120 Chapter 119: Blood Blades (2/2)

”Yes. I'm sure you intend to teach them a bit of the Blood Spirit Arts. But I believe they deserve a bit more than that.” Lady Zi Da Ji retrieved a key from her robes. ”I'm going to give each of them a martial art manual that our sect possesses.”

”Ah…” Elder Zhao nodded. ”I understand.” He turned back to the both of us. ”Both of you, when learning those martial arts, feel free to approach me for help. Concerning the martial arts of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, I might be able to impart some knowledge and advice.”

”Thank you, Elder Zhao.” I raised my cupped hands and thanked him. Tong Xue followed suit quickly.

”Why can't you teach them the Nine-Tailed Fire Fox and Nine Heavenly Armaments techniques?” Tang Qi Hong inquired, puzzled.

”I'll be teaching them a little of the Nine Heavenly Armaments technique,” Elder Zhao assured her.

”Not everything. Just the weapons they're most compatible with.” Lady Zi Da Ji swept her eyes from me to Tong Xue. ”And they're not compatible with the Fire Fox Formula.” Her eyes rested on me. ”You seem to be using ice technniques, correct?”

”Uh, yeah.” I was disturbed at how she could tell with just a single glance. Then again, she was most definitely a martial arts master. There was no mistaking it. Even though I didn't believe in all those bullshit levels and realms, I could definitely believe that she was much stronger than me.

Compared to her, I was just an ant standing in front of a goddess.

”For you, the Frost Fox technique might be a better fit.” She glanced at Elder Zhao and nodded. ”We should have a copy in the library.”

”We do,” he agreed. ”And I'll get a new copy made tomorrow.”

”Very good. And you…” Lady Zi Da Ji turned to a surprised Tong Xue. ”I believe you'll benefit from the Shadow Fox technique.”

”I…I see…thank you for the advice!”

Both of us bowed profusely. Then remembering something, I glanced at Tang Qi Hong.

”Wait, what abut Qi Hong? Is she going to get a technique too?”

”Eh?” Tang Qi Hong looked taken aback. Lady Zi Da Ji turned to her with a warm smile and nodded delightful.

”Of course I haven't forgotten about you, my dear daughter. You've also performed extremely well in your school tournament, achieving ninth place. We already have your reward prepared.” Lady Zi Da Ji's smile grew wider. ”And thank you for proving that our faith in you isn't misplaced. This way, we can continue to convince those patriarchal elders that you're more suitable to succeed the position of sect leader over Liang Shao Yang.”

I had heard that Lady Zi Da Ji didn't like Liang Shao Yang very much, and it seemed that the rumor was true after all.

”Thanks, Mother, but I don't need a new martial arts manual.” Tang Qi Hong was sulking despite the praise. Lady Zi Da Ji laughed at her reaction.

”Don't worry. We already anticipated that. Your reward is a new Spirit Engraving, which your father will personally pass down to you.”

”Eh? Sect Leader will teach me a new Spirit Engraving?” Tang Qi Hong's eyes widened in delight as she was unable to conceal her excitement.

”Your father will teach you a new Spirit Engraving,” Lady Zi Da Ji corrected. She then gestured in the direction of the main temple built into the side of the Flame Volcano. ”Don't keep him waiting. He's pretty happy about your achievements and wants to congratulate you personally. Your sister too, but I'm not sure if she's around.”

Right. Zi Xiao Ji should be pleased with her adopted sister's achievements and knowing her, would want to throw a celebration party for Tang Qi Hong.

”I'll go see Sect Leader…Father now!” Tang Qi Hong could barely contain her joy. She bowed politely and excused herself, Lian Rou following her closely. The two girls left in the direction of the main temple.

”Well then,” Lady Zi Da Ji said as she watched the two girls disappear into the distance, then turned to look at both of us guys. ”Shall we go then?”

Tong Xue and I followed Lady Zi Da Ji and Elder Zhao to the library at the foot of the Flame Volcano. When they saw her, the two Blood Blades guards immediately lowered their spears and allowed her to access. She spoke to the armored sentries, and they made way for both me and Tong Xue to enter the vast chamber.

