\u201cI thought you wanted to bring him here,\u201d said Qing Lingfeng, setting down the sealed Jiutian sword on their table at the main hall of the Du Manor.<\/p>\n
\u201cChange of plans,\u201d said Di Mie, shaking his head. \u201cI don\u2019t think he can last the conference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you stash him?\u201d sighed Qing Lingfeng.<\/p>\n
\u201cZhuiyue Cave. I sent Jianshi and Jianjin with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d said Qing Lingfeng, looking at the representatives from the smaller clans streaming into the hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are those two disciples of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re treating the injured at Phoenix Manor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMake sure to bill the Rong Clan for this,\u201d reminded Di Mie quietly. Qing Lingfeng returned a subtle nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cSect Leader Qing, Valley Lord Di,\u201d greeted Rong Zhong. \u201cI\u2019m glad you both could make it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMister Rong,\u201d they greeted in return.<\/p>\n
Rong Zhong went around to continue greeting the others, his usual cheeriness nowhere to be seen. His brother, Rong Jing, had a table adjacent to Du Yichen\u2019s table at the end of the hall.<\/p>\n
After a round of introductions, Du Yichen thanked Rong Jing for organising the conference and introduced himself as the moderator for the meeting.<\/p>\n
Many representatives of the elite families looked visibly displeased when Du Yichen introduced the Border Mountains Sect. Their table was also next to Du Yichen\u2019s despite being a sect made of mostly civilians.<\/p>\n
They first addressed the incident at Phoenix Manor, and when Rong Jing brought up the revenants summoned from a dead spirit gate, there was a loud collective gasp from the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cMister Rong Jing,\u201d said Du Yicheng, bringing up what Rong Jing left out. \u201cThere is also the matter of Rong Clan\u2019s Jiutian sword possessing dead aura.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rong Clan will take care of it. As long as the Border Mountains Sect returns the sword and stays out of our clan\u2019s business, we won\u2019t pursue this matter any further,\u201d snapped Rong Jing.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me,\u201d whispered Di Mie to Qing Lingfeng as he took the sealed sword. He showed everyone the sealed sword, then walked over to Rong Jing\u2019s table and held out the sword for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Border Mountains Sect makes no claim on the Jiutian sword. We shall return it to you now that it is properly sealed,\u201d said Di Mie, placing the sword and an invoice on Rong Jing\u2019s table.<\/p>\n
Rong Jing looked at the invoice and broke into laughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cA hundred silvers for the service of sealing it? Commoners are all about the money after all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the sword is sealed,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cI would caution mister Rong Jing to be careful with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be a scam,\u201d spoke up one of Rong Jing\u2019s men. \u201cI saw a worker pick up the sword without being affected before the Border Mountains disciples took it away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019d ask for a hundred gold if they planned to scam me, not a measly hundred silver,\u201d said Rong Jing, his hands hovering over the seals binding the sword, not daring to touch it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s have the Spirit Emperor prove in front of everyone that the sword is real,\u201d suggested his men.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd let an outsider wield our clan\u2019s sword?\u201d said Rong Jing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, this servant did not consider\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRong Zhong,\u201d said Rong Jing. \u201cYou have been quiet the whole time. Don\u2019t you have an opinion?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cElder brother has a point that outsiders should not wield the Jiutian sword,\u201d said Rong Zhong, his voice quiet and subdued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen someone from our clan must do it,\u201d said Rong Jing. He turned to his men who dared stir the pot. \u201cOne of you should unseal the sword and check.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEldest young master, this servant dares not touch the Jiutian sword\u2026\u201d spoke up one of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cUseless fools,\u201d said Rong Jing, looking at the few elite guards with him who kept their heads down, not daring to volunteer either.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps we should consider destroying the sword,\u201d said Rong Zhong. \u201cThere\u2019s no need for\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNonsense,\u201d said Rong Jing, cutting him off. \u201cI will not be seen as the Rong Clan\u2019s son who destroyed the ancestral sword.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then an idea struck him\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cRong Zhong. You\u2019ve always said you have no ambition to become the leader of the clan, haven\u2019t you?\u201d said Rong Jing, looking at his younger half-brother. \u201cDo you still stand by your words?