The Transmigrator’s Cultivation

Arc 17: Hengwu Small World | Chapter 332: Spy and Scheme

At this time, there was still half a month left before the Xuanwu Conference, but the city was bustling with people, and many martial artists had already checked in.

The atmosphere of martial arts in this city was very strong; even the pedestrians on the road were rarely without martial skills, making it truly a martial city.

With the Xuanwu Invitation in hand, Yun Tiangang and Xu Ziqing smoothly entered the city and settled into their accommodations. Their residence was one of the four separate courtyards of the lord of Xuantian City, which also had many independent buildings. Anyone participating in the Xuanwu Conference can enter with the invitation.

As Xu Ziqing and Yun Tiangang were just led to their lodgings by the servant and hadn’t yet settled in, they heard some commotion outside, along with shouts and the sound of weapons clashing, as if a fight was taking place, which surprised them.

Could it be that someone dared to cause trouble in the lord’s courtyard?

Seeing the confusion on their faces, the servant explained, “Someone has challenged the courtyard. Since you two are staying here, you’ll likely see it often.”

Xu Ziqing then asked, “What does it mean to challenge a courtyard?”

The servant elaborated, explaining that Xuantian City belonged to the Che Ling Kingdom. Every time the Xuanwu Conference was held, all those who received an Xuanwu Invitation were required to come here. Since there were numerous participants, not everyone could compete in the conference. Hence, this arrangement was made.

Those holding Xuanwu Invitation must stay in the lord’s courtyard, and those with exceptional skills could challenge others to seize their Xuanwu Invitation as their own achievements. Those whose Invitation were taken could still enter the conference venue but would only be allowed to observe. However, the more Xuanwu Invitation one possessed, the more attention they would receive, and at the Xuanwu Conference, they would have greater influence and be looked upon favorably. The various benefits need not be detailed.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing understood that this was a way to weed out the weaker participants in advance. After all, with only one day to go to the conference, how could all martial artists compete? This was the reason. However, it meant that they would have to be more cautious in the coming days.

Soon, the servant brought food and then left.

Once Xu Ziqing arranged their belongings, he turned to Yun Tiangang and asked, “Tiangang, what do you think?”

Yun Tiangang replied, “We just need to wait quietly.”

Xu Ziqing understood.

Instead of actively seeking out challengers, it was better to wait for others to come looking, which would make it easier to encounter skilled opponents. Those who were unwilling to challenge might either lack strength or have reservations, making it less than ideal. As his Shixiong dealt with the challengers, his reputation would spread, attracting more challengers in response.

With this in mind, the two shared their meal.

As expected, by the afternoon, someone kicked open the door and barged in.

“Quickly hand over your Xuanwu token, or I’ll break your arms and legs! Don’t blame me for being merciless!”

The newcomer was tall and muscular, with powerful limbs and unusually large knuckles that set him apart from others. It was clear he had honed his skills through his hands, and his strength was already at the eighth level of the Houtian realm! He was indeed someone with ambition; though his words were harsh, he had a spirited demeanor that exuded martial prowess.

Seeing this, Xu Ziqing took a few steps back.

Behind the martial artist, others followed; some were challengers, while others were spectators, all making their way into the space.

Yun Tiangang naturally wouldn’t refuse this challenge; such an encounter was not one to be declined. He said, “Come.”

The burly man immediately exerted his strength, resembling a fierce tiger as he roared, shaking the very ground!

His large hands seemed to sweep away the wind, crashing down like massive waves, creating an overwhelming spectacle!

Yet, Yun Tiangang remained motionless, suddenly flicking his wrist.

In an instant, a white light shot out like a long rainbow piercing the sun, closing in on the burly man!

The speed of this sword was astonishing, so fast that it seemed to leave only an afterimage.

Before anyone could react, the sword struck the burly man, causing him to momentarily freeze!

At that moment, the crowd noticed that there were blood holes on both of the man’s shoulders, precisely at his acupoints. Meanwhile, the young swordsman in white remained standing in place, his long sword seemingly never having left its sheath, still hanging at his waist.

In the past, martial artists had only seen a type of heavy sword, which had an incredibly strong force, capable of delivering a thousand-pound strike. But the swordsmanship seen today was different from that of a heavy sword; the fleeting light was like a startled swan or a shooting star, leaving an impression that would be unforgettable.

What a marvel of exquisite skill it was, and how did it draw and return so effortlessly? No one could see clearly.

Before, there were a few who looked down on Yun Tiangang’s frail figure, but now they approached with a bit more caution.

The burly man was filled with doubt and disbelief; the areas on his shoulders were vulnerable points. If struck, he would temporarily lose his strength, and even if he still had plenty of energy left, he wouldn’t be able to utilize it.

Was it mere coincidence that he had been caught off guard, or had this person truly seen through him at a glance?

If it was the former, it would be nothing much, but if it was the latter, that would be too terrifying!

The burly man was not one to refuse defeat. He had challenged several times, with wins and losses, and still held three Xuanwu Invitations. He immediately handed over one, saying bluntly, “I lost!”

Yun Tiangang took the Invitation and handed it to Xu Ziqing.

Xu Ziqing accepted it with a slight smile.

Afterward, the burly man joined the crowd of spectators, but a few others were still eager to challenge.

Soon, another individual stepped forward, cupping his fists, but this time his words were much more polite.

Once again, a decisive match occurred. The two briefly engaged before parting; the challenger had a sword wound on each wrist, not injuring his meridians, but preventing him from attacking again.

