Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 287. Heroic Spirit Sweeps Through the Netherworld Path, Jade Shadow Solitarily Searches for the Secret Scripture.

The cold night at Tiger Hill Sword Pool was accompanied by a biting north wind, but inside the headquarters of the Canal Gang, it was warm and cozy. Moonlight filtering through the carved window lattices was tinged with a gentle amber by the flickering red candles inside, casting dappled shadows on the curtains embroidered with twin lotus blossoms in gold thread.

Shi Feiyang gently embraced Qi Meizhen, his fingertips stroking her cascading black hair, the touch as smooth as the spring water of Jiangnan. "Meizhen, these days I've been traveling around, every moment I think of you feels like dancing on a knife's edge."

His voice was low and hoarse, filled with undisguised longing, "Only now, holding you in my arms, do I feel that my heart has finally found its place." Qi Meizhen raised her head, the moonlight casting a hazy glow on her beautiful face, her eyes filled with tender affection.

She pressed her cheek against Shi Feiyang's chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, which sounded like the most beautiful melody in the world.

At this point, she was no longer a heroine, but a gentle and refined young lady.

"Feiyang, do you know that every day you are away, I am here in the headquarters of the Canal Gang, counting down the hours and waiting for your return?" Her voice was as gentle as willow catkins in spring. "At night, when I look at the bright moon outside the window, I always wonder if you are also under the same moonlight, thinking of me and the children."

Shi Feiyang lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead, filled with endless tenderness. "Silly girl, my heart has never left you for a single moment."

He reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her delicate skin. "You've worked so hard, guarding the canal for me and taking care of the children."

Qi Meizhen gently shook her head, reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes glistening with tears.

"As long as you are safe, all the hardships are worth it." After saying that, she gently kissed his lips again. "When you were injured, I wished I could take all the pain for you; when you returned victorious, I was happier than if I had won the world myself."

Shi Feiyang could no longer suppress his love and hugged her tightly, turning all his longing and concern into this passionate kiss.

Their breaths mingled, and their temperature rose steadily as they embraced.

The flickering candlelight cast their entwined figures onto the wall, like a richly colored painting.

After a long while, Shi Feiyang released her, his forehead touching hers, their breaths mingling together.

“Meizhen, once everything has settled down, I want to travel with you all over this beautiful land.” His voice was firm yet gentle. “We will see the misty rain of Jiangnan and the snow of the North, and never let the storms of the world disturb our peace again.”

Qi Meizhen smiled happily, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Okay, I'll wait for you." She buried her head in Shi Feiyang's arms. "No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you."

As night deepened, the flames of the red candles flickered gently, while the love within the room grew ever stronger, dispelling the chill of the night.

In a corner of the Grand Canal Gang headquarters, Shi Feiyang and Qi Meizhen weave their own sweetness and warmth with their deep affection for each other.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Suzhou is like a painting awakened by the early kiss of spring.

The moat was covered with a thin layer of ice, but it couldn't hide the wisps of smoke rising from the painted buildings on both banks, intertwining with the snowflakes drifting in from the sky.

The large red lanterns hanging high above the city gate are as big as millstones, with their tassels swaying gently in the cold wind, perfectly capturing the grand scene of "thousands of doors unlocked and ten thousand lanterns lit." The silhouette of the character "福" (fortune/blessing) cast on the bluestone slabs looks like a dancing flame.

The streets and alleys have long lost their usual tranquility, and are now bustling and noisy everywhere.

An old man selling sugar paintings pulls at the golden sugar threads, his wrist flicking lightly to create a soaring dragon amidst the clouds, drawing cheers from the children who stand on tiptoe, perfectly capturing the childlike joy of "children staying up all night in laughter and chatter." The sizzling oil in the pan frying spring rolls fills the air with the aroma of the vendors' shouts, mingled with the sounds of firecrackers, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of "the old year departs amidst the crackling of firecrackers, and the warm spring breeze brings new life to the New Year's wine."

The storyteller on the street corner slammed his gavel, just as he was telling the exciting part of "Wu Song Fights the Tiger." The audience around him either clenched their fists or held their breath. The vendors carrying candied hawthorns on the outskirts of the crowd took the opportunity to shake their wooden poles. The bright red hawthorns, coated with glistening sugar, reflected a festive halo in the sunlight, echoing the splendor of "Last year on the Lantern Festival, the flower market was as bright as day."