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, elder brother. I have no desire to be clan leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSwear it in front of everyone here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rong Zhong sighed, then stood up and raised his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI swear it on my life and my name that I have no wish to be clan leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rong Jing laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince you swore it in front of everywhere, I\u2019ll allow you the honour of holding the Jiutian sword.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cElder brother?\u201d said Rong Zhong, frowning.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs interim head of the Rong clan, I order you to authenticate the sword,\u201d said Rong Jing.<\/p>\n
The hall gasped. Di Yichen slammed his armrest to quiet them and calmly addressed Rong Zhong.<\/p>\n
\u201cMister Rong Zhong,\u201d said Du Yichen. \u201cIf you wish to refuse this task, know that you may request to be disowned by the Rong clan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed!\u201d added the clan head of a minor sect. \u201cSecond young master Rong should consider Lord Du\u2019s suggestion and not take such a risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust leave, mister Rong Zhong. Becoming a commoner is better than being cursed by dead aura.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may have a playboy reputation, but if you are willing to give up your flirting ways, our Mingsi Temple is willing to take you in as well,\u201d offered an abbot.<\/p>\n
Rong Jing slammed his armrest and scowled. \u201cInterim or not, I am the head of the clan. Rong Zhong belongs to the clan. He may request to leave the Rong Clan but I don\u2019t have to approve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate everyone\u2019s concern, but this is no small matter for our clan,\u201d said Rong Zhong. \u201cPlease be careful while I begin authentification.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone in the hall stood up, wary of the sword.<\/p>\n
Rong Zhong activated his spirit aura, coating himself in a thin aura barrier as he tore off the seals and unsheathed the Jiutian sword.<\/p>\n
A dark aura congealed and dripped from the tip of the blade.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch strong dead aura!\u201d gasped the others.<\/p>\n
\u201cCleanse the sword,\u201d Rong Jing ordered his men.<\/p>\n
The guards and disciples took out their talismans and pointed their swords at Rong Zhong, who stood tall and held out the Jiutian sword.<\/p>\n
\u201cServants of the Rong Clan. To raise your swords against the wielder of the Jiutian sword is treason.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stunned by Rong Zhong\u2019s show of dominance, the men quickly withdraw their swords.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy my authority as clan leader, I order the Rong Clan to seal Rong Jing\u2019s core and banish him,\u201d said Rong Zhong.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmph! Looks like this liar doesn\u2019t want to live anymore,\u201d said Rong Jing. \u201cCome here, Li Gang. Challenge him as my proxy. See how his arm trembles; he can\u2019t hold the sword for long.\u201d<\/p>\n
The head of his elite guards, Li Gang, drew his sword and said, \u201cI formally challenge the wielder of the Jiutian sword on behalf of my master, Rong Jing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Di Mie stepped out and drew Ashfire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I shall formally accept the challenge on behalf of this mister Rong Zhong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Li Gang stepped back, surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t fight on his behalf!\u201d interrupted Rong Jing, knowing that none of his men was a match for the Fallen Leaves Valley Lord of the Border Mountains Sect.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the eldest young master Rong can use a proxy, why can\u2019t the second young master Rong use one?\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n
His face was covered by a dark veil but Rong Jing could feel a glare aimed at him. His lips curled into a snarl.<\/p>\n
\u201cValley Lord Di, this doesn\u2019t concern you or the Border Mountains Sect,\u201d said Rong Jing. \u201cThis is a family matter of the Rong Clan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, but as a disciple of the Border Mountains Sect, I cannot stand idly by when I see such unfairness,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cIf someone else volunteers as a proxy for Mister Rong Zhong, then I shall withdraw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Du, will you allow the Border Mountains Sect to carry on this farce?\u201d demanded Rong Jing, turning to Du Yichen.<\/p>\n
Du Yichen held up a hand to quiet the hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shall act according to the rules of the Rong Clan. From what I know, only he who wields the Jiutian sword may accept the challenge,\u201d said Du Yichen. \u201cIf Valley Lord Di is willing to do so, then he is as eligible as proxy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho would dare hold the cursed sword?\u201d whispered the people in the hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cHah! Pick up the sword if you have the gall,\u201d taunted the senior disciple of the Rong Clan.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince you asked so nicely, I suppose I have to accept your challenge,\u201d said Di Mie to that senior disciple, clapping a hand on Rong Zhong\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrother Di, it\u2019s fine,\u201d said Rong Zhong, looking at Di Mie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll send you an invoice for five hundred silvers later,\u201d said Di Mie, wrapping strips of black cloth over his hands and wrists before taking over the sword.<\/p>\n
