"Are you Li Xuan?" as Li Xuan walked out of the room, a man looked at him and said in a deep voice.
"Are you brain-dead?" Li Xuan retorted, shaking his head impatiently. "Your brother brought you here to find me, naturally, so you could help him save face. And yet, you come here and ask if I'm Li Xuan. Tell me, are you brain-dead?"
"You dare insult me! Good, very good!" Hearing Li Xuan's words, Li Yong's eyes instantly turned cold, and a murderous intent erupted.
"Can you stop talking so much nonsense? Did he bring you here just to see what I look like?" Li Xuan pointed at Li Xian and then looked at Li Yong. "Hmm, do you think that after joining the Li Huo Sect, you're suddenly superior, and after cultivating for a few years, you expect us to grovel at your feet? Let me guess, after listening to Li Xian's words, you definitely thought about crushing me to elevate your own status. After all, someone like me, a mere disciple, wouldn't be worth your notice. To put it plainly, you just want to show off."
Seeing Li Yong's increasingly grim expression, Li Xuan smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, but I'm not giving you the chance to show off."
"It's only been a few years since I've been away from home, and I didn't expect such a character to emerge. I've heard that your talent among the younger generation is extraordinary. Today, I'd like to see what gives you such confidence!" Li Yong narrowed his eyes, teetering on the edge of losing his temper. If it weren't for the fact that they were currently within the family compound, Li Yong would have already suppressed him.
"I truly don't understand. You clearly want to kill me in your heart, yet you speak such high-minded words. Can we be a little more honest when we interact?" Li Xuan smiled faintly and paused before continuing. "You want to step on me, and I'll give you the opportunity. Three days from now, on the life-and-death stage, do you dare?"
"It seems you are indeed arrogant. I hope you won't flee when the time comes." Li Yong's eyes blazed with killing intent. He then turned and left, "Three days from now, at noon, I'll wait for you on the life-and-death stage."
Seeing his elder brother leave, Li Xian's face turned a little pale. When he saw Li Xuan looking at him with a playful smile, he panicked inwardly and quickly turned to follow. However, Li Xian was very confused. Li Xuan had actually challenged his elder brother, and to the life-and-death stage at that. Where did this Li Xuan get his confidence from?
"Li Yong's strength has likely reached the Spirit Soul realm. Winning this battle tomorrow might be difficult. However, if I can learn sword techniques, my chances of winning should increase significantly." After Li Xian and Li Yong left, Li Xuan pondered for a moment before returning to his room.
Town Prison.
"Senior, please teach me sword techniques," Li Xuan asked humbly. After all, he had to face Li Yong on the life-and-death stage tomorrow, and Li Xuan had specifically set aside a day to learn sword techniques in the Town Prison.
"I cannot teach you sword techniques," Yi Qin shook her head, then said slowly as she looked into the depths of the Town Prison. "There is a sword cultivator suppressed there. You can go and converse with him. Of course, that's only if he's willing to teach you; otherwise, I'll be powerless."
"But Senior, he might not even bother with me, right?" Li Xuan hesitated, as the beings within were all incredibly powerful. According to the woman in yellow, these existences had been suppressed for tens of thousands of years. Now that he was the master of this Town Prison, it was hard to say if they wouldn't vent their anger on him. Li Xuan found the idea of asking for favors under such circumstances rather peculiar.
"Although the suppression on this first level will disappear in another ten years, there are still ten years left. These fellows have been suppressed for tens of thousands of years, and no one would mind coming out a day earlier. Moreover, they wouldn't dare to gamble. If you improve your strength and find better spirit swords to suppress them, they might be suppressed for another tens of thousands of years. As for how to persuade him, that's up to you," Yi Qin said.
Li Xuan was taken aback. Hearing Yi Qin's words, it seemed plausible. Even if it didn't work out, the sword cultivator in question couldn't come out for now. Since there was no threat, why not try? With this thought, Li Xuan followed Yi Qin towards the location of the sword cultivator.
"Feng Chao Ge, this young fellow wants to talk to you. You two chat; I won't disturb you." As a stone coffin appeared, Yi Qin finished speaking and immediately turned to leave.
"Junior Li Xuan, greets Senior Feng," Li Xuan said, bowing and clasping his fists.
"What is it?" After a few breaths, a deep voice replied.
"Senior Feng, I, your junior, have just entered the path of the sword, but I have no sword techniques or skills. I have to go to the life-and-death stage with someone tomorrow, so I wish to seek your guidance," Li Xuan said, overjoyed. The fact that he responded meant there was hope.
"Is the path of the sword in your world so desolate?" Feng Chao Ge's voice showed a hint of emotion after hearing Li Xuan's words.
"Senior Feng, in the Tianyun Kingdom where I am, there are only a few sword cultivators. As for whether there are any in other regions, I am unaware," Li Xuan replied with a wry smile.
"Your cultivation is too low to practice my sword techniques. Furthermore, you have just entered the path of the sword, and your understanding of the sword is practically zero," Feng Chao Ge said.
"Senior Feng, is it too late for me to practice swordsmanship now?" Li Xuan immediately asked.
"Practicing swordsmanship? A sword cultivator's most powerful killing move is never trained. How to end a fight with a sword, to kill an enemy with one strike and not use a second. Just like that person, back then, with just one strike... Hmm, I've digressed. To put it plainly, without sufficient combat awareness, you can never grasp the true essence of a sword cultivator. A sword cultivator is not merely someone who wields a sword. As for basic sword techniques and skills, I forged mine through countless battles. And that is the quickest and most effective shortcut." Feng Chao Ge explained.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I have learned much," Li Xuan said, his expression solemn. He had a general understanding now. To put it simply, only through actual combat could one find their own suitable killing moves. Sword techniques and skills that one comprehended themselves were the most suitable.
"You do have some aptitude. In that case, I shall offer you further guidance." As Feng Chao Ge's voice fell, the stone coffin trembled slightly, and a shadowy figure slowly condensed in front of Li Xuan. Li Xuan was startled. Could this Senior Sword Cultivator come out?
"This is just a shadow I've condensed, at your current cultivation level. For the time being, spar with it."
As Feng Chao Ge finished speaking, the shadow vanished from its spot. In the next instant, the shadow appeared directly in front of Li Xuan. A long sword had already pierced Li Xuan's left shoulder.
Blood flowed, and Li Xuan instantly retreated.
"Senior, you're quite serious," Li Xuan stopped and was inwardly astonished by the shadow's speed. He hadn't even reacted.
"Injury is the best teacher. Whether you succeed depends entirely on your own fortune," Feng Chao Ge said calmly.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then nodded. With a thought, a spirit sword appeared in his hand.
Soon, the man and the shadow were locked in combat.