#245 - palace
Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo simultaneously directed their sword Qi towards the old man's bracelets on both sides.
Although Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo were merely cultivators in the Middle Fifth Realm, facing the immortal-grade chains binding the old man, they were like eggs crashing against a rock, utterly useless.
However, for three thousand years, the old man had been using his sword Qi to cut at his handcuffs every day.
Even dripping water can pierce stone.
The old man's sword Qi had been cutting at the handcuffs for three thousand years, and even if it hadn't broken them completely, it had certainly carved a deep crack.
In fact, given another two hundred years, the old man was confident he could directly sever the handcuffs, but the problem was, there wasn't much time left.
This Tianxuan Sect Master was not a "human"; he colluded with the demonic beasts of the abyss and was now even sacrificing half the sect's disciples to break through his own cultivation.
Forget two hundred years; the old man didn't even have a year left.
Therefore, the old man had to rely on external force, attempting to deliver a final blow to these crumbling handcuffs.
Moreover, although Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo were merely cultivators in the Sea-Watching Realm and Dragon Gate Realm, their sword Qi far surpassed others of the same realm.
Not to mention, if they used the sword technique taught by the old man, even cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realm would suffer.
Therefore, their sword strike was not so insignificant.
If the old man's handcuffs were compared to a camel, then the sword strike unleashed by Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo was not just the last straw that broke the camel's back, but a piece of pig iron!
"Clang!"
A loud noise rang out, and under the guidance of the old man's sword Qi, Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo's two sword Qi accurately struck the carved marks on the handcuffs.
The carved marks on the old man's handcuffs deepened even further, and there was even a tendency for the cracks to spread to the sides.
The old man released the maximum sword Qi he could muster in one go, and with a "crack," the chain shattered directly.
The old man rubbed his wrist, his bones creaking.
It had been over three thousand years since the old man had moved so freely.
At the same time, within Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo's dreamscape.
They only saw a piece of the firmament above them being broken open, the void behind the firmament filling the sky.
Xu Ming was certain he wasn't seeing things.
Behind this firmament, there really was a palace.
But very quickly, in less than a breath's time, the firmament slowly healed.
The old man's clone in their sea of consciousness dreamscape also gradually dissipated.
In reality, Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo's eyes gradually regained their color, no longer so hollow, and their divine senses gradually recovered.
When Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo's souls completely returned to their bodies, they both felt a daze, as if they had spent a very, very long time, like a thousand autumns in a dream.
Outside the cave, Xia He, the Tianxuan Sect Master who was about to enter, suddenly felt a strong surge of sword Qi, this fierce sword Qi was definitely far stronger than before!
The sword Qi formation, like a demon race's blood Qi berserk, incessantly stabbed towards Xia He.
Xia He was forced back repeatedly.
When Xia He was knocked back a hundred meters, these sword Qi longswords stopped pursuing.
The sword Qi longswords continuously merged, eventually forming a sword Qi wall, directly blocking the path to the cave.
No matter what techniques Xia He used, he could not break through it in a short time.
Xia He frowned. He knew that something must have happened inside. That old, undying fellow must have lifted many seals; otherwise, the sword Qi would not be so strong.
But how did that old, undying fellow manage to do it?
Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo felt the huge commotion outside the cave, and the two looked at the old man in confusion.
Xu Cang smiled: "Don't worry too much. When you two were learning the techniques we taught, that Tianxuan Sect Master had already arrived. Before, there was no way to stop him, but now that my handcuffs are unlocked, there's no need to worry. He can't get in."
Hearing the old man's words, Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo were also a little surprised, not expecting that they had alarmed the Tianxuan Sect Master so quickly.
However, Xu Ming thought about it and felt that it made sense.
Three Stone Peak held so many cultivators above the Upper Fifth Realm and was the sect's highest-level forbidden area, so this place must have been arranged with many warning formations.
Xu Ming glanced at "Jiang Xue." In Xu Ming's opinion, he felt that it shouldn't have been him who alarmed the Tianxuan Sect Master because he had entered with the treasure given by Mo Zhu'er. Mo Zhu'er would definitely not harm him, at least not now, as it wouldn't benefit her.
It was very likely that the girl named Jiang Xue forcibly breaking the Three Stone Peak formation was what alerted the Tianxuan Sect Master Xia He.
Noticing Xu Ming's gaze, Xu Xuenuo also turned her head and met Xu Ming's eyes: "What?"
"It's nothing." Xu Ming retracted his gaze.
The old man named Xu Cang looked at Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo with a smile:
"I told you before.
To reach a deal with us, learning one of our techniques is a prerequisite.
Now that you have learned the techniques we taught you, we can have a good talk.
"We taught you the techniques mainly for two purposes.
One is to test your endurance.
The other purpose is that after you learn the techniques we taught you, you will have a certain ability to accept our spiritual power.
The techniques we each taught you are like a primer.
I know it's hard for you to understand.
What you need to remember is that only after you learn the techniques we taught you can we pass on our spiritual power to you."
Xu Ming: "."
Xu Ming felt like he understood a little.
Spiritual power was like internal energy in martial arts.
They wanted to pass on their "internal energy" to them?
"Pass on spiritual power to us? What does that mean?" Xu Xuenuo asked.
Xu Cang smiled: "It means exactly what it says."
After speaking, Xu Cang didn't explain further. He chanted a sword incantation, and Xu Cang's sword Qi formed thirty longswords. These thirty longswords were divided into two groups, each with fifteen swords, and inserted into Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo's bodies.
Not finished yet, the old man's sword Qi formed another fifteen longswords, stabbing towards himself and the other fourteen prisoners respectively.
Xu Ming and Xu Xuenuo hadn't even reacted yet. What they felt was a heart-wrenching pain!
Countless spiritual power continuously converged into their bodies through these fifteen longswords. They were like gas, as if they would explode into a bloody mist in the next moment.
[I wrote an extra chapter today, but it doesn't feel enough. Sending out three chapters always feels like something is missing.
I'll save it up again. I'll try to write 10,000 words a day, even if it's just for one day.]