He pushed Rong Zhong over to Qing Lingfeng who began sealing the dead aura spreading from his palm.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly,\u201d replied Rong Zhong, catching on quickly. \u201cCan I get a discount on the treatment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo discounts,\u201d said Qing Lingfeng, playing along. \u201cIt\u2019s another thirty silvers for temporary treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rong Zhong gave a sheepish chuckle.<\/p>\n
Some in the hall went \u2018ohh\u2019 when they realised that the Border Mountains Sect was simply doing business.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better explain this later, you silly brat,\u201d whispered Di Mie next to Rong Zhong\u2019s ear just before he strode up to Li Gang.<\/p>\n
Li Gang bowed to Rong Jing and Lord Du.<\/p>\n
\u201cI shall proceed if this does not displease my master and Lord Du,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth of you, please take it outside,\u201d said Du Yichen, and addressed the others. \u201cGuests, please be mindful and keep yourselves safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHah, let\u2019s see how long you can hold onto the sword,\u201d said Rong Jing, leading his men into the spacious courtyard outside the main hall.<\/p>\n
His smirk faded when he saw Di Mie dangle the sword from the strip of black cloth, minimising the contact he had with the corrupted blade.<\/p>\n
Li Gang steeled himself. He was a skilled fighter with decades of experience and could see that Valley Lord Di was not to be underestimated. Li Gang had been the head of a small sect before it was destroyed during the Calamity. He and his men who survived sold themselves into the service of Rong Yaozu to protect their families.<\/p>\n
Upon Rong Yaozu’s death, the contract for their services fell into the hands of Rong Jing.<\/p>\n
He knew the others in the elite guards had similar stories to his. Their job was to keep the keeper of their contracts safe, not deal with danger unnecessarily. But Rong Jing was not shrewd like his father and insisted for them to take the cursed Jiutian sword.<\/p>\n
Li Gang knew full well the horrors of dead aura. His hand trembled but his face was stern.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re skilled,\u201d observed Di Mie. \u201cI won\u2019t be able to hold back against you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my honour to go against Valley Lord Di,\u201d said Li Gang, activating a dense spirit aura that did not lose to Di Mie\u2019s.<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
Back at Zhuiyue cave, Jianshi and Jianjin trained as Xie Li dropped them some pointers.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry that another hundred times,\u201d said Xie Li, sitting on a rock in the back garden of the manor.<\/p>\n
\u201cMercy, Senior Xie! Even if my body can take it, my brain can\u2019t!\u201d wailed Jianjin. \u201cIt\u2019s impossible to throw a hundred bamboo leaves up into the air and then cut them all before they fall to the ground!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can throw the leaves higher if you like,\u201d shrugged Xie Li, busy cleaning Twig.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat just spreads the leaves out and makes it harder!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr you can hit lower.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cImpossible!\u201d cried Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm,\u201d said Xie Li, setting Twig aside and watching Jianjin\u2019s movements. \u201cFrom what I’ve observed, it shouldn\u2019t be that hard for you. Even if you can’t get all one hundred leaves, ninety shouldn’t be a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven counting a hundred leaves before I toss them up is starting to hurt my head,\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can try counting by grabbing them in bunches of ten,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou make it sound so easy,\u201d sobbed Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying for the whole morning,\u201d said Jianshi. \u201cThis technique seems to be way above our level\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the point of learning to cut every single leaf? If I had my spirit aura back, I could just do a Roaring Pulse and disintegrate them all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have the stamina to do a blast attack consecutively a hundred times?\u201d asked Xie Li.<\/p>\n
Jianjin shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you do a wide slash in a narrow tunnel with dead aura covering the walls?\u201d asked Xie Li again.<\/p>\n
