Translator: Myriea_ActiasLuna Editor: Nou
Fang Xing slowly opened his eyes, unaware of the chaos outside the Thousand Cliff. In the depths of his eyes was the glimmer of a single sword light, and it was at this moment that his mind became one with his body and he knew exactly what had happened within him.
The Decapitationâs Portrayal!
The moment heâd begun studying the Decapitationâs Portrayal, the two forces of energy it held had left a mark within him. One of them was the flame of wrath within the True Samadhi Fire, the same energy heâd used to purify his Qi and cleanse his physique during his everyday cultivation practice to solidify his own foundation. This was also the same energy that had allowed him to capture the Peng King. No matter how strong the True Samadhi Fire was, however, there was one thing that couldnât be denied:
Its power was nowhere near as strong as that lone sword light!
When Fang Xing had seen the illusions from the Decapitationâs Portrayal, and even after Fang Xing had managed to grasp an understanding of the True Samadhi Fire, this sword light had always been the presence that suppressed the True Samadhi Fire.
This sword light was the conqueror, while the True Samadhi Fire was the conquered. Although Fang Xing could try to understand and grasp that True Samadhi Fire, he was unfortunately unable to do so with that sword light.
In the three years outside the sect, Bai Qianzhang had constantly tried to help Fang Xing grasp that sword light, but heâd failed; despite Bai Qianzhangâs cultivation level and extensive knowledge, not even he could graspâlet alone understandâthat sword light. For this reason, there had only been one purpose for this sword light thus far, and that was to help Fang Xing keep the unruly True Samadhi Fire under control.
As Fang Xing became more and more proficient in controlling the True Samadhi Fire, the chance of him losing control became lower and lower. As for the sword light, it disappeared, and it had already been two years since its last appearance.
Today, Granny Qianâs attack had caused Fang Xing to feel an immense sense of pressure, and nowâduring the match against Xiao JianmingâFang Xing once again felt feelings of hopelessness and resignation.
This sword light represented the will of heaven!
What is the will of heaven?
Fang Xing was clever and normally had all sorts of sly tricks up his sleeves. Whether through cheating or robbing, it was extremely rare for him to be forced to his witâs end, which was why he wasnât afraid of angering anyone and why almost nobody received his respect. He hadnât experienced the futility of being confronted by an absolute power.
Today, however, this chain of events had made him feel a sense of helplessness, and it was this feeling that had caused the sword light slumbering within his Sea of Consciousness to stir.
The low hum of heavenâs will dispelled all of the force binding Fang Xing, allowing him to regain his freedom. The same sound also intimidated Xiao Jianming, and although his spirit sense was still there, he could no longer move his body. Despite being called âJianmingâ[1] <sup>1</sup> his entire life, it was only now that he finally understood the real power behind a swordâs cry.
The elders outside the small realm were all in a chaotic panic as they tried to open up the Thousand Cliff. However, with Tie Rukuang refusing to lend a hand and Chen Xuanhua passive and idle, the speed at which the Thousand Cliff began to open was extremely slow.
Fang Xing stood up and looked at Xiao Jianming with a sneer, the Saber of Azure Dragon held firmly in his hand.
Xiao Jianmingâs eyes were filled with fear, and he struggled to open his mouth; it was only after great effort that he could speak, âSp⌠sp⌠spare meâŚâ
âSpare you?â Fang Xing mocked while looking at him. âThe ten thousand lives from the Guiyan Valley, how come you didnât spare them back then?â
Xiao Jianming nearly looked to be crying now. âThere⌠there wasnât⌠ten thousandâŚ.â
âI donât remember the exact number, so letâs just say it was ten thousand!â Fang Xing then showed a hint of viciousness and yelled, âXiao Jianming, Iâm here to collect on your debt. Pay up!â
The Saber of Azure Dragon was swiped out, and Xiao Jianmingâs right arm flew up into the air still clutching his iron sword.
Outside the Thousand Cliff, Xiao Shanheâs eyes were so large they seemed about to fall from the sockets. âLittle livestock, if you dare hurt even half a strand of Jianmingâs hair, Iâm going to make sure you are split into a million pieces!â he shouted with all his might.
Fang Xing looked at him and smiled. âThat is exactly what Iâm going to do. If youâre so powerful, why donât you come in and kill me?â He turned andâwith another swipeâXiao Jianmingâs other arm flew up into the sky.
âYou want to turn me into a human stick? Let me teach you how to be a real human stick!â Fang Xing sneered with hatred in his eyes. He sent Xiao Jianming into the air with a kick, and continuous flickers of metal flashed across until the legs were separated from his body as wellâby the time Xiao Jianming dropped heavily to the ground, only his torso remained.
âJianmingâŚ.â Xiao Shanheâs voice quivered, his eyes bloodshot. Even Chen Xuanhua and Elder Qinânyao felt a sense of spine-chilling fear. Qinânyao in particular was very terrified, as she suddenly realized this boy she hadnât paid too much attention to earlier was actually quite frightening. She put even more effort into trying to break open the formation over the Thousand Cliff, but it was it no longer for Xiao Jianming, but rather so they could kill off this little devil as soon as possible.
Although this little monster was only at the Spirit Stage, they couldnât leave him alive.
Xiao Jianmingâs eyes were full of unshed tears from the pain, and regret lingered in his eyes. âSp⌠spare meâŚ.â He knew that heâd already been completely crippled, but he still wanted to live.
