Chapter 18: Mortal Sword Ultimate Limit—Ten Steps, One Kill

Besides the Universe Bag, Daoist Yangshan had three talisman artifacts.

They were the Five-Light Pendant, the Six-Yin Heavenly Ghost Banner, and the Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Pearl.

Although the Five-Light Pendant and the Six-Yin Heavenly Ghost Banner were low-grade talisman artifacts, the Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Pearl was in the ranks of mid-grade talisman artifacts!

That day, after opening Daoist Yangshan's Universe Bag.

Inside, besides two hundred talisman coins, there were two bottles of detox pills, one inferior Qi Cultivation Art, and one bottle of Precious Yellow Pills used to nourish the physical body.

According to Chen Hang's idea, he only sought to obtain the Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Pearl for self-protection, and all other items would belong to Xu Zhi.

Even so, he still took a huge advantage.

After all, a mid-grade talisman artifact was rare on the market. Although three low-grade talisman artifacts were generally equal in value to one mid-grade talisman artifact, the account wasn't calculated this way; there was always a premium of several percent.

But Xu Zhi insisted on taking only the Six-Yin Heavenly Ghost Banner and wanted to say goodbye.

The two argued back and forth, and finally, Chen Hang took the pearl and the Universe Bag, plus a bottle of Precious Yellow Pills for nourishing the body, while Xu Zhi accepted the Six-Yin Heavenly Ghost Banner, the Five-Light Pendant, talisman coins, and other miscellaneous items.

Afterward, Xu Zhi didn't stay long, resting for only one night before saying goodbye and returning to Little Gan Mountain.

And the original disciples in this mountain and the countless women abducted by Daoist Yangshan for pleasure were also dispersed, carrying gold and silver to go their separate ways.

But in the blink of an eye.

This Energy Cultivation sect, which could be considered one of the best in the Lanliang City territory, fell into ruin, leaving only Chen Hang alone in the mountain, cultivating bitterly.

"It's just a pity that I couldn't find that body-refining Daoist art of Daoist Yangshan. Not only was it not in his Universe Bag, but after searching the entire Yangshan, I couldn't find any trace of it."

Thinking of this, Chen Hang couldn't help but feel a pity.

Daoist Yangshan's body-refining Daoist art could be described as extraordinary; not only was it indestructible, but even when Xu Zhi slashed with his sword, he couldn't shake it in the slightest.

In the end, it was because Daoist Yangshan's own Daoist art was not refined enough, failing to refine his neck's vital points like his chest and abdomen, that he was slashed by Xu Zhi's brilliant swordsmanship, breaking half his life.

Moreover, that Daoist art not only could refine the body into an indestructible state but also allowed the body to possess infinite and massive strength; every palm and finger strike was like thunder punishing the earth, truly terrifying.

How could an ordinary Qi Cultivation cultivator have his kind of strength?

It was almost comparable to a wild elephant ancient demon! Even faintly surpassing it.

And Daoist Yangshan, as a wild Daoist who had not obtained the correct method and was ignorant of all other Daoist arts.

It was precisely by relying on his physical body and great strength that he was able to resist Xu Zhi for so long.

If he hadn't had this Daoist art to rely on, I'm afraid he would have been decapitated by Xu Zhi in a single encounter.

"The 'Little Red Dragon Sword Manual' has a total of thirteen sword moves. Xiao Xiao Shixiong is not only proficient in all of them but has also innovated, gathering the strengths of a hundred schools, and realized the ultimate limit of mortal swordsmanship—Ten Steps, One Kill."

Chen Hang put the Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Pearl back into his sleeve, thoughtful:

"Before leaving, Xiao Xiao Shixiong also specifically warned me to contemplate the 'Little Red Dragon Sword Manual' more. If I can realize the ultimate limit—Ten Steps, One Kill—from this method, I will be more like an arm directing a finger when driving flying sword-type talisman artifacts, and killing ordinary cultivators of the same rank will be like slaughtering dogs..."

Mortal Sword Ultimate Limit—Ten Steps, One Kill.

This is the highest realm of a warrior's killing swordsmanship, regardless of whether the opponent is armored, armed, or how many there are.

Within ten steps, blood must fall where the sword blade strikes!

But Xu Zhi himself didn't know that this Ten Steps, One Kill, named the Mortal Sword Ultimate Limit.

Actually.

Like the sword-qi thunder-sound, sword-light division, and refining sword into silk in immortal legends, they are all different level designations for the realm of Sword Dao.

And within East Hun Prefecture.

The Zhongyi Sword Sect, one of the eight great sects of the Mysterious Sect, has a clear sect rule:

Those who cannot realize Ten Steps, One Kill before the age of sixteen cannot enter my sect.

"Since that Qi Cultivation Art hasn't entered the threshold yet, I might as well go into the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie to practice the 'Little Red Dragon Sword Manual'."

