Chapter 36: Stealing Techniques?
"Prepare to witness the true mastery of the Sunset Sword Technique!"
While Chang Shuyang displayed the Sunset Sword Technique, Ling Feng effortlessly mirrored every sword move and technique with the help of the Heavenly Dao Eye, grasping all its intricacies seamlessly.
"Nonsense!"
Chang Shuyang's face twisted with disbelief.
The Sunset Sword Technique is a closely guarded secret of the Liuyun Sword Sect. How can this Ling Feng possibly have the opportunity to learn such a technique?
"Go to hell!"
Struggling against a nuisance from the Wenxian Sect proved more embarrassing for Chang Shuyang than a slap in the face. His sword moved in swift, elusive strikes, making it challenging to predict its trajectories.
Ling Feng stood firm, opting to face the situation without relying on his usual agility for evasion. He raised the wooden sword in his hand.
"Hmm?" Li Changqing's eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion. "This stance, it feels somewhat... familiar."
"It's the Sunset Sword Technique!" Li Ruyun exclaimed, her long eyelashes fluttering in surprise.
"Something's wrong! Senior Brother Chang, dodge!"
Li Changqing's eyelid twitched abruptly as Ling Feng's stance underwent a sudden transformation in the next moment. It turned out to be the killing move of the Sunset Sword Technique: Crimson Sunset!
Unfortunately, Li Changqing's warning was too late!
Chang Shuyang, in a frenzy, attacked Ling Feng with his long sword, dancing wildly like a dragon emerging from the sea, creating gusts of augmented qi.
Yet, he was met with a pair of cold eyes, fixed upon him as if it were the piercing gaze of death itself.
Then, a sharp killing intent surged, as if piercing the heavens, accompanied by an unimaginable flash of crimson radiance.
Swish!
The sword light, akin to a rainbow, pierced directly through his chest. Chang Shuyang tilted his head back, spewing a mouthful of blood into the air, staining the sky with crimson.
"This is the Crimson Sunset—"
This marked the last thought in Chang Shuyang's mind. His body then fell heavily to the ground, eyes wide open, lifeless and unblinking.
Never did he expect to meet his end under the very sword technique he took great pride in.
"Senior Brother Chang!"
The disciples of the Liuyun Sword Sect stood in disbelief, their eyes widening at the unexpected turn of events. Senior Brother Chang was decisively defeated in one blow by an opponent using the same Sunset Sword Technique.
Among the inner disciples of the Liuyun Sword Sect, those who excelled more than Senior Brother Chang in the mastery of the Sunset Sword Technique were incredibly rare!
"It's impossible!" Li Ruyun exclaimed, her eyes filled with an expression of disbelief as she watched the lifeless body of Senior Brother Chang on the ground, blood flowing and staining the ground red.
"Am I dreaming? How could he possibly be proficient in the Sunset Sword Technique? It's beyond belief!"
Clutching his fists, Li Changqing's forehead pulsated with visible veins.
His cold gaze bore into Ling Feng as he exclaimed, "You audacious scoundrel! As a Wenxian Sect disciple, you have the nerve to secretly learn the sword techniques of our Liuyun Sword Sect! Today, I'll make sure you face the consequences. I'll report you and your fellow Wenxian Sect disciples to our sect leader for shamelessly stealing our martial arts secrets!"
Stealing techniques was an absolute forbidden practice within the world of sects!
It's a grave and unforgivable offense!
"Stealing?" Ling Feng coldly chuckled. He had acquired the knowledge in front of everyone. Could that still be considered theft?
However, there was no need for him to explain to Li Changqing and the others, as everyone present today would meet their end!
It's understandable that he acted ruthlessly. If these individuals were to escape and expose his act of stealing techniques to the sect's higher-ups, he would face endless troubles.
Dealing with the issues from the Wenxian Sect is already challenging enough. If the troubles from the Liuyun Sword Sect are added on top of that, how will I even survive?
"You, you scoundrel! Today, I'll crush your cultivation and hand you over to the sect leader for judgment. A wretch like you, shamelessly stealing skills, deserves more than just a swift death!"
