Chapter 179: Chapter 38: The Power of Fragments of the Heavens
Zhang Xuan said, “Lady Yu, why would you say that? If I’m not Lian Huo, then who is? Could it be that in searching for the Crimson Frond, Lady Yu didn’t just send me but others as well?”
“Lian Huo was promoted by me personally, his talent is well known to me. Most importantly, having followed me for many years, he knows the rules and would not ask such questions!”
Yu Qingyu sneered, “You must be from Yunshan Hall, right? Possessing the Thousand Threads of Heavenly Mandate, indeed not simple…”
Before she finished speaking, the young woman extended her hand and made a chopping motion. Seeing that it was a feint, Zhang Xuan took a half step back, and Yu Qingyu took the opportunity to snatch the Mo Dao from his hand.
Her wrist flicked, and the saber light flowed like a river, enveloping Zhang Xuan.
Seeing her make a move, Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows rose, just about to counterattack, he realized something and stopped.
Whirl!
The fierce saber light swirled around him, like a flowing curtain, not leaving a single mark on him; it seemed that she had not intended to kill him.
“That’s not right…”
The saber light ceased, and she carefully stared at the robust man in front of her, seeing no difference from before, Yu Qingyu lost her initial confidence, “Just now, that slash must have been able to sever the Thousand Threads of Heavenly Mandate. If you were being controlled, you would definitely have come to your senses by now. Why hasn’t there been any change?”
“Controlled? Lady Yu worries too much. How could I possibly be controlled by someone!”
Zhang Xuan shook his head.
“The Hall Master once told me that Elder Feng Zhaoting cultivated the Thousand Threads Heavenly Mandate, which uses the spirit as threads to manipulate the soul. As long as the cultivation is inferior to the other party’s, one can be manipulated and controlled involuntarily… You looked odd just now, I thought you were being controlled…”
After tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Yu Qingyu looked over and shook her head, “However, controlled or not, with a talent stronger than mine, I cannot let you live!”
“Strong talent means death… What kind of reasoning is that?” Zhang Xuan frowned slightly.
Yu Qingyu scoffed and said, “Being stronger than me, you could gain the Hall Master’s favor and thereby obtain more rewards of heavenly fragments. These are limited in quantity; if you get them, I won’t! If you blame anyone, blame yourself for revealing your talent without sufficient strength.”
The moment she finished speaking, the young woman once again raised her Mo Dao, its cold gleam flashing, this time not just around but directly aiming for Zhang Xuan’s neck.
To strike was to kill without leaving any room for mercy.
Seeing her beautiful appearance yet ruthless attack, Zhang Xuan sighed, “I had originally intended to spare your life…”
I thought the disguise was quite good, allowing me not to engage in battle while covertly investigating the deeds of Unnecessary Hall. Now, it seems unnecessary.
Merely because of high talent and feeling threatened, to kill someone regardless of their merits or contributions, such ungratefulness justifies a death no matter how many times over.
With his index and middle finger stretched out, he lightly pinched, and the brilliant Mo Dao immediately extinguished, like a rattlesnake caught by the mouth, no matter how much it twisted, it could no longer harm anyone.
After struggling for a moment, feeling the Mo Dao in her opponent’s fingertips as if glued in place, immobile, Yu Qingyu’s face paled, realizing the truth.
“How, how can you be so strong? No, not right, you aren’t Lian Huo, nor are you controlled by the Thousand Threads Heavenly Mandate, but rather disguised…”
This overpowering force she only felt from Ling Buyang before.
The opponent’s strength was clearly far above hers, and the real Lian Huo, whom she had personally trained, would she not know?
Thousand Threads Heavenly Mandate can control others, but wouldn’t augment one’s strength.
“Now you know, but it’s already too late…”
Not bothering to say more, Zhang Xuan flicked his finger.
Yu Qingyu’s chest caved in, and she immediately flew backward, hitting the wall, as if pressed by an invisible force.
She coughed, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. This woman finally understood, the man before her possessed unfathomable strength, her eyes revealing a hint of fear, “Don’t kill me, I’ll do anything as long as you spare my life…”
As she spoke, her clothes slipped from her shoulders, revealing her light inner wear, her shapely figure exposed before Zhang Xuan.
It must be said, this woman indeed was quite attractive, with curves in all the right places, smooth skin like fine porcelain, easily arousing primal desires.
Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, “Aren’t you afraid that Elder Ling will be jealous?”
“Jealous? What right does he have to be jealous?”
Yu Qingyu sneered, “After marrying me, he has never truly been with me, not even once. He even used me as a bet to gain support for his promotion to Vice Hall Master! He has never treated me as his wife, so why should I keep fidelity and regard him as my husband…”
“Makes sense!”
Zhang Xuan nodded but shook his head as well. It would indeed be strange if Ling Buyang had touched you.
“Then let’s begin… I’m good at everything…”
Yu Qingyu’s eyes were sultry.
“Everything? That’s really great!”
Zhang Xuan’s eyes brightened, his spirit moved, the pressure on her disappeared, and with a slight gesture, the Mo Dao that had fallen on the ground flew towards her, landing in her palm, “Since you’re skilled at everything, show me all the saber techniques you’ve learned!”
