Chapter Ten, The Master of Alchemy.
As the top masters of the present age, their martial arts skills surpass those of the future Xuanming Elders. They are quite self-assured, and upon receiving the news that a guard had been strangled to death, they felt that the small thief had nowhere to escape. In a fit of anger, they killed and fled, deciding to wait until their master woke up in the morning to report the matter. Shortly thereafter, the alarm in the study suddenly rang out, and they were greatly astonished, rushing straight over to intercept.
Yang Xiao and Xie Xun are both relatively young, but Xie Xun's martial arts skills are somewhat inferior, which relegates him to the position of Lion King, making it difficult for him to compete against the contemporary Xuanming Elders.
If it were not for the fact that the Weak Water Nine Transformations is inherently suitable for unloading and neutralizing force, Li Shouzheng would have taken advantage of Xie Xun's insufficiently pure and refined power, repeatedly deflecting the blade's edge, and it is feared that the whisk would have already become nothing more than a bare handle.
The six major sects always believed that the Ming Sect intended to seize the opportunity to cross eastward and absorb the martial arts community of the Central Plains. However, Yang Dingtian did not share this view; he observed that the talent within the sect was dwindling and only wished to promote and cultivate outstanding young talents at this moment, allowing them to establish their authority. This way, when the righteous army rises, they would be able to overthrow the Mongol Yuan dynasty.
Li Shouzheng, intimidated by the might of the treasured blade, immediately stepped back to avoid the blade's horizontal sweep that could strike his body. Upon realizing this, Xie Xun's spirit was instantly invigorated as he gripped the handle of the Dragon-Slaying Blade with both hands and launched a series of relentless attacks. In an instant, the shadows of the blade filled the air, with the momentum of the strikes changing in myriad ways. Wherever the blade wind passed, flowers and trees, as well as peculiar stones, were instantly severed. Frost-laden withered branches fell to the ground in a rustling manner, creating a scene of extreme desolation.
Li Shouzheng was entangled by Xie Xun, unable to stand shoulder to shoulder with him to resist the enemy. Su Ye's movements were graceful and pleasing to the eye, yet they left him gasping for breath. The Ming Wang Fumo Fist is based on the Longxiang Boruo skill, with each punch delivered as if the Ming Wang were subduing evil spirits, capable of shattering the enemy to pieces. However, when facing Su Ye, his punching power felt as if it had struck into thin air, unable to be retracted or effectively delivered. Occasionally, when their internal energies made contact, there was an immediate sense of an ethereal and profound feeling, making it impossible to articulate what kind of internal energy it truly was. Yet, when facing Su Ye, his punching power felt as if it had struck into thin air, unable to be retracted or effectively delivered. Occasionally, when their internal energies made contact, there was an immediate sense of an ethereal and profound feeling, making it impossible to articulate what kind of internal energy it truly was.
In fact, these two individuals are extremely well-known in the court, namely the Vajrayana master from the Tibetan border, Saban, and the leader of the Sanqing sect from the Central Plains, Li Shouzhen, both of whom are highly trusted by the powerful figures in the court. The Vajrayana has the concept of joyful meditation, and Taoism also has the practice of sexual alchemy. Upon hearing of such extraordinary skills, Yantiemuer was greatly pleased and extended generous invitations for them to concoct elixirs of immortality for him
He was about to let out a loud shout, calling upon the other guests in the residence to join in the attack, when he suddenly saw a flicker of black light in front of him, as if a black lightning bolt had erupted. Su Ye urgently urged her innate energy, transforming it into the duality of Tai Chi within her dantian, and then deduced the most proficient attack form, the thunder hexagram. The night blade in her hand moved with the speed of lightning and the ferocity of thunder, truly transforming into a long stretch of fierce lightning, striking down without hesitation.
The soft silk seemed unable to exert force, the attached energy remaining exceedingly gentle, subtly separating the duster from the blade. However, despite his profound and exquisite skills, he still could not restrain the power of the Dragon-Slaying Blade. With a sudden sound, half of the duster's silk snapped, held aloft by the airflow, and surprisingly did not fall to the ground. Xie Xun's arm trembled violently, and the Dragon-Slaying Blade nearly slipped from his grasp.
Meanwhile, he realized that Su Ye's strength was sufficient to block both of them, and Xie Xun was the weak link between the two. With a swift movement, he glided like a crane and leaped like a fish, managing to circle behind Xie Xun and flicked his dust towards his back. Xie Xun turned around and was met with countless soft threads resting on the blade of the Dragon-Slaying Saber.