The distant sound of the bell from Hanshan Temple startled a flock of white doves as they flew over the white walls and black tiles.

In front of the temple, devout men and women lined up in a long queue, their incense and candles swirling with smoke, as they prayed fervently before the Buddha, their earnestness mirroring the sentiment expressed in the poem: "Not seeking a meeting, but only a visit; name cards fill my humble abode every morning." Skilled artisans also showcased their craftsmanship on the street, creating lifelike paper-cut window decorations, depicting magpies perched on plum blossoms and carp leaping over the dragon gate, drawing admiring glances from passersby—truly embodying the ingenuity of "cut into a fan of reunion, round like the bright moon."

As night fell, the entire city of Suzhou was completely immersed in the festive jubilation.

On the surface of the Xujiang River, lotus lanterns float downstream, their candlelight flickering like stars fallen to earth, echoing the poetic sentiment of "I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd, and suddenly, turning around, I found him where the lights were dim." Fireworks soared into the sky from the city wall, blooming in a riot of colors that dyed half the sky with dazzling hues, just like the magnificent scene of "fire trees and silver flowers merging, star bridges and iron locks opening."

The aroma of wine wafted from the taverns along the street, and the waiters were so busy that they barely had time to breathe. The calls of "Please come in, sir!" mingled with the shouts of drinking games, creating a joyful year-end symphony.

The Spring Festival in Suzhou was a blend of the delicate beauty of the Jiangnan water towns and the lively joy of everyday life, brimming with the wonderful atmosphere of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new. The city, still shrouded in the lingering snow, was bathed in the warmth of the Spring Festival. The peachwood charms on the vermilion gates of the Shi Mansion shone in the warm sun, yet could not conceal the desolation within the west wing. Xue Li stood by the window, watching the winter plum blossoms fall in the cold wind in the courtyard. The half-jade pendant she held in her hand ached in her palm—its fragmented Kunlun totem pattern was a perfect metaphor for her shattered obsessions.

Three days later, at 3:45 AM, Shi Feiyang returned, stepping on shattered jade. Frost flowers condensed on his black cloak like armor, and his dragon-patterned scabbard struck the blue brick floor, sparking a few sparks.

He slammed the yellowed secret report heavily onto the sandalwood table, causing ripples to spread in the remaining ink in the celadon brush washer on the table: "Yinlong Village on the west bank of Taihu Lake has been sealed off and closed to the market since the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. The day before yesterday, a merchant ship brought in ten black coffins. The contents of these coffins are probably not dead people."

Xue Li's fingertips brushed over the half-jade pendant in her bosom. The Kunlun totem shimmered with a deep blue light in the morning glow, just like the eternally cold moon in the snow caves of Tianshan.

She recalled her master's dying words, coughing up blood, and her throat tightened: "This behavior is very much like a prelude to the Blood Moon Cult's 'human sacrifice'." Shi Feiyang nodded and then accompanied Xue Li to Hidden Dragon Village on the west bank of Taihu Lake to investigate the case.

As dusk settled, the two arrived at the shore of Taihu Lake. The wind in Yinlong Village carried a heavy fishy smell, and the lanterns on the old locust tree at the village entrance, leaning askew, emitted dark red candle wax, swaying in the wind with a ghostly glow.

Shi Feiyang suddenly felt a buzzing vibration coming from the blue stone beneath his feet. He spun around and grabbed Xue Li's waist, using the amazing lightness skill of "leaving without a trace" to retreat three zhang.

"Boom!" Three dark figures burst from the ground, and amidst the flying rotten soil, iron claws gleamed with a dark green light and went straight for their faces.

"Thousand Spider Poisonous Hands!" Xue Liyu drew her sword, and blue light fell to the ground like stars. In an instant, she unleashed the Kunlun Sect's ultimate technique, "Snow Shadow Splitting Light Sword."

Seven sword shadows intertwined into a net, but then the masked man let out a strange, raucous laugh. His moves suddenly transformed into the fierce style of the Kongtong Sect's "Seven Injury Fist." Wherever the wind of his fist passed, the bluestone slabs cracked inch by inch, and the stone chips that were raised were even tinged with blood.

