A cool breeze brushed past Xu Qingxian's cheeks, carrying with it the faint scent of burning incense and distant bloodshed.
Time itself seemed to slow as the burly man's glowing fist drew near, its pale blue light warping the air like heat rising from scorched stone.
Xu Qingxian exhaled softly, his breath barely disturbing the silence.
"It seems it is time to improve my sword techniques again."
Mentally, he shifted his focus to his system.
[Host: Xu Qingxian]
[Cultivation Techniques: Basic Sword Technique, Starlight Sword Technique; Basic Qi Gathering Technique, Qi Nurturing Technique (Incomplete)]
[Attribute Points: 245]
[Allocate Attribute Points to Techniques?]
[Yes / No]
He selected 'yes' in his mind, and the system interface blinked into life. He swiftly chose the basic sword technique.
After selecting it, the system glowed briefly, and sixteen attribute points were deducted from the available count.
Feeling that it might still be inadequate, Xu Qingxian mentally tapped the upgrade button again, twice.
In an instant, the basic sword technique advanced to level seven. Now, it stood on equal footing with his Qi Nurturing Technique.
Though the process seemed lengthy in words, only a heartbeat had passed in real time. The interaction with the system occurred entirely within his thoughts.
At the moment the technique was upgraded for the third time, time itself seemed to halt.
An overwhelming influx of comprehension surged into Xu Qingxian's mind. His eyes widened slightly, his breath caught in his throat, and he felt a subtle yet profound connection to the sword he held.
Even the mortal-grade sword in his grasp began to shimmer faintly, undergoing an imperceptible transformation.
Simultaneously, a technique linked to the sword path etched itself into his memory.
The Sword Nurturing Technique.
However, that was not the most terrifying part of the upgrade.
Multiple sword techniques began to evolve within Xu Qingxian's mind, shifting and merging in ways that defied logic.
Fleeting insights into integrating elemental force into his swordplay emerged into his understanding, similar to the principles of his Qi Nurturing Technique.
The basic sword technique had transformed into something far more deadly.
[Basic Sword Technique: Cloud Chasing Sword Technique]
As the new technique fully awakened, the burly man suddenly felt as though he had been transported into a world of drifting clouds.
"What is this? An illusion?" he muttered, confusion painting his expression. He spun on his heel, trying to find a flaw in the mist-like veil around him.
A sudden gust of wind swept by, rustling his clothes and stinging his cheeks.
"How profound," he thought, his heart trembling. It was beyond comprehension. The illusion was so complete, it fooled even his senses. He could feel the wind. He could smell the sky.
Then, his vision tilted.
"He can control my sight too? What is going on?" Panic bloomed in the burly man's heart.
"Wait…" His eyes widened in horror. "Is that… my body?" A tremor coursed through him as he saw his own headless figure collapse within the cold palace hall.
Bang.
His severed head hit the stone floor with a dull thud.
Rolling slightly, it came to a stop as his gaze landed on Xu Qingxian, standing tall and calm in plain white robes, his expression serene like that of an immortal descended from the heavens.
The burly man's heart clenched with a final surge of urgency. His heart tugged at him. No, he couldn't die yet; he had to warn his majesty to stop whatever plans he had towards the princess.
The kingdom had to mobilize every force it could muster and eliminate Xu Qingxian!
Xu Qingxian had to be destroyed.
"No… I… can't… die." The man's vision dimmed. His breath caught and hiis expression froze forever.
"Arrgh!" Xu Qingxian groaned, looking down at his arm. Sharp pain flared along his flesh. His skin was split, and blood oozed slowly from deep cracks across his forearm.
'Perhaps I overdid it again,' he mused with a frown, grimacing as he clenched his teeth.
His entire arm had fractured in several places. Blood trailed down his hand, soaking his sleeve and dripping quietly to the cold ground below. But despite the pain, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He had not even used the full strength of the Cloud Chasing Sword Technique.
If he had, he suspected he could easily slay someone at the peak of the Golden Core Realm.
Xu Qingxian raised his uninjured hand and tapped his nose lightly.
'It seems I underestimated myself. I thought I would only catch up to the demoness when the group mission started.'
He sighed, the sound soft and strangely distant.
'I didn't expect to surpass her this quickly. How absurd…'
He pushed aside his thoughts and refocused on his system, which now shimmered faintly with golden light.
'Surely, the rewards this time will be generous.'
[Congratulations on surviving the crisis of a third-stage Golden Core Realm cultivator.]
[You have received 130 Attribute Points.]
Xu Qingxian nodded silently. He had already anticipated something of the sort, so the result didn't shock him. Still, he was pleased with the sheer number of points.
'I should really consider going out more often and picking fights. Maybe I should begin with the third prince.'
He made a quiet decision in his heart. Once he reached the Golden Core Realm, it would be time to visit the man who once plotted to have him killed.
He glanced at the updated figures.
[Attribute Points: 263]
[Allocate Attribute Points to Techniques?]
[Yes / No]
'No,' Xu Qingxian thought. 'Now is not the right time. I will wait and respond based on whatever happens next.'
With that, he closed the panel.
Satisfied for now, Xu Qingxian turned and stepped toward the fire stand attached to the wall.
Gripping the torch, he bent down and gently touched its flame to the burly man's body. First the corpse, then the severed head.
Both ignited almost instantly.
The warm flicker of firelight danced in Xu Qingxian's eyes, casting shadows across his calm face and revealing the chilling glint beneath his gaze.
'The king, huh?' he sighed quietly, rubbing his temples as a headache bloomed.
All kings were the same, filled with schemes, traps, and manipulation. They never ceased their endless planning.
He had suspected from the start that things were not so simple.
And now that he had survived, the situation had grown more dangerous. The king would surely realize something was wrong and take further action.
The next assassin might already be on the way.
Perhaps someone at the Nascent Soul Realm.
Even so, according to his understanding, while the palace had multiple Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, they were not easily mobilized.
'There is nothing to worry about for now. Just focus on increasing my strength steadily and accumulating more attribute points.'
Countless thoughts raced through Xu Qingxian's mind. After a long silence, broken only by the crackling of the flames and the faint rustling of ash, he returned to his corner.
He crossed his legs and entered a state of cultivation once more.