Li Shouzheng's internal skill is named "Weak Water Nine Turns," which aligns well with the Daoist principles of gentleness and tranquility. However, having cultivated martial arts to this level, one cannot escape the influence of one's nature. Despite his outward appearance resembling that of an immortal with a celestial demeanor, once he makes a move, a chilling aura emanates, making him seem more like a ghostly apparition than a Daoist immortal. Sabhan, on the other hand, possesses the secret techniques of the Esoteric Buddhism, with his arms transforming into the form of the Vajra King, as if sprouting eight arms, blocking Su Ye's palm force like mercury spilling on the ground.
Xie Xun coldly laughed and said: "If it were not for this, you would not have allowed me to take the knife first"
The two individuals are both around fifty years old. One is dressed in a red robe and a yellow crown, possessing a kind and gentle appearance typical of a lama; the other, clad in a feathered garment and a crane cloak, is tall and slender, with a notably handsome visage, evidently hailing from the Daoist sect. In the distance, the light from the lanterns casts a glow that makes the lama's monk robe appear as vividly red as blood. Ordinary guards hold lanterns, creating a noisy and boisterous atmosphere. However, the two of them stand in the shadows, their expressions impassive, which instead evokes a more daunting sense of apprehension.
Her offensive is always as fluid as flowing clouds and flowing water, naturally expansive, and absolutely devoid of any stiffness. It can be fast or slow, both deeply understanding the principles of nature, acting according to the situation and moving with the circumstances. Just watching her engage with others is a visual delight. However, as her enemy, one has no time to enjoy anything.
Su Ye had never seen them before, but upon seeing their standing posture, he immediately became highly vigilant, knowing that his opponents were extraordinary
Su Ye chuckled softly and said, "You think too little of me. Since I have invited you to accompany me, I am not afraid of you seizing the knife. I just want to see if, after you pick up the treasured blade, a large hole will open up in the ground, where millions of venomous snakes are being nurtured. Then you would fall in and cry for help from below. If that were the case, it would certainly be quite amusing"
Su Ye tested their strength and realized that there was no chance to kill Yan Tiemuer. However, these two individuals possessed extraordinary martial arts skills and were willing to assist the tyrant in his cruelty, which would undoubtedly inflict significant damage on the forces of the Jianghu. They might also lower their status to participate in the pursuit and capture of righteous heroes. If she could eliminate them, it would be a good thing for the martial world
The two sides had just exchanged glances when Su Ye instantly darted forward about four to five zhang, raising his palm to strike at Saban. The latter did not dodge or evade, simultaneously meeting the attack with a palm of his own. As each person struck out, a thunderous roar echoed in the air, signifying that they had jointly withstood her fierce and unparalleled palm strength. The three of them were sent flying backward together, and when they landed, their force had not completely dissipated, causing them to retreat several steps, their faces displaying expressions of surprise.
At that moment, Li Shouzhen only heard Saban let out a muffled groan, and he caught a faint, extremely subtle fragrance at the tip of his nose
He is highly skilled in martial arts and extremely cunning, aware that the faint fragrance contains nothing but ill intentions. However, before he could evade it, he felt a numbness in his right arm, rendering it unresponsive, and he could not even hold onto his whisk.
She believed that this blade was as sharp as the Heaven Reliant Sword, and with her internal power to assist, it was unstoppable. This strike was unavoidable, landing heavily on Saban's forearm, the force akin to the edge of a knife, thin as a fine thread, piercing straight through, severing his arm in two. The night blade did not cease its momentum, continuing to cleave into his shoulder, shattering his extraordinary meridians. By the time the blade was withdrawn, he had already become a cripple.
Su Ye saw Xie Xun holding the Dragon-slaying Saber, yet she was still gradually falling into a disadvantage. She understood that he was still young and his martial arts had not yet reached great mastery, making it impossible for him to compare with a true peerless expert. At this moment, she could not afford to study martial arts in detail or grasp the principles within the opponent's techniques. She let out a silent sigh, forming a blade-like edge with the edge of her left palm, and struck into the indistinct flurry of punches, accurately blocking a punch from Saban while simultaneously gripping the hilt of her saber at her waist.
