C18 Master Silversword

Upon hearing Qin Feng's suspicions, Master Silversword immediately swore an oath to the heavens, insisting that he had not hidden the Sunroot himself; rather, it had been stolen by someone while he was away. He fervently promised, "Rest assured, Mr. Qin. I will find that thief, strip his flesh, flay his skin, retrieve the Sunroot, and deliver it into your hands."

"The Sunroot is an exceptional Spiritroot, embodying the purest essence of the fire attribute. Consuming it would allow me to ascend to the Third Heaven of Spirit Speak instantly. Alas, an unforeseen event has occurred," Qin Feng lamented, his tone tinged with regret before turning imperious. "Nevertheless, I trust you wouldn't dare deceive me. Pursue the thief. I have other matters to attend to and must return to Egluarsall."

Both Qin Feng and Master Silversword had noticed the pond a few yards away, but tragically, neither had anticipated that the thief was concealed within its waters. And the Sunroot? The thief had already devoured it completely...

As Qin Feng's words hung in the air, Hu Nao observed the needle on the Wheel of Fate move from 'disaster' to a neutral position, signaling the end of the crisis and the absence of both fortune and misfortune.

"It's clear that Qin Feng was at the heart of the 'disaster.' His prowess in the Second Heaven of Spirit Speak, combined with Master Silversword's strength, makes them an insurmountable force for Nan Xi and me. Now that he's likely headed back to Egluarsall, only Master Silversword remains, shifting the balance of power in our favor," Hu Nao mused as he emerged from the water.

The tiger pack had scattered in panic, leaving the snowy ground littered with tracks. Master Silversword was cursing under his breath, poring over the footprints, contemplating which direction to follow.

A glint of murderous intent flashed in Hu Nao's eyes as he slowly wiped the water from his face. Noticing Nan Xi also emerging from the water, he whispered, "Do you want to take out this old man and eliminate this lurking threat to the Hu family?"

Nan Xi, despite her advanced skills, had never taken a life. She hesitated, her face turning a shade paler at the thought.

Hu Nao didn't want to put her in a tough spot, so he simply smiled and said, "If it's too hard for you, let's just drop it..."

He was cut off mid-sentence as Nan Xi's expression turned stern, and she spoke with a cold edge, "That old man has teamed up with Qin Feng. It's only a matter of time before he harms the Hu family. I can't afford to be lenient." Her voice betrayed a hint of concern as she continued, "We've both just entered the realm of Spirit Speak, and our powers are nearly matched. But he's older, battle-hardened, and utterly ruthless. I'm worried I won't be able to defeat him."

Hu Nao chuckled, tenderly wiping the water from Nan Xi's face with one hand while pointing to himself with the other, "Silly girl, don't forget you've got me."

Although Hu Nao had reached the Seventh Heaven of Body Tempering, to a master of Spirit Speak, he was insignificant. To put it bluntly, a hundred Hu Naos wouldn't stand a chance against Master Silversword.

Yet, for some reason, Nan Xi trusted Hu Nao implicitly. She felt that with his support, she could certainly take down Master Silversword.

"My lord, what do you suggest I do?" Nan Xi inquired.

Without hesitation, Hu Nao replied, "Two against one, what else? I'll go... Uh, never mind, my power is too weak. I'd be instantly taken out by Master Silversword. You go on the offensive, and I'll launch a surprise attack!"

Nan Xi couldn't help but smile at his words. Without another word, she surged out of the pond with a splash.

Meanwhile, Hu Nao stealthily emerged from the water, holding his breath and focusing intently. He concealed himself, suppressing all traces of his presence.

The icy ground was littered with tiger tracks. Master Silversword, puzzled about where to continue his pursuit, suddenly heard the sound of water. He spun around to see a young girl clad in green soft armor bursting forth from the water.

The girl was young, seemingly just fourteen or fifteen, yet her cultivation level was remarkably high.

Master Silversword, having attained Spirit Speak, was highly attuned to such auras. He instantly recognized the girl's power, and his eyes widened in astonishment as he gazed at Nan Xi, momentarily lost for words.

He had dedicated his entire life to mastering Spirit Speak, and yet Nan Xi had achieved it at just fourteen or fifteen years old. How could he not be astounded?

Seizing the moment while Master Silversword was distracted, Nan Xi landed and immediately threw a punch.

Despite her petite stature and gentle nature, Nan Xi was decisive in combat. Her fist unleashed a massive spatial vortex. The divine force from all around roared towards the whirlpool, converging into a formidable force that barreled towards Master Silversword.

"Is this the might of Spirit Speak? Truly formidable!" Hu Nao, concealed in the shadows, was startled by Nan Xi's punch. He then recalled the legendary feats of his ancestors from the Hu family, and was taken aback once more: "Nan Xi's punch, with its powerful aura and connection to the forces of creation, could it be the Fist of Fate pioneered by the Hu family's forefather?"

Hu Tianming, the founding patriarch of the Hu family, was revered by his descendants as the Elder of Fate. Rumor had it that his cultivation had transcended the Nirvana Realm, reaching an even more profound level. His most renowned technique was the very Fist of Fate he had crafted.

"The Fist of Fate is rumored to be a martial art of heavenly caliber, its might unmatched, commanding respect from all. The Hu family's younger generations have failed to master it, leading to its gradual disappearance. Nan Xi's punch is unmistakably the Fist of Fate. How did she come by such knowledge?"

