Chapter 7

A flash of the blade, and the fine official kiln teacup was split into two halves. At the same time, a splash of water erupted in the rain, like a slowly blooming lotus, then vanished into the vast rain curtain.

Almost simultaneously, Qi Xuansu grunted and was forced to take a step back, his aura surging, causing the surrounding rain curtain to sway uncertainly.

Li Sansin remained standing under the eaves, not moving an inch.

The teacup had hidden a secret. The moment Qi Xuansu split the teacup with his blade, another hidden aura exploded, catching Qi Xuansu off guard and forcing him to suffer a hidden blow.

The corners of Li Sansin's mouth curled slightly. He had been holding the teacup all along, not just for show, but to continuously infuse his true qi into it. The success of this move was within his expectations.

However, what surprised him was that the young swordsman did not retreat, and even skipped the process of calming his true qi, advancing once more.

Was he confident, or arrogant?

At this moment, the distance between the two was about ninety steps.

Li Sansin casually grasped the bronze tiger head at his waist.

The greatest difference between a postnatal and a prenatal person lies in whether true qi can be released externally. A postnatal person at the embrace-dan stage can cultivate a mouthful of true qi, but it cannot leave the body, limiting its use. However, a prenatal person can control qi externally with ease, making it unpredictable and difficult to guard against. They can also hide it in external objects, like Li Sansin hiding the aura in the teacup.

At this moment, the raindrops falling in the courtyard instantly shattered, turning into a dense white mist that landed on the ground and splashed against the pillars on both sides, leaving a series of tiny, needle-like holes.

Qi Xuansu did not stop, slicing through the mist.

The blade was enveloped in sword qi, cutting through the white mist like a wave breaking, and simultaneously shattering the true qi contained within.

The true qi reverberated around, causing the rain mixed with abundant qi to fly chaotically between the two, drawing clear water lines that left many small grooves on the ground when they landed.

Seizing the opportunity, Qi Xuansu closed the distance to sixty steps.

Li Sansin frowned slightly, his fingers at his abdomen clenching into a fist.

The accumulated water on the ground was instantly drawn by his true qi, forming a water dragon that rose like a green dragon emerging from the water. It then slid and writhed in the courtyard like a dragon entering the sea, rushing towards Qi Xuansu, who refused to stop.

Qi Xuansu did not retreat, the sword qi on his "Fine Tiger Blade" suddenly surging, and he slashed again, colliding head-on with the water dragon.

Water splashed, the water dragon shortened, but Qi Xuansu also slid back, his feet splashing water, increasing the distance to about seventy steps.

Qi Xuansu's face remained expressionless, the sword qi on his "Fine Tiger Blade" growing stronger, visible even in the rain, the white glow around the blade becoming almost tangible.

A prenatal person can kill with a leaf or a flower, and even grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can be swords.

Qi Xuansu advanced again, his entire body passing through the water dragon, producing a series of clanging sounds that were sharp and piercing.

In the next moment, the entire water dragon collapsed, water splashing out like lotuses blooming in a pond.

Now, the distance between the two was only thirty steps.

Qi Xuansu threw his "Fine Tiger Blade," his cloak breaking through the rain, piercing through the rain curtain, aiming directly at Li Sansin's head.

Li Sansin's feet did not move, but his body leaned back sharply, forming an exaggerated angle with the ground.

The "Fine Tiger Blade" passed over Li Sansin, who straightened up just in time to see Qi Xuansu's right arm making a pulling motion. The "Fine Tiger Blade," guided by true qi, made a circular arc behind Li Sansin, like a swallow circling a beam, and aimed at Li Sansin's back again.

Li Sansin finally grasped the hilt of the "Fine Tiger Blade" at his waist, unable to turn or draw the blade, and placed the sheathed "Fine Tiger Blade" on his back to block the sharp blade.

The "Fine Tiger Blade" struck the sheath of Li Sansin's "Fine Tiger Blade," producing a sharp, piercing sound, and the sheath shattered.

Li Sansin then rushed forward, leaving the eaves and entering the rain, now only ten steps away from Qi Xuansu. He then turned sharply, holding the blade in his left hand, and deflected the "Fine Tiger Blade" that had been following him.

The "Fine Tiger Blade" returned to Qi Xuansu, who re-gripped it.