Once more, no one could see where the sword’s force had come from.

This person also swiftly handed over his Xuanwu Invitation and retreated.

Seeing that Yun Tiangang did not kill anyone or leave them severely injured, the crowd grew increasingly curious about his swordsmanship.

Several more challengers came forward, and the matches continued without pause for two to three hours.

Even as darkness fell, their excitement was far from quenched.

These challengers were all combative individuals, each holding at least two Xuanwu Invitations, unafraid to part with one. However, as they fought, they noticed that Yun Tiangang still stood quietly in the courtyard. Amid their excitement, they suddenly felt a sense of dread.

Yun Tiangang had struck every time, hitting the vulnerable points of his opponents regardless of whether they were at the seventh or eighth level of Houtian. None could evade him.

Furthermore, while the crowd took turns fighting against him, he showed no signs of fatigue… This person was truly terrifying!

At that moment, a servant brought the evening meal, and the crowd gradually dispersed, murmuring among themselves.

Soon, the name of the newcomer, the Swift Swordsman Yun Tiangang, spread through the mouths of the crowd.

That night, Yun Tiangang slept beside Xu Ziqing, but after Yun Tiangang fell asleep, Xu Ziqing suddenly opened his eyes.

On the roof, there were footsteps.

The sound was almost imperceptible, not something an ordinary person could manage. The intruders had a powerful internal energy and a breath that was deep and long, indicating that they were definitely not an ordinary Houtian-level martial artist.

Without a doubt, it must be a Xiantian expert!

Xu Ziqing’s expression grew slightly cold.

His Shixiong was just an ordinary martial artist who had recently arrived. Even though his swordsmanship had startled some people during the day, those present were merely at the seventh or eighth level, and there were no Houtian-level experts above the ninth level among them, so it shouldn’t have attracted the attention of a Xiantian master. Moreover, coming in such a sneaky manner to scout at night was unusual.

So, what could this be about?

Xu Ziqing did not open his eyes; instead, he relaxed his breathing, feigning deep sleep.

The congenital master above shifted some tiles and looked down. Their gaze was light and unobtrusive as they assessed Yun Tiangang, seemingly observing him closely. After a while, the gaze retracted, and the intruder replaced the tiles before turning to leave. However, Xu Ziqing could not let them depart so easily.

His Shixiong had come to the Xuanwu Conference with malicious intent from the Wu Ao Sect, intending to turn this ill intention into a valuable experience for his Shixiong. How could he allow anyone to sabotage that? At that moment, he slightly moved and appeared on the ground nearby. Then, he quickly set up several restrictions to protect Yun Tiangang before vanishing into a wisp of blue light and darting out.

Xu Ziqing followed the Xiantian master at a leisurely pace, neither too fast nor too slow, keeping a suitable distance. As a Golden Core practitioner, when his true essence circulated, he blended seamlessly with the many plants in the courtyard. No one could detect his presence, and even his aura had long been concealed within the natural world.

After traversing several courtyards, the Xiantian master darted into a large house.

This large house was situated in a courtyard significantly larger than those occupied by individuals, brightly lit, and had no less than three Xiantian warrior auras present. Even among the Houtian-level experts, there were more than ten, mostly in the seventh and eighth levels, with two particularly powerful ones at the ninth level.

Xu Ziqing stood beneath a large tree in the courtyard, his body appearing to merge with the tree itself. Yet, he released his divine sense, enveloping the entire large house. In an instant, the scenes within were all reflected in his consciousness.

Inside the large house, all the auras converged here.

Those Houtian-level experts were all young, under thirty. Clearly, one of them, dressed in brocade, was in a leading position. Another Houtian ninth-level expert in a blue robe appeared to be the Shixiong of the brocade-clad youth but ranked lower than him.

The Xiantian master who had earlier surveyed Yun Tiangang was short in stature. After entering, he joined the other two Xiantian experts and sat on a nearby large chair.

Upon seeing him enter, the brocade-clad youth expressed urgency, “Master Liao, how is it?”

The elder surnamed Liao chuckled, “Don’t worry, the information is correct. That Yun Tiangang truly has no strength. Just by looking at his physique, I can tell his meridians are extremely weak, even affecting his lifespan. Coming to participate in this Xuanwu Conference is purely a death wish.”

The brocade-clad youth breathed a sigh of relief. “So it’s just his swordsmanship that’s impressive. As long as we exhaust his strength, he’s not worth mentioning.”

Another Xiantian expert cautioned, “I’ve heard that Yun Tiangang can see through others’ martial weaknesses at a glance, so don’t underestimate him.”

Yet another Xiantian master remarked, “It’s a pity his meridians are so weak; otherwise, with his talent, if he could be absorbed into our sect, he would be quite a find!”

The brocade-clad youth huffed, “Although he has some minor skills, our sect’s techniques are not ordinary. Just because he can see through some second-rate techniques doesn’t mean he’s impressive. If he encounters someone from our sect, he might not fare so well!” His words indeed carried a tone of disdain, yet everyone in the room nodded in agreement, feeling there was nothing wrong with his sentiment.

Another youth in a blue robe suggested, “Since the Wu Ao Sect has offered such a substantial tribute, let’s help them eliminate this person and showcase our sect’s might!”

The rest of the crowd echoed, “Indeed, we should highlight our sect’s strength!”

The discussion continued in the large house, all of which fell into Xu Ziqing’s divine sense.

After they dispersed, Xu Ziqing retracted his divine sense.

At that moment, the gentle smile on his face had long since disappeared.

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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