Chapter 210: Quasi-Divine Weapon

【Fire Dragon Sword (Sixth Tier)】

【Forged with meteoric iron from the Wind and Thunder Valley, tempered with the blood of a hundred spiritual beasts, and nurtured for decades with dragon blood; it was once the weapon of a Sword Dao Grandmaster, has awakened spiritual awareness, and holds the potential to become a Divine Weapon...】

【Conditions for Mastery: Dragon-shaped Bone Structure, Form of the Dragon】

【Effects of Mastery: Seventh Tier (Pale Gold): Sword Heart Illuminated

Sixth Tier (Yellow): Sword Qi

Fifth Tier (Pale Yellow): Great Perfection of the Fire Dragon Sword Technique, Sword Technique Talent, Internal Qi transformed into Sword Qi

Fourth Tier (Green): Sharpness】

Within a beam of yellow light, a streak of Jin Guang was intermingled.

"A Quasi-Divine Weapon!"

Li Yuan blinked in surprise; aside from the Split-Sea Black Whale Hammer, this was the first time he had seen the mastery effects of a Seventh Tier item.

"Is the Fire Dragon Temple's foundation so profound? Even true disciples are equipped with Quasi-Divine Weapons? Or has the Fire Dragon Temple's Sect Master also arrived?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly, recalling the youth surrounded by a crowd outside the city earlier, but then he felt something was wrong.

Divine Weapons choose their masters; under circumstances where ordinary people have no chance to wield them, the value of a Supreme-grade Famous Artifact far exceeds that of a Superior-grade Famous Artifact, and by a vast margin.

Normally, only the masters of province-level sects, the elders within the Dao Sects, and top experts renowned across provinces are qualified to wield one.

The entire Zhe Long Prefecture possesses only fourteen Supreme-grade Famous Artifacts, and half of them are already broken or lost; the only ones that can be confirmed are merely seven.

Although the Divine Weapon Valley possesses Supreme-grade Famous Artifacts, most are kept as a foundation or used as bargaining chips for trading with other major sects and powers.

Among the five elders of the Divine Weapon Valley's inner court, only Qiu Qiu Zhengxiong's long spear is a Supreme-grade Famous Artifact.

As for the others, even Old Han's trusted Wind and Thunder Ruyi Pestle, is merely a Superior-grade Famous Artifact.

If Supreme-grade Famous Artifacts are like this, let alone this Quasi-Divine Weapon with the potential to become a Divine Weapon?

"Has the Fire Dragon Temple's Sect Master arrived?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred, then he immediately sensed something was wrong; he suddenly withdrew and retreated, vanishing into the shadows, while at the same time hearing a clear, dragon-like sword cry.

"Who is the petty thief daring to spy on this old man?!"

Following the sword cry came a violent shout.

Li Yuan retreated violently into the shadows, seeing only a streak of sword light break through the window, soaring like a fire dragon through the night sky; even from over a hundred meters away, he felt a chill in his heart.

There was a terrifying illusion of being pointed directly at his brow.

"Where do you think you're running?!"

In the night sky, an old man in black clothes lightly tapped his toe, leaping onto the roof; the long sword in his hand rang with a 'zheng zheng' sound, and sword qi crisscrossed for over ten zhang.

That person moved with a sword amidst the night wind, as if riding a dragon!

"This is the Fire Dragon Sword!"

Dozens of figures broke through the windows from the third floor of the tavern, gazing at the crimson sword light that cut through the night sky like a meteor, and all were shaken to their hearts.

Such sword light was truly terrifying and fearsome.

"A Quasi-Divine Weapon!"

Yue's weight's gaze was burning with passion, yet he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

That Fire Dragon Sword was the weapon of the Fire Dragon Temple's founding ancestor; only the Sect Master could wield it across generations, and although he was the number one true disciple of the Fire Dragon Temple in the current era.

If he were to enter the Dragon and Tiger Temple, he would still not be qualified to wield it.

"Where did this petty thief come from, daring to spy on us?"

An San Yuan Wu clenched his fist, his brows slightly furrowed; even with the Fire Dragon Sword sounding the alarm, he had not detected anyone spying on them.

"The Fire Dragon Sword!"

The experts of the Zhenwu Hall, standing in various locations, were all startled by this sword light.

