Chapter 21: Impasse (1/2)

Chapter 21: Impa.s.se

At this moment of danger, Xiao Chen's thoughts gained a sudden clarity and he finally managed to evade the sword at the most crucial moment. Despite this, there was still a small gash left on his neck, with a trickle of blood flowing out. How fortunate, Xiao Chen thought to himself.

Seeing his attack being evaded, Zhang He had an astonished look on his face. He then immediately pursued Xiao Chen relentlessly, each sword strike faster than the one before. Xiao Chen was unable to find the time to even catch his breath.

Xiao Chen’s brain worked very hard, as he knew that it was time for him to escape. Against Zhang He, who had a Spirit Weapon and wielded the powers of his Martial Spirit, he knew that he had no chance of winning. However, this battle had allowed him to learn of his limits. In a battle against a Martial Master, he would be at a big disadvantage. Xiao Chen knew that he had to work harder from now on.

After evading another sword strike, Xiao Chen stomped the ground ferociously with his right foot and streams of Essence flowed to his leg. Using the force created by the impact, Xiao Chen retreated several meters. While he was in the air, he even shot out two clumps of Purple Thunder True Fire.

“Young Master Zhang, I shall take my leave now, we will meet again in future.” Xiao Chen laughed loudly as he turned around and dashed away frantically.

Trying to run? It’s too late, Zhang He laughed coldly in his heart. He was about to give chase when the two clumps of Purple Thunder True Fire reached his body. Zhang He casually slashed the fire with his sword, intending to scatter the purple flames. Who would have guessed that when the purple flames touched the sword, the sword would catch on fire? In an instant, the entire Spirit Weapon was enveloped by the purple flames. Zhang He was startled and hurriedly tossed his sword away.

Those two clumps of purple flames looked ordinary, but they were actually the result of Xiao Chen’s quick thinking. He had almost compressed all the purple flames that his body could condense. This was not something that Zhang He could casually scatter with his sword.

Zhang He looked somewhat fearfully at the burning sword on the ground. If this strange flame had spread to his body, it would have been very scary. When Zhang He thought of that, he s.h.i.+vered.

“Big brother, why did you let him go? Chase after him quickly!” Zhang Zeyang said cluelessly.

When he heard this, Zhang He felt very exasperated. He could no longer suppress the blood in his throat and vomited it out. When Zhang Zeyang saw this, he was so frightened that he went pale.

Xiao Chen returned to the Xiao Clan in a somewhat sorry state. He had originally planned to purchase some herbs, but he had not managed to do so. Xiao Chen laid on his bed and casually tossed the Azure Dragon Medicine Cauldron onto the table. It seemed that he had to give up his thoughts of refining medicines for today.

Lying on his bed, Xiao Chen kept thinking about every aspect of the battle with Zhang He today. If it was a battle with their bare hands, then he might not necessarily be at a disadvantage. However, Zhang He had a Spirit Weapon and had even manifested the powers of his Martial Spirit, leaving him helpless.

Zhang He’s Martial Spirit was a Clear Sky Sword. In this world, the Martial Spirit of many people were holy items that had previously existed. The Clear Sky Sword was an example of this, it was a sacred object that appeared ten thousand years ago and had already disappeared in the pa.s.sing of time.

His own Azure Dragon Martial Spirit was an ancient holy beast. Martial Spirits that used to exist had a name that was common to the continent — Spiritual Martial Spirit.

Spiritual Martial Spirits were able to communicate with spirits and its might was unfathomable. For example, a Medial Grade Martial Master like Zhang He could rely on the might of the Clear Sky Sword to give off a sword Qi that only Martial Saints and above could emit, causing Xiao Chen to be forced into a sorry state. This was the power of a Spiritual Martial Spirit.

Then what was the special ability of his Azure Dragon Martial Spirit? Xiao Chen was somewhat puzzled as he thought about this. After coming to this world, he had only been in a few battles and he had not actually used the Azure Dragon Martial Spirit yet. More specifically, he had not used the Azure Dragon Martial Spirit on his own accord and had completely relied on his Purple Thunder Divine Incantation to battle.

Logically, his Azure Dragon Martial Spirit should not be inferior to Zhang He’s Clear Sky Sword. How could he utilize the power of the Azure Dragon Martial Spirit?

Spirit Weapon!

After pondering for a long time, Xiao Chen finally thought of Spirit Weapons. He wanted to possess a Spirit Weapon. This was the only way to exhibit the power of the Azure Dragon Martial Spirit. Or else, it would be a waste of this ancient Holy Beast Martial Spirit. Furthermore, there was still a copious amount of Moonstones from the Thunder Emperor’s cave that he had not used. The amount should be more than sufficient to forge a high ranked Spirit Weapon.

When he thought of it, he instantly made up his mind. Xiao Chen got up and changed into a new set of clothing. He also washed away the filth and blood on his face. After leaving his small courtyard, he headed to the Xiao Clan’s library.

Since he was going to forge a Spirit Weapon, then he naturally had to find a Martial Technique for using Spirit Weapons. He had to look in Xiao Clan’s library because it would be impossible for him to find a Martial Technique in the Compendium of Cultivation.

The Xiao Clan’s residence was very large and the library was located in the southeast area of the Xiao Clan’s residence. It was a distance from the courtyard that Xiao Chen lived in. Xiao Chen lazily walked on the path of the Xiao Clan’s residence, going past a few gardens and courtyards before arriving at the library.

The Xiao Clan’s library had three floors and there were many Cultivation Methods and Martial Techniques. The first floor contained ordinary Yellow Ranked Martial Techniques and Cultivation Methods; the second floor contained Profound Ranked Martial Techniques and Cultivation Methods; as for the third floor, it was very mysterious. Ordinary Xiao Clan disciples did not know what was in there.

The techniques kept in the Xiao Clan library were the result of the acc.u.mulations of many years, its value was not to be underestimated. There were elite guards patrolling the surroundings. A cultivator in the Spirit Refinement realm did not have the qualifications to enter the library. Only after reaching the Martial Disciple realm, may one enter the first floor and only after entering the Martial Master realm may one may enter the second floor. In the past, Xiao Chen was only in the 9th Grade of Spirit Refinement, naturally, he could not enter. Now, after defeating Xiao Jian, no one would stop him even if he wanted to enter.

The library had always been a bustling place and at this moment, there were many Xiao Clan disciples focused on looking at various Martial Techniques. When Xiao Chen entered, he attracted the gazes of all these people, causing them to start chatting with each other.

“Look, Xiao Chen is here……”

“What is he here for? Isn’t he only in the 9th Grade of Spirit Refinement? How did he get the qualifications to enter?”

“You pighead! If he can defeat Xiao Jian, then he must have already become a Martial Disciple. The guards would have stopped him from entering otherwise. Those guards are Martial Grand Masters.”

“This trash has now risen to prominence, you better keep your voices down. If he hears you, who knows what the consequences will be.”

……