Jianjin shook his head again. Senior Xie\u2019s examples were sometimes very oddly specific.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it\u2019ll be good to improve your precision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jianshi realised something. \u201cIs that why Di Shibo has two swords?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right!\u201d realised Jianjin. \u201cHe uses Ashfire for big, flashy attacks and Jade Flute for the less flashy stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJade Flute?\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n
“Twig,” explained Jianshi. “Di Shibo called this sword Jade Flute. It’s not officially named, though.”<\/p>\n
\u201cI see,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cHmm, I haven\u2019t carved a name into Twig yet either.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll fetch you the tools if you wanna do it now!\u201d offered Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother time,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cYou should focus on practising first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEhhhh,\u201d groaned Jianjin. \u201cDon\u2019t you have any tips for us, Senior Xie? We\u2019ve made no progress at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou both shouldn\u2019t find this too difficult if you\u2019ve already practised the Bugkiller Technique*,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n
*he uses a pun on the word \u2018insecticide\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBugkiller Technique?\u201d asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Di Shibo calls our training sessions at the Hermit Moon Peak,\u201d said Jianshi, whacking Jianjin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cPay attention sometimes, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, that,\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cDi Shibo just chucks us there once in a while and tells us to survive the swarms until morning. It\u2019s not technique, it\u2019s just pure desperate whacking\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can consistently achieve results, it becomes a technique. Just experiment and do what you can,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cDo whatever I can? Oh\u2026\u201d realised Jianshi as he test-swung his sword.<\/p>\n \u201cHm? Did you figure something out, bro?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n Jianshi went to the lush bamboo growth and pick at the leaves until he got to a hundred, then tossed them up into the air. He cut the ones he could, then with a wave of his sword, swept the leaves near the ground back up into the air. He repeated it a few times and cleared the leaves.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cIf you can curve your sweeps a little more, you can better control the trajectory of the leaves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, you can sweep the leaves back up into the air?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cSenior Xie did say we could hit it high or low,\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d realised Jianjin. \u201cSo as long as the leaves haven\u2019t yet touched the ground, it\u2019s fine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you thought of how you\u2019ll keep the leaves in the air?\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cIf bro can do it, I\u2019m not gonna lose,\u201d said Jianjin, gathering a hundred leaves needed for the exercise.<\/p>\n They watched.<\/p>\n Jianjin threw the leaves up and got low, kicking the leaves up higher, trying to bunch them together but they dispersed, like blowing a dandelion in the wind.<\/p>\n \u201cAh! Wait!\u201d said Jianjin, chasing after the dispersed leaves with his sword.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh,\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was just a trial run, I\u2019ll get it the next time!\u201d said Jianjin, pouting as he gathered the leaves to try again.<\/p>\n He failed another ten times, gave up and squatted down, sadly drawing circles.<\/p>\n \u201cSenior Xie, how would you approach this?\u201d asked Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cYes! Show us!\u201d chirped Jianjin, hopping back onto his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t done it in a while,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cI don\u2019t think I can get them all either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s amazing,\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cShow us how you do it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d said Xie Li, stretching as he gave Twig a few test swings. \u201cI might fail since I\u2019ve got a few blocked acupoints.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlocked acupoints\u2026?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds painful,\u201d winced Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that bad,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cPhysician Hong gave me some medicine for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat physician who came by this morning that looks like an otter?\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cHis furry face and long whiskers were so cute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Jin, it\u2019s disrespectful to call Physician Hong \u2018cute\u2019. Even if he does look\u2026cute,\u201d admitted Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just call him cute in my heart, then,\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cPhysician Hong is scary,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, he did nag at you quite a bit,\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n Xie Li took a deep breath and sliced the leaves off the thick bamboo growth.