vstars Chapter 45 Deserved to Die
Chapter 45 Deserved to Die
While carefully sensing and integrating the training experience of "Iron Palm", he felt the changes in his hands.
As Li Xiuyuan scrolled through the panel, he looked at the progress of completing the third condition for maxing out the "Absorption Technique".
[3. Emerging talent, gaining a reputation in a small area, and establishing a certain level of prestige in the martial arts world! (Completion progress 97%)]
It actually works!
It increased by 1%.
Previously, the growth rate at the Shangguan family was 1%, and tonight's raid on the Lin family also resulted in a 1% increase... Doesn't that mean...?
At this moment, Li Xiuyuan's mind started to race as he looked at the Lin family guard on the ground whom he had killed with a single palm strike.
Li Xiuyuan took a step forward, and his figure suddenly turned into a white light and disappeared from the spot.
At this moment, the Lin family compound was brightly lit, noisy and chaotic, with Lin family guards and disciples patrolling everywhere.
But how could they possibly stop Li Xiuyuan?
Just as the Lin family was in utter chaos, the City Lord's Mansion and the Shangguan family received the news immediately.
Yunzhou City is the largest city in Yunzhou and its economic, cultural, and political center.
The Yunzhou City Lord's Mansion is overseen by high-ranking officials from the imperial court.
At this moment, in the city lord's mansion, a slightly plump man dressed in fine clothes had a smooth, chubby face that remained calm and expressionless.
He looks more like a wealthy man.
But he is none other than Luo Fugui, the city lord of Yunzhou City.
"Lord, Commander Wu has already led the city guards to the Lin family."
An elderly man with white hair bowed and spoke.
Luo Fugui nodded slightly, and a beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure gently massaged his shoulders behind him.
"My lord, this Li Xiuyuan is really bold. First it was the Shangguan family, and tonight it's the Lin family."
If we don't capture him, won't he cause trouble at the city lord's mansion tomorrow?
Luo Fugui smiled slightly, reached out and grabbed the pair of soft, boneless white hands that were resting on his shoulders, and then gently pulled them.
The beautiful woman let out a soft cry and fell into Luo Fugui's arms.
"This Li Xiuyuan should not be underestimated. According to the investigation, he is portrayed as a good-for-nothing by the Li family in Yuanguang City, and he is an unimportant marginal person within the family."
But this very person's mother is Shangguan Xiuhong. If it weren't for the Lin family going to Yuanguang City to annul the engagement and steal the cultivation technique, this relationship would never have been exposed.
As for Li Xiuyuan's ability to rise from entry-level to eighth-level in just a few days, and even now it is rumored that he has reached seventh-level.
That's impossible. Martial arts training is not child's play. Without hard work and time to accumulate skills, how can it be achieved quickly?
So this kid has been patiently enduring all these years. After all, how could Shangguan Xiuhong's son be a good-for-nothing?
The woman gently kissed the greasy face, leaving a red lip print.
"Then what do you plan to do, sir? After all, it's not good to let Li Xiuyuan continue to cause trouble in Yunzhou City like this!"
Moreover, that kid was able to reach the seventh rank in a small place like Yuanguang City in eighteen years. He must have cultivated the "Absorption Technique" that Shangguan Xiuhong used back then, a fact confirmed by the news of the attack on the Shangguan family.
Luo Fugui nodded.
"The 'Absorption Technique' is rumored to be a true master technique, and it is even greatly underestimated. I don't know where Shangguan Xiuhong obtained it from."
However, this technique has attracted too many people, and it is very difficult to cultivate a master's technique. Even someone as talented as Shangguan Xiuhong could only barely get the basics down back then.
I've heard that this technique can not only absorb other people's internal energy, but also completely convert it into one's own.
Once truly mastered, it will be absolutely terrifying!
As Luo Fugui spoke, his narrowed eyes were filled with greed.
It should be noted that there isn't a single Grandmaster in Yunzhou City right now.
Luo Fugui was the closest to becoming a Grandmaster in Yunzhou City.
If I were to obtain this technique, I would surely be able to step into the realm of a grandmaster!
"How long will it take for the Zhenwu Guards dispatched by the Zhenwu Hall to arrive in Yunzhou City?"
"Two days later!"
