Chapter 373: Not Reading The Art of War Makes You a Military Sage

In this strange world, any domineering law must have enormous drawbacks.

For example, the “illegal” law Xu Yuan had encountered before.

Old Chu’s tax law was no different—if it failed to work, the target would become alert and never accept another receipt again.

As for Old Chu himself, aside from the “tax law,” he had barely dabbled in Wu Xiu.

He was merely ninth-tier.

In a battle of this level, he was essentially defenseless.

This was also the problem with the “tax law”—because it was too domineering, any other cultivation path he tried to study progressed abnormally slowly.

Old Chu’s strike missed; he exclaimed “How?” in surprise, then immediately retreated without hesitation.

Ninth-tier Wu Xiu had the highest top speed.

…But to Master Xu, it was still far too slow.

Can’t match the physique of a fifth-tier Wu Xiu—do you think you can match it as a ninth-tier?

Moreover, Xu Yuan had only ever sparred with Xiao Wu, deliberately avoiding alarming the two sixth-tier men nearby, so that when they tried to ambush him, he could strike back unexpectedly.

The opportunity arose—and Master Xu would never let it slip.

The beast-tendon rope silently wrapped around Old Chu’s ankle.

Immediately after, a jingling sound rang in his ears, and Old Chu felt the world spin wildly, as if his soul were being torn apart.

The long spike had already silently reached Old Chu’s throat.

Xiao Wu lunged forward without regard for himself.

He could not let Xu Yuan kill Old Chu first.

If Old Chu lived, there was still hope to defeat Xu Yuan.

If Old Chu died, he could only flee—and fail the Crown Princess’s mission.

Because Old Chu still had one final move: Xiao Wu, using his formidable Wu Xiu physique, would latch onto Xu Yuan and prevent him from escaping, while Old Chu scattered dozens of zhangs of receipts into the air—some would inevitably land on Xu Yuan!

Of course, they’d land on Xiao Wu too.

But Xiao Wu believed he could withstand it.

That was why, during their planning, Xiao Wu had told Old Chu, “Strike cleanly—don’t fear hurting me.”

These receipts were hard to make, and like crafted artifacts, each person could hold only a limited number—so this tactic offered only one chance.

Xiao Wu launched himself desperately to save Old Chu—when suddenly, he felt a wave of weakness surge through his body!

This sudden weakness slowed his speed by a fraction.

Xiao Wu quickly recovered—but it was too late.

The long spike in Xu Yuan’s hand hissed through Old Chu’s throat.

A shapeless, mist-like black flame erupted before Old Chu’s forehead, instantly reducing his soul to nothingness!

Xiao Wu roared, his two blades connecting front and back, slashing furiously in rapid succession.

Puh puh puh…

The ground was carved with over a dozen long gashes by the twin blades.

But Xu Yuan had already withdrawn—there was only the narrowest margin of time between them.

Xiao Wu, consumed by rage and desperation, unleashed over a dozen more strikes—then that weakness returned again.

His arms dropped, his blades planted at his sides, gasping for breath.

What kind of sinister technique is this?!

Xiao Wu’s heart trembled—he had never encountered anything like this before.

With Old Chu dead, Xiao Wu’s confidence halved.

Xu Yuan must not have known Old Chu carried a receipt, ready to unleash “Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers.”

Yet Xu Yuan had unswervingly killed Old Chu first.

He had done the right thing.

Without Old Chu’s cooperation, Xiao Wu knew the mission was already impossible.

This time, Xu Yuan had actively activated “Ghost Physician Steals Life.”

Xiao Wu was continuously weakened, while Xu Yuan steadily gained strength.

Even the injured Lang Xiao Ba and Mao Dabin healed without treatment!

Both blinked, utterly astonished: What was happening?

The “Ghost Physician Steals Life” destiny had previously only worked subtly and gradually.

But after Xu Yuan’s Dan Xiu reached fifth-tier, he vaguely sensed his Ming Xiu level had also begun to loosen.

The clearest sign was that “Ghost Physician Steals Life” could now be actively triggered to enhance its effect.

This time it was unleashed, and its impact on Xiao Wu was intense.

It was also because Xiao Wu had already taken two hits from fourth-tier crafted artifacts.

Wu Xiu physiques were prodigious, their blood and qi abundant, their skin thick and tough.

So many Wu Xiu preferred the “trade damage for damage” tactic—by the end, the Wu Xiu survived while the opponent died.

