Chapter 89

"Watching the chess game and observing the aura, it is as clear as watching a fire. The Qi Observation Technique of the Yi Jian Sect is indeed extraordinary." A deep voice came from outside the door.

Suxin turned around and saw that the person speaking at the entrance was none other than Jiang Ling, the hall master of Lixia Hall of the Nianbang, and He Tian of the Iron Knife Society.

Jiang Ling was over thirty, tall and imposing, with a masculine and handsome appearance, making him quite presentable.

Fang Dongting's expression turned cold: "Jiang Ling, what are you doing here?"

Losing to a woman was already embarrassing enough, and now being seen by others made it even more humiliating.

Jiang Ling chuckled: "Master Fang, your words are quite amusing. This Changning Prefecture isn't your private property. If you can come, why can't I?"

"Fine, fine, fine! I'll remember this for now. When we find the treasure, we'll settle accounts!" Fang Dongting coldly snorted and turned to leave, giving Suxin and Xie Zhiyan a dark look before he went.

He wasn't a fool. If he started a conflict with Xie Zhiyan or Jiang Ling now, he would be the one to suffer.

Now, all four parties had the keys. Once the fifth key was found, there would definitely be another battle.

After Fang Dongting left, Jiang Ling smiled at Xie Zhiyan: "As expected of Xie Zhiyan, the Heavenly Maiden of the Yi Jian Sect. I don't think you used your full strength just now, did you?

The Qi Observation Technique of the Yi Jian Sect is just the basic method of Yi Jian. The true trump cards are the four great sword techniques: Life, Death, Illusion, and Destruction. I wonder which one you inherited."

Xie Zhiyan softly said: "Hall Master Jiang, are you trying to find out my background? We aren't allies now."

Jiang Ling laughed: "Alright, I won't bother you. Although we aren't allies now, who knows what the future holds. If Miss Xie wants to form an alliance, you can find me anytime."

With that, Jiang Ling left without persistently trying to form an alliance with Xie Zhiyan.

However, Suxin felt that Jiang Ling was quite annoying. He seemed to come here just to mock Fang Dongting and enjoy the show.

What else could this achieve besides provoking Fang Dongting?

After they left, Xie Zhiyan apologized: "Sorry, it's my fault. Fang Dongting was actually targeting me."

"I know, but when you pay someone, they should help you. I took your elixirs, so I can't back down when something like this happens."

Suxin had already figured this out without Xie Zhiyan saying it.

There is no love or hate without a reason.

Fang Dongting was arrogant and self-important, but he wouldn't bother a small sect leader like Suxin just for fun.

He was making things difficult for Suxin to embarrass Xie Zhiyan behind him.

When immortals fight, mortals suffer. That's exactly what happened.

But Suxin wasn't so easy to manipulate. Since he chose to help Xie Zhiyan, he wouldn't change his stance.

"By the way, have you found any clues?" Xie Zhiyan asked.

Suxin shook his head: "My people have almost searched every household, but we haven't found any useful clues yet."

"Alright, take your time. There's no need to rush."

Xie Zhiyan seemed relaxed, as if she didn't care about the treasure at all.

Suxin was surprised: "This is the treasure left by the Mad Lion Du Yuansheng. You said these treasures are invaluable, yet you're so relaxed."

Xie Zhiyan said calmly: "If I get it, it's my luck; if I don't, it's my fate. I came here mainly to let Xiaoqi and the others experience the real world of martial arts. As for this so-called treasure, neither I nor the Yi Jian Sect really care much about it.

Du Yuansheng's treasure is indeed tempting, but it's too uncertain.

No one knows if Du Yuansheng is really dead. If he isn't, why would he leave the treasure behind?

And the key has been in the hands of the Yi Jian Sect for over ten years. We've tried to find clues, but we found nothing.

Now, although there are some rumors, the major sects don't take them seriously. Otherwise, they wouldn't send junior disciples like us."

Suxin nodded. Tie Wuchen had also told him this. The major sects were very cautious.

Sending a large force for such an uncertain message would be too hasty.

Since Xie Zhiyan wasn't in a hurry, Suxin let his subordinates who had been searching for clues all night rest and replaced them with another batch.

Xie Zhiyan had nothing to do during the day, so she asked Suxin about his home's location. She wanted to teach Xiner some basic sword techniques.

Of course, even if Xie Zhiyan liked Xiner, she wouldn't teach her the Yi Jian Sect's sword techniques. She would only teach her the basics of swordsmanship.

Suxin couldn't teach Xiner these things. He was self-taught, but he had a 5% innate proficiency in learning anything, which Xiner didn't have.

