Chapter 37

"Friend, why hide like a coward? Come out and talk."

Wu Xiaode's voice echoed from afar.

No one responded.

"Such a heavy aura of killing, and you still think you can hide?"

Wu Xiaode snorted, his figure flashing as he leaped onto the wall, looking around vigilantly.

A cold wind blew.

The street outside was empty, with no one in sight.

Without warning—

Boom!

Thunder roared in the clouds.

Wu Xiaode suddenly sidestepped.

A sniper bullet whizzed past his cheek, hitting the tree behind him, piercing through it, and embedding itself in the plaque on the second floor of the martial arts hall.

Xiao Shi screamed.

Qian Mingkui shouted, "Damn, my plaque—what's going on, Brother Wu?"

Wu Xiaode slowly turned his head and glanced inside the martial arts hall.

He saw that on both sides of the entrance to the main hall, there were large inscriptions:

"Stepping on snow without leaving a trace, seeking the plum blossoms"

"Facing the wind with intent, asking the moon to come"

Outside the second floor of the martial arts hall hung a plaque:

"Nine Supreme Techniques of Tianshan"

The sniper bullet had just pierced this plaque, leaving a large, expanding hole.

Crack, crack—

Splash!

The plaque broke in half and fell to the ground.

At this moment, the rain finally began to fall from the sky.

The heavy rain gradually turned the ground muddy, and the plaque was splattered with mud and water. Qian Mingkui hurriedly tried to clean it up but only managed to pick up a few broken pieces of wood.

Wu Xiaode was stunned, his expression gradually twisting.

He said with a hateful voice:

"If you had come out openly to challenge me, I wouldn't have said anything, but using a hidden weapon to destroy my plaque is not right..."

"Wu."

"I'm here, Senior."

"Would you mind if I use your name to kill people?"

"Not at all, Senior; please do as you please, Senior."

"Good!"

Wu Xiaode slowly drew his long sword, jumped down, and swaggered to the center of the street, standing firm.

He took a deep breath and roared:

"I am the head of the Snow-Stepping Plum-Seeking School!"

"Whoever destroyed my plaque, come out and face me! I will settle this matter with you!"

His voice thundered through the entire street, the echo lingering for a long time.

No one responded.

The only sound in the world was the rustling of the rain.

Wu Xiaode was drenched, but he stood still, his aura of killing growing stronger and stronger.

Finally—

At the end of the street.

A middle-aged man in a suit appeared.

He walked to face Wu Xiaode and clapped, saying, "Few people can avoid a sniper's ambush. Your skills are indeed impressive."

"Finish what you have to say." Wu Xiaode said expressionlessly.

"I am here because a great person has taken a liking to you and asked me to tell you that the conditions you refused yesterday have changed."

The middle-aged man, looking sharp and capable, continued, "The new conditions are—"

"All of Xia Huilan's research results will belong to us, and you must come and work for us. Only then will you both live."

Wu Xiaode tilted his head in surprise and silently said, "Kid, I only kill people; you deal with this yourself."

"Alright, I'll say it—"

Wu Xiaode said, "Who is behind you?"

"You will know in time if you come and serve loyally." The middle-aged man said.

Wu Xiaode, impatient, said, "You are so annoying, not even daring to show your name. This kind of behavior will never bring you to the surface, and you will never be able to deal with the Zhao royal family. Do you know why?"

"Because you don't dare to act openly."

"Yes, you are just a bunch of rats in the sewers, and you even dare to think of making me your dog?"

The middle-aged man said coldly, "Wu Xiaode, you are asking for death. You should know—"

His words were cut off by a sudden electronic sound from his pocket.

The middle-aged man took out his phone and answered it.

An elderly voice said:

"Activate the holographic image. I want to show him what this world is like."

"Yes."

The middle-aged man pressed a button on his phone.

The phone immediately projected a holographic image of an old man with white hair, leaning on a cane, comfortably sitting on a sofa, surrounded by six beautiful attendants.

One was brewing tea, one was holding a cup, one was kneeling to massage his feet, one was rubbing his shoulders from behind, one was gently fanning him with a jade fan, and one was carefully peeling grapes and feeding them to the old man.

The old man looked at the screen and said kindly,

"Wu, don't be the guardian of that royal family anymore. Come and work for me, and I guarantee you will enjoy endless blessings."

"Who are you?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"Commander of the Imperial Military Department, Ge Lengshan." The old man said.

"Where are you?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"Over your head." The old man said.

"Over my head?" Wu Xiaode looked up at the sky.

Lead clouds obscured everything.

Perhaps there was some kind of aircraft above the clouds?

"Wu, do you want to die like a dead dog on the street, your body thrown into a sewer, or come and work for me and enjoy all the glory and wealth?"

"I will always be watching you until you make a choice." Ge Lengshan said.

Wu Xiaode grinned, showing his white teeth, and said, "Why don't you come down and talk to me in person?"

"Poor child, you are still too young and naive to understand an important thing in life." Ge Lengshan shook his head.

"I'm all ears." Wu Xiaode said.

"Human beings are born with classes, and this is the nature of our species—child, when you look at me, you have to look up, but when I look at you, I just need to look down." Ge Lengshan said.

