In the crowd, Lin Xuankong's expression changed slightly. Am I going to suffer for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? I'm just listening to some gossip...
The round-faced Martial Cultivator who insulted the Black Tiger Gang immediately ran. He was obviously a master at the First Layer Perfection or Second Layer Early Stage, his speed incredibly fast!
Unfortunately, though his speed was like a fleeing rabbit, the Bearded Martial Cultivator was as fast as a flying hawk.
Within half a breath, the Bearded Martial Cultivator blocked the round-faced Loose Cultivator's path.
The round-faced Loose Cultivator's eyes turned vicious. He drew the steel saber from his waist and suddenly slashed at the Bearded Martial Cultivator's neck. The steel saber in his hand gleamed coldly, making a WHIZZING noise as it cut through the air!
However, the Bearded Martial Cultivator merely snorted coldly, neither dodging nor evading, allowing the steel saber to strike his neck.
His Black Tiger Shattering Golden Claw then pierced directly into the round-faced Loose Cultivator's head, stabbing right through the man's temple.
The round-faced Loose Cultivator died on the spot. The Bearded Martial Cultivator rubbed his unwounded neck and looked at the dozens of other Loose Cultivators.
The faces of dozens of Independent Martial Cultivators changed instantly. Although their eyes flickered, not a single one dared to move rashly, nor did anyone dare to make a sound. They even held their breaths, afraid of attracting attention and sharing the round-faced Loose Cultivator's fate.
Lin Xuankong stood in the corner, frowning. The round-faced Loose Cultivator who just died was rather strong, probably at the Second Layer Early Stage or First Layer Perfection, like myself. Yet such strength wasn't even close to being a match for the Bearded Martial Cultivator! The round-faced Loose Cultivator slashed with all his might at the Bearded Martial Cultivator's neck, but it didn't leave a scratch! If that slash landed on my own neck, my head might fly twenty feet away! What Realm is this Bearded Martial Cultivator in? If I were to fight the Bearded Martial Cultivator, I could use the Demon Vine to control him, thereby ensuring my survival! But his defense is terrifying. Even if I could control him, the Heaven-Covering Flying Locusts wouldn't be able to wound him; at most, they'd just pelt him with a face full of stone shards!
As Lin Xuankong was feeling astonished and doubtful, the Bearded Martial Cultivator from the Black Tiger Gang sneered contemptuously at the numerous Independent Martial Cultivators before leading his group away. Zhang Wu, who walked at the end of the line, glanced coldly at Lin Xuankong.
「...」
「The next morning, in the wooden building's backyard.」
Lin Xuankong held a Hundred-refined Steel Saber in his hand, hesitantly looking at Lii Xiaolan's fair and slender neck. "Really slash your neck?"
Lii Xiaolan nodded. "Yes, slash my neck with all your might, and after slashing, drag the Hundred-refined Steel Saber hard!"
Lin Xuankong was somewhat conflicted. "Can I slash your ankle instead?"
Lii Xiaolan was speechless.
"This kind of Hundred-refined Steel Saber can't hurt a Cultivator at the Second Layer Late Stage. The Bearded Martial Cultivator you encountered yesterday must be at least Second Layer Late Stage!
"For a Second Layer Transcendent, the body is refined, strengthening the internal organs and making one virtually immune to illness, with incredible endurance. Most importantly, it enhances the consolidation of Qi Blood and boosts defense. Once they reach the Second Layer Late Stage, they become Invulnerable!
"With this kind of defense, even if two Second Layer Late Stage Cultivators fight, you need weapons made of special materials to injure each other if their Qi Blood is ample!"
After saying that, Lii Xiaolan pointed to her delicate neck. "Aim here! I'm now activating my Second Layer Late Stage Qi Blood."
Lin Xuankong gritted his teeth. "I'd rather slash your chest... no, your shoulder!" He warned Lii Xiaolan and then slashed down with the Hundred-refined Steel Saber.
With a crisp CLANG,
the Hundred-refined Steel Saber struck Lii Xiaolan's shoulder.
Lii Xiaolan frowned at the tear in her green dress. "I told you to slash my neck so my clothes wouldn't get damaged. Don't you know clothes cost money?"
Lin Xuankong awkwardly stared at the exposed skin on her shoulder, where the Hundred-refined Steel Saber had left a faint white mark. In the blink of an eye, the mark vanished, leaving her skin unblemished!
This... truly is being Invulnerable! No wonder the Young Lady could easily crush a Hundred-refined Steel Saber into an iron ball! The Second Layer Late Stage of Transcendence has such terrifying, Demon-like defense! No wonder in factions like the Black Tiger Gang and Yin Talisman Sect, esteemed positions like Steward are only held by Martial Cultivators who have reached the Second Layer. Once a Martial Cultivator breaks through the bottleneck into the Second Layer, they have the chance to cultivate to the Second Layer Late Stage. A Second Layer Late Stage Martial Cultivator facing a First Layer Martial Cultivator is an absolute crushing! They can stand still and let you slash them with a saber, and you can't even break their defense. How are you supposed to fight that?!
At this thought, Lin Xuankong's heart filled with anticipation.
I am now at the Second Layer Early Stage and possess the [Vigorous in Old Age] Life Plate. Reaching such an Invulnerable state, this terrifying defense, shouldn't take long!
Lii Xiaolan frowned, touching the skin on her shoulder. Seeing him standing there, lost in eager thoughts and not looking at her, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. This guy is truly a Martial Cultivation fanatic... Hmph, just now he even said he wanted to slash my chest!
She walked towards the wooden building. "You stay at home and cultivate well. I'll visit Sister Rongshang to see if I can spend some silver to buy some ingredients for the Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup from her!
"The Black Tiger Gang controls the medicinal ingredients. They will surely become harder to obtain in the future. It's always best to prepare some in advance to feel secure!"
After Lii Xiaolan left,
Lin Xuankong first cultivated the Pine Heart Method once, then, with anticipation in his heart, began practicing the Cangsong Posture.
As his Pine Crane Longevity Technique advanced to the Realm of Integration, he gained an increasing number of new insights into the Cangsong Posture.