C20 Inside the Restriction

"Relics deep within the Black Wind Mountain Range?" Hua Hsing expressed his surprise upon hearing this.

He was well-acquainted with relics and knew that they often contained numerous treasures coveted by many warriors.

"Indeed, there's a relic hidden deep within the Black Wind Mountain Range. We were assigned this mission by the Flowing Wind Sect's Mission Hall. Rumor has it that the relic may be the final resting place of a Qi Transforming Stage warrior," Senior Brother Sunn explained.

"Our task is to investigate and relay the information back to our sect," added another disciple.

"Where can I find this relic?" Hua Hsing's interest in the relic had been piqued.

"It lies deep within the Black Wind Mountain Range. Here's the map." Senior Brother Sunn produced a frayed piece of cloth and handed it over to Hua Hsing.

Glancing at the map, Hua Hsing noted the topography of the Black Wind Mountain Range with a red dot marked at its heart.

It was clear to Hua Hsing that this red dot must be the relic Senior Brother Sunn and his companions had mentioned.

With the map in hand, Hua Hsing smiled and said, "Now that you've shared your piece, you should go and join your senior brothers."

Senior Brother Sunn, visibly upset and filled with dread, protested, "You promised to spare us. How can you renege on your word?"

"I merely stated that if you withheld the secret, you would die. I never agreed to spare you," Hua Hsing replied coolly. "Moreover, I have no intention of sparing those who seek my life."

This was Hua Hsing's creed: to eliminate anyone who crossed him.

"You..."

Before Senior Brother Sunn could finish his protest, a streak of golden light flashed by, and the three of them collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Hua Hsing sheathed his Light Spirit Sword and began to search the bodies.

Unbeknownst to him, as Senior Brother Sunn drew his last breath, a fine white powder materialized in his palm and, unnoticed by Hua Hsing, settled onto his person.

Upon examination, Hua Hsing discovered that the other four carried nothing of value, except for Senior Brother Qing, who possessed a Space Ring.

"A low-tier Space Ring," Hua Hsing murmured as he examined the ring. In short order, he had removed everything from within: a set of cultivation techniques, several spirit herbs, and the corpses of demon beasts.

"Meteor Finger."

A smile crept onto Hua Hsing's face as he regarded the technique, promptly storing it in his own Space Ring. He then secured the spirit herbs and demon beast remains. After a final glance at the bodies of the fallen, he consulted his map and ventured deeper into the Black Wind Mountain Range.

Moments later, the sound of rustling broke the silence, and three figures materialized at the site of the recent skirmish.

"Senior Brother Re, there's been a fight here," one disciple observed.

"Judging by their attire, they appear to be disciples from the Flowing Wind Sect," another added.

"Who could have the strength to kill Wu Jun?"

Re Yunzheng's gaze fell upon the five lifeless forms, his expression somber. He recognized Wu Jun, who had reached the Fourth Level of the Qi Refining Stage long ago. If even Wu Jun had perished in the Black Wind Mountain Range, might there be a mysterious expert lurking within?

"Senior Brother Re, what's our next move?" a disciple inquired.

"We leave," Re Yunzheng declared, sensing the peril of this place. Without hesitation, he led the retreat, eager to avoid further complications. Their mission was to eliminate Hua Hsing, not to court additional dangers.

Two hours into their journey, Re Yunzheng and his companions abruptly noticed a figure ahead.

Murderous intent flashed in Re Yunzheng's eyes as he recognized Hua Hsing. "To think I would encounter you here," he said with a chilling tone.

But just as Re Yunzheng braced to confront him, Hua Hsing vanished into thin air.

"Where has Hua Hsing gone? How could he just disappear?"

The trio's faces tensed as they converged on the spot where Hua Hsing had stood, scouring the area for clues.

Suddenly, one disciple exclaimed, "Senior Brother Re, there seems to be some kind of warding spell here."

"A warding spell?"

At those words, Re Yunzheng focused his senses and indeed detected the presence of a ward.

"Why would there be a seal here?" Re Yunzheng mused, his face lighting up with a hint of excitement.

"Senior Brother Re, is this an ancient site?" a disciple inquired.

"Definitely. Hua Hsing must have come across some clues; otherwise, he wouldn't have ventured here," Re Yunzheng asserted confidently.

"So, what's our next move?"

"We need to locate the entrance and get inside the ruins. We can't afford to let Hua Hsing lay his hands on anything inside," Re Yunzheng stated gravely.

Guided by the map, Hua Hsing made his way deep into the Black Wind Mountain Range and stumbled upon a seal.

Once inside, he realized the enormity of the seal. Whoever had the power to create such a seal was undoubtedly formidable.

"Could this truly be the final resting place of a Qi Transforming Stage warrior?" Hua Hsing pondered with a hint of skepticism.

