Chapter Thirty-Seven: Striking Again

None of the three tasks on the panel were simple, especially the second one: to cooperate with other heterodox factions to poison the ten elders of the Righteous Alliance, with a reward of 200 experience points for each elder killed.

In his view, this was simply courting death!

He did not even know who the ten elders were, so how could he poison them? And how was he supposed to coordinate with other heterodox factions? Was there perhaps another undercover agent from the heterodox factions embedded within the Righteous Alliance? In any case, this was a task he could choose to ignore.

Chen Xuan returned to his room. However, as soon as he stepped inside, his expression tightened; he sensed something was wrong. Had someone been in his room? There were clear signs that things had been rummaged through and that someone had moved about.

Suddenly, he noticed a sliver of something resembling an envelope protruding from beneath his pillow. He walked over quickly, intending to pull it out, but paused. He drew a dagger from his robes and used it to flick the item out. It was indeed an envelope!

He carefully slit it open, extracted the letter inside with his dagger, and saw a few small characters written upon it:

[Tonight at the third watch, meet at Erlipo outside the manor.]

"Hiss!" Chen Xuan drew a sharp breath. Who left this? What did it mean? Could it be that a heterodox mole had truly discovered him and wanted to make contact? Or was this a trap set by Feng Tian to lure him out and capture him?

His heart felt uneasy. He skewered the letter and quickly burned it.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Chen Xuan asked.

"Hero Jian, it is I," the voice of Zhou Qing replied.

Chen Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He waited for the letter to burn completely before opening the door to find the four youngsters—Zhou Qing, Zhang Wuhui, Jiang Haiying, and Zhao Xiaoyu—standing before him.

"What is the matter?" Chen Xuan asked.

"It is like this, Hero Jian," Zhou Qing said with a smile. "After you defeated the 'Wind-Cloud Blade' Feng Tian yesterday, your reputation soared. Today, another master wishes to spar with you and specifically asked us to come and inform you."

"Oh?" Chen Xuan’s eyes flashed. He chuckled, "That is a good thing, but my swordplay is not for sparring. My sword is a blade of death. If one wishes to spar with me, they must at least be able to defeat me while I am unarmed!"

He strove to show no flaws, acting exactly as he had before.

"Is that so? That is precisely my intention!"

Suddenly, a clear, resonant voice rang out. Chen Xuan looked over.

A group of people was walking down the nearby corridor. Leading them was a dashing youth in a green robe, a long sword hanging at his waist and a folding fan in his hand, his expression calm and confident. Following on his left was the "Wind-Cloud Blade" Feng Tian, who cast a glance at Chen Xuan with a trace of unwillingness.

Chen Xuan’s heart jumped, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Hero Jian, this is Li Zihua, the 'Flying Cloud Sword' of the Li family of Yunzhou. He is the one who wishes to spar with you," Zhou Qing whispered.

Chen Xuan looked at the green-robed youth and nodded slightly. However, although he looked at the youth, most of his attention remained on Feng Tian. Why had this fellow come back? Could he have really discovered something abnormal?

"I have heard that Hero Jian’s swordplay is superb, so I have come specifically to seek instruction. I hope you will not withhold your guidance!" Li Zihua said loudly.

Behind him, Feng Tian stared coldly at Chen Xuan. "Hero Jian, I did not accept the loss of that move yesterday. After pondering it all night, I am willing to challenge you again. I hope Hero Jian will grant me this wish!"

Others in the courtyard, who had been sparring and chatting, turned their heads at the commotion, their faces filled with surprise.

"It is Young Master Li of the Flying Cloud Sword!"

"Young Master Li reached the ninth level of Qi Accumulation half a year ago. With his family’s backing and frequent consumption of spiritual pills, he likely has at least thirty years of internal energy. He wants to spar with Hero Jian?"

"Hero Jian is nicknamed 'One Sword Supporting the Heavens.' I wonder if it is true or false. With Young Master Li challenging him, we will surely see his true strength this time!"

The crowd swarmed over.

Chen Xuan suddenly smiled. He looked at Li Zihua and the others and said, "You are all too kind, but I stand by what I said: my swordplay is for killing. If you wish to witness it, I fear you will be disappointed."

"Hero Jian just said that whoever can defeat your unarmed state is qualified to see your swordplay. I, for one, am willing to try again!" Feng Tian said coldly.

He had been too arrogant yesterday, leading to his defeat in a single move. He felt deeply unreconciled, but in front of such a crowd yesterday, he had no room to argue. Having endured for a day, he had returned to wipe away his shame.

Chen Xuan stood with his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "I do not mean to be arrogant, but those who fall by my hand are never regarded as my rivals. I can give you time to catch up, until you are nowhere to be seen."

