Book 2 Chapter 86: Uncommon Treasure - Martial God

**Chapter 86: Uncommon Treasure** One of the heads of the Two-headed Spiritual Beast breathed out a green gust, transforming powerfully into an assault on Yuan Li Xun, who had fallen into the water. The other head remained vigilant towards He Yi Ming, the fireball in its mouth gaining speed in the very next moment. However, at that precise moment, the beast felt an overwhelming sense of danger, a feeling emanating from this human standing before it. Although it had felt a similar sensation since the beginning, nothing compared to this unparalleled dread. Its four eyes finally displayed an utmost terror, casting a longing glance at the pond where ripples were spreading. In an instant, it decided to flee from this place. Despite its unwillingness to abandon the peculiar giant stone, it understood that without the stone’s empowering abilities, continuing to entangle with the human before it would lead to a tragic end. Just as it decided to flee, the sense of danger surged to an unimaginable level, completely overwhelming its vision with light. ※※※※ The atmosphere in the air shifted inexplicably the moment He Yi Ming's internal True Qi transformed into Hunyuan Power. Not only did the force around him undergo distortion, but this power instantly expanded to cover half the valley. Brilliant and dazzling light erupted from the massive broadsword, so blinding that it was hard to look directly at it. At this moment, the blade of the broadsword appeared like a sun; a sun emanating a metallic hue. Without any sound, as if even sound was absorbed by this strange and powerful metallic light within the area, all brilliance converged into a gigantic blade beam. The reflected light was fierce and commanding. Suddenly, He Yi Ming's figure vanished from the spot, followed by a sharp roar like a landslide and tsunami echoing around him. No longer was the blade beam upon the broadsword flickering like a spiritual snake; it had become a solid manifestation of metallic color, akin to a knife’s edge extending from the blade tip, exuding a chilling menace. The Two-headed Spiritual Beast opened its mouths, sensing an apocalyptic terror. At this point, it exerted all its strength, daring not to hold back in the slightest. From both its mouths, an unprecedented formidable power suddenly coalesced, spewing out both wind and fire. Its belly instantly deflated, as if this breath had expelled all its internal organs, giving it an odd, almost comical appearance as its abdomen nearly stuck to its spine. These two distinct forces astonishingly blended together in the air. This was its ultimate lifesaving technique, the fusion of two energies at once, unleashing their utmost might. In an instant, wind bolstered fire, and fire borrowed wind’s force, forming a whirlwind enveloped in raging flames surging upwards before it. Yet, at this moment, its vision brightened once more. It clearly witnessed, amidst wind and fire, a massive and terrifying broadsword emerging, cleaving through wind, fire, and all before it like a lightning strike, leaving no chance for evasion. Mountain Splitter Technique, the Sixteenth Move. This was one of He Yi Ming's most potent martial skills he could wield thus far, and the only innate combat skill among the Metal-affiliated techniques. The Two-headed Spiritual Beast possessed a physique as unyielding as a Steel Monkey's, evidenced by the first strike that injured it, suffused with the forces of clouds and rain. That particular slash, back at Xu Clan Fortress in Taicang County, once cut two hundred and one people into pieces with a single blow. Yet, the storm-like blade strike merely grazed the surface of the Two-headed Spiritual Beast, drawing some blood. After receiving mysterious white stone treatment, it remarkably returned to full health quickly. Such formidable resilience and skeletal structure are rarely found outside the most powerful spiritual beasts. However, when He Yi Ming's internal elemental True Qi circulated, reaching the pinnacle of Metal power with the broadsword employing the Mountain Splitter technique, it unleashed every ounce of his strength. With this single blow, wind and fire crumbled, utterly dissolving. With this single blow, such that no god or Buddha could stand in its way. With this single blow, akin to cleaving the heavens, leaving nothing unchallenged. The luminous radiance before him erupted, and the surging wind noise and momentum expanded rapidly into the distance, while the lake, which had been returning to calm, once again erupted with endless ripples, a small whirlpool forming at its center. Moments later, the monumental changes gradually