's eyes. "Body Tempering fourth layer, to withstand my palm strike without falling. Interesting."

He withdrew his hand and looked at the headmaster. "Headmaster Lin, I want this kid. Name your price, as long as it's reasonable, the Crimson Firmament Sect can agree."

The headmaster smiled.

"Steward Liu is straightforward," he said. "I want three things: First, three outer disciple spots in the Crimson Firmament Sect; second, one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones; and third, one mortal-grade high-tier Cultivation Method."

Steward Liu frowned. "The first two are fine, but the third... a mortal-grade high-tier Cultivation Method is too valuable."

"Li Xuan is worth that price," the headmaster said.

The two men met each other's gaze.

The atmosphere grew tense.

After a long while, Steward Liu nodded. "Alright, I agree. But the Cultivation Method can only be a rubbing, not the original."

"Agreed," the headmaster said.

"Then Li Xuan..."

"After the Northern Territory trial, he will go with you," the headmaster said.

Steward Liu stood up. "It's a deal."

He walked up to Li Xuan and tossed him a token.

A crimson token, with "Crimson Firmament" carved on the front and the number: Jia 79 on the back.

"Drip blood to recognize your master," Steward Liu said. "From now on, you are a registered disciple of the Crimson Firmament Sect. After the Northern Territory trial, you can enter the outer sect of the Crimson Firmament Sect with this token."

Li Xuan took the token, bit his finger, and dripped blood onto it.

The token flashed with a faint light and returned to its original state.

"Thank you, Steward Liu," he said, cupping his fists.

"Don't thank me too soon," Steward Liu said lightly. "If you die in the Northern Territory trial, this token will be useless. The Crimson Firmament Sect does not accept the dead."

With that, he left with Senior Sister Yun.

Only the headmaster and Li Xuan remained in the study.

"Li Xuan," the headmaster looked at him. "Do you know why I'm sending you to the Northern Territory?"

"This disciple does not know."

"Because the Northern Territory... has something you need," the headmaster said. "Although the Crimson Firmament Sect's Cultivation Methods are good, they are ultimately someone else's. The Barbarians of the Northern Territory, though savage, their body-refining methods are best suited for battlefield combat."

He paused. "I want you to find the Barbarian body-refining method, the 'Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique,' in the Northern Territory. Bring it back, and the martial arts school will share it with you."

Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique?

Li Xuan's heart stirred.

"Headmaster, this Cultivation Method..."

"Mortal-grade high-tier, close to spirit-grade," the headmaster said. "Once mastered, your vital energy and blood will be like malevolence, and your bones like steel. On the battlefield, you can fight ten with one. Most importantly—it has no bottleneck."

No bottleneck?

Li Xuan's eyes lit up.

What he needed most right now was a method to rapidly increase his strength.

"This disciple understands."

"Good that you understand," the headmaster took out a wooden box from under the desk and pushed it over. "This is the martial arts school's support for you. Ten portions of Body Tempering Powder, five bottles of Vitality Pill, and... this."

He opened the wooden box.

Inside was a saber.

The saber was three feet two inches long, with a narrow, slightly curved blade. It was entirely black, with only the edge gleaming with a cold light.

"Black Scale Saber, mortal-grade mid-tier," the headmaster said. "Forged from black gold and scale iron, it weighs eighteen jin and can break through the defenses of those below Body Tempering fifth layer."

Li Xuan gripped the saber in his hand.

Heavy, but comfortable.

The blade was ice-cold, like holding a piece of cold iron.

"Thank you, Pavilion Master."

"Don't thank me," the Pavilion Master waved his hand. "This is an investment. Go to the Northern Territory trial, come back alive, and bring back the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique. If you die..."

He didn't finish.

But the meaning was clear.

If he died, everything would be lost.

Returning to his small courtyard, Li Xuan began his preparations.

He swallowed five portions of the Body Tempering Powder at once, out of ten.

The medicinal power exploded within his body, like a volcanic eruption.

He gritted his teeth, circulating the methods from the Iron Bone Skill insights to guide the medicinal power in tempering his bones.

Once, twice, thrice...

His bones emitted fine cracking sounds, like bamboo joints growing.

[Stamina: 3.8 → 4.2]

His physique broke through 4.0, officially entering the threshold of Body Tempering fifth layer!

But it wasn't enough.

He swallowed three more portions.

His meridians felt like they were about to split, and fine beads of blood seeped from his skin.

But he didn't stop.

He continued tempering.

[Stamina: 4.2 → 4.6]

Still a little short.

He swallowed the last two portions.

Something inside him felt like it exploded.

[Stamina: 4.6 → 5.0]

Body Tempering fifth layer, achieved!

Li Xuan opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

The turbid air shot out like an arrow, piercing the leaves of a locust tree thirty feet away.

His strength surged.

[Strength: 2.44 → 3.0]

His agility also increased.

[Agility: 1.84 → 2.2]

He clenched his fist, feeling like he could punch through a wall.

But this was still not enough.

The barbarians of the Northern Territory were said to have soldiers whose weakest were at Body Tempering third layer. Elites started at Body Tempering fifth layer, and captains were at Body Tempering sixth layer or above.

He needed greater strength.

For the next half a month, Li Xuan did not leave his courtyard.

He practiced his saber during the day.

With the Black Scale Saber in hand, the power of the Blade Breaking Saber Technique increased by thirty percent.

