Chapter 14: Enlightenment

Outside, the yellow sand swirled violently, the hurricane howled fiercely, and the sky and earth were shrouded in a murky hue, as if the end of days had arrived.

Inside the carriage, Li Xuan and Lao Hei chatted and laughed, devouring meat and drinking heartily.

“Oh, right, Li Xuan, my brother, what brings you to Mistshadow Mountain?”

Lao Hei suddenly felt uneasy. This question touched on personal matters. Coming to Mistshadow Mountain was obviously to hunt the savage beasts and seize the source crystals for profit. Knowing this, asking was pointless.

Scratching his head awkwardly, Lao Hei quickly apologized, “Brother, I’m a rough country bumpkin, clumsy with words. Please don’t take offense!”

Li Xuan smiled gently, “It’s fine. My purpose is the same as yours—to hunt savage beasts—only for a different reason.”

Lao Hei raised his cup, “Brother, I toast you. If not for you, no one in the tribe would know what happened to us. Thank you for saving my life. If you ever need anything, just say the word.”

Li Xuan accepted the wine, “It’s too soon to say that. Thank you when we make it out alive. Right now, the situation is uncertain. Whether we can survive is still unknown.”

Lao Hei drained his cup and wiped the rim, “With your wisdom, we will definitely make it out safely. I trust you—after all these years, my judgment hasn’t failed me! What’s the plan, brother?”

Li Xuan pursed his lips in silence, which only irritated Lao Hei more.

“Brother, we’re comrades who’ve shared life and death. Even if you’re noble and don’t regard me, I’ll never forget your kindness. You say what to do, and I’ll do it without complaint!”

Lao Hei downed another cup, eyes burning with sincerity as he stared at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan, however, looked around and said, “Brother, listen! The cry of the Golden Feathered Eagle King!”

Lao Hei listened carefully, a smile breaking across his face. Slapping his thigh, he exclaimed, “That old beast is wounded! Its cry is mournful, even sorrowful. Looks like our efforts weren’t in vain.”

Lao Hei was naturally pleased, but after hearing Li Xuan’s words, he suddenly froze, eyes darting about. Smacking his lips, he said, “Brother, you’re truly remarkable—daring even to target this creature.”

Li Xuan sat upright, solemn, “That’s exactly my plan. So many attacking at once, it must be badly hurt, or it wouldn’t be so furious. Therefore…”

Lao Hei’s muscular arm bulged with veins as he fixed Li Xuan with a steady gaze, “Fine. You saved my life. Whatever you say, I’ll do.”

Lao Hei’s straightforwardness made Li Xuan cautious. This man was blunt and without guile; once fighting started, he’d rush recklessly, which could be costly. After all, he had to return to the tribe to lay his comrades to rest.

“Brother, you better not get involved. Once the hurricane lessens, I’ll send you out. Remember, go straight back to the tribe. Don’t stop anywhere.”

Lao Hei was stunned, then spread his palm, “No, brother, you can’t…”

Excited, his words stammered. Li Xuan understood his feelings and pulled dozens of savage beast source crystals from his pack.

“Take these to the market and exchange them for source crystal stones. Don’t do this work anymore. Do some honest trading. Let the cultivators handle hunting savage beasts.”

“No, brother, you may look down on me, but don’t humiliate me like this. These source crystals were won at the risk of my life. I can’t accept them!”

Though honest and generous, Lao Hei refused to take this “offered food.”

Li Xuan sighed, “Then how about this? Help me kill the Golden Feathered Eagle King, and that’s your reward.”

Lao Hei’s grim expression brightened, smiling and patting Li Xuan’s shoulder, “Now that’s a brother!”

After eating and drinking their fill, Lao Hei said, “Li Xuan, you rest for a while. I’ll drive.”

Li Xuan shook his head, “Hold out your hand.”

Though puzzled, Lao Hei obeyed. Li Xuan pressed both palms over Lao Hei’s hand, “Whatever happens, don’t panic.”

“What are you—”

Before Lao Hei could finish, a continuous warm source power surged in, transforming into healing energy that flowed into his wounds.

To kill the Golden Feathered Eagle King, they first needed to restore fighting strength. Only when his comrade was healed and at peak condition could they face the unknown.

Victory must follow a carefully laid plan to be easier to attain.

About an hour later, Li Xuan released Lao Hei’s hand, “Look at your wound.”

Lao Hei tore open his shirt; the terrible wound had vanished without a trace, looking as if it had never been injured.

He couldn’t help but revere Li Xuan’s medical skill, viewing him almost like a deity.

“Brother Li Xuan, you’re a holy healer incarnate, saving the world!”

Lao Hei was exhilarated. Though usually tongue-tied, he managed to utter such flattery.

Li Xuan calmly said, “Brother, I estimate the Golden Feathered Eagle King won’t last much longer. Recover well. I hope you can reach the pinnacle of the God-Slaying Realm. I’m going to comprehend a new technique.”

After speaking, Li Xuan was about to leave the carriage when Lao Hei stopped him, “Brother Li Xuan, can’t you comprehend your technique inside? Why go outside?”

Li Xuan replied, “Don’t worry about me; I’ll take care of myself. If you can grasp something while I’m at it, that would be good.”

