Chapter 42: Favor

Liao Yan stood in mid-air, his long sword dancing swiftly like lightning, with a whirlwind swirling around him, creating a scene as if a storm was brewing. The purple light surrounding the whirlwind was extremely dazzling, as thick as a baby's arm.

"Purple Lightning Cloud Sword, Thunder and Lightning!"

At this moment, Liao Yan's entire aura suddenly intensified. Twelve blood rays were particularly prominent on his limbs, and the high-quality long sword in his right hand swung, emitting a dense web of lightning, as if a thunder god had descended.

"Crackling..." The thunderous sounds quickly broke the silence of the night sky, just like the prelude to a summer storm, creating a rather astonishing scene.

"This is the Cloud Stream Sect's treasure, truly formidable!" Shen Chen was secretly alarmed. In terms of a single move, the starting form of the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword was no less powerful than the Ghost Slash of the Netherworld.

Most importantly, the execution of the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword was clearly not as strenuous as the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld. It was effortless, with every movement being extremely fluid.

Shen Chen was well aware that it was fortunate that this sect leader had no ill intentions toward him. Otherwise, the speed at which Liao Yan wielded the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword could have left him no chance to use the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld.

The Purple Lightning Cloud Sword was a top-tier human-level martial technique, likely on par with many earth-level techniques. If the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld were known for their ferocity, then the characteristic of this sword technique could be summed up in one word—

Fast!

Not just fast, but as smooth as flowing clouds.

However, Shen Chen was no ordinary person. Liao Yan had clearly given him ample preparation time. Now, Shen Chen's figure was already a blur, and the Ghost Slash of the Netherworld, Shadow Ghost Sword, and Dark Spring Cut were all ready to be unleashed, showing that he was not entirely defenseless.

"Kill!"

Shen Chen's fighting spirit was intense. At the Fourth Level of the Blood Fusion Realm, he could engage with a peak Blood Fusion Realm expert, a rare opportunity that would greatly benefit his future cultivation.

"Ghost Slash of the Netherworld!"

"Shadow Ghost Sword!"

"Dark Spring Cut!"

"Three moves in one, break through!"

In the next moment, Shen Chen's three shadows merged into one, his iron sword becoming a blur, transforming into a sword aura that rapidly charged toward the approaching figure.

Unlike the massive commotion caused by Liao Yan's Purple Lightning Cloud Sword, when Shen Chen combined his three moves, his blood qi and the surrounding energy instantly disappeared, as if he had merely delivered an ordinary strike.

However, this was precisely the subtlety of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, where all the power seemed concentrated in the sword aura, which was impossible to track with the naked eye.

That day, Lin Hai, the fifth-ranked inner disciple of the Cloud Stream Sect, was decapitated by Shen Chen's combined three moves, his head separated from his body.

"Excellent sword technique, your insight is truly astonishing. If you can learn the complete Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, you will likely be close to mastering true sword qi..." Liao Yan, holding his sword, met the sword aura head-on and couldn't help but praise him.

In his words, Liao Yan was unusually serious. The sect leader, who had not engaged in combat for years, did not want to overwhelm Shen Chen with his cultivation level but rather wanted to spar with him using only sword techniques.

"Clang!"

The iron sword and the precious sword clashed in mid-air, the sound crisp and deafening. A shocking wave of energy spread out, uprooting the surrounding grass and causing dust to fly.

At the same time, the sword aura Shen Chen had swung, though dimmed, still had the strength to continue its charge.

"Purple Qi from the East!"

However, Liao Yan's figure, though momentarily paused in mid-air, did not fall. Then, with a light tap of his foot, he adjusted his stance and, in an incredible angle, executed the second move of the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword.

This sequence of events happened in the blink of an eye, making it difficult for the average person to discern that Liao Yan had already made two moves.

It must be said that although the martial techniques practiced by the Cloud Stream Sect's leader could not be combined like the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, his proficiency in sword techniques and his formidable cultivation at the Twelfth Level of the Blood Fusion Realm made his moves so swift that they created the illusion of a continuous attack.

"Rip!"

