Chixiao Divine Axe

The Chixiao Divine Axe

On the bustling street, a carriage raced forward at full speed.

Inside the carriage, two young men sat cross-legged, regulating their breathing. Their Essence, Qi, and Spirit slowly adjusted, gradually reaching their peak.

"Couldn't you have just said that money was yours? You made me waste so much breath..."

After a while, one of the muscular youths stopped cultivating and complained slightly.

"Cough, cough. Who told you to show up at just the right time? I had no choice but to press you into service!" The other coughed awkwardly at the complaint.

They were none other than Nie Yun and Yang Yan, who had fled the Nie Tian Branch in disarray.

Yang Yan had come to seek Nie Yun's help, hoping to find a way to place his mother's memorial tablet in the family ancestral hall. He had never expected to run into all this trouble the moment he entered, leaving him thoroughly frazzled.

Fortunately, Nie Yun's mother had been fairly understanding. A few casual excuses from him had been enough to get them through.

"Press me into service? When I left the family, I was dirt poor. Your mother was the one who brewed medicine for me, or I wouldn't even have survived. How could she possibly not know I had no money?" Yang Yan was speechless.

"Enough complaining. This trip to your family definitely won't be as simple as we imagined. Things may even come to blows. I happen to have a martial skill involving an axe. I'll explain it to you now. Cultivate it quickly—it should prove useful!"

Seeing his indignation, Nie Yun's expression suddenly turned serious.

"An axe martial skill? You really do have quite a collection of martial skills." Yang Yan smiled and shook his head.

This friend he had spent so much time with was becoming more and more unfathomable. The combat strength to challenge opponents above his level, astonishing disguise techniques, an endless stream of martial skills, calm and steady conduct, a far-sighted way of handling matters... If not for that familiar feeling that had never faded, Yang Yan would truly have suspected someone else had disguised himself as Nie Yun!

"There's actually something I never told you. Half a year ago, I took a master. He taught me all these things..."

Seeing Yang Yan's expression, how could Nie Yun not know what he was thinking? He could only bring out that excuse about a free master once more.

"To think you encountered such a fortuitous opportunity. Congratulations!" Hearing the young man's explanation, Yang Yan nodded happily.

After saying this, Nie Yun stared closely at him. What he saw in Yang Yan's eyes was only a friend's relief and happiness, without the slightest greed. His heart warmed.

If many of the people he had associated with in his previous life had learned that he possessed several hundred jin of gold and so many martial skills and cultivation methods, they would likely have made their move long ago!

This was the kind of friend worth keeping for a lifetime!

It was not that Nie Yun was overly suspicious. He had simply been too terrified by betrayal in his previous life, and he did not want to finally be reborn only to repeat the same mistakes!

"This martial skill is called the Chixiao Divine Axe. It was supposedly created by an expert named Chixiao. It has seventy-two forms, and every move possesses heaven-shaking, earth-shattering power. Legend says that once you master thirty-six forms, you can roam freely... invincible throughout the Shenfeng Empire!"

Nie Yun had originally intended to say invincible across the continent, but after thinking about it, the entire continent was simply too vast for the current Yang Yan—so vast it was beyond reach. The Shenfeng Empire was more practical.

"Master thirty-six forms and you can roam the Shenfeng Empire undefeated? Tell me this martial skill quickly!"

Yang Yan was startled, and his eyes immediately lit up.

He did not suspect Nie Yun of boasting. Over the past few days, Nie Yun had shocked him too many times. For someone to change so drastically in such a short time, just how formidable must his master be? It was likely beyond imagination. How could a martial skill produced by such a person possibly be simple?

"Fine, listen..." Nie Yun slowly recited the cultivation formula for the Chixiao Divine Axe.

He had obtained this Chixiao Divine Axe by accident in his previous life. Once he had reached the level of an old monster from a bygone age, he could not exactly say he had everything he wanted, but producing several dozen sets of cultivation methods and martial skills that others regarded as royal family techniques was no great difficulty.

This Chixiao Divine Axe was a top-grade royal martial skill. Once mastered, its power rivaled a low-grade imperial martial skill. When he had first obtained it, the first person he had thought of was Yang Yan. Sadly, Yang Yan was already gone then. He had never expected that after being reborn, this wish would be fulfilled so easily!

"This martial skill truly is formidable. Forget all seventy-two forms—even the first form may take me ten years or eight years to learn..."

After hearing the cultivation method, Yang Yan frowned deeply, looking troubled.

Back then, he had been able to contend with Yang Jun for the position of the family's first heir. Whether in cultivation or knowledge, he was exceptionally capable. The moment Nie Yun recited the formula, he immediately understood the difficulty of this martial skill.

