"It's the Barbarian reinforcements." Senior Sister Yun walked over to Li Xuan, her expression solemn. "At least three thousand cavalry. Leading them... is the banner of the Blood Eagle Tribe."
Blood Eagle Tribe.
The elite forces of the Barbarian Royal Court.
The vanguard of an army fifty thousand strong.
"We can't stop them." Senior Sister Yun said, "We must return to the city immediately."
"We won't be able to hold the city even if we return." Li Xuan stared at the ever-approaching cloud of dust. "Three thousand cavalry are enough to smash through Iron Wall City's current defenses."
"Then what do we do?"
Li Xuan fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Senior Sister Yun, does the Crimson Firmament Sect have... any forbidden arts that can rapidly increase one's strength?"
Senior Sister Yun's gaze sharpened. "What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to break through." Li Xuan said, "Body Tempering Layer Six isn't enough. I need greater strength to stop this cavalry force."
"There is." Senior Sister Yun said, "But the price is enormous."
"What price?"
"Burning one's lifespan." Senior Sister Yun stared at him. "The Crimson Firmament Sect has an art called the 'Life Burning Art.' It can burn ten years of one's lifespan in exchange for tripling one's strength for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. But afterward, one will fall into extreme weakness, completely at the mercy of others."
"Ten years of lifespan..." Li Xuan smiled. "If I die today, what use would a hundred years of lifespan be?"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Senior Sister Yun took a jade slip from her robes and pressed it to her forehead. After a moment, she handed it to Li Xuan. "I'll only explain the cultivation method of the Life Burning Art once. Remember this: once you use it, there's no turning back."
Li Xuan took the jade slip and pressed it to his forehead.
A stream of information surged into his mind.
The Life Burning Art.
Using qi and blood as a catalyst, it burned one's lifespan in exchange for strength.
Simple, brutal, and effective.
He sat down cross-legged and began cultivating.
Nearby, the Crimson Firmament disciples were clearing the battlefield and treating the wounded.
Senior Sister Yun stood guard with her sword, her gaze complicated.
This youth was more ruthless than she had imagined.
Ruthless toward himself, and even more ruthless toward his enemies.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn.
Li Xuan opened his eyes.
A trace of blood flashed through them.
"It worked."
He rose and rolled his shoulders, loosening his muscles and bones.
His bones crackled like beans frying in a pan.
Power surged through his body as if it were about to explode.
[Strength: 5.8→17.4]
Though it was only temporary, it was enough.
"Senior Sister Yun," Li Xuan said, "take everyone back to the city. Leave this place to me."
"Alone?" Senior Sister Yun frowned.
"Alone is enough." Li Xuan tightened his grip on the Black Scale Saber. "More people would only get in my way."
He looked north.
The three thousand cavalry had arrived within three li.
Their banners stood like a forest, their blades flashed like snow.
At the very front, beneath the blood eagle banner, stood a Barbarian general clad in golden armor. His aura... was at Body Tempering Layer Eight Peak.
"Blood Eagle Tribe, Wanyan Xiong." Senior Sister Yun said in a low voice, "Wanyan Lie's cousin and the Blood Eagle Tribe's deputy commander. He's brutal and bloodthirsty, and he's massacred countless cities."
"Perfect." Li Xuan said, "If I kill him, will that be enough to exchange for Inner Disciple Qualification?"
"Enough." Senior Sister Yun nodded. "But you have to come back alive."
"I'll do my best."
Li Xuan turned and walked north.
One man, one saber.
He advanced toward three thousand armored riders.
Three li away, Wanyan Xiong reined in his warhorse.
He saw the battlefield ahead.
Tuoba Shan's corpse, Elder Zhao's severed head, and the fleeing wolf riders and private soldiers.
"Trash." He snorted coldly.
Then he saw Li Xuan.
That Southern youth walking toward him alone.
"How interesting." Wanyan Xiong bared his teeth. "Men, who's going to take his head? A hundred taels of gold and three women as a reward!"
"I will!"
A Barbarian centurion urged his horse forward.
He was at Body Tempering Layer Six and wielded a mace studded with spikes, his momentum fierce and imposing.
Li Xuan did not even look at him.
He casually swung his saber.
A flash of saber light.
The centurion and his horse were cleaved in two.
A rain of blood scattered through the air.
The three thousand cavalry fell silent in an instant.
"Who else?" Li Xuan asked.
His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly into everyone's ears.
Wanyan Xiong's expression turned solemn.
"Attack together!" He waved his hand. "Kill him!"
The three thousand cavalry charged at once!
The earth trembled, and killing intent surged like a tide!
Li Xuan drew a deep breath.
The Life Burning Art circulated at full power!
Ten years of lifespan began to burn!
His strength surged once more!
[Strength: 17.4→20.0]
The Body Tempering Layer Nine Threshold had been breached!
"Kill—!"
He charged forward first!
One man charged at three thousand riders!
The Black Scale Saber came crashing down!
The first row of cavalry was sent flying, men and horses alike!
The second row was torn apart in a spray of blood and flesh!
The third row was reduced to severed limbs and mangled bodies!
Li Xuan was like a tiger plunging into a flock of sheep. Wherever his saber light passed, none could withstand a single blow!
Wanyan Xiong's expression changed drastically.
"Form ranks! Surround and kill him!"
