Chapter 38: The Power of the Energy-Dissolving Technique Revealed

Chen Xuan watched the figure leave, muttering to himself. This was not his fault; it was simply a case of the other party’s competitive spirit being so strong that they had stumbled twice.

"What fine kung fu!"

A purple light flickered in Li Zihua’s eyes. He cheered and said, "Master Sword is indeed bold and skilled. If you possess such strength even while unarmed, I look forward to your swordsmanship even more. Today, I am determined to see your sword techniques. Please, Master Sword!"

He leaped into the arena.

Chen Xuan smiled and said, "After you, Young Master Li!"

Suddenly, his face flushed red. He opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood, his body swaying as he turned deathly pale.

The crowd was startled.

"Master Sword!"

"It is nothing, nothing. I clashed with that green infant last night, and my blood and qi have been churning ever since; I haven't been able to calm them down." Chen Xuan managed a forced smile.

He had, of course, forced the blood out himself. Otherwise, a sparring match with Li Zihua would surely expose his ruse. If he didn't use inner energy, he couldn't beat Li Zihua; if he did, the fact that his energy was poisoned would be discovered. Thus, the sparring match could not continue.

Li Zihua’s expression changed. "Master Sword, are you injured?"

"It is just my blood and qi acting up; it should be fine. Please, Young Master Li!" Chen Xuan said with a strained smile.

Li Zihua took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "It was my rashness. Had I known you were unwell, I would not have disturbed you. I apologize and hope you will forgive me. I have a Heart-Clearing and Spirit-Nourishing Pill here; please, do take it!"

He withdrew a purple jade box from his robes, which contained a pill sealed in beeswax.

"Many thanks, Young Master Li, but... is this appropriate?" Chen Xuan asked politely.

"There is nothing inappropriate about it. I was the one who was impetuous first, please do not mind it," Li Zihua replied.

Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take the pill. "Very well, thank you, Young Master Li."

"Please rest well, Master Sword. We shall discuss sparring another time." Li Zihua bowed and turned to leave.

Chen Xuan looked at the pill in his hand, then at Li Zihua, feeling secretly pleased. A "bitter meat strategy" was indeed the most effective! Not only did no one suspect him, but he even obtained a pill.

"Everyone, I must return to rest. Please forgive me for not being able to keep you company!" Chen Xuan turned and bowed. The others returned the gesture.

Back in his room, Chen Xuan bolted the door and breathed a sigh of relief. He was truly shrewd! However, this also confirmed one thing: the note in his room previously was at least not left by Feng Tian. If it wasn't Feng Tian, it was highly likely to be someone else from the heterodox sects.

Chen Xuan sank into thought. His current mission was to assist other heterodox members in poisoning the ten elders of the Righteous Alliance. He could sneak out tonight to investigate.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the wax-sealed pill. "A Heart-Clearing and Spirit-Nourishing Pill, what is it for? Can it increase inner energy?"

He did not crush it lightly, but carefully tucked it away to use in case of future injury. He then sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes to meditate.

Time passed quickly. Night soon fell.

Chen Xuan originally intended to slip out quietly, but then a thought occurred to him: would sneaking around be sensed by Daoist Qingxu? The man could even sense the green infant; sensing him would likely be no trouble at all. Thinking of this, he threw the door open with a flourish, clutched his stomach, and ran outside.

"My stomach is so painful; I don't know what I ate. How detestable..." He complained loudly on purpose. Whether Daoist Qingxu could hear him, he didn't know, but saying it made him feel more at ease.

He ran out of the manor in one breath and picked up speed in the small woods. This grove had recently been scorched by a fire, and the air was still thick with heat. After running for over a mile:

"Stop!"

A low shout rang out from behind.

Chen Xuan froze, his eyes scanning with vigilance. "Who is it?"

"Hmph!"

A cold snort sounded. A figure emerged from behind him, speaking in a sinister tone: "Why have you only just arrived?"

Chen Xuan turned slowly. He saw a figure dressed in night-traveling clothes, masked, with only their eyes visible, staring at him coldly.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Who I am is not important. What matters is that I know who you are, Junior Brother Chen!" the sinister voice said.

Chen Xuan was shocked. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Enough. I have no time for your empty words. Since you are here, you had best obey my orders. Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to make you meet an untimely death!" the black-clad figure said coldly.

Chen Xuan was filled with alarm and anger. They were threatening him? Damn it! The other party knew his true identity, while he remained ignorant of theirs. It was as if they held him by the throat.

"Fine, I will listen to you. But we are meeting here—aren't you afraid of Daoist Qingxu finding out?" Chen Xuan whispered.

