Chapter 1178

Saying that he lost to the Carefree Guest, Snow Ten Tower didn't feel it was particularly embarrassing; on the contrary, he seemed somewhat excited.

"My understanding of the rake technique is nearly complete; surely once I fully grasp the swordsmanship mysteries within the rake technique, the Carefree Guest will no longer be my match."

"Once I fully comprehend the mysteries of the spade technique, I can become even stronger!"

Since realizing the swordsmanship contained within the rake technique, Snow Ten Tower felt his long-dormant swordsmanship heart awaken, and his insights into swordsmanship grew day by day.

"This is all thanks to Brother Lu's guidance."

"Brother Lu's guidance?" Meng Jingzhou eyed Lu Yang suspiciously, always feeling something was off—what connection could there be between rake technique and swordsmanship?

Lu Yang remained expressionless: "Why are you looking at me? You don't understand swordsmanship anyway."

Lu Yang then shifted the topic: "Snow Daoist, please continue—what is the third trial?"

"The third trial is to create a technique unique to oneself, and it cannot be some trivial life skill used to make up numbers."

"According to the bloodline memory, this is done to test my creativity—I cannot merely inherit the ancients' legacy; I must surpass them."

"This third trial is indeed quite difficult," Lu Yang said, mentally listing his techniques… it seems they are all uniquely his own?

Snow Ten Tower thought lightly: "Just take it step by step; such things cannot be begged for."

"If I can pass the three trials, I will not only become the Snow Emperor's heir, but also have the current Snow Emperor grant me any one wish."

"That sounds like a good deal."

"Alright, we've eaten enough; it's time to head back." Lu Yang stood up, brushed snow from his backside, gathered his things, and returned to the martial hall.

……

In the far north, the day-night temperature difference is extreme—during the day, it's so cold people don't want to move, and at night it becomes even more bitter.

Thus, Mu Xue City has no nightlife; when night falls, every household extinguishes their lights and sleeps, leaving the entire city unusually quiet.

A roar echoed, and the entire city could hear Deputy City Master Ma's angry shout.

"Where did this thief come from, daring to steal from my home? I see you're tired of living!"

A black shadow leapt between rooftops, appearing and disappearing intermittently, as if not existing in this space at all—his movement was extraordinarily agile.

Accompanied by Deputy City Master Ma's lion-like roar, a brilliant sword qi descended, striking the repeatedly leaping figure.

Why wouldn't Deputy City Master Ma be angry? He had recently gained insights in swordsmanship cultivation, which is why he had been secluding himself; unexpectedly, people mistook him for being seriously injured and recuperating, and yet someone dared to steal from his home—this was nothing short of blatant provocation.

The thief clutched his right arm, revealing a resentful expression; he had thought he could dodge that sword and escape gracefully, but he hadn't expected Deputy City Master Ma to be unharmed, his swordsmanship having improved, resulting in him being struck.

"You, Ma, just wait—I won't only steal things, I'll also steal your daughter!"

Deputy City Master Ma trembled with rage, ordering a citywide search; for a time, Mu Xue City was lit up like daytime.

The thief took medicine to temporarily staunch his wound; Mu Xue City was on full alert, temporarily making escape impossible—first find a place to rest, then figure out how to flee Mu Xue City later.

He leapt into a courtyard and discovered a very beautiful stable, with snow-white horses swishing their tails as they grazed.

"Is this a dragon horse?!"

The thief felt a surge of joy—dragon horses from the Eastern Sea actually appearing in the far north, and it seems to be a purebred dragon horse, its value incalculable!

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the Tiger Howl Sect?"

"It seems the Tiger Howl Sect has struck it rich—no idea where they got this dragon horse."

"Looks like this dragon horse's cultivation isn't too high; otherwise, it would have already transformed into human form—perfect, it's cheap for me!"

The thief grinned as he approached the dragon horse—being able to obtain a precious purebred dragon horse in Mu Xue City made taking that sword wound worthwhile.

The dragon horse glanced at the thief, then continued lowering its head to graze.

The thief formed hand seals, whispered an incantation, and unleashed Beast Control Technique, attempting to dominate this dragon horse!

The beast control seal landed on the dragon horse, which offered no resistance from start to finish.

"Success."

But as soon as the beast control seal touched the dragon horse, the thief's face changed dramatically—this dragon horse is strange!

The thief suffered backlash from the Beast Control Technique, his breath weakened, he staggered back two steps, face deathly pale, qi and blood depleted.

The previously staunched sword wound worsened, and under the dual burden, his right hand was completely ruined!

"What's going on?!"

Huo, at the Spirit Transformation stage, heard faint movement in the rear courtyard and rushed over nervously.

Seeing he couldn't escape the Tiger Howl Sect in time, the thief could only resort to a secret method to conceal his breath and form.

This is his secret technique—whether observed with the naked eye or probed with divine sense, he cannot be seen.

"Is anyone there?"

Huo, at the Spirit Transformation stage, puzzled—he, a grand Spirit Transformation cultivator, shouldn't be experiencing auditory hallucinations.

Yet when he probed with divine sense, he saw no one—only Old Ma lying in the stable, eating grass.

"Let's test it." Huo shook his sleeve, producing a blood demon blade, and unleashed countless blade qi.

The thief stared in disbelief, eyes wide—his opponent is actually a blade cultivator at the Spirit Transformation stage?!

If I weren't injured, I wouldn't even regard a mere Spirit Transformation cultivator, but I am severely wounded; though victory or defeat is uncertain, striking down would surely draw Deputy City Master Ma's attention.

The blade qi struck him—he gritted his teeth against his clothing, making no sound, daring not to let Huo discover him.

"Really no one here."

Huo filled the entire rear courtyard with blade qi, yet found no one; he could only attribute it to having become too excited as a gate guard, causing auditory hallucinations.

After Huo left, the thief reappeared, kneeling on the ground, one hand bracing his body, gasping heavily, sweat continuously beading on his forehead, consciousness hazy and blurred.

No, I must find a place to rest, to leave this place—this location is strange, the Tiger Howl Sect is far from as simple as it appears……

The thief approached a certain house in the courtyard, where a small wooden sword hung at the door.

As he neared the house, the small wooden sword emitted sword light, directly bouncing him away.

At the spot where he landed, lay a nail rake that Snow Ten Tower had pondered day and night, infused with endless sword qi.

The rake teeth were extraordinarily sharp; the thief struck his head against them, immediately puncturing several blood holes, he writhed on the ground twice, then soon lay still.

Lu Yang pushed the door open and scratched his head: "Huh, why did my little wooden sword activate?"

He is currently at the Void Refinement stage, a dangerous time—if a stranger barged into his room, it would be terrible, so he hung the little wooden sword on the door, and anyone approaching would be flicked away by it.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Shilou, who lived next door, pushed the door open and came out, even more puzzled: "How did my second trial just pass?"

The two looked in unison at the thief lying on the ground, blood flowing nonstop.

Having lost his right arm, covered in knife wounds all over his body, sword wounds on his hands, and several large holes in his head, it was unknown what he had endured; before death, he seemed to have suffered inhumane treatment.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Shilou flipped the thief over, saw his face, and was even more astonished: "Free and Easy Wanderer?"

"How did he die?"