The seventy-two axe forms progressed from simple to difficult. Never mind the later forms; even the first one gave him the feeling that he could not master it without ten years or eight years of effort!

No wonder they said mastering thirty-six forms would make one invincible in the Shenfeng Empire. Now it seemed that was indeed true!

"My master told me that the first form is merely an opening stance, relatively simple. If you cultivate it seriously, you should be able to learn it in about a day. But if we delay for a day, then by the time we reach your family, it will probably be night."

Nie Yun laughed.

Although he had not cultivated this martial skill in his previous life, as an old monster from a bygone age, his experience was there. It was only a top-grade royal cultivation method; with a single glance, he had already understood its cultivation secrets.

"Then we'll delay for a day! As long as it can increase my strength, anything goes!"

Hearing that he could master such a powerful move in a single day, Yang Yan was so excited he nearly jumped up.

"Good. We'll stop the carriage at an inn in front of your family estate, rent a small courtyard, and once you master it, it will be convenient to head to your family."

Nie Yun made the arrangements casually.

"Mm, good, it's settled!"

Yang Yan now followed Nie Yun's words without question and hurriedly nodded.

With their discussion settled, the two spoke no further. Yang Yan began studying the first form of the Chixiao Divine Axe, while Nie Yun seized the chance to cultivate.

According to the memories of his previous life, after he had been injured by Nie Chao, the branch had suffered repeated punishment from the clan and had ultimately been destroyed, its family scattered and dead. Someone in the clan had definitely been specifically targeting the Nie Tian Branch. They had already been plotting against it, and now there was also the butterfly effect caused by his rebirth. The branch appeared calm on the surface, but in truth it was like a small sailboat amid raging waves, liable to capsize at any moment!

To prevent the branch from capsizing, to keep his parents and relatives from repeating the fate of his previous life, he had to seize every second for cultivation. Not a single moment could be wasted!

Before long, the two found a separate courtyard at an inn in front of the Yang Family estate. After moving in, Nie Yun carefully explained the cultivation secrets of the first form and gave several further instructions before leaving the courtyard and quietly slipping outside.

In truth, Nie Yun had deliberately taught Yang Yan the Chixiao Divine Axe in order to slow his journey.

Yang Yan was only around twenty and his thinking was not yet mature. Perhaps he had not even realized the danger of this trip to the Yang Family. Nie Yun was different. Having lived two lives, he needed to prepare in advance. This time, not only would he smoothly place Yang Yan's mother's memorial tablet in the ancestral hall, he would also help Yang Yan seize the position of the family's first heir in one stroke!

Only by obtaining that position could he suppress the counterattacks of the others and ensure Yang Yan's safety!

It was like the struggle among countless princes for the throne. If one wished to avoid being schemed against by the others, there was only one path—become the emperor oneself!

To accomplish these matters smoothly, he first had to investigate the impact Yang Jun's death had brought upon the Yang Family. Otherwise, if Yang Yan entered the family holding the Blazing Axe, even a fool would likely guess that he had killed Yang Jun. If they surrounded and killed him then, he would not even know how he died!

Second, he had to create an illusion—the illusion that a Peerless Expert stood behind Yang Yan! Only then could he make others wary and have the Yang Family willingly hand the position of first heir to Yang Yan without complaint.

"As expected of one of the Four Great Families—the Yang Family really knows how to put on a display!"

"Isn't that so? Even a simple hunt has been made this grand!"

"I heard this hunt is actually meant to assess the younger generation. Do you know that Yang Jun, the Yang Family's first heir, died?"

"I heard. It seems he was killed by a mysterious man who suddenly appeared at an auction house. They say this mysterious man not only has more money than he can count, but his own strength is terrifyingly high. He can casually produce Noble Grade martial skills! He's incredible!"

"I heard this mysterious man has an enormous backing. The Chen Family, one of the Four Great Families, has already established friendly ties with them. With such backing, the Chen Family will probably grow more and more powerful!"

The moment he stepped out of the inn, Nie Yun heard two people eating and chatting.

"A mysterious man? The Chen Family is trying to forge ties? It seems the Chen Family released all these rumors. I never expected that family to do me such a huge favor!"

Hearing their conversation, Nie Yun's eyes lit up as a plan formed in his mind.

Of the two things he needed to do, gathering information would be simple, but creating the illusion of support from a Peerless Expert would be exceedingly difficult. He had never expected the Chen Family to solve that problem for him!

Rumors are spreading everywhere. I'll strike while the iron is hot—hehe, let's see whether you take the bait! PS: It's a new day. Hand over those recommendation votes! Once we reach one hundred votes, I'll post an extra chapter. Don't you want an extra chapter? Hurry and vote—it's free anyway... Whoever you give it to, it's still giving it away. If you don't vote, it goes to waste...