Flying Sword Technique

Standing inside the Ancient Shrine, Liu Chengfeng studied the sword marks on every stone pillar and felt the crisscrossing Sword Qi.

In his mind, the Sky Eye opened, observing the changes in every sword mark on the pillars.

The Sky Eye observed heaven and earth, pierced illusions, and peered into the infinite. What mystery could escape its gaze?

Under the Sky Eye's scrutiny, the stone pillars vanished, the Ancient Shrine vanished, and the superfluous sword marks vanished, leaving only the useful Sword Qi.

Liu Chengfeng seemed to have been pulled away from the world, standing amid the Sword Qi. It crisscrossed in intricate, tangled patterns, its mysteries seemingly endless.

Yet under the Sky Eye, it all appeared simple. The Sword Qi was stripped away, revealing the sword forms and laying their mysteries before him.

As the Heavenly Mound turned, it drew those mysteries into his mind, where they were directly transformed into sword techniques.

The Flying Sword Technique appeared in Liu Chengfeng's mind just like that.

A top-grade technique from the Sage Scroll of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, it was rare in the Green Meng Realm. Generations of Qiuchi Kingdom's experts had failed to comprehend it.

Yet under Liu Chengfeng's Sky Eye, it was as easy as reaching out to pluck a fruit.

"So that's how it works."

Liu Chengfeng quickly grasped the mysteries of the Flying Sword Technique.

The Flying Sword Technique used blood energy to control a sword and kill from hundreds of meters away—or even farther.

That was what made it a top-grade technique.

Experts of the Reception Divine Treasury could fly; those of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury could not.

Even if an expert of the Reception Divine Treasury didn't attack, they could simply fly into the sky, beyond the reach of anyone at the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury.

The Flying Sword Technique could kill across hundreds of meters or even farther. It could strike down enemies even in the sky.

As Liu Chengfeng studied the Flying Sword Technique, the fox nestled in his arms poked its head out and carefully examined the sword marks on the stone pillars.

It could also sense the Sword Qi lingering in the marks. After glimpsing just a little of it, it knew the Flying Sword Technique was extraordinary.

It studied the marks closely, but couldn't comprehend the Flying Sword Technique from the Sword Qi.

In his mind, Liu Chengfeng tried to fuse the Thunder Sound Five Staffs with the Flying Sword Technique, but the two wouldn't combine.

When he tried fusing the Flying Sword Technique with the Purple Mist Flying Waterfall Technique, the Celestial Body slammed them together with a bang. Light flashed as it began the fusion.

As the runes shifted, a complete Innate Cultivation Method appeared in his mind.

"This works too—"

Liu Chengfeng cried out in delight.

The Purple Mist Flying Waterfall Technique was an Innate Human Scroll technique, while the Flying Sword Technique was a top-grade Sage Scroll technique. A chasm lay between them, one that couldn't be crossed.

But the Purple Mist Flying Waterfall Technique contained fragments from the black stone. These were its innate bones.

Innate bones were the key to a technique's advancement. They allowed the two techniques to fuse and become even more profound.

Practicing this sword technique filled the body with Sword Qi and turned the body into a sword. No weapon was needed: one could spit Sword Qi from one's mouth and kill from afar.

Paired with a suitable weapon, its power would be even greater, allowing one to slay enemies from a thousand meters away.

An Innate Sage Scroll sword technique could shake the heavens. It did far more than suppress those of the same rank.

With sufficient power, it could even transcend realms and slay experts of the Reception Divine Treasury.

Liu Chengfeng named this new Innate Sage Scroll technique the Flying Rosy Cloud Gold Sword Technique.

Liu Chengfeng had paid a price to fuse the techniques into an Innate Sage Scroll: the Celestial Body had mercilessly drained half his blood energy.

He had no choice but to swallow three portions of Blood Medicine, sit cross-legged, circulate his energy, and regulate his blood energy.

As Liu Chengfeng circulated the Gold Knot Heart Method, he also activated the Flying Rosy Cloud Gold Sword Technique.

Energy gave birth to the sword; the sword was contained within the body, and the body gave birth to Sword Qi.

Sword Qi burst from Liu Chengfeng's body. When he became a living sword, he startled the fox in his arms, and it jumped free.

The fox stared at Liu Chengfeng in shock. It couldn't even comprehend the Flying Sword Technique, yet Liu Chengfeng had mastered it in such a short time and turned his body into a sword.

