Chapter 5 - Night Raid

“My hand!” Chen Feng’s anguished cry echoed, his right arm sliced open by a deep gash, revealing white bone through some shadows.

“How could this be?” Zhang Bin and the others didn’t pursue, that last sword strike was too bizarre, and the aura emanating from Lin Xuan was definitely not that of a Body Refining Third Stage.

“Could he have been hiding his strength?” Zhang Bin wondered, “It could also be the effect of the Fire Ganoderma that allowed him to break through to the Magnetic Condensation Realm, your blood, I will have it!”

“You two, quickly support him and head back to the Xuantian Sect!” Zhang Bin commanded.

The two disciples propped Chen Feng up and hurried towards the Xuantian Sect, with Zhang Bin trailing behind, his gaze flickering, pondering something unknown.

Lin Xuan ran all the way back to his small cottage and shut the door, struggling to calm himself down.

Honestly, he hadn’t expected that sword strike to be so powerful.

That particular sword skill was a gift from his father, who had told him to practice it diligently.

Despite its seemingly ordinary appearance, the skill was immensely powerful upon execution, but it consisted of only one move.

Moreover, it consumed a substantial amount of Spiritual Power, nearly one-third.

Thinking of Spiritual Power, Lin Xuan became excited again.

After so many years, he could finally cultivate.

He couldn’t help but think of the small sword within his body, which had allowed him to open his Spirit Vein and granted him the Inner Vision Divine Power that only someone in the Spirit Transformation Realm would have.

The small sword was neither metal nor stone, its material unknown, an inch long, and glazed in color, with Spiritual Power constantly overflowing from it.

Lin Xuan tried to interact with it but to no avail.

Seeing no reaction, Lin Xuan simply left it alone and decided to make use of the residual effects of the Fire Ganoderma to continue cultivating.

He was once a disciple of Sword Pond Prefecture, and although he had no chance to access martial arts books due to his status as a waste, he had obtained a complete family technique from his father.

The family’s cultivation technique was a Xuantian-grade Technique, incredibly powerful.

Lin Xuan positioned his hands into seals and started to circulate Spiritual Power according to his family’s technique, but as soon as he began, the small glazed sword within him vibrated intensely, dispersing the Spiritual Power.

“Hm?” Lin Xuan was puzzled.

He attempted the hand seals again and discovered that the small glazed sword seemed to be intentionally preventing him from practicing.

“Does this sword have a will of its own?” Lin Xuan was uncertain, “But why is it stopping me from cultivating my family’s technique?”

“I say, if you won’t let me practice the family’s cultivation method, is it because you have something better?” Lin Xuan muttered.

As if understanding Lin Xuan’s words, the small glazed sword vibrated and emitted waves of golden light.

Each beam of golden light was a dazzling small sword, and these transformed into a series of unique runes that entered his mind.

“Longevity Technique?”

The glazed sword had given him a cultivation method!

Lin Xuan was momentarily stunned.

He quickly read through the Longevity Technique, the name alone signified dominance, and the content explained therein was much more profound than his family’s technique.

Since the small sword wouldn’t let him practice other techniques, Lin Xuan decided to go ahead with this Longevity Technique instead.

He made up his mind, positioned his hands into the unique seals, then slowly closed his eyes and began to circulate his Spiritual Power according to the technique.

The golden Spiritual Power flowed through his Spirit Veins, growing stronger with each cycle.

Around the Spirit Veins, numerous smaller meridians carried the power throughout his body.

Lin Xuan repeatedly circulated the Xuantian Technique, his Spiritual Power continuously increasing, and the hidden medicinal effects in his body were activated.

Gradually, the Spiritual Power converged through the tiny meridians and surged towards his second Spirit Vein.

Boom!

The second Spirit Vein burst open, like the breach of a dam, endless Spiritual Power rushed in, cleansing Lin Xuan’s body of impurities, which he quickly washed away.

“I didn’t expect that just half a day would take me to the Second-level Pulse Condensing Realm; now I am a Second-Order Spirit Warrior.” A faint glow radiated from Lin Xuan’s body, filled with strength.

“This level of strength should definitely pass the Outer Door’s test,” he sighed, “but I’ve heard that the Inner Sect’s test is extremely difficult.

It’s like picking one out of a hundred.

I really don’t know what realm one must reach to pass it.”

Lin Xuan let out a sigh and resumed his cultivation of the Longevity Technique.

What he lacked the most right now was time, so he did not want to waste even a minute.

Night fell, and the sky seemed to be covered with a layer of black cloth, a bit gloomy.

The moon was obscured by the clouds, and the stars in the sky also hid away.

A fierce wind echoed through the heavens and earth, causing the trees to make whistling sounds, and the small brown wooden door creaked.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

He stood up and looked outside at the sky full of dark clouds, quickly closing the small wooden door.

Lin Xuan was still a Sword Slave, and his dwelling was located on a secluded, uninhabited mountain peak.

There were no other households around besides his own.

Boom!

Thunder suddenly exploded in the sky, making one’s eardrums tremble.

Lin Xuan looked through the window at the outside world and mused, “The most mysterious and unpredictable thing is still the Power of Heaven and Earth.

When will I be able to reach the point where I can move mountains and fill seas with a mere wave of my hand?”

Another flash streaked across the sky, followed by booming sounds.

But just then, a sudden jump in Lin Xuan’s heart caused him to quickly crouch down.

Swoosh!

An arrow whizzed past the top of his head, and he could even feel the chill emanating from it.

If it weren’t for his breakthrough to the Second-level of the Mystical Realm, which sharpened his hearing and vision, just this one arrow could have taken his life!

Lin Xuan hid under the window sill, quickly guessing that it was Zhang Bin and others who had made a move.

As for how many people there were, he was not sure.

The law of the jungle ruled this world.

Lin Xuan was well aware of this; now, he quietly waited, motionless, as surely the enemy outside must have been more anxious than him, especially given the terrible weather.

The Xuantian Sect’s rules were strict, allowing disciples to fight but forbidding murder.

Even Sword Slaves could not be killed at will.

But outside the Xuantian Sect, in the forests, anything went.

Normally, no one would dare to make a move within the sect, but today’s heavy rain provided an excellent opportunity for murder.

Lin Xuan gripped his longsword tightly, highly focused and ready to strike at any moment.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the wooden door burst open, and a figure flashed in.

Lin Xuan seized the moment as the person landed to thrust out a sword, like a shooting star.

The figure hadn’t expected such a cunning strike and could only hurriedly raise a sword to block.

Clang!

The two swords collided, sparking a flurry of fire.

The intruder’s Spiritual Power was clearly deeper than Lin Xuan’s.

Lin Xuan’s sword was deflected, but it still left a wound.

The figure grunted, quickly retreated, and began to envelop the wound with Spiritual Power.

Then, he cautiously stared at Lin Xuan.

“Zhang Bin, I know it’s you.

There’s no use hiding!” Lin Xuan said coldly.

“Hmph, knowing that much, just obediently come with me!” Zhang Bin snarled.

“You’ve already been wounded by me, and you still boast so boldly!

Call out your people!” Lin Xuan braced himself.

“To kill you, do I need to call others?

Just now, it was my carelessness that allowed your sneak attack to succeed.

This time, let’s see what you can do!”

Zhang Bin snorted coldly, his longsword quivering as he executed the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

Trailing a series of sword shadows, he enveloped Lin Xuan within them.