Free Web NovelChapter 70: Chapter 43: Jiri Lie
This High Crown Taoist appeared to be waiting up ahead, but in reality, he had been following Xuzhuang for a long time. Yet, despite the strength of Xuzhuang’s Spiritual Sense, he had failed to truly notice the man’s presence.
Seeing Xuzhuang fly closer, the man clasped his fists in salute and announced in a clear voice, "Xuzhuang! Fellow Daoist Xu, I am Jiri Lie. I’ve heard much about you."
Xuzhuang narrowed his eyes and asked bluntly, "Fellow Daoist Jin? Why do you block my path?"
Jiri Lie smiled faintly and said, "I have been commissioned to take your life."
"Oh?" ’What kind of assassin in this world operates like this? Is he truly so forthright and noble?’
A sense of absurdity washed over Xuzhuang. Seeing that Jiri Lie had no intention of attacking immediately, he pondered for a moment before asking, "You say you were commissioned. Might I ask who the client is?"
"Of course," Jiri Lie said with a smile, his hands clasped behind his back. "The Zheng Ershi of Shijiao Island have offered a king’s ransom for your life."
Xuzhuang’s sense of absurdity grew even stronger. He couldn’t help but ask, "Then why haven’t you attacked? And why are you telling me all this?"
"This is simply how I operate," Jiri Lie sighed. "Since you are about to meet your end here, a few more words will not make a difference."
"So you’re certain you’ve got me?" Xuzhuang realized, laughing coldly. "Fine! I’d like to experience for myself just what kind of Divine Techniques you possess."
Jiri Lie smiled at his words. "I’ve heard that Fellow Daoist Xu is a grandmaster of Swordsmanship. Coincidentally, I am also very confident in my own. Today is the perfect opportunity for a lesson."
Xuzhuang wasted no more words. He formed a Sword Technique with his hand, summoning his Thousand-year-old Thunderstruck Wood Magical Sword, and said flatly, "Please."
Ever since his sword-core had been damaged, Xuzhuang had considered many solutions and had even sought out the Artifact Refining Craftsmen of Pengxuan Pavilion, but to no avail. Unable to find a method of repair, Xuzhuang could only set it aside for now, having refined this Thousand-year-old Thunderstruck Wood Magical Sword for unforeseen needs.
Seeing that Xuzhuang’s Flying Sword was just an ordinary Magical Artifact, a flicker of surprise passed through Jiri Lie’s eyes. With a wave of his sleeve, he summoned a golden Flying Sword and said, "Please."
In almost the same instant, the lights of their two swords shot out, meeting head-on. They clashed in mid-air, stirring the clouds and producing peals of thunder. Both had unleashed a form of Swordsmanship that generated thunderous Sword Qi, and they exchanged more than a dozen blows in a mere moment.
Jiri Lie’s Flying Sword and Swordsmanship were just like the man himself: his sword was a streak of golden light, impossibly fast and shockingly powerful, while his Swordsmanship was grand and domineering, executing vertical slashes and horizontal chops with effortless grace.
In the initial exchange, Jiri Lie leveraged the superiority of his Flying Sword and the might of his Swordsmanship to gain a slight advantage over Xuzhuang.
Xuzhuang was slightly taken aback. ’My Swordsmanship is by no means ordinary, so how can this be?’
Xuzhuang’s talent for Swordsmanship had always been extraordinary. During his early training, his skill earned an elder’s admiration, and he was taught a portion of the secret essentials of the *Tai Su Formless and Material Sword Qi*.
After forming his Golden Core, he had easily mastered the Unparalleled Swordsmanship of thunderous Sword Qi and splitting and merging light. Later, after completing his true cultivation method and a fortuitous encounter with a predecessor’s insights on Swordsmanship, his skills had advanced by leaps and bounds. Though Xuzhuang was not one to boast, deep down, he never considered his Swordsmanship to be inferior to any of his peers.
So, even though Xuzhuang was using the Thunderstruck Wood Magical Sword, which significantly reduced his Flying Sword’s speed and killing power, the fact that his opponent could still suppress him proved just how formidable he was.
