The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 419 The deal failed, let's back down!

In the lush valley, a waterfall, like a silver dragon, roars down, its misty spray spreading in all directions.

With his left hand, Kumārajīva wielded a flaming blade, each strike fierce and domineering; with his right hand, he flicked out the Dora Leaf Finger, unleashing a dense barrage of thunder and lightning.

Xu Xingchen moved with the speed of the wind and the agility of lightning, dodging the storm-like impact of the Duoluoye finger and avoiding the fierce slashes of the flaming longsword time and time again.

The surrounding rocks, trees, and grasslands suffered collateral damage, being completely destroyed.

As sawdust sprayed like a fountain, countless transparent holes, each about the thickness of a finger, suddenly appeared on the trunks of the sturdy trees.

A flash of bright red fire, and the man-high boulder instantly split in two, revealing a deep trench in the ground in front of it.

Xu Xingchen didn't just dodge; he would occasionally throw a punch in retaliation.

Punch after punch blasted through the air, creating one white ring of air after another.

The powerful flaming longsword and the dense, rain-like Dorothea finger strikes would crumble or be forced back under such a ferocious attack.

Having reached Xu Xingchen's level of power, his skills and techniques in martial arts have also reached their peak.

For him, even a simple punch is no less powerful than the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Seeing that his attacks were ineffective against the young man surnamed Xu in front of him, Kumārajīva immediately withdrew his Doroje Fingers and unleashed a series of palm strikes. Five beams of red light shot out, growing larger in the wind and instantly transforming into five flaming longswords, each ten feet long and three feet wide.

Together with the flaming longsword that was still attacking the enemy, they formed a dazzling red net that descended upon Xu Xingchen from all directions.

In this situation, Xu Xingchen had nowhere to avoid or hide, and it seemed that she had no other choice but to confront him head-on.

However, Xu Xingchen swayed, transforming into a hazy and ethereal fairy figure, moving freely within the net of flaming longswords.

Those fierce and domineering flaming longswords, slashing and cutting in all directions, were no match for that ethereal, otherworldly figure.

This is the mystery of Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique).

Kumārajīva, unwilling to give up, held his arms in front of his chest and rolled them around.

The six blazing longswords immediately spun like the wind, then shrank into a lotus flower steaming with fire, before blooming open seemingly slowly but actually quickly.

Click! Click! Click!

Several large trees around the area snapped into pieces instantly under the impact of the slowly blooming fiery lotus, scattering in all directions as they burst into flames, resembling a grand and dazzling fireworks show, breathtakingly beautiful.

By the time they fell with a crackling sound onto the grass several meters away, the flames had already burned out.

The ashes, carried by the raging wind, turned into wisps of smoke and dissipated into the distance.

However, even with such immense power, it was still unable to harm the ethereal figure in the center.

"Ah, without any special techniques, this fight is really boring; Master, shall we end our sparring here for now?"

As Xu Xingchen let out a sigh, several fist shadows bloomed in the air, rushing in all directions like a storm.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang.
Amidst the continuous bursts of energy, the six flaming longswords that were flying and slashing were immediately sent flying.

The ethereal, otherworldly figure swayed for a moment before reforming into Xu Xingchen's form.

Kumārajīva frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, then waved his arm, and the six flaming longswords that had been suspended in the air immediately rolled back.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, it disappeared back into his hands!

Kumārajīva clasped his hands together and said regretfully, "Amitabha, Benefactor Xu's martial arts are unfathomable. I admire you!"

Xu Xingchen stepped forward and said with a smile, "Master's Flaming Blade is truly unparalleled, no less powerful than the Six Meridians Divine Sword of Tianlong Temple!"

A hint of smugness flashed in Kumārajīva's eyes, but he said, "The Six Meridians Divine Sword must be extraordinary to have earned Mr. Murong's praise; the reason I was able to contend with it is simply because those eminent monks of Tianlong Temple had not mastered the Six Meridians Divine Sword."

Xu Xingchen smiled and stopped discussing the matter, instead asking, "May I ask what brings you here, Master?"

Kumārajīva's expression turned serious, and he said, "Benefactor Xu should have some guesses in his heart. This humble monk has come for the Six Meridians Divine Sword!"

Xu Xingchen smiled: "The Six Meridians Divine Sword? I did indeed catch a glimpse of it by chance; however, as you should have heard, Master Kurong forbade me from casually passing it on to others."

Kumārajīva smiled and said, "This humble monk observes that you, benefactor, act freely and unrestrainedly. How could Master Kurong's words possibly restrain you?!"

Xu Xingchen laughed heartily and said, "Master is right, Master Kurong is indeed unable to restrain me; then, how does Master intend to make me hand over the Six Meridians Divine Sword?"

"Could it be that you intend to take me to the Murong family in Gusu and burn me at Murong Bo's grave?" Kumārajīva shook his head and said, "You jest, benefactor. How could this humble monk do such a thing?!"

"When you were in the world of the book, you threatened that brat Duan Yu in the same way," Xu Xingchen muttered to himself, his smile fading as he looked seriously at Kumārajīva. "I have a question for you. Master, do you really only want to burn the Six Meridians Divine Sword manual for the deceased Murong Bo, or do you want to learn it yourself?"

