Chapter 20: Xiao Shiye
Chapter 20: Xiao Shiye
Three months later, within the Earthfire Furnace chamber.
Lv Yang trembled as he slowly rose.
Or rather than "rose", "floated" might be more accurate. For now, he had no flesh, bones, or sinew—only a crimson blood shadow!
"I did it!"
The blood shadow had no face, only radiant light swirling around it as it vibrated, producing a slightly distorted voice: "Ninety-nine days... finally accomplished!"
In the next instant, the blood shadow began to condense. The skin peeled from the ground flew into the air, "worn" by the shadow. Pale flesh gradually filled with blood, shriveled muscles plumped up, and soon, a completely intact Lv Yang stood in the furnace room.
At first glance, he seemed no different from an ordinary person.
Even compared to three months ago, his aura now felt far more immense. His powerful true energy had nearly solidified into a Qi Seed.
Refining Qi Seventh Layer! Late stage!
Perhaps the agony of cultivating the divine ability had been an unimaginable trial for his essence, energy, and spirit—yet it had accidentally shattered his cultivation bottleneck.
Even luckier, this breakthrough had occurred before he fully mastered the ability. Had it happened afterward, even breaking through the bottleneck would have been useless. For instance, his cultivation would have been permanently stuck at Refining Qi Seventh Layer.
"But this is enough", Lv Yang murmured. With the Ten Thousand Lives Scroll, he had never been confined to the achievements of a single life. His true goal was applying his power to future incarnations.
"Let's test its power!"
At his thought, a magnificent Sword Core suddenly materialized between his brows. In an instant, his figure transformed into a blood-red light merging with the Sword Core.
"Boom!"
Outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Peak, the ground violently trembled. The previously bustling crowd staggered, several people collapsing outright.
"What's happening?"
"An earthquake? Impossible! The elders are suppressing the earth veins—how could there be an earthquake?"
The disciples exchanged bewildered glances. Suddenly, a higher-cultivation disciple sensed something and instinctively looked toward a distant direction, astonishment growing in his eyes.
"Look!"
"That's..."
All gazes followed.
Then, everyone saw a rainbow-like sword beam erupt from a furnace room, soaring into the heavens in a blink. Where it passed, clouds churned violently.
"Clang! Clang!"
The sharp sword cry echoed across the sky. Intense red light dyed the entire Ten Thousand Treasures Peak blood-red, stirring the heavens and earth to form tidal waves of spiritual energy!
Caught in this surge, most disciples couldn't even meditate, nearly suffocating.
"Such a display—Refining Qi late stage?"
A disciple's face flushed with envy: "His true energy has already condensed into a Qi Seed. Just one final step to perfection, and Foundation Building will be within reach."
"Who's the senior brother who broke through?"
"I've seen senior brothers at Refining Qi late stage before, but none had such overwhelming pressure. That rainbow-like sword beam might be a formidable artifact."
Meanwhile, above the clouds.
Lv Yang, his form merged with the blood shadow and sword light, extended his Spiritual Awareness in all directions. Within a radius of over ten miles, every detail was as clear as lines on his palm.
"Refining Qi late stage. True energy sinks into the dantian, forming a Qi Seed, triggering a transformation of essence, energy, and spirit. If I still had a physical body, my physique would have reached an entirely new level—impervious to blades and bullets. My true energy should have multiplied dozens of times. Pity, now I'm left with only Spiritual Awareness."
As he mused, his eyebrows suddenly lifted.
"Who's there?"
Before his words finished, his sword followed his thought. The blood-red sword beam tore through the clouds, revealing a young, handsome figure.
"Senior brother, no need to fight! No need to fight!"
The man shouted, but Lv Yang paid no heed. The sword light surged forward. The man hastily retrieved a small flag, thrusting it into the air.
In the next second, the flag fluttered, transforming into a pair of gateways.
The man darted into one gate. When Lv Yang's sword light pursued, he emerged from the other gate, then raised his hand.
The gates vanished, reforming into a small flag.
Lv Yang's eyebrows lifted as he realized his sword light had been trapped in an unknown realm, evaded by the opponent.
"Fascinating."
Lv Yang grinned. His Sword Core trembled, like thunder rolling across the sky. Instantly, dozens—no, hundreds—of sword beams erupted like a peacock fanning its tail.
Seeing this, the previously smug young man's face paled. He hastily retrieved the artifact flag again to defend himself, shouting: "Senior brother, I'm Xiao Shiye! I came only to make friends, no ill intent! Please stop your technique!"
"Xiao Shiye?"
At the name, Lv Yang paused mid-attack. The sword beams halted abruptly, illuminating a face drenched in cold sweat.
"The predestined golden child?"
In the next breath, Lv Yang withdrew his sword lights, reforming into a human figure before Xiao Shiye, laughing heartily: "Junior brother, no offense intended. Just a little test!"
Xiao Shiye wiped his forehead, inwardly grumbling that Lv Yang had clearly been serious moments ago. Outwardly, he forced a bright smile: "Senior brother's power is unparalleled. Xiao Shiye is in awe. Please accept this humble gift."
He handed over the small flag.
"This is too generous..."
Lv Yang shook his head while accepting the flag, then noticed two characters embroidered in gold thread: "Void-Stepping."
"This artifact is called the Void-Stepping Banner", Xiao Shiye explained. "I bought it from an antique shop before joining the sect. At first, it seemed ordinary, but after entering cultivation, I discovered its true nature."
"The flag has two sides. When activated, it creates two gateways—life and death. Within the same cultivation tier, as long as you enter through the death gate and exit through the life gate, you can escape any danger unscathed, untouched by calamities."
Lv Yang couldn't help but twitch his face.
Such a miraculous artifact, casually purchased from a mortal antique shop before Xiao Shiye even began cultivation?
Suddenly, Lv Yang focused his Spiritual Awareness into his eyes. At Refining Qi late stage, his Spiritual Awareness had grown immensely, granting him many abilities. Now, he used a technique called the Qi-Scanning Art.
He didn't look closely enough—until now.
But when he did, his eyes nearly bulged out.
In his vision, Xiao Shiye's entire body radiated treasure light—from his robe, boots, headpiece, even the sash around his waist!
In terms of quality, none were inferior to his own Sword Core!
Even with Lv Yang's composure, he felt a pang of imbalance.
After months of exhausting effort and immense resources to forge his own artifacts, here was Xiao Shiye, treasures abound as if they were free.
"This person has incredible fortune."
If earlier Lv Yang had suspected Xiao Shiye's Gongde Pool victory was due to behind-the-scenes manipulation, now he reconsidered.
Could it be his luck is genuinely that good?
At this thought, Lv Yang's expression turned peculiar.
With such immense fortune, following him would surely grant endless opportunities. And his cultivation is still low—making him easy prey.
This Xiao Shiye... seems like quite the talent!
(End of Chapter)
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