subsided. He Yi Ming collapsed to the ground, gasping heavily. Although he still held onto the broadsword tightly, at this point, it lay flat before him, impossible to lift again. His gaze locked intently on the Two-headed Spiritual Beast not far from the pond’s edge. At this moment, this rare Two-headed Spiritual Beast was dead beyond a doubt, its body cleaved cleanly in two by the strike, as if measured with a ruler, with no deviation at all. He Yi Ming took a deep breath, finally feeling the external forces gradually flow into his body. His almost immobile frame regained a hint of its own strength. That last strike, akin to when he first faced the Golden-crowned Python, had drained every bit of True Qi from his body. Under that strike, not a shred of his potential remained untapped. Had his opponent withstood that move, then a few breaths later, He Yi Ming would have been helpless, utterly devoid of resistance. Fortunately, the power of that single strike far exceeded his expectations. One blow, and the immensely powerful Two-headed Spiritual Beast couldn’t resist, sliced from between its heads, from neck to tail, cleanly in two. Even witnessing such an outcome, He Yi Ming’s heart held no joy. His gaze lingered only briefly on the spiritual beast, enough to confirm its death, before shifting towards the still-rippling lake. In this moment, his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, regret gnawing at his heart like a poison. Upon discovering the beast, He Yi Ming's sole thought had been to slay it and obtain its core for refining a golden pill. Yet, in any case, the outcome was unexpectedly unbelievable. Yuan Li Xun had astonishingly evaded both him and the Two-headed Spiritual Beast to penetrate this mysterious inner valley, an act that seemed implausible no matter how he thought about it. His ears twitched, and suddenly, he realized that his Ears of the Wind ability had resumed its original function, suggesting the disappearance of the strange power that had hindered him. He immediately understood this power must have been connected to the mysterious stone formerly suspended over the pond. Since Yuan Li Xun had taken that stone, the peculiar force naturally vanished. Drawing in deep breaths, strength flowed back into him, and gritting his teeth, he shakily stood again. Once more he abandoned the broadsword. His grandfather was right; in life and death moments, only this massive broadsword offered true luck and assistance. Had he come unarmed, even a sudden burst of power might not have felled the Two-headed Spiritual Beast. Yet, at this moment, He Yi Ming laid down the broadsword without hesitation, moving towards the lake. At first unsteady, his pace grew firmer and faster. Reaching the edge, he was on the verge of leaping into the water when his eyes suddenly narrowed, catching sight of a black silhouette emerging from the lake like a swiftly darting fish. He gaped, wide-eyed, speechlessly trailing the silhouette as it broke through the waves, revealing a waterlogged head. Yuan Li Xun— it was indeed Yuan Li Xun. Moreover, incredulously, he discerned from her sequence of movements that she bore no injuries. His chest flooded with explosive joy, overwhelming him before reason could intervene. Unable to contain himself, he unleashed a thunderous shout like a bolt from the blue. Newly surfaced, Yuan Li Xun shuddered, startled into a stupor by his outcry. However, she immediately snapped out of it. The hoarse shout just now seemed like it could only come from that terrifying beast. Although it sounded slightly different from her initial impression, it was undoubtedly an inhuman voice. She quickly tried to dive back into the water, knowing her presence here with her limited strength would be more of a hindrance than a help. But just as she was about to submerge, a shadow descended from above, plunging into the water with a splash, and tightly embracing her. Yuan Li Xun felt a chill, but it was immediately followed by warmth. In the icy water of the pool, this sudden comfort was indescribably soothing, reminiscent of her long-lost mother's embrace. “Li Xun, is it really you? Are you alright?” He Yi Ming’s voice, carrying an edge of fear, guilt, joy, and disbelief, resonated softly in her ears. Yuan Li Xun blushed and gently tried to wriggle free, yet was unable to break away from He Yi Ming’s hold. She resignedly said, "Young Master, I'm alright. You don't need to worry." He Yi Ming's strength was gradually returning with the influx of the world's energy into his body. Indeed, the realms between innate and acquired strength are distinctly different. Previously, after an all-out attack, He Yi Ming immediately