The fox looked at Liu Chengfeng in disbelief. Could such a monster really exist in this world? Who could match talent like his?

Outside the Ancient Shrine, Su Youqian and Tie Ge's guards had surrounded it so thoroughly that not even water could seep through.

Although Su Youqian lived a dissolute life, he didn't dare be careless when his life was on the line.

As Su Youqian guarded the Ancient Shrine, one rumble after another rolled in from outside the city. Exotic beasts roared, Chen Bao bellowed, and armies clashed—their cries carried all the way here.

A tide of beastly stench swept in, mingled with a thick smell of blood, threatening to engulf all of Great Meng City.

"Young Master, the exotic beast army has launched its attack, and the assault is even fiercer. The city lord won't be able to hold out much longer."

"What about the Grandmaster Mansion?"

"The Grandmaster Mansion sent only one squad into the battlefield. The rest are staying in the city to protect the people."

"Protect them, my ass. The best way to protect them is to go fight on the battlefield!"

Su Youqian couldn't help cursing. He knew the Grandmaster Mansion had ulterior motives.

"The situation looks grim. The city lord sent word for you to leave first."

"No. Even if I have to leave, it'll be three days from now. I promised my brother that no matter what, I'd hold out for three days."

Su Youqian was fiercely loyal. No matter how much the Iron Guards urged him, he wouldn't leave. He would hold out for three days.

Outside the city, the fighting grew more and more intense. Both sides suffered heavy losses, and this time there were even more exotic beasts, placing the defenders of Great Meng Mountain under greater pressure.

"Ye Qingtian, send another squad into the battle!"

Chen Bao roared, his furious voice resounding throughout Great Meng City. He was covered in blood, both his own and that of the exotic beasts.

But the Grandmaster Mansion's people still refused to send reinforcements, using the defense of the city as their excuse.

Enraged, Chen Bao roared and smashed more than ten exotic beasts to death in a frenzy before battling the Wild Boar King.

Chen Bao could hold off the Wild Boar King, but on the other flank, Great Meng City's soldiers were already struggling to hold on. The Meng Snake King had gained the upper hand.

Other exotic beasts were gathering on Great Meng Mountain, and even more reinforcements would soon arrive. This left Chen Bao frantic with worry.

"Young Master, the city lord has ordered you to leave Great Meng City and return to the Imperial Capital."

Beside the Ancient Shrine, the Iron Guards protecting Su Youqian urged him to evacuate.

"Why?"

"We've learned that exotic beasts have left Cloud Mist Marsh and are gathering at Great Meng Mountain. The city lord wants you to leave."

Su Youqian's expression changed. Combined with Liu Chengfeng's warning, it seemed the Exotic Beast Emperor really was going to attack Great Meng City.

Su Youqian understood why Chen Bao wanted him to retreat first: Great Meng City was doomed.

"No. It hasn't been three days yet."

No matter what, Su Youqian wouldn't leave before the time was up.

With Su Youqian refusing to go, the Iron Guards could only fret helplessly.

Outside the city, the exotic beasts attacked with ever greater ferocity. The bloody battle raged on, and Great Meng City's defenders had already fallen behind. They wouldn't last much longer.

"Great Meng City is in grave danger. It probably won't last a day."

It wasn't only the defenders of Great Meng City who were anxious. Su Youqian's Iron Guards were worried too, and wanted him to evacuate.

Half a day later, the Ancient Shrine rang with the cry of a sword. Sword Qi spilled out, surging toward them.

"So soon? That's impossible."

Feeling the sharpness of the Sword Qi, Su Youqian couldn't believe it.

Liu Chengfeng had already emerged from inside, the fox tucked in his arms.

"Don't tell me you've mastered it?"

Su Youqian stared at Liu Chengfeng as if he'd seen a ghost.

"I happened to figure it out. Thanks for guarding the way, brother."

"You—you're fucking ridiculous!"

Su Youqian jumped in shock. He stammered, eyes wide.

"I gave you three days, and I wasn't even sure you could do it. You—you—you've only been at it for how long? Half a day!"

Su Youqian couldn't believe it. He'd given Liu Chengfeng three days to comprehend the technique.

He hadn't expected much. So many geniuses across generations of the Su Family had failed to comprehend it; it would've been perfectly normal if Liu Chengfeng couldn't either.

That was all he could do to help.

But now, in just half a day, Liu Chengfeng had mastered the Flying Sword Technique.

He wasn't merely a genius. He was a monster.

He could grind the Su Family's generations of geniuses into the dirt.