As he spoke, Li Changqing swiftly grasped the hilt at his waist, a surge of killing intent flickering in his eyes.
Clang!
The longsword was unsheathed!
With a single sword thrust, Li Changqing released a crisscrossing torrent of sword qi, a surge of green energy shooting directly towards Ling Feng's face.
Li Changqing's swordsmanship clearly surpassed that of Chang Shuyang, with a much more profound true qi. His strength was unquestionably on par with, if not superior to, Xiao Qinggang.
However, with Ling Feng's strength breaking through anew, he had little to fear even when facing formidable qi cultivators.
At that moment, Li Ruyun unsheathed her sword and charged forward. The other disciples of the Liuyun Sword Sect swiftly followed, encircling Ling Feng and denying him any opportunity for escape.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Gracefully twisting her slender body, Li Ruyun leapt into the air with nimble footwork. The sword in her hand danced, and streams of sword light burst forth, resembling blooming flowers.
With a quick sidestep, Ling Feng smoothly executed the Flashing Steps to its limits, evading the flanking assault from both Li Changqing and Li Ruyun at an unimaginable angle.
However, the wooden sword in his hand, despite being infused with true qi, was still broken into two by Li Changqing's mystical sword.
In a quick motion, Ling Feng flashed beside Chang Shuyang's lifeless body. Crouching down, he swiftly grabbed the longsword, securing it firmly in his grasp.
Switching to a high-grade steel sword would, at the very least, reduce the need to expend a considerable amount of true qi to infuse the blade.
"Hmph!"
Li Changqing's initial sword strike proved ineffective. Swiftly maneuvering his footing, he reversed direction and pursued Ling Feng. A pale blue sword qi was released, carving a deep mark on the ground as it sliced directly toward Ling Feng.
"What an imposing sword qi!"
Ling Feng narrowed his eyes. The true qi of a practitioner at the tenth level of Qi Formation was incredibly dense and profound. This quality allowed the sword qi, even when externally unleashed, to maintain its condensed form without dispersing, thus yielding a formidable and fearsome power.
Ling Feng opened the Heavenly Dao Eye, searching for weaknesses in Li Changqing's sword technique. The longsword in his hand, fueled by his true qi, glowed with a subtle crimson light.
"Charge!"
The spirited cry resounded in Ling Feng's ears as Li Ruyun's swordlight launched another sudden assault. The synergy between their attacks was flawless, leaving Ling Feng with no room to breath.
Yet, Li Ruyun overestimated her own capabilities. All her fancy moves only served as a bit of a distraction.
Irritated by Li Ruyun, Ling Feng's eyes filled with a surge of killing intent. With a swift analysis, he pinpointed a weakness in her defense. In a sudden move, his sword darted forward like lightning, slicing through the air. Evading Li Ruyun's blade, it aimed straight for her throat.
Ling Feng's strike was accurate, swift, and ruthless!
The unstoppable momentum sent shivers down Li Ruyun's spine, making every hair on her body stand on end.
An icy, lethal aura enclosed her, causing Li Ruyun's expression to shift drastically. She cried out in fear, "N—No!"
The sound abruptly stopped, and in an instant, Ling Feng's sword pierced through her throat, unleashing a gush of fresh blood.
Clang!
Li Ruyun's longsword dropped to the ground as she covered her slender, snow-white neck with both hands. Blood sprayed like a fountain, staining her fair palms crimson. Her gaze remained fixed on Ling Feng's retreating figure. Her eyelids fluttered, and in a swift turn, her body slumped to the ground.
Li Ruyun, dead!
Ling Feng's sword had no regard for mercy or pity!
"Junior Sister Li!"
Li Changqing's pupils expanded, veins filled with blood streaking across them. His body surged with an overwhelming aura of murderous intent, verging on the brink of going berserk.
"You, go to hell!"
Gripping the longsword tightly, Li Changqing's robes billowed in the onslaught of the fierce wind, a relentless surge of killing intent directed at Ling Feng.