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

Chapter 416. Undercurrents and Intertwined Secrets
Deep within the dense forest, Medicine King Valley resembled a mysterious world forgotten by time. Under the cover of night, the howls of wolves tore through the sky, like the lamentations of souls from the deepest hell. Shi Feiyang, holding the unconscious Lianxing, glanced at the bottomless cliff and twitched his lips: "Hey, they chose this place, as if they wanted everyone to know we were doing extreme bungee jumping!"

With that, he plunged the Frostblade into the rock wall, sparks flying that illuminated Lianxing's pale yet stubborn face. "Hey girl, hang in there! When we get down there, I'll show you a 'triple axe in mid-air followed by a Thomas Flair'!"

Slowly sliding down the rock face, Shi Feiyang felt the air around him growing increasingly damp and cold. Finally landing, he almost slipped on something sticky under his feet. Looking down, he saw a cluster of brightly colored mushrooms, glowing eerily in the darkness.

"Good heavens, this mushroom must be sentient, it even glows! If we pick it, we won't need lights at night!"

Inside Medicine King Valley, vines coiled around ancient trees like giant pythons, and water droplets carrying a fishy smell dripped from the leaves from time to time.

Shi Feiyang walked cautiously when suddenly a dark shadow swept overhead, startling him. He drew his Xuan Shuang Blade with a "whoosh": "What kind of monster are you! I'll chop you into eighteen pieces and string them together like candied hawthorns!"

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a huge bat, with a wingspan longer than a person. "Tch, you scared me half to death! I thought it was one of that old devil Murong Hui's spies!"

Having finally found a relatively dry cave, Shi Feiyang gently put Lianxing down and tore off a piece of his own clothing to bandage her wounds. "Sister Lianxing, why did you have to keep walking into danger? But don't worry, with me here, I'll make sure you're plump and healthy, even sweeter than the osmanthus cake from the Yihua Palace!"

As he spoke, he pulled a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, containing a miraculous healing elixir he had "snatched" from the martial arts world. "This is a real treasure, said to be able to make the dead dance and the living fly! Just you wait and see!"

After feeding Lianxing the medicine, Shi Feiyang sat at the cave entrance, gazing at the eerie and shadowy scenes in Medicine King Valley, and stroked his chin: "This place is eerie. It seems that old bastard Murong Hui might really be up to something here."

Thinking of this, he glanced at the sleeping Lianxing and smiled slyly: "Sister, you should get some sleep first. I'll be right back. If you wake up and find I'm not here, don't think I've abandoned you!"

Having quietly slipped out of Medicine King Valley, Shi Feiyang, relying on his ability to "penetrate everywhere" in the martial arts world, quickly found out Murong Hui's whereabouts.

It turned out that the old man was hiding in an abandoned alchemy room in the valley, studying the mysterious "Nine Transformations Dragon Technique" with a group of ruthless江湖 scoundrels. Shi Feiyang, hiding in the shadows, watched the eerie firelight flickering in the alchemy room and the sinister eyes that occasionally flashed beneath Murong Hui's skull mask, secretly plotting: "Old bastard, let's see how I deal with you this time! But with so many people, a direct confrontation isn't my style. I need to come up with a clever plan." His eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea came to him.

They tiptoed around to the back of the alchemy room and found it filled with various earthenware jars containing unknown liquids.

"Hehe, heaven is on my side!" Shi Feiyang grinned mischievously, took out a tinderbox, and said, "Let me show you my 'flame gift pack'!" After lighting a few pottery jars, he quickly hid to the side.

In an instant, a raging fire shot into the sky, and the alchemy room was thrown into chaos.

"Oh no, fire!" "Quick, put out the fire!" "Who started this?" Shouts rose and fell.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Feiyang slipped into the crowd, shouting, "Don't panic, everyone! Line up, one by one! I have some 'fire extinguishing magic medicine' here!" As he spoke, he pulled out a handful of incense ash and scattered it at the crowd.

Seeing the situation was dire, Murong Hui roared, "Shi Feiyang, it's you again, you little beast!" With that, he controlled a group of Heart Gu puppets, which surged towards Shi Feiyang like a tidal wave. Shi Feiyang remained calm, circulating his Bright Jade Technique, his skin instantly becoming as transparent as jade, and icy blue true energy surging through his veins.

"Old ghost, you've come at the perfect time! Try my 'Star Absorbing Technique Enhanced Version'!" A vortex of suction force emanated from his palm, fiercely pulling the Heart Gu puppet at the forefront towards him. Before the puppet's weapon could even fall, Shi Feiyang grabbed it, swung it backhand, and chopped the puppets behind him into pieces.

