Chapter 444 - 267: Aftermath, Part 2

Chapter 444: Chapter 267: Aftermath, Part 2

"Heh heh..."

"You still have as little ambition as ever."

Li Ye said with a light chuckle.

"Li Dao You, after this is all over, are you all leaving? Where do you plan to go next?"

Su Xing asked. They were, after all, comrades who had faced life and death together, so he trusted them. If possible, Su Xing wanted to bring them all back to Cang City to greatly enhance his side’s combat strength.

This was especially true for a guy like Ling Zhongxing. Though his strength was not prominent, the contents of his mind were more formidable than power.

"Could it be that Su Xiaozhi can’t bear to see me and Brother Ye go?"

Tong Yinyin said with a smile.

"We haven’t known each other for long, but we’ve been through thick and thin together. It’s natural to be a little reluctant to part."

Su Xing nodded.

"...You’re certainly honest."

Seemingly disappointed at not seeing the amusing reaction she’d hoped for, Tong Yinyin shook her head in resignation and continued,

"Brother Ye and I will probably go to Hang Lake."

"Hang Lake?"

Su Xing asked, puzzled.

He knew of the city. After all, Hang Lake wasn’t far from Cang City—only a three-hour trip by high-speed rail. He just found it strange that the two of them would want to go to a place like that.

"Hang Lake is known for a world-famous lake. There are many strange and curious things there. Maybe I can find some interesting little trinkets in a place like that."

Tong Yinyin said with a smile.

"It’s getting late. Brother Ye and I have to leave now. Elder Li, Su Xing, let’s meet again if fate allows."

"Take good care."

Ling Zhongxing said earnestly.

"Take care."

Li Ye also nodded.

"..."

Su Xing’s expression was conflicted. He had promised Li Longxuan that he would bring her back. ’But I’ve already asked Tong Yinyin. Since she isn’t willing to come with me, I can’t just knock her out and drag her back by force, can I?’

"Take care."

Su Xing said as well.

With that said, the two slowly walked away along the ruined paths of the Cyan Cloud Sect, leaving only Su Xing and Ling Zhongxing behind. For a moment, the atmosphere felt as desolate as their surroundings.

"I can see you’re straining yourself, Elder. It would be better to find a place to rest. We should prevent the people of the Cyan Cloud Sect from returning and letting their imaginations run wild. It wouldn’t be good if it deepened the misunderstanding."

Ling Zhongxing said with a smile.

"I’ve already explained things to the Cyan Cloud Sect disciples for you. I made sure they won’t suspect you have any connection to us."

"..."

Su Xing shook his head. "It doesn’t matter to me."

"Heh heh, Elder, your magnanimity is truly impressive. I am deeply impressed. Working with you this time has been a pleasure due to your character, Elder. If you ever need anything, you can come find me at the Cyan Cloud Sect after your injuries have healed. I will certainly do everything in my power to assist you."

"You’re too kind."

Su Xing said, cupping his fist.

"Take care!"

Ling Zhongxing replied, also cupping his fist.

As soon as the words were spoken, Su Xing tore through space and returned to his residence in Tianming Village. With the people from the Cyan Cloud Sect having just left, the Purple Bamboo Forest had now become the perfect place for him to recuperate.

The moment Su Xing lay down on the bed, intense side effects wracked him with pain. However, having experienced even greater agony before, he simply gritted his teeth and endured it. Then, he noticed a second source essence appear within his body.

It hadn’t so much "appeared,"

as it was more like a concept, without a physical form.

However, this concept was incomplete. Unlike the Black Sword, he couldn’t immediately perceive its function; it was incredibly vague. But Su Xing could sense that this source essence came from the Sparrow Sword.

’The source essence of the Sparrow Sword?’

Su Xing muttered, "It just seems this source essence hasn’t fully formed yet. Could it be because the last battle wasn’t intense enough?"

