Chapter 34: Nine Dragons Sword Art

After leaving the Cuihua Pavilion, Ye Xiao and the others followed the bitter-faced Mu Bai back to their previous courtyard. Upon entering, they discovered that Zhuge Lingyun had already returned.

"Sir!" The three of them stepped forward to pay their respects. Zhuge Lingyun set aside the book in his hand, nodded, and turned his gaze toward Mu Bai. "Well? Did you reach an agreement with your uncle?"

Mu Bai was stunned. "You... you knew?"

Zhuge Lingyun laughed. "Naturally. When the Chairman of the Baimu Chamber of Commerce arrives, how could I not know?"

"No, I mean, you knew my identity?"

Zhuge Lingyun’s profound gaze made Mu Bai feel quite uneasy. "You mean that? Given your talent, passing the two rounds of trials should have been a trivial matter for you. Yet, you deliberately failed, so I did a little digging into your background."

Mu Bai realized, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Enough. Since we are heading to your home anyway, get some rest today and we shall depart tomorrow." Zhuge Lingyun then looked at Ye Xiao and said, "Stay for a moment. I have something for you."

Du Mao and Mu Bai left with self-awareness, leaving Ye Xiao alone.

"Sir, what did you want to give me?" Ye Xiao asked, puzzled.

Zhuge Lingyun reached into his robes and pulled out a jade slip, handing it to Ye Xiao. "You are now a cultivator at the Opening Mansion Realm, so naturally, you need some techniques to rely on. This contains a sword skill; go ahead and take a look."

Ye Xiao was startled, his face filled with wild joy! He took the jade slip and, without ceremony, sat down opposite Zhuge Lingyun, closed his eyes, and sent his divine sense directly into the slip.

"Nine Dragons Sword Art? Earth-rank!"

After browsing the contents, shock washed over Ye Xiao’s face. Although he possessed the Saint-rank Blood Scripture, he knew that techniques of this caliber were rare and hard to come by. An Earth-rank technique could serve as a treasure of a sect in ordinary schools. Even among top-tier powers like the Three Major Sects or the Yin-Yang Academy, acquiring an Earth-rank technique required paying an enormous price. Yet, Zhuge Lingyun had just tossed it to him so casually!

"Sir, isn't this too valuable?" Ye Xiao asked, feeling conflicted as he looked at the jade slip, unsure of what to do.

Zhuge Lingyun shook his head with a smile. He said earnestly, "You have excellent talent, and so, I hope you can successfully pass the Spirit Path trials."

Ye Xiao fell silent, but after a long moment, he nodded. "Sir, I will definitely give it my all!"

Zhuge Lingyun nodded. "You can begin practicing now. If you have any questions, I can offer you some guidance."

Without hesitation, Ye Xiao sat cross-legged and began to practice the Nine Dragons Sword Art. As the sky gradually darkened, Ye Xiao remained seated. Zhuge Lingyun did not leave; he simply sat there, holding a folding fan in one hand and a book in the other. Nearby, Mu Bai and Du Mao sat under the eaves, watching Ye Xiao practice and chatting from time to time.

Suddenly, Ye Xiao’s eyes snapped open! A flash of cold light darted through his gaze. He extended his hand, using two fingers as a sword, and pointed sharply forward!

"Nine Dragons Sword Art, First Sword: Dragon Tooth Rends the Heavens!"

With this gesture, a majestic sword aura erupted instantly, vaguely forming the shape of a gaping dragon head. The dragon head lunged forward, and a faint dragon roar seemed to echo in the air!

Zhuge Lingyun’s eyes lit up. He had not expected Ye Xiao’s sword talent to be so heaven-defying; in just half a day, he had successfully mastered the first sword of the Nine Dragons Sword Art!

Mu Bai and Du Mao, who were watching from the sidelines, were shocked, and their expressions shifted! Mu Bai, in particular, burst out in anger: "You rascal, Ye Xiao! You actually ambushed me!"

As it turned out, Ye Xiao’s strike had been aimed directly at Mu Bai! The problem was that Mu Bai could not dodge; the sword strike seemed quite powerful, and if he had moved, the building behind him would have suffered. Thinking of this, Mu Bai instantly summoned a long spear. Channeling his profound energy madly, he didn't bother with any fancy techniques and simply thrust his spear forward!

Boom!

With a loud crash, Mu Bai successfully blocked the strike but was forced back several steps, only stopping when he collided with the wall. He put away his spear, shook his throbbing arm, and walked toward Ye Xiao. "Tell me, Sir, what grade of sword technique did you give him? It's so fierce!"

Du Mao nodded as well. One had to realize that Mu Bai’s realm had already reached the peak of the Opening Mansion stage, and they were at quite a distance. For Ye Xiao to force Mu Bai back using only his fingers as a sword showed just how potent the strike was.

"It is nothing, just Earth-rank," Zhuge Lingyun said indifferently, his expression unchanged, his gaze returning to his book.

"Earth-rank? And you say 'just'?" Mu Bai was speechless. He retorted, "Sir, this is the Southern Frontier, not your Central Regions. Earth-rank sword techniques are near the ceiling of power here!"

Zhuge Lingyun turned to look at him. "Is that so? No wonder that old fellow looked so unhappy when I asked for this technique."

"Uh..." Mu Bai and Du Mao were left speechless. Their teacher truly had a way of saying things that left them at a loss.

While the three were talking, Ye Xiao looked pale. He hadn't expected that single strike to drain seventy percent of the profound energy in his body! Was an Earth-rank technique truly this terrifying?

Zhuge Lingyun noticed Ye Xiao’s state, stood up, walked over, and said, "You have just learned it and are not yet proficient. It will get better with time."

Ye Xiao nodded. He leaned on the table to stand up, took a few deep breaths, and the color returned to his face.

"Hey! Ye Xiao, you dare to attack me? Do you want a beating?" Mu Bai walked over boisterously and patted Ye Xiao on the shoulder. The latter smiled and said sheepishly, "That... I didn't mean to."

Du Mao stepped forward and smacked Mu Bai on the back of the head! "That's enough, stop trying to lecture him! With Ye Xiao's talent, he will surpass you sooner or later!"

Mu Bai didn't get angry; instead, he wrapped his arm around Ye Xiao's shoulder and said, "What’s there to fear? No matter how strong he gets, he still has to call me Senior Brother, right?"

The three of them looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"By the way, Senior Brother Mu Bai, since you are the young master of the Baimu Chamber of Commerce, you must be very knowledgeable, right?" Ye Xiao asked suddenly.

"Uh... I suppose so. Why do you ask?"

Ye Xiao’s expression turned serious. He asked, "I would like to know, how can one obtain a piece of Immortal Bone?"