Shi Feiyang slashed down with his Heavenly Frost Blade, the blade flashing with a three-foot-long cold light: "A mere trick, yet you dare to show off your skills before me, Shi Feiyang!" He gripped the Heavenly Frost Blade and unleashed the "Raging Sea" move, the blade's momentum like the Yangtze River surging backward. The moment it collided with the force of his fist, the explosive sound shook the reeds on the lakeside, snapping them in half.

"Hand over the jade pendant, and we'll spare your lives!" The masked leader ripped off his black cloth, revealing half his face covered in snake-scale-like patterns. His curved blade flickered with eerie blue flames. "With the White Bone Cult and the Blood Moon Cult united, who in the world can stand against us?"

Xue Li's pupils shrank sharply. This Blood Moon Sect was the very same demonic sect in the Western Regions that was rumored to have used young boys and girls as human sacrifices to cultivate evil arts!

In the heat of battle, the surface of Taihu Lake suddenly surged and boiled. More than twenty dark figures rode the crests of the waves, their curved blades forming a silver net in the twilight—it was the "Blood Moon Thirteen Killing Formation"!
As Xue Li struggled to stay afloat, a piercing nail suddenly struck her shoulder. The venom traveled along her meridians like a poisonous snake, and her jade sword flew out of her hand.

"Xue Li!" Shi Feiyang's eyes were bloodshot, his Mingyu Gong true energy surged like a raging tide, and the Heavenly Frost Blade danced out a curtain of blades.

With his left hand he embraced her swaying body, while with his right hand, he unleashed the ultimate move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Heaven and Earth Live Together."

Where the blade struck, the air crackled with a piercing shriek. Three enemies, along with their curved blades, were cleaved into six pieces. Blood gushed forth, staining the reeds crimson, and the severed limbs twisted and writhed on the ground.

At the critical moment, the roar of dragons and the howl of tigers were suddenly heard from the sky, and the six masters of the Xiong Ying Society descended like divine soldiers.

Jin Liufu, nicknamed "Water Dragon," pierced through the waves with his feet, wielding his Bagua Golden Saber with impenetrable speed and gleaming light. It was the family heirloom "Bagua Swimming Saber," and wherever the blade went, it stirred up waves ten feet high, aiming straight for the left flank of the "Blood Moon Thirteen Killing Formation" in the formation.

Two men in the killing formation swung their swords to meet the attack, but Jin Liufu reversed his stance and unleashed the "Divination Chain Slash," shattering both curved swords instantly. Blood gushed from their throats as they plunged into the lake. "Centipede" Gongsun Ren chuckled sinisterly, gripping a pair of Wu-Yue hooks like a serpent emerging from its hole. The hook tips were coated with a purplish-black venom, the very same "Hundred-Legged Soul-Severing Claw" that had made him famous.

He identified a person in the formation, gripped the Wu-Yue hook, and drew a strange arc in the air, aiming straight for the opponent's eyes.

The man raised his knife to parry, but unexpectedly, Gongsun Ren flicked his wrist, and the steel claws on Wu Yue's hook bypassed the blade as if they were alive, viciously grabbing into his face. Instantly, his flesh was mangled, and he screamed as he fell to the ground convulsing, black blood flowing from his seven orifices.

"Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen moves like lightning, his bone-piercing nails hidden in his sleeves striking like shooting stars, targeting the enemy's vital points.

He used his "Flying Floss and Light Smoke Skill" to dart through the air, and with a few turns, he shot out bone-piercing nails one after another, "ding, ding, ding," which pierced the vital acupoints of the Blood Moon Cult members, such as the "Dazhui" and "Quchi" acupoints.

The believers shuddered, collapsing like puppets with broken strings, watching helplessly as their lives rapidly faded away. "Round Barrel" Lu Dechu, holding his wine gourd in his left hand, tilted his head back and took a big gulp, then shouted and unleashed his Heavenly Gang Palm with his right hand. The wine splashed out turned into ice blades, and the wind from his palm sent shards of stone flying.

He unleashed the "Heavenly Gang Ice Soul Palm," and wherever his palm strike landed, the air instantly froze into frost.

A Blood Moon cultist swung his sword, but the blade was entangled by ice. Lu Chu seized the opportunity to close in and struck the man in the chest with a palm. Ice flowers instantly formed on the man's chest, and he died with blood flowing from his seven orifices. His body crashed to the ground.

"Bamboo Pole" Jiang Huotian wielded a forked iron pole, his body moving as nimbly as a bamboo pole, specializing in attacking the enemy's lower body.