<\/p>\n \u201cNinety\u2026hundred,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n He did a sweeping kick, sending the already cut leaves Jianshi had left behind to hit the fresh ones higher into the air.<\/p>\n Using the flat of his blade, he created a space under the falling leaves but his strokes were curved, sweeping the leaves up towards each other.<\/p>\n He sliced the leaves in a circle from the outside in, as if driving them towards a focal point. In a single, smooth stroke, a hundred leaves were cut and fell at his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is amazing,\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you even\u2026\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cFresh leaves in calm weather like this are the best to start with,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cIf you used dead leaves in a breeze, the difficulty goes up threefold. And then there are demon wasps, which would probably be another threefold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Level \u2018Easy\u2019??\u201d sobbed Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cDemon wasps\u2026?\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n Xie Li put a finger on his chin as if in thought for a moment, then beckoned Jianjin over.<\/p>\n \u201cJianjin, stand over there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir!\u201d<\/p>\n Xie Li picked a pebble and threw it at him.<\/p>\n Jianjin brought up his sword and countered easily.<\/p>\n \u201cIs this some new exercise?\u201d asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d said Xie Li, as he went overturned a rock and picked up a hissing demon cockroach the size of a thumb. The roach dug its claws into his hand and drew blood. Xie Li shook it off and flung it at Jianjin.<\/p>\n The roach zigzagged in the air, angrily charging at Jianjin, dodging the first strike of his sword.<\/p>\n \u201cWoah,\u201d said Jianjin as he raised his sword and focused, then with one precise whack, batted the demon roach out of the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my heavens, how is it still alive\u2026\u201d said Jianjin, watching the angry cockroach buzz off in the distance.<\/p>\n \u201cOne more,\u201d said Xie Li, dipping his hand in the pond and flicking the water at him. Among the water was a single drop of blood. \u201cCut this.\u201d<\/p>\n Jianjin instinctively went for it, catching only the drop of blood with the edge of his sword and missing the rest of the water droplets.<\/p>\n \u201cUhh\u2026did I miss everything?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cJianjin, come here,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d said Jianjin, skipping over to Xie Li.<\/p>\n Xie Li flicked his forehead.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d said Jianjin, shocked. \u201cWhy is even Senior Xie hitting my head too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t try to copy us. Find your own way to do this,\u201d said Xie Li.<\/p>\n \u201cFine, everyone just likes to pick on little ol\u2019 me anyway, \u201d grumbled Jianjin, walking back to the bamboo grove as he rubbed his smarting forehead.<\/p>\n He cut the leaves down in bunches of ten and then tossed them up in the air. He leapt into the air and started with an aggressive straight cut down the middle.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n In the courtyard of the Du Manor, a fight between two top-level cultivators had begun.<\/p>\n Di Mie knew he was at a disadvantage using the cursed Jiutian sword. He couldn’t channel spirit aura through the sword to attack. However, the dead aura within the sword could cut through some of Li Gang’s spirit aura. This was a fight that had a small margin of error.<\/p>\n Li Gang, the head of Rong Jing\u2019s elite guards, charged at Di Mie, knowing that he could win if he could make his opponent fumble.<\/p>\n Di Mie jumped back and put a little distance between them, then threw out the Jiutian sword like a rope dart, parrying Li Gang\u2019s moves with precision. With each successful parry, he pushed Li Gang back.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the Valley Lord Di was famous for his explosive power, not precision!\u201d gasped a guest.<\/p>\n Di Mie pulled at the strip of cloth, yanking the Jiutian sword back before Li Gang sent out a blast of aura. He kicked the Jiutian sword with his foot back up into the air. The strip of cloth around his hand and sword were wrapped in spirit aura, making it easier for him to control.<\/p>\n Li Gang focused on the direction of Di Mie\u2019s hand and dodged the Jiutian sword flying his way. Di Mie gathered a ball of spirit aura in his hands and Li Gang braced himself, knowing this was the Valley Lord\u2019s signature move. The ball of aura exploded into wind and fire. Li Gang cut through the smoke and explosion with his sword and struck.<\/p>\n If Di Mie parried him with Ashfire, he could ask for the match to be invalidated\u2014<\/p>\n A second, smaller explosion weakened Li Gang\u2019s strike just before blade struck blade.<\/p>\n The smoke cleared. Di Mie was holding Jiutian sword’s sheath.<\/p>\n \u201cBehind you,\u201d said Di Mie, yanking on the strip of cloth still in his hand.<\/p>\n The Jiutian sword came flying towards Li Gang\u2019s back. He jumped back and spun around, letting out a blast of spirit aura to knock it away and tear up the black cloth.