Hu Nao was bewildered.

Master Silversword was scrutinizing Nan Xi, trying to deduce her identity, when she launched a thunderous strike at him.

"Miss, hold on! I bear you no ill will. Why would you..." He was cut off as the overwhelming force from the vortex bore down on him. Without time for words, he performed a backflip, retreating dozens of yards to evade Nan Xi's assault.

"You vile scoundrel! For decades you've wrought havoc, committing murder and theft, your sins are unforgivable! Today, I shall act as the hand of justice, avenging the innocent souls that fell to your blade!" Nan Xi bellowed, embodying the spirit of a valiant warrior.

Master Silversword was already in a foul mood, especially since the Fury-Clawed Lion he had raised with great effort had been slain, and the Sunroot he intended to present to Qin Feng had been stolen.

"Hmph! You impudent girl, so young yet your mouth spews nothing but righteousness and morality. It's utterly despicable! Since you accuse me of murder and looting, I'll show you exactly that today! Your martial arts are incredibly powerful, certainly a top-tier earthly technique. But I, an old warrior seasoned by countless battles, fear you not. Once I've captured you, there are a hundred ways I can make you reveal your cultivation secrets!" Master Silversword's eyes sparkled with unbridled greed.

"Hundred-Blade Cyclone!"

Master Silversword's fingers tensed and he swept them through the air, sending a flurry of sword energy whistling through the air. The dense waves of sword Qi were terrifying, each wave amplifying the force and ferocity of the last. In an instant, the onslaught had traveled dozens of feet and bore down upon Nan Xi.

Crack! The sword Qi carved deep fissures into the icy ground.

The sheer might of the attack was evident.

Shield of Heaven's Will!

Nan Xi couldn't afford to take any chances. She clenched her fists and crossed them before her chest, summoning a massive wall of Qi that shielded her from the sword Qi's assault.

"Hmph! You're but a child, with impure cultivation. How could you possibly match my prowess?" Master Silversword scoffed, inhaling deeply to bolster his attack, clearly intent on outmatching Nan Xi in a test of cultivation.

Unbeknownst to him, Hu Nao had stealthily positioned himself behind the old master while he was preoccupied with Nan Xi, poised to strike.

Having advanced to the Seventh Heaven of Body Tempering and mastered the art of training energy to cultivate spirit, Hu Nao's spirit and breath had become one. His mastery over his breath was so refined that at a mere thought, he could conceal his presence completely, akin to an animal in hibernation.

At that moment, Master Silversword's greed had peaked, his mind fixated on capturing Nan Xi and coercing her into surrendering her martial arts training methods. He was utterly oblivious to Hu Nao, who was lurking mere meters behind him, eyes locked on his target.

In pursuit of martial arts, I've led a life of solitude. To think that in my twilight years, I'd encounter such a delicate beauty like you. Once I capture you, I plan to savor the moment. You won't be able to resist me then! Hahahaha!" Master Silversword's laugh was menacing, his gaze upon Nan Xi both greedy and fervent, reminiscent of a monk descending from isolation or a dog in the throes of spring fever.

Nan Xi, having never been subjected to such vile words, blushed furiously, her internal energy thrown into disarray, causing the protective Qi barrier in front of her to waver.

"You naive girl, you've fallen right into my trap!" Master Silversword thought smugly. With his extensive battle experience, unsettling an opponent's focus was a tactic he often employed. Without hesitation, he summoned all his strength to channel his breath into a barrage of sword Qi, which surged toward Nan Xi from every direction.

This was the moment Hu Nao had been waiting for!

Seizing the opportunity, he executed the Dawnbreaker technique from the Phoenixfire Palm. His right palm descended in a slanted chop, releasing a wave of dark gold air that seemed light and powerless, devoid of any visible fluctuations.

Had he still been at the Body Tempering Sixth Heaven, refining vital essence into energy, the force of his attack would have been overwhelming. But now, having advanced to the Body Tempering Seventh Heaven, he was able to manipulate his breath with precision, making for a completely different scenario.

As the dark gold wave silently approached Master Silversword from behind, Hu Nao willed the combined force of the Three Dragons and Three Elephants into it.

Wu! Wu! Wu!

The seemingly gentle wave of dark gold air transformed into a colossal sword, bearing down on Master Silversword's head.

Such was the finesse of training energy to cultivate spirit; even after the breath had been expelled, he retained control over its intensity. The power could be adjusted at will, capable of being either subtle or overwhelming.

"Danger! Who dares to ambush me?"

A profound sense of imminent peril gripped Master Silversword's core. He spun around just in time to see a dark gold wave of air cleaving down upon him, its might so formidable it seemed capable of severing the very fabric of the cosmos, dividing light from darkness.

Master Silversword was taken aback and immediately thought to retaliate, but he was deeply engrossed in a power struggle with Nan Xi. How could he possibly spare a moment?

In the blink of an eye, at the critical juncture between life and death, Master Silversword subtly shifted his stance, positioning his shoulder to face the oncoming dark gold surge of energy. Simultaneously, he diverted a portion of his inner breath to his shoulder, intending to withstand Hu Nao's unexpected assault with it.

"Hmm? It turns out to be a kid who's reached the Seventh Heaven of Body Tempering. No wonder he managed to launch a sneak attack on me." It was only then that Master Silversword took the time to sense Hu Nao's level of cultivation, and he couldn't help but chuckle.