Chapter 56: The Rogue Cultivator Zhou Qian!
Clang! The sound of metal rang out, sparks burst into the night, and Han Yin flipped back onto the small boat. The vessel sank under her weight, waves rippling outward as she staggered several steps, retreating all the way to the stern before barely halting her momentum, narrowly avoiding plunging into the lake.
Even so, her expression remained utterly terrified, and the hand gripping her sword would not stop trembling.
One move—just a single move—had shattered the Red Beard Sword she so prided herself on.
It was not merely a difference in technique, but a crushing disparity in fundamental strength.
Han Yin’s face turned pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. The chilly night breeze swept over her, shocking her awake.
“Your cultivation is profound, I cannot compare,” she said, voice quivering. “If I have offended, please forgive me! I take my leave!”
With that, she cupped her hands in a respectful gesture, pressed her foot down, and the small boat hastily retreated.
...
...
“I take my leave!”
The rest, witnessing this scene, were silent at first, then moved as one. Swift in arrival, swift in departure—they vanished, their bright lanterns swallowed up by darkness in the blink of an eye.
Yet—
No sooner had they retreated than a fiery red light pierced the darkness.
A streak of crimson, blazing like fire, shot forth and landed swiftly in the midst of the scene.
“I am Xu Shengnan of the Xu family. Allow me to test your skills,” came a clear, spirited voice as the red light revealed a figure of stunning beauty.
“Someone from the Xu family?” Shen Yan’s gaze sharpened, his expression unchanged as he sent his Primordial Ice directly at the sword light.
Bang!
Though direct, the strike was unavoidable. Sparks exploded as a graceful shadow spun in the air, slashing out with another sword strike.
She was fast, but Shen Yan was faster.
As her sword energy emerged, his Primordial Ice struck her flying sword with a flash like lightning, not only breaking her attack but hitting her body as well.
A dull thud sounded, blood sprayed.
Xu Shengnan let out a muffled groan, flipped backward, and transformed into a streak of sword light, darting away.
“I yield!” she called, departing as swiftly as she’d appeared, vanishing without a trace.
Shen Yan smiled, making no effort to pursue.
...
Not far away, A Ruo, stunned and wide-eyed, finally snapped out of her daze. Watching as Shen Yan resumed his fishing, she dared not disturb him, trembling as she rowed her boat away from this place of turmoil.
...
Elsewhere—
Bang!
The fiery red light raced back, landing on a brightly lit large vessel, revealing the breathtaking figure of Xu Shengnan.
“Miss!” “Are you alright?”
As soon as she landed, the crowd rushed forward, anxiously inquiring.
“This person’s depths are unfathomable; do not make any rash moves. Let him be for now,” Xu Shengnan said, her face cold as she turned away, ignoring their concern.
...
The remaining crowd exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to do.
But Xu Shengnan paid them no mind, her attention elsewhere.
She hurried back to her room, closed doors and windows behind her, and collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
“Hah…hah…!”
Between ragged breaths, she tore open her collar, exposing her shoulder.
Her skin was smooth as jade, yet across her shoulder lay a sword-shaped blood wound, sharp and fierce. Amidst the fresh red flesh, new tissue tried to knit the injury closed, but the potent sword energy suppressed it, causing the tissue to writhe and bleed, almost alive.
“Hah…hah!”
Xu Shengnan steadied herself, gazed at her horrific wound, hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and produced a jade bottle from her robes.
The bottle was deep green, finely crafted. Removing the stopper released a strange fragrance.
She poured out a bright yellow pill, as lustrous as jade, and swallowed it whole.
Gulp.
Sitting upright, she summoned her spiritual power. Her shoulder wound glowed fiercely, sword energy slowly dissipating as the new tissue regenerated at a visible rate. The terrible injury that nearly pierced her shoulder blade healed in an instant, leaving her flawless skin unmarred.
“The late stage of Qi Refining is no match for me. Unless a Foundation Establishment cultivator appears, I am invincible on Qinglian Lake.”
In recent days, aside from cultivation, his main task had been gathering intelligence and researching the so-called spiritual fish appearing in Qinglian Lake.
Though the investigation ultimately led to confusion, he obtained much valuable information.
Apart from the spiritual fish infused with spiritual energy, even the black-scaled fish, affected by fiendish energy, possessed a hint of extraordinary power!
“But whether spiritual fish or black-scaled fish, both are influenced by the so-called secret cache of Qinglian Sword Sect.”
Shen Yan shook his head, lowering his gaze to the half-dead black-scaled fish in the tank, murmuring,
“Could the disappearance of Qinglian Sword Sect be connected to these things?”
...
The next day dawned colder still, yet numerous fishing boats braved the icy winds to cast their nets into the lake.
When would the tide of spiritual fish end?
No one knew, so none dared slacken—they fished with all their strength every day.
A Ruo was no exception. Though exhausted from a sleepless night, she forced herself to set out.
“Frost has fallen!”
Watching the mist-laden, cloud-shrouded Qinglian Lake, A Ruo shivered, forced to untie the gourd at her waist and take a swig of strong liquor for warmth.
Elsewhere, Xu Shengnan led her entourage to welcome a young Taoist into the hall.
He was youthful in appearance, strikingly handsome, wearing crimson Taoist robes as bright as fire, making him stand out.
Xu Shengnan stood before him, respectful yet somewhat aloof.
“Elder Brother.”
The others behind were hesitant to speak.
The young Taoist smiled.
“I've already heard what happened. This person is powerful, none of you can match him. Leave him be for now. When the secret cache emerges, I’ll challenge him myself.”
“This…yes!”
Though doubtful, none dared protest, replying with respectful assent.
The young Taoist waved his hand.
“That’s enough, withdraw. I have something to discuss with my sister.”
“Yes!”
The crowd exchanged furtive glances, then obeyed, bowing out.
Only Xu Shengnan remained, silent.
The young Taoist looked at his sister and spoke directly, with a gentle laugh,
“How is your injury?”
Xu Shengnan said nothing, silently removing her garment.
“Mm.”
Seeing her flawless shoulder, he nodded.
“To injure you so severely with one move—this person must be a formidable foe. Yet which sect or school does he hail from?”
Xu Shengnan dressed.
“His magical artifact is heavy as a mountain and exceptionally sharp, his spiritual power pure and formidable.”
“Hmph, so what if he’s powerful?”
The young Taoist laughed coldly.
“When the secret cache emerges, the Grand Elders will act. Three Foundation Establishment cultivators will join forces; the cache of Qinglian Lake will surely be ours. Can he contend with our Little Lan Mountain Market?”
Xu Shengnan nodded, hesitation flickering in her eyes as she looked at her elder brother.
“Da Qiong, the weather is growing colder. The mortals can hardly bear it, and complaints are rising. If we continue to force them thus…”