401 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

Chapter 401: My Master Can Defeat You, and So Can I, Xu Yan The Enchantress with the power to devour souls relished consuming the souls of martial fighters. Each time she inhaled a soul, she did not immediately digest it; instead, she stored it away to savor slowly over time. However, the moment a soul entered her, she could instantly taste it, a unique talent belonging solely to her kind. The process of inhaling a soul was, for her, a wondrous pleasure, where she could savor the flavors and experience the satisfaction of devouring it. When devouring the souls of several True King Heavenly Venerable beings, she noticed a mildly spicy sensation, which she found to be an interesting and delightful taste. Yet, upon absorbing Xu Yan's soul, she was taken aback. Why was this kid's soul so overwhelmingly spicy? Moreover, Xu Yan's soul was astonishingly vast, as if an endless gale blew into her, a boundless, unending force. "If this kid's soul is this spicy, then his master's soul is definitely inedible; the taste would surely be unbearable!" the Enchantress thought. At that moment, Xu Yan was doing his utmost to let more of his Xun Annihilation Sword Intent be inhaled by the enchantress, causing his boundless soul to seem inexhaustible. "My Xun Annihilation Sword Intent, fused within a Faux Soul Dan, is definitely something the Enchantress hasn't encountered. She won't be able to detect it," Xu Yan contemplated. Unaware of his sword intent blending into the soul, due to the Enchantress's special talent, though she found the soul spicy, she never suspected it was a mere imitation. Ultimately, it was as Xu Yan predicted; the Enchantress had never faced such a scenario and, underestimating it, assumed Xu Yan to be the disciple of a powerful individual, with a uniquely condensed soul, understandable. The Enchantress continued to absorb Xu Yan's soul, eventually sensing it weaken, nearly exhausted. His mighty soul matched that of six or seven True King Heavenly Venerables. "And what is his true strength?" "The method of condensing such a soul is incredible," she thought, marveling. Xu Yan lay there, devoid of breath, eyes glaring in shock and fury, as if leaving only an empty shell. With his soul sapped away, the lifeless body fell into the Enchantress's embrace by inertia. "A handsome shell, I adore it," she smiled, triumphant. Having consumed his soul and possessed his body, she thought, "Even if my true body can't be here, if you want to rescue your disciple, you'll pay a price. If you kill me, his soul will fade." The Enchantress felt confident. Although unable to bring her true form, this avatar was limited and could not rival the master. His disciple within her body made him vulnerable. If she died, his soul would disperse. "I refuse to believe you can reassemble your disciple's soul. If you can, I'd retreat!" Annihilation of a soul entering her was absolute, dispersed into the universe beyond resurrection, even heaven-defying abilities were futile. "If you can truly do that, I'll concede and cease opposition. Your might is unimaginable." "Dear little brother, your sister will cherish you..." Her face wore an intoxicating smile as she gazed at Xu Yan. Suddenly, her smile froze, disbelief etched across her features. A sword plunged through her, unleashing terrifying sword intent, devastating her form. "You..." Disbelief turned to fury as chaos erupted within; an internal tempest seemed to form, a destructive hurricane. Xu Yan's spicy soul manifested into formidable sword intent, and even the devoured souls of True King Heavenly Venerables became a storm within her. Sword light pierced from her, the sword energy within acting with a will, wreaking havoc, tearing her apart inside out. "How..." The Enchantress was astounded as Xu Yan, whom she thought soulless, opened his eyes and thrust a sword within her. "I possess a Dual Soul!" Xu Yan declared, his tone earnest. Successfully striking, he vanished from her embrace, followed by a black sword light cleaving down towards her, annihilating all. Boom! In a furious roar, her pink crescent blades manifested but were destroyed by the raging golden dragon Xu Yan unleashed - True Dragon's Wrath! Her newly formed body obliterated again, falling to radiance, everything dissipating – her body and even the remains of True King Heavenly Venerables. Her descending form couldn't match the might of an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, her infiltrated body initially weakened by the Xun Annihilation Sword Intent, unable to defend against Xu Yan's ferocity. "My master can crush you, and so can I, Xu Yan!" he mocked. "Xu Yan, you wretched scoundrel, you deserve death!" Her enraged