He unleashed a series of powerful strikes, his iron rod darting out like a venomous snake, targeting the enemy's knee joints. A series of cracking sounds echoed as countless enemy bandits screamed and collapsed to their knees, clutching their groins and wailing, blood gushing from their legs and forming dark red streams on the ground.

"Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Feng wielded his machete, slashing left and right among the enemy ranks, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in his wake. He unleashed the "Mountain-Splitting and Peak-Shattering Saber Technique," each strike carrying immense power; with a flash of light, enemy heads were sliced ​​off one after another.

He roared, his blade flashing with light, and with a single "Splitting Mount Hua" move, he cleaved a Blood Moon Cult leader in two, his entrails spilling onto the ground in a gruesome scene. The six heroes of Xiong Ying formed a battle formation and engaged in fierce combat with the "Blood Moon Thirteen Killing Formation." Shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and screams mingled together, staining the surface of Taihu Lake crimson with blood, with severed limbs floating on its surface—a scene resembling a living hell.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang transferred a wisp of Mingyu Gong true energy into Xue Li's body, sealing seven major acupoints including Tanzhong and Shenque.

Gazing at the lake filled with severed limbs and blood-stained water, he stood with his sword drawn, his cold voice piercing through the smoke of battle: "So what if bones and blood merge? You dare to stir up trouble in the Central Plains? I, Shi, will make you pay for your blood debts! Today is your burial ground!"

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang said to Xue Li, "Hold on!" His voice was deep and thunderous, and the Heavenly Frost Blade transformed into a white rainbow, aiming straight for the scaled man's throat. The scaled man swung his sword to block, but with a "crack," the curved sword was actually cut in two by the Heavenly Frost Blade!
Shi Feiyang pressed his advantage, the blade slicing across his opponent's neck, blood gushing out and painting a scarlet streak in the setting sun.

After defeating the enemy, Shi Feiyang instructed Jin Liufu, Gongsun Ren, and other heroes to take good care of Qi Meizhen. Then, carrying Xue Li, he used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," to fly back to the Shi residence.

Shi Feiyang helped Xue Li sit on the balustrade in the corridor of the Shi Mansion. He focused his Mingyu Gong true energy on his fingertips, about to clear the meridians that had been injured by the hidden weapon.

Xue Li suddenly turned her head away, a faint blush rising on her pale face: "Men and women should not touch each other, Young Master Shi..."

"What are you still fussing about at a time like this!" Shi Feiyang raised an eyebrow, and the sound of the Heavenly Frost Blade being sheathed startled the sparrows under the eaves. "If the 'Blood Moon Heart-Eating Poison' in your body is delayed any longer, it will turn into a pool of blood within three days."

Without a word, he grabbed Xue Li's wrist, and his warm true energy flowed into her body like a trickle. "But you, knowing that the other party was using evil poison from the Western Regions, still insisted on taking that move, 'Thousand Spider Entangling Hand,' treating your life like a game?"

Looking at Shi Feiyang's focused eyes, Xue Li suddenly remembered that during her days recuperating at the Shi residence, a maid would bring her warm medicine to dispel the cold every morning, and fresh pastries were often placed on her desk.

At this moment, the warmth from his palms spread through his meridians, comforting him even more than any medicine. "I...I saw you trapped by the sword formation..."

She murmured and lowered her eyelashes, the silver bells in her hair jingling softly with her movements.

Just then, a hearty laugh suddenly came from outside the corridor.

"The Grand Master is keeping a mistress hidden away!" Jin Liufu, the "Water Dragon," swaggered in. "But Miss Xue's jade sword skills are quite impressive. Yesterday's 'Snow Shadow Chasing Soul' move almost gouged out that scaled man's eyes!"

"Round Barrel" Lu followed, his gourd clinking against the copper ring at his waist, his round face beaming with smiles: "If you ask me, why not let Miss Xue join the Male Cherry Blossom Society too! We're really lacking a beautiful woman who wields a sword; it'll be a pleasure to watch her on missions..."

Before he could finish speaking, "Bamboo Pole" Jiang Huotian lashed the back of his head with a whip. "You're so glib! Didn't you see the Grand Master's face has turned black?"

Shi Feiyang finished his practice and stood up, flicking out a jade token from his sleeve: "From this day forward, Miss Xue will be a guest of the Xiong Ying Association."

