Chapter Ninety-Two: The Dark Shadow Blade and the Azure Sky Bow

Xiao Lingyue greeted Xu Chen with a friendly expression. “I am Xiao Lingyue. I have the honor of meeting Brother Xu.”

“Brother Xiao,” Xu Chen replied courteously.

A disciple who carried such a naturally noble air was surely from one of the great clans in the capital of Lei Province.

“I have many questions about combat and would like to seek your guidance, Junior Brother. I wonder if I might make your acquaintance.” Xiao Lingyue produced his disciple token.

“You are too kind, Brother Xiao. Let us keep in touch when we have the time.” Xu Chen also took out his own disciple token, and the two touched them together, leaving each other’s mark.

At the Affairs Hall, after Xu Chen received the reward for his task, he felt somewhat uneasy beneath Butler Bai’s curious gaze.

“I never expected Little Friend Xu to possess such fighting strength. In the future, you must give our young Fox Moon plenty of guidance,” Butler Bai said with a smile in his eyes.

“That is only natural.”

“Here. I gathered some information that may be of help to you.”

Butler Bai took out a jade slip and handed it to Xu Chen.

Xu Chen was not polite. After taking it, he pressed it to his brow, only to discover that it contained records on the five great sects of Lei Province, along with profiles of each sect’s top disciples in the Blood and Qi Realm. At the end were also detailed data on the Immortal Path Trial.

Within it, he even found an introduction to himself: ordinary aptitude, exceedingly high combat talent, and every detail of his family background laid bare.

“Not even a shred of privacy,” Xu Chen muttered.

“It is far too easy for those great clans to investigate a person. Nothing can be hidden from them,” Butler Bai said with a smile from the side.

“Fair enough. Still, I must thank you, Butler Bai.”

“No need to stand on ceremony.”

Back in the square outside his home, Xu Chen once again saw the two little foxes sparring. As always, Fox Moon was the one being beaten.

“Fox Moon, you can’t fight like that.”

“Your force is scattered. You keep thinking only of retreating, and your footwork is in utter disorder.”

“Before and during battle, you should always keep the surrounding terrain in mind.”

“If, in the midst of combat, your moves become too frantic to sustain, then do not cling to the exchange.”

“Separate, and with each strike weigh your force with gravity; observe your opponent’s speed and the path of their attacks.”

Seeing Fox Moon being pressed the entire time, Xu Chen could not help but offer pointers. After all, Butler Bai had only just entrusted her to his care.

With Xu Chen’s guidance, Fox Moon was still being overwhelmed, but her movements gradually began to show some order.

A heavy blow sent Fox Moon flying. She crashed several yards away and fell onto the small square.

Fox Yang withdrew his hand and looked silently at the fox girl lying on the ground.

He said only that she must not slack in her training, then turned and left.

Xu Chen walked over in silence and looked at Fox Moon, whose eyes were empty and unfocused, before saying with some helplessness, “Your little sister is quite cold. She doesn’t even bother to greet people.”

Fox Moon looked up. “Brother Xu, I am sorry. My younger sister has been distant since childhood.”

Her vacant gaze slowly focused, and she sat up little by little.

“I won’t ask about your troubles. Take this internally and it will keep you from suffering internal injuries.” Xu Chen took out a bottle of ointment and placed it in the little fox girl’s hands.

“Brother Xu, I have healing elixirs.”

“Those are too wasteful. Your injuries are just right for this.” Xu Chen stood and walked to the small square where he usually trained.

“All right. I won’t disturb Brother Xu’s cultivation.”

On the square, Xu Chen resumed his training.

After that, he felt as though he had become famous.

The well-known Blood and Qi Realm disciples of Great Stream Sect seemed to have made an appointment among themselves, visiting Xu Chen one after another and leaving him no time to cultivate.

These visitors broadly fell into four categories: those seeking to recruit him, those seeking friendship, those seeking sparring, and the last group—those after his body.

Female disciples from the Three-Color Fox Clan and the Spirit Flower Clan came dressed in their finest, all bright and alluring, to pay Xu Chen visits.