With a sharp cutting sound, during their second clash, Liao Yan no longer suffered a slight disadvantage. The purple qi on his precious sword surged, and with a casual swing, he dispersed Shen Chen's sword aura.

Then, having gained the upper hand, Liao Yan did not continue his attack. He slowly descended, effortlessly ending his move, leaving Shen Chen staring in disbelief.

"Hehe, not bad, not bad. No wonder Sima Ya holds you in such high regard. You are indeed a promising cultivator." Sheathing his sword, Liao Yan smiled and walked toward Shen Chen, his face full of admiration.

As the leader of a sect, Liao Yan's discernment was quite sharp. Ordinary disciples rarely caught his eye, but Shen Chen's performance had earned the sect leader's respect.

It should be noted that although Liao Yan had deliberately restrained his blood qi, some aspects of his Twelfth Level Blood Fusion Realm cultivation were unavoidable. For Shen Chen, a disciple, to force the sect leader to use two moves of the sect's treasure technique was already a remarkable feat. Even Qi Zheng, the top-ranked inner disciple, had not lasted a single move against Liao Yan in the past...

"Thank you, Sect Leader. Shen Chen's safe retreat is due to your restraint. If you had used more force, I would likely be dead now." Facing the sect leader's praise, Shen Chen did not act arrogantly but responded earnestly.

"Hmm, you're a good kid. Knowing that strong techniques are beneficial, but cultivation is the key, is a good mindset," Liao Yan nodded. "So, don't become complacent because of your skills. Always strive to improve your cultivation. In life-and-death battles, your enemies won't care about fairness..."

"Sect Leader's teachings are wise. I will remember them." Shen Chen nodded solemnly. He did not resent Liao Yan's tone; on the contrary, he was grateful for the advice.

Shen Chen's experience in two lifetimes told him that every word Liao Yan had said was golden advice, a reality he must always recognize in this land where the strong rule. If the sect leader did not value him, he wouldn't have bothered to say those things.

Seeing that Shen Chen did not act arrogantly, Liao Yan's admiration grew, and his smile became warmer. He looked at the young man with keen eyes and said softly, "When I observed you using the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, the combination of three moves, though powerful, was very draining. In a prolonged battle, a one-hit kill is best. If you can't achieve that, you'll be at a disadvantage."

"Sect Leader is right. That is indeed a shortcoming of the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld." Shen Chen responded with a wry smile. He knew what the sect leader was saying, but there was nothing he could do about it.

The Nine Cuts of the Netherworld were known for their ferocity, and the first move, Ghost Slash of the Netherworld, was extremely draining. Combining three moves almost depleted his blood qi and the spirit energy in his dantian.

Even without the sect leader's reminder, Shen Chen was well aware that he was barely standing.

"The path of cultivation requires more than just a single trump card. The more techniques you have, the more advantageous you will be in battle. How about this, go to the library tomorrow and choose another suitable technique. Since you are already at the Fourth Level of the Blood Fusion Realm, I will have Elder Sima Chuan make an exception and allow you to enter the third floor early," Liao Yan said calmly, his face returning to its usual composure.

"Thank you, Sect Leader, but I have no such plans for now. I only wish to practice the three moves from the incomplete Nine Cuts of the Netherworld until I am proficient." Shen Chen scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Shen Chen's refusal was not because he didn't need more techniques. On the contrary, he desired another trump card besides the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld. He didn't accept Liao Yan's suggestion because of a difficult-to-explain reason.

Could Shen Chen tell the sect leader that he no longer found the techniques in the library appealing?

It wasn't Shen Chen's fault. After obtaining the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld and the *Condensing Spirit and Asking the Dao* technique, his standards for techniques had naturally risen. It was like someone who had tasted bird's nest and shark fin would find pork trotters unappealing, a common human reaction.

Although Shen Chen was eager, he didn't want to waste time. The third floor of the library had more intermediate human-level techniques, but Shen Chen doubted he could find another technique as powerful as the Nine Cuts of the Netherworld, let alone a cultivation technique on par with the *Condensing Spirit and Asking the Dao*, which had a mysterious origin far beyond the capabilities of a small sect like the Cloud Stream Sect...