Xuzhuang’s expression hardened as he focused his entire will on commanding his Flying Sword. His strikes became flawless and natural. At times the blade would split and merge, unpredictable and ever-changing; at others, it would suddenly converge for a single, thunderous strike. He brought the full extent of his Swordsmanship to bear, and within a few dozen exchanges, he had not only overcome his disadvantage but had taken the upper hand.
Even so, Jiri Lie managed to withstand Xuzhuang’s assault, revealing no opening that would allow Xuzhuang to seal the outcome of the battle.
Xuzhuang grew even more astonished. ’This man’s Swordsmanship is clearly from an orthodox school, but it doesn’t match the style of the Three Mountains Immortal Sect, or any of the other major sects and schools. Who in the world is he?’
Little did Xuzhuang know that Jiri Lie was the one who was truly shocked. ’How is this man’s Swordsmanship so incredible? Is he a peerless genius of the Sword Dao, or is the Tai Su Swordsmanship... truly this formidable? If I follow that logic, then Yue Junlan’s Swordsmanship... just how terrifying must it be?’
Although Jiri Lie was shocked, his mind was not yet in disarray. But in a duel of Swordsmanship against Xuzhuang, even an instant’s distraction could create a fatal opening. The moment Jiri Lie’s concentration wavered, the pattern of his Flying Sword’s movements faltered.
A glint flashed in Xuzhuang’s eyes. His sword light instantly merged into a single streak and, with a flying slash, sent Jiri Lie’s Flying Sword flying a great distance. Then, with a flicker, it split into eight streaks of light, each one following a completely different trajectory!
One streak of light shot off in pursuit of Jiri Lie’s Flying Sword. Another turned formless and vanished into the void. The remaining six carved different arcs through the air, crisscrossing to seal off every one of Jiri Lie’s escape routes in all directions.
"Not good!" How could Jiri Lie have predicted that Xuzhuang would seize such a fleeting opening? His Flying Sword spun rapidly in the air, trying to fly back to defend him.
However, Xuzhuang had clearly anticipated this. The pursuing streak of light intercepted the Flying Sword, locking it in a tangled struggle, while the other six blades were already upon Jiri Lie.
In an instant, it seemed Jiri Lie had been cornered into a fatal position in this duel of Swordsmanship.
Jiri Lie’s brow furrowed. He formed a Magic Formula with his hands and roared, "Activate!" His Golden Core trembled as he instantly mobilized a stream of its pure energy. A dense barrier of True Qi materialized around him. The next moment, the six streaks of sword light arrived, but they failed to land a blow. Slicing into the True Qi, they produced no sound and immediately slowed as if they had plunged into a thick swamp.
This was one of Jiri Lie’s profound Daoist Arts, called the Heavenly River Capturing Form Qi. It not only excelled at defending against attacks from Flying Swords but also possessed a restraining property. Supported by the energy of his Golden Core, it firmly bound Xuzhuang’s six streaks of sword light, rendering them immobile.
"Xuzhuang, is the main body of your Flying Sword among these six?" A sharp light glinted in Jiri Lie’s eyes. The moment he used this Daoist Art, the duel had officially escalated into a battle of life and death.
If he could restrain the main body of Xuzhuang’s Flying Sword, he would neutralize the threat of his opponent’s astonishing Swordsmanship. In this battle, that would undoubtedly be the weight that tipped the scales of victory.
Xuzhuang naturally knew what Jiri Lie was thinking. He simply smiled and pointed, forming a Sword Technique.
A bolt of lightning flashed before Jiri Lie’s eyes. He was familiar with the thunderbolts that the Thousand-year-old Thunderstruck Wood Magical Sword had released several times during its clashes with his own Flying Sword. This time, however, it flashed directly in front of his face.
The main body of the Thunderstruck Wood Magical Sword had somehow broken through Jiri Lie’s Heavenly River Capturing Form Qi, leaping out of the void right in front of him and slashing straight down!