The lively and uninhibited women of the Three-Color Fox Clan had barely exchanged a few words before they began flirting shamelessly.

One moment it was, “Younger Brother, you’re so handsome,” and the next, “Younger Brother, you smell so good,” until it seemed they were on the verge of pressing right up to his face and saying, Sister likes you.

The female disciples of the Spirit Flower Clan were much more poised and elegant, but as the conversation went on, they began to fish for attention and favors, which Xu Chen disliked very much.

Compared with them, he still preferred the warmth and frankness of the women of the Three-Color Fox Clan.

These days continued for three full days, and Xu Chen finally decided to move to a quieter place, or he would be driven mad.

At the Affairs Hall, Xu Chen found Butler Bai.

“There are plenty of secluded places for peaceful cultivation. It all depends on where little Brother wants to go.”

“Besides, so many of my clanswomen’s juniors have already attached themselves to you, and you haven’t taken a liking to a single one?” Butler Bai looked at Xu Chen with keen interest.

“Er... I’m still young. Cultivation comes first.”

“As you wish.”

Butler Bai took out a formation token and handed it to Xu Chen.

“Three thousand spirit coins a year. The dwelling lies at the foot of the mountain, and outside there is a training ground spanning a hundred mu.”

“No one can enter without your invitation.”

“Hold the token, and it will guide you.”

Xu Chen took the token. A phantom beam of spiritual light appeared upon it, indicating the direction.

He paid the three thousand spirit coins to Butler Bai, then flew toward the direction indicated by the token.

At the foot of a mountain peak, Xu Chen entered the formation with the token in hand.

Before him lay a training ground of a hundred mu, and at the foot of the mountain stood a towering stone gate left open.

Xu Chen first examined the training ground, then entered the dwelling.

There were facilities for refining weapons, alchemy, cultivation, beast taming, a small herb field, a talisman room, and a dining hall—everything one could possibly need.

“Better send word to those two first, so they won’t be unable to find me.”

After sending a message to the other two with his disciple token, Xu Chen began arranging the dwelling.

Before he had finished, a spirit vessel descended into the training ground through the formation shield.

Li Chengfu and Zong Changshou stepped down from the vessel.

“Junior Brother, this place is excellent. Suited for quiet cultivation.” Li Chengfu looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

Two wooden crates appeared before Xu Chen, and Li Chengfu opened them both.

“Junior Brother Xu, give them a try.”

A battle saber, four chi in length and entirely black, lay within, its blade flashing with a deep blue cold light at the edge.

“This is the Black Shadow Saber, forged from the finest mortal-grade materials. It can withstand the force of a hundred dragons.”

“And this is the Azure Sky Bow. It is perfectly suited to four to six dragons’ strength, and it comes with twenty Windpiercer Arrows.”

“See if they suit you. If not, I’ll have them remade,” Li Chengfu said.

Xu Chen took the Black Shadow Saber from the box. The moment he gripped it, he felt as though it were joined to his own blood.

He gave a sudden swing, slashing toward the distance.

A blade light containing twelve layers of force shot out for dozens of yards before exploding.

“A fine saber. The blade is neither too heavy nor too light, just right for exerting force.”

Xu Chen then picked up the Azure Sky Bow, intending to draw the string, but found it somewhat difficult.

“Junior Brother, it takes the strength of four dragons to draw it fully. It is not yet the right time. Just pull it halfway and feel it out.”

“Very well.”

He exerted all his strength and drew it halfway to test it.

“Not bad. It suits me well.”

“These two weapons seem to have reached the very limit of mortal-grade armaments.” Looking at them, Xu Chen found himself unwilling to put them down.

“As long as Junior Brother likes them.”

“When the time comes, the three of us will join forces and be unstoppable.”

Li Chengfu was somewhat exhilarated. Just Xu Chen’s earlier display of twelve layers of force with a single saber swing was enough for an ordinary Blood and Qi Realm practitioner to study for a lifetime.