Kumārajīva solemnly replied, "This humble monk prides himself on having fairly good martial arts skills. Why would I bother learning the Six Meridians Divine Sword of Tianlong Temple? Benefactor, you underestimate this humble monk."

Xu Xingchen didn't believe the other party's nonsense and was too lazy to argue. He simply said, "I can give you the Six Meridians Divine Sword, but what will you offer in exchange? The Seventy-Two Extraordinary Techniques of Shaolin Temple?"

Kumārajīva's expression relaxed, and he said with a smile, "This humble monk knew that you, benefactor, would be magnanimous and grant my wish; if you agree, I will exchange the Seventy-Two Extraordinary Skills of Shaolin for them."

Xu Xingchen shook his head and said, "I don't want the Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts, I want the internal energy cultivation method you practice."

Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva's expression stiffened. He scrutinized Xu Xingchen for a long while, his brows gradually furrowing: "Benefactor Xu, why do you want this humble monk's internal energy cultivation method?"

Xu Xingchen said directly, "Because I am very interested in the martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect!"

Kumārajīva's eyes flashed with a sharp light, like a lightning bolt streaking across the dark sky. His expression turned gloomy and cold: "Benefactor, you must have misunderstood. This humble monk cultivates the internal energy cultivation method of my Great Wheel Temple. How could I know the martial arts of the Free and Unfettered Sect?"

Xu Xingchen remained silent for a while before calmly saying, "Master, do you remember what I said earlier? Although I am not a disciple of the Free and Unfettered Sect, I am very familiar with many things about the sect."

"In this world, every martial art has its own unique methods of cultivating internal energy; it is very difficult for ordinary martial artists to practice a second martial art; even for some exceptionally talented individuals, being able to practice three, four, five, or six martial arts is already extremely rare."

"There was once a highly accomplished monk at Shaolin Temple, who was exceptionally wise and talented. He mastered thirteen unique Shaolin martial arts techniques, but ultimately died from a qi deviation."

"The master can skillfully use both the Seventy-Two Extraordinary Techniques of Shaolin and earth-shattering martial arts like the Flaming Saber. In this world, only the Lesser Formless Skill of the Free and Unfettered Sect can achieve this."

Kumārajīva frowned even more deeply: "Benefactor Xu, you are mistaken! Although this humble monk does not know whether the Lesser Formless Divine Skill of the Free and Unfettered Sect can possess these abilities, Mr. Murong Bo is proficient in the martial arts of all schools and sects under heaven, and has even left behind the reputation of 'using their own methods against them' in the martial arts world; it is evident that the Murong family's internal energy cultivation method can also achieve these things."

Xu Xingchen shook his head and said, "Although I haven't fought against the Murong family of Gusu yet, I know that they have a unique skill called the 'Star Shifting Divine Skill,' which is a supreme technique that uses the opponent's force against them."

"No matter who attacks them, they can redirect the force of the opponent's attack and counterattack against the opponent or a third party; this is the true origin of the Murong family's 'using their own methods against them'."

"What?" Kumārajīva's eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, "There is such a miraculous martial art in the world? Why has Master Murong never mentioned it to this humble monk? I have never heard of the Murong family having such a martial art in the martial arts world."

This time, it was Xu Xingchen's turn to frown!

He thought to himself, "Shouldn't this be common knowledge?"

"The Murong family's ability to 'fight fire with fire' primarily stems from the 'Star Shifting Technique.'"

"As for the claim that she is proficient in all the martial arts schools in the world, I'm afraid it's just because of Wang Yuyan's family's Langhuan Jade Cave."

Xu Xingchen was lost in thought.

On the other side, Kumārajīva's expression was also uncertain, and no one knew what he was thinking.

For a moment, the valley fell silent.

Half a day passed.

Xu Xingchen spoke first: "Master, what has your decision been? Are you willing to exchange the Lesser Formless Divine Skill for the Six Meridians Divine Sword? If you are willing, then all will be well; if you are not willing, I will not force you!"

Kumārajīva regained his senses and shook his head, saying, "This humble monk truly does not possess any Lesser Formless Divine Skill. If I were to obtain it in the future, I would certainly retrieve it and hand it over to you, benefactor. What do you say?"

Seeing that he was still unwilling to admit it, Xu Xingchen did not press the matter, but simply said, "Then let's wait until Master obtains the Lesser Formless Divine Skill in the future, and then exchange it with me for the Six Meridians Divine Sword."

After a pause, he continued, "I am at Xiaoyao Villa outside Suzhou, awaiting your good news, Master!"

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer, leaped up, and sped away into the distance.

Kumārajīva instinctively wanted to stop the other person, but after moving his body, he stopped in the end.

His face was solemn as he watched the figure disappear into the distance.

"Back then, when the Empress Dowager of Western Xia was away, I secretly sneaked into the Western Xia palace and stole the Lesser Formless Divine Skill, which I can now easily exchange for it."

"Furthermore, did he really guess the internal energy cultivation method I practiced just by observing the martial arts I used?"

"Or is there some similarity, or some connection, among the martial arts of the Free and Unfettered Sect?"

"I don't care about the Lesser Formless Divine Skill; what I care about is that terrifying Empress Dowager of the Western Xia Imperial Palace."

"If she finds out I secretly learned her Lesser Formless Divine Skill, the consequences will be unimaginable."

(End of this chapter)