SLASH! In the instant the spiritual light of Jiri Lie’s Magical Robe flickered and shattered, he spat out a blast of Sword Qi from his mouth. It struck the Thunderstruck Wood Magical Sword, which had already expended most of its power, and knocked it back.
At the same time, the Heavenly River Capturing Form Qi suddenly expanded and then violently exploded, blasting Xuzhuang’s sword lights away. Jiri Lie gathered his energy, cloaked himself in a streak of white light, and instantly escaped the encirclement.
Just as Xuzhuang was about to give chase, he suddenly felt a jolt of alarm and halted his advance. An astonishing fluctuation of Magical Power erupted from Jiri Lie. With a flick of his hands, streaks of black lightning rained down like a torrential storm.
"Sunflower Water Yin Thunder!" A glint flashed in Xuzhuang’s eyes. He raised a hand, revealing the Red Fire Gang Thunder held between his fingers, and flicked them out in rapid succession!
BOOM! RUMBLE!
The sound of red and black lightning colliding in thunderous explosions filled the heavens and the earth. In a few moments, the clash even triggered a change in the weather, transforming the sky into a world of torrential rain.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, truly formidable techniques," Jiri Lie’s voice carried through the vast, drumming rain.
Xuzhuang replied coolly, "Your Divine Techniques are not lacking, either."
"Hahahaha..." Jiri Lie threw his head back and laughed, only stopping after a long moment. He sighed, "I never expected that casually accepting an assassination contract would pit me against an opponent like you. This is certainly not what I had in mind."
Jiri Lie’s figure materialized in the rain, but he did not attack immediately. Instead, he said, "Fellow Daoist, if we continue this fight, I’m afraid it will end with one of us dead."
Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. "And your point is?"
"In the exchange just now, I fell behind. If we were truly to fight to the death, I cannot guarantee that I would be the one left standing," Jiri Lie said. "However, I imagine that with my abilities, you don’t feel that your own victory is a certainty, do you?"
"What’s more, if my guess is correct, you don’t seem to be at your peak," Jiri Lie added. He stared intently into Xuzhuang’s eyes, watching for a reaction. Unfortunately for him, Xuzhuang’s expression did not flicker in the slightest.
Xuzhuang said, "Fellow Daoist, feel free to speak your mind."
Jiri Lie pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled and cupped his fists. "I am truly unwilling to gamble my life on a fight with you here. What if I were to abandon this contract, and we bury the hatchet?"
"Oh? That’s not entirely out of the question..." Xuzhuang said with a half-smile. "Can someone in your line of business really afford to do that?"
"No matter the business, it is ultimately in service of one’s own path. One must only be responsible for one’s own decisions," Jiri Lie said coolly. "However, I have revealed my client to you and yet failed to take your life. My reputation is already damaged. And since the Zheng Ershi of Shijiao Island have already paid... I’m afraid I have no choice but to eliminate any future trouble at the source."
At this, Jiri Lie sighed. "The Zheng Ershi nearly caused me to make a mortal enemy of someone like you. The extermination of their entire clan is a fitting consequence."
This Jiri Lie’s every action, his demeanor, his Divine Techniques, and his Spells were all grand and dignified. Yet, at this moment, he uttered such words. Hearing them, even Xuzhuang couldn’t help but feel a chill.
However, what Jiri Lie said was true. In the battle just now, Xuzhuang hadn’t gained a significant advantage. And while Xuzhuang had Divine Techniques he had yet to reveal, Jiri Lie surely had trump cards of his own. If they truly fought to the death, the outcome was impossible to predict.
Seeing Xuzhuang’s silence, Jiri Lie smiled faintly. "Well then, Fellow Daoist Xu, let us part ways here. Perhaps we will meet again someday if fate wills it."
Xuzhuang said flatly, "I, for one, hope fate is never so inclined."
Hearing this, Jiri Lie merely smiled faintly, gave another cupped-fist salute, and summoned a streak of white light, disappearing without a trace into the clouds.