"Maybe you were born many years earlier, did many great things, and know more than I do, but you got one thing wrong." Wu Xiaode said.

"What?"

"Your class, no matter how high, is the same as mine, an ordinary person."

"The same?"

"See, you only have one life too. Since you want my life, let's fight. Maybe if you die, everything you have will be gone." Wu Xiaode spread his hands.

Ge Lengshan laughed, "A commoner's anger, blood splattering five steps? That's ancient history. Now I am in the sky, and you are on the ground, and you can never reach me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, now answer me, will you come and work for me?"

"No."

"Then die," the old man said, then ignored him and nodded to the attendants, "The tea today is good."

Wu Xiaode stood still, suddenly raised his hand, and drew his sword, slashing diagonally in front of him.

Swish!

A sniper bullet was split in mid-air, leaving a long, flying gray line on the walls on both sides of the street.

He held the sword still and said silently,

"Done?"

"Done." Wu Xiaode said.

The voice of the ancestor spirit seemed to carry a hint of appreciation: "Kid, today you completed my task and promised to take care of my descendants. I will pass on a sword technique to you."

"There is a phrase called 'sword light and sword shadow.'"

"This phrase describes two weapons, and for the sword, it is used like this."

"Watch carefully—"

The long sword was sheathed, then suddenly drawn and slashed with great force!

A golden light shot out from the blade, leaving a glaring line on the street, instantly cutting through several kilometers and hitting a room in a building two streets away.

Blood instantly stained the window.

The window glass shattered, revealing the sniper rifle and the body cut in half inside the room.

A beautiful blood line splattered on the white wall.

The sniper was dead!

The ancestor spirit stood in the center of the street, teaching earnestly, "The sword light penetrates the blade, cutting through heaven and earth. No matter how you dodge, you will ultimately be just a wisp of soul on my blade. Remember this."

"Yes, Senior."

Wu Xiaode looked at the holographic image.

The Commander of the Imperial Military Department, Ge Lengshan, leaning on a cane, showed no change in expression, even with a hint of mockery on his lips.

Ge Lengshan took a sip of tea and said gently, "Naive child, since I dared to show myself, it means your life is already in my hands. Do you really think you can live?"

"Let's make a bet." Wu Xiaode said.

"What kind of bet?"

"If I survive today, you die; if I die at your hands, I won't be able to protect Xia Huilan anymore, and she will be yours."

"I have already won." Ge Lengshan said calmly, making a gesture.

As he made the gesture, the ancestor spirit in Wu Xiaode's body immediately sensed it.

"Killing aura... I sense a terrifying force that could level this area." The ancestor spirit said.

"Should we run?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"I don't have much time left, kid, listen carefully!"

The ancestor spirit shouted, "Don't let fear of life and death interfere with your sword intent. Focus your mind, forget yourself, and I will pass on this sword technique to you—"

He controlled Wu Xiaode's body, standing in a knee-bent, bow stance, pressing the sword hilt, and lowering his head.

Qian Mingkui, lying on the wall of the martial arts hall, was puzzled but felt a chill, several times wanting to speak but holding back.

The surroundings fell silent.

Wu Xiaode softly recited, "You lie buried in the earth, your bones turned to mud; I remain in the world, my head covered in snow."

His body trembled, and a cold, swirling wind exploded from his feet, enveloping all the raindrops around him, spinning and scattering in all directions.

Boom—

The long sword was drawn, and a thunderous sound exploded from the blade.

Wu Xiaode held the sword with one hand, swinging it in a series of overlapping shadows.

Golden light condensed into lines, shooting out from the bright blade, cutting into the depths of the sky.

Everything happened in an instant.

Clang!

The sword was sheathed.

The wind continued to swirl around Wu Xiaode, lingering for a long time.

He pressed the sword hilt and said in a teaching tone,

"As the poem says, this sword technique has two forms, passed down by a divine being, with boundless power, and should not be easily taught without great fortune."

"The first form is 'You lie buried in the earth, your bones turned to mud.'"

"The second form, 'I remain in the world, my head covered in snow,' you cannot yet bear the manifestation of this sword. If you force it, you will suffer. Keep it in mind, and use it when your soul power grows."

"Kid, since you are willing to protect my school, I am not a stingy person."

"Green mountains remain, and clear waters flow. Farewell!"

As the words faded, Wu Xiaode suddenly found himself regaining control of his body.

The Book of the Dead floated beside him, with icy white characters appearing on the pages:

"Your body has completed the final synchronization."

"The ancestor spirit has left your body and returned to the spirit world."

"You have received the final transmission from the ancient ancestor spirit."

"You have begun to master the mysterious sword technique of unknown origin—"

"Wind and Snow Solo Journey."

"At this moment, you have obtained a mysterious sword technique."

"You have begun to master the prerequisite sword techniques. If you practice diligently, you will become a master of the sword."

Wu Xiaode focused and found various images of sword combat floating in his memory.

These were all passed down by the ancestor spirit.

Just like when he learned the Iron Wire Fist.

However—

What did the ancestor spirit just cut?

In the pouring rain, he pressed the long sword and looked up at the sky.