However, for some reason, Liao Yan seemed annoyed by Shen Chen's refusal.

"Hmph! No more nonsense. If I tell you to go, you go. I don't like pretentious people. Since you refuse, I insist you go. The bookshelves in the back of the third floor are old and need replacing. Your refusal has made me angry, so you will be the one to replace them. If you don't finish in one day, you'll regret it," Liao Yan said angrily, then disappeared into the night sky without waiting for Shen Chen's response.

Alone on the mountaintop, Shen Chen stood in the night breeze, stunned, hardly believing his ears.

"Damn!"

After a moment, Shen Chen couldn't help but curse, his face contorted with anger.

Shen Chen genuinely felt like cursing. In both his past and present lives, those who didn't appreciate favors always ended up in trouble!

Thinking of the massive ironwood bookshelves in the library, each several meters wide and high, Shen Chen felt like vomiting blood. Each one weighed at least ten thousand pounds. Replacing them all? He might as well kill himself!

Shen Chen now deeply regretted his decision. If he had known, he would have pretended to visit the library and avoid this punishment, tears streaming down his face...

However, Shen Chen's terrible mood didn't last long. The next morning, after sweating profusely and working like a dead ox, he emerged from the third floor of the library with an ancient, simple book, his face twitching.

His complex expression would have been perfect for a face-changing performance in his past life.

As he passed Elder Sima Chuan, the one-eyed black tiger, Shen Chen nearly stumbled.

"Elder Sima, Elder Sima!" The old man had been energetic earlier, but now he was snoring on the table, as if drunk. No matter how Shen Chen shook him, there was no response.

"Elder Sima, please wake up. I've chosen a technique, and I need you to register it." Holding the elegant book, Shen Chen was torn. The Cloud Stream Sect had a rule that all disciples who sought techniques from the library must be registered and could not take them privately.

This rule was to prevent unscrupulous disciples from stealing techniques. However, Shen Chen was now in a dilemma. Should he wait for the old man to wake up, or return the book and come back later?

"This..." After a moment, a light bulb went off in Shen Chen's head.

His expression grew even more complex. After a few moments, he gritted his teeth, bowed solemnly to the sleeping Elder Sima Chuan, and, taking advantage of the absence of others, vanished from the library entrance.

Shen Chen didn't know that moments after he left, the snoring Elder Sima Chuan suddenly sat up, stretched, and a playful smile flashed in his sharp eyes...

A few days later, a major event occurred in the Cloud Stream Sect. Sect Leader Liao Yan personally ordered that inner disciple Shen Chen be punished to carry water for two months, one hundred buckets per day, for secretly taking the sect's treasure technique, the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword, when the elder was not paying attention.

One of the five elders, the one-eyed black tiger Sima Chuan, was also punished for his negligence in guarding the library, tasked with chopping firewood for the alchemy hall for three months.

This news quickly spread, causing a stir throughout the sect.

"Did you hear? Shen Chen stole the sect's treasure technique, the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword."

"What? How is that possible? The treasure technique is always with the sect leader. How did that kid get it?" Some were skeptical.

"Don't mention it. All the disciples are in tears. It's said that the sect leader accidentally left the technique on the third floor of the library. When Shen Chen moved the bookshelf, he found it at the bottom. Damn, what luck!"

"Stealing the treasure technique, what was the punishment?" Many were curious about Shen Chen's fate for "stealing" the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword, as it was the sect's most valuable treasure.

"Apparently, the sect leader punished him to carry water for two months, one hundred buckets per day..."

"This... This... Damn, why can't I get such treatment? Give me the Purple Lightning Cloud Sword, and I'll carry water for three years, damn it!"

Both inner and outer disciples were nearly driven mad with envy, jealousy, and resentment. Even some of the top-ranked inner disciples were restless. Compared to the punishment, Shen Chen had hit the jackpot, making them furious...

Meanwhile, in a room on Yunlan Peak, ignoring the drooling Wang Yue behind him, Shen Chen stood by the window, his back trembling, his eyes slightly red, his heart filled with a long-lost excitement.

"Sect Leader, Elder Sima, I will remember this favor..."

Page AD starts

Page AD ends