Chapter 469 - 451: Demon-Vibrating Saber: Great Success

Black Stone City, Inner City. A bustling complex of buildings.

Tier upon tier of buildings undulated across the landscape, their upturned eaves and interlocking brackets packed as densely as fish scales. In the sunlight, the dark cyan glazed tiles gleamed with a solemn luster.

Before the towering, vermilion-lacquered main gate, two cyan jade Exotic Beasts stood guard on either side. Outside the gate stood a ten-foot-tall ornamental pillar carved with coiling dragons, a full display of the noble family’s wealth and majesty.

This was the residence of the Tiemu family, a noble house that had stood in the Inner City for two hundred years!

Inside a luxurious mansion along the central axis of the Inner Courtyard, the Tiemu family Patriarch, Tiemu Tianyue, sat with a grim expression. His tall figure was seated upright on a dark sandalwood chair.

Below him, several direct descendants of the Tiemu family were reporting on a series of family matters.

"Patriarch, it’s confirmed that the three Profound Bone Realm Tributors have been killed. This Su Yu character is rather strange. How should we handle this matter?"

Tiemu Tianyue lightly tapped the armrest of his chair and spoke slowly, "What are your thoughts on this? A mere Muscle Forging Realm cultivator from the Outer City, even with that Profound Bone Realm expert Qin Fangqiong, shouldn’t have been able to defeat three Tributors."

"Patriarch, that Su Yu is known as the number one genius of the Outer City, so it’s normal for him to have a few tricks up his sleeve. But no matter how skilled he is, he’s just a brat at the Tiger Tendon Realm. He definitely wasn’t the cause of this incident. The problem most likely lies with Qin Fangqiong."

Someone spoke up, offering their analysis.

"Patriarch, we’ve finished investigating Qin Fangqiong’s background. This man is no ordinary person. In his early years, he may have followed that esteemed person! Later, he left Black Stone City with that person and roamed far and wide. Over ten years ago, he returned to Black Stone City!"

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Tiemu Tianyue’s eyes.

’Followed that esteemed person, you say?’

’It would be normal for him to have some connections, then. But he returned to Black Stone City alone over ten years ago, which shows he wasn’t part of that person’s inner circle.’

’Black Stone City is where that person rose to power. Which family in this city hasn’t had some dealings with them?’

’In that case, there’s no need to be overly concerned.’

"Patriarch, perhaps this man is backed by a Profound Bone Realm master from Jian’an Prefecture! Recently, masters have been arriving one after another from both Jian’an Prefecture and Qingzhou Prefecture. I’m afraid a storm is brewing!"

Tiemu Tianyue nodded as well. "Send people to continue investigating this Qin Fangqiong. As for Su Yu, have Tiemu Xiaoyun of the Inspection Bureau take action. Suppress him and don’t give him any chance to grow. If an opportunity arises, cripple him directly!"

"Also, send men to invite the few Profound Bone Realm masters who’ve come from Jian’an Prefecture. Now that the Tiemu family is suddenly short three Tributors, we will definitely be pressured by other powers. We must find new Tributors as soon as possible!"

Tiemu Tianyue commanded in a deep voice, his brow furrowed tightly.

To lose three Profound Bone Realm masters at once was no small trouble for the Tiemu family.

The mines and trade routes guarded by these three Tributors alone would inevitably face challenges from others, which would likely result in a significant loss of profits.

’We were too careless with this operation. I originally thought that sending three Profound Bone Realm masters would be a foolproof plan. I never expected an old bastard like Qin Fangqiong to have such connections.’

...

Time flew, and five days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these few days, with the help of the expensive Jiao Tendon Pills and numerous Treasure Medicines, Su Yu’s Martial Arts progress and Breakthrough Point accumulation increased at a rapid pace.

[Martial Arts]: Greenwood Shadow Ape Fist (Minor Achievement 2400/3000)

[Martial Arts]: Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber (Minor Achievement 2980/3000)

[Breakthrough Points]: 1 (Progress: 90%)

’I’m about to accumulate a second Breakthrough Point. Something to look forward to.’

Su Yu’s gaze returned to the Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber. This saber art was progressing incredibly fast. Although it was at the same Skill Level as his Greenwood Shadow Ape Fist, its progress had always been far ahead. Now, it was on the verge of breaking through to the Great Success Realm.

