Chapter 240: Chapter 236: Ouyang Xu

The hole in the stone wall was pitch-black and only about the size of a fist, yet it was incredibly deep. He picked up a pebble and flicked it inside, estimating its depth to be ten to twenty meters.

"What terrifying penetration power!" Gao Zhisong’s eyes were filled with horror, and his expression turned grim. "With this level of Attack Power, I’m afraid even at my peak I would have a hard time blocking it!"

The power of the Sword Techniques was indeed terrifying. Even an expert of Gao Zhisong’s caliber could potentially be killed in a single strike. And this was only the first of three techniques. One could only imagine how horrifying the second and Third Technique of these Nameless Sword Techniques would be. It was likely that even some Celestial Skill Treasure Manuals famed for their offense didn’t possess such might.

However, as powerful as these Nameless Sword Techniques were, they came with a significant drawback. They consumed an enormous amount of True Qi. Using just one technique would completely drain his body of True Qi, leaving him in a weakened state. Unless it was a life-or-death situation, Ye Xing would never dare to use it. The Attack Power of these Fragmented Sword Techniques was too terrifying; it was an extreme, all-or-nothing approach, almost demonic in its nature.

"My lord, were you just testing out your Sword Techniques?" Gao Zhisong asked. "With techniques like these, your strength is enough to rank near the top of the Wind and Cloud List."

"It’s not that simple. These techniques have a major drawback," Ye Xing said, shaking his head. "Using a single one completely drains my True Qi. Unless I’m fighting for my life, I really don’t dare to use them."

The Fragmented Sword Techniques were an unorthodox path, condensing all of one’s True Qi into a single point. There was no defense whatsoever—only terrifying attacks and horrifying penetration power. Even Ye Xing himself felt a sense of dread when using them.

Just as Gao Zhisong had said, if he were to use it, some of the top Martial Artists ranked lower on the Wind and Cloud List would likely be killed instantly.

"Alright, hurry up and heal. I need to recover my True Qi as well!" Ye Xing immediately put away the fragmented pages of the sword technique, then sat down cross-legged to treat his injuries and restore his True Qi.

EXHALE—

INHALE—

He inhaled slowly, then gradually exhaled. In with the clear qi, out with the turbid. As the Innate Skill circulated, the True Qi in his body began to steadily increase, recovering rapidly.

While circulating the Innate Skill, Ye Xing also activated the Thunder Heart Spring Wood. Specks of Life Energy covered the wound on his lower abdomen, healing the injury.

With the help of the Thunder Heart Spring Wood and the Innate Skill, Ye Xing’s recovery speed was incredibly fast. Even though he had been more severely injured than Gao Zhisong after clashing swords with Liu Liqun, his overall rate of recovery was still faster.

「One shichen later.」

Their injuries were about eighty to ninety percent healed, meaning they were almost fully recovered.

’I wonder if Liu Liqun has left yet.’ Ye Xing’s eyes flickered. He immediately took a cell phone out of his pocket, swiped his finger across the screen, and tapped an icon.

Instantly, a surveillance feed appeared on the phone’s screen.

Ye Xing looked at the phone screen, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.

"What’s wrong?" Gao Zhisong quickly asked.

"We’ve been ambushed. A large group of people is surrounding the Stone Gate." Ye Xing handed the phone to Gao Zhisong, pointed at the screen, and asked, "Do you recognize any of these people?"

Gao Zhisong took the phone and looked at the screen. His expression suddenly changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "Ouyang Xu! What is he doing here?!"

"Hm?" Ye Xing said. "An Innate Realm expert?" ’Only an Innate Realm expert could make Gao Zhisong’s expression change like that,’ he thought.

"Yes, he’s an Innate Realm expert, but he’s also the Chiyang City Lord and holds the title of Grand General of Red Sun Province. He commands an army of one hundred thousand!" Gao Zhisong’s eyes were filled with terror as he muttered, "We’re finished. The moment we step out of that Stone Gate, we won’t be able to escape even if we sprout wings!"