Chen Hang took out a small White Yang Pill, dissolved it in water, and swallowed it, sitting in meditation to regulate his breath. After that warm feeling spread through his whole body.

He gripped a long sword, his mind communicating with the Golden Cicada, and instantly entered the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie.

It was still a place without sun, moon, or stars above, and without grass, trees, or floating soil below.

In the empty True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, Chen Hang pointed his hand at himself, and soon a golden light shone on him, condensing in the void into a page of a golden book filled with writing.

【Maha Victory Secret Light Stabilization】

【Name】: Chen Hang.

【Cultivation Method】: Little Red Dragon Sword Manual (—), Green Pouch Medicine Manual (—), Chen Clan Archery (Great Completion).

【Magic Treasure】: Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Pearl (Mid-grade talisman artifact), Universe Bag (Low-grade talisman artifact).

【Dao Practice】: Embryonic Breathing.

"【Maha Victory Secret Light Stabilization】 has actually discovered another use. In the future, if I encounter a magic treasure of unknown grade in the outside world, I can bring it into the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie and let 【Maha Victory Secret Light Stabilization】 shine on it."

"I often hear that in the dark corners of the immortal cultivation market, there are black markets, which are full of countless monsters and ghosts, mixed with dragons and snakes. With 【Maha Victory Secret Light Stabilization】 to identify them, maybe I can really pick up a bargain in the future, who knows..."

Chen Hang smiled slightly and erased the golden book.

He picked up the long sword and, following the diagrams and text in the "Little Red Dragon Sword Manual," began to practice the thirteen sword moves step by step.

Returning Wind, Drawing Fire.

Three Yangs First Degree.

Residual Rainbow Guarding One.

Pear Blossom Reflecting Snow...

In this Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie without sun, moon, or stars, Chen Hang practiced day and night without stopping. At first, he would occasionally stop to drink water and rest.

But later on.

Whenever his body felt hungry, thirsty, or tired, Chen Hang would directly commit suicide with his sword, replacing it with a new mental image.

The new mental image reset all states, so naturally, there was no fear of hunger, thirst, fatigue, or the various labors caused by practicing swordsmanship.

This was a very self-torturing practice—

Others might find it boring and dull because of this repetition, to the point of being unbearable.

But Chen Hang's Dao heart was cold and hard as iron, and he enjoyed it, even finding it to have a unique interest.

Just like this.

He poured all his energy into it.

Until one day, four months later.

Chen Hang's wrist suddenly shook slightly, and with this movement, the sword tip simultaneously turned into seven points of cold light, like seven flying nails shooting out fiercely, finally gathering together.

"Seven Stars Reflecting the Sun, the last sword move in the Little Red Dragon Sword Manual, it's done..."

After a long time, Chen Hang slowly withdrew his sword and sighed.

Swordsmanship had reached this point; if he wanted to maintain the same upward momentum as before, relying solely on bitter practice would not work. Only slaughter!

This was also the reason why there were always swordsmen testing their swords in the mortal world.

The spiritual insight at the line of life and death was enough to compare to ten years of sitting and pondering alone.

But sword fighting was so fierce; a slight carelessness meant the sword was destroyed and the person died. This was also why, although there were many swordsmen in the world, those who could realize Ten Steps, One Kill were hard to find in ten thousand.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong, please enlighten me."

Chen Hang summoned Xu Zhi's mental image and bowed slightly.

Xu Zhi's mental image did not answer.

Holding the sword in his left hand, he stabbed straight out, his movements natural, without a trace of artificiality, like an antelope hanging its horns.

"Well come!"

Chen Hang laughed and raised his sword to meet him.

When the two fought to the fortieth round, Xu Zhi suddenly changed his move, and Chen Hang couldn't dodge in time, having half his head sliced off.

"Good!"

In just a moment, Chen Hang was reborn on the spot. He was even happier, killing toward Xu Zhi with his sword again.

And this time, although he lasted to the forty-seventh move, he was still no match, being cut in half at the waist by Xu Zhi, falling into two neat pieces.

Third time.

Fourth time.

Fifth time.

Sixth time.

Chen Hang didn't know how many times he had died at Xu Zhi's hands, but no matter which time it was, he couldn't last beyond fifty moves.

Xu Zhi's sword-striking technique was already inhuman.

Ten Steps, One Kill!

At this time, he didn't seem like a person driving a sword; the sword in his hand seemed to have developed a spirit—it was the sword driving the person!

"Returning Wind, Drawing Fire!"

Using offense to turn into defense, he dangerously parried the sword strike Xu Zhi had aimed at his lower crotch.

Chen Hang, who had already shown signs of decline, didn't hold on as before, but retreated dozens of steps away.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong, let's change the way of fighting."

Chen Hang flicked his sleeve, and a pearl flashing with red and white colors hovered in mid-air, spinning gently.

"Please appreciate my Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Pearl."

He smiled slightly.

In mid-air, the sound of thunder and fire burning suddenly erupted.