The first stance, Wind Breaking, had reached the realm of a swift slash like the wind, leaving no trace after the blade passed.

The second stance, Stream Breaking, could barely be executed, but it consumed too much, draining thirty percent of his vital energy and blood with a single strike.

The third stance, Mountain Slaying... he dared not try it again.

The last time he forcefully executed it, his meridians were almost ruined. If he messed around again this time, he might truly be crippled.

He practiced Shadow Step at night.

With the insights into the Iron Bone Skill given by Chen Feng, his understanding of vital energy and blood circulation deepened. The cultivation speed of Shadow Step doubled.

His movement technique, which could only be considered rudimentary before, could now barely be considered proficient. Within a range of thirty feet, he could land silently and move like the wind.

But Li Xuan knew, this was still not enough.

The battlefield of the Northern Territory was not a martial arts arena. There were no rules, no referees, only life and death.

He needed killing moves.

The true killing move.

On the twentieth day, Ying Qi arrived.

It was still night, still climbing over the wall.

"How are preparations coming along?" Ying Qi asked.

"Alright," Li Xuan replied.

"Alright means not alright," Ying Qi tossed over a scroll. "Information on the Northern Territory. Take a look for yourself."

Li Xuan unrolled the scroll.

It was covered in dense text and maps.

"The Barbarians have been unusually active this year. Two of the three cities in the Northern Territory have already fallen. The remaining 'Iron Wall City' is defended by General Zhenbei, Wang Meng. The Crimson Firmament Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Mystic Moon Sect have all sent disciples to support. Our martial arts school is responsible for guarding 'Wolf Fang Pass,' thirty miles south of Iron Wall City."

Ying Qi pointed at the map. "Wolf Fang Pass is a crucial choke point. If the Barbarians want to advance south, they must break through this pass first. Three thousand people died here last year, including five hundred martial artists."

Li Xuan fell silent.

Three thousand people.

Five hundred martial artists.

This was a meat grinder.

"You have two objectives," Ying Qi said. "First, survive. Second, find the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique. The Sect Master has already reached an agreement with the Crimson Firmament Sect. As long as you bring back the cultivation method, the Crimson Firmament Sect will grant you an inner disciple spot."

Inner disciple.

One level higher than outer disciple, with more resources and better cultivation methods.

"Is there any information on the Barbarians?" Li Xuan asked.

"Yes," Ying Qi nodded. "The Barbarian commander this time is the young chieftain of the 'Blood Wolf Tribe,' Wanyan Lie. He is at Body Tempering Layer Eight and wields a scimitar. It's said he cultivates the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique. He has eighteen personal guards with him, all at Body Tempering Layer Six or above."

Body Tempering Layer Eight.

Eighteen personal guards at Body Tempering Layer Six.

With this lineup, let alone him at Body Tempering Layer Five, even the Sect Master might not be able to gain an advantage.

"How do I find it?" Li Xuan asked.

"I don't know," Ying Qi said. "But Wanyan Lie has a habit—he always charges to the front in every battle and takes the enemy leader's head. If you want to get close to him, you'll have to go to the battlefield."

Go to the battlefield.

Face him head-on.

Li Xuan gripped the hilt of his saber.

"Also," Ying Qi looked at him. "Besides you, Zhao Wuji, Chen Feng, and two inner court disciples are going to the Northern Territory from our martial arts school. Zhao Wuji's father, Elder Zhao, might make a move against you on the way."

"Why?"

"Because of the three outer disciple spots for the Crimson Firmament Sect," Ying Qi said. "The Sect Master gave one to Zhao Wuji, one to Chen Feng, and there's one left... Elder Zhao wants it for his nephew. But if you go, this spot will be yours."

Profit.

It was always about profit.

Li Xuan sneered.

"I understand."

"Be careful," Ying Qi said. "Although the Northern Territory is dangerous, the most dangerous people are often those closest to you."

With that, he climbed over the wall and left.

Li Xuan stood in the courtyard, gazing at the night sky.

He took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Black Scale Saber.

Bring it on.

Let them all come.

See who can survive in the end.

Three days before their departure, the martial arts school held a farewell banquet.

All the inner court disciples were present, and even the Sect Master personally attended.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhao Wuji approached with his wine bowl.

"Junior Brother Li," he said with a smile. "The Northern Territory is perilous. We fellow disciples must look out for each other. If there were any misunderstandings before, let them be settled with a cup of wine."

He spoke with unusual sincerity.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao," Li Xuan raised his bowl. "For the journey to the Northern Territory, I will have to rely on you."

The two clinked their bowls and drank in one gulp.

The wine was strong.

But the hearts were cold.

After the banquet dispersed, Li Xuan returned to his small courtyard.

He found a letter on the stone table.

It was unsigned.

He opened it, and there was only one line of text:

"Be careful on your journey, Elder Zhao has bribed the 'Black Wind Bandits'."

Black Wind Bandits?

Li Xuan's eyes turned cold.

They were the most brutal outlaws near Black Stone City. It was said their leader, the Black Wind Fiend, was a master of the seventh level of Body Tempering, with over a hundred desperate followers.

Elder Zhao, for a spot as an outer disciple, actually colluded with outlaws?

Fine, very fine.

He burned the letter and returned to his room.

He dragged a chest out from under the bed.

Inside were the things he had prepared over the past half-month.

Three bottles of poison—instant death upon bleeding.

Ten throwing knives—coated with poison.

And three Blood Burst Pills.