As a disciple of the Yi Jian Sect, one of the five major sword sects, Suxin was very welcoming of Xie Zhiyan teaching Xiner sword techniques. He immediately called a disciple to take Xie Zhiyan there.

If it weren't for his pride, Suxin would have even wanted to go and observe.

Since Suxin started practicing martial arts, he had seen many people with higher realms, but very few with exquisite martial skills.

Today, when Fang Dongting and Xie Zhiyan fought, Suxin was greatly enlightened, seeing what true powerful martial skills looked like in this world.

Xie Zhiyan's Qi Observation Technique was very similar to the Yi Jian Technique of the Goryeo sword master Fu Cailin in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." Both were techniques that anticipated the enemy and integrated the essence of swordsmanship to the extreme.

However, the Yi Jian Technique Xie Zhiyan used wasn't the true essence of swordsmanship, but rather a way of using the sword.

After sending Xie Zhiyan off with a disciple, a member of the gang suddenly approached and whispered: "Boss, Lord Tie Wuchen from the East Twelfth Ward wants to see you."

Suxin nodded and asked: "Where is Lord Tie?"

"He's waiting for you at the back door."

Suxin dismissed the gang member and walked straight to the back door. Sure enough, Tie Wuchen was waiting for him.

Seeing Suxin, Tie Wuchen smiled: "How does it feel to be caught between the disciples of the major sects?"

Suxin smiled bitterly: "When you're the fish on the chopping block, you have to bow your head if you're not as strong."

Tie Wuchen raised an eyebrow: "I thought you would never bow your head. In Changning Prefecture, you were quite aggressive."

Suxin said calmly: "I don't always bow my head, just not all the time."

Tie Wuchen clapped: "Well said. Although you're not a match for Fang Dongting now and have to rely on a woman to save you, that useless young master will definitely be no match for you in the future."

"At least he's a young hero listed on the Human List. You don't have to belittle him so much to flatter me," Suxin laughed.

Tie Wuchen laughed: "I'm not belittling him; I'm just speaking the truth.

Don't look at Fang Dongting being on the Human List, but he's actually a waste. If it weren't for the Qingcheng Sword Sect behind him, he wouldn't even have the qualifications to be on the list."

Suxin was surprised: "Isn't the Human List based solely on battle records?"

Tie Wuchen waved his hand casually: "I can guarantee that the top thirty on the Human List are genuine, but the rest, not so much.

The major sects also care about face. When they see other sects' young disciples shining on the Human List while their own don't have the strength, they naturally feel不甘心.

So many people use connections or even bribe the Six Fans Gate to get their disciples' names on the list.

Generally, as long as the disciples of the major sects are competent, they can make it to the Human List even without corresponding battle records.

For example, Fang Dongting, even if he's weak, he's from the Qingcheng Sword Sect and possesses powerful sword techniques, which makes him better than many self-taught or small sect martial artists.

Of course, this is just a small part. Most of the young heroes on the Human List have earned their places through their own strength, like Xie Zhiyan of the Yi Jian Sect.

She won the nickname 'Heavenly Maiden' after just one year in the martial world and rose from the bottom of the Human List to the 78th position. Her strength is hard-earned."

Suxin nodded. Xie Zhiyan was indeed very strong. Just the Qi Observation Technique was powerful enough, and Jiang Ling said this wasn't even her true strength.

"Alright, enough talk. I came to ask you when the Yi Jian Sect obtained the treasure key and what their attitude is towards the treasure."

Although Suxin was curious why Tie Wuchen asked such a strange question, he answered truthfully, and Tie Wuchen left with a thoughtful expression.

Suxin didn't ask more and called his people to continue searching for clues about the fifth key, even though the chances were still slim.

However, Suxin didn't know that when he left the hall, a few people were watching him from a street corner, including Meng Changhe of the Three Heroes Society and three young men.

These three young men were naturally from the three major families in Xiangnan: Ruan, Zhang, and Jiang.

Although they were also outstanding disciples of their families, none of them had broken through to the innate realm.

The gap between the Xiangnan martial world and the Central Plains martial world was vast, evident from the disciples.

These three were considered outstanding in their families, but compared to Xie Zhiyan and Fang Dongting, their cultivation speed was like that of snails.

These three had long known about Fang Dongting's arrival at the Flying Eagle Gang, thinking he had found some clues, but they didn't expect to see such a humiliating scene.

However, they knew their strength was far below the others and didn't dare to stand out like Jiang Ling, attracting enmity. They hoped these people would fight seriously, so they could take advantage of the chaos.

Otherwise, with their late innate realm, even if they worked together, they would still be a level below the others.

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**End of Chapter**