Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 264 - 254: Heavy Pupils Manifest, Shocking Past and Present!

Chapter 264: Chapter 254: Heavy Pupils Manifest, Shocking Past and Present!

Li Xian’s heart sank; encountering disciples from the Wuji Saber Sect and Sword Rain Tower here was by no means a good omen. Seeing the two of them isolated, he crept into hiding.

Seizing the opportune moment, he suddenly launched an attack. His Vast Leg swept across horizontally, knocking both to the ground. He then grabbed a handful of sand, throwing it into their mouths.

His Inner Qi wrapped around the sand, instantly blocking their throats. The two were terrified, coughing uncontrollably, unable to speak, their eyes tearing up.

Li Xian, wielding the "Silk Jade Rope," a tool he always carried with him. Displaying his [Miao Hand] skill with finesse, he captured and bound them. Dragging them into the shadows.

He lit a torch, revealing his face. The two recognized Li Xian, shivering with fear, their eyes filled with despair. Li Xian coldly said, "I’ll ask a question, you give an answer. Hesitate even a bit, and I’ll kill you instantly!"

A disciple of the Wuji Saber Sect said, "Great... great hero, please... please ask!"

Li Xian asked, "How did you discover this tomb?" He questioned meticulously, his gaze sharp.

That disciple spoke honestly, revealing that once the Sword-Seeking Alliance entered Tiger Cry Ridge, they were left in disarray, suffering heavy casualties. To date, they had lost ninety percent. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

However, Su Qiuyu, Shen Pingping, and others possessed profound knowledge. After numerous perils and obstacles, they stumbled upon a resting forest. Inferring that there might be a tomb nearby.

Yet amidst the boundless forest, searching for the tomb was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Thus, they gathered everyone, removed their clothes, and shredded them into silk.

Then they connected each other, keeping watch over one another. Conducting a carpet search across east, south, west, and north. After more than ten days, they eventually found their way near the tomb.

They suffered a heavy toll of ninety percent, with severe losses. But there were still dozens of them, a force to reckon with, even though none matched Wen Caishang’s profound knowledge and mastery in geomancy, through sheer manpower and resources, they felt their way to the tomb’s entrance.

Thus, they all descended into the tomb.

But along the way, they were relentlessly attacked by traps, in sheer disarray. Su Qiuyu, Zhao Zhiyuan, Li Quan, Qi Beidao, and Shen Pingping all sustained severe injuries.

Li Xian continued his interrogation.

He unexpectedly learned that they had already spotted traces of Wen Caishang. Currently, they were searching everywhere!

Li Xian thought to himself, "This is quite an achievement, yet this calamity arises. Yes, the tomb is dark and narrow; why not change clothes and stealthily approach!"

He examined the two men, thinking: "Su Qiuyu is very familiar with Sword Rain Tower. But with the Wuji Saber Sect, surely not. Even though they have many people, they must be disorganized. It’s the best chance to slip in unnoticed."

Li Xian said, "Apologies!" and killed the two, removed their clothing. He found a hidden river to dispose of them. Quickly changing into Wuji Saber Sect robes, he messed up his hair and smeared blood on his face.

He followed the sounds, probing little by little. He intentionally searched, assuming Su Qiuyu and others did not penetrate deep into the tomb, but must be in the outer regions.

He searched outward, and before long, indeed saw disciples from Wuji Saber Sect, Sword Rain Tower, and Taixin Sect. Li Xian went to join them, fabricating some lies to fool them.

The tomb was dark, everyone tense. Seeing a colleague only brought excitement; no one noticed anything unusual about Li Xian.

Li Xian asked, "Why are we just staying here, neither going in nor out?" A Sword Rain Tower disciple said, "Orders from above, this is a strategic pass. We’re meant to block it!"

Li Xian had been taught by Wen Caishang and was already familiar with the tomb’s layout. Pondering, indeed this place was a strategic pass. It seemed there was someone in the Sword-Seeking Alliance extremely adept at tomb geomancy.

Li Xian’s guess was correct.

Shen Pingping from Shiluo Village was extremely skilled in dealing with corpses and tombs. Wen Caishang’s knowledge was vast, but in the way of "corpse tombs," he might not be more proficient than her.

Li Xian furrowed his brows, lost in thought. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching, someone saying, "Quick, come quickly! We’ve found that demon woman’s trail!" It was a Taixin Sect disciple.

He briefly told everyone they had Wen Caishang cornered in a certain spot and to quickly return and assist.

Yet the tomb’s passages were winding and complex. At every critical point, the "Reversing Gastrointestinal Tract" scattered the formation.

Thus, conveying messages was easy, but reinforcement was difficult.

