Chapter Twenty-Six: Lingyun Plum

“Hmph! You do have some skill, but I have yet to display my true abilities. If I were to unleash them, do you really think you could be my match? But do you dare state your name? I never kill nameless men,” Xing Wutian declared, his heart unsettled but his face still wearing a mask of arrogance.

“It’s no secret. I am Yang Xiao, an ordinary disciple of the Giant Spirit Sect. Young Master Xing, whatever tricks you have, feel free to use them,” Yang Xiao replied, fixing his gaze on Xing Wutian. As the heir to the Black Tortoise Sect, it was understandable that Xing Wutian would withhold some of his strength. After all, as the future master of a sect, if what he’d shown so far was all he had, that would be rather disappointing. Not to mention, he almost certainly carried a spiritual artifact on him.

Even someone like Wuli, a fifth-level spiritual sense disciple, was equipped with a spiritual artifact—flying needles. How much more so would someone of Xing Wutian’s status be protected by one? Although disciples at the spiritual sense stage could not fully unleash the might of such artifacts, they were far more formidable than ordinary techniques.

Xing Wutian was clearly debating whether to use his spiritual artifact. Without it, he stood no chance of defeating Yang Xiao. But if he did use it, the artifact’s power was so great, and since he usually neglected his cultivation, it would cost him considerable spiritual energy. If he failed to kill Yang Xiao in one blow, he risked exhausting his own strength entirely, which would be as good as suicide before an enemy.

After a brief contemplation, Xing Wutian made up his mind. He decided to use his artifact, believing it would enable him to finish off Yang Xiao and reap greater rewards. With this thought, his hand moved toward his storage pouch.

But just then, several people burst in from outside the shop. When Xing Wutian saw who they were, a smile finally broke across his face—for they were his own men. The leader was a short, middle-aged man named Li Xie, who also managed the Black Tortoise Sect’s affairs in this marketplace. Ever since Xing Wutian had arrived, he had been causing constant trouble, prompting Li Xie to assign two men to shadow him. If Xing Wutian stirred up any trouble, they would report to Li Xie, who would then send someone to help.

Usually, it was Xing Wutian bullying others, making quite a scene, but nothing that worried Li Xie too much. His true fear was that something might happen to Xing Wutian in this market; if the young master came to harm, Li Xie would have no way to explain himself to the sect. The sect leader would surely punish him severely.

This time, however, matters were different. According to the man shadowing Xing Wutian, he had run into a formidable opponent—someone not only unbowed by him, but actually dominating him. That certainly made Li Xie anxious. So he hurried over in person, wanting to see what kind of extraordinary figure could fight the young master to a standstill.

When Li Xie saw Yang Xiao, he was stunned. Someone so young, yet able to battle the young master on even footing—such talent was truly rare.

“Young master, are you all right?” Li Xie immediately bowed and fawned over Xing Wutian.

“I’m fine, but this boy is not easy to handle. Li Xie, you’ve arrived just in time. Seize him for me—he’s carrying a pill formula I want. Once you’ve taken it, do what you like with him,” Xing Wutian ordered imperiously.

“Young master, take a rest. Leave this boy to me—I won’t let you down,” Li Xie replied, eager for the chance to curry favor.

Yang Xiao frowned as Xing Wutian suddenly gained several more allies. The others were of little concern, but this middle-aged Li Xie set off a sense of danger within him. Probing with his spiritual sense, Yang Xiao discerned that Li Xie had reached the ninth level, and his cultivation was rock-solid. It was obvious he had lingered at this level for many years, only a step away from the Qi Condensation stage. Such an opponent would be very difficult to deal with.

While Xing Wutian was at the eighth level, his foundation was shallow, having not spent long consolidating his realm. That explained why Yang Xiao could match him in spiritual force. But against a veteran like Li Xie, Yang Xiao knew he must be exceedingly cautious.

“Boy, will you hand over the pill formula yourself, or shall I come and take it? It doesn’t matter who you are—hand over the formula now, and everything can be settled. Refuse, and you cannot blame me for being ruthless,” Li Xie threatened.

“If I give it to you, will I be allowed to leave?” Yang Xiao asked.

“Leave? How naive. You’ve offended our young master—did you think you could walk away so easily? If you surrender the formula, I might plead with the young master to let you die with your body whole. If I have to take it by force, you may not even leave your bones behind,” Li Xie threatened again.

“In that case, I cannot give you the formula. Your cultivation may be high, but killing me will not be so easy,” Yang Xiao replied calmly.

“Very well, you’ve brought this on yourself.” As he spoke, Li Xie spat out a round, gleaming bead. The bead was extraordinary, its fiery red surface laced with black threads, radiating intense heat—a fire-attribute spiritual artifact.

Li Xie’s artifact was unlike ordinary spiritual artifacts. It was not a natural treasure, but something he had forged through secret arts, refining earth fire into a condensed bead over many years. Such a treasure possessed the power of a normal spiritual artifact, and with his continual infusions of spiritual energy, its might had only grown. Thanks to years of nurturing, Li Xie wielded the bead as if it were an extension of his own will. Though technically a low-grade artifact, in his hands it rivaled those of much higher quality.

With a thought, Li Xie sent the bead hurtling toward Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao, of course, sought to dodge. He too possessed spiritual artifacts—one a flying needle, which he reserved for critical sneak attacks; the other, the Dragon-Serpent Sword, which required more spiritual power than he might be able to muster against this foe. The needle was manageable, but wielding the sword would drain him greatly. So, Yang Xiao chose to bide his time and observe before making his move.

Yet, before Li Xie’s bead could reach him, a small, misty green sword flew in from the side and intercepted it.

A clear, melodious voice echoed from afar. “Elder Li, bullying the young with your strength, attacking a disciple of our Giant Spirit Sect—doesn’t that seem beneath your dignity?”

Yang Xiao turned and, following the sound, saw a beautiful young woman appear before him.