Chapter 72: Third Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Third Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter

It took a good while for Shopkeeper Ye to come back to his senses.

"Daughter, do you think I’m senile? How could you make up such an outlandish story to fool me!"

"Father, every word I’ve said is true. Have you forgotten about Lin Chuang and his men from earlier?" Ye Ping said, though she completely understood her father’s reaction.

Shopkeeper Ye immediately recalled Lin Chuang’s group of eight all failing their mission, and how they didn’t dare let out a peep in front of Yi Xiaoyao.

"No wonder Elder Linjie assigned a kid at the Second Realm of Foundation Establishment to a two-star mission. It turns out Yi Xiaoyao truly possesses such incredible strength!"

With this, Shopkeeper Ye had no choice but to believe Ye Ping’s words.

As he muttered to himself, he suddenly gave Ye Ping a peculiar look.

"Daughter, you actually gave your own Cultivation Chamber to that Yi Xiaoyao. That’s not like you at all."

Hearing his pointed words, Ye Ping’s pretty face flushed red. "Father, Young Master Yi helped me. I just wanted to repay him."

"I’ve raised you for so many years and you won’t even let me into your Cultivation Chamber. That boy helps you once, and you act like this? Tell me honestly, have you fallen for him?" Shopkeeper Ye asked with a faint smile.

"Father!"

Ye Ping cried out, her face completely abashed. She puffed out her cheeks petulantly but didn’t deny it.

Just then, Yi Xiaoyao’s handsome face floated into her mind, followed by thoughts of his immense power and his steady, composed manner...

At this thought, Ye Ping mused internally: ’A young man this close to perfect... wouldn’t any girl fall for him?’

Shopkeeper Ye gave a helpless smile. "That Yi Xiaoyao is young and accomplished. It’s only natural for you to develop feelings for him. A shame his talent is just too extraordinary. I’m afraid that while you’ve taken a fancy to him, he might not look your way."

Upon hearing this, a trace of disappointment flickered in Ye Ping’s beautiful eyes.

Shopkeeper Ye’s gaze shifted, taking it all in.

Meanwhile, Yi Xiaoyao was sitting cross-legged in Ye Ping’s Cultivation Chamber.

The Cultivation Chamber was decorated in a simple and refreshing style, and the air was filled with the unique, sweet fragrance of a young woman.

However, he didn’t begin his Cultivation immediately. Instead, he held the Bloodthirsty Sword, examining it closely.

’Ever since I obtained this sword, I’ve had the feeling that it grows sharper each time the Bloodthirsty Sword drinks blood.’

’After killing dozens of people last night, that feeling became even more pronounced. But there was something else, too. It was as if...’

’It was as if some power was restraining the Bloodthirsty Sword’s true might!’

Because Yi Xiaoyao possessed the Sword God Bloodline, he could perceive this change in the Bloodthirsty Sword with perfect clarity.

This also confirmed for him that this sword was anything but ordinary.

Unfortunately, Yi Xiaoyao knew nothing about the power restraining the Bloodthirsty Sword, so he had to set the matter aside for the time being.

Next, Yi Xiaoyao took out the black Jade Slip containing the Nine Swords of Slaughter. He pressed it to his forehead, letting his consciousness sink into it.

According to Flame Medicine Hidden, this was an Ancient Swordsmanship technique discovered in a set of Ancient Ruins, found right alongside the Essence of Heaven and Earth.

The fact that it was found with the Essence of Heaven and Earth was a testament to this Swordsmanship’s immense value.

However, its contents were so profound and abstruse that Yi Xiaoyao had previously only managed to comprehend the first technique.

Now, the First Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter was no longer sufficient for his needs. After all, the First Technique was only equivalent to a low-grade Xuan-rank technique, whereas the two Swordsmanship styles Yi Xiaoyao had created himself had reached at least the high-grade Xuan-rank.