Li Xian continued walking, soon losing sight of a few companions. But he remained unflustered, contemplating all possibilities, knowing Wen Caishang was highly skilled in tomb geomancy, using the tomb’s mechanisms, she was hard to capture.

Except for a few perilous places with no escape. Li Xian thought, "If the lady is trapped, it must be in those perilous places. I’ll investigate each one first."

He rushed toward the perilous areas.

Soon, he arrived at the dangerous area called "Four Saints Cave." There stood statues of four deities, green-faced and fang-bearing, fierce and menacing. In the Nanyang Period, the "Four Saints Cave" was standard in tombs, reputed to ward off evil, guarding the tomb.

Li Xian had just approached when he heard commotion.

Someone cursed, "Where’s everyone? Didn’t I order a message to be sent, gather quickly! Why is no one coming yet?"

Judging by the voice, it was Zhao Zhiyuan.

Li Xian understood: "The tomb is complex, as they entered the tomb passages, they became scattered again. Within the Sword-Seeking Alliance, either Su Qiuyu or someone else has deeply researched tombs, but this ’Zhao Zhiyuan’ knows nothing of this trade."

"He encountered the lady, pursued along the way. He blocked her in this place but was ultimately deterred by the lady, so only surrounded without attacking. Calling for reinforcements... little did he know, reinforcements were indeed on the way, but couldn’t arrive here, instead losing more men!"

...

Li Xian gleaned a great deal, his speculations were mostly accurate. Arriving outside the cave, indeed he saw Zhao Zhiyuan alertly guarding the entrance with a sword.

Wen Caishang had been waiting outside the Reversing Gastrointestinal Tract, but hearing unusual footsteps, unexpectedly saw Su Qiuyu and others tracking her. She lamented her misfortune while skillfully using the Reversing Gastrointestinal Tract to evade.

Her thoughts were in turmoil, moving clumsily within the Reversing Gastrointestinal Tract. Yet this scattered the Sword-Seeking Alliance, causing them to spread out. Even though the adversaries were numerous, dispersed and roaming haphazardly, there remained a chance encounter.

Wen Caishang’s track was exposed. Pursued by all sides, she maneuvered within the tomb, evading for several days. Yet without Inner Qi, and with luck against her,

she gradually felt despair, her stamina waning, finally encountering Zhao Zhiyuan, knowing survival was slim. Further escape in the tomb would at most buy her a moment. Instead, she chose to voluntarily enter the "Four Saints Cave" inside.

She cleverly avoided triggering the cave mechanisms. Waiting only for Zhao Zhiyuan to enter, then used the mechanisms to duel him. With resolve finalized, she stood sword in hand, her dress flowing elegantly, remarkably composed.

She appeared so calm, but Zhao Zhiyuan was panicking. He sent a few disciples he encountered to call for help. However, a long time passed without anyone coming.

Li Xian lowered his voice and called out, "Senior, we’re here to help!"

He walked closer for a look. Zhao Zhiyuan was in a sorry state, missing an arm and breathing heavily. It turned out that Tiger Cry Ridge and the Mysterious Mountain Range were extremely dangerous, tormenting him quite miserably.

The worst time, he ate a poisonous fruit and was severely poisoned. He almost lost his life, but managed to survive, though his legs were weak and numb.

"Just you alone!?" Zhao Zhiyuan asked.

Li Xian replied truthfully, "I... I don’t know. I just followed along when I heard the message passed along. But as I kept running... I was the only one left. Then I heard you shouting, so I came over!"

Zhao Zhiyuan cursed, "Damn it! Damn it! This wretched place is infuriating me, infuriating me!"

When Li Xian first met him, Zhao Zhiyuan still had the bearing and demeanor of a Third Realm Martial Artist. His speech was calm and unhurried, but at this moment, his true nature was fully revealed.

Li Xian thought, "The talk of bearing truly is innate. No matter how well one disguises it in ordinary times, at crucial moments, one’s true nature will be revealed. Zhao Zhiyuan’s demeanor is far inferior to Wen Caishang’s."

Silently brooding.

Zhao Zhiyuan said, "You! Go capture that woman!" Li Xian was stunned, "Huh? Me?"

Zhao Zhiyuan said, "Of course you! She has no Inner Qi, she’s severely injured, what is there to be afraid of? If you’re so timid, I imagine the Wuji Saber Sect wouldn’t want you, so I might as well clean house for them and chop you down!"

Li Xian said, "Alright... alright! I’ll go over right now!" He unfastened the great blade from his back and walked into the Four Saints Cave.

The four statues stood several tens of yards tall, towering in all directions. The cave entrance was decorated magnificently, emitting a purple light, designed specifically to lure greedy people inside.

As soon as Li Xian entered, he triggered a mechanism. Spikes shot up from the ground. He tapped his toes and narrowly avoided a dangerous situation.

