Invincible Under Heaven

Attitude

Today, the Swordsage of Guangyuan was taking a short rest and did not summon the Jiangzhou experts for discussion.

Outsiders speculated that it was because Su Jianxing had ascended Mount Canglang, and this Swordsage wanted to give him some special guidance.

But in reality...

The Swordsage of Guangyuan and Su Jianxing did not have a close relationship.

The reason was that half a year ago, when the Sacred Martial Tower's Feather Saint, Yang Zuotian, known for his Lightness Skill reaching the sage level, had tried to accept Su Jianxing as his disciple, Su Jianxing had refused him outright.

Instead, he accepted sponsorship from a local sect.

Although it wasn't the Swordsage of Guangyuan who had been rejected, being both members of the Sacred Martial Tower, Su Jianxing's rejection of Yang Zuotian naturally made the Swordsage of Guangyuan feel uncomfortable as well.

If it weren't for the fact that Su Jianxing was expected to stand out and "leap over the dragon gate" this year, the Swordsage wouldn't even have bothered to respond to Su Jianxing's recent requests for instruction.

At this moment, the Swordsage was looking at the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Among the thirty-six people on the list, thirty had been circled.

This meant that all thirty of these people already had patrons.

The remaining six...

The highest ranked among them was only nineteenth.

And this person didn't even show up at the Hidden Sword Conference on Mount Canglang.

Thinking of the motley collection of martial artists the various sects of Jiangzhou had brought over the past half month, the Swordsage of Guangyuan could only shake his head.

"Master."

At this moment, a woman in her thirties brought over a file.

The Swordsage took it and glanced at it.

"Li Xian?"

He studied it for a moment and couldn't help but brighten up: "Twenty-two years old, Viscera Refinement completion? His combat strength is close to Marrow Cleansing?"

But immediately after, his gaze fell on another line of information, and he frowned: "Blood Jade Art?"

"His achievements don't seem to be due to Blood Jade Art," the woman said.

"Oh?"

The Swordsage gave it a little more consideration, but then felt something was off: "Two and a half months of training? Viscera Refinement completion? What's this about!?"

"It's true," the woman replied.

"There's speculation that he first studied literature to clarify his ambition, and only then turned to martial cultivation."

"To first study and clarify ambition, and then practice martial arts... How could an ordinary person walk such a path?"

The Swordsage of Guangyuan mulled over the file and finally gave an order: "Investigate thoroughly."

"I've already sent someone. We'll know in three to five days," the woman replied.

The Swordsage nodded.

He personally didn't believe Li Xian had achieved Viscera Refinement completion in just two and a half months.

Still...

Even if he hadn't trained for less than three months, to reach Viscera Refinement completion at the age of twenty-two...

In the Swordsage's eyes, that was still far better than those other lackluster choices and worth another look.

Just then, another voice came from outside: "Master, Hall Master Zhou from Longquan Martial Hall of Lijiang requests an audience."

"Longquan Martial Hall?"

The Swordsage glanced at the dossier and saw the section related to Zhou Juechen, smiling: "The man himself has arrived. Invite him in."

Without needing instructions, the woman quickly tidied up and went to prepare tea and refreshments.

Soon after, Zhou Juechen was led in by another person.

After the usual pleasantries, before Zhou Juechen could speak, this top expert pushed the dossier in front of him: "Hall Master Zhou, do you think this information is true or false?"

Zhou Juechen glanced at it.

He wasn't surprised that the Swordsage had learned Li Xian's basics so quickly.

"If all this is true, and if Li Xian really did first study literature to clarify his ambition, then took up martial arts, and completed Viscera Refinement in only two and a half months, how would the Swordsage of Guangyuan rate his talent?"

"A genius of the martial path," the Swordsage of Guangyuan replied in just four words.

"If he wishes to receive the support of the Sacred Martial Tower or the personal sponsorship of the Swordsage of Guangyuan, then?"

Zhou Juechen asked.

"Heh."

The Swordsage of Guangyuan chuckled softly: "If, upon verification, these facts are true, I would willingly accept him as a direct disciple, keep him by my side, teach him with all my heart, and do my utmost to help him leap over the dragon gate in five years."