The white-haired old man standing quietly not far away immediately answered.
"Yes, go down... We've recently increased the number of city guards. As for the Lin family and the Shangguan family, we don't need to worry about them for now."
A family that has been entrenched in Yunzhou for a hundred years can't even catch a little kid; they're truly useless.
Recently, many martial arts masters have come to Yunzhou City. I don't want too much turmoil to occur in Yunzhou City. Let the Zhenwu Hall people handle it when they arrive.
Anyway, Shangguan Qingyun is leading the team this time!
"Yes, Lord City Lord!"
After the white-haired old man turned and left, the beautiful woman looked at the fat, round face and said:
"My lord, if we could obtain the 'Absorption Technique'..."
Luo Fugui reached out and gently pressed his hand against the beautiful woman's cherry-like lips, which were about to continue speaking, and then smiled slightly.
"Just watch, the real storm hasn't even started yet. I think that kid Li Xiuyuan will jump out soon, after all, the Shadow Pavilion and the Seventh Prince's people have already come to my Yunzhou City."
With their methods, as long as Li Xiuyuan still wants to investigate the truth and seek revenge, he will definitely not be able to hide!
As he spoke, Luo Fugui pressed his thick lips against her cherry-like mouth, and soon a series of alluring sounds rang out...
Meanwhile, in the vast city lord's mansion...
A patrol of city guards is getting ready to go.
"These days are so unbearable, I can't even sleep properly. I wonder what happened this night?"
Inside the communal room, city guards were putting on their armor.
"Ugh, it's that damn Li Xiuyuan again, damn it... I just heard they attacked the Lin family again tonight, killing more than thirty of their guards. He's ruthless!"
"Is this bastard child of the Shangguan family, who has been living away from home, really that powerful?"
"Isn't that right? Sigh... let's hurry up, or we'll get a good scolding from the commander again."
"Yes, yes... But I do think that Li Xiuyuan is quite powerful. If it were me, I would probably just stay far away and then take revenge after I have cultivated to a certain level."
At this moment, a short, honest-looking city guard spoke up as he put on his armor.
"What do you know? If it weren't for that bastard, would we be unable to eat or sleep properly these days?"
Besides, Shangguan Xiuhong originally obtained the Shangguan family's secret cultivation technique, and that little bastard has been secretly cultivating it all these years.
"Just watch, now he's completely on the opposite side of the Shangguan and Lin families. This blatant sneak attack has damaged the reputation of both families. Once they unite, he won't even know how he died in Yunzhou!"
Immediately, city guards who were already dressed in their uniforms retorted.
His words were full of frustration at having his rest interrupted and disdain for Li Xiuyuan.
And it was at this time that...
A burly man in a commander's uniform walked in.
"Commander Liu..."
The city guard who had just made those outrageous remarks quickly saluted, and the others followed suit.
But at that moment, the burly commander merely snorted coldly and took a step forward, his figure as ghostly as lightning.
Before the dozen or so people present could even get up, they felt completely paralyzed. Then, one by one, they stared in astonishment at the face that had been rough and scarred, which used to scold and beat them, now appeared handsome and dashing.
That face looked familiar.
Suddenly, the dozen or so city guards present all trembled violently.
His eyes were filled with astonishment.
But at this moment, they were not only unable to move, but also unable to speak.
"You said if it were you, you would stay far away, develop your strength, and then take revenge?"
That's certainly true, but you've forgotten that your enemies who covet you won't give you time to develop!
Therefore, the only way is to increase power at all costs... Understand?
The short city guard felt all his strength being drained away in an instant.
He collapsed to the ground.
"What...what did you do to me? You..."
Li Xiuyuan made a "shh" gesture, then slowly gripped the long sword at his waist.
The next moment, a flash of sword light appeared.
puff puff puff...
Blood splattered everywhere, and in just a few breaths, the room that originally housed more than a dozen people was reduced to only the short city guard kneeling on the ground, his eyes wide with terror and disbelief.
Li Xiuyuan casually swung his sword, and the blood on the sword scattered on the ground, creating a series of "pattering" sounds.
Looking up, he saw the short city guard with a terrified face tremble all over. As a stench of urine wafted over, he breathed his last, actually scared to death.