The seal was far too complex for a Qi Transforming Stage warrior to have established; it was simply too vast.

Regarding the hierarchy of cultivation, the Qi Refining Stage came before the Qi Transforming Stage. Warriors who reached the Qi Refining Stage could form a True Core within themselves.

With the True Core, they could harness the cosmic spiritual energy. At that point, they had transcended their mortal forms and embarked on the true path of martial arts.

In a modest town like Breeze City, Qi Transforming Stage warriors were a rare breed, mostly sect leaders.

While a Qi Transforming Stage warrior was a force to be reckoned with in Breeze City, they didn't hold the same prestige in Azure Cloud County.

"What secrets does this seal hold?"

Hua Hsing murmured, surveying his surroundings.

Suddenly, he caught a glimmer in the distance and hastened toward the entrance of a cave.

Inside, he discovered murals depicting various martial arts, swordplay, and even finger techniques adorning the cave walls.

"This is..."

Hua Hsing was momentarily taken aback by the murals, but soon after, his eyes glazed over in bewilderment.

He then settled into a meditative pose, intent on deciphering the essence captured in the murals.

Meanwhile, Re Yunzheng and his companions had also penetrated the seal, embarking on their own quest to unearth the treasures within.

Three days had passed when Hua Hsing's eyes snapped open.

"I've unwittingly fallen into a haze of confusion," he realized with a sense of fear. He was lucky to be within a protected space; otherwise, an enemy could have easily taken his life.

But in that moment, Hua Hsing noticed something astonishing—his cultivation level had completely solidified, and even more remarkably...

"What's happening here?" A wave of elation washed over him.

He had, without realizing it, mastered the sixth sword technique of the Golden Light Sword Arts, a fact that filled him with immense joy.

"It has to be the murals on the walls," Hua Hsing chuckled to himself.

"Whoever this genius was, to have grasped sword intent at the Qi Transforming Stage, is truly incredible," he marveled with a sigh of admiration.

In the martial path, few could grasp such profound concepts. Those who did were unparalleled geniuses.

To comprehend such concepts at the Qi Transforming Stage was the mark of a superlative genius.

There were many kinds of intent—sword, fist, blade, finger, and more.

Hua Hsing was certain that this Qi Transforming Stage prodigy was a once-in-a-century talent.

To comprehend several intents at this stage was akin to the reincarnation of a deity.

By serendipitously understanding the mural's intent, Hua Hsing had successfully cultivated the sixth sword of the Golden Light Sword Arts, a stroke of incredible fortune.

Martial artists at the Qi Refining Stage could only absorb the cosmic spiritual energy to temper their bodies, unable to practice powerful techniques.

To them, the concept of intent was alien.

If they could grasp it at this stage, it would be an immense stroke of luck.

Hua Hsing found himself on the cusp of another epiphany, trying to grasp the intent, but this time he was unsuccessful.

"It seems comprehending such concepts isn't something just anyone can achieve."

Undeterred by his inability to grasp it again, Hua Hsing felt his understanding of the sword deepen from his previous experience.

"If I can't grasp sword intent, perhaps I can grasp finger intent."

Settling into a cross-legged position, Hua Hsing closed his eyes before the wall depicting finger intent.

Instantly, an image flashed in his mind: a warrior exuding a formidable aura barely flicked his finger, and a radiant streak of light sent boulders hurtling through the air. The scene was utterly breathtaking.

"Could this be the essence of finger intent?"

Hua Hsing sensed a subtle finger intent seeping into his consciousness.

Seizing the moment, he resolutely began to practice the Meteor Finger technique.

Meteor Finger comprised three powerful moves, each formidable in its own right.

The allure of Meteor Finger for Hua Hsing was its status as a superior, albeit flawed, technique—surpassing even the Golden Light Sword Arts in might.

Mimicking the man depicted within the image, Hua Hsing chanted the Meteor Finger mantra and thrust out his finger with force.

A beam of light from his fingertip struck the wall before dissipating.

Opening his eyes, Hua Hsing felt a tinge of frustration.

"Is the Golden Heart only capable of accelerating my sword technique training?" he pondered with uncertainty.

Cultivating the Golden Light Sword Arts came effortlessly to him, but the Golden Heart did not quicken its pace while he practiced the Meteor Finger, making the process arduous.

Despite repeated attempts, he couldn't successfully execute the Meteor Finger.

It was at this point that Hua Hsing ascertained that the Golden Heart was unlikely to hasten the training of other techniques, only aiding in the swift mastery of sword skills.

"It looks like mastering the Meteor Finger won't be an overnight achievement," Hua Hsing said with a wry smile.

He committed the sequence of movements to memory and then turned to depart.

Just then, Hua Hsing's ears caught a voice.

"Senior Brother Re, there's a cave over here."