Chapter 53: The Blood Slaughter Sword
In the desolate wilderness, under the cover of darkness, Xu Xiaoyan spread out several maps. “These are the residences of the wealthy and powerful in the surrounding towns and cities. People like them all have treasure vaults filled with valuables. Just imagine the riches we could acquire!”
Shi Hao was speechless. She was a seventh-rank expert; was she seriously considering this?
And she had already done her research?
Shi Hao said, “Isn’t this a bit… beneath you?”
The girl looked up, “Beneath me?”
Shi Hao said, “Isn’t it a bit… undignified?”
“That’s why we use the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique,” the girl grinned. “They’re looking for a female thief, not Xu Xiaoyan. Let me ask you, do you know how much those four immortal ingredients you need would cost?
“At least a thousand taels of silver. Do you think you can earn that much in a short time without stealing or robbing? Well, there is one way. See that tree over there? Yes, that thick one. Find a rope, hang yourself, and hope you’re reborn into a wealthy family in your next life.”
Shi Hao knew a thousand taels was a significant sum. Even if everyone in Small Han Mountain City pooled their resources, they might only be able to gather that much.
No wonder they said martial arts required wealth. At this rate, how could he afford to cultivate?
Xu Xiaoyan put away the maps and giggled, “Of course, if you want to be… what did you call it? Dignified? We can also aim for a bigger target.”
Shi Hao suddenly realized this “bigger target” was her true objective.
He said, “This bigger target you mentioned…” He suddenly looked up.
Xu Xiaoyan, also sensing something, looked in the same direction.
They saw a surge of killing intent from the other side of the forest, birds taking flight, and the faint scent of blood wafting towards them.
They exchanged glances and stealthily approached.
Hiding in the bushes, they looked out and saw a burly young man with close-cropped hair, dressed in animal skins, clearly a barbarian.
He held a dark, sinister-looking sword that radiated a chilling, bloody aura.
Three corpses lay at his feet. On the other side, a young man in fine clothes, holding a sword, stumbled backwards in fear, then turned and fled.
Shi Hao stared at the dark sword in the barbarian’s hand. He had never seen such a strange weapon. In the young man’s grip, it seemed like a living, venomous snake, its aura terrifying and unforgettable.
The girl whispered in his ear, “The Blood Slaughter Sword.”
Shi Hao’s heart stirred. Was that the Blood Slaughter Sword the fat crafting master with the Bixi mask had mentioned at the Red Hill Gathering?
He hadn’t expected to encounter it so soon, in this desolate wilderness.
The barbarian youth, holding the Blood Slaughter Sword, looked back at the fleeing young man.
The moonlight, seemingly stained by the sword, turned a bloody crimson.
Swish! The barbarian youth, as if propelled by the sword, lunged forward, a streak of crimson light trailing behind him.
The fleeing young man, sensing the approaching death, turned around, watching in terror as the crimson light streaked towards his chest.
His legs trembled, his mind paralyzed with fear.
Suddenly, a wave of icy sword energy, like a flash of white in the blood-red night, struck the barbarian youth from the side.
Shi Hao, seeing the young man in danger, had grabbed a branch as he leaped forward.
Although just a branch, fueled by the Gathering Essence Flowing Pearl true energy, it sent a wave of icy energy towards the barbarian, striking his armpit, a vulnerable spot.
The barbarian youth, abandoning his initial target, turned, and the Blood Slaughter Sword, radiating a bloody aura, swept towards Shi Hao.
The sword and branch didn’t clash directly, but a flurry of sword shadows, like exploding stars, filled the space between them.
Icy and bloody auras collided in the darkness, the surrounding grass shattering and scattering under the force of their sword intent.
Shi Hao realized that the barbarian youth was not only stronger than him but also a skilled swordsman.
His swordsmanship was powerful and unrestrained, each strike seemingly tearing through space.
Seeing that Shi Hao only held a branch, the barbarian youth, instead of trying to overpower him with his demonic sword, avoided the branch and engaged him in a pure test of swordsmanship.
Dozens of moves were exchanged in an instant, neither gaining an advantage.
The barbarian youth’s close-cropped hair seemed to stand on end with his killing intent. His eyes, filled with rage and defiance, burned brightly, and the bloody aura emanating from the Blood Slaughter Sword intensified.
He suddenly retreated, the Blood Slaughter Sword flashing. The swirling grass and leaves around him seemed to be drawn inwards.
Shi Hao felt as if the surrounding shadows were converging upon the barbarian youth.
A crimson arc of blood-red sword energy, like a surging sea of blood, swept towards him.