Lao Hei seemed to sense the technique’s power and nodded firmly, convinced that with Li Xuan’s wisdom, he could finally avenge their fallen tribe.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Li Xuan leapt into the swirling yellow sand. The hurricane’s fierce wind cut at his skin like blades; flying sand soon buried him.

Focusing his spirit and breath, hands gripping the Chi Yue Huang Ying sword tightly, he let the source force flow through his body until, at a moment’s notice, he leapt from the sand, slashing with sword energy that collided with the wind blade, exploding like thunder.

Li Xuan danced against the wind, feeling intense pressure. After a mere tea’s time, he was drenched in sweat, his source power waning. He then moved with the wind, harnessing its force in his cultivation.

Thus, he became as formless as the wind, as mercurial as clouds—ever-changing, shapeshifting, untraceable.

Understanding dawned: the sword’s momentum surged like a rainbow, a grand and sweeping force; sword energy spread far and wide, source power quickly filling him.

“This is the Holy Will Azure Wave Sword Technique, recorded in the Holy Emperor Azure Lotus Scripture. It has thirteen forms: the first nine are documented; the last four require immense fate to master.”

Li Xuan murmured in the hurricane, moving with the wind, continuing to feel the formless power.

As time passed, thunder faintly rumbled within the sword energy; the wind grew even more intangible.

Li Xuan’s mastery of the Holy Will Azure Wave Sword Technique deepened; sword energy surged with the might of wind and thunder.

At this moment, his source power burst forth, soaring from mid-stage Awakening Realm to its pinnacle, leaping two minor realms.

Li Xuan was ecstatic. He had thought it would take a long time to reach late Awakening Realm. Unexpectedly, this sword technique combined with the hurricane’s power unleashed such might.

By sensing, Li Xuan discovered many savage beast corpses within the hurricane, their bodies still containing source crystals—precious for cultivators who could directly absorb and refine them into their own source power.

He activated a source array, releasing the source power from the floating crystals, channeling them through a Gathering Source Array into his body.

In an instant, torrents of source power surged into the array, forming another storm, the source light blazing like a great sun.

Li Xuan stepped lightly with Divine Movement Burning Shadow Technique, wielding the Holy Will Azure Wave Sword Technique, extracting its essence and discarding the dross, selectively drawing on the purest source crystals.

The surging source power filled his energy sea rapidly.

His meridians struggled to bear such dense power, forcing him to quickly perform the sword technique, even channeling source power into the Chi Yue Huang Ying sword, each slash exploding source light, followed by violent energy bursts.

Yet, the source power was too massive; Li Xuan had to use the source array to seal some away. The time wasn’t yet right to break through the Awakening Realm.

While sealing the power, he slashed in all directions, soaring in the hurricane, even ascending to heights matching the Golden Feathered Eagle King’s flight.

He restrained his excitement—striking now was premature. Only when the beast was near exhaustion would be the best moment.

The Golden Feathered Eagle King was a king among beasts.

Calculating the time, Li Xuan returned to the carriage, where Lao Hei offered delicious jerky and a cup of wine.

“Brother Li Xuan, your technique is a bit overbearing—your future is boundless!”

Li Xuan bit into the meat and sipped the wine, “Have you heard of the Holy Dao Academy? The Elder of the Star Constellation is my master!”

Now confident, Li Xuan knew that as a disciple of the Star Constellation Elder, this trial would surely cause a stir at the academy. Trouble would come, but under the elder’s protection, who would dare openly oppose him?

Lao Hei clasped his fists, “Brother Li Xuan, great teachers produce outstanding disciples. From what I see, your footwork, swordsmanship, source array techniques, even your healing skills, all surpass your master!”

Li Xuan merely smiled, “It’s nothing. Circumstances forced my hand.”

Lao Hei praised again, “The power latent in your sword technique should rival the peak of the Break Martial Realm. Truly a rare genius. I believe even the finest prodigies in the inner star domain can’t compare at your age!”

Li Xuan was puzzled, “Brother, you’re not one for flattery. Why such praise now? Listening too much to this makes one proud.”

Lao Hei grinned foolishly, “I speak honestly. I want to find another path for our tribe, a way to provide for them, so they need not struggle. Hunting savage beasts is too harsh—many die or get injured. It’s like tying one’s head to the waist.”

Lao Hei’s voice trembled with emotion, tears filling his eyes, his fierce gaze locked on Li Xuan.

Li Xuan chewed the jerky thoughtfully, “That won’t do. I’m afraid you’ll scare sister with that scruffy beard.”

Lao Hei looked aggrieved, blinking innocently, unsure what to say.

Li Xuan forced a laugh, “Shave it off and dress properly, then it’s fine. But remember, I’m not rich. If I can’t support you, you’ll go hungry.”

Lao Hei wiped his moist eyes, smiling shyly, “I’m not afraid. As long as the tribe lives, I’m willing to risk everything.”

Li Xuan swallowed the jerky, “Brother, how’s your recovery? Time’s about right. Tomorrow, we strike and kill this beast that plagues humanity!”

Lao Hei replied resolutely, “Agreed!”