Chapter 205: Chapter 202: Xiyi Sword Skill
Jiang’s Ancestral Land.
Before the towering statue of the Divine Farmer, Jiang Li sat cross-legged on the blue stone, as immovable as the Melting Mountain Range itself, blending indistinguishably with the Divine Farmer statue behind him, without a clear division between them. Although they seemed different in size, with heaven and earth between them, if the positions of the statue and Jiang Li were reversed, the impression they gave was surprisingly consistent.
A foot-long piece of golden paper was affixed behind Jiang Li’s back, where the Six-character Great Brightness Mantra shone brightly, suppressing the Five Elements Qi of his internal organs, the Qi mechanism in his whole body’s acupoints, and even his blood and Qi, causing his Essence Element to stabilize firmly, like a mountain pressing down upon the earth, unshakable and immovable.
Suddenly—
Red patterns emerged on Jiang Li’s skin, traced out by the Innate Earth Qi in the shape of the Six Ding and Six Jia Protection Talisman. A pale yellow Qi Mechanism condensed on the surface of his body, turning into keratin and divided by red patterns into the appearance of scales.
After this period of cultivation, Jiang Li no longer needed to use a talisman of the same attribute as a port to release different Innate Qi outside his body for combat, nor did he need the same Primordial Qi to draw talismans to enhance certain abilities.
With the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill and the Divine Farmer’s appearance to introspect within himself, and using the talismanic seed integrated into his skin as a base, strands of runes grew like branches, transforming his skin membrane, causing Jiang Li’s skin to undergo the metamorphosis of the Yinglong Transformation.
The magic door of the Yinglong Transformation lingered in his mind. The transformation proceeded systematically, until at a certain moment, Jiang Li’s body was covered with red patterns and the shape of dragon scales; he sat on the blue stone as though a True Dragon itself curled amongst men, mighty and powerful.
"It’s done."
Jiang Li slowly opened his mouth, and a streak of sharp, arrow-like white Qi shot out, striking the ground in front of him and making a crisp sound.
"To practice the ’Form Tomb’ cultivation technique in front of the Divine Farmer statue is quite something," said the Clan Elder, appearing out of nowhere at his side upon seeing Jiang Li’s dragon-like form.
"Does this not properly show the profound friendship between the two races?" Jiang Li opened his eyes, his pupils contracting slightly—evidently, his eyes had changed as well. "Moreover, the Yinglong Transformation integrates the twenty-four Qi energies of heaven and earth, showing that ’Qi Tomb’ and ’Form Tomb’ also complement each other. The intricacies of the Yinglong Transformation have helped me advance the ’Qi Tomb’ technique."
There are twenty-four Qi energies in heaven and twenty-four spiritual entities in man. The twenty-four acupoints of the Yinglong Transformation correspond to the twenty-four solar terms of the natural world. If Jiang Li could perfect this technique, it would indeed significantly boost the evolution of his Primordial Qi.
Even so, such talk of profound friendship between the races tends toward sounding a bit like ghost stories.
The Clan Elder neither confirmed nor denied, but spoke of his purpose for coming, "The Red Eyebrow Army has rebelled, conquering three counties in a single day, unstoppable like a broken bamboo. The State Mansion has now issued an order to suppress the rebels, and the governor’s mansion of Fufeng County has gathered two thousand troops and has already set out."
"It really is the Red Eyebrow Army," said Jiang Li.
This time, the Yellow Turban Army would not appear; only the Red Eyebrow Army would, and could only be the Red Eyebrow Army.
At the same time, Jiang Li also confirmed his own speculation.
Ji Chengye indeed wanted to advance in status.
"To kill two birds with one stone is indeed a method of taking Life and Death into one’s own hands," Jiang Li slowly retracted his Qi.
If Ji Chengye kept hiding and not revealing himself, then even if Jiang wished to kill him, there would be no opportunity to do so. But ultimately, Ji Chengye couldn’t stay hidden.