Zhao Zhiyuan nodded and said, "This Beiji Blade Sect kid is indeed a bit stronger than us from the Yellow Sand Sect. How peculiar... why is there still no reinforcements?"

Wen Caishang sneered, "Even without Inner Qi, it’s exceedingly easy to kill a rascal like you!"

The Four Saints Cave was a dead end. With no place to retreat, Wen Caishang stood here, demonstrating her firm resolve, having no hope of surviving.

Even if she could only get rid of one rascal, she was greatly unwilling. Hence, she did not activate the mechanism, deciding to face it personally. Wen Caishang thought, "There’s little hope of surviving today, but... where is Li Lang? If only I could speak with him again, even hearing his annoying words... would still bring me some joy."

The tomb was eerily cold, and after days apart, her thoughts grew longer.

Li Xian’s hair was disheveled as he shouted, "Watch the blade!" and swung down his blade. This strike was the peak "Sword Technique"!

Li Xian had mastered both sword techniques and saber techniques, reaching the pinnacle in both. Although Zhao Zhiyuan’s Martial Arts Realm was rich, his vision was limited, unable to see the subtleties.

Wen Caishang gave a cold hum, her Soft Sword attacking. However, in an instant, she sensed something amiss, recognizing that the move was "Stealing Heaven and Changing Day" from the "Setting Sun Bloodsword".

Wen Caishang thought, "Ah! It’s Li Lang!" Her heart softened, knowing she was about to die, seeing Li Xian already gave her immense satisfaction.

Li Xian already had a plan in mind. The blade’s momentum became fiercer, their blades and swords clashed for a moment, and their spirits were connected. Li Xian turned the blade back and switched to vertical chopping.

Both of them were extremely clever, and they immediately understood the intention.

Wen Caishang thought, "Li Lang wants me to show no mercy, to injure him as much as possible, deceive Zhao Zhiyuan into the cave, and then seize the opportunity to join forces and kill him. Only then can we have a chance to survive!"

Wen Caishang’s wrist trembled, her Soft Sword slanted, immediately drawing a deep sword mark across Li Xian’s chest. She had stabbed Li Xian countless times before, but this time it truly pained her heart.

Li Xian chopped several times, but they were all skillfully evaded. Each wound split open his skin, and his body was covered in wounds and bloodstains. Finally, in one last desperate move, Li Xian executed "Setting Sun and Waning Moon".

This move was the "Mutual Injury Sword Technique". Pain and tenderness intertwined; the Yin Yang Immortal Lovers Sword integrates emotions, understanding that the love of a man and woman isn’t solely about harmony. Hence, this sword technique was created to let each other feel pain.

Li Xian always considered "Setting Sun and Waning Moon" as a playful tease for couples and rarely took it to heart. But at this moment, it was precisely the right time.

Wen Caishang thrust her sword, piercing through Li Xian’s chest. Li Xian struck with his palm, hitting Wen Caishang’s shoulder. Wen Caishang’s face turned pale, her eyes moist, as she withdrew her sword and retreated. Seeing Li Xian lying in a pool of blood, a torrent of emotions like tenderness, love, fear, sadness, and sweetness surged forth.

She recalled the previous sword thrust, which indeed pierced through the chest. A faint pain arose in her heart, causing her to momentarily forget her shoulder injury.

Her situation at this moment truly embodied the essence of this sword technique. This "Setting Sun and Waning Moon".

Zhao Zhiyuan saw this scene, noticing that Wen Caishang was struck by this brat’s palm, and indeed seemed like a cornered beast. He said, "Hahaha, no need for reinforcements, demoness, I’m coming to get you!"

Stepping lightly, he lunged forward.

Wen Caishang was extremely angry with Zhao Zhiyuan, thinking, "If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have had to harm Li Lang." Her eyes turned icy cold.

Zhao Zhiyuan said, "Humph! Try this move again!" He thrust a sword at Li Xian, attempting to test him with the move ’Sacrifice for Righteousness’.

Li Xian suddenly leapt up, revealing his full strength with nothing held back, in a life-or-death instant.

The Heavy Pupils opened fully for the first time against an enemy.

In an instant, an unparalleled might swept forth. The power of the Heavy Pupil Appearance lay in three aspects: might, strength, and insight.

Li Xian manifested the Heavy Pupil Appearance, intentionally restraining his might, but now unleashed it fully, like roaring thunder. Zhao Zhiyuan, looking into this gaze, felt his scalp tingle, terrifying him into being paralyzed with fear, trembling uncontrollably:

"Heavy..."

"Heavy Pupils!"

(By tomorrow, I will completely break free from the pursuit! In a little while, I should have more time, maybe a small burst of updates is coming ~ asking for monthly votes ~)