Chapter 236

Chapter 236: He’s Here, Let’s Get This Show On The Road (4000 Words, Two-in-One)

When the little sword formed of sword qi pierced the centers of Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo’s foreheads, they both collapsed unconscious. Ming’s head hit the ground with a thud.

Xu Xuenuo fared slightly better, falling onto Xu Ming’s shoulder.

“About time.”

The elder spoke to the crowd.

“You all need to pass on your teachings now; if they can handle it, great. If not, it’s their fate, and ours too. It means the Dao gives us no chance. We old relics should perish here. There’s no room for us in this new world.”

“Ho ho ho~ You’re being too pessimistic, Grandpa,” Zhou Wanfeng smirked, “I have immense faith in these two young ones! Though I don’t have much to offer, there is this unnamed Tranquil Heart Formula I found in an ancient ruin. It helped me survive countless dangers, so I’ll teach it to them.”

With that, Zhou released a wisp of painstakingly gathered spiritual energy over years into Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo’s foreheads.

“My Tiandao gambling vows—let him learn them, though he won’t likely spread them far and wide. Still, when the time comes for contracts, this method will serve him well.” The gambler chuckled, sending his own wisp of energy into their foreheads.

“This Killing Pig Knife Technique suits martial artists just fine. As for the girl, she probably wouldn’t even glance at such a crude technique. But hey, whether she likes it or not, she’s learning it!” The butcher sent twin wisps of energy into their foreheads.

“My Divine Speed Technique isn’t bad either. That kid probably hasn’t learned anything as good as this,” said the divine thief, releasing two streams of energy into their foreheads. “Their sword techniques combined with my speed… wow, just wow!”

As he spoke, his eyes lit up. “I wonder what those old enemies will think when they see my techniques used by them. Hahahaha!”

“My spear techniques… I hope someone carries them forward,” muttered the only seemingly normal man bound by chains in the cave, shooting two spears of intent into their foreheads.

Every person in the cavern shot a wisp of their spiritual energy into Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo’s foreheads. Though small, each wisp was hard-earned after centuries of cultivation under restricted conditions, carrying within it a single art.

“What about you, Elder? What will you teach them?” Zhou asked sweetly.

The carpenter smiled. “Hasn’t the old man ever taken apprentices?”

Zhang Xia’er: “So these two are his disciples then?”

“Ha! Disciples? Never! Old man here will never take any. BUT…” He paused, “These kids have decent sword talent—not as good as me, but close enough. I’ll teach them one thing: ONE SWORD. If they master it… hahaha…”

The elder didn’t finish, just laughed heartily.

But everyone grew serious. They knew exactly which sword he referred to.

Though the elder claimed he’d never take apprentices, if they mastered that one sword, apprentice or not, they’d be considered his disciples.

Still laughing, two miniature flying swords shot from his forehead, piercing directly into theirs.

“Now, let’s begin!” The elder declared solemnly.

“Yes!” Everyone focused, responding in unison.

A gust of sword qi swept through, lifting Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo into the air, floating suspended.

Then the violent winds transformed into delicate threads of invisible energy.

These threads of sword qi pierced the vital wind spirit acupoints of fifteen prisoners, including the elder.

Though unable to use their powers directly, through the guidance of these threads, their energies began flowing toward the two youths’ bodies.

All gazes were fixed on the children.

They understood fully: their fates rested in these two hands.

At the same moment,

Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo slowly opened their eyes.

But they realized they weren’t waking physically—it was their divine souls.

Around them stretched a crimson land filled with long swords, like a graveyard of blades.

Above hung a blood-red sun.

The earth was red, the sun red, even the clouds above were crimson.

A sense of desolation and silence enveloped Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo, as if the entire world had become a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

And then, a figure approached from ahead.

Xu Ming focused and saw a woman, beautiful and seductive, clad in a purple gown, her figure graceful.

On closer inspection, she bore a striking resemblance—sixty percent—to Zhou Wanfeng from the cave.

No, more than sixty percent.

This woman WAS Zhou Wanfeng.

The Zhou Wanfeng in the cave had been dirty, unkempt, disheveled after years of imprisonment, losing the refined beauty she once possessed.

“Little brother, do I look good?” Zhou grinned, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Her charm was similar to Mo Zhu’er, both exuding a sultry allure.

However, Mo Zhu’er’s beauty surpassed Zhou’s, with youth adding a touch of innocence to her allure.

Zhou Wanfeng, on the other hand, radiated mature sophistication.

“Not bad,” Xu Ming replied coolly.

“Not BAD? Little brother, you sure know how to ruin a compliment!” Zhou pouted playfully.

“What’s happening? Why has a senior entered my consciousness?” Xu Ming redirected the conversation.

Zhou smiled coyly. “This is our deal with you. Each of us will impart an art to you both. You must master every single one. Only then can we transfer our spiritual energy to you.

“The human soul is mysterious indeed. A day in consciousness might equal a year—or even two—in the outside world.

“A dream spanning millennia works this way.

“In the elder’s sword qi, a year in your minds equals a day in reality. But for you, time remains tight.