Also, who could resist the temptation of a sole promotion to Sixth Rank?
The conditions for advancing to Marquis Guan’s Dao Fruit were stringent, yet Ji Chengye managed to meet them, and the chance for advancement was right before his eyes. With his cunning and ambition, how could he not seize it?
Even more so, Jiang Li dared to say this person was so eagerly involved in this matter because he could use it to advance his Dao Fruit.
The lesser leverages the greater, the greater leverages the power of the court. The calculations of these father and son were very cunning, and not without a sense of risk. Unfortunately, some things can’t be won merely with courage.
’When the day comes for Lu King to advance, I’ll let you all see what a surprise really is,’ Jiang Li thought to himself.
Ji Chengye was already exposed, but the time to kill him had not yet come. If he struck now, it would undoubtedly provoke Lu King and possibly make Lu King shake the roots of his support.
Even though his intentions had been revealed, in order to have another Fourth-Grade Expert in the Royal Family, the court would still have to hold its nose and help. Everything would wait until after Lu King’s advancement.
So, Jiang Li had to bide his time, to wait a bit longer.
With these thoughts, Jiang Li began to cultivate again.
Seeing this, the Clan Elder also left without a sound.
Continuing to rely on the Great Brightness Mantra for cultivation, time slipped by, and before he realized it, dusk was approaching.
The deep red sunlight shone from the west, falling upon Jiang Li, as if draping him in a blood-colored garment. An invisible sharpness seemed to merge with the sunset’s glow, covering Jiang Li’s body along with the light of the setting sun.
"Ding—"
Suddenly, behind Jiang Li appeared a dragon claw formed by Innate Qi. A streak of Sword Qi shot onto the claw, ringing out metallically, and then the pale yellow luster reappeared, with Red Patterned Dragon Scales emerging around Jiang Li’s body.
"Although I had long expected you to come find me, I didn’t think you’d be so bold as to step into my Jiang’s Ancestral Land," Jiang Li said calmly.
The Sword Qi retreated as quickly as it had arrived, and its source vanished without a trace.
The person, the Sword, seemed to have merged into the void, intangible and shapeless. Even with the subtleties of the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill, it was difficult to trace.
"A sword that is unseen when looked upon is called ’Xiyi’, unheard when listened to is called ’absence’. The silent and invisible sword is the Daode Sect’s ’Xiyi Sword Technique.’"
Jiang Li did not care that the other party did not respond, and said indifferently, "This sword technique is also known as the ’Invisible Sword Technique’. When mastered, the sword becomes invisible, and so does the person wielding it; only those with extraordinary talent can master it. However, not even the creator of the technique would imagine someone with enough talent to excel beyond the creator, evolving the ’Xiyi Sword Skill’ to a new Realm. Not only can they move silently and invisibly, but they can also steal someone else’s voice and appearance. Daoist, am I right?"
"There is no evidence." A detached voice arose from all directions.
All of this was Jiang Li’s conjecture, with no concrete evidence.
"There is no irrefutable proof."
Jiang Li nodded in agreement, but then changed tack, "However, if we’re talking about circumstantial evidence, I have some."
"On the day I was attacked at Laojun Temple, I immediately tracked down the area of the attacker, only to discover a body there which could be said to have no connection with the incident. Then, I was attacked by Yang Ji."
"And a few days ago, when I encountered you, Daoist, you just happened to have slain a Sea Patrol Yaksha. After that, people from the Yin Law Department arrived."
"Is there any coincidence between these two events?"
The person hidden in the shadows did not answer.
"Of course, there is a coincidence," Jiang Li answered for him, "The Book of Life and Death held by Lord Cui of the Yin Law Department is connected to Great Zhou’s Household Registration, recording everyone’s life and death. If someone dies, the Book of Life and Death will show the time and place of their death immediately. What if someone predesignated a person’s life and death to act as a signal, allowing them to communicate over a thousand miles?"
