Reverence

After Gao Wenqi and the other two had taken two steps forward, Shi Xuan drew in his breath and sprang up. Empowered by the talismans, his figure pounced upon the three like a ghost, flickering and unpredictable.

Gao Wenqi and the others had, after all, seen their share of bloodshed and slaughter. They remained incomparably calm. Gao Wenqi opened with a sword stroke blazing like the great sun, stabbing straight at Shi Xuan's vital points, while Cao Chuyu and Peng Tianxiao flanked him left and right, one with a saber and the other with a sword, sealing off every avenue for Shi Xuan to evade.

Shi Xuan had overheard Liang Shenglou mention Gao Wenqi's nickname, "Sun-Revealing Divine Sword," and had long been on guard. He narrowed his eyes slightly, tapped the ground with his toe, and cut in to the right.

Seeing that Shi Xuan was utterly ignoring his and Peng Tianxiao's attacks, Gao Wenqi felt suspicious, but his sword followed his intent as he stabbed toward Shi Xuan's left ribs. Still, he remained constantly alert for some unimaginable move from his opponent.

Cao Chuyu's sword shot out like a venomous snake leaving its burrow, darting straight for Shi Xuan's right chest. Yet Shi Xuan did not dodge. He merely turned slightly sideways. As the sword struck his body, Cao Chuyu was inwardly delighted, only to feel as though his sword had hit iron and stone, unable to advance another inch. Seizing the chance, Shi Xuan closed in and sent a palm straight at Cao Chuyu's chest, utterly disregarding the saber and sword behind him.

The moment his sword struck Shi Xuan, Cao Chuyu had become wary, but he could not react as swiftly as Shi Xuan's palm. He could only watch helplessly as Shi Xuan's palm landed squarely on his chest. His protective True Qi was instantly broken by the other man's True Qi, but that True Qi seemed to have reached its limit. Ecstatic, he was just about to flip backward when he saw Shi Xuan's bare palm crush his ribs and shatter his heart, relying purely on physical strength. With unwillingness in his eyes, Cao Chuyu slowly fell.

After killing Cao Chuyu with one palm, Shi Xuan swept forward with the momentum, managing only to evade Peng Tianxiao's steel saber before Gao Wenqi's sword pierced his back. Borrowing the force of that thrust, he leaped forward another great distance, then his ghostlike figure circled halfway around and pounced toward Peng Tianxiao behind Gao Wenqi.

After Gao Wenqi's sword struck Shi Xuan, he felt just as Cao Chuyu had: the other man's body was as hard as iron and steel. Terror filled his heart. Even Zen Master Zhihai, head of the Bodhidharma Hall of the Zen Sect, with the tenth level of the Golden Bell Shield, would have bled from that strike. What martial art had this mysterious young Daoist cultivated? Could it be the legendary perfected Golden Bell Shield? A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. Though it lasted only an instant, his movements still slowed. Then he saw Shi Xuan pounce toward Peng Tianxiao and hurriedly shouted, "Watch out..." Yet his feet hesitated, unsure whether he should flee or go to the rescue.

When Peng Tianxiao saw Shi Xuan charging at him, although Cao Chuyu's bizarre death had just occurred, he had no time to think deeply. Beneath his rough exterior, he was meticulous. He had no intention of clashing head-on, and feinted with a slash toward Shi Xuan's neck while preparing to launch himself toward Gao Wenqi.

Shi Xuan had been worried that Peng Tianxiao would use Lightness Skill to circle and harry him, making a quick battle impossible. The talismans' effects could not last long, and the two swords that had struck him had already consumed most of the Vajra Spell talisman's power. But seeing Peng Tianxiao still try to feint, he found it perfectly suited to his wishes. He neither dodged nor evaded, merely tilting his neck slightly. The steel saber brought up a gale as it chopped into the base of his neck, yet it rang out with a clear ding and bounced back. Shi Xuan, meanwhile, charged straight before Peng Tianxiao.