The armies of the Southern Tang Country are composed almost entirely of Martial Artists who are given special Cultivation Skills to practice. Most soldiers are Martial Artists at the Qi Cultivation Stage, while some officers, from Centurions up to Thousand-man Commanders, are at the Qi Gathering or even the Qi Condensation Stage.

A few dozen, or even a hundred, of these soldiers might not be a big deal, but an army of one hundred thousand was a terrifying thought. Even an Innate Realm expert would likely die on the spot if surrounded by such a massive force.

Commanding a hundred-thousand-strong army showed just how monstrously powerful Ouyang Xu was in Red Sun Province. For such a person to personally come and fight for treasure was indeed a major headache.

"An army of tens of thousands can’t be mobilized at a moment’s notice. We’ve only been here treasure hunting for a single night. Even if Ouyang Xu rushed over from Chiyang City overnight, he couldn’t have brought too many men," Ye Xing said, his eyes glinting as his voice turned serious. "We have to break out immediately. If we drag this out and they have time to surround Biluo Mountain, then we’ll truly be trapped with no escape."

"That will be difficult!" Gao Zhisong shook his head with a bitter smile. "I’m afraid the moment we step out of the Stone Gate, Ouyang Xu won’t even have to lift a finger. His subordinates will swarm us, and we’ll be captured without a fight."

"Don’t be so pessimistic. It’s not that bad. I planted a large number of bombs at the entrance of the Stone Gate that I can detonate at any time. There’s still a chance we can escape in the chaos," Ye Xing said.

"Bombs?"

"Yes, something like the Tang Sect’s Heaven-shattering Thunder!" Ye Xing said.

Gao Zhisong’s eyes lit up. "In that case, we have a chance!"

"Yes, but we still need a scapegoat to draw their attention!" Ye Xing’s eyes flashed as he quickly swiped through the surveillance feeds on his phone, searching.

"Found him. Liu Liqun is in the tunnel on the right. Follow me. Don’t kill him, just force him to leave." Ye Xing quickly turned off his phone, led Gao Zhisong out of the stone chamber, and headed for the tunnel where Liu Liqun was.

...

’Damn it, who the hell was that person in disguise? They completely ruined my plans!’ Liu Liqun, the Liu Family Head, cursed inwardly as he walked down the tunnel. ’I can’t just go back like this. The Daluo Sect treasure site is huge, there must be other stone chambers. I’ll keep looking.’

Suddenly, at that very moment—

SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Two consecutive whooshes cut through the air as a pair of figures suddenly charged out from a bend in the tunnel. It was none other than Gao Zhisong and Ye Xing, who was still disguised as Liu Lihong.

Wielding an Iron Whip and a Sharp Sword, the two charged toward Liu Liqun, radiating killing intent.

Liu Liqun’s expression changed drastically. He activated his Lightweight Skill, turned, and fled. Though he was powerful, he was clearly no match for two opponents. Gao Zhisong was already a notch stronger than him, and with Ye Xing providing support, Liu Liqun could only turn tail and run.

And so, for the better part of the next shichen, Liu Liqun was miserably hounded and chased more than a dozen times. Without even realizing it, he found himself at the exit of the Stone Gate.

’Elder Liu has probably met with disaster,’ Liu Liqun thought. ’Who on earth is that person impersonating him? Cao Bohao? Impossible, Cao Bohao was severely poisoned and practically half-dead. It must be Cao Weifang!’ Just as he was thinking this, a flurry of urgent footsteps echoed from the tunnel behind him, growing closer and closer.

Liu Liqun’s expression changed wildly. He had no path of retreat. His pursuers were behind him, and the Stone Gate was in front. If he didn’t go through, he would be trapped, and his life would be forfeit.

Gritting his teeth, Liu Liqun rushed to the side of the Stone Gate and frantically turned the mechanism’s knob.

CLANG! RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

The Stone Gate opened slowly, rising inch by inch.

"Liu Liqun, where do you think you’re going? Die!" At that moment, Ye Xing and Gao Zhisong’s furious shouts echoed as they closed in for the kill.

Panicked, Liu Liqun ducked down and scrambled out of the Stone Gate.

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