<\/p>\n Once his blast cleared, he saw Di Mie coming at him with the sheath of the Jiutian sword. He parried it with his own sword, only to see Di Mie\u2019s other hand in front of him with a ball of aura. It exploded in his face and sent him reeling. He took a step back and tripped over something winding around his legs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can\u2019t be\u2026I tore it off already,\u201d said Li Gang, seeing the black strip of cloth still firmly attached to the Jiutian sword that tripped him. He saw the black cloth held together by white spirit threads woven within and realised Di Mie was as skilled as he was powerful.<\/p>\n \u201cAura materialisation\u2026\u201d uttered Li Gang.<\/p>\n He lost in terms of technique, but he could still put up a fight with spirit aura. He created a dense cocoon of spirit aura around him to buy time as he looked for an opening.<\/p>\n \u201cCute,\u201d said Di Mie as he dropped the sheath of the Jiutian sword and placed both his hands on Li Gang\u2019s spirit barrier.<\/p>\n Li Gang could feel the subtle tendrils of a strange aura flowing between Di Mie\u2019s hands, stirring up his barrier. Sensing immense danger, Li Gang let go of his barrier. At that moment, Di Mie\u2019s palm hit his chest. A ball of aura exploded and sent him flying back, crashing into the rock garden. He quickly got up, only to collapse onto his knees from his internal injuries.<\/p>\n Di Mie picked up the Jiutian sword, its hilt wrapped carefully in layers of enchanted black cloth. He walked over and pointed its blade at Li Gang\u2019s throat.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you yield?\u201d asked Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201c…I yield,\u201d said Li Gang. He got up and bowed deeply to his opponent who did not go in for the kill. \u201cI thank you for your mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUseless fool,\u201d said Rong Jing, stamping his foot. \u201cHow could you fall for such cheap tricks? Valley Lord Di used palm attacks, not sword skills. And\u2014and that foolish way of using the sword sheath shouldn\u2019t count!\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone could see the skill and ingenuity behind Valley Lord Di’s \u2018cheap tricks\u2019 and did not comment.<\/p>\n Only Du Yichen spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cLi Gang used spirit aura blasts as well. Valley Lord Di used no other sword except the Jiutian sword, so the challenge is valid.\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie carefully sheathed the sword and wrapped it in black cloth, passing it back to Rong Zhong to wield.<\/p>\n \u201cGuards serving the Rong Clan,\u201d said Rong Zhong, holding up the Jiutian sword by the sheath with his injured hand. \u201cI order you to strip Rong Jing of his cultivation and banish him from the Rong Clan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you dare obey him! You\u2019re my guards,\u201d said Rong Zhong.<\/p>\n The rest of the guards looked at Li Gang, who nodded at them.<\/p>\n Rong Jing watched as his men turned on him.<\/p>\n \u201cRong Zhong! I challenge you,\u201d said Rong Jing, drawing his sword. \u201cFace me yourself if you dare.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t pay the challenge fee,\u201d said Rong Zhong.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I can. I have boxes of gold in the manor\u2019s treasury enough to challenge you ten times over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd whose approval do you need to withdraw that gold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat damn steward Zhu Yinghe is dead.”<\/p>\n \u201cWho does steward Zhu answer to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUseless details,\u201d snarled Rong Jing. \u201cDo you accept my challenge or do you want the entire clan after your head?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want the sword so much, why not hold it yourself,\u201d said Rong Zhong, holding the sword up invitingly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think I don’t dare do it? As long as I wield the sword, I can command you to kill yourself,\u201d growled Rong Jing, activating his spirit aura. \u201cI’ll just have to sacrifice a hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Rong Jing wrapped his fingers around the sword hilt and drew it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf a bastard like you can do it, then it is nothing to me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rong Zhong sighed. He rolled up his sleeve and showed Rong Jing his hand. Despite the talismans wrapped around his hand, the dead aura’s corruption had already eaten through the bindings and spread over his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more you desire the sword, the faster its dead aura will devour you,\u201d said Rong Zhong. \u201cI don’t desire it but it’s taken my entire arm.\u201d<\/p>\n Rong Jing watched as the dead aura from the sword suddenly shot up his arm, like flames catching on dried kindling. He dropped the sword but it was too late.<\/p>\n His men took out talismans and covered him in spirit aura to try and slow down the spread, but like a man drowning, they could only watch as the dead aura eat him alive and sink into his spirit core, turning him into a revenant right before everyone\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Qing Lingfeng sighed deeply to himself. He probably wasn\u2019t getting paid for overtime.<\/p>\n Translator\u2019s Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n Support this project with a Ko-fi!
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