Previously, Su Xing had fought the Witch Summoner one-on-one. Although Chi Yu was on par with the Witch Summoner, Li Ye had been incredibly powerful during that fight, which had taken some of the pressure off Su Xing. Perhaps that was the reason the Sparrow Sword’s source essence hadn’t completely solidified.

However, Su Xing didn’t really mind. If he could win more easily, he would prefer to win more easily. In any case, he would never be short on battles to fight—as long as he could keep himself alive.

Besides, his gains from this battle were far from over. The Sword Dao Points that were currently being tallied were Su Xing’s real grand prize.

Su Xing had already made his plans. If he had enough Sword Dao Points to push himself directly to the seventh tier, he would do so. Otherwise, he would raise his Qi Cultivation Realm to the same level as his Martial Arts Realm.

Either of these two plans would drastically increase Su Xing’s strength. If he raised his Martial Arts Realm to the seventh tier... he was already so powerful at the sixth tier that he couldn’t even imagine if, at the seventh tier, he could try to kill a Tier Eight Transcendent who possessed a source essence *without* using Shattered Sword.

As for the Qi Cultivation Realm, the fundamental reason his current cultivation was lacking was that the "Unity of Immortal and Martial" was a method that required a balance between the two paths. Since Su Xing’s Qi Cultivation Realm didn’t match his Martial Arts Realm, he couldn’t unleash the true power of this unity at all.

If Su Xing could successfully raise his Qi Cultivation Realm to the sixth tier, his strength would also receive a powerful boost. Thinking of this, Su Xing slowly closed his eyes and began his Qi Cultivation.

「Four days passed in a flash.」

Normally, after using Shattered Sword, Su Xing would pass out on the spot. His recovery speed was actually faster in an unconscious state. Recovering while conscious and cultivating at the same time was naturally slower.

Still, to fully recover from such severe injuries in only four days was an incredibly unbelievable feat to others. Yet Su Xing himself was somewhat dissatisfied.

He remembered back when it all started.

When that white light first appeared, his injuries could heal completely in a matter of seconds. Now, his recovery time had extended to several days.

He worried that in the future, it might take ten days or even half a month to recover. Of course, it was understandable for Su Xing to think this way, since he had experienced such rapid healing before. But to others, his current recovery speed was already freakishly fast.

After all, for an expert like Li Ye, recovering completely from a serious injury was a process measured in years, never in days like it was for Su Xing.

"Haa... Forget it. Since this is how things are, there’s no point dwelling on it. I might as well go and ask Ling Zhongxing."

Su Xing muttered to himself.

He suddenly recalled Ling Zhongxing’s words: if he still needed him, he could come find him immediately after recovering. Su Xing had no intention of letting such a talented individual slip away, so the moment he remembered this, he made up his mind to seek him out.

「Cyan Cloud Sect, a residential area.」

Given Su Xing’s reputation, he was recognized the moment he stepped into the Cyan Cloud Sect. However, judging by the respectful reactions of the sect’s disciples, it was clear that Ling Zhongxing had indeed not tied Su Xing’s fate to his own.

Soon, Su Xing found Ling Zhongxing.

"Elder, you’ve recovered so quickly?"

Ling Zhongxing said with some surprise, looking at Su Xing’s condition.

"It’s because of my cultivation technique. The recovery is a bit faster."

Su Xing replied with a smile, "But for Elder Ling to have the presence of mind to worry about my condition, it seems the Cyan Cloud Sect hasn’t been giving you too much trouble these past few days."

"And here I was, worrying myself sick that the Cyan Cloud Sect would come after Elder Ling. I think I’ve sprouted a few white hairs from the stress."

"Hahaha, you worried for me for nothing, Elder. It seems my own considerations were lacking."

Ling Zhongxing chuckled softly.

"The events of that year had a major impact. Even with Elder Ling’s planning, clearing the names of Tong Yinyin and Li Ye is no easy task."

"So I’m quite curious. Could it be that Elder Ling has a Stabilizing Needle in hand, allowing you to quell such a storm?"

"