Xiao Wu had always relied on this strategy.

But today, facing Master Xu, he had miscalculated.

After trading damage, Master Xu grew stronger with each strike, while Xiao Wu rapidly weakened.

After a few gasps, Xiao Wu surged upward, his entire body blazing with golden light as he leapt through the air, both blades raised high for a downward slash!

Dong!

The twin blades struck empty air, unleashing Wu Mi’s “War Drum Beats.”

Simultaneously, razor-sharp qi erupted from the blades’ edges—this was the stacking of another Wu Mi: “Injure with Qi!”

This was the strongest strike Xiao Wu could currently unleash.

He had long since cultivated both Wu Mis to the point of being able to activate them at will.

But he had always pretended that “War Drum Beats” required stomping the ground, and “Injure with Qi” could only be expelled from the mouth—so this ultimate strike would come as a surprise.

Xu Yuan was indeed surprised—but not by Xiao Wu’s ability to combine and stack the two Wu Mis; Xu Yuan had been prepared for this.

Better safe than sorry—even if he guessed wrong, there was no loss.

Most Wu Xiu were blunt and foolish, yet Xiao Wu fancied himself clever and brave, fond of these so-called “tactics.”

Reading The Art of War doesn’t make you a Military Sage.

Wisdom is also a talent.

What surprised Xu Yuan was that, after such severe injuries and being drained twice by “Ghost Physician Steals Life,” Xiao Wu still had the strength to unleash this ultimate strike.

Xu Yuan suddenly unfurled his folding fan.

Pa!

Xu Yuan vanished into thin air.

Xiao Wu’s ultimate strike landed completely empty—instead, he carved a massive crater directly in front of himself with his twin blades and dual techniques!

This strike destroyed the entire street for dozens of zhangs.

The buildings on both sides collapsed completely.

The ground shook violently.

Xu Yuan reappeared dozens of zhangs to Xiao Wu’s left.

Xiao Wu gasped heavily—this strike had drained him of immense strength.

To activate it, he had sweated profusely, yet his body remained crimson, steaming with white vapor.

Each breath required him to inhale dozens of times the air a normal person would.

As he recovered his strength, he spun constantly, blades held vertically before him, searching for his opponent’s whereabouts.

Xu Yuan watched Xiao Wu and noticed the golden light on his body continuously coalescing—

After that strike, the golden “five-organs qi” on his body had thinned to near invisibility.

Yet within two or three breaths, the golden five-organs qi thickened again.

Master Xu’s mind shifted—he understood: this fool’s five-organs qi was “spleen qi.”

It belonged to the element Earth.

Heavy and solid, meaning it had enduring stamina.

Master Xu’s eyes flickered—he shook his bell again: jing jing jing…

Xiao Wu had developed some resistance to the bell; he merely felt dizzy for a moment, then recovered instantly.

But Xu Yuan only needed that one instant.

The beast-tendon rope had already wrapped around Xiao Wu’s ankle.

With a sharp yank, it hoisted him into the air!

Xiao Wu’s feet left the ground.

Instantly, his golden five-organs qi severed.

It ceased to gather.

Xiao Wu roared, trying once more to violently break free of the beast-tendon rope.

But Xu Yuan activated “Ghost Physician Steals Life” again.

Xiao Wu was suddenly struck by another wave of weakness.

Moreover, his five-organs qi was severely damaged—he could no longer summon his former might to break the rope.

Xiao Wu immediately drew both knives to his chest, wary that Xu Yuan might seize the opportunity to strike.

But he noticed Xu Yuan had momentarily frozen, missing this golden chance.

Xu Yuan had used “Ghost Physician Steals Life” three times; the first two were fine, but the third time, the stolen power exceeded what his current body could withstand.

His nostrils grew hot, and two streams of blood trickled down.

Xiao Wu was overjoyed!

No matter what trick had weakened him, his opponent clearly suffered backlash too—he couldn’t endlessly wield this trick.

Xiao Wu raised both knives and slashed at the ropes binding his feet.

He no longer cared about completing the mission; he only needed to cut the ropes, then retreat.

And if necessary, he would deliberately reveal Hong Huai, still hidden nearby.

Brother, rest in peace—I’ll care for your wife and child.

But as he raised both knives and struck with all his strength, that weakness surged again, violently.

Stronger than before.

Xiao Wu’s arms went limp; the two blows landed weakly on the beast-tendon rope and bounced back.