"Rest assured, his 'Supreme Perception' is not active at all times. He used it all night yesterday; he will not use it today," the black-clad figure said coldly.

"And what if he does?"

"If he does, then you can just wait for death," the figure replied.

*Damn it!* Chen Xuan cursed inwardly. He asked, "Speak then, what do you want me to do?"

"Tomorrow morning, the Righteous Alliance will set out to surround the Five Poisons Sect from four directions. I don't know which direction you will be assigned to, but remember: once you set out, you must volunteer to be a scout. Go ahead to scout the path, and when the time is right, ignite the 'Soul-Chasing Powder.' Someone will appear from the shadows to tell you what to do next," the black-clad figure said coldly.

"I can do that, but I don't have any Soul-Chasing Powder," Chen Xuan said.

"Useless!" The black-clad figure looked at him with disdain, pulled a small bottle from their robes, and tossed it to him. "Remember, do not play any tricks on me, or I will have a hundred ways to kill you!"

Chen Xuan caught the bottle, then suddenly changed his expression. He looked behind the black-clad figure and shouted in surprise, "Who's there?"

The black-clad figure was startled and turned around in a rush, only to find nothing there.

In the next moment, a sharp gust of wind whistled from behind, the air hissing, accompanied by a spicy, pungent scent. The figure was furious. This guy wanted to ambush them?

"You're courting death!"

The figure turned with lightning speed, channeling inner energy. Black light swirled around their right palm as they launched a [Five Poisons Divine Palm] directly at Chen Xuan.

At the same time, Chen Xuan struck out with his [Draining Technique].

*Bang!*

The two palms collided with a dull thud, but unlike other palm clashes, it did not trigger a violent shockwave.

The moment the figure’s Five Poisons Divine Palm landed, they felt as if they had struck a quagmire, unable to exert force. More eerily, they felt their own inner energy draining away like a burst river. Their face turned to shock. What was happening?

They hurriedly waved their other hand, striking fiercely at Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan gave a cruel laugh, raised his left hand, and met the strike instantly.

*Bang!*

Another dull thud, and still no violent shockwave.

"Hahaha..."

Chen Xuan couldn't help but roar with laughter. He gripped the other person's hands tightly, channeling his Draining Technique to its limit, frantically dissolving their inner energy.

The black-clad figure’s face grew even more horrified. Their arms, shoulders, and body trembled, their meridians bulging as if air currents were constantly rushing out. In a short moment, they had lost seven or eight years of cultivation.

"You..." Their eyes were wide with terror. What kind of evil martial art was this?

Suddenly, gritting their teeth, they used some unknown secret technique and pulled back violently. Chen Xuan felt his palms go numb as if struck by lightning, forcing him to let go. But the moment he did, a terrifying poisonous palm struck directly at the figure's chest.

The black-clad figure dared not block with their palm again and could only grit their teeth, taking the blow with their chest.

*Bang!*

The palm hit, sending the figure flying seven or eight meters backward. They landed in the distance and spat out blood.

"A woman?" Chen Xuan looked surprised. It felt soft, like a marshmallow. This clearly wasn't a man.

But man or woman, anyone who dared to threaten him would be dealt with. Chen Xuan rushed forward.

The black-clad figure spat blood and hurriedly said, "You dare betray the sect? Stop now! Have you gone mad?"

Chen Xuan frowned and blocked the figure’s path but stopped attacking. He was worried that there might be accomplices hiding in the shadows. If he killed her and her accomplices found out and exposed his true identity, he would have no way out.

"I can spare your life, but for the sake of safety, you must let me see your true face. Only then will it be fair," Chen Xuan said.

"You..." The black-clad figure panted, looking severely injured. "Very well."

She reached up and grabbed the black cloth on her face. Chen Xuan remained on guard, fearing she might shoot hidden poison needles. Soon, the cloth was pulled away.

Chen Xuan’s eyes lit up. She was quite pretty. How to describe it? She looked rather like a certain Japanese adult film star.

"Say something for me to hear," Chen Xuan said.

The black-clad figure was stunned. "Say what?"

"Ahem, talk dirty." Chen Xuan coughed lightly.

The black-clad figure was furious. "Chen Xuan, do you think you have me cornered? If I don't return tonight, your identity will be spread throughout the Righteous Alliance by tomorrow morning. The heterodox sects will also know you have betrayed them. By then, with the whole world pointing fingers at you, you will certainly die without a place to be buried!"

*Damn, so vicious!* Chen Xuan cursed inwardly.

"Fine, forget it. I'll ask you one thing; if you don't answer, I'll finish you off and then run for my life!"