voice echoed within the Heavenly Abyss. Buzz! Above, pink brilliance emerged. Xu Yan moved beneath it, sword intent blazing, transforming the abyss into a layered sword array. A pink figure was descending – the Enchantress returning with a new body. Roar! Xu Yan's palm summoned a golden dragon, annihilating the unformed figure, smashing her asunder before solidification. "Disgraceful child, I'll remember this affront!" she raged, never before outwitted until now. "Having swallowed one of my souls, our enmity is forged. I'll make you beg for mercy someday," Xu Yan declared coldly. Feigned indignation, as if a dual soul really lost with the Enchantress consuming one. She tried manifesting again, falling to Xu Yan's hand as he struck her incompletely formed body back. "Foolish Dual Soul claim, Xu Yan, how dare you scheme against me! You and your master have made a lifelong adversary!" Her enraged voice resonated. Buzz! A pink crescent blade swung down at him. Boom! Xu Yan's thought unleashed a torrent of swords, their brilliance extinguishing the attack. "I, Xu Yan, have cultivated an origin soul and a Sword Dao soul, a testament to unrivaled Sword Dao talent. Having lost my Sword Dao soul to you, our enmity will only end when I find you." His anger seemed profound loss, ensuring the fictitious soul wasn't discovered, leaving room for future plots. The sword intent within, causing havoc, was indeed a Sword Dao soul! "Your Sword Dao soul?" she questioned, skeptical, but considering the peculiar soul, perhaps feasible. Her body, only a mere avatar, couldn't confirm with certainty. Given Xu Yan's enraged semblance of irreversible loss, she started to believe. The soul was so spicy; it was indeed a Sword Dao soul?! --- **New Terms:** 1. **媚巫 (Enchantress):** Translated as "Enchantress" due to the seductive and soul-devouring nature of the character. Alternate translations might include "Bewitching Witch" or "Charming Sorceress", emphasizing different aspects of allure or magic. 2. **假魂丹 (Faux Soul Dan):** Translated as "Faux Soul Dan" to convey an artificial or imitation soul concoction. Alternate translations could include "Imitation Soul Pill" or "Simulated Soul Elixir", each indicating fabrication. 3. **金色巨龍 (Golden Dragon):** Mentioned here indirectly through Xu Yan's attack named "True Dragon's Wrath," playing on the imagery of a golden, wrathful dragon. Alternate terms might focus on appearance, like "Radiant Golden Dragon". 4. **粉色月牙 (Pink Crescent Blade):** Translated as "Pink Crescent Blade" due to the distinct appearance. Alternatives could emphasize shape or color: "Rosy Blade Crescent", suggesting both hue and crescent-like form. These translations ensure cultural nuances and fantastical elements are preserved, aligning with the narrative's tone while making them comprehensible for the reader. "Faux Soul Dan" uniquely blends martial arts and fantasy themes that such a novel genre often employs. Additions or adjustments to the list, like specific attack names or character titles, may be suitable based on continuous narrative analysis. "I, Sword God Xu Yan, have cultivated a Sword Dao soul. How could it be anything but normal? Enchantress, your Seven-Wonder Devine Flower can hardly make up for my loss, and I will surely avenge this!" Xu Yan said coldly. Hearing this, the Enchantress felt better. Despite being outwitted and losing a power avatar, she had still managed to destroy one of Xu Yan's Sword Dao souls. "You want revenge? I'm waiting for you. You and your master will fall into my hands one day!" the Enchantress sneered. "You're not even worthy of my master's time!" Xu Yan retorted disdainfully. "Hmph!" the Enchantress scoffed. Above the Heavenly Abyss, the pink glow began to fade. The Enchantress decided not to continue the descent. With Xu Yan blocking her below, she was unable to summon a more powerful avatar to descend again. Xu Yan's lips curled slightly. The gains from this venture were significant: obtaining the Seven-Wonder Devine Flower and destroying the Enchantress's avatar. "Enchantress, I have a feeling we'll meet again," Xu Yan murmured to himself. The Enchantress's strength was formidable. Xu Yan reckoned that even if he broke through to the Void Shattering Realm, he might still not be her match. "The Heaven and Earth Realm is a great leap. Even if below the Enchantress's true body, it's not far off," he thought, feeling thrilled that he was nearing the Void Shattering Realm from the Divine Appearance Realm. As for the Heaven and Earth Realm, although he hadn't comprehended it yet, with the Seven-Wonder Devine Flower in hand, it might be enough to grasp the ways of this martial path and divine powers. Thinking this, Xu Yan glanced at his Mountain and River