He caught a glimpse of Xue Li's astonished expression and added, "The Jade Void Map involves the Thirty-Six Caves of the Western Regions. Without a legitimate identity, it would be very inconvenient to investigate." Xiong Ying and the other heroes nodded, then told the servants and maids to quickly prepare some good food.

Shi Feiyang smiled, took out several jars of fine wine from a mysterious deerskin pouch at his waist, and handed them to Jin Liufu. The heroes then went out to play drinking games and eat meat.

Shi Feiyang then used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," to arrive at the headquarters of the Canal Gang at Tiger Hill Sword Pool, where he tenderly accompanied Qi Meizhen and her son.

In early spring, Tiger Hill Sword Pool is like a painting awakened by the spring breeze.

The weeping willows sprout tender green buds, their delicate strands drooping into the clear water, swaying gently with the ripples, like a young girl's hair.

The peach blossoms are in full bloom, pink and white interspersed, and the petals fall with the wind. Some fall into the pond, swirling with the ripples; others land on the bluestone path, laying a soft floral carpet on the ancient stone slabs.

The distant green mountains are shrouded in a thin mist, appearing and disappearing like a delicate ink painting.

At this moment, Qi Meizhen leaned against the carved wooden window, gazing wistfully into the distance, her infant son in her arms babbling away. Hearing familiar footsteps, she turned abruptly, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and a smile blooming on her face was brighter than spring blossoms: "Feiyang, you're finally back."

Shi Feiyang strode forward and gently embraced Qi Meizhen and the child, placing a kiss on her hair: "I miss you and the child so much, I don't want to wait a moment longer." His voice was deep and gentle, filled with endless longing.

Qi Meizhen looked up, her fingertips gently stroking his cheek, her eyes full of heartache: "Look at you, you've gotten thinner again. You must not have been eating properly while you've been traveling." As she spoke, she pulled Shi Feiyang to sit down on the embroidered couch, personally taking off his shoes and socks, and fetching hot water to soak his feet to relieve his fatigue.

Looking at his gentle and lovely wife, Shi Feiyang was filled with emotion. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "With you here, it's all worth it, no matter how tired I am." He took Qi Meizhen's hand and kissed it gently. "These days, I always think about coming back sooner to watch the ebb and flow of the Sword Pool with you and to watch our child learn to speak."

Qi Meizhen's cheeks flushed as she leaned on Shi Feiyang's shoulder and whispered, "Since you left, I've been sitting by this window every day, counting the hours and hoping for your return. When I see the clouds in the sky, I wonder if you're looking at the same scenery; when I hear birds singing in the distance, I hope it's a message of your return." Her voice was choked with emotion. "Now that you're back, my heart is finally at peace."

Shi Feiyang hugged her tighter and whispered in her ear, "From now on, I will spend more time with you. No matter how big the world is, it can't be bigger than our little family."

He picked up his baby and made the child giggle. "Look, our child has grown up a bit more. His eyes and brows are just like yours. He's so cute."

Looking at her husband and child, Qi Meizhen's eyes welled up with tears of happiness. She got up, took out some carefully prepared pastries from the food box, and fed them to Shi Feiyang: "Try this. This is a new recipe I learned. I put your favorite rose filling in it."

Shi Feiyang took a bite, and the sweet taste spread in his mouth. Even sweeter was the deep love in his heart.

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills onto the Sword Pool, causing the water to shimmer and ripple with golden light.

Shi Feiyang and Qi Meizhen sat side by side in the pavilion by the pond, their young son playing between them. "Look, the afterglow of the setting sun has dyed the entire Sword Pond golden," Qi Meizhen said, nestled against Shi Feiyang's shoulder. "Just like our days, filled with happiness."

Shi Feiyang put his arm around her waist and whispered, "From now on, we will stay together like this every day. We will watch the sunrise and sunset, watch our children grow up, and see the most beautiful scenery in the world."

The two smiled at each other, their eyes only for one another. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and only love flowed gently in the spring breeze of the sword pool.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

As night deepened, Xue Li held the incomplete Kunlun Sect manual that Shi Feiyang had given her, and read it intently by candlelight.

Suddenly, the sound of clothes rustling in the wind came from outside the window. Looking up, he saw Shi Feiyang leaning against the paulownia tree, the moonlight casting his shadow on the window frame, playing with half of the Kunlun jade pendant in his hand.

