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

### Chapter 426: Xu Yan’s Way of Killing - Leaving No Corpses "Truly worthy of being a prodigy of Battle Hall, to leave safely even under the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light of the Fallen Witch Ancestor!" "The battle intent of Hong Ting must be extremely formidable to fend off the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light." "It seems to be related to his physique. Rumor has it that he has the Thunder Spiritual Physique." The other martial practitioners in the Heavenly Abyss watched Hong Ting retreat safely and marveled endlessly. Among these martial practitioners, one person’s eyes flickered, secretly delighted at the opportunity that unexpectedly arose. "Could it be that the Eight-Leaf Skyfiend can predict the future?" Although Hong Ting retreated under the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light, he was surely affected, and his power greatly diminished - the perfect chance to assassinate him. Silently leaving the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch, he informed the designated assassins to take action at the right moment. --- Boom! In a city within the Changyun Realm, the Wanbao Alliance branch collapsed instantly. A figure, like a deity, slashed down with the thunderous blade, instantly cleaving open the treasure vault and, with a wave of his hand, swept away all the treasures within. Countless martial practitioners were dumbstruck. It was too fierce, too audacious. Who was this fierce man who directly robbed a Wanbao Alliance branch? "Meng Chong, you seek death!" A furious roar echoed from the horizon. Only then did the martial practitioners realize that this was the notorious Meng Chong, who was hunted by the Wanbao Alliance and nicknamed the Heaven God! No wonder he was so reckless. "Just borrowing some treasures from your Wanbao Alliance to fill my pockets; is it too much to ask?" Meng Chong chuckled coldly, his figure rising into the sky before rapidly vanishing. "Where do you think you’re going?" The Immortal Heavenly Venerable from Wanbao Alliance, seeing this branch turned to ruins, looked on with bloodshot eyes. As an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, tasked with hunting Meng Chong, not only had he failed to kill him, but he had also allowed Meng Chong to destroy a branch. Such humiliation! Where was the dignity of a proud Immortal Heavenly Venerable? "You'll catch me if you can." Meng Chong sneered. His figure accelerated sharply, vanishing from the view of the Immortal Heavenly Venerable within moments. Changing his appearance and demeanor, donning a wig, he transformed from a robust brute to a tall, slender teenager. Meng Chong was proficient in this art. He altered his aura and swaggered into another city, beginning to scout out a Wanbao Alliance branch. Since they were already enemies, there was no need for politeness. He planned to score a big one and then leave the Changyun Realm, continuing his journey through the Spiritual Domain. His goal was to amass enough treasures to accumulate a foundation for his eventual breakthrough and transformation. “Hmm.” Suddenly, Meng Chong overheard a group of martial practitioners discussing. "Hong Ting from Battle Hall is dead, reportedly killed by someone named Xu Yan." "I heard as well, Hong Ting was in the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch, severely weakened by the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light, and was then killed by Xu Yan." "This person is daring, to assassinate a prodigy of Battle Hall when Hong Ting was highly valued as one of their top candidates for the Immortal Realm." "Moreover, rumor has it that Hong Ting's father is one of the top Immortal Heavenly Venerables in Battle Hall." Upon hearing this, Meng Chong raised an eyebrow. "Master Brother would never take advantage of others’ weakness to kill, and he never provokes without reason. It seems like the Skyfiend Groundshade is framing him again?" Meng Chong's expression turned grave. The Skyfiend Groundshade was indeed persistent, hiding deeply and setting elaborate plots that were not easy to uproot. "Battle Hall has already issued a challenge, summoning Xu Yan to the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch for a fight, life and death." "That makes sense; it's indeed how Battle Hall operates." "Ha, it's said that this time, one of Battle Hall's Immortal Heavenly Venerables is stepping in, and Xu Yan is done for." "Hmm, isn't it said that Battle Hall always fights within the same realm? This