The moment Peng Tianxiao slashed out, he had planned to use even the slightest evasion from Shi Xuan as an opportunity to dart toward Gao Wenqi. But when the steel saber bounced back, he was horrified, and his feet reflexively tried to leap away. At the same time, he heard Gao Wenqi shout "Watch out." His temporarily sluggish mind was still wondering what he was supposed to watch out for when Shi Xuan's palm struck him in the face. His entire head burst apart like a watermelon smashed upon the ground.

Gao Wenqi had barely shouted half of "Watch out" when he saw Peng Tianxiao's steel saber rebound from Shi Xuan's neck, followed immediately by Shi Xuan smashing Peng Tianxiao's head apart with one palm. His soul nearly fled his body. No longer hesitating, he turned and used his Lightness Skill to flee outside.

After Shi Xuan blew apart Peng Tianxiao's head with one palm, red and white splattered through the air. Fortunately, he had cast the Rain Evasion Art on himself, or it would have been far too filthy. Without pausing, he leaped toward Gao Wenqi again. Seeing Gao Wenqi turn and flee, Shi Xuan felt secretly pleased. I was afraid you wouldn't run. The Vajra Spell talisman's power was nearly exhausted; what remained was better than nothing, but only barely. Fortunately, he had experimented with this talisman before and knew its effects like the back of his hand. If Gao Wenqi turned around and fought steadily now, Shi Xuan's Internal Energy would be inferior to his in both lethality and defense. He might have to find a chance to use another talisman, which would be such a waste. But now that Gao Wenqi was fleeing, Shi Xuan's Lightness Skill, enhanced by the talisman, far surpassed his. It would be much easier to deal with him in pursuit.

With one rush and one leap, Shi Xuan caught up behind Gao Wenqi and unleashed the move from the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist that felt the most satisfying to use: Black Dragon Playing in Water. Gao Wenqi held Shi Xuan's "divine protective art" in utter reverence and did not even consider counterattacking. He held his sword across his back and continued racing forward, hoping to endure this strike at the cost of an injury and escape outside. Only once he reached the heavy rain would he have a chance to get away.

This was the first time Shi Xuan had used the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist, originally a body-tempering art, in actual combat. Yet Black Dragon Playing in Water felt incomparably wonderful. The strength of his entire body and his Internal Energy seemed to merge into one at his fist, striking Gao Wenqi's sword with a vast, mighty, irresistible force. Gao Wenqi's treasured sword instantly split into countless fragments, but it still could not stop the fist force from pressing onward.

As Gao Wenqi ran, he suddenly spat out a great mouthful of blood. He staggered forward another dozen or so steps before collapsing with a crash. A deep fist imprint marked his back.

Shi Xuan leisurely withdrew his right hand, but waves surged through his heart. The Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist truly deserved to be called an ancient secret transmission. Its power was unimaginably great. He had never expected the blow to be fatal; he had only intended to gradually weaken his opponent. Once they reached the rain, he would have the Dark Night Vision Spell and the Rain Evasion Art, and that would have been the best time to deliver the killing blow.

The people from the escort agency had witnessed Shi Xuan's battle against three Peak Experts and felt their courage and gall shatter. Even someone as seasoned and composed as He Xiangshan had nearly stared his eyes out when he saw Shi Xuan's neck bounce away Peng Tianxiao's steel saber. He Yuqing, meanwhile, felt as though a myth were unfolding before her. She had never heard of martial arts like this. Her heart pounded wildly, and she did not know whether she was nervous or excited.

He Dahai was still the most experienced. He quickly came back to his senses and cautiously ran toward Shi Xuan. Before speaking, he hesitated for quite some time, unsure whether to address him as Master or Daoist. Shi Xuan's martial arts resembled the Golden Bell Shield, one of the Zen Sect's four great sect-protecting arts, too closely. Yet He Dahai did not know whether the Golden Bell Shield truly possessed such power. Then he looked up at Shi Xuan's Daoist robes, gritted his teeth, and said, "Senior Daoist, is there any odd work you need us to do?"