Saintly Physique, gaining new insights. Taking one's body as heaven and earth, his physique seemed able to contain all things, a microcosm of the heavens and the earth themselves. Not lingering in the Heavenly Abyss, since the Seven-Wonder Devine Flower was now his, he needed a place to consume it, to contemplate his martial path, understand the ways of the Heaven and Earth Realm Martial Path, and train divine powers. Upon exiting the Heavenly Abyss, he found the True King Heavenly Venerable sent to deliver a message waiting. Having been freed from the Enchantress's charm upon her avatar's destruction, he remained under the influence of the Heaven’s Will Settling Divine Art. "Continue to hold your position here," Xu Yan instructed. "Yes!" The True King Heavenly Venerable nodded. Xu Yan was about to leave, eager to use the Seven-Wonder Devine Flower, when the True King Heavenly Venerable suddenly spoke, "Young Master Xu, there’s something I must tell you." "What is it? Speak freely!" Xu Yan's brow raised, immediately wondering if this True King was aware of the forces trying to provoke enmity between him and Mantian Lin. "While you were missing, someone was searching for you..." the True King began, recounting what he gleaned about the search efforts. "The one seeking you reportedly being pursued by a mysterious force; we haven’t had updates since," finished the True King Heavenly Venerable. Xu Yan's eyes turned cold. Even with the vague information, he guessed that the one searching for him was Meng Chong! And Meng Chong was now being hunted by an unknown power? "I understand," Xu Yan responded impassively, stepping out and deploying the ability Vanish in One Thought, disappearing instantly. "Which force is after my second disciple? Is it the one behind causing trouble between me and the Mantian clan?" Xu Yan thought immediately of the mysterious faction attempting to provoke conflicts. If a major faction from the Jiushan Realm were after Meng Chong, surely the True King would know. Since they didn’t, it wasn't openly one of the established powers. "I wonder if Mantian Lin has found any leads," Xu Yan pondered, setting aside the closed-door retreat for the flower, planning to head back to Great Gai Mountain to contact Mantian Lin and inquire about this hidden menace or Meng Chong’s whereabouts. "If I reveal myself, this hidden hand should appear too," he thought, returning to Great Gai Mountain and showing himself in a nearby city, awaiting any would-be attackers. Sure enough, soon after revealing himself, two masked figures appeared. Masked in vicious masks, emitting powerful auras, they were peak True King Heavenly Venerables. "The ones trying to incite enmity between me and the Mantian clan, is that you?" Xu Yan spoke calmly. Boom! Without a word, the masked individuals launched ruthless attacks, clearly intending to kill him. "Hmph!" Xu Yan snorted, his Divine Appearance manifesting, descending Heaven and Earth Laws, transforming in a moment into a magnificent Mountain and River God Image, engulfing the attackers. "Danger! Xu Yan has grown stronger!" one masked man exclaimed. "Perhaps he was concealing his strength all along!" the other, eyes glinting darkly. Moreover, Xu Yan's martial prowess displayed was novel to them, this wondrous Mountain and River vision akin to a fusion with heaven and earth, though more accurately, it was utilizing the Laws of Heaven and Earth to form the Divine Appearance, indeed different from true unification. Even so, both felt imminent danger. --- **New Terms:** 1. **七妙神花 (Seven-Wonder Devine Flower):** Translated as "Seven-Wonder Devine Flower," highlighting its mystic nature. Alternate terms could be "Heptazenith Divine Bloom" or "Seven-Mystery God Flower," emphasizing its sacred or unknown qualities. 2. **神相 (Divine Appearance):** Retained as "Divine Appearance" for consistency with the setting of martial arts involving divine power manifestations. Alternatives might include "Divine Manifestation" or simply "Divine Image." 3. **天意定神神通 (Heaven’s Will Settling Divine Art):** Translated to convey the notion of fate or destiny settling through divine ability. Alternatives could be "Fate-Stabilizing Divine Power" or "Destiny-Settling Art." 4. **天地法則 (Laws of Heaven and Earth):** Translated directly as "Laws of Heaven and Earth," suggesting universal principles. "Celestial Principles" or "Universal Laws" could serve as alternatives with celestial or philosophical emphasis. These translations preserve the narrative's martial arts-fantasy hybrid essence, blending traditional motifs with imaginative powers, serving both literary and thematic coherence. New entities, powers, or concepts should be added to the list as they appear in further text analyses.