Upon seeing this, Murong Hui's eyes flashed with fear, then he became furious and shouted, "Attack! Kill him!" More Heart Gu puppets swarmed forward, but Shi Feiyang calmly unleashed the "Sword Intent Profound" realm from the Nine Heavens Sword Manual.

The Xuan Shuang Blade burst forth with dazzling light, its sword energy transforming into countless sword shadows that intertwined in the air to form an impenetrable net.

"Sword, come!" Shi Feiyang shouted, and the surrounding weapons flew uncontrollably into his hand, merging with his Xuan Shuang Blade to form a giant light sword.

"Take this! Sword Ruins Annihilation - Heaven Burning!" Shi Feiyang brandished his lightsaber, and wherever he passed, the puppets were shredded into pieces, blood splattering everywhere.

Murong Hui was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, took out a handful of poisoned silver needles, and shot them at Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang sneered, "A mere trick!" He used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, the silver needles changed direction and shot towards the alchemy furnace behind Murong Hui. With a deafening roar, the alchemy furnace exploded, and the massive shockwave knocked Murong Hui to the ground.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang rushed forward and stepped on Murong Hui's chest: "Old ghost, tell me, what is the relationship between the Nine Transformations Dragon Technique and the Yihua Palace? Also, how did Lianxing's handwriting appear on that note?"

Murong Hui gritted his teeth and said, "You won't get any information out of me!"

Shi Feiyang chuckled, "Is that so? Then I'll let you experience the ultimate power of itching powder!" With that, he pulled out a packet of powder and sprinkled it on Murong Hui. Murong Hui immediately writhed on the ground, screaming in agony, "Stop! Stop! I'll talk! I'll talk! The Nine Transformations Dragon Technique is an evil art left behind by the first Palace Master of the Yihua Palace. Cultivating this art requires the souls of living people as a catalyst. The mother of Palace Master Yaoyue once attempted to cultivate it but suffered a qi deviation. As for that note… it belonged to Palace Master Lianxing…"

Before he could finish speaking, a dark shadow flashed by, and Murong Hui's throat was slit by a sword. Shi Feiyang looked up and saw a masked man in black standing not far away, giving him a cold look before disappearing into the night.

"Hey, you're leaving already? Not even leaving a name, that's so disrespectful!" Shi Feiyang dusted himself off, looked at Murong Hui's corpse, and sighed. "Old ghost, you're really stubborn. You should have said so earlier. You wasted my pack of itching powder for nothing."

Knowing that Lianxing was still in Medicine King Valley, Shi Feiyang dared not linger and used his lightness skill to rush towards Medicine King Valley.

Throughout the journey, Murong Hui's words and the mysterious man in black kept replaying in his mind.

"The waters of this world are getting deeper and deeper. It seems I need to be on my guard. Who knows, an even bigger conspiracy might be waiting for me at any moment!" A confident smile curled at the corner of his lips, and a cunning glint flashed in his eyes, as if he was ready to embark on the next absurd and exciting adventure.

Just as Shi Feiyang slipped out, the jade pendant at his waist suddenly emitted a faint buzzing sound. He shrank back warily and muttered, "Good heavens, this thing is more perceptive than a police dog. Trouble is definitely on its way."

Before the words were finished, three dark figures swept past the treetops. They were none other than Murong Hui's trusted "Poison Scorpion Brothers," their faces bearing the venomous markings that gleamed eerily blue in the moonlight. "Shi Feiyang, prepare to die!" the eldest brother shouted, brandishing a poisoned chain hammer, its barbs still dripping black blood.

Shi Feiyang's eyes darted around, and he suddenly pulled out an oil paper package from his pocket: "Three heroes, hold on a minute! Look what this is?"

He abruptly ripped open the oil paper, revealing half a moldy osmanthus cake inside. "Just smuggled from the kitchen of the Yihua Palace, want to try some?" the second brother roared, throwing a poisoned throwing knife. Shi Feiyang used his unparalleled "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill, his figure dodging like a ghost, not forgetting to tease, "Brother, so angry, did you not sleep well last night?"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the third brother launched a sneak attack from behind, but Shi Feiyang activated the Mingyu Gong, his skin instantly becoming transparent as ice. He then countered with a move called "Shifting Flowers and Receiving Jade!" The third brother's steel claws actually changed direction and stabbed fiercely into his own thigh.

Having just escaped the three scorpion brothers, Shi Feiyang breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly felt his feet sink into the ground. "Not good!" he cried out inwardly, as he fell into a trap. The bottom of the trap was filled with poisoned spikes. Shi Feiyang flipped in mid-air and used the "Sword Qi Tribulation" technique from the Nine Heavens Sword Manual. His Xuan Shuang Blade drew a golden barrier, shattering all the spikes.