For example, the day at Laojun Temple, after the Sword Cultivator’s assassination attempt failed, he immediately killed the prearranged individual, using their death as a signal to guide the Yin Law Department to the location.
Then the Yin Law Department immediately notified Yang Ji, allowing him to find Jiang Li with pinpoint accuracy.
Jiang Li should not have known about the special features of the Book of Life and Death, but after Jiang Zhihuan defected, he learned of them.
Likewise, Yuan Zhen killed the Sea Patrol Yaksha, letting the Yin Law Department know immediately that their scapegoat envoy had been killed, which prompted them to hurry over, causing Jiang Li not to act against Yuan Zhen and test his injuries.
"No evidence." Yuan Zhen’s voice came again.
This was still not definitive proof, just Jiang Li’s conjecture.
"Indeed," Jiang Li admitted once more, then pivoted again, "Daoist, when you collaborated with the Heir of King Lu, you probably didn’t reveal your true identity, did you? That’s why Oxhead and Horseface of the Yin Law Department made a move against you. What do you think would happen if I informed the Yin Law Department of the mystery surrounding the Daoist’s identity?"
Of course, that would give them something to exploit.
The Yin Law Department was not composed of good Samaritans. Regardless of whether there was evidence or not, they would act first.
Moreover...
"Daoist, your reason for attacking me is because of the Rain Master Token, isn’t it? Does the Daode Sect also disapprove of the current situation? It seems Zhang Daoyi, a disciple of the Daoist Lord, is unaware. Does this imply that there is a divergence between your Sect Master and the Daoist Lord?"
Four questions prompted Yuan Zhen to strike at Jiang Li.
Suddenly, invisible Sword Qi struck from all directions, the fierce edge tearing at Jiang Li’s Cloud Clothes, with the Red Patterned Dragon Scales barely withstanding the sharpness of the Sword Qi, making Jiang Li feel a bone-chilling cold.
Yuan Zhen at this moment was not the Yuan Zhen of that day, having not infused his Power into his Incarnation Golden Core, nor suffered heavy damage due to the destruction of his incarnation; he was at his peak, and his Geng Metal Sword Qi was unrivaled among his peers.
However, Jiang Li was now wearing the Great Brightness Mantra, and as the Sword Qi attempted to penetrate his body, he activated the golden light, repelling the Geng Metal Sword Qi from outside, revealing an indestructible and unmoving stance.
His Cloud Clothes repaired themselves automatically, and behind him bloomed a lotus-like radiance. The lotus opened up a thousand petals, standing firm and unmoved.
Such a formidable defensive ability even gave Jiang Li the impression that a Fourth-Grade Killing Move might not be able to breach his defenses.
Jiang Li even took the opportunity to further strengthen his physical body with the Great Brightness Mantra.
"What do you want to do?" Yuan Zhen’s figure appeared silently nearby, his cold gaze fixed upon Jiang Li.
"What do I want to do?" Jiang Li said, shaking his head with a smile. "After all, I’m not a bad guy; I can’t do things that go against my principles. I only wish to show the Daoist a clear path."
"As long as it’s proven that the Daoist could never have collaborated with the Heir of King Lu, then even if I, Jiang, speak eloquently to the heavens, no one will believe it. So..."
Jiang Li’s eyes held a deep meaning as he spoke his shocking proposal, "Go kill the Heir of King Lu, Daoist."
"You wish to use me as a pawn to kill someone?" Yuan Zhen’s voice was cold, seemingly unmoved.
"How is it that I wish to use you to kill someone? It is clearly the Daoist who disdains the Heir of King Lu’s disregard for human life."
"And moreover," Jiang Li spoke with an enigmatic tone, "being used in such a way by the Heir of King Lu, Daoist, are you content with that?"
Nobody would be content, of course. The way Ji Chengye stepped over everyone on his way to the top was enough to stir extreme dissatisfaction among others.
And indeed, it was a good strategy.
Thus, the figure of Yuan Zhen began to fade.
He gave up on killing Jiang Li.