fainted, taking several hours to restore his vitality. This time, however, he merely felt a debilitating exhaustion, with the world’s energy rejuvenating him far quicker than his internal chi could. Though not fully recovered, he was already able to move without hindrance. Bounding through the water with Yuan Li Xun in his arms as if walking on air, He Yi Ming swiftly reached the shore. Setting Yuan Li Xun down, he swept his gaze over her, blushing lightly before clearing his throat and saying, "It's good you're alright." Yuan Li Xun suddenly remembered something, glancing at herself, and couldn’t help but open her mouth slightly. Yet the bashful scream that nearly escaped was swallowed back. Her soaking clothes clung tightly, revealing her slender, toned figure in full splendor—a sight of youthful vitality that even she found mesmerizing. The only regret was her youth, as certain features had yet to fully develop. An unusual feeling surged in her heart. It should be alright for him to see… right? With this thought, a shy sensation rose, her cheeks feeling hot as if drenched in blush. He Yi Ming quietly said, "I'll gather some firewood for a fire." Moving with grace, he disappeared like the wind. With his abilities, it took only a short round through the outer forest to return with an armful of dry wood, bringing it back to this secluded part of the valley. Throughout, He Yi Ming hadn’t spared the dead Two-headed Spiritual Beast a single glance, realizing its significance was minuscule compared to a certain lady in his heart. ※※※※ The fire blazed, emitting warmth that drove the lingering chill from Yuan Li Xun’s body. An hour later, after much awkward fumbling, He Yi Ming finally managed to dry their clothes. Despite their wrinkled state, it was a vast improvement over their previous condition. It was only then that He Yi Ming spoke, "Li Xun, how did you escape?" Yuan Li Xun happily donned the dried clothing He Yi Ming handed her. To her shy surprise, among the garments was a pair of underpants made from the same material as the innerwear he had once forced her to wear. She immediately recognized they were from He Yi Ming's own clothing. Though unfamiliar with what the materials were made of, her aristocratic upbringing allowed her to feel its toughness, almost impervious to cuts. Thinking of He Yi Ming's consideration filled her heart with sweetness. Upon hearing He Yi Ming’s question, she replied without hesitation, "Young Master, I wasn't attacked." He Yi Ming was astonished, "Impossible, I saw it with my own eyes." Yuan Li Xun smiled softly, seeing his concern for her made her heart swell with joy, "The beast's breath seems powerful but dissipates when it touches me; it’s all show, no substance." Her face flushed as she spoke those words, sneaking a glance to see if He Yi Ming noticed, relieved when he remained oblivious. He Yi Ming scratched his head, frowning a little. He had fought the Two-headed Spiritual Beast and knew its terror firsthand, especially the dual breath attacks at the peak of its strength. Yet Yuan Li Xun's casual dismissal of its attacks stirred great waves of disbelief in him. After pondering a while, He Yi Ming asked gravely, "Li Xun, were you holding the white stone at the time?" “Yes,” Yuan Li Xun nodded slightly, "Young Master, this stone is so peculiar. It looks huge, but it has no weight and sank easily when I pulled it." He Yi Ming glanced across the pool, "And where is the stone now?" "I left it at the pool’s bottom, weighed down with a few stones so it wouldn’t float away," Yuan Li Xun replied proudly. He Yi Ming nodded subtly, surmising the stone’s relation to the beast's ineffectual breath attacks. This stone was truly mysterious, capable of masking his Ears of the Wind ability, healing the beast, and now nullifying its breath attack—its abilities gathered in one stone spoke of an inconceivably rare artifact. After a moment of contemplation, He Yi Ming stripped down and dove into the pool. The pool was not very deep, though the frigid waters challenged endurance, they were bearably cold for humans. Not long after diving, he noticed a glow ahead; he gently paddled to the stone’s side. It was secured with a few ordinary stones covered in algae and mud, clearly picked by Yuan Li Xun from the pool’s floor. He Yi Ming hesitated briefly before descending into the white glow. His eyes lit up in surprise, feeling his spirit lift with renewed vigor within the glow, as if staying in this light perpetually could sustain boundless energy. After contemplating deeply underwater, he brushed aside the stones weighing down the great white stone. Gradually, the stone began to ascend to the surface.