Looking up, he saw that the trap was surrounded by Murong Hui's mind-devouring puppets, their eyes flashing with an eerie red light, and their weapons gleaming with a faint blue light. "Hey, old Murong, you're playing dirty tricks, aren't you!" Shi Feiyang activated his Mingyu Gong, and a vortex of suction force appeared in his palm, pulling the nearest puppet towards him.

He grabbed the puppet by the collar and flung it at the other puppets like a sack of potatoes, muttering, "Everyone line up, one at a time, no cutting in line here!" In the heat of battle, Shi Feiyang suddenly smelled a strange fragrance. "Oh no, it's Ghost Incense!" He quickly held his breath, but the puppets' attacks grew even more frenzied.

It turned out that Murong Hui had already applied a special drug to the puppets to dispel the bewitching incense. Shi Feiyang's eyes darted around, and he suddenly unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique - Slaying the Mortal World," his palm strike creating a gust of wind that dispersed the bewitching incense and sent the puppets tumbling about.

Having finally escaped the trap, Shi Feiyang had just hidden in a bamboo grove when he heard a rustling sound.

He gripped the Frostblade tightly, warily, when a little white rabbit hopped out of the grass. "You scared me half to death, I thought it was..." Before he could finish speaking, the little white rabbit suddenly transformed into a man in black, his dagger aimed straight for his throat.

Shi Feiyang used the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique - Provoking the Dog's Claws" to skillfully deflect the dagger with his Xuan Shuang Blade. At the same time, he activated the Mingyu Skill to freeze the man in black into an ice sculpture.

"I mean, are assassins these days all so adept at this?" Shi Feiyang kicked the ice sculpture and shook his head with a sigh. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed that the ice sculpture was clutching a piece of paper with a mysterious lotus flower pattern drawn on it—the mark from the ancient book "Nine Transformations Dragon Technique".

Just as Shi Feiyang put the note away, a sinister laugh suddenly came from afar. "Shi Feiyang, you think you can escape my grasp?" A strange voice came from all directions, "Next, I'll let you taste real suffering!"

Before he could finish speaking, countless hidden weapons rained down upon him. Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Sword Heart Connection" technique, his Xuan Shuang Blade moving with impenetrable precision, deflecting all the weapons. "Old ghost, come out and fight me one-on-one if you dare! What kind of hero hides in the shadows!" Shi Feiyang shouted.

He was met with an even denser barrage of hidden weapons. As he dodged, he secretly pondered, "Looks like I need to think of a way to lure this old bastard out." Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and an idea came to him!

Shi Feiyang lightly touched the bamboo branch with his toes, and the Xuan Shuang Blade shattered the last bone-piercing nail into dust.

He stared in the direction from which the hidden weapon had come, then suddenly ripped open his robe to reveal a bright yellow silk lining—a brocade robe embroidered with golden dragons, gleaming dazzlingly in the moonlight. "Old devil!" he laughed, hands on his hips, deliberately whipping the robe's hem to make it flutter loudly. "Do you know what this is? The 'Snow-Treading Golden Python Robe,' bestowed upon me by the Emperor himself! If I were to fall, the Nine Gates Commander's iron cavalry could raze the Yihua Palace to the ground in just three days!"

The hidden weapon stopped abruptly, and a heavy thud echoed from the depths of the bamboo forest. Shi Feiyang was secretly delighted, knowing that the "old ghost" hiding in the shadows had taken the bait—this python robe was actually a dragon robe he had traveled from the Qing Dynasty, with osmanthus honey stains still on the edges.

He adopted a high-pitched, eunuch-like laugh: "You old scoundrel, His Majesty, having heard that the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Technique' has appeared in the world, has specially ordered my servant..."

"Shut up!" A man wearing a skull mask burst out, followed by twelve assassins clad in black scale armor. Shi Feiyang's pupils constricted when he caught sight of the golden silk whip wrapped around the man's waist—it was the legendary "Death-Taking Silk" that had been used to massacre the Jiangnan Escort Agency, its tip infused with the Ten Fragrant Soft Bone Powder from the Western Regions.

"What is the punishment for falsely conveying the emperor's will?" The man chuckled sinisterly, and his soft whip suddenly transformed into a serpent and coiled around him.

Shi Feiyang used his "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" technique, leaping among the bamboo branches like a monkey, but half of his python robe was caught on the tip of his whip.

He simply ripped open his robe and flung it at the other man: "Old man, look at this brocade robe!" The silk, wrapped with chili powder that had been prepared beforehand, rushed towards his face. The man was caught off guard, and his skull mask was knocked askew, revealing a hideous centipede worm under his left eye.

