Chapter 118: Breaking Through the City Walls

(I had a fever today and slept until evening, so the update is a little late.)

Drawing upon the power of martial force, Xu Xuan let out a furious cry that shattered Gui Feng on the spiritual level.

Yet no one had expected him to adopt such a savage method of attack—to ram his own body straight into his opponent!

Just as everyone was marveling at his madness, the change in the next instant left the entire crowd utterly stunned.

Bang!

A brass-like sheen appeared across Xu Xuan’s body, crimson radiance flowing over his skin. He took Gui Feng’s claw head-on, yet it left behind no more than a shallow bloodstreak.

What an incredibly hard body!

With the Copper-Cast Body defending at full strength, he could completely disregard the attacks of ordinary opponents at the same level.

Dongfang Ba’s pupils contracted. Unable to believe his eyes, he said, “Such a powerful body… He can’t be an ordinary martial cultivator! Could he be one of those exceedingly rare body cultivators in the cultivation world?”

“How did he do that?”

Within Zhang Yuhan’s serene, picture-perfect eyes, startled ripples of color shimmered.

“Die!”

A cold, fierce light burst from Xu Xuan’s eyes. At the very moment he endured Gui Feng’s claw, he slammed his shoulder viciously into the man’s chest.

Crack!

The sound of breaking ribs rang out.

“Ah—”

Gui Feng let out a shrill scream. His chest was pierced through by that earth-shattering force, and his body was sent flying with a bang, blood spraying in all directions. At the same time, a scorching, violent power surged into his organs, extinguishing his vitality in an instant.

Xu Xuan grunted. His face turned slightly pale, and he nearly spat out blood. Although the Copper-Cast Body had withstood Gui Feng’s strike, a powerful current of true force had still penetrated his defenses and reached his internal organs, leaving him with some internal injuries.

“Heh heh, just as expected… Killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of your own. This was the only way you could win!”

The voice of the remnant soul from his previous life echoed through his mind. Clearly, Xu Xuan’s thoughts had coincided with his own.

Killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of his own!

That was precisely the best strategy Xu Xuan could employ.

His opponent’s cultivation was far superior to his own, but what was most terrifying was the overwhelming advantage he possessed in speed.

Given such a tremendous disparity in speed, Xu Xuan could scarcely land a blow by conventional means. He had virtually no chance of winning; at best, he could only force a draw.

In terms of speed, status, and the strength of his true force, Xu Xuan was inferior to his opponent. His only advantages were his strength and the formidable defensive power of his Copper-Cast Body.

By contrast, although Gui Feng possessed speed that allowed him to dominate others of the same level, his true-force attacks were inferior even to those of an ordinary seventh-level Qi Refiner.

This had already been confirmed when Xu Xuan first took one of his attacks head-on. It was precisely on that basis that Xu Xuan ultimately used his own strength to exploit his enemy’s weakness and won with a single strike.

Of course, Xu Xuan could more accurately be said to have killed a thousand enemies at the cost of only a hundred of his own.

He had slain his opponent while suffering no more than minor internal injuries—a simple and highly effective method.

“Fifty-six exchanges… fifty-eight exchanges!”

Outside the arena, the robed elder serving as referee suddenly fell silent.

Thud!

Gui Feng’s body struck the ground. His chest was a mangled ruin of flesh and blood, his pupils vacant, not the slightest reaction remaining in him.

Everyone watching from outside the arena was plunged into indescribable shock.

At the final moment, Xu Xuan had actually unleashed such a stunning reversal.

“How could this happen?”

Dongfang Ba stood rigid, his eyes filled with disbelief. His expression shifted between gloom and fury, while Senior Brother Jiang beside him was so horrified that he visibly trembled.

“When did Xu Xuan become this terrifying…”

“It’s wonderful! Brother Xu actually turned defeat into victory! Yuhan, you were right—he really can create miracles.”

Zhang Feng was overwhelmed with delight. Excitement shone in his eyes, and his hands trembled faintly.

At that moment, as Zhang Yuhan gazed at the slightly panting young man on the dueling platform, a trace of bitterness welled up in her heart. Before the wagered battle, she had held no hope for Xu Xuan whatsoever. She had even rejected his offer to trade for the blood of the Three-Spirit Deer.