âYou know Iâm not going to spare you. In fact, I want to kill you slowly over a good three days and nights!â Fang Xing kneeled beside Xiao Jianming with a calm expression. âBut my nine uncles must be waiting for you in the underworld. I canât delay too much, or theyâd probably laugh at me for having lived too comfortably to take so long to kill just one person. Pay your debt, Xiao Jianmingâthe debt from when you so impressively killed everyone in Guiyan Valley with nothing but an eagle and a swordâŚ.â
Xiao Jianmingâs eyes rounded, filled with extreme fear as tears began to flow down the edges of his eyes.
The number one core disciple of the Qing-Yun Sectâone of the most talented youths of the Chufung Kingdomâwas actually crying. Two streams of tears filled his eyes, and no one could tell whether these were tears from fear, or even from regret for what heâd done.
A trace of disappointment crossed Fang Xingâs expression. âI thought you would show anger. When you killed so many people from Guiyan Valley, you appeared so proud and cold, as high and mighty as the gods. But when itâs your turn, all you can do is cryâŚ.â Fang Xing slowly lifted his fist and hatred filled his voice. âYou are not even worth being compared to my uncles who fought back against you with their anger!â
As he finished his sentence, Fang Xing smashed his fist downward.
Xiao Jianming screamed out in terror, his wide eyes filled with regret.
When some people come face to face with the threat of death, they feel anger.
When some people come face to face with the threat of death, they feel unresigned.
Yet for Xiao Jianming, it was regret.
If only he hadnât ignored his uncleâs advice to not battle this brat in the tournamentâŚ.
If only he hadnât been so overly arrogant and killed the numerous bandits within Guiyan ValleyâŚ.
If only he hadnât listened to his uncle when he said to search for the treasure dropped from the nine coffins onto the Chufung KingdomâŚ.
Then, perhaps, he could still be alive and well.
Except no matter how much regret he had, it wouldnât stop Fang Xingâs fist from drawing downward.
There was a splatter of fresh blood.
âNo!â Xiao Shanhe madly screamed. âIâll make sure to split you into a million piece, you little livestock!â
Fang Xing seemed not to hear Xiao Shanheâs yell. He threw his Saber of Azure Dragon to the side and brought both of his fists down at once, venting all of the hatred he had hidden so well these past five years. Fist after fist, Fang Xing punched against Xiao Jianmingâs head until it looked like a rotten watermelon, and yet he still didnât stop; he continued until there was a large pit in the ground beneath Xiao Jianmingâs corpseâŚ.
Once all of his hatred had been vented, Fang Xing kneaded into his own lower back before finally standing up and letting out a long sigh. âIâve finally avenged you allâŚ.â His great enmity had been satisfied, and the whole world now seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
Outside the Thousand Cliff, the formation was being opened and Xiao Shanhe would all too soon break inside. Xiao Shanhe was terribly enraged, so much so that he wanted to tear Fang Xing into pieces, drink his blood, tear apart his bones, and eat his flesh. Never would he have imagined that just as his Xiao family was about to rise to power, his nephew⌠would be beaten down into minced meat right in front of his eyes.
Without a successor, what did it matter that he had the Ancient technique? Such hatred and pain was impossible to put into words!
While it seemed everyone had nearly gone insane, there were only two people who appeared calmâone was Tie Rukuang, and the other was Fang Xing.
Fang Xing bowed towards Tie Rukuang from afar without saying a single word, for nothing needed to be said. He straightened up his back, settled his hands at his waist, then pointed towards the Thousand Cliffâs formationâtowards Xiao Shanhe and Elder Qinânyao who would soon break inside. âYou two old turtle-egg bastards, one of you sold out my eleventh uncle, and the other sold out Xiao Mahn. These debts, Iâve noted them all down, and I promise Iâll be back to clear them up with you in the future, plus interestâŚ.â
Xiao Shanhe didnât listen to what Fang Xing had said at all. âIâm going to kill you now, you little livestock!â he angrily screamed, doing everything he could to assault the final layer of the Thousand Cliff.
Qinânyao was also doing everything she could to break open the Thousand Cliffâs formation. Fang Xingâs words had caused fear to rise in her heart, and she couldnât leave him aliveâhe had to be killed. The final barrier of the Thousand Cliff would be opened soon, and then they could catch that little devilâŚ.
Right at that moment, loud noises could be heard from not far away. Two pillars of flame shot up into the sky, each accompanied by the thunderous clamor of lightning and the shaking of the earth. Stones fell and mountains collapsed, as though the Qing-Yun Sect was going through a very powerful earthquake.
As everyone looked around, they were surprised to see that the flames and smoke that stretched into the sky were in the direction of the Danxia and Shanhe Valleys. The fires were extremely violent, andâafter stretching so high as to touch the heavensâthey began to spread into the forests, as though trying to burn the entirety of the Qing-Yun Sect.
When Fang Xing saw the flames, he knew the golden crow must have already succeeded and was overjoyed with laughter, âHahahaha, today is just collecting some interest; Iâll be sure to come back later and square away the actual debt you all owe!â Once heâd finished, he pulled out a jade talisman.
âWhat⌠what did you do?â Elder Qinânyao turned and yelled at Fang Xing in anger.
âYouâll know when you go back and have a look, hahaâŚâ Fang Xing laughed before pouring what was left of his Qi into the jade talisman. The atmosphere around him suddenly distorted as countless symbols flew out from the talisman and lined up in the air, as if forming themselves into a formation.
After only a few short moments later, Fang Xing disappeared. All of the elders who were preparing to rush into the Thousand Cliff were left in a state of shock by such a strange sight.
[1] Jianming : The name âJianmingâ in Xiao Jianming is separated into ĺ (jian4) meaning sword, and 鸣 (ming2) meaning the sound or cry of (usually) a bird. Together, it references the cry/hum of a sword.