Taking advantage of the moment, Shi Feiyang activated his Mingyu Gong, causing the suction force of the vortex in his palm to surge, drawing in the nearest assassin to use as a shield. Amidst the muffled thud of a steel blade striking an assassin, he caught a glimpse of an icy blue hem flashing in the shadows of the bamboo forest—it was none other than the personal maid of Palace Master Yaoyue!

"So the spies from the Flower Palace had already laid a trap!" Shi Feiyang yelled, unleashing his "Dog-Beating Stick Technique - Throwing the Dog to the Sky," his Xuan Shuang Blade deflecting ninety-three crossbow bolts. Suddenly, the twelve assassins formed a battle array, their black scale armor plates rising to form the "Netherworld Soul-Locking Array." Yin energy surged within the array, and Shi Feiyang felt his dantian's true qi plummet into an ice cave. "You little beast, prepare to die!" The man's soft whip pierced the mist, and Shi Feiyang countered with "Flower Shifting Jade," only to be startled to discover the strange fluctuations of the "Nine Transformations Dragon Technique" mixed within the opponent's internal energy.

The whip tip grazed past his ear, shaving off a strand of hair that instantly transformed into a black snake as it landed.

At the critical moment, Shi Feiyang suddenly pulled out a brass compass. It was the "dragon-seeking ruler" he had snatched from the tomb raiders, and now it jingled as he shook it: "Behold my power to subdue demons and exorcise evil! Heaven and earth are boundless, so be it!"

The compass needle spun wildly, disrupting the Yin energy within the formation. Taking advantage of this, he unleashed the "Sword Intent Spreads Across the Plains" technique from the Nine Heavens Sword Manual, his Xuan Shuang Blade spewing out three-zhang-long ghost fire that crackled and popped as it burned the bamboo forest.

Seeing this, Murong Hui tossed out a fragment of the "Nine Transformations Dragon Technique" from his robes. The yellowed pages moved without wind, transforming into countless talismans, each imprinted with a dripping lotus flower. Shi Feiyang suddenly remembered Lianxing's handwriting, and on a whim, he risked reaching out to grab one. The instant the talisman touched his palm, he activated his Bright Jade Technique to "Limitless Asura's Human Purgatory," and the talismans instantly frosted and shattered, one of them embedding itself directly into his shoulder.

Amidst the excruciating pain, Shi Feiyang glimpsed the secret inscription on the back of the talisman: "At the third quarter of midnight, blood sacrifice to the full moon." He forced a laugh through the pain: "Old ghost, you think this little trick can..." Before he could finish speaking, a rumble of a mechanism activating suddenly came from beneath his feet.

The entire bamboo forest began to tilt, revealing a giant bronze urn covered with barbs that was actually the "Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Heart Cauldron" that had suppressed the leader of the Demonic Sect a hundred years ago!
Murong Hui's laughter shook the bamboo branches: "Shi Feiyang, taste what it's like to be devoured by ten thousand ghosts!" Black mist rose from the cauldron, but Shi Feiyang suddenly tore open the lining of his python robe, revealing a dense array of gunpowder packets.

That was a "Chain of Thunderclaps" he modified from the Thunderfire Battalion's thunderbolts; the fuse had long been ignited by the ghost fire of the Frostblade.

"You old bastard, come with me to set off fireworks!" Shi Feiyang unleashed "No Dogs Under Heaven," his Xuan Shuang Blade swirling like a reversed Milky Way, binding the man's soft whip. Amidst the terrified cries of the assassins, he and the man plunged together into the giant cauldron.

With a deafening roar, gunpowder fumes mixed with black mist shot into the sky, blasting the twelve assassins away and causing the Netherworld Soul-Locking Array to collapse.

When the smoke cleared, Shi Feiyang crawled out of the pit, his clothes tattered, still carrying half a charred skull mask in his hand.

He spat out the dirt in his mouth, looked at the maids of the Yihua Palace fleeing in panic in the distance, and took out the tattered scroll with holes burned in it from his bosom.

Under the moonlight, he suddenly discovered half a jade pendant hidden in the folds of the tattered scroll, the pattern of which matched the cover of the "Nine Revolutions of Yin and Yang Record" that Lianxing had handed him that day.

"Interesting, getting more and more interesting." He fiddled with the jade pendant, when suddenly he heard a familiar jade flute sound coming from the direction of Medicine King Valley.

A glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's eyes. He wiped the blood off the Xuan Shuang Blade on the bamboo tube and ran wildly toward the direction of the flute sound.

Behind them, in the destroyed bamboo forest, countless Gu worms were quietly gathering, drawn by the smell of blood!

(End of this chapter)