The previous night’s slaughter had given Yi Xiaoyao some new insights into the Path of Slaughter. He had borrowed the Cultivation Chamber from Ye Ping for the express purpose of using these insights to comprehend the later techniques of the Nine Swords of Slaughter.

As his consciousness merged with the Jade Slip, Yi Xiaoyao’s expression changed from a frown of concentration to one of sudden realization, and then delight.

’The essence of the Nine Swords of Slaughter lies in the concept of "slaughter" itself. My current understanding of it is still elementary, but I can now comprehend the second technique with ease!’

The next moment, Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes snapped open. Raising his hand and using his fingers as a blade, he began to practice the moves of the Nine Swords of Slaughter’s First Technique, then seamlessly transitioned into the Second Technique, executing it with a smooth slash.

He had comprehended the Second Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter with ease, and its power was clearly far greater than the first.

But Yi Xiaoyao’s hand did not stop. It was as if he were tentatively feeling for something. His mind began to replay the scenes of slaughter from the previous night...

「An incense stick’s time later.」

An awe-inspiring Killing Intent burst from Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes. As if it were a physical substance, the Killing Intent gathered at his fingertip, forming an invisible blade.

SWISH!

He slashed down!

Instantly, a Sword Mark as fine as a silk thread appeared on the wall before him.

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression changed. To avoid damaging the Cultivation Chamber, he hadn’t used even a sliver of Spiritual Power or Sword Qi.

Yet, with just an empty slash through the air, he had actually left a Sword Mark on a wall several yards away. It was utterly bizarre.

’I understand! The Third Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter can condense formless Killing Intent into tangible power! The denser the Killing Intent, the greater the might!’

The joy on Yi Xiaoyao’s face was unconcealable. A person’s Killing Intent could be cultivated, growing from small to great, perhaps even to an infinite degree. If he could harness such a power, it was impossible to imagine the heights his Swordsmanship could reach.

After comprehending the Third Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter, Yi Xiaoyao didn’t attempt the fourth. He had already reached his current limit.

’The Third Technique is comparable to a high-grade Xuan-rank Swordsmanship, putting it on the same level as my Silent Swordsmanship.’

’With this, I have another incredibly powerful killing move in my arsenal.’

As Yi Xiaoyao muttered to himself, his entire being thrummed with excitement.

Although both were high-grade Xuan-rank and both were offensive Swordsmanship styles, they were vastly different.

Silent Swordsmanship was a complete style, one that could be used continuously in battle, employing its various Sword Techniques to handle different opponents.

The Third Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter, on the other hand, was just a single Sword Technique from a larger set. It couldn’t be used continuously, but its strength was its instantaneous burst of power. It was perfect as a finishing blow to exploit an enemy’s opening, or as a final, decisive strike.

In other words, the Third Technique of the Nine Swords of Slaughter had greater explosive power, but the Silent Swordsmanship offered superior sustained combat capability.

’No matter how strong the Sword Technique, I need enough strength to execute it. My Cultivation has also grown considerably, so I might as well try to break through to the Third Realm of Foundation Establishment while I’m at it.’

Suppressing his joy, Yi Xiaoyao closed his eyes again and turned his focus inward, to his Dantian.

Within his Dantian, the black Spirit Platform and the Sword Scabbard floated silently amid his Spiritual Power and Sword Qi.

In the Foundation Establishment Realm, one cultivates the Spirit Platform. With each advancement to a new minor realm, another layer is established upon the Spirit Platform.

But Yi Xiaoyao also cultivated the Spirit Sword Sheath, something ordinary people did not. With each minor realm he advanced, a new, profound line would appear upon the sheath.

At the Second Realm of Foundation Establishment, there should be a two-layered Spirit Platform and two lines on the sheath.

But after his recent battles, the faint outline of a third layer had appeared on his two-layered Spirit Platform, and a third, faint line had emerged on the sheath.

This was unmistakably a sign that he was about to reach the Third Realm of Foundation Establishment!