“???” Yu Qingyu was stunned.
What I meant by ‘everything’ was ‘positions’, and here you are thinking about ‘moves’…
Not knowing what sort of temper the other party had and fearing to irritate him, Yu Qingyu didn’t dare to waste words. Long saber in hand, her aura changed, and she started swinging it around.
Whirl!
Wearing less clothing added a different kind of beauty, the Mo Dao swinging down, threads of Heavenly Mandate Vitality once again gathered from around, condensing on the saber blade, emitting a faint glow.
Compared to the battle techniques from just moments ago, this one was much more powerful.
After carefully observing for a while, Zhang Xuan felt surprised once again.
The opponent’s saber art not only damaged the physical body and the soul, but it seemed it could also pierce through destiny, making one feel as though they had no control over their own body.
All is destiny, none is by one’s own volition.
Practicing was the process of defying the heavens and changing one’s destiny; once this kind of power invaded too often, causing you to become obsessed with fate and unable to resist, your cultivation would naturally stagnate.
“So this is the power of the fragments of the heavens…”
Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.
It was similar to martial skills, yet different as well.
As he was reflecting, he felt a tightness at his brow. In the next moment, four beams of saber light flashed from around him, stabbing directly at his four major acupoints. At the same time, the Heavenly Mandate Vitality in the entire room immediately started boiling.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Xuan felt like his consciousness, twisted by the saber art he had just learned, was creating a sense of inevitable doom, as if he was destined to die here.
Fragments of the heavens, once studied, would subject one to the influence of the teacher. The teacher, in turn, would be controlled by the originator of this destiny.
It was like preaching: the ordinary believers were influenced by the missionaries, and the missionaries obeyed the orders of the church leader.
With more and more Heavenly Mandate Vitality, Zhang Xuan felt a thought tumbling incessantly in his mind: Why resist? What is there to resist? Since death is inevitable, dying at her hands doesn’t seem so bad…
“How terrifying!”
Zhang Xuan silently alerted himself.
Yu Qingyu was only a Jade Bone Realm powerhouse. If her strength and the power of her destiny were greater, how could he ever win?
“After the Hall Master killed Feng Yizhou, I knew someone from Yunshan Hall would definitely come to cause trouble. I was prepared. Did you really think I was just a vase all these years?”
Seeing the bearded strong man standing still not far away, Yu Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Being able to replace Ling Buyang to take charge of Unnecessary Hall and manage countless people, she naturally had numerous lifesaving methods.
As soon as the other party arrived, she sensed something was wrong. Teaching the saber art was precisely to control him; once learned, he would be influenced by her power.
Then she played for time, made various arrangements, and finally, at this moment, everything was ready.
Four beams of saber light, along with her influence from the fragments of the heavens, could cut down even those in the Divine Soul Realm or even the Dharma Form Realm!
After all, this was her home ground with a formation to assist.
“Die!”
With a sharp shout, the Mo Dao wrapped in Heavenly Mandate Vitality sliced through the air, numbering in the hundreds. Each strike contained the essence of Mo Dao; entirely unexpected. Even a Fate Master at the Recognize Destiny Realm would be influenced by it. There was no doubt that this person in front of her was doomed…
Before her excitement had subsided, she saw the somewhat bewildered bearded man’s eyes suddenly light up, seemingly very excited. Then, all the Heavenly Mandate Vitality in the room instantly disappeared.
It was like small fish and shrimp encountering a whale—intending to disturb it, but with one opening of the mouth… their home was gone!
Ding ding ding ding!
Before her surprise ended, four crisp sounds followed, like hail hitting the roof. The incoming four beams of saber light were instantly cut down. At the same time, while the four figures were still in the air, they spat blood and fell to the ground, convulsing, clearly beyond saving.
“This…”
With her pupils constricting, Yu Qingyu felt a chill all over.
Under her saber art and formation constraints, this man not only ingested all the Heavenly Mandate Vitality in one breath and broke free from the predicament, but he also injured her four strongest subordinates in an instant. What kind of power was this?
These four were experts in the Viscera Realm, Sixfold of the Source Pool. Even if a Divine Soul Realm powerhouse was prepared, attacking them simultaneously would be very dangerous.
“Could it be… are you Elder Feng Zhaoting?”
This level of power could only possibly belong to him.
“You guess!”
With a light smile, Zhang Xuan clenched his fist and struck again.
Bang!
Yu Qingyu was sent flying again, this time not as lightly as before. Her complexion turned pale as blood spurted violently.
Her back hit the wall again, and her body was smashed flat once more.
“Someone, someone…”
Knowing she was no longer a match, the woman shouted loudly, but as her voice began to leave the room, she felt a sharp pain in her throat. The bearded guest had already approached her unnoticed, grabbing her neck and holding her up in mid-air.
“I didn’t want to kill you…”
Zhang Xuan shook his head.
He hadn’t intended to start a massacre without first investigating the crimes of Unnecessary Hall. But since the other party wished for death, he had no choice but to respect that wish.
“Hahaha, even if you don’t kill me, what of it? I would just become a plaything for another person…”
Knowing her death was certain, Yu Qingyu no longer resisted; instead, she let out a cold laugh, as if she had gone mad.