”T…this is…”

”The library of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect,” Lady Zi Da Ji replied with a smile. Tong Xue turned pale as he glanced around. I was also awestruck by what I saw, but I didn't see any shelves with books. Instead, there was nothing but a huge metallic door in front of us. A vast vault, completely shielded from the outside world and guarded zealously.

It was only natural. Inside here were the secret and most highly prized techniques of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect. of course they would guard it as securely as they could.

Lady Zi Da Ji opened up a pad next to the door and began punching a code inward. Tong Xue craned his neck to stare at her.

”The passcode is…jc192209.” He frowned. ”Why such a weird passcode?”

”I don't know,” I replied, and then it hit me. ”Because one of the existences beyond the fourth wall requested for it.”

”Huh? What are you talking about?!”

”It's useless to memorize the passcode.”

Lady Zi Da Ji turned around with a bright smile. Tong Xue turned extremely pale and raised both his hands in panic.

”Uh, I didn't mean to…”

”That's fine. I know your Smart Shadow Sect expects you to collect information and intelligence on other sects.” Her smiled turned predatory. ”You would be remiss in your mission to gather information for them. It's just that…”

She giggled, and Tong Xue gulped again.

”…we change the passcode every time we assess the vault, and we have other countermeasures in place. So it's useless to memorize it.”

”I…will keep that in mind,” Tong Xue managed, visibly perspiring.

Lady Zi Da Ji merely chuckled before stepping back. She lowered her head and allowed a red laser to sweep over her eye for a retinal scan, and then the light above the pad turned green. With a thunderous click, the vault door swung open.

”In you go, the both of you. Take whatever martial arts manual you want…but you are only entitled to one each.” She then placed a snow-white finger on her delicate-looking chin. ”But if you've no idea what to choose, you can remember my suggestions.”

To be honest, the Nine-Tailed Frost Fox Formula that Lady Zi Da Ji mentioned sounded extremely appealing to me. I doubted I would be able to find any other martial arts more suitable than me. Right now, the only traditional martial arts I had learned were Shadow Steps and Heavenly Draconic Meteor Swordsmanship, with Heaven and Earth Formula being more of a mystical cultivation technique than an actual combat technique. My ice techniques were all self-taught and unrefined. If I could find a proper ice technique and merge that with my experiences and other techniques – especially Heaven and Earth Formula, I could come up with a much better Yuan Yin Frost technique than the one I haphazardly created by merging my raw ice techniques with Heaven and Earth Formula.

Even so, now that I had the opportunity to enter the secret vault of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, I couldn't help but look around. There were so many manuals, and I even caught sight of the Nine-Tailed Fire Fox Formula that Tang Qi Hong learned directly from her master, Lady Zi Da Ji.

That wasn't all.

There were so many fox techniques. Like the Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox technique that Lady Zi Da Ji recommended Tong Xue. Like me, Tong Xue was also curious about the various techniques in the vault, and he was peering at them keenly.

Mystical Heavenly Fox Formula. The Tailed Sacred Beasts Formula, which seemed more suited for ninjas, especially those housing Tailed Beasts within their bodies. Gumiho's Terran Mech Stratagem. Nine Tailed Inferno Technique. Nine Heavenly Armaments technique. Nine Blades Swordsmanship. And more.

In the end, I guess this is the most suitable…

Eventually I picked the Nine-Tailed Frost Fox Formula. As appealing as the others were, they weren't really suitable for me, and I really wanted a proper ice technique that I could merge my current raw frost skills with. Furthermore, I would be learning a bit of the Nine Heavenly Armaments technique from Elder Zhao, so…

Strange… I realized something was amiss. Where's the Blood Spirit Arts that Lady Zi Da Ji was talking about?

She said that Elder Zhao would be teaching us that, and it sounded just like the sort of techniques the infamous Blood Blades would be known for, but its manual was conspicuously absent from the vault. I wondered why that was.