"Didn't your master tell you that the Jade Void Map is actually divided into two volumes, Yin and Yang?" His voice drifted in on the evening breeze. "Your half is the Yin jade. If you want to find the complete map, you still need to find the Yang jade." Xue Li pushed open the window, and the blue light on the jade sword shone brightly in the moonlight. "So that's why you used half of the Xiong Ying Society's spies? Young Master Shi, what exactly are you after?"

Shi Feiyang chuckled, the jade pendant tracing a silvery arc between his fingers: "Just for the excitement. The White Bone Sect and the Blood Moon Sect are causing trouble; someone has to keep order in this martial world." He leaped down from the tree branch, a few snowflakes falling from his robes. "Tomorrow I'll go to the pawnshop in the west of the city. The shopkeeper there recognizes jade from the Western Regions; maybe we can find clues about Yang jade."

As Xue Li watched his departing figure, the tattered scroll in her hand suddenly slipped from her grasp.

She bent down to pick it up, but saw Shi Feiyang turn back and gently drape a mink cloak over her shoulders. "The air around Taihu Lake is very humid," he said, turning away as snowflakes from his robes landed in her hair, brighter than moonlight.

An ancient, secret chamber was discovered in the cellar of the fishing village.

Inside the secret chamber, a huge parchment scroll hung on the wall; it was the Kunlun Jade Void Map they had been searching for.

However, the text and patterns on the Jade Void Diagram are extremely obscure and difficult to understand, seemingly concealing some kind of powerful restriction and secret.

Xue Li stroked the Jade Void Map with trembling hands, her eyes filled with both the joy of finding a treasure and deep worry.

She knew this was just the beginning; the struggle surrounding the Jade Void Map would inevitably attract more martial arts forces, and they would be drawn into an even greater storm. Then, with trembling hands, Xue Li gently unfurled the parchment scroll. Shi Feiyang held his breath, his gaze fixed on the Jade Void Map, which depicted crisscrossing mountains and rivers, resembling a map of the Western Regions.

However, upon closer inspection, one discovers that these lines faintly outline strange runes, resembling characters but not quite, shimmering with a mysterious luster.

“This…” Xue Li frowned, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion. “This is not an ordinary map, but rather some kind of ancient formation.” She lightly touched a rune with her fingertip, and the rune faintly glowed blue, as if it had been activated.

Shi Feiyang bent down to take a closer look and found that the mountain range's orientation was quite different from the geography he was familiar with in the Central Plains, yet it inexplicably felt familiar.

"Could this be a secret inheritance from the ancient Kunlun Sect?" he murmured to himself. Suddenly, he noticed a small dot in the center of the map that was shimmering with golden light, just like the most brilliant star in the night sky.

"Look here," Shi Feiyang pointed to Xue Li. "The light here is shining brightly; it might hold a crucial clue."

Xue Li leaned closer and saw that the small dot was surrounded by a ring of tiny characters, which were written in the long-lost secret script of the Kunlun School.

Xue Li was adopted by the white-haired old woman in the snow cave of Tianshan Mountain when she was a child, and she knows a little about the Kunlun secret script.

She held her breath and deciphered each word: "The Kunlun Spirit Vein is hidden in extreme cold. The key to the Jade Void can be opened to reveal it."

After she finished reading, she looked up at Shi Feiyang, her eyes filled with shock and confusion. "Does this mean that the Kunlun Sect's spiritual veins are hidden in an extremely cold place, and this Jade Void Diagram is the key to unlocking the spiritual veins?"

Shi Feiyang frowned, his mind flashing through the legends of the Kunlun Spiritual Vein.

It is said that the Kunlun Spiritual Vein contains endless spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If one can control it, one can master unparalleled divine skills and dominate the martial arts world.

For thousands of years, countless experts have searched in vain, never expecting that the clues would be hidden in this Jade Void Diagram.

"But where exactly is this extremely cold place?" Shi Feiyang asked in a low voice.

Xue Li bit her lower lip, pondered for a moment, and then her gaze fell on a subtle mark on the edge of the Jade Void Map.

The mark resembled a blooming snow lotus, with the inscription "Snowy Peak and Icy Abyss, Source of Spiritual Veins" engraved beside it.