Strength reaches one chi, Qi penetrates three zhang.

For experts who have reached Great Perfection in Meridian Opening, their internal Qi can at most surge for three zhang; only a few who have cultivated the Breaking Sky Palm Force, or some heavenly geniuses, can break this limitation.

But sword qi crisscrossing over ten zhang is something only a great expert who has successfully refined the viscera and transformed internal Qi into True Qi can achieve.

The Fire Dragon Temple's Sect Master has reached Great Perfection in Meridian Opening, yet with that sword, he can actually unleash over ten zhang of sword qi; this is truly terrifying and fearsome.

"Dechang Prefecture is a mix of fish and dragons; someone actually dares to spy on us."

An old man sneered: "What a pity. The Fire Dragon Sword has its own spiritual awareness; no matter who this person is, they will not escape death today."

This old man wore a gray long robe and carried a long sword on his back; he was Li Yanqiu, an elder of the Fire Dragon Temple.

"Indeed. With the Sect Master making a move, this person is doomed to die."

Yue's weight spoke in agreement, though he was truly somewhat astonished in his heart.

He had been closest to the window before; after the Sect Master made his move, he instantly jumped out the window, but in that fleeting glance, he only saw a blurred silhouette.

The person spying in the shadows possessed excellent lightness skill...

"It's him, it's him!"

The group exchanged glances and spoke, while Linghu Linghu Baiwan, sitting in a corner, felt his heart pounding like a drum.

After nightfall today, he had already taken his gold tickets and was preparing to go to the appointment, but halfway there, An San Yuan Wu intercepted him and brought him here; originally, he had been thinking about how to deal with this person later.

He never expected this person to actually come looking for them.

"This person has been watching me from the shadows the whole time."

Linghu Linghu Baiwan felt a bit of heart-pounding fear; their attendance at the banquet today was secret, and apart from those attending, no one knew about it.

For this person to find them, they must have been following him all day.

Just thinking about it made him tremble with fear.

Listening to the group's discussion, he could only pray in his heart that this Fire Dragon Temple Sect Master would slay that mysterious assassin...

Hush~

Not long after, the wind brought news — an old man in black, his face dark as water, came pressing forward with his hand on his sword.

"Sect Master!"

Yue's weight and the others bowed in salute.

This old man was precisely Feng Feng Yuanqing, Sect Master of Fire Dragon Temple, a great master famous for several decades. Ten years ago he had already achieved Grand Accomplishment of Meridian Opening, and with the Fire Dragon Sword in hand, his Wu Gong was so high that even the former lord of Thousand Jun Cave would have harbored wariness.

"Brother Feng's swordsmanship truly borders on the divine — to have slain that villain so quickly."

Seeing Feng Feng Yuanqing arrive brimming with killing intent, An San Yuan Wu's eyes flickered, a look of admiration on his face.

"You…"

Casting a cold glance at An San Yuan Wu, Feng Feng Yuanqing's face was dark as water: "This rascal's Qinggong was truly too good — this old man was caught off guard for a moment, and he escaped…"

"Mm?"

"That villain actually escaped from under Brother Feng's sword?"

The expressions of the crowd shifted; An San Yuan Wu pressed: "Did Brother Feng discern this person's martial lineage? Which school's Ren De Wu Gong did he use, and what Qinggong?"

"…Ci Ren Wu Gong was extremely strange. The Qinggong he used I have never seen — he should not be a person of Dechang Prefecture."

Feng Feng Yuanqing's face darkened still further; he could only say something vague.

He was inwardly both alarmed and furious.

Though Fire Dragon Temple had no top-grade Qinggong, he had cultivated several lower- and middle-grade Qinggong arts, and with the Fire Dragon Sword in hand, he reckoned that within Dechang Prefecture there were few whose Qinggong surpassed his own.

But the Qinggong of that person lurking in the shadows had far exceeded his expectations.

That figure wove between buildings through the shadows — not only extremely fast, but incomparably agile. Forget any martial lineage — he hadn't even caught a glimpse of the person's face…

"This…"

An San Yuan Wu had intended to watch him make a fool of himself, but now his expression changed too; from Feng Feng Yuanqing's demeanor he gleaned something.

