C21 Chapter 21

Just as Hua Hsing was about to leave, he suddenly heard a voice, and a knowing smile appeared on his face. "Senior Brother Re, there's a cave here. Let's check it out," one disciple whispered. "Maybe Hua Hsing is inside this cave," another disciple suggested. "All right, let's be careful and take a look," Re Yunzheng said.

Inside the cave, Hua Hsing heard their conversation, and his expression turned icy. A noise came from the cave entrance, and soon Re Yunzheng and his two companions entered. They had come to see whether Hua Hsing was in the cave, and as soon as they stepped inside, they spotted a figure. Upon closer inspection, the three were shocked to find that it was indeed Hua Hsing.

"Hua Hsing, I didn't expect to find you here," Re Yunzheng said coldly, his face darkening. "Hua Hsing, your time is up."

"Is that so? Many have tried to kill me, yet here I am," Hua Hsing replied with a calm smile.

"Hua Hsing, I came to Black Wind Mountain Range specifically to end you. You won't leave here alive," Re Yunzheng said confidently, his voice icy.

"You want to kill me too?" Hua Hsing retorted.

As soon as Hua Hsing finished speaking, the two men beside Re Yunzheng launched fierce attacks directly at him. "Hua Hsing, you'll pay for what you've done." Re Yunzheng shouted as he unleashed the Five-element Sword Arts. "Golden Light Sword Arts."

Hua Hsing had now reached Qi Refining Stage Level Four, and he had also mastered the sixth sword of the Golden Light Sword Arts. He was formidable. A flash of sword light swept through the cave, and a chilling scream echoed out. Re Yunzheng was shocked and turned to look, only to see that one of the disciples beside him had already died by Hua Hsing's sword.

"Hua Hsing, you're finished."

Furious, Re Yunzheng took out a pill and swallowed it. In the next moment, an overwhelmingly powerful aura burst from his body.

"Re Yunzheng, I told you, I will kill you myself." Hua Hsing's gaze was icy as he looked at Re Yunzheng, whose aura now matched his own. "Hua Hsing, I will kill you," Re Yunzheng shouted in rage. Meanwhile, the sword in Re Yunzheng's hand unleashed the Five-element Sword Arts, its powerful light aiming directly at Hua Hsing.

"He must have taken some kind of strength-enhancing potion," Hua Hsing muttered, feeling the pressure from the Five-element Sword Arts. On the Ancient Sword Continent, countless potions existed, some capable of temporarily boosting strength, though they came with significant side effects. Hua Hsing was not sure what Re Yunzheng had consumed, but he knew that Re Yunzheng's current power was comparable to someone at Qi Refining Stage Level Four.

However, Re Yunzheng was mistaken, because Hua Hsing was no longer the same person who had first entered the Black Wind Mountain Range. Now at Qi Refining Stage Level Four himself, Hua Hsing's strength matched that of any disciple at this level, and he had no fear of Re Yunzheng.

"Five-element Sword Arts." Re Yunzheng executed his strongest technique, merging five sword lights into one formidable beam that shot toward Hua Hsing.

"Golden Light Sword Arts, Sixth Strike." Without hesitation, Hua Hsing countered with the sixth strike of the Golden Light Sword Arts, and a golden light flashed through the air.

The golden light collided fiercely with the massive sword beam, resulting in a thunderous explosion.

If our roles were reversed, would you spare me?" Hua Hsing countered.

Re Yunzheng hesitated and fell silent. As Hua Hsing drew near, Re Yunzheng suddenly clenched his fist and launched a surprise attack, but it failed. A flash of sword light passed, and the Light Spirit Sword pierced Re Yunzheng's chest. With a final anguished cry, Re Yunzheng collapsed to the ground.

"Serves you right," Hua Hsing said coldly. Re Yunzheng had tried to kill him multiple times, and Hua Hsing had long intended to eliminate him. Now that the opportunity had presented itself, he was not about to let it slip away.

After dealing with Re Yunzheng, Hua Hsing checked his body and found a low-grade space ring. Pocketing it, he left the cave. He then inspected the entire barrier but found nothing else of interest. Finally, he exited the restricted area.

By the time Hua Hsing returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, a day had passed. On the way back, he stopped in Breeze City to sell some remains and earned a total of 100,000 low-grade spirit stones, a considerable fortune for an Outer Sect disciple. Upon returning to the sect, he found his two friends in seclusion, so he headed back to his own room.

"I have not had a chance to look at Re Yunzheng's space ring yet," Hua Hsing murmured as he sat cross-legged and took out the ring. He began examining its contents. The space inside was quite limited, and at a glance, he noticed that aside from a manual on the Five-element Sword Arts, there was only a piece of tattered cloth.

"Hmm? Could this be a treasure map?" Hua Hsing's eyes lit up as he noticed some chaotic markings on the cloth.

Hua Hsing took out the tattered cloth and studied it carefully. He realized it depicted a burial site in Azure Cloud County.

"This burial site is located in the mountains, about 60 miles outside Liangyun City," Hua Hsing remarked.

After examining the cloth closely, Hua Hsing concluded that it was a treasure map and tucked it away. The next day, back at the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Hua Hsing approached the elder in charge of the Inner Sect assessment.

Hua Hsing put away the Light Spirit Sword and spoke coldly. Re Yunzheng had tried again and again to kill him, and Hua Hsing had long since developed the intent to kill him. Now that such an opportunity had appeared, he naturally would not let it pass. After killing Re Yunzheng, Hua Hsing checked the body and discovered that he actually had a low-grade Space Ring. After putting away the Space Ring, Hua Hsing left the cave.

He then inspected the entire restriction but found nothing else. In the end, he departed from the area. By the time Hua Hsing returned to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, a full day had already passed. Along the way, he went to Breeze City and sold some corpses, bringing his total amount of Low Grade Spirit Stones to 100,000. For an Outer Sect disciple, this was definitely a considerable fortune.

After returning to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, he found that both of his friends were in seclusion, so Hua Hsing went back to his room.

"I still haven't had the chance to inspect Re Yunzheng's Space Ring," Hua Hsing said in a low voice as he sat down cross-legged and took out the ring.

He then began to examine the contents of Re Yunzheng's Space Ring. The space inside a low-grade Space Ring was very small. With a single glance, Hua Hsing saw that aside from a manual on the Five-element Sword Arts, there was only a torn piece of cloth inside.

"Hmm? Could this be a Treasure Map?" Hua Hsing's eyes lit up when he noticed the chaotic markings on the cloth.

He immediately took it out and studied it carefully. Only then did he realize that the cloth recorded the location of a tomb in Azure Cloud County.

"This tomb is located in the mountain range 100 miles outside Liangyun City," Hua Hsing said.

He carefully examined the rag and concluded that it was likely a Treasure Map. He then put it away. On the second day after returning to the Azure Edge Sword Sect, Hua Hsing went to find the elder responsible for the Inner Sect assessment. In an open square, an elder asked in a low voice, "What brings you here?"

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