Chapter 75: Bai Yu'an

Although Bai Yu'an looked very fragile, just skin and bones, her claw strike was incredibly violent. It struck from tricky angles with a fierce offensive, faintly wreathed in black, ominous energy.

"Old woman, what are you doing?"

Xu Yang casually raised his fist to meet it. Xu Yang's punch seemed light and airy, as if he hadn't eaten.

Bai Yu'an looked utterly disbelieving. In her eyes, Xu Yang ought to be a powerful cultivator. How could his counterattack be so weak and powerless? Could Xu Yang truly be just a Qi Refining stage cultivator?

Bai Yu'an felt as if she could already see Xu Yang's miserable fate, his skin ripped open by her claw. She wanted to retract her move, but her iron claw was only a fist's distance from Xu Yang—it was too late. Helpless, Bai Yu'an closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight of Xu Yang's blood gushing forth.

Just then, she felt her claw connect with something incredibly hard. Then, she felt her wrist clamped tightly, as if by an iron band, rendering her immobile. Bai Yu'an turned her head, puzzled, to see Xu Yang's fair, tender hand lightly gripping her wrist.

It looked like Xu Yang's grip was incredibly light, as if even a chicken could easily escape it. However, Bai Yu'an felt as if her wrist was about to break. She tried to break free, but her wrist wouldn't budge an inch. She felt as powerless and ridiculous as a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Bai Yu'an gritted her teeth, and her other hand suddenly drew a spirit sword.

"Nine Nether Sword!"

The Nine Nether Sword Technique was the Sea Spirit Sect's second most powerful sword art, second only to the Grand Evolution Azure Wing Sword Technique, and it was incredibly potent! Since joining the Sea Spirit Sect, Bai Yu'an had specialized in the Nine Nether Sword Technique, mastering it to perfection long ago. When she unleashed this sword, even powerful cultivators in the late stage of the Cavern Heaven realm would have to temporarily avoid its edge. Bai Yu'an was convinced that Xu Yang would surely avoid her due to fear of her Nine Nether Sword, allowing her to escape!

Buzz...

With a low hum from the sword, nine black lights emanated from Bai Yu'an's spirit sword, then surged towards Xu Yang like nine hellish black dragons. Their momentum was like that of a thousand armies, radiating immense killing intent, capable of making gods and ghosts kneel in submission!

"Master, be careful!" Even Ling Qingshu couldn't help but exclaim, her face filled with worry. This sword was the strongest move Ling Qingshu had ever witnessed.

Bai Yu'an's face broke into a triumphant smile; the sheer power of this sword had even exceeded her own expectations.

"To be defeated by this sword of mine, you may die without regret," Bai Yu'an declared.

"Is that so?" Xu Yang scoffed, not even raising an eyelid as he casually lifted his other hand.

There were no elaborate moves, no breathtaking displays; yet, this seemingly light punch suddenly grasped Bai Yu'an's sword-wielding hand. Bai Yu'an felt her hand go weak; with a sudden loss of strength, her spirit sword clattered to the ground.

"If you hadn't held back just now, your hand would be ruined," Xu Yang stated calmly, then abruptly flung Bai Yu'an's hand away.

With a loud crack...

Bai Yu'an's arm was dislocated by Xu Yang's sudden release.

"This..."

Bai Yu'an grimaced in pain, rubbing her arm for a good while before finally resetting the dislocated joint.

"Senior's cultivation is profound; I was presumptuous," Bai Yu'an said, taking a deep breath and composing herself for a long moment before speaking. She was entirely sincere. In their recent exchange, she had been effortlessly defeated by Xu Yang in a mere instant. Before Xu Yang, she felt as powerless as an infant facing an adult. If Xu Yang had truly wished to kill her just now, she would likely be dead.

"So you do know," Xu Yang said, rolling his eyes. "Tell me, why did you attack me the moment you arrived? Did I provoke you?" Xu Yang spoke indignantly.

Bai Yu'an grumbled inwardly, "Provoked? Of course, you provoked me!" The Dark Chill Ancient Tree was the Sea Spirit Sect's sacred guardian tree. It had existed for as long as the Sea Spirit Sect itself. But today, Xu Yang had uprooted it just like that. Her heart ached. If she truly hadn't been so utterly outmatched by Xu Yang, she would have fought him to the death long ago.

Naturally, she couldn't voice this aloud. She could only say with a polite smile, "Senior," Bai Yu'an said respectfully, though a hint of confusion lingered in her eyes. "This old woman merely heard from my disciple that your cultivation is profound, so I came to learn. Now it appears my disciple was correct; Senior is indeed formidable. I merely wonder what your cultivation level might be?" This was because she had just probed Xu Yang's cultivation and was astonished by what she found. Xu Yang, it seemed, was merely a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

Of course, if she actually believed that, she would be completely senile. However, no matter how she probed, she could only detect that Xu Yang was in the Qi Refining stage of cultivation. He had an unstable foundation, no Golden Core, no Nascent Soul, and no Cavern Heaven within his body. A complete Qi Refining stage cultivator. Thus, she was utterly bewildered. Either Xu Yang was so powerful that she couldn't discern his cultivation level at all, or he was genuinely just a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

"You're asking about my cultivation?" Xu Yang chuckled. "My cultivation is quite obvious: I am in the Qi Refining stage."

Alright.

Bai Yu'an was momentarily speechless. She simply refused to believe Xu Yang was a Qi Refining stage cultivator. Then there was only one possibility: Xu Yang was so powerful that even she, a cultivator of the Cavern Heaven realm, couldn't discern his true cultivation.

Just then, she suddenly recalled the real matter at hand.

"Senior, about that Grand Evolution Azure Wing Sword Technique, what exactly is it...?" Bai Yu'an asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"You mean that? Let's go inside and discuss it," Xu Yang said, his expression turning serious. He also wanted to know how a half-finished sword technique he had taught his disciple long ago had ended up as the Sea Spirit Sect's primary sword art. What exact connection did his disciple have with the Sea Spirit Sect?

"Since Senior doesn't mind, please follow me to the reception hall," Bai Yu'an said.

...

Upon entering the reception hall, Bai Yu'an immediately pressed the matter again.

"Senior, what exactly is the story behind this cultivation method? How is it that you possess the complete Grand Evolution Azure Wing Sword Technique?"

"Senior, would you perhaps allow this old woman a glimpse of the Grand Evolution Azure Wing Sword Technique you have mastered? The Sea Spirit Sect would undoubtedly be deeply grateful for your immense kindness."

Xu Yang calmly pulled out a fruit and began to eat it with relish.

"Well, it's not as serious as you make it out to be," Xu Yang replied. "It's not impossible to let you see this cultivation technique. However, I've just gained new insights, and I wish to revise it once more before I hand it over to you."

Bai Yu'an froze, then cautiously asked, "Senior, was the Grand Evolution Azure Wing Sword Technique truly created by you?"

"Yes," Xu Yang stated calmly.

Bai Yu'an looked at Xu Yang, whose expression was utterly nonchalant, and asked again, her face completely bewildered.