"Why……"
Li Xiuyuan couldn't help but sigh. He had originally thought that he would spare the life of the short city guard after draining his internal energy, but he did not expect the other party to have such poor mental fortitude.
He shook his head, sheathed his longsword with a clang, frowned, turned around, and disappeared from the spot.
under night.
Li Xiuyuan, who appeared before Shangguan Rulin with a pair of Shangguan family guards, had changed his appearance again and become a leader of the Shangguan family guards.
"That little beast is truly outrageous."
Just as Li Xiuyuan was pondering this, Shangguan Hongtao suddenly appeared with lightning speed.
"Master, the City Lord's Mansion was just attacked, resulting in the deaths and injuries of over a dozen city guards. Among them was a commander with a seventh-rank cultivation level, who was killed with a single palm strike!"
"Well, this bastard is really something else. I wonder who gave him the guts."
"But this is good news for our Shangguan family. That little bastard not only attacked the Lin family, but he even dared to go to the City Lord's Mansion. I want to see how long he can hide!"
"By the way, is Elder Wu settled in yet?"
"Yes, Patriarch, rest assured, everything is settled. Moreover, Elder Wu has already said that Young Master Shen will arrive first thing tomorrow morning. Once Young Master Shen makes his move, as long as Li Xiuyuan is still in Yunzhou City, we will definitely be able to find him!"
Old Master Wu? Young Master Shen?
At this moment, Li Xiuyuan, who was standing aside disguised as the commander of the guards, couldn't help but feel a slight stirring in his heart.
"We must protect Elder Wu well, and also strengthen our defenses. I feel that Li Xiuyuan is becoming more and more difficult to deal with."
Shangguan Hongtao nodded.
He then pointed at Li Xiuyuan and said:
"You, bring your men and come with me!"
……
After everyone in the room had left, Shangguan Rulin's expression became serious.
If the reason why he was able to successfully infiltrate his own Shangguan family twice in a row was due to his carelessness and the unexpectedness of the situation, then...
The fact that they launched consecutive night raids on the Lin family and the city lord's mansion tonight was not only unexpected, but also demonstrated their true strength.
Could it be that Li Xiuyuan has cultivated true qi?
No! Absolutely impossible!
During his previous battle with Hong Tao, Hong Tao clearly sensed that Li Xiuyuan had only just entered the seventh rank and was not even proficient in using internal energy.
Even if this boy has absorbed the internal energy of dozens of people in the past few days, it is not enough for him to cultivate true qi.
So what exactly is this kid relying on?
Li Xiuyuan's reliance, of course, was his ability to disguise himself so convincingly that it was indistinguishable from the real thing.
Just like right now.
When Elder Wu, who had been severely injured and immobilized by acupressure, stared in astonishment at his reflection in the mirror-like image before him, he was completely paralyzed.
His already aged face looked as if he had seen a ghost.
He trembled all over, and although he tried to open his mouth, he was silenced by having his acupoints pressed. He couldn't utter a single word.
"I'm giving you one chance now. I'll ask you a question, and you answer it. If you don't cherish it, then I'll have no choice but to send you on your way immediately!"
As he spoke, Li Xiuyuan tapped the mute acupoint of the withered old man in front of him with his long sword.
The sword blade sliced through the air and landed on the old man's neck. If he cried out, he would die instantly!
"Who is Young Master Shen? Why do you think that just because Young Master Shen is here, he'll definitely be able to find me?"
"You...are..."
Upon hearing this, Old Wu trembled violently, his eyes narrowing.
You should know that Shangguan Hongtao left after making the arrangements, but the guard commander in front of him attacked him as soon as he entered.
Although he is one of the members of the Shadow Pavilion who specializes in collecting intelligence, Old Wu is currently only at the peak of the eighth rank.
Nature was instantly subdued.
But he remained puzzled and confused, because he had no idea who the person in front of him was.
They were even more astonished that the person in front of them could change his appearance instantly.
Only when he heard Li Xiuyuan's question did he suddenly realize something.
No wonder we couldn't find Li Xiuyuan; it turns out he was hiding in the Shangguan family.
During the day, his "Little Girl" (Shadow Sparrow) was indeed right in tracking him, but she was discovered and killed by Li Xiuyuan immediately.
