Chapter 19: Teaching the Ultimate Life Sword

After Xu Yang and Ling Qingshu departed, another figure appeared. It was the Golden Core cultivator from the Lingbao Auction House. He looked at the black-robed elder, who had died a gruesome death, and sighed, "To think that the notorious Black-Robed Old Ghost of Qizhou would die like this. He should have known who he was messing with before extending his claws." The Golden Core cultivator observed Xu Yang's method of killing, marveling at its power.

He then speculated about the identities of Xu Yang and Ling Qingshu, concluding that they must be the recently acclaimed sect leader and ancestor of the Tianlan Sect. A beautiful woman who had just entered the Golden Core stage, and a young man whose true depth was unfathomable but who could kill a Golden Core cultivator. Who else could such a formidable pair be, if not the two rising stars of the Tianlan Sect?

After gaining a general understanding, the Golden Core cultivator collected the black-robed elder's body and flew towards Qizhou City. If his subordinates hadn't reported it, he wouldn't have discovered that a fierce battle had just taken place there, resulting in the death of a late-stage Golden Core elder.

The cultivator mentally evaluated Xu Yang, judging that someone with such power must be at least a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator. Such an individual should not be provoked in Qizhou. He was surprised that the Tianlan Sect, almost wiped out, still had such a powerful ancestor emerge.

However, the appearance of such a formidable cultivator was also a good thing. For the resurgence of the Tianlan Sect, the Golden Core cultivator surmised that Xu Yang would certainly explore the secret realm in half a month. With such a powerful cultivator on his side, the Golden Core cultivator felt confident that he would obtain what he sought from his upcoming secret realm expedition. Upon returning to the Lingbao Auction House, the Golden Core cultivator gave some instructions, emphasizing that the Tianlan Sect was not to be provoked, before preparing for the secret realm exploration.

***

In a small courtyard in Qizhou City, a man and a woman were engaging in intimate acts on a bed. After the passion subsided, the man lay motionless. The woman, however, savored the wondrous changes in her body. "A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet so useless," Yu Sanniang murmured as she caressed her skin.

After being injured by Xu Yang, she had returned to Qizhou City. In the past few days, she had absorbed the essences of many cultivators within Qizhou City, and her internal injuries had mostly healed. Compared to before she arrived in Qizhou City, there wasn't much difference, aside from the loss of a life-bound spiritual treasure.

"I never expected such a small place like Qizhou to have a secret realm." The Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Sanniang had just harvested had returned from the Lingbao Auction House. During their union, Yu Sanniang had learned about the secret realm outside Qizhou City. "I alone might find it difficult to gain a significant advantage in the secret realm; I'll need to find some helpers."

Having lost a spiritual treasure at the Tianlan Sect, Yu Sanniang naturally wanted to explore this secret realm. If she encountered a major opportunity there, she even dared to hope for advancement to the Nascent Soul stage. If Yu Sanniang truly reached the Nascent Soul stage, she would gain a genuine foothold in Tianwu Commandery.

On the surface, the twelve Golden Core cultivators in the Tianwu Commandery City Lord's Mansion governed the entire commandery. However, Yu Sanniang knew very well who the true power holder was. That individual was too terrifying for her; even now, Yu Sanniang lacked the courage to meet their gaze. Only by breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage would Yu Sanniang feel confident enough to confront that person and contend for power in Tianwu Commandery.

With a casual wave of her hand, a pink flame landed on the corpse on the bed. Yu Sanniang donned a light veil, walked into the courtyard, and departed Qizhou City under the cover of night.

***

After Xu Yang and Ling Qingshu returned to the Tianlan Sect, they both entered the main hall. Observing Ling Qingshu's somber expression, Xu Yang naturally knew what she was thinking. Ling Qingshu was pondering how, during her recent battle with the black-robed elder, her offensive techniques had been too simplistic.

This hadn't been noticeable when she was in the Foundation Establishment stage, but now that she had reached the Golden Core stage, the shortcomings became apparent in combat. The black-robed elder, for instance, had both magical techniques and spiritual treasures; his black giant python and the small spiritual seal were all means he used in battle. Ling Qingshu, however, possessed little more than the long spiritual sword and cultivation technique inherited from her master.

Ultimately, the Tianlan Sect had fallen into too much decline, with many divine abilities and techniques lost over time. Otherwise, Ling Qingshu's master would not have died from severe injuries after battling Liu Zhen, who was at the same cultivation level.

Ling Qingshu looked at Xu Yang, opening her mouth as if to speak, but then held back her words. "I'll teach you a sword art. Do you want to learn it?" Hearing Xu Yang's words, Ling Qingshu's eyes immediately lit up. She nodded at once, saying, "Yes!"

The Extreme Life Sword Art – this was the divine ability Xu Yang imparted to Ling Qingshu. That day at the Yunshan Sect, Xu Yang had used his Life-Protecting Sword to execute a move from the Extreme Life Sword Art, directly shattering the spiritual long saber that the Yunshan Sect's ancestor had painstakingly forged throughout Qizhou. The version of the Extreme Life Sword Art currently circulating was merely a fragment of the true art, not even counting as a basic stance.

After hearing the name, Ling Qingshu was momentarily stunned but said nothing, trusting that Xu Yang would not mislead her. After witnessing Xu Yang demonstrate the Extreme Life Sword Art, Ling Qingshu was once again convinced that everything their ancestor produced was of exceptional quality. "Anything from the ancestor is a masterpiece," she thought.

Each move and stance of the Extreme Life Sword Art carried overwhelming killing intent. Where Xu Yang's Life-Protecting Sword passed, it was as if star rivers shattered and the firmament crumbled. Compared to the Extreme Life Sword Art demonstrated by Xu Yang, the sword art Ling Qingshu had previously cultivated was truly as ordinary as could be.

After Xu Yang demonstrated the techniques of the Extreme Life Sword Art once, he directly transmitted its numerous key principles to Ling Qingshu via divine sense. Receiving such a vast amount of information, Ling Qingshu immediately sat in meditation within the main hall, beginning to comprehend the Extreme Life Sword Art passed down by Xu Yang.

The Extreme Life Sword Art prioritized lethal attacks; each strike unleashed the full potential of one's life force, aiming to slay the enemy with a single blow. In Xu Yang's view, this sword art perfectly matched Ling Qingshu's mindset when she bravely drew her sword against the Golden Core cultivator earlier that day. Therefore, when considering what offensive techniques to teach Ling Qingshu, the Extreme Life Sword Art was the first thing that came to mind.

The encounter with the black-robed elder today was merely an opportune moment; even without it, Xu Yang would have found a chance to pass on the Extreme Life Sword Art to Ling Qingshu. Once Ling Qingshu grasped some of the Extreme Life Sword Art's essence in half a month, she would have the power to protect herself within the secret realm. After all, he couldn't constantly follow Ling Qingshu around, acting as a bodyguard for the beautiful sect leader. Feeling the increasingly sharp sword intent emanating from Ling Qingshu, Xu Yang mused that the path of a Sword Immortal might be an excellent choice for her.