"We'll speak when we're back."

Feng Feng Yuanqing cast a glance at the onlooking tavern patrons not far off, tapped his toe, and returned to the private room on the third floor of the restaurant.

The rest exchanged uncertain glances and followed him in.

Linghu Baiman was a beat slow — his hands and feet trembled, his heart a sheet of ice.

"Even the Sect Master of Fire Dragon Temple couldn't catch him?"

Just thinking that such a great master was lurking in the shadows, Linghu Baiman felt his hands and feet go weak.

With Qinggong that high, how bad could his Wu Gong possibly be?

"Qinggong extremely high, at least Grand Accomplishment of Meridian Opening, and Liu Liu Jingshan at ambushes…"

Following them back to the private room, Linghu Baiman was still drenched in cold sweat, drawing sidelong glances from the others.

"This person's Qinggong is extremely high — he should possess the forms of various spirit-birds, and moreover…"

In the private room, Feng Feng Yuanqing's face was dark as water: "This old man suspects this person very likely possesses a top-grade Qinggong!"

He had been born with the bone-structure of the Eight-Form Lesser Dragon, and of the eight forms he possessed, six were the forms of spirit-birds. Having cultivated various Qinggong arts, the moment he had transformed, his speed had already been no inferior to an ordinary Grand Accomplishment of Meridian Opening master.

Yet that person's Qinggong still surpassed his present self.

This could only be explained by possessing the forms of various spirit-birds, together with a top-grade Qinggong.

"Forms of spirit-birds, and a top-grade Qinggong?"

The private room fell silent at once. An San Yuan Wu's brows knit tightly; he thought it over carefully, but could not recall any such master in Dechang Prefecture.

Dechang Prefecture did have quite a few masters who possessed the forms of spirit-birds and were famed for their Qinggong, but none of them possessed a top-grade Qinggong.

"This person is perhaps not from our Dechang Prefecture."

Feng Feng Yuanqing looked toward An San Yuan Wu.

"Though the emergence of the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing has drawn many masters, none have yet arrived in Dechang Prefecture."

An San Yuan Wu was very certain.

He was not Meng Zhan — before Thousand Jun Cave's destruction, every county had its covert agents, and the moment any intelligence surfaced, he would learn of it first.

"This person…"

Feng Feng Yuanqing's face was cold. To draw his sword to no avail, without even seeing the man — this left his mood extremely foul.

"Tomorrow, this old man will investigate this person."

An San Yuan Wu swept a glance at his subordinates and said in a low voice: "Brother Feng, let's set aside who this person is for the moment. What is the matter you invited us here to discuss today?"

"Mm…"

Feng Feng Yuanqing was about to speak when his face suddenly changed: "What audacity!"

Clang!

Accompanying the sound of a sword's cry.

Feng Feng Yuanqing once again burst through the window, his roar echoing through the night.

The people in the private room rose one after another and hurried after him, but this time Feng Feng Yuanqing returned even faster, his face even worse than the first.

"Brother Feng?"

An San Yuan Wu frowned.

"Hall Master An, today is not suitable for discussing matters. Feng will issue another invitation another day."

Feng Feng Yuanqing's mood was extremely foul; he barely managed a clasped-fist salute.

"Very well."

An San Yuan Wu nodded. He could more or less guess the purpose of Fire Dragon Temple's people, yet he was in no hurry to expose it, and watched them off into the distance.

"Hall Master, this Fire Dragon Temple…"

After Feng Feng Yuanqing and the others departed, the masters of the Wutang only then gathered around. One of them, glancing about, asked in a lowered voice.

"Nothing more than the Divine Weapon Valley."

An San Yuan Wu also glanced around; the roof offered an unobstructed view of the surroundings, so he had no fear of being overheard.

"The Fire Dragon Temple intends to strike the Divine Weapon Valley?"

Linghu Linghu Baiwan had just come to his senses.

"Over these several hundred years, the Fire Dragon Temple has held a transcendent status in Dechang Prefecture; even the Thousand-Weight Cave was quite wary of them, all because of their incense connection with the Dragon-Tiger Temple."

An San Yuan Wu's gaze grew deep and dark; the others exchanged glances, all suddenly realizing the truth.

"No wonder..."