The cavalry rapidly changed formation, surrounding Li Xuan in the center.
Spears stood like a forest, stabbing toward Li Xuan.
Li Xuan neither dodged nor evaded.
The Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique circulated to its utmost limit, making his bones as hard as black iron.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The spears struck his body, leaving only white marks. They could not break through his defenses at all!
"A monster!" a Barbarian soldier shouted in terror.
Li Xuan sneered.
The Black Scale Saber swept horizontally.
The entire ring of cavalry was cleaved in half!
Blood gushed like springs, dyeing the earth crimson.
[Potential +0.2] [Potential +0.3] [Potential +0.5]
The panel jumped wildly.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
Li Xuan's eyes reddened with slaughter.
With every person he killed, the Killing Intent grew denser.
The progress of the second layer of the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique soared.
[Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique Layer Two: Novice→Minor Accomplishment] [Effect: Bone Hardness +200%, Strength +120%]
His strength surged once again!
Now, with a single slash, he could shatter heavy armor and cleave through armored riders!
Wanyan Xiong could no longer sit back.
"Move aside!"
He urged his horse forward, wielding a twelve-foot spear. The shaft was pitch-black, and the spearhead shimmered with blood-colored light.
"Boy, state your name." Wanyan Xiong said heavily.
"Li Xuan."
"Li Xuan..." Wanyan Xiong nodded. "I'll remember you. In return, I'll make your skull into a wine cup and toy with it day and night."
"You talk too much."
Li Xuan struck with his saber.
Wanyan Xiong swept his spear horizontally.
Clang!!!
Sparks flew in every direction!
The two men retreated at the same time.
Li Xuan retreated five steps, the web between his thumb and forefinger splitting open.
Wanyan Xiong retreated three steps, his arm numb.
"What strength!" Wanyan Xiong's gaze burned with excitement. "But it's still not enough!"
His spear moved like a dragon, thrusting toward Li Xuan's heart.
Li Xuan turned aside to evade it, then swept the Black Scale Saber upward toward the horse's legs.
Wanyan Xiong yanked the reins. His warhorse reared upright, dodging the slash.
The two men fought together.
Spear shadows stood like a forest, and saber light flashed like snow.
The surrounding cavalry could not interfere at all and could only circle them from a distance.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
After thirty consecutive exchanges, neither had gained the upper hand.
But Li Xuan knew that he did not have much time left.
The Life Burning Art could only last for the time it took an incense stick to burn.
More than half that time had already passed.
He had to end the battle quickly.
A vicious glint flashed through his eyes.
He deliberately exposed an opening.
As expected, Wanyan Xiong fell for it and thrust his spear toward Li Xuan's left chest.
Li Xuan neither dodged nor evaded, taking the spear head-on!
Pfft!
The spearhead pierced three inches into his chest!
But Li Xuan also seized the shaft.
"You..." Wanyan Xiong's expression changed.
Li Xuan flashed a wide grin.
His left hand gripped the spear shaft while his right hand brought the Black Scale Saber down!
Wanyan Xiong tried to abandon his spear and retreat, but it was too late.
The blade flashed.
His right arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder!
"Ah—!" Wanyan Xiong let out a horrific scream.
Li Xuan drew his blade and struck again.
This slash went straight for his head.
Wanyan Xiong desperately ducked. The blade scraped across his helmet, cleaving it in two and leaving a deep wound down to the bone across his forehead.
Blood smeared his entire face.
"Fall back! Fall back!" Wanyan Xiong shrieked, wheeling his horse around and fleeing.
With the commander fleeing, the three thousand cavalry instantly collapsed into chaos.
Li Xuan did not pursue.
He stood where he was, watching the barbarian tribesmen flee.
Then he looked down at the long spear jutting from his chest.
The time limit of the Life Burning Art had arrived.
Weakness surged through him like a tide.
He staggered backward and leaned against a broken tree.
"Li Xuan!"
Senior Sister Yun led people rushing over.
When she saw the spear in Li Xuan's chest, her expression changed drastically.
"Military doctor! Quickly!"
"No need." Li Xuan shook his head. "I won't die."
He gripped the shaft and yanked it out with all his strength.
Squelch.
Blood sprayed out.
Yet his expression did not change. He took Golden Wound Powder from his robes and sprinkled it over the wound.
The bleeding stopped.
"You..." Senior Sister Yun's gaze was complicated. "You killed Wanyan Xiong?"
"He didn't die. He ran," Li Xuan said. "But I seriously wounded him. He won't be able to attack the city for the time being."
Senior Sister Yun let out a relieved breath.
Then she solemnly cupped her fists. "Li Xuan, you rendered the greatest service in this battle. Once we return to the city, I'll personally request a commendation for you. The Inner Disciple Qualification is as good as yours."
Li Xuan nodded.
He looked in the direction of Iron Wall City.
The sun was sinking in the west, and the setting rays were red as blood.
Today's hurdle could be considered cleared.
But what about tomorrow?
The Blood Eagle Tribe's fifty-thousand-strong army was still on the way.
The true war had only just begun.
"Back to the city," Li Xuan said. "Tend to our wounds and prepare for battle."
He turned and walked step by step toward Iron Wall City.
Behind him lay corpses covering the ground, along with three thousand fleeing cavalrymen.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long.
Like a bloodstained spear.
Before you continue