"The situation looks bad. The exotic beast army is coming."

Liu Chengfeng didn't need to see the battle outside. Through the Celestial Body, he already knew what was happening.

It wouldn't be long before the Lynx Emperor arrived. Great Meng City would fall.

"Brother, come with me. We'll retreat to the Imperial Capital."

Even if Su Youqian had to flee, he wanted to take Liu Chengfeng with him.

"No. I'm staying. Tell the Grand Matriarch I can drive back the exotic beasts and lift the crisis facing the Su Family Dojo."

"Are you serious?"

"I never go back on my word. But I need spiritual energy. I might even drain the dojo dry."

Su Youqian froze. The Spirit Vein Dojo beneath Tiger Mound was the Su Family's foundation, the source of its strength.

If the spiritual energy in Tiger Mound were drained, it would take the Great Meng Su Family thousands of years to replenish it.

"I can't decide this. I have to report it."

"Fine, but hurry. Time waits for no one, and otherwise it'll be too late."

Su Youqian knew how serious things were and set off at once. Liu Chengfeng didn't follow. He wanted to find the Fourth Elder and the others.

He'd been away from Great Meng City for so long that he was worried about the Fourth Elder's safety.

Su Youqian told Liu Chengfeng that the Fourth Elder was with the army, fighting the exotic beasts alongside the defenders to atone for his crimes.

Liu Chengfeng immediately headed outside the city. He wanted to bring the Fourth Elder and the others back inside. When the next beast tide arrived, Great Meng City's defenders definitely wouldn't be able to hold them off.

He wanted to bring the Fourth Elder and the others to Tiger Mound. That was the only safe place.

Before Liu Chengfeng could reach the city outskirts, someone blocked his way.

It was Gu Yao of the Ascending Wu Clan, along with six of the clan's protectors.

Gu Yao was at the third stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, while the six protectors were at the second stage.

The six protectors surrounded Liu Chengfeng and immediately formed a great formation. Each held a shield in one hand and a blade in the other, creating an iron wall.

"Instead of fighting the exotic beasts on the battlefield, you've come all the way here."

Surrounded, Liu Chengfeng remained calm and took out the Thunder Sound Staff.

"You colluded with the exotic beasts. We're purging Great Meng City of a traitor."

Gu Yao's excuse sounded righteous enough, but his real goal was still to kill Liu Chengfeng and present his head to the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect.

"The one I want to kill is you, too."

Liu Chengfeng's gaze turned icy. Gu Yao had led the people who burned down the Wu Dao Sect; there was no reason to spare him.

"Kill!"

Gu Yao shouted and led the six protectors in a coordinated attack.

The formation Gu Yao and the six protectors had formed was called the Six Witches Absolute Alley Formation. Once formed, it sealed off every escape route.

Trapped in the formation's dead-end alley, Liu Chengfeng faced the six protectors' enormous shields as they pressed toward him like an iron wall.

The six elders acted as one. At the second stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, the pressure of their Absolute Alley Formation weighed as much as eighty thousand jin, threatening to crush Liu Chengfeng.

"Get lost—"

Liu Chengfeng roared. His staff rose like a mountain, whistling through the air as layer upon layer of staff shadows crashed down, one mountain after another.

Frenzied, Liu Chengfeng swung every blow with force beyond the limit of the second stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, reaching a weight of eighty thousand jin.

The Six Witches Absolute Alley Formation relied on its thick shields for protection as it withstood the surging Mountain Staffs. A series of thunderous crashes rang out, deafening everyone.

The Six Witches Absolute Alley Formation's thick shields held firm.

The six protectors were inwardly horrified.

The six of them were experts at the second stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury. Together, they had formed the Six Witches Absolute Alley Formation to surround and kill an opponent at the third stage.

Liu Chengfeng was only at the second stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury, yet his Mountain Staff blows rattled them until their palms split. They nearly lost their grip on their thick shields.

The Mountain Staff blows came one after another, but the staff's momentum was about to run out.

Gu Yao seized the opportunity. The Dragon Rising Sword let out a dragon's roar, and he pushed the Incense Dragon Heart Method to its limit. His blood energy surged like a flood dragon. He raised his sword, dragon light appeared, and a strike carrying eighty thousand jin of force came crashing down on Liu Chengfeng.

At the same time, beneath the thick shields, the six protectors' blades flashed and spun. Their cold gleams fell like a blizzard of goose feathers, surging toward Liu Chengfeng to bury him in their wake.