Shi Xuan was hesitating over whether to search the corpses for silver and the like, and whether to take out the Longevity Treasury manual he had overheard about earlier for a look. But how could one with the bearing of a lofty recluse personally do something as undignified as rifling through corpses? He Dahai's words made Shi Xuan quite pleased, and he instructed, "Mm. Search the people on the ground and bring their belongings for me to inspect."

After speaking, Shi Xuan returned to sit beside his fire. He watched the escort agency men rummage through the black-clad men and Liang Shenglou. As for Du Yuhan and Cheng Ying, they were left lying where they were. An escort came over to ask Shi Xuan whether the two should have their acupoints unsealed.

Shi Xuan nodded. Even all these people put together were not worth half a Peng Tianxiao, so there was nothing to worry about. Of course, caution was still necessary where it was due; countless people had capsized in the gutter.

He Yuqing came before Du Yuhan and prepared to squat down to unseal his acupoints. Seeing his handsome face covered in dust, and the surprise and delight at seeing her revealed through his terrified, stiff expression, she found his whole appearance utterly wretched. Disgust rose in her heart. She must have been blind before—how had she ever thought this fellow was rather good?

Du Yuhan had lain on the ground and heard everything. Remembering how unfriendly he had been toward that daoist priest, he had been both worried and terrified. Only upon seeing He Yuqing approach did he relax, and he said in delight, "Miss He, it's you. Quickly, unseal my acupoints."

He Yuqing barely suppressed her disgust. After unsealing Du Yuhan's acupoints, she turned and walked back to Shi Xuan's side, waiting there like a maidservant. Once Du Yuhan flipped himself up, he carefully studied Shi Xuan's expression. Seeing that Shi Xuan did not even spare him a proper glance, he hurriedly hid away in a secluded corner with his page, Cheng Ying.

Shi Xuan enjoyed the warmth of the fire as he watched the escort agency men lay the assorted items they had found before him: silver, sweat cloths, tobacco pipes, concealed weapons, bottles and jars, several martial arts manuals, and so on. Finally, He Dahai excitedly held up a manual found on Liang Shenglou and presented it before Shi Xuan. Four large seal-script characters were written upon it: "Longevity Treasury."

Shi Xuan knew that He Dahai had no ability to overhear the conversation outside the temple earlier, so his excitement at seeing the Longevity Treasury was only natural. Shi Xuan casually asked, "You know this manual?"

"Replying to Senior, every appearance of this peerless manual has stirred up a storm of blood and wind, so even juniors like us have heard of it. Although many have obtained the manual and failed to cultivate it successfully, it is said that Guangyang Hermit, the last person to master it, achieved breaking through the void and ascended away." He Dahai did not understand why Shi Xuan was asking, but he answered honestly nonetheless.

Only after Shi Xuan accepted the manual did he consider a question. He had often heard that people in the Jianghu had achieved Shattering the Void and ascended away, yet their realm was merely one level above the Subtle Realm. According to the Treasure Record, that was the Qi Induction Stage. This realm did indeed refer to Shattering the Void, but it had not the slightest connection to ascending away.

The Shattering the Void here did not mean breaking space itself. Any existence capable of breaking space would have to be at least a Primordial Spirit True Person. Considering the effects of martial arts at the Subtle Realm, they were separated from breaking space by a distance of a hundred thousand li. How could one suddenly break space merely by advancing a realm? It actually carried two meanings. The first referred to external things: it meant breaking the barrier between the body and heaven and earth, allowing the soul to directly sense heaven and earth and the flesh to directly absorb the Qi of heaven and earth. The second referred to the heart: breaking the void within one's mind, thereby reflecting upon the physical body—in other words, an extremely detailed inner observation of the body.