Chapter 14: Black eats black!
Sword light flashed, and thunder rumbled.
In an instant, Zhao Xuhe's head was taken by the sword light, but before his head could fall, his body suddenly exploded, turning into a pile of bones on the ground.
"Which fellow Disciple is waiting for me here?"
After the bones shattered, a wisp of Yin Qi flew out, and finally, a hundred meters away, Zhao Xuhe's form reappeared, his face still showing a hint of panic.
However, before he could finish speaking, the sword light arrived like a shadow.
Swish—!
The next second, Zhao Xuhe's head once again shot into the sky, only to turn into a sky full of bones, and the Yin Qi retreated another hundred meters, revealing his figure.
"I—"
Boom!
"You—"
Crack!
"Enough!"
Dozens of sword lights filled the space, killing Zhao Xuhe more than ten times before he finally regrouped and seized an Opportunity to dodge the sword light.
Although it was only for a brief moment, Zhao Xuhe grasped it precisely. Then, he flung his wide sleeve, and a sky full of bloody smoke and dust instantly swirled out, protecting his entire body in the center. He then swallowed several Medicinal Pills to recover from his injuries and True Qi, before dividing his attention to look around.
"Lu Yang, it's you!"
Zhao Xuhe's eyes were like torches; he immediately recognized that the sword light that had killed him more than ten times was the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Art, and he instantly called out Lu Yang's identity.
However, even so, his heart was filled with indescribable shock.
Because he had personally experienced the power of that sword light, it was not something a Qi Refining Early Stage cultivator could achieve. In just a few days, Lu Yang had actually reached Qi Refining Middle Stage.
"This person must have an Opportunity on him!"
Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe suppressed his anger, his heart filled with unexpected joy: "Good, good, good! Today truly is a double blessing; I'll take this Opportunity!"
Outside the Maze Formation, Lu Yang's expression was solemn.
"How troublesome..."
He thought he had been ruthless enough, but Zhao Xuhe still managed to seize a sliver of life, and he couldn't kill him directly with a single combo.
He even had his identity revealed.
However, with the Maze Formation confusing all directions, his true body was hidden in the dark, only attacking from afar with his Flying Sword. If it came to a real fight, his chances of winning were still greater.
At the same time, Zhao Xuhe also discovered the existence of the surrounding Maze Formation. Although it was just a simple trapping Formation that he could easily break after some time to deduce it, with Lu Yang interfering and his True Qi being less than 50% of its Peak, he was temporarily helpless against it.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe's eyes darted around, and he suddenly spoke:
"Brother Lu, actually, you and I don't really have any enmity..."
"Go!"
Strike while the iron is hot. Lu Yang certainly wouldn't reminisce with Zhao Xuhe or give him a chance to heal and recover. He immediately activated his sword art and continued to attack the opponent.
"Tsk! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe's eyes turned cold, and he immediately gave up the idea of stalling for time. Instead, he activated a spell and sacrificed a metal seal into the air.
This item was called the Primordial Magnetic Golden Seal. It could absorb all metal objects in the world and was specifically designed to counter Flying Swords. It was Zhao Xuhe's trump card secret treasure, which he had prepared for future use against Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion Disciples on the battlefield of the Righteous-Demonic War. Now, however, he took it out early, intending to counter Lu Yang's sword light.
"Fix!"
Zhao Xuhe activated the treasure seal, precisely capturing a sword light that was slashing towards him. With one seal, he instantly subdued that sword light, making it unable to move or turn.
Lu Yang, however, maintained a normal expression.
He was still at his Peak, while Zhao Xuhe was at his lowest point. This kind of True Qi-consuming tug-of-war was actually advantageous to him, so he wasn't flustered at all.
"My biggest advantage right now is being hidden in the dark, with the Formation concealing me. Zhao Xuhe can't find my location. This way, even if he has some means to turn the tide, as long as I don't show myself, it'll still be useless. As long as I continue to wear him down, I'm sure to win."
So Lu Yang made up his mind: I won't show myself.
Flying Sword? Don't need it!
Anyway, you won't be able to refine my Flying Sword for a while, and you'll have to consume True Qi to suppress it, which is exactly what I want. Let's see how long you can last!
"Rumble!"
Lu Yang stood outside the Formation, circulating his True Qi. A misty white Qi floated out from the top of his head, transforming into a several-meter-sized hand print that slapped into the Formation from mid-air.
This method wasn't particularly powerful; it was purely a brute force attack.
Zhao Xuhe's face instantly darkened upon seeing this; he knew his plan had been seen through by Lu Yang.
"You dog!"
Zhao Xuhe couldn't help but curse inwardly. Despite being at the Qi Refining Middle Stage like himself, Lu Yang was so cautious, how could he turn the tide?