Shi Hao also retreated, thrusting the branch downwards, the “Earthly Thunderclap Sword” from the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes.
Initially, powered by the Immortal Ice Technique, although powerful, the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes lacked the ability to project true energy, focusing on form over essence.
But now, having mastered the Gathering Essence Flowing Pearl Technique, his sword intent, fueled by the enhanced true energy, could manifest as invisible sword energy, elevating his swordsmanship to a higher level.
Each strike could now unleash devastating, invisible sword energy, amplifying the power of the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes.
The sword energy penetrated the earth, then erupted like a thunderbolt, colliding with the blood-red sword light, shattering it with a boom.
The barbarian youth said, “Impressive swordsmanship!” He swung the Blood Slaughter Sword again, its bloody aura rising into the sky, forming a crimson cloud that descended upon Shi Hao.
Shi Hao realized this barbarian also practiced a powerful, high-level sword technique.
He didn’t dare underestimate him. He used the “Azure Sky Immortal Thunder,” a single strike of icy sword energy shooting upwards.
The two techniques collided, space warping and distorting around them.
“Good! Good!” the barbarian youth roared, almost frenzied, “Try this!”
Shi Hao felt the barbarian’s sword intent intensify, like towering mountains rising higher and higher.
The sheer power of his intent indicated that this next strike would be even more powerful and terrifying than the previous two.
The earth itself seemed to tremble in anticipation, birds taking flight in alarm for miles around.
“Come on!” Shi Hao shouted, undaunted, stepping forward, his sword energy swirling like a tornado.
Their sword energies clashed, the branch in his hand shattering.
A wave of blood-red sword light descended upon him. Shi Hao leaped back, the overwhelming force threatening to engulf him.
Suddenly, the attack stopped. The barbarian youth, holding the trembling Blood Slaughter Sword, his body shaking as if struggling to contain something, said, “You have no sword! Do you think I’m not worthy of facing a real sword?!”
His eyes blazed with fury.
Shi Hao landed gracefully and said calmly, “I apologize for not having a sword.”
He saw that despite the barbarian’s efforts to control it, the Blood Slaughter Sword still pulsed with a life of its own, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, its aura sinister and unsettling.
“It recognizes you!” the barbarian youth snorted. “I’ll give you time to find a sword. How long do you need?”
Shi Hao, his gaze cold and unwavering, said, “Two days.”
“I’ll be waiting for you here two nights from now,” the barbarian youth swung the Blood Slaughter Sword over his shoulder and walked away. “You can’t escape the Blood Slaughter Sword!”
Watching him leave, Shi Hao turned to the young man who had been attacked earlier.
The young man, although injured, and having had a chance to escape, had remained.
Now, he leaned on his sword, stood up shakily, and bowed, “Thank you for saving my life, brother. May I ask for your name? I will repay your kindness if I ever have the chance.”
Shi Hao said, “I was just passing by. Don’t mention it. Who is that man, and why were you fighting him?”
The young man said, “That barbarian is a menace. He’s been challenging swordsmen to duels, killing them all. We’re from the Eagle Sword Sect. Our senior brother was killed by him in a duel. We couldn’t accept it, so four of us came here to challenge him together.
“We didn’t expect him to be so powerful. He killed three of us. If it weren’t for you…”
He looked ashamed. After all, the barbarian had fairly defeated their senior brother in a duel. The four of them ambushing him was unfair, and they had still lost.
Shi Hao said, “His swordsmanship is exceptional. You’re no match for him. It’s understandable.”
The young man sighed deeply, knowing he was indeed far inferior to the barbarian. He went down the mountain to find some villagers to help him retrieve his fallen comrades’ bodies.
Shi Hao rejoined Xu Xiaoyan. She asked, “Are you really going to duel him in two days?”
Shi Hao said calmly, “Yes.” Having entered the martial world recently, he wanted to test his own swordsmanship.
Xu Xiaoyan smiled, “Very well! You’ve been marked by the Blood Slaughter Sword. You can’t escape, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, he’ll find you. That’s why he left so confidently, knowing you’ll be here in two days.”
Shi Hao asked, “The Blood Slaughter Sword has such power?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “It contains demonic essence, a notorious demonic sword. Whoever’s blood stains its blade must die, or the sword will devour its owner. It has already tasted that man’s blood, so logically, the barbarian should kill him.
“But now, it’s more interested in you. It has abandoned the Eagle Sword Sect disciple and marked you. If that barbarian doesn’t kill you and let his sword taste your blood, he’ll suffer the consequences.”
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