As the two engaged in a war of words, they did not wish to be confined within the room. Before their words had even faded, they had already displayed their lightness of body and darted out towards the door. The alarm bells rang incessantly, having already startled the attendants within the residence. Just as they stepped outside, they saw two figures quietly standing beneath the tall, green pines in the gentle night breeze.
Saban never expected that there were such masters in the martial world, who would dare to enter the dragon's den and tiger's lair, fully aware that their movements had been discovered, yet still resolutely engaged in battle with them. It should be noted that the current Emperor Taiding's capital treats them with great courtesy, waiting only for Yan Tiemuer to finish refining the elixir, after which they will be summoned back to the palace to become the emperor's personal protectors, thus gaining the power to manipulate authority and enjoy endless wealth and glory.
In terms of his abilities, he is actually quite far from his enemies. If Su Ye had not happened to appear tonight, then even if he continued to come to gather information, he would ultimately find it difficult to succeed. With strong reinforcements nearby, the situation would naturally be different. He also understands that if he can entangle the Taoist priest, Su Ye would have the opportunity to kill the Lama. If, because of him, they are unable to kill the enemy and have to flee in a panic, even if they manage to escape, how would he explain it to her?
Even so, if Xie Xun were to be placed in the martial world, he would still be a top-tier master. He had just obtained the Dragon-slaying Saber and was eager to test its power. Seeing Su Ye evenly matched against two opponents, he swung his saber in the air. His internal strength was already profound and vigorous, and with the addition of the saber's might, he became even more unstoppable. The saber wind howled, and in the blink of an eye, it had already swept to Li Shouzhen's side
Even so, Xie Xun ultimately could not compare to him, feeling as if his internal strength was being dissolved and eroded by some force, each strike becoming heavier than the last. With every contact with the duster, it was a weakening of his own internal power. After dozens of exchanges, he was secretly alarmed and had no choice but to retract his knife's momentum, attacking less and defending more, to avoid being harmed by the opponent's strange and sinister internal energy
The guards from the government have already arrived here, intending to surround them, but at most they are merely ordinary martial arts experts, completely unable to stop the four from engaging in combat. The attacks in the arena are like a torrential storm, astonishingly swift. The four move in an instant, constantly changing their positions to neutralize each other's palm strength through movement. Even if they wanted to intervene, how could they possibly succeed?
Xie Xun thought carefully about her words, and surprisingly found himself at a loss for words, so he had no choice but to ignore her. He had taken the knife in his hand and examined the blade closely, yet still saw nothing extraordinary about it. However, for him, an ordinary single-edged knife was rather too light. This knife, although heavy, was just right for his grip
Saban's blocking was as fluid as mercury, occasionally revealing unexpected moves that struck towards Su Ye, resembling the true Vajra King with the power to subdue demons weighing thousands of pounds. Moreover, his boxing technique was exceptionally refined, often launching attacks from angles that ordinary people could hardly imagine. If one wished to surpass him in martial arts, it would likely not be an easy feat
When the two met for the first time, there was no talk of cooperation, but each had already demonstrated extraordinary strength with a single move. Even though Xie Xun was not as skilled as Su Ye, he was no ordinary fighter. Li Shouzheng's expression was solemn as he wielded the whisk in his hand, channeling an extremely gentle force that intertwined with the blade's wind, surprisingly transforming the fierce gust into something insubstantial
As time passed second by second, everyone was captivated. Xie Xun usually did not use a knife, but once he mastered one technique, he mastered all techniques; his knife skills were equally unexpected, both agile and fierce. The Dragon-Slaying Saber appeared unremarkable, yet it was already infused with internal energy; when it struck anything, it was as if a sharp blade was cutting through tofu, effortlessly slicing through with a single swing.
Xie Xun was not familiar with the situation of the court officials' households, and he always felt that there should be a guard every three steps and a sentry every five steps, with traps hidden on the ground, rooftops, and walls, which would be appropriate for someone of high rank and power. However, the study was originally a place for conducting business, where the master often met with trusted officials. If it were filled with crossbows, poisoned water, and weapons, it would be quite inappropriate. If traps were to be set, they would inevitably be placed in areas where valuable items were displayed. However, the study was originally a place for conducting business, where the master often met with trusted officials. If it were filled with crossbows, poisoned water, and weapons, it would be quite inappropriate. If traps were to be set, they would inevitably be placed in areas where valuable items were displayed.