time an exception?" "Well, you don’t understand. Hong Ting had a special status as an Immortal Realm candidate, and it’s said that Xu Yan only has to withstand ten moves from Battle Hall's Immortal Heavenly Venerable to settle the grievance." "That's Battle Hall's Immortal Heavenly Venerable. You should understand by now, right? Xu Yan wouldn't be able to withstand even one move, let alone ten; he will surely die!" "What if Xu Yan refuses to accept the challenge?" "Ha, if he doesn't accept, he will face something much worse. Battle Hall might disregard the rules, and you should know of the consequences when someone in the past didn't accept the challenge." Listening to these discussions, Meng Chong pondered. Could it be that Battle Hall was even more formidable than the Wanbao Alliance? Besides, Hong Ting was a candidate for Immortal Realm from Battle Hall, and his father was a top Immortal Heavenly Venerable there. How could Battle Hall let it slide? "I'll contact Master Brother and inquire about Battle Hall's affairs." Meng Chong produced a communication token and sent a message to his Master Brother. "Battle Hall, Hong Ting?" Xu Yan had just emerged from seclusion, preparing to head to the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch. Seeing Meng Chong's message, he was momentarily stunned. "No need to worry, Junior Brother. It's a trivial matter. If they want to impersonate me to kill, it's not that easy. If Battle Hall wants a duel, let’s duel. "As soon as I strike, they will realize I’m not the murderer. If they insist otherwise, then I won’t hold back." Xu Yan didn't mind at all. Battle Hall might be strong, but so what? After the communication with Meng Chong ended, Xu Yan continued towards the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch, where Battle Hall’s martial practitioners had chosen as the dueling ground. "Skyfiend Groundshade, you’re quite persistent; in that case, let’s spar." Xu Yan’s gaze turned cold. To counter Skyfiend Groundshade, first, they needed to identify its people, wield divine intent to gain control, and then gradually infiltrate its ranks from within. Just like in the Jiumountain Realm’s Dagaishan, where they ultimately crushed the Skyfiend Groundshade branch. "Let’s see what tricks you have, Skyfiend Groundshade." Xu Yan pondered a moment. If all went well, Battle Hall would also move against Skyfiend Groundshade. But if Battle Hall continued to insist on him being the murderer, they would have to resort to other methods. "Hope the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch doesn’t disappoint me, Meiwig better remember to come and see me!" Xu Yan wore a face full of anticipation. Outside the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch, the martial practitioners were astounded as the people from Battle Hall were in a stupor. Hong Ting had actually been killed! The perpetrator was Xu Yan, a prodigious talent. He had taken advantage and slain Hong Ting. Did he believe his background was so formidable that he feared no retribution from Battle Hall? Outside the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch, several men stood with pride, their battle intent blazing. One of them held a wolf-toothed club, emitting an overwhelming battle intent as if the heavens and the earth had turned into a battleground charged with anticipation. Among them was a Battle Hall Immortal Heavenly Venerable, clearly not at the initial stage of the Immortal Realm. The Immortal Heavenly Venerable stationed at the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch didn’t show up at the moment, fearing any misunderstanding related to Hong Ting's death. "One more day, and if Xu Yan doesn't come, he doesn’t wish to resolve the grievance, and my Battle Hall won't hesitate to use force!" Luo Zhan said coldly. The aura around him was mighty, and the spikes on the wolf-toothed club glowed with a sharp intent. "Who is Xu Yan, which domain’s prodigy is he from?" "Never heard of him, he might not be a prodigy from the Changyun Realm; he could have already left." "I’ve heard a little; Xu Yan is reputed as the Sword God, claiming supremacy in Sword Dao!" "Laughable! There are innumerable Sword Dao masters, and he dares to claim to be the Sword God? Supremacy in Sword Dao? Truly arrogant! I’ve trained in Sword Dao for countless years and dare not claim supremacy among equals!" The martial practitioners discussed among themselves, while information about Xu Yan began to spread, such as being titled Sword God and claiming supremacy in Sword Dao. Undoubtedly, the strings