Although he still had the strength to fight for his life, even if he killed Lu Yang, he himself would hardly survive. How could Zhao Xuhe, who had finally obtained an Opportunity, be willing to accept that?
Seeing his True Qi being consumed more and more, Zhao Xuhe finally couldn't hold back and shouted loudly: "...Brother Lu, do you know what Opportunity I obtained on this Dragon Coil Island? A third-grade True Cultivation Technique that directly leads to the Golden Core Dao! If Brother Lu stops now, I, Zhao, am willing to share the Cultivation Technique with you!"
"A third-grade True Cultivation Technique?"
Outside the Maze Formation, Lu Yang suddenly stood up upon hearing this. True Qi has nine grades and thirty-six stages. Below the seventh grade, there is no path to Foundation Establishment, and below the third grade, there is no entry to Golden Core.
And now, Zhao Xuhe had actually offered a Cultivation Technique that could allow one to Cultivate third-grade True Qi, with a promising future for Golden Core!
What a great Opportunity!
"No, wait..."
Lu Yang took a deep breath, suppressed his greed, and sat back down: "This person is offering a great reward, but he still wants to lure me out. If I go out, I'll fall into his trap."
"How about it, Brother Lu? Can we reconcile?"
Inside the Maze Formation, Zhao Xuhe was still trying to persuade him, but then a voice suddenly came from all directions: "Foolish! If I kill you, the Cultivation Technique will be mine too!"
"Brother Lu, you are mistaken." Zhao Xuhe shook his head and smiled: "The so-called Opportunity is destined by Heaven. This third-grade True Cultivation Technique is an Opportunity that I, Zhao, obtained through three lifetimes of arduous Cultivation, exchanged with Karma. It has no affinity with Brother Lu. Even if you kill me, the Cultivation Technique will only fly away and will not be obtained by you."
"What?"
Lu Yang was stunned upon hearing this, and then his expression became uncertain. An Opportunity destined by Heaven, no affinity with the Cultivation Technique, and it would automatically fly away even if obtained?
However, Lu Yang quickly reacted and sneered: "If that's the case, then why should I reconcile with you for this Cultivation Technique?"
Zhao Xuhe quickly explained: "Brother Lu, you originally had no affinity with the Cultivation Technique, but if I actively share it with Brother Lu, then no affinity will turn into affinity."
"...Good."
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang said: "You copy a copy of the Cultivation Technique for me, and I'll let you out."
"It's a deal." Zhao Xuhe readily agreed. Then he took out a jade box and proactively opened it, revealing two volumes of Daoist scriptures inside.
"The upper volume, the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, is a Qi Refining Realm Cultivation Technique. It can Cultivate a 'True Dragon Evil,' making one a leader in combat power within the same Realm. The lower volume, the Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Riding Ascension Scroll, is a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation Technique. It can Cultivate a 'Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon' Dao foundation, with a promising future for the Golden Core Dao."
After introducing the Cultivation Technique, Zhao Xuhe suddenly changed the subject:
"However, Brother Lu, I am currently injured and my True Qi is weak. If I just give you the Cultivation Technique like this, what if you go back on your word and betray me?"
"...That's simple."
Lu Yang's eyes darted around, and he proactively suggested: "You can give me the Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Riding Ascension Scroll first, and keep the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art for yourself."
"I'm only at the Qi Refining Realm right now, so even if I have a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique, I can't Cultivate it. You don't have to worry about me going back on my word and harming your life." At this point, Lu Yang's face was filled with sincerity: "After I let you out, you can then give me the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, how about that?"
Zhao Xuhe thought about it and felt that Lu Yang's words made a lot of sense.
"It's a deal!"
Zhao Xuhe took out the Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Riding Ascension Scroll from the jade box. Lu Yang, however, still didn't show himself, but instead condensed a True Qi large hand to grab it from a distance.
Zhao Xuhe could only sigh inwardly upon seeing this, suppressing his last bit of thought, and obediently handed the Cultivation Technique to Lu Yang.
Lu Yang took the Cultivation Technique, memorizing every word and sentence in his heart, then grinned.
"Goodbye!"
The next second, Lu Yang sank his Qi into his Dantian, directly activated a killing curse, and fearlessly self-destructed!
Boom!
A moment later, the sky full of smoke and dust dissipated, revealing Zhao Xuhe's bewildered face.
"My Cultivation Technique... is gone?"
Why self-destruct?
Self-destructing is one thing, but why not self-destruct earlier or later? Why wait until after getting the Cultivation Technique to self-destruct? I haven't even had a chance to look at that Cultivation Technique myself!
"Lu Yang..."
Zhao Xuhe stood in the wind, looking at the Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Riding Ascension Scroll, which had turned into ashes, muttering Lu Yang's name, his expression gradually twisting:
"You beast!"