Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking

It was noon.

Inside the room.

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing slowly finished his practice, exhaling a breath of stale air. After practicing all morning, about five hours, Eight Extremities Fist had gained twenty-five experience points.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV6: 40/320.]

"Hmm."

Xu Qing pondered, "At my current pace, I can practice Eight Extremities Fist at home during the day for about eight to ten hours, which can increase my experience points by forty to fifty."

"In the evening."

"I can practice the Serpent Evasion Technique and the Azure Hawk Claw Force."

"This way."

"In about six or seven days, Eight Extremities Fist will be able to level up again."

Noon.

Xu Qing took out another piece of Tai Sui Spirit Meat and continued to cook it by pan-frying. After it was cooked to medium-rare, he ate it.

Additionally.

Xu Qing took this time to look at the gifts from Zhao Jingyuan. He opened the small rosewood box, and inside lay five small gold bars.

One must know.

In the Great Zhou Martial Kingdom, gold was much more precious than silver. The purchasing power of one tael of gold was equivalent to one hundred taels of silver. These five small gold bars each weighed one tael.

Five small gold bars meant five taels.

Equivalent to five hundred taels of silver.

It was indeed a generous gift.

Furthermore.

Coupled with Yu Hu's apprenticeship fee, and the gift from Ye Langtian.

All added up.

Xu Qing now had two thousand taels of silver.

This was, for Xu Qing, a considerable sum of money.

Time flew by.

Evening.

Xu Qing left his residence and headed to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Upon arriving, he walked directly towards the inner courtyard. As he passed the outer courtyard.

"Senior Brother Xu."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Xu."

"Senior Brother Xu, you're here."

"..."

Quite a few students were fawning over him.

"Mm."

Xu Qing merely nodded faintly.

"Senior Brother Xu is truly broad-minded. He really comes from a humble background, unlike some other senior brothers who act like they don't see us when we greet them."

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"To think I belittled Senior Brother Xu yesterday, and he repaid my malice with kindness. Not only did he not hold a grudge, but he was also magnanimous. I am truly impressed by Senior Brother Xu from the bottom of my heart."

"Exactly."

"I heard that Senior Brother Xu was a beggar before, but through practicing martial arts, he completely changed his destiny. Compared to Senior Brother Xu, we need to work even harder."

Around him.

Many students began to admire Xu Qing.

Indeed.

This was how people's hearts worked.

In his previous life, Xu Qing had, after all, started from scratch and built himself up to become a well-known and respected wealthy individual in the city. This was enough to demonstrate Xu Qing's composure and methods.

Speaking of winning people over.

Xu Qing was quite skilled at it.

Among the most important aspects were establishing a positive personal image.

Another was possessing genuine strength.

Inside the inner courtyard.

Xu Qing met Instructor Dan. Under Instructor Dan's introduction, Xu Qing first went to the Martial Arts Pavilion, intending to choose a sword technique there.

First Floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

"Token."

An elder sat on a lounge chair at the entrance, eyes closed, resting. Sensing Xu Qing's arrival, he called out to him and spoke plainly.

"Elder Xu."

Xu Qing cupped his fists in greeting. He had already learned from Instructor Dan about Elder Xiao, who guarded the warehouse in the outer courtyard, and about the elder before him, Elder Xu, who guarded the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Although these two elders were very old, each was an expert who had reached the Transforming Force realm or higher. Their status within the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School was extremely high.

Clearly.

This was also the foundation of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

"Yes."

Xu Qing took out his token.

"Mmm."

Elder Xu nodded. "You may enter."

"Thank you, Elder Xu."

Xu Qing bowed again and walked into the first floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion. Here, rows upon rows of bookshelves were arranged, each labeled with categories: Fist Techniques, Leg Techniques, Movement Techniques, Sword Techniques, Saber Techniques...

There were many of them.

After looking around.

Xu Qing walked to the sword technique bookshelf and began picking up the books. However, he discovered that these books could not be recorded by the Omni-Codex.

The reason was simple.

These secret manuals did not belong to Xu Qing.

"What a pity."

Xu Qing shook his head. "Never mind, martial arts is something you can't chew more than you can bite. Although I have the Omni-Codex to assist me, my time each day is limited. I should focus on mastering one martial art first."

Therefore.

After careful selection.

Xu Qing settled on a sword technique that was quite decent.

It was called: Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.

"This is the one."

Xu Qing nodded with satisfaction.

The Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.

It emphasized speed, accuracy, and ferocity. Simultaneously, each strike contained an extremely fierce aura, representing a sword technique of death and destruction.

At the entrance.

Xu Qing emerged, holding the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.

"Oh."

Elder Xu raised an eyebrow, glanced at Xu Qing, and said, "Kid, your taste is quite good. You actually chose this sword technique."

"Elder Xu, how many taels of silver does it cost?"

Xu Qing asked.

"One thousand taels."

Elder Xu replied.

"What?"

Xu Qing's eyes widened. "That expensive?"

"Expensive? It's alright."

Elder Xu smiled. "This is because you've already been accepted as a formal disciple by the School Master. For other registered disciples, it would cost two thousand taels of silver."

"Furthermore."

"After learning this sword technique, you can only learn it yourself; you cannot teach it to others."