After this exchange, the two were evenly matched, neither daring to make a move, and a standoff ensued.

After a moment, Qi Xuansu asked, "Where is the magistrate of Fengtai County, Li Hongwen?"

Li Sansin's lips curled. "He is already as dead as can be. If you wanted to save him, you are too late. Don't waste your effort."

Qi Xuansu was not concerned about Li Hongwen's life, but said, "You dare to kill a county magistrate, your audacity is truly great."

Li Sansin sneered. "Who said we killed him? It was clearly the work of a rebel, and we, the Blue Phoenix Guard, have lost many brothers and a trial hundred-household. After the case is closed, I will personally deliver the compensation to Brother Zhou's residence."

As he spoke, Li Sansin glanced at Zhou Feilong's head, which had turned into a puddle of mud, and said with a forced smile, "I will take care of your wife and children, so you need not worry."

Zhou Feilong was a pawn, his fate already sealed. Regardless of whether Li Hongwen would hand over the item, Li Sansin would follow the order of the thousand-household and execute Li Hongwen in Fengtai County. However, Li Hongwen was a legitimate county magistrate, and even the Blue Phoenix Guard needed a cover for their actions. Zhou Feilong was that cover.

Using Zhou Feilong's life to clear the Blue Phoenix Guard's name.

That's why Li Sansin let Zhou Feilong die alone.

If he didn't die, how could he silence others?

Qi Xuansu's blade moved again.

Now, the distance between the two was only ten steps, and the attack was imminent.

Qi Xuansu's blade was like a thunderclap in silence.

Faced with this blade, Li Sansin had no choice but to draw his own.

The two blades collided, and both retreated, sending countless stones and water flying.

In the next moment, Qi Xuansu attacked again, his body following the blade, making the attack particularly powerful. Li Sansin did not face it head-on but moved quickly, narrowly avoiding Qi Xuansu's charge.

In the instant they passed each other, Qi Xuansu's blade left a deep, bone-deep wound on Li Sansin's arm, while Li Sansin's blade grazed Qi Xuansu's wrist, though only superficially, it affected his blade control.

Both slid back on the rain-soaked stone ground.

When they stood still again, Li Sansin looked at the wound on his arm, his face dark.

Qi Xuansu, expressionless, transferred the "Fine Tiger Blade" to his left hand.

He was also skilled with a left-handed blade.

Holding the blade in his left hand, Qi Xuansu charged again. Li Sansin took a step back, narrowly avoiding Qi Xuansu's blade.

This left-handed blade was less agile than the right-handed one but more powerful, creating a large pit over a foot deep and several feet wide with a single strike, sending debris flying.

As Li Sansin retreated, he swept his "Fine Tiger Blade" in a crescent arc, the blade enveloped in sword qi, aiming at Qi Xuansu's head.

Qi Xuansu held his blade horizontally.

The same "Fine Tiger Blade," the same sword qi, just one horizontal and one vertical.

The two "Fine Tiger Blades" touched, vibrating nine times in an instant, each vibration dispersing Li Sansin's blade momentum, and even leaving room for a counterattack.

When the Blue Phoenix Guards gathered from various parts of the compound, they saw the rebel forcing the trial hundred-household to retreat, the "Fine Tiger Blade" in his hand bent into a terrifying arc.

The "Fine Tiger Blade," though a rare weapon, was not a magical or precious item, and finally shattered under the strain, Li Sansin holding the bare hilt, forced to retreat.

Qi Xuansu, not letting up, pressed forward, the blade always pointing at Li Sansin's chest, the sword qi flickering like a snake's tongue, tearing through Li Sansin's chest, revealing the "Qiu Niu Armor" underneath.

At this moment, a green light flashed from Li Sansin's sleeve.

It was like a green snake coiling and then shooting out.

Qi Xuansu, who had been at ease, finally showed some distress. Although he had already dodged, his chest was still cut by the sharp green light, blood seeping through.

At that moment, Qi Xuansu had almost crossed the threshold of death, but he did not step over it.

The green light flickered and shot at Qi Xuansu again.

Fortunately, Qi Xuansu was prepared and blocked it with his blade at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the attack.

The green light finally revealed its true form.

A short sword, entirely green like jade, no more than an inch wide and a finger long, enveloped in green sword qi.

Qi Xuansu's face turned serious.

It was a flying sword.