”Have you made your decision yet?” Elder Zhao called out from the entrance. I realized that we didn't have unlimited time in here, so I hastily reached out for the Nine-Tailed Frost Fox Formula manual.

The moment my fingers touched the scroll, however, everything vanished. I staggered back as a hellishly cold blast of wind whipped against my face. Despite believing myself used to the cold after creating my own frost techniques, I found myself shivering violently. In just a few seconds, my fingers and toes went numb and I fell to my knees, my teeth chattering.

”C…cold…”

It was freezing. Furthermore, despite pulling my qi around myself to protect myself from the cold, I wasn't able to prevent the glacial temperatures from piercing my aura and stabbing into my body. My skin was already turning blue from the extreme temperatures.

”Ugh…!”

Even though I wasn't wearing the proper cold gear, with my current level of cultivation (and no, I wasn't referring to the quantification or exact numbers), I should be able to at least resist the cold. Yet I found myself at the mercy of the relentless elements, which threatened to consume me. At this rate, I would suffer from frostbite, and eventually die from hypothermia!

”Damn it…!”

The cold was sapping my qi at an alarming rate. Never mind that, I was still unable to prevent the ice from freezing over my body. As my qi was depleted, I could only watch in horror as the ice began spreading over my body, encasing me in a frozen tomb.

You've got to be kidding me!

Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and struggled to weather the cold. This reminded me of the time I first borrowed my first ever martial arts technique from the library. Back then, Uncle Du Shu Guan had warned me to beware of the shadows or they would consumed me. All martial arts manuals had a ”spirit” or ”soul” of their own, the techniques inscribed within them a form of Spirit Engraving that gifted them a kind of life. They were not just inert texts describing the martial arts techniques. They were actual living things akin to spirits, with desires and appetites of their own. They were powerful enough to consume martial artists who weren't strong enough to resist the spiritual power imbued within the mystical texts.

I had almost forgotten it since those three and a half years or so. The Heavenly Draconic Meteor Swordsmanship, while powerful, didn't have the same effect because I was already strong enough to resist it with my current level of cultivation.

A cold shudder that had nothing to do with the extremely low temperatures ran through me. If that was the case, then this Nine-Tailed Frost Fox Formula must be an even higher level of martial arts than the Heavenly Draconic Meteor Swordsmanship!

Lady Zi Da Ji must have known this, yet she recommended this technique to me?! Is she doing this on purpose?!

Yeah, she definitely was. There was no reason why she didn't intend for this to happen. She must either be testing me or she had faith that I would be able to resist this top-level technique after my supposedly impressive performance during the academy tournament.

If that was the case, then I couldn't afford to disappoint her!

”Uwaaah!”

KRACK!

With a roar, I allowed my qi to surge upward and broke out of the ice. Staggering to my feet, I waded through the deep snow, gritting my teeth and trying to find the source of all this cold.

I didn't have to look for long. After just a few steps, I found myself completely covered by a massive shadow that could only be cast by something the size of a skyscraper. Swallowing, I forced myself to lift my head and glanced up.

A gigantic nine-tailed fox towered over me, its azure shape still and seemingly frozen, but its glowing eyes alive and full of malice. Its claws stirred and left massive rents in the snowy ground, creating ravines with just a single lazy swipe.

”W…what the hell is that…?”

Yeah, a nine-tailed fox. But that wasn't what I meant.

No, I did understand. In this hellish landscape of terrifying blizzards and merciless ice, this place was the metaphorical of Cocytus, the lowest and deepest level of Hell itself. And the nine-tailed fox looming over me, several hundred meters tall, was its guardian, the last and final Titan that devoured all others in order to survive in Cocytus.

”Hu…”

My breath turned into a fog, clouding my glasses as I stared up at the awesome figure. The enormous nine-tailed fox sect stared at me, as if I was nothing more than an ant, and then raised a building-sized paw to crush me.