He was not sure if Feng Tian had truly spotted something, but from now on, he had to be cautious above all else. It was a pity he wasn't wearing his white robes; if he were in his white-robed state, combined with his long black hair, saying these words would truly be the height of style.

Suddenly, he remembered something. Damn it, he had forgotten that he had plastered a medicinal patch on his face and stuck on a short beard. He must look incredibly ugly right now.

The surrounding crowd was secretly shocked. Some of the hidden prodigies watching the spectacle had eyes that flashed with intensity.

"What an arrogant tone… but, it is indeed fitting…" someone thought to themselves. They took a deep breath, confidence surging in their chests.

Zhou Qing and the others were also privately stunned. "This Hero Jian is truly formidable. Although his appearance is lacking, his strength is rarely seen," Zhao Xiaoyu thought.

"Hero Jian’s words have benefited me greatly. No matter the result, this trip will not have been in vain," Li Zihua said with a laugh.

"A fine 'Hero Jian.' In that case, please grant me your instruction!" Feng Tian, looking incensed, leaped into the small courtyard. He drew his long saber and pointed it directly at Chen Xuan. "Make your move! Let me see if your strength is truly as great as your words!"

His eyes were icy and focused, his blade covered in internal energy. This time, he was determined to force out Chen Xuan’s true power.

Chen Xuan shook his head slightly. "Your heart is full of flaws; you are not worth my drawing my blade."

Feng Tian was even more enraged. He stepped forward and charged like a madman. "I insist on challenging you!"

*Whoosh!*

He pushed his movement technique, 'Shadow-Following,' to the limit. Like a phantom, he rushed at Chen Xuan. The long saber in his hand instantly transformed into a sheet of light, covering Chen Xuan from above. He had unleashed his full strength from the start.

The crowd gasped. "Careful!" "How despicable!"

However!

*Clang!*

A crisp sound rang out. Feng Tian’s expression changed as he felt his blade strike something as solid as a mountain. It was deflected, pulling his own body off-balance with it.

Chen Xuan had used his fingers like a sword, striking directly against the flat of the blade. A surge of immense, unimaginable force erupted.

Since Chen Xuan’s internal energy had reached twenty-seven years, a slight infusion into his eyes made his vision incredibly sharp. Even though Feng Tian was fast and his blade technique profound, the trajectory was clear to Chen Xuan. Coupled with his deep training in hard-body arts, he had no fear of mistakes, which was why he dared to strike out with a finger.

He had used only pure physical strength, without a drop of internal energy. But to the onlookers, they were none the wiser, assuming his internal energy was so profound that he dared to use his fingers.

In that one strike, Feng Tian’s fingers were left numb and aching, his saber deflected. He was shocked and furious, forcing his internal energy to try and twist his body for another strike.

But Chen Xuan gave him no such chance. His body swayed, and utilizing the 'Eight Steps Chasing the Cicada' movement technique, he appeared behind Feng Tian in an instant.

"Young Master Feng, forgive me."

Chen Xuan’s voice rang out. Feng Tian was startled, unable to believe it. When did he get behind me? This speed… how is it possible?

Before he could react, Chen Xuan grabbed his Shendao acupuncture point on his back, hoisted him up as if he were a scarecrow, and tossed him right out of the arena.

*Thud!*

The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground followed. Feng Tian landed face-first in the dirt, looking miserable and covered in dust.

*Whoosh!*

The crowd erupted into an uproar. Zhou Qing, Zhang Wuhui, Jiang Haiying, and Zhao Xiaoyu were astonished. If they had suspected Hero Jian of using tricks yesterday, today was undoubtedly a display of solid, genuine skill, without a trace of chicanery.

Daring to strike a long sword with one’s bare fingers—such skill and audacity were far beyond what they could fathom. Moreover, that speed just now was incredibly fast; he had appeared behind Feng Tian like a flickering shadow.

[Reputation +12]

A blue light flashed before Chen Xuan’s eyes. He felt a secret thrill. He hadn't expected to gain extra reputation!

His reputation had now become "New to the Jianghu" (138/140) and would change again soon. He wondered what the next rank would be? He felt a slight sense of anticipation.

Feng Tian stood up, feeling utterly humiliated. His clothes were tattered, his face was scratched and bloody, and he was on the verge of madness. Yesterday, he had believed Chen Xuan only won through trickery, which was why he had unleashed his full strength today, hoping to wash away his shame. He never imagined Chen Xuan’s strength would be this terrifying!

In a direct confrontation, he had been tossed aside in just two moves. Feng Tian scrambled to his feet, filled with utter humiliation. Unable to bear staying any longer, he covered his face and fled.