"One more thing."

"Within the entire inner courtyard of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, there are a total of five instructors. None of them know the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking because this sword technique is extremely difficult to practice."

"It can be said."

"Even if you have the hope of reaching the 'Aura Realm' in the future, this sword technique is enough to match you."

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing took a deep breath and nodded, saying, "If Old Man Xu, you put it that way, then this sword technique isn't expensive at all."

And so.

Xu Qing took out the silver note for one thousand taels that Yu Chen had given him that morning.

"Old Man Xu, here is a one-thousand-tael silver note," Xu Qing said.

"Mm."

Old Man Xu nodded with satisfaction, reached out, took Xu Qing's original copy, made a duplicate, and handed it to Xu Qing. "Young man, you're welcome to visit again."

"..."

Xu Qing was speechless. Looking at the Martial Arts Pavilion, it was truly a money pit. He had only gone in once and spent a full thousand taels of silver.

"A reminder for you," Old Man Xu added. "Once you've learned the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking, remember to destroy the duplicate. Don't even think about challenging the rules of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, or you'll face the consequences."

"Understood."

Xu Qing nodded respectfully.

Next.

Xu Qing went to the Resource Hall. In the Resource Hall, he met Old Man Wang. This Old Man Wang was also a cultivator above the Transforming Force realm. His status was equivalent to that of Old Man Xiao and Old Man Xu.

To put it simply.

Old Man Xiao, Old Man Xu, and Old Man Wang were like elders of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

Zhang He and Instructor Dan were instructors at the martial arts school.

Xu Qing, Huo Yi, and Ye Langtian were disciples of the martial arts school.

Spirit Essence Powder.

It was one of the secret medicines of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. It had effects like strengthening muscles and bones, repairing internal injuries, and even some effects of cleansing the marrow. The price was five hundred taels of silver per dose.

One dose of the secret medicine could be used for three days.

From this, one could see.

How expensive the secret medicine was.

Practicing martial arts required too much money.

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing took a deep breath. He bought a dose of Spirit Essence Powder.

Afterward.

Xu Qing went to the Weapons Hall and spent ten taels of silver to buy a Fine Iron Sword that was forged quite well. It was much better than the Iron Sword he had obtained at the very beginning.

"Time to go back."

Having finished all his errands, Xu Qing returned to his residence.

Inside the room.

"Record."

Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the duplicate of the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking. With a thought, the Omni-Codex in his mind flashed with a fluorescence.

At the same time.

The duplicate of the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking also flashed with a white light.

Recording complete.

[Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking LV1: 0/30 (This is an extremely exquisite sword technique, consisting of thirteen strikes. Each strike contains one hundred and eight variations, emphasizing speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness. Simultaneously, each strike carries an extremely fierce aura, representing a sword technique of death and destruction.)]

Buzz! Buzz!

The next moment.

Xu Qing felt as if the illustrations and text on the duplicate in his hand had come alive, transforming into countless small figures that poured into his mind through Xu Qing's eyes.

Boom!

Instantly.

Xu Qing's mind jolted. His consciousness felt like it had entered a mysterious space. In this mysterious space, he began to practice one sword strike after another.

At this moment.

He couldn't feel the passage of time.

Buzz!

Until Xu Qing opened his eyes.

Clang!

Faintly.

The Iron Sword on Xu Qing's back let out a series of sword cries, as if celebrating something, while the Fine Iron Sword remained unresponsive.

"Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking."

Clang! Clang! Clang!!!

Xu Qing let out a soft cry. He waved his right hand, and instead of drawing the Iron Sword LV10, he drew the Fine Iron Sword he had prepared beforehand.

And so.

Xu Qing began practicing the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking inside the room. Sword lights flashed, and cold sword shadows appeared as Xu Qing executed one move after another.

"Hoo..."

Finally.

Half an hour later.

Xu Qing exhaled a breath of stale air, finally finishing his practice of the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking. It had taken him half an hour to complete the practice of this sword technique.

[Experience +1]

"This Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking should be the most exquisite martial art I've encountered so far. Although it's just a sword technique, it contains the operational secrets of Bright Force, Dark Force, and even levels beyond Transforming Force."

Xu Qing pondered, "Even the later sword moves require reaching the level of Transforming Force or higher to execute. If one were to force it, not only would the power be diminished, but it could also cause physical damage."

"Of course."

"A sword technique is, after all, a sword technique. It's merely a refined combat style, not a body refinement method. Therefore, one cannot cultivate Bright Force, Dark Force, or Transforming Force by practicing the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking..."

"Record."

Xu Qing glanced at the Fine Iron Sword in his hand.

With a thought.

Hum!

The Omni-Codex flashed with fluorescence.

Recording complete.

[Fine Iron Sword LV1: 0/15 (This is a Fine Iron Sword forged from fine iron by an ordinary blacksmith.)]

Similarly.

The way the Fine Iron Sword gained experience points was by swinging it.

One swing increased it by one point.

However.

Xu Qing did not intend to level up the Fine Iron Sword. He would need an ordinary Iron Sword to practice the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking in the future. If he also leveled up the Fine Iron Sword.

By then.

With a level ten precious sword drawn, after Xu Qing practiced the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking once, the entire house would be demolished.