Gulping, I gathered whatever qi I had. Even though I knew this was nothing more than an illusion, the effects were real. I couldn't afford to die here, or I would also die in reality. No, I had to conquer and dominate this nine-tailed fox. Only then would it submit to me and allow me to learn the techniques inscribed within it pages…!

Reaching to my belt, I found my remaining sword sheathed there. So my weapon also came with me to this illusory environment. Fine with me. I was going to need every advantage I could get. Taking a deep breath, I drew my sword and infused it with every ounce of qi in my body. Black qi swirled around me, vaporizing the snow and disintegrating the ground upon which I stood on.

The nine-tailed fox's gargantuan paw neared. With a defiant yell, I swung my sword and unleashed my most powerful attack ever.

Shadow Dragon Meteor Strike.

A sort of variant of the Heaven and Earth Strike that I still had yet to fully master, it combined the concept of Heaven and Earth Strike with Heavenly Draconic Meteor Strike. It was the only attack I had that could potentially wound this gigantic nine-tailed fox.

Boom!

Clouds of fog misted across the hellish environment and Cocytus shook. I blinked, half-expecting the nine-tailed fox's paw to descend through the blizzard and crush me to a pulp, but it never came. Taking another breath, I surged forward and saw the nine-tailed fox actually staggering back, its impassive expression now replaced with a surprised snarl.

That wasn't all.

Swinging my sword, I unleashed what I believed was finally Heaven and Earth Strike. Even though I wasn't completely confident of pulling it off, I had relied on the clashing clouds of qi left behind by my Shadow Dragon Meteor Strike and the sheer potent aura that the titanic nine-tailed fox emanated. The collision between the two giant clouds of qi produced a golden spark that was almost blinding, and I instinctively swung my sword at that stormy vortex.

A golden blast of destructive qi surged out of my sword and slammed into the nine-tailed fox, which finally shrieked for the first time. Its screech was almost like thunder, slamming into my eardrums and almost breaking them, while the violent vibrations triggred countless avalanches. Even as large sloughs of snow swept down on me like a tsunami, I firmly held my ground.

The nine-tailed fox, while flailing desperately as the golden blast of qi continued to obliterate it, finally turned to look at me, recognition amidst all that pain and fury.

Then everything vanished.

”Guh?”

I found myself sprawled on the ground, my knees and palms pressing against the cool, metallic ground. Right next to me lay the martial arts manual for the Nine-Tailed Frost Fox Formula, but the menacing aura it exuded was less hostile than before.

”Congratulations.”

”??”

I glanced up and blinked in confusion as Lady Zi Da Ji approached me, her hands clasped. She smiled warmly.

”You did well. I knew I had not misjudged you. You succeeded in subduing the demonic spirit dwelling within the manual of the Nine-Tailed Frost Fox Formula. You've become its new master.”

”T…thanks…”

I gasped, still shivering. My fingers and hands were still pale, and I could still feel the hellish cold that permeated Cocytus. Picking up the martial arts manual and slowly rising to my feet, I glanced around for Tong Xue.

”Tong Xue?”

He was lying on the ground, motionless. For a moment, my heart skipped and I rushed forward, but then I realized he was still breathing and clutching the Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox Formula manual. The shadows that were writhing out of the scroll were slowly being withdrawn, and a few seconds later, Tong Xue moaned and opened his eyes.

”Ugh…I sure as hell don't want to go through that again.”

I sighed in relief when I saw that he was all right. Tong Xue shook his head to clear it and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

”Not bad. You also survived the process and subdued the demonic spirit in that manual. No wonder Rou'er is so taken with you.”

Lady Zi Da Ji nodded in approval. She then turned to Elder Zhao, who was looking pretty anxious. He quickly stepped forward and smiled, his expression filled with both relief and joy.

”I'm delighted to have two new talented discples enter the Blood Blades this year,” he gushed as he held out a hand to help Tong Xue to his feet. He stared at the both of us, grinning from ear to ear. ”Welcome to the Blood Blades, you two. From today onward, I'll be responsible for your combat and martial arts training.”