Nine Shadow Killing Sword

Regret.

At this moment, Zhou Kang's heart was filled with regret.

Had he known this would happen, he would never have so readily believed Liu Feng's words, much less rashly come looking for trouble with Chen Xuan.

He had thought this was an opportunity to befriend an inner sect disciple. He had never imagined he would end up in such a state, both arms crippled. To recover, he would need at least several months of rest and recuperation, and perhaps even his life would be difficult to preserve.

Zhou Kang slumped beneath the wall, his arms bent at grotesque angles. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans covered his forehead from the agonizing pain, but he had no mind for that, because Chen Xuan was walking toward him.

One step.

Two steps.

Every step seemed to tread upon his heart.

"W-wait!" Zhou Kang's voice trembled, his lips quivering. "You can't kill me. I'm an outer sect seed disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect. If you kill me, the sect won't let you off."

Chen Xuan did not stop.

"I... I'm still useful!" Zhou Kang said urgently. "I know Liu Feng's information! His cultivation, the martial arts he practices... I know it all. Spare my life, and I'll tell you everything."

"Oh? What is Liu Feng's cultivation?"

Chen Xuan stopped, his tone calm.

"Y-you don't kill me, and I'll tell you Liu Feng's information." Seeing Chen Xuan stop, Zhou Kang seemed to have seized his final lifeline. He hurriedly said, "Not only that, I can be your informant. If you need information about the Blood Fiend Devil Sect, I can help you find it out."

"Whether you tell me Liu Feng's information or not makes no difference." Chen Xuan continued forward and said blandly, "You were the one used as a spear. At death's door, you're still thinking of someone else. If Liu Feng truly cared about an outer sect seed disciple like you, would he have given you false information and sent you here to die?"

At those words, Zhou Kang's face turned even paler.

"Liu Feng!"

Then hatred surfaced in Zhou Kang's eyes.

Chen Xuan was right. The person he should hate most was Liu Feng.

If Liu Feng had not told him to bring Chen Xuan back to the sect, and had not fed him false information, how could he have fallen into such a desperate situation and lost his life because of it?

Even if he died, he would not let Liu Feng have it easy.

"Liu Feng cultivates the superior technique, the Blood Origin Technique. This technique can draw the blood and qi from others' bodies to nourish its user. He has reached the Qi Casting Realm Second Layer, but recently went into seclusion to break through to the Zhuqi Realm Third Layer."

Zhou Kang revealed everything he knew.

"A superior technique, the Blood Origin Technique. Secluded to break through to the Zhuqi Realm Third Layer. Thank you for telling me all that." Chen Xuan nodded. "To show my gratitude, I'll let you die quickly."

As his words fell,

Chen Xuan darted before Zhou Kang and struck his forehead with a palm.

Bang.

Zhou Kang's head slammed heavily into the wall behind him. Blood poured from his seven orifices, and his eyes instantly lost focus.

His body slid limply to the ground, motionless.

The courtyard fell silent.

Chen Xuan looked down at the corpse on the ground, his expression calm.

How could the words of a devil-path whelp be trusted so easily?

Claims of being an informant or gathering intelligence were all lies. Only a fool would believe them... But the information about Liu Feng at the end was probably true.

After all, Zhou Kang had been set up by Liu Feng.

If there was anyone Zhou Kang hated most before his death, aside from Chen Xuan, who had killed him, it was Liu Feng, who had set him up.

"Zhuqi Realm Third Layer!"

Chen Xuan felt a sense of urgency.

Since Zhou Kang had failed to bring him back to the Blood Fiend Devil Sect this time, the next person to appear would likely be Liu Feng, who had reached the Zhuqi Realm Third Layer.

Therefore, he had to break through to the Zhuqi Realm as soon as possible.

Chen Xuan crouched down and began searching the corpse.

Very quickly, he found several hundred taels' worth of banknotes on Zhou Kang.

Other than that, there were two martial arts manuals.

The two manuals were the "Blood Garment Technique" and the "Nine Shadow Killing Sword."

Chen Xuan flipped through them briefly.

The Blood Garment Technique was an ordinary Zhuqi Realm cultivation technique. So long as one opened twelve qi meridians, one could enter the Zhuqi Realm. It was likely the martial art Zhou Kang currently cultivated.

The other, the Nine Shadow Killing Sword, was a Zhuqi Realm martial skill.

Or rather, it was a martial skill encompassing both the Body Tempering Realm and the Zhuqi Realm.

In the Body Tempering Realm, once the Nine Shadow Killing Sword was cultivated to its peak, one sword strike could produce nine shadows, making it difficult for enemies to distinguish truth from illusion. Upon reaching the Zhuqi Realm, its power became even more terrifying.

The Blood Garment Technique was of little help to Chen Xuan.

After all, he had already cultivated the top-tier Vajra Technique. Even if he cultivated another Zhuqi Realm technique, it would not greatly improve his combat strength.

Martial skills were different. They could greatly increase one's killing power.

The Mountain Crushing Fist was only a Body Tempering Realm martial art. Once he entered the Zhuqi Realm, it would inevitably prove inadequate. This Nine Shadow Killing Sword happened to fill that gap.

However, Chen Xuan's foremost task was still to break through to the Zhuqi Realm. Only then would he consider cultivating martial skills to raise his combat strength.

Over these five days, Chen Xuan had accumulated five points of Zhaoxi Value, which he had yet to use. He planned to wait until he raised his innate talent to the middle grade, then use the Zhaoxi Value to accelerate his cultivation and maximize the benefits.

After all, even if he added points now and opened five more qi meridians, he still would not be able to break through to the Zhuqi Realm.

"Branch Master, the two brothers keeping watch at the gate are dead."

At this moment, gang members who had heard the commotion also arrived at the courtyard.

"I know." Chen Xuan's voice was calm. Pointing at Zhou Kang's corpse before him, he said, "I've already killed the murderer and avenged our brothers. Dispose of this corpse. Throw it behind the mountain to feed the wolves. Bring the two fallen brothers back and see that they are properly buried. The compensation money will come from the branch treasury—send fifty taels to each family."

"Yes, Branch Master!"

At once, two gang members hurried forward and dragged Zhou Kang's corpse away.

"Who was that? He actually infiltrated the branch compound without a sound and even killed two brothers on night watch. His strength must not be underestimated."

"Judging from his clothing, he should have been an outer sect disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect."

"An outer sect disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect—this was clearly retaliation from the Blood Wolf Gang. Fortunately, the Branch Master has already killed him. It can be considered justice for our brothers."

"Everyone should stay alert at night these next few days. The Blood Wolf Gang may send more people. We cannot relax in the slightest when it comes to the branch compound's safety."

"..."

Although Zhou Kang's nighttime intrusion into the branch compound and the killing of two brothers on watch sparked some discussion among the gang members, it did not cause much of a stir. They merely assumed it was ordinary retaliation from the Blood Wolf Gang.

If they knew that Zhou Kang, who had died at Chen Xuan's hands, possessed the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, the entire branch compound would likely explode into an uproar.

But Chen Xuan did not mention it.

He only had someone dispose of Zhou Kang's corpse. The fewer people who knew of his true strength, the better.

Soon, time reached the fifteenth day of the fourth month.

Night fell, dark and windy.

Chen Xuan changed into a set of black fitted clothes, covered most of his face, and silently left Qingshi Town.

He did not ride a horse. Instead, he sped on foot toward Baishui Town.

Baishui Town lay eighty li southeast of Lianshan City. With his current speed, he could reach it in less than two hours.