“Snowy Peak Ice Abyss!” Xue Li blurted out. “I’ve heard my master mention it before. It’s an extremely secluded place deep in the Kunlun Mountains, covered in ice and snow all year round. It’s fraught with danger and ordinary people can hardly venture there.”

She turned to look at Shi Feiyang, a resolute glint in her eyes, "It seems we need to make a trip to Kunlun."

Shi Feiyang gazed at the Jade Void Diagram, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him.

This journey to Kunlun will undoubtedly be fraught with danger, but if we can unravel the mystery of the spiritual veins, it might bring about a revolution in the martial world. He clenched his fist, looked into Xue Li's determined eyes, and nodded: "Alright, I'll go with you."

The drizzle of late spring, carrying the stench of blood, seeped into the cracks of the bluestone slabs. Just as Shi Feiyang's fingertips touched the tattered scroll of the Jade Void Map in the deerskin bag, the sound of chains being dragged suddenly came from outside the secret chamber door.

The sound, mixed with the sharp scraping of metal against the ground, was like the wailing of countless wronged souls in the depths of the underworld. "Not good!" He lightly tapped his toes, his black cloak sweeping away the celadon porcelain on the table. As he rolled the jade painting into his sleeve, dark green liquid had already seeped into the blue brick floor.

Xue Liyu drew her sword, the blue light reflecting off her pale face with a cold glint: "It's the White Bone Sect's 'Bone-Corroding Soul-Locking Chains,' they've laid a trap long ago." Before she finished speaking, the stone door to the secret chamber exploded with a deafening roar, shattering into pieces like hailstones.

The first to burst in, a man in black robes, wielded a long staff of white bones. The skull at the top of the staff glowed with eerie green flames in its eye sockets—he was none other than the "Netherworld Protector" of the White Bone Sect. He gave a chilling laugh, his voice like the spit of a venomous snake: "Shi Feiyang, Junior Sister Xue Li, hand over the Jade Void Diagram, and I may spare your corpses." Shi Feiyang slowly drew his Heavenly Frost Blade. The moment the blade left its sheath, a three-foot-long gleam of cold light rose, directly confronting the eerie green flames flickering on the Netherworld Protector's staff. His robes fluttered without wind, his Bright Jade Skill reaching its peak. The ice crystals condensing on the blade reflected a cold light, mirroring the chilling intent in his eyes: "The Kunlun treasure—how dare you demons and monsters lay a finger on it? Today, I will show you the rules of the Central Plains martial arts world!"

Before he finished speaking, Shi Feiyang moved like lightning, unleashing the "Golden Dragon Coiling Claws" move.

The Frost Blade transformed into a golden dragon, its claws causing the air to explode with a piercing roar and even tearing space itself apart.

The Netherworld Guardian let out a strange laugh, wielding his white bone staff with ferocious speed, instantly filling the entire secret chamber with thick black mist.

In an instant, the walls were covered with purplish-blue marks resembling corpse spots, and foul-smelling blood seeped from the ground. It was the "Netherworld Ghost Mist Formation" that the White Bone Sect was known for striking fear into the hearts of all. "Be careful!" Xue Liyu pointed her jade sword repeatedly, unleashing the Kunlun Sect's ultimate technique, "Snow Shadow Splitting Light Sword."

Seven sword shadows intertwined to form a net, and sword energy shot towards the man in black like a rain of pear blossoms.

Strangely, tiny white maggots sprouted from the wound pierced by the sword energy, wriggling among the flesh and blood.

Xue Li's expression changed slightly, and she warned loudly, "This mist hides the 'Corpse Poison Heart-Eating Worm'!" As she spoke, she took out a small jade bottle from her bosom and sprinkled out the Kunlun secret antidote. The crisp medicinal fragrance collided with the putrid stench, exploding into a dazzling cloud of colorful mist in mid-air, but it could only temporarily suppress the worm poison.

Using the momentum, Shi Feiyang leaped into the air and unleashed the "Slaying the Mortal World" move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique".

The cold light cascaded down like a silver river, and the three men in black were cut in half before they could react.

Before the blood could even splatter from the broken wound, it was corroded by the ghostly mist into black pus and blood, emitting a nauseating stench.

Upon seeing this, a sinister glint flashed in the eyes of the Netherworld Guardian.

Suddenly, the white bone staff in his hand snapped into nine chains with a "crack," the barbs at the ends gleaming with a ghostly blue poisonous light, coiling towards Shi Feiyang's throat like serpents: "Die!"