being pulled behind these pieces of information were Skyfiend Groundshade's doing. "Xu Yan’s Sword Dao is extremely strong; rumor has it, he killed Hong Ting with a single sword to the throat!" "A mere opportunist. If Hong Ting hadn’t been weakened by the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light in the Heavenly Abyss, he wouldn’t have been killed." "Well said, Hong Ting was a prodigy of Battle Hall, having condensed the battle intent. Among equals, even if defeated, he wouldn’t be killed by a single sword to the throat. If fleeing, he absolutely could have survived." Time passed amidst the discussions of the martial practitioners. "One last hour!" Luo Zhan’s expression was extremely grim, and the killing intent from the other Battle Hall martial practitioners was surging fiercely. Swoosh! A young man landed, carrying a sword, handsome and composed. "Were you looking for me?" Xu Yan’s gaze fell on Luo Zhan, marveling silently. This Battle Hall Immortal Heavenly Venerable was slightly stronger than the Eight-Leaf Skyfiend. Furthermore, there was a resolute battle intent about him, as if a warrior who had just returned from an epic battle. "Are you Xu Yan?" Luo Zhan glared over coldly. "Sword God Xu Yan, that’s me." Xu Yan nodded. --- **New Terms:** 1. **洪霆 (Hong Ting) -** A prodigious martial artist from Battle Hall; he was affected by the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light and allegedly killed by Xu Yan. Translated as Hong Ting. 2. **八葉天煞 (Eight-Leaf Skyfiend) -** A mysterious figure believed to be manipulating behind the scenes. Translated as Eight-Leaf Skyfiend to retain the mystique. 3. **天煞地影 (Skyfiend Groundshade) -** A shadowy organization believed to be framing Xu Yan. Translated as Skyfiend Groundshade for thematic consistency. Alternatively, "Heaven Fiend Earth Shade." 4. **天窟 (Heavenly Abyss) -** A dangerous location associated with supernatural entities such as the Fallen Witch. Kept as Heavenly Abyss to retain the ominous feel. 5. **墯巫之祖 (Fallen Witch Ancestor) -** An ancient entity whose power lies in the Hundred Eyes Malicious Light. Translated as "Fallen Witch Ancestor" for a mystical vibe. 6. **百目邪光 (Hundred Eyes Malicious Light) -** A formidable dispersion of evil energy or light. Retained for uniqueness. 7. **萬寶盟 (Wanbao Alliance) -** An influential organization, retaining as Wanbao Alliance for cultural flavor. 8. **長雲境 (Changyun Realm) -** A defined region within the realm. Translated as Changyun Realm for geographical consistency. **Cultural Context:** The protagonists in wuxia/xianxia tales often encounter ancient organizations with complex networks. Terms like "Skyfiend Groundshade" evoke mystery and intricacy, while phrases like "Sword God" exaggerate martial prowess, a staple of these narratives. "Very well, was it you who killed Hong Ting?" Luo Zhan asked, holding his wolf-headed club, his battle intent shimmering. "No, it wasn't," Xu Yan replied, shaking his head. "Dare to deny what you've done? Boy, do you really think that Battle Hall is so easily deceived?" Luo Zhan was furious. "Did Hong Ting leave behind a corpse?" Xu Yan questioned. "What? Do you plan to clear your name by examining the wounds on the corpse?" Luo Zhan sneered. "Of course not," Xu Yan replied. "I'm simply telling you and everyone here: when I, Xu Yan, make a move, it’s against enemies, and my principle is to ensure they are completely annihilated, leaving no corpse behind to pollute the environment." The others: ... Luo Zhan was bewildered. Is this your defense? "Ridiculous!" Luo Zhan roared, "Do you think a few words can clear your name?" Xu Yan remained calm. "Feel free to strike; as an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, you'll naturally know if I'm the killer." "Fine!" Not wasting any time, Luo Zhan lifted his wolf-headed club with a loud roar and brought it crashing down. The power of heaven and earth converged, as if a ferocious, terrifying wolf with sharp fangs charged at Xu Yan. Buzz! A black sword light cleaved forth. Xu Yan raised his hand, unleashing a single, devastating sword - the Divine Annihilation Slash: Absolute Heaven Sword (絕天一劍)! The sword intent, annihilating all earthly existence, appeared instantaneously. The martial practitioners watching were stunned and instinctively stepped back. Splat! The sword struck the menacing wolf head, slicing it cleanly in two, even shaking Luo Zhan’s control over the power of heaven and earth. At that moment, everyone watched the young man in the arena in shock. Luo Zhan's attack, albeit not his full strength, was