“If you fail—if you miss even one art among the fifteen of us…”

Zhou paused, narrowing her eyes. “Even if it’s just you and your dao partner failing once, you’ll face complete annihilation—alongside us.”

Xu Ming: “…What do you mean ‘transmitting spiritual energy’?”

“You’ll understand when you get out alive,” Zhou teased cryptically.

Just as she finished speaking, she appeared instantly before Xu Ming.

Before he could react, she reached out, tapping lightly on his chest.

Instantly, chaos erupted in Xu Ming’s mind. His eyes turned bloodshot, not from arousal like during the Mandarind Duck Cauldron incident, but from boiling blood coursing through his veins.

Mo Zhu’er threatened to kill Qingwan.

Qingwan caught him in bed with Mo Zhu’er, questioning who this woman truly was.

Helpless against his mother’s aging and eventual death.

Wuyanhán forced into marriage by imperial decree, he attempted to rescue her but was brutally slain by Wu Kingdom’s army.

Bizarre thoughts swirled uncontrollably in Xu Ming’s mind.

These absurd notions acted like heart demons, influencing and tormenting him.

His headache intensified, feeling almost overwhelmed!

Suddenly, an art appeared in his mind.

“Master it, and you live. Fail, and you die.”

Zhou smiled seductively.

Xu Ming stared at the art floating in his mind, his spirit shaken.

His dao heart told him everything she said was true. If he failed to master it, these heart demons would surely drive him insane.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Ming began studying the art in his mind.

Soon, the chaos in his consciousness gradually subsided.

He continued learning the Tranquil Heart Formula, growing increasingly calm, entering a meditative state.

Standing nearby, Zhou watched in surprise.

From his previous battle against monster beasts, it was clear Xu Ming was a martial and sword genius.

But the Tranquil Heart Formula was a daoist art, requiring profound understanding of natural dao principles.

Yet he mastered it so swiftly?

Was this young man extraordinary, or had the world advanced beyond imagination?

After half an incense stick passed in his consciousness, Xu Ming’s inner turmoil completely settled.

He slowly opened his eyes, revealing only serenity.

His gaze was like a still spring lake, without a ripple.

“Thank you, Senior, for bestowing this art,” Xu Ming bowed respectfully.

“You don’t need to thank me,” Zhou smiled, “The elder said this is your opportunity, and our bargain. Don’t celebrate too early though—the others’ arts won’t be easy to learn.”

Zhou slowly faded away.

Meanwhile, beside Xu Ming, unconscious Xu Xuenuo also encountered Zhou.

Strange scenes flooded her mind:

“Xu Ming knows I’m not his real sister, with no blood relation, yet he cuts ties with me entirely.”

“My mother cheated on father. I’m not of Xu Mansion’s bloodline. My mother’s scandal is exposed, and I’m expelled from the family.”

“Xu Ming and Qingwan call me ‘bastard.'”

Although Xu Xuenuo knew these scenarios were unlikely, that Xu Ming and Qingwan would never say such things…

Regardless, they’d definitely look at her differently.

At that moment, Zhou appeared beside Xu Xuenuo.

“What a lovely maiden,” Zhou smiled, “Your beauty surpasses even mine, though you seem a bit cold. Some men do prefer icy beauties though.”

“What have you done to me?!” Xu Xuenuo suppressed her mental chaos, demanding answers.

“What else? Offering opportunities, naturally. Whether you seize them is up to you.” Zhou tapped Xu Xuenuo’s forehead, transmitting an art directly into her mind.

Like Xu Ming, her sword heart told her mastering this art was essential to suppressing her inner chaos.

In roughly the same amount of time, Xu Xuenuo opened her eyes. Having thoroughly mastered the Tranquil Heart Formula, her mind was crystal clear, all prior confusion gone.

“You’re a sword cultivator, but occasionally learning other skills might enhance your sword dao,” Zhou suggested, “Of course, I’m no sword cultivator myself, so feel free to ignore me.”

Zhou slowly disappeared.

In her place, a chubby man appeared before Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo.

Neither knew his name, only that he called himself “Butcher.”

The butcher pulled out a plain-looking kitchen knife and said,

“I’m a butcher. I slaughter pigs, cattle, everything—including humans, even dragons.

“But to me, anything killed by my blade is no different from piglets.

“So I named my knife technique ‘Killing Pig Knife Technique.’

“Use this technique to defeat me, or I’ll cut your divine souls apart. No complaints then.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he charged forward with his killing pig knife.

Mysteriously, identical knives appeared in Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo’s hands.

Moreover, they couldn’t use any other techniques—they were limited to the Killing Pig Knife Technique. Strangely, when they swung their knives, they didn’t even remember learning it! Back in the cave, the fifteen people watched the unconscious male and female on the ground.

“Less than a day,” the craftsman stated. “Three Stone Peak is forbidden territory. Even if we don’t know how they got here, the current sect leader of Heavenly Profound Gate has surely noticed. They have less than a day to accept our heritage.”

“You’re wrong,” the elder shook his head. “They have less than a day.”

The elder looked up at the cave ceiling, but instead of rock walls, his eyes reflected the image of a middle-aged cultivator:

“He’s already here. Time to entertain our guest.”