At the critical moment, Xue Li shouted and her jade sword turned into blue light as she unleashed the "Ice Soul Cold Light Sword" to meet the chains.

The sword clashed with the iron chain, sparks flying everywhere, but unexpectedly, dozens of bone-piercing nails suddenly shot out from the shadows, one of which struck her left shoulder.

"Xue Li!" Shi Feiyang's eyes widened in fury as he saw spiderweb-like black patterns rapidly spreading from Xue Li's wound.

His inner energy circulated wildly, and the Heavenly Frost Blade gleamed with golden light as he unleashed the "Three Poison-Breaking Forms" of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The first form, "Azure Bag Opens the Heavens," unleashed a blade of energy like a raging torrent, carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, sending the surrounding men in black flying several feet away.

Those people crashed into the stone wall, letting out shrill screams, their bodies turning into a pool of foul-smelling blood, their bones glowing with an eerie phosphorescence in the blood, a truly horrifying scene.

Shi Feiyang's "Hundred Victories Knife Technique" contains extremely powerful and fierce force in every move.

With each swing of the blade, the wind howled, carrying an overwhelming momentum, and the blade's light flashed like the blazing sun in the sky, capable of cleaving through all obstacles in the world.

Although this sword technique has only nine moves, each move is concise and deadly. After countless life-and-death trials, it has long since reached a state of consummate skill.

It can switch between offense and defense with ease, like a "golden dragon coiling its claws". The blade is like a golden dragon winding, which can attack swiftly and defend tightly.

When Shi Feiyang incorporated the internal energy of the Mingyu Gong into it, the power of his swordsmanship increased even more. Every slash was accompanied by a powerful shockwave that shattered the opponent's attack, making it a super martial arts technique.

The night sky over Suzhou was ablaze with red from the torches, resembling a boiling sea of ​​blood.

The moment Shi Feiyang carried Xue Li out of the window, she smelled the scent of gunpowder and sweat on his body, a scent that was even more reassuring than the millennia-old, unmelting ice of the Kunlun Snow Caves. His "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" light-footed skill stirred up rubble, yet Shi Feiyang's arms remained as steady as a rock.

Xue Li leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and vaguely recalled her cold attitude when they first met. How could she have imagined that she would now entrust her life to this man?

The black shockwaves from the bone blades of the Three Netherworld Envoys grazed past her ears, but Shi Feiyang simply tightened his grip on her, as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world. Xue Li gazed at his cold profile; in the firelight, his features were as resolute as if carved by a knife, yet his eyes held a tenderness that only she could understand.

When Xue Li hid in the dilapidated temple, she was already delirious. She saw Shi Feiyang anxiously tear off his clothes, his hands, which were used to holding the Heavenly Frost Blade, now handling it as carefully as if touching fragile glass.

Black blood seeped from the strips of cloth, corroding deep pits in the blue bricks, but he paid no heed, simply slowly channeling the warm, Mingyu Gong true energy into her body. "Hold on!" Beads of sweat dripped from Shi Feiyang's forehead onto her face, burning hot and heartbreaking. "The Kunlun Jade Void Diagram hasn't appeared yet, you can't..."

Xue Li barely opened her eyes, looking at the man in front of her who was risking his life for her, her heart filled with bitterness and gratitude.

"Young Master Shi... don't worry about me, the Jade Void Map is more important..." Her voice was as weak as a candle flickering in the wind.

"Stop talking!" Shi Feiyang interrupted her, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes, but it quickly turned into heartache. "I said I would protect you, and I will never break my promise. Do you know? Since you appeared in my life, this Jade Void Map and this martial world are nothing compared to your peace and happiness."

Xue Li was stunned, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

In this bloody and turbulent world, she never imagined that there would be someone who valued her more than the greater good of the world.

"Why...why are you so good to me..." she asked, her voice choked with emotion.

Shi Feiyang lowered his head, forehead to forehead, their breaths mingling: "Because you deserve it. From the moment you drew your sword to protect innocent people, knowing you were no match, I knew there would never be another woman in this world who could move my heart like you." Xue Li could no longer suppress her emotions, wrapping her arms around his neck with all her might: "I don't want you to risk your life for me... but I'm afraid, afraid I'll never see you again..."

(End of this chapter)