Looking up at the gradually darkening sky, Su Yu didn’t stop his training. Instead, his figure flashed, and he appeared beneath the Iron Locust Tree.

The flickering firelight stretched Su Yu’s shadow long and thin. He slowly drew the Mo Yuan Saber. The heavy blade scraped against the scabbard, letting out a low, metallic ring.

His entire aura changed abruptly, as if a slumbering Demon Ape had opened its eyes, unleashing an astonishing presence.

The next instant.

BOOM!

Su Yu stomped his foot heavily, and his body erupted from the ground like a Demon Ape leaping over a chasm. Trailing black and red Evil Qi, the 360-jin Mo Yuan Saber was suddenly swung up from behind him, plowing a gash several feet long into the ground.

Immediately after, the momentum of his saber changed abruptly.

"Demon Ape Opens the Heavens, Demon Blade Crosses the River, Drawing the Line to Seal the Demon..."

With every slash, the momentum of Su Yu’s saber grew more intense, and the Mo Yuan in his hand continuously transmitted excited thoughts.

[Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber Skill Level +10]

[Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber Skill Level +10]

[Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber has broken through to the Great Success Realm]

[Martial Arts]: Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber (Great Success 1/4000)

As Su Yu’s Demon-Vibrating Saber realm broke through, a stream of profound insights flooded his mind.

The Demon-Vibrating Stance aims for the unity of man and saber.

It focuses on oneness with the weapon, allowing one to wield any type of weapon as if it were an extension of one’s own arm.

In battle, an opponent would feel as if they were facing a three-headed, six-armed Demon Ape wielding a variety of weapons. Its every strike would unleash the weapon’s maximum power, making it difficult to parry.

And now, Su Yu’s understanding of the Demon-Vibrating Stance had reached a new level.

TING-A-LING-LING...

A cool night breeze swept past, rustling the purple wind chime under the Iron Locust Tree and causing it to ring out crisply.

CLANG!

The Mo Yuan Saber in Su Yu’s hand sliced through the air, leaving a trail of cold, shimmering light. At the same time, the Sword Spirit let out an irrepressible hum, causing the power of the slash to instantly increase by thirty percent.

After the slash, Su Yu transitioned his move with fluid ease, changing the long saber’s horizontal sweep into a powerful downward chop.

As the blade descended, Su Yu could almost feel the minute details of the Mo Yuan Saber’s body cutting through the Gang Wind.

The body of the blade had to be tilted slightly, not brought down perfectly straight, or the Gang Wind would hinder it just a little. The instant the blade struck, his arm could exert force again, allowing Mo Yuan to release a second burst of power and deliver an even stronger strike!

All these details were continuously imprinted on Su Yu’s mind. With every move he made, they were integrated with fluid ease until he achieved complete mastery.

And every slash he executed was now thirty percent stronger than before!

And yet, his Qi and Blood, Great Tendons, saber momentum, and Evil Qi hadn’t changed at all!

This was the next level of the Demon-Vibrating Stance!

It gave Su Yu a deeper understanding of how to wield a saber. By channeling the Sword Spirit as he struck, he could unleash even greater power!

He was now just one step away from the saber arts realm of returning to true simplicity. Perhaps when he reached the Perfection realm, his skill with the saber would reach its absolute peak!

The light from his saber flowed like water, brilliantly illuminating the moonlit courtyard.

In the distance, Yang Zhen watched Su Yu’s saber practice, her beautiful eyes shining with a brilliant light.

’Brother Su’s comprehension is simply astonishing.’

’I haven’t seen him practice for a little while, and his saber arts have already improved so much.’

’A casual slash from him might already be stronger than my Cyan Lotus Swordsmanship.’

’It looks like I’ll have to work even harder. If I can learn the fourth and fifth moves of the Cyan Lotus Swordsmanship, I can continue to practice with Brother Su.’

...

「Another five days passed.」

On this day, Su Yu finally experienced a new change in his Martial Arts Realm.

As he threw a punch, the last wisp of essence from the Jiao Tendon Pill in his body melted and seeped into his Great Tendons.

BUZZ!

Su Yu’s entire body trembled violently. The Qi and Blood throughout his body roared like a great river, surging backward and upward toward the crown of his head.