still an attack of a regular Immortal Heavenly Venerable. Yet Xu Yan wasn't even one, and he obliterated it with a single sword? Any ordinary True King Heavenly Venerable would be powerless against Luo Zhan's attack, let alone shatter it. Having executed one sword strike, Xu Yan looked at Luo Zhan calmly, "How about it? Could your prodigy withstand my sword? Do the sword wounds on the body resemble mine?" Luo Zhan's eyes narrowed, his heart filled with shock. Xu Yan's sword was one that Hong Ting, even at his peak, couldn't withstand. There was clearly no need for him to exploit a weakened state to kill. Moreover, the sword mark on Hong Ting's body was significantly different from Xu Yan's sword style. As an Immortal Heavenly Venerable and not a weakling, he naturally understood the difference between the two. Taking a deep breath, he solemnly stated, "It wasn’t you who killed him!" The crowd was abuzz, shocked that someone had framed Xu Yan, aiming to incite a conflict between Battle Hall and him. Xu Yan nodded, seeming to sense that Battle Hall, despite its bellicosity as rumored, straightforward and genuine, said, "The only force that could frame me and incite conflict with Battle Hall is..." "What force?" Luo Zhan was enraged, realizing Battle Hall was almost used as a pawn, his heart ripe with killing intent. "Skyfiend Groundshade!" Xu Yan articulated slowly. He scrutinized Luo Zhan, curious if this Battle Hall powerhouse had heard of Skyfiend Groundshade. A brief pause ensued before Luo Zhan, reacting with anger, said, "Skyfiend Groundshade, these elusive scoundrels! Are they bold enough to meddle with Battle Hall, thinking we can't find them?" Xu Yan was a bit surprised. "You’re aware of Skyfiend Groundshade? That simplifies matters. These cowards endlessly pursue me. This framing won’t be their last attempt." "I’m eager to hunt these guys. Since we share a common enemy, let’s collaborate." Luo Zhan pondered briefly, recalling Xu Yan’s remarkable sword strike, and nodded, "Alright, this isn’t the place to talk." Not far from the Heavenly Abyss of the Fallen Witch, in a makeshift shelter, Xu Yan was taken aback to see Hong Ting, the supposed victim of a fatal sword strike. "Hong Ting used a secret technique to fake his death and narrowly escaped, but suffered serious injuries and remains unconscious," Luo Zhan explained solemnly. Xu Yan understood that Luo Zhan bringing him there was likely to confirm once more whether he was the culprit. Internally, Xu Yan introspected that his master’s teaching was indeed profound. "When slaying enemies, scatter their ashes, leaving no chance for escape!" Skyfiend Groundshade likely didn’t anticipate Hong Ting having such a trick and narrowly escaping a tragedy. Moreover, this was connected with them framing Xu Yan, necessitating a corpse be left behind. "The reason for his deep sleep is a strange power's erosion, making him lethargic, unwilling to wake," Luo Zhan continued. Xu Yan was astonished, "Is this the Fallen Witch's power?" Luo Zhan was secretly stunned. For Xu Yan to see the cause so quickly, and his Sword Dao to be so strong, his lineage must be incredibly powerful. "Indeed!" Luo Zhan nodded. Xu Yan pondered briefly, then produced a pill: "I can awaken him, but healing his injury is beyond my capability.” Upon seeing the Fallen Witch's power within Hong Ting, Xu Yan realized its insidiousness. Once it invades, it’s troublesome to expel—a power that erodes willpower, causing moral decay and laziness. --- **New Terms:** 1. **狼牙棒 (Wolf-headed Club) -** A weapon used by Luo Zhan, characterized by its wolf-head motif. Translated as "wolf-headed club" to maintain the visual and thematic connection. 2. **絕天一劍 (Absolute Heaven Sword) -** A profound sword technique used by Xu Yan. Translated as "Absolute Heaven Sword" to convey the intent of an all-encompassing and annihilating sword move. 3. **天煞地影 (Skyfiend Groundshade) -** Previously mentioned; an organization known for its devious schemes. Repeated for continuity. 4. **墯巫之力 (Fallen Witch's Power) -** A corruptive force causing lethargy and sloth. Translated as "Fallen Witch's Power" to relay its mysterious and formidable nature. **Cultural Context:** In wuxia/xianxia literature, revelations about hidden powers and alliances are a common narrative element, offering tension and strategic depth. Additionally, master-disciple teachings often encapsulate vital life philosophies or strategies, reflecting the martial world’s harsh realities. Xu Yan’s firm principle of completely annihilating enemies reflects such teachings.