Now, as Xu Xuan stood upon the platform in the manner of a victor, she felt almost too ashamed to face herself.

Suddenly, she recalled the confidence radiating from the young man before the battle—an air of confidence she had been unable to understand no matter how hard she tried.

Where had that confidence come from?

“He’s dead.”

The robed elder stepped forward to examine Gui Feng, unable to conceal the astonishment and shock on his face.

“Gui Feng is dead?”

Dongfang Ba’s expression darkened as he stared at the young man on the platform, killing intent blazing openly in his eyes. Yet before the wagered battle, Gui Feng and Xu Xuan had made an agreement before the referee that the fight would be to the death.

The robed elder hesitated slightly. His gaze swept across the crowd before he announced expressionlessly, “The winner of this wagered battle is Brother Xu.”

Under Dongfang Ba’s resentful, blazing stare, Xu Xuan calmly accepted the bottle containing the blood of the Three-Spirit Deer.

“The blood of the Three-Spirit Deer!”

Xu Xuan’s expression betrayed a hint of excitement. Clutching the black jade bottle in his hand, he breathed rapidly.

He had risked his life to participate in this battle. Now that he had obtained the item, the danger had proven worthwhile.

“Congratulations, Brother Xu!”

Zhang Feng stepped forward to offer his congratulations while warily keeping an eye on Dongfang Ba.

Dongfang Ba’s face was twisted with venom and unwillingness. He had intended this battle to lure Xu Xuan into a death trap. Never had he imagined that Xu Xuan would prove so powerful—or that he would kill the formidable Gui Feng instead. He had lost everything and gained nothing.

“Young Master, we have already lost our chance to kill Xu Xuan. He has also grown close to the Zhang family. Even the slightest oversight could affect the clan’s plans. We must hurry and…”

Senior Brother Jiang lowered his voice, his face tense and uneasy.

“Let’s go!”

Dongfang Ba’s expression changed abruptly. Without even bidding anyone farewell, he swept his sleeve and left with Senior Brother Jiang.

Seeing Dongfang Ba suddenly hurry away, the remaining people present exchanged strange looks.

“Brother Xu, just how did you offend Dongfang Ba? He wanted to kill you the moment he saw you.”

Zhang Feng was deeply puzzled.

Throughout the wagered battle, Dongfang Ba had used inducements to lure Xu Xuan into the contest, intending to eliminate him. Yet he had not only underestimated Xu Xuan’s strength, but had also watched him kill the powerful Gui Feng.

Xu Xuan’s gaze flickered uncertainly. After weighing the matter from every angle, he could think only of Senior Brother Jiang.

As things stood, Dongfang Ba clearly did not know about the grudge between them. When Xu Xuan’s father had encountered Dongfang Ba on the road to Yellow Dragon City, his cultivation had been no more than the sixth level of Body Tempering. To Dongfang Ba, such an insignificant figure would never have been worth remembering.

“Brother Zhang, when did that young man surnamed Jiang beside Dongfang Ba first appear in Yellow Dragon City?”

Xu Xuan’s expression was grave.

“This is also the first time I’ve seen him beside Dongfang Ba,” Zhang Feng replied.

“He is merely a disciple of a minor sect, yet he suddenly received such importance from the Dongfang Clan. It is extremely suspicious. Moreover, the Dongfang Clan has been making frequent unusual moves lately…”

Zhang Yuhan’s brows drew together slightly.

“Something’s wrong!”

Xu Xuan suddenly thought of something. His expression changed dramatically, and he inwardly cursed his bad luck.

At last, he understood why Dongfang Ba had developed murderous intent after learning his identity and failing to win him over.

“What is it, Brother Xu?”

Zhang Feng was astonished. Ever since they had met, Xu Xuan had always been composed. Zhang Feng had never seen him lose his composure like this.

“Recently, the two sects of Starfeather Mountain have been trying to stabilize a secret realm left behind hundreds of years ago. They have even sent disciples inside to explore it. Does the Zhang family know about this?”

Xu Xuan asked solemnly.

“I’ve heard a little about it.” Zhang Yuhan nodded faintly. “The area around Pinghua Town is precisely where our Zhang family’s influence is weakest. It has always been controlled jointly by the Dongfang Clan and several other powers. The Zhang family paid little attention to the matter and would have difficulty interfering even if we wished to. Besides, the Zhang family possesses one or two unstable secret realms of this kind as well. The conditions for entering them are extremely demanding. What the cultivation world truly lacks are secret realms that can remain stable over a long period.”