Zhou Juechen fell silent.

After a while, he said: "If... he only wants some resources, cultivation methods, or training insights from the Sacred Martial Tower or the Swordsage of Guangyuan, like Blood Spirit Powder, the Grand Completion Body Refining Manual, or Heavenly Heart Sword Intent?"

The Swordsage was taken aback for a moment, but soon understood Zhou Juechen's meaning.

However—

"Zhou Juechen, do you realize what you're saying?"

His features turned calm as he spoke.

Though brief, the words put enormous pressure on Zhou Juechen.

Even though he had gone through Marrow Cleansing, facing an apex powerhouse like the Swordsage of Guangyuan, if he angered the man, he probably couldn't even block a single sword stroke...

But in the end, he gritted his teeth and pressed on, "To the best of my knowledge, Li Xian harbors many hidden dangers, some even related to the immortal seed in the Royal Capital. I suggest, to avoid tangling the Swordsage of Guangyuan in trouble, perhaps... we could each get what we need."

"Immortal seed?"

The Swordsage of Guangyuan said mildly, "Never mind when or even if that immortal seed enters the path—if he ever does, with the Sacred Martial Tower behind me, what do I have to fear?"

This...

Zhou Juechen was momentarily speechless.

But more than that, he was helpless.

He had expected this result.

"Still, I've understood your intention. You may go," the Swordsage said, calmly lifting his teacup.

Seeing this, Zhou Juechen had no choice but to bow, "Forgive my offense. I'll take my leave."

He soon turned and departed.

His posture looked a bit awkward as he left.

However, the Swordsage of Guangyuan didn't look at him again. He turned his gaze back to the file.

A while later, he called, "Yinsha."

"Master."

The woman stepped up to await his instructions.

"Take a portion of Blood Spirit Powder and deliver it to Li Xian," he ordered calmly.

"Remember, personally put it into his hands."

Yinsha was slightly taken aback: "Blood Spirit Powder, given to Li Xian?"

"He's quite an interesting young fellow."

The Swordsage's tone was flat: "Those conditions are all proof that this Master Li is extremely proud. So proud that he doesn't even show me proper respect. Such a person is either arrogant and blind to everything, or truly has talent that soars to the heavens."

He smiled, "He can afford to be arrogant—Zhou Juechen can't. Logically, Zhou Juechen shouldn't dare deliver such a bold request for him. But he did. What does that mean?"

"Zhou Juechen has absolute confidence in him!"

Yinsha exclaimed in astonishment.

"It's just a portion of Blood Spirit Powder. I'd like to see whether Li Xian's talent lives up to his arrogance," the Swordsage said.

"Yes, master,"

Yinsha promised, and quickly went about her task.

......

In the courtyard where Zhou Juechen was staying.

Li Xian was reflecting on the effects of his recent battle with Yan Lian and Liu Feng, when his Ki and Blood surged and boiled.

"When my Ki and Blood boil and ignite, my explosive force is indeed significantly enhanced. But the negative effects of such burning are also plainly visible. If I reach Primordial Unity, with leaklessness throughout my body, greatly reduce the frequency, and recover between bouts, then it's manageable. But for those below the Leakless realm..."

Li Xian pondered carefully.

He vaguely sensed a similarity between this blood-burning method and the explosive release of core force.

The outburst of core force is fundamentally a sudden release of unified, condensed Ki and Blood.

If, at the moment of release, I ignite and detonate it...

It's like pouring oil onto a blazing fire.

"This effect absolutely isn't as simple as one plus one equals two..."

Li Xian closed his palms together.

"This is the true life-and-death fighting technique."

Though the negative consequences were clearly even more severe, as soon as this line of thought became clear, his eyes lit up.

"Blood Jade Art is said to pay back blood with blood, perish together if need be, but in the end, it's too refined, not extreme or pure enough."

If it's called a demonic art, it ought to resemble a demonic art.

If it isn't fatal over a long period of cultivation, what kind of demonic art is that?

How is it any different from those devil cultivators who must fulfill their targets' last wishes before absorbing their souls?

With this thought, Li Xian, armed with a genuine thirst for knowledge, began exploring the integration of core force explosions and blood-burning techniques.