Linghu Linghu Baiwan also understood the situation.

Because of the Fire Dragon Temple's transcendent status in Dechang Prefecture, when the Thousand-Weight Cave was destroyed, they merely sat on the sidelines, caring nothing for which sect was nominally the master of Dechang Prefecture.

With the Thousand-Weight Cave fallen and the Divine Weapon Valley arriving, they had originally cared little.

But when news came that Long Xi Xiang might take a disciple, that changed everything; if Li Yuan truly joined the Dragon-Tiger Temple, then the Fire Dragon Temple would truly have to bow to their breath.

"Hall Master, this old fellow has no good intentions."

A youth's expression turned slightly cold: "They probably want us to make the move."

"This matter need not be dealt with for now—"

An San Yuan Wu swept his cold gaze over his subordinates, especially Linghu Linghu Baiwan: "Without my permission, no one is allowed to act against that Li Yuan; best not even approach him!"

At this point, he paused slightly: "Do not provoke the Divine Weapon Valley either; this concerns the Dragon-Tiger Temple. You cannot bear the blame for this!"

"Yes!"

"We understand!"

The entire group responded solemnly.

'A pool of muddy water.'

An San Yuan Wu's heart grew slightly cold; the Fire Dragon Temple would never have the audacity to offend Long Xi Xiang. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, they would never dare take the risk.

Someone must be behind this...

"Those eyeing the inheritance of Master Master Fulong are not just one or two."

As An San Yuan Wu turned his thoughts and was about to leave, he heard a familiar roar of anger coming from afar.

"Ah!"

"Too arrogant!"

A crimson sword light rose like a dragon ascending to heaven; Feng Feng Yuanqing roared in fury. In the night, he sprinted forward, his mighty internal energy surging forth.

Provoked again and again, he was utterly enraged.

The sword's cry swept across, startling countless people; lights flared along the streets, and many martial arts experts emerged from their dwellings, chasing after him.

"Ah!"

"Rat! Do you only dare to spy in the shadows? Have the guts to come out so I may cut you down!"

The roar sounded again.

On the roof of a nine-story building, Feng Feng Yuanqing was nearly bursting with rage; he had lost track of the target once more. Even with his energy exploding, he could not catch up to that spying rat.

Hush~

In the shadows of the night, Li Yuan landed without a sound.

"This old fellow is full of energy. Hmm, I heard that those practicing Fire Dragon Internal Energy have very strong liver fire; it seems true."

Li Yuan shaded his eyes with his hand, watching the furious Feng Feng Yuanqing on the roof from afar; more precisely, he was watching the quasi-divine weapon, the Fire Dragon Sword.

He had almost been frightened by that sword qi over forty meters long; internal energy channeled through a famous weapon is already extremely sharp, let alone a quasi-divine weapon.

If struck by a single sword blow, he reckoned he could not withstand it.

"This sword is indeed excellent."

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "As long as it targets the sword master, regardless of good or bad, does it sense even slightly?"

Feng Feng Yuanqing thought he had been spied upon three times in a row, but in fact, Li Yuan had circled around him more than ten times before confirming that the quasi-divine weapon's sensing ability was actually quite limited.

As long as one does not gaze directly or target the sword-bearer, it will not sense anything; compared to the legendary divine weapons, it still falls somewhat short.

As long as emotions are controlled, a surprise attack would not be too difficult...

"Sword qi, talent, and a sword heart that penetrates all. For a weapon of this grade, the Divine Weapon Valley probably has few as well?"

Li Yuan felt somewhat covetous.

Mainly because he fully met the conditions to wield this sword; he possessed the Dragon-Form Bone Structure and the body of a flood dragon.

"Sword qi over forty meters long..."

After watching for a while with narrowed eyes, Li Yuan turned and left; behind him, Feng Feng Yuanqing's roars continued to echo endlessly.

Hush~

His figure rose and fell, coming and going without a sound.

Li Yuan circled around and returned to that alleyway; from afar, he spotted Linghu Linghu Baiwan, whose face wore a bitter expression.

"Senior!"

Hearing the wind behind him, Linghu Linghu Baiwan 'thump' fell to his knees, hurriedly pulling out the gold notes from his bosom:

"Senior, it was a misunderstanding!"