“I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll take my leave first.”

The news made Xu Xuan feel even more pressed for time. He immediately rose and bade them farewell, then hurried out of the Zhang Heavenly Spirit Tower.

“The Windfeather Sect… a secret realm?”

Zhang Yuhan’s brows furrowed as she pondered. A strange light flashed through her eyes, and she said to Zhang Feng, “I’m going back to the clan at once. There is something important I must tell Father. Send people to protect Xu Xuan. From now on, this will be the best opportunity to recruit him into the family…”

“Yuhan, what exactly happened?”

Zhang Feng’s expression turned solemn.

…

Xu Xuan did not stop for even a moment. He left the Zhang Heavenly Spirit Tower and hurried toward the outskirts of Yellow Dragon City.

As he passed the Free Market, the voice of the remnant soul from his previous life sounded in his mind. “You’re not planning to hunt for treasures here?”

“There’s no time. I have to get back to the Windfeather Sect as quickly as possible. Hopefully, I’m not too late.”

Xu Xuan looked tense as he rushed straight toward the entrance of Yellow Dragon City.

“What’s going on? Why have they sealed the city gates for no reason?”

When he arrived at the gate, he found the area in complete disorder. A group of enforcers had blocked the entrance.

“The Dongfang Clan has ordered that the city gates be sealed tonight!”

A martial cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining shouted loudly.

“The Spirit City Prefecture gave no such order. What right does the Dongfang Clan have to seal the gates?”

“Quiet, brother! Don’t you know that the Dongfang Clan practically rules Yellow Dragon City? Even the Spirit City Prefecture has to show them some fear.”

The cultivators were furious, yet none dared to speak further.

Xu Xuan was astonished. He had never imagined that the Dongfang Clan’s influence had grown so great that they dared to seal the city gates openly.

After all, the highest governing institution in Yellow Dragon City, at least in name, was the Spirit City Prefecture. The various clans were merely individual powers within the city.

His gaze swept across the surroundings. The city gate was impossible to pass through, with large numbers of cultivators stationed there and even a Spirit Severing cultivator holding the line.

Soon, however, he noticed that Spirit Severing cultivators could still move freely through the air above the city wall.

The question was whether he himself could pass through the great formation surrounding the walls.

Just as he secretly circulated his elemental power and prepared to risk everything—

“Brother Xu, come up.”

In the air above him, a robed elder stood upon a flying artifact that shimmered with green light.

Xu Xuan took a closer look. Was this not the very Spirit Severing immortal master from the Zhang Heavenly Spirit Tower—the man who had traded the Poisonfire Three-Yang Pill with him and served as referee for the wagered battle?

Whoosh!

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Xuan leaped into the air and landed steadily beside the robed elder upon the flying artifact.

Power surged from the robed elder’s body. The flying artifact beneath his feet burst into a hazy green radiance and carried the two of them through the pale-blue barrier surrounding Yellow Dragon City.

“Brother Xu, allow this old man to escort you to the Windfeather Sect.”

The robed elder smiled.

Xu Xuan had not yet had time to thank him when a furious shout came from behind.

“Don’t even think about leaving!”

Whoosh!

At the city gate, a martial cultivator in yellow robes shot forward. His eyes were as cold as lightning, silver radiance erupting from his entire body as he stepped through the empty air. In an instant, he had caught up to them.

A martial cultivator who had reached the Spirit Severing stage could briefly travel through the air even without a flying artifact, and the explosive force of such movement surpassed that of ordinary flight by controlling an external object.

“He’s an expert from the Dongfang Clan! Go on ahead—I’ll hold him off!”

The robed elder channeled a gentle force through his hand and pushed Xu Xuan several dozen feet forward, then turned to intercept the yellow-robed martial cultivator.

“Senior, be careful. I’ll go on ahead.”

Xu Xuan shouted in surprise from midair. Crimson light coiled around his body as he glided forward like a great bird, soon disappearing into the darkness of night.

(This will be the only update tonight. I stayed up all night writing yesterday and am still feeling unwell today. My cold has not yet cleared up either. Once I recover tomorrow, I’ll do my best to make up for it…)