But before Old Wu could finish speaking, he felt a stream of hot blood flowing from his neck.
"you……"
"what!"
After learning Li Xiuyuan's identity, Old Wu wanted to resist and seek death, but Li Xiuyuan stepped out of his way.
A cracking sound was heard, followed by the stimulation of acupoints all over the body.
That "ah" was almost abruptly cut off.
Then, as the sharp sword sliced across his withered cheek, Old Wu was already terrified.
More importantly, Li Xiuyuan did not hold back at all during this process, nor did he threaten to ask him any questions.
Until Old Wu was completely soaked in blood, his nerves were about to snap from the cruel torture and silent agony.
Li Xiuyuan slowly pressed his longsword against the writhing Adam's apple.
The finger pointed out in mid-air.
The acupoint for silencing has been released.
"..."
Just as Wu Lao was about to roar, he saw Li Xiuyuan smiling and making a "shh" gesture towards him.
Old Wu was so frightened that he gritted his teeth and endured it.
"Please, kill me..."
His voice was hoarse, filled with endless pain and fear.
Old Wu swore that he had never wanted to die as much as he did at this moment.
It was incredibly painful; the bones in my hands and feet were shattered, my hands were severed, and my face was slashed repeatedly.
After the acupoints were struck, he could only remain in a kneeling position, which, combined with the previously broken sternum and the damage to his internal organs, made him even more vulnerable.
If it weren't for the slight internal energy remaining in his dantian, he would have already died!
But it was precisely because of that tiny bit of internal energy that he was unable to move at this moment, unable to die even if he wanted to.
Only endless pain swept over my entire body in waves.
"Now you can answer my question and satisfy me, then I'll free you myself!"
At this moment, Old Wu didn't care about anything else.
He just wanted to be free as soon as possible; the constant pain emanating from his body was stimulating his fragile nerves.
He quickly spoke, enduring the excruciating pain:
"Young Master Shen's name is Shen Yan, and he is specifically responsible for intelligence gathering and tracking within the Shadow Pavilion..."
Through the ensuing question-and-answer session, Li Xiuyuan learned quite a bit.
Old Wu answered almost immediately after Li Xiuyuan asked the question, speaking so fast that he seemed to want to finish speaking as soon as possible before dying.
He was terrified whenever he thought of Li Xiuyuan's torturous methods.
Although he was a member of the Shadow Pavilion, it was obvious that Elder Wu had not received professional training. After all, he was initially recruited into the Shadow Pavilion because of his ability to communicate with the Shadow Sparrow.
After that, he was treated with great courtesy wherever he went, and he never encountered someone like Li Xiuyuan.
"Please, please kill me... I can't take it anymore..."
Seeing Li Xiuyuan deep in thought, Old Wu was covered in a mixture of blood, tears, and sweat.
The face, with almost its entire skin slashed and revealing the bare white bones, was now a hideous and terrifying sight.
Because his acupoints had been struck, he could only maintain a twisted kneeling posture.
The shattered bone fragments from the limbs tore through the dry skin, and fresh blood had already stained the ground red.
He was able to hold on before because there was still a little internal energy left in his dantian, but just now, Li Xiuyuan heard him in anger and pierced his dantian with a sword.
Therefore, at this moment, Elder Wu lost the support of his internal energy and could not bear such pain at all. He only wanted to die.
Whenever Li Xiuyuan asked, he would spill everything he knew, as if pouring out beans!
From Old Wu's account, Li Xiuyuan learned that this man had spent a fortune to obtain a wicked technique that relied on consuming the blood of young children to maintain his own vitality.
In just three years, dozens of young children were killed.
It was precisely because he heard this that Li Xiuyuan pierced through Elder Wu's dantian with a single sword strike.
Standing up, Li Xiuyuan brandished his longsword.
A head that was no longer recognizable as human flew far away.
The withered body remained kneeling there, blood gushing out...
Such a depraved person deserves to die!
Next...
Li Xiuyuan looked at the panel and saw that the third condition for the "Absorption Technique" to reach the maximum level had increased by 1% again due to the night raid on the city lord's mansion.
Sheathing his sword, he took a step forward, his figure transforming into a bolt of lightning as he headed directly towards a base of Shadow Pavilion's intelligence department in Yunzhou City...