Xiao Wu gritted his teeth and looked up—Xu Yuan showed no sign of trouble.

But beside him, Lang Xiao Ba, Mao Dabin, and the captain under Wan Yun all simultaneously spat two streams of blood from their nostrils!

“Ghost Physician Steals Life” could replenish not only oneself, but also one’s companions.

Upon realizing he couldn’t absorb more, Xu Yuan immediately redirected all excess power to his three subordinates.

Mao Dabin collapsed on the spot.

But Lang Xiao Ba’s eyes lit up!

Though he spat blood, Lang Xiao Ba sensed the mysterious power flooding his body greatly aided his Wu Xiu cultivation.

Xu Yuan asked: “Can you still hold on?”

Mao Dabin clenched his teeth, forcing himself: “Yes…”

Lang Xiao Ba roared: “My lord, give me more! More! More!”

Xu Yuan instantly understood: Mao Dabin was barely holding on; Lang Xiao Ba genuinely craved more.

As for that captain… he had fainted.

Xu Yuan kept activating “Ghost Physician Steals Life,” and soon thick streams of blood continuously poured from Lang Xiao Ba’s nostrils.

After several times, Lang Xiao Ba’s nose swelled.

Yet each time, Lang Xiao Ba’s eyes glowed red with excitement: “Again! Again! Again!”

Four more times later, Xu Yuan suddenly felt a hollow emptiness within his body.

Xu Yuan’s heart sank—he hadn’t expected Lang Xiao Ba could still endure; the master himself had reached his limit…

He had overused his fate-granting ability.

“Ghost Physician Steals Life” was beginning to unravel.

Xu Yuan immediately stopped. He looked at Xiao Wu—now utterly drained.

Hanging upside-down by the beast-tendon rope.

Without earth’s replenishment, his five viscera’s qi had been completely burned out.

His body, once swollen to over ten feet tall, shrank back, now two full sizes smaller.

Xu Yuan shook his bell, spun his long spike, and his fiery wheels roared, spewing flames nonstop—he was ready for the killing blow!

Xiao Wu’s eyes were glazed and lifeless, yet he still gripped his knives with all his remaining strength.

A Wu Xiu dies fighting—he never surrenders his weapons!

BOOM—

The fiery wheels blasted flames backward, and Xu Yuan’s speed surged to its peak as he charged straight at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu squeezed out his last ounce of strength; ignoring the spike piercing toward him, he thrust both knives at Xu Yuan.

Even if I can’t take you down with me, I’ll wound you badly!

But Xu Yuan had only charged ten zhang when he suddenly rose into the air, whirled in a circle, and returned!

Yet at the exact moment Xu Yuan launched his charge, the sword pellet silently pierced Xiao Wu from behind!

It cunningly targeted the wound on Xiao Wu’s back.

That wound had been sealed by Xiao Wu’s inner qi.

Though the sword pellet was only fifth-tier, piercing a fifth-tier Wu Xiu’s iron skin was no easy feat.

But slipping through a closed wound? That was far too easy.

Under normal conditions, Xiao Wu would never have given Xu Yuan this opening.

But now… Xiao Wu was dazed, oblivious to everything.

Once inside, the sword pellet reverted from “sword” form to “pellet” form and tore wildly through Xiao Wu’s body!

It utterly destroyed his five viscera and six bowels.

Finally, it surged upward, aiming to burst through Xiao Wu’s crown.

But—THUD—it was blocked by the skull.

Xu Yuan marveled: Fifth-tier Wu Xiu bodies were truly formidable!

So he guided the sword pellet out through Xiao Wu’s right eye.

Xiao Wu’s eyeball was knocked out of its socket, flying over ten zhang away.

A geyser of blood mixed with shredded flesh erupted from the empty socket.

The two original wounds on his body could no longer be sealed.

Countless tiny wounds spontaneously burst open beneath his skin.

Blood gushed more and more, then surged upward along his spine; vessels everywhere burst with a series of pops, spraying blood everywhere!

The “blood explosion” of a fifth-tier Wu Xiu’s collapse was terrifying—each flying droplet could pierce through a finger-thick wooden board.

Xiao Wu was certainly dead—but his remaining left eye still stared at Xu Yuan in confusion. From his throat, now shredded into petal-like fragments, he rasped his final words: “You’ve already won. Why bother with a frontal feint… and then strike from behind with the sword pellet?”

Xu Yuan sighed: “This is why Wu Xiu often fall for tricks.

Just now, if you’d had one last desperate move before dying, I couldn’t afford to ignore the possibility.”

Xiao Wu’s gaze fully dimmed—he understood, but thought this man overly cautious.

Xu Yuan added: “But since you had no such move, it’s not proof I’m paranoid—it proves you’re… simple-minded, too dull to even think of it…”

Xiao Wu widened his left eye. In his final moment, he was wounded again—and died with eyes wide open.

Invisible mist-like black flames immediately appeared before Xiao Wu’s forehead—Xu Yuan released the Six-Eyed Ghost Moth simultaneously.

The yin soldiers inside surged out, including the large ghost Xu Yuan had recently captured—“Three-Headed Snake Neck, Eight Arms, Eight Legs.”

The black flames embedded in their souls were more vicious than the “Thread Method,” directly dissolving the soul.

True annihilation—body and spirit erased.

Only the Xiang Prince’s court had the power to cultivate such true “death servants.”

The black flames inflicted massive damage on yin spirits; the moment they emerged, the yin soldiers recoiled in fear.

Even the newly captured ghost dared not approach.

This creature, still unrefined after being sealed in the Six-Eyed Ghost Moth, now screamed in suppressed rage at Xu Yuan, trying to attack.

Xu Yuan saw the yin soldiers were useless and retracted them.

The black flames had already incinerated Xiao Wu’s soul.

Xu Yuan scanned the area and asked Lang Xiao Ba: “How are you?”

Lang Xiao Ba’s nose was swollen grotesquely, his chest torn, his entire body drenched in his own blood.

He looked utterly disheveled—but his spirit was wildly exhilarated.

His eyes shone with fierce brilliance!

Like a man who needed three hundred rounds of battle to burn off excess energy.

“Your servant is excellent!” Lang Xiao Ba bowed: “I feel I’m about to break through to eighth-tier Wu Xiu! Thank you, my lord!”

Xu Yuan nodded: “Good.”

Mao Dabin was also doing well.

“Ghost Physician Steals Life” had infused part of the fifth-tier Wu Xiu’s power into him, greatly strengthening his physique.

But Mao Dabin was utterly envious of Lang Xiao Ba.

Before meeting Xu Yuan, this man was unranked.

In just a few months under the lord, he’d gained a seventh-tier Fa Xiu inheritance.

Now his Wu Xiu was on the verge of eighth-tier.

Once he became dual seventh-tier, when he’s promoted to Police Inspector, I’ll be behind this brat!

Mao Dabin thought bitterly: Clearly, advancement is fastest by staying close to the lord.

But I’m a Jianxiao—I have a squad under me; I can’t be like Lang Xiao Ba, clinging to the lord as a personal attendant.

I must take the family route—court the old madam.

But the old madam isn’t that old; I can’t keep hovering around her… or I’ll anger the lord, just like Old Qin.

At this moment, Mao Dabin longed for a family more than ever.

“I should get married…”

Find a lady—let her take over the old madam’s path!

After exchanging a few words of concern with his subordinates, Xu Yuan’s expression tightened as he made several hand signals.

Mao Dabin and Lang Xiaoba immediately nodded, understanding that their lord was tasking them with clearing the scene.

Xu Yuan slipped away silently.

He had deliberately let the second hidden sixth-rank assassin escape.

Since he couldn’t seize their soul fragments, he could only secretly track the last assassin.

Hong Huai fled in panic.

He was drenched in cold sweat!

Throughout, he had never found an opening to strike.

At the final moment, Brother Wu had secretly signaled him to run!

From now on, he alone would care for Brother Wu’s and Lao Chu’s wives and children.

He had never imagined that the three of them together could lose to a fifth-rank alchemist—and lose utterly.

Even though this Xu Yuan had previously “allegedly” dealt with a fifth-rank evil spirit.

But among the Seven Great Sects, aside from Soul Cultivators, Wu Xiu invariably held the upper hand against opponents of equal level.

The higher the level, the greater the advantage Wu Xiu possessed.

For instance, when facing Spirit Cultivators, yin soldiers often dared not approach Wu Xiu.

Add to that Lao Chu’s brutal “Tax Law,” and there was no reason they should have lost.

But this alchemist Xu Yuan was too strange—he carried a pile of powerful artisan artifacts.

He hadn’t even used much of his internal fire, yet he had killed Lao Chu and Brother Wu in succession.

Brother Wu had forbidden Hong Huai to strike—but in truth, Hong Huai had never found an opening either.

He felt that if he struck, he would only expose himself and be killed, offering no benefit to the battle.

Hong Huai fled in panic, frightened but still not completely disoriented.

He circled repeatedly through the city.

He stopped five times along the way to check if anyone was tailing him.

Once, he even deliberately slipped into a grand mansion in northern city, pretending it was his hideout.

But behind him, there was nothing.

Only then did Hong Huai exhale in relief, certain no one was following.

He had failed the Princess’s mission; he must not bring the enemy back under any circumstances.

Xu Yuan followed calmly from afar, constantly using his “Soul Sight,” so he had no fear of losing track.

As for Hong Huai’s deceptive maneuvers, Xu Yuan never fell for them—because he had already suspected the truth.

These people were over ninety percent likely to be the Princess’s subordinates.

No one else in the city could command such powerful officers.

All Xu Yuan needed was confirmation.

Hong Huai circled outside the city again, passing through two villages, before returning to the canal dock.

But Hong Huai did not see the Princess.

He returned alone, like a stray dog; neither Xiao Wu nor Lao Chu was to be seen.

Upon entering the Canal Office, he was blocked by the Princess’s other personal maid, “Ruirui.”

“Mess it up?”

Hong Huai sighed deeply: “I am ashamed…”

He was about to say he was ashamed of the Princess when Ruirui cut him off sharply: “Answer directly!”

Do not mention the Princess!

Hong Huai gritted his teeth: “Yes. Brother Wu and Lao Chu are dead—souls scattered.”

Ruirui’s expression softened slightly.

If the souls were scattered, no secrets would leak.

“Did you find out anything?” Ruirui asked again.

“No.”

“No—or you didn’t manage to find out?”

“I didn’t manage to find out.”

Hong Huai felt that Brother Wu and Lao Chu had not forced Xu Yuan to use his full strength.

So whether Xu Yuan had secretly practiced the “Dragon Transformation Art” remained inconclusive.

“Worthless!” Ruirui couldn’t help cursing.

Hong Huai lowered his head; though furious inside, he dared not retort.

“Leave.”

Hong Huai departed, gloomy and dejected.

Xu Yuan secretly rubbed his chin—this Princess was no easy opponent.

She handled things with extreme caution: even after Hong Huai’s mission failed, he never laid eyes on her.

This allowed her to deny all knowledge, claiming her subordinates acted on their own.

Ruirui and Hong Huai would take the blame.

Xu Yuan slipped away quietly, but did not return to the city—he headed straight for Ghost Witch Mountain.

Riding his Fire Wheel, he raced through the evening and arrived at the foot of Ghost Witch Mountain, donning his clay mask before entering.

The next morning, Xu Yuan found Bai Lao.

Bai Lao hurried out of the village, and by afternoon, he brought back Tian Jing.

Tian Jing, in his current grotesque state, was reluctant to meet Master Xu.

But regarding the “Dragon Transformation Art,” Xu Yuan did not want Bai Lao to relay the message.

The more people who knew, the greater the chance of a leak.

Since Master Xu had called his name, he had no choice but to face it.

When Xu Yuan met Tian Jing outside the village, he was also taken aback: truly, he had a strange affinity with Ghost Beard Wood.

Yet… this unexpectedly suited what he planned to do next.

Xu Yuan gave Tian Jing a cold glance—Tian Jing was somewhat afraid of him, his heart jolted as he quickly explained: “I did this for business—without becoming this grotesque, those things on the street always keep a wary distance from me…”

Xu Yuan asked only: “Can you hold it?”

“Master, rest assured—I won’t alter anyone’s heart.”

Xu Yuan nodded, asking no further questions.

“In the coming days, someone may come to the mountains to investigate…” Xu Yuan quietly outlined the basics of the “Dragon Transformation Art.”

“I will transmit the ‘Dragon Transformation Art’ to you—immediately begin cultivation, then pretend…” Xu Yuan gave Tian Jing detailed, precise instructions.

Tian Jing’s eyes flickered, then slowly smiled.

Without the fusion of Ghost Beard Wood, hastily cultivated “Dragon Transformation Art” might not deceive those who came.

But every root of Ghost Beard Wood was as flexible and powerful as a python!

The chance of success greatly increased.

(End of Chapter)