Chapter Fifteen: Sacred Origin Technique

If Yang Xiao had merely used the Thunder-Splitting Fist of the fourth realm to attack Wuli, it would likely not have posed a mortal threat to him. But Yang Xiao had calculated everything in advance; he would either not act, or, once he did, he would leave Wuli with nowhere to escape, thus greatly increasing his chances of victory.

After all, the difference of a single realm meant there was no way to match the strength of spiritual power. If the opponent was prepared, even if Yang Xiao struck, Wuli’s spiritual power would shield him, and breaking through would hardly be easy.

Yang Xiao’s sudden attack caught Wuli off guard, making it much easier to break through his defensive spiritual power. Moreover, Yang Xiao held another trump card: the Lightning Seal. After absorbing a considerable amount of lightning from the Sand Thunder Bat, the seal seemed to store vast reserves of electrical energy. This energy could be drawn out once again for combat, and because it was concentrated, it could unleash even more formidable attacks.

“What ruthless methods!” Wuli gritted his teeth in hatred at Yang Xiao. Yet at this moment, it was already too late for him to retract the palm he had just unleashed; Yang Xiao’s fist was about to strike his body. In his panic, sweat poured from his brow. Fortunately, he still had a trump card left. He slapped the pouch at his waist, and a silver needle, just an inch long, shot out. Chanting softly, “Go,” he sent the needle hurtling toward Yang Xiao’s forehead.

“A flying needle spiritual artifact?” Yang Xiao was taken aback by this unexpected strike. His fist was about to land on Wuli, and once it did, the blow would surely be fatal. But who would have thought Wuli had a hidden flying needle artifact? In an instant, the situation reversed.

Yang Xiao quickly tilted his head to evade the needle’s attack. The brief delay allowed Wuli to leap several yards away, escaping Yang Xiao’s range. Thus, Wuli slipped from the jaws of death.

There was nothing more Yang Xiao could do; faced with the needle’s deadly assault, survival took precedence over any further offense.

“Yang Xiao, you are indeed formidable, forcing me to such extremes. Yet I am truly curious—how could your fist generate lightning? Even if you’ve reached the fourth level of the Spiritual Sense realm, you should only be able to gather a faint arc of electricity, nothing so powerful. And your movement technique is truly extraordinary. I’m very interested in these two arts. Here’s my offer: hand them over, and I’ll forgo the spiritual herbs on you. What do you say?” Having escaped danger, Wuli regained his arrogance. With the aid of his flying needle artifact, defeating Yang Xiao would be effortless.

Spiritual artifacts were generally usable only by those at the late stage of the Spiritual Sense realm, but Wuli was a prodigy. Not only could he wield the entire set of Gale Palm techniques, he could also command a spiritual artifact or two. Ordinary disciples could barely manage the advanced Gale Palm movements or use spiritual artifacts in the late Spiritual Sense realm, when their spiritual sense was strong enough for safe handling. In reality, to harness the full power of a spiritual artifact, one had to reach the Qi Condensation stage. Still, for self-defense, many disciples at the Spiritual Sense realm would expend their spiritual power to use them.

Though theoretically possible for disciples at this stage to wield spiritual artifacts, few possessed them, for they were exceedingly rare.

Each spiritual artifact was forged in places rich in spiritual energy, absorbing it for decades or centuries before being fully formed. Such places were scarce across the continent, and time was also a limiting factor; thus, spiritual artifacts were extraordinarily rare. When a few did appear, they were immediately claimed by powerful cultivators. Ordinary disciples stood no chance of obtaining them.

It was precisely because of this rarity that Wuli’s possession of a flying needle artifact surprised Yang Xiao. He had not expected it. In the Wanren Mountains, where spiritual energy was especially scarce, the chances of spiritual artifact formation were even lower. Generally, only the three major sects, after years of accumulation, might have a spiritual artifact or two as the treasure guarding their gates. Wuli’s ownership of one was indeed odd.

Yet, as Yang Xiao observed, Wuli’s flying needle was merely a low-grade artifact. Even so, its lethality was considerable.

Spiritual artifacts could dart through the air at incredible speed, far beyond what the physical body could withstand. They were imbued with abundant spiritual power and, depending on their attributes, could unleash a variety of techniques. This made them the ultimate weapons for late-stage Spiritual Sense practitioners, easily enabling victory over weaker cultivators.

Yang Xiao pondered for a moment and sorted through all the possibilities, formulating a plan in his heart. He then addressed Wuli: “It’s nothing but a low-grade artifact, and you dare flaunt it, Senior Brother Wuli. As for surrendering my techniques, that is simply impossible.”

“Fine, then I won’t waste words. Yang Xiao, prepare to die. After your death, I’ll simply retrieve the techniques from your corpse. I had meant to give you a chance, but since you refuse, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Wuli’s face twisted into a savage expression once more. With a wave of his hand, the flying needle artifact, which had just flown off, circled back, aiming straight for Yang Xiao with a gleaming point of spiritual light at its tip. Clearly, being struck by this needle would do far more than leave a mere hole.

Yang Xiao’s form flickered again, evading the needle’s attack. This time, he pinched the needle between two fingers.

It must be noted that the needle was infused with ample spiritual power, possessing tremendous destructive force. Yet Yang Xiao’s body was unique, able to suppress that power with mere flesh. Furthermore, he employed another technique—Sacred Origin Skill—on his fingers, which allowed him to subdue the opponent’s artifact. However, this technique required the artifact’s spiritual root to match his own for assimilation; with little effort, he could absorb the opponent’s treasure into his own grasp.

“How is this possible? The flying needle artifact’s attack is on par with a late-stage Spiritual Sense master, and yet Yang Xiao could catch it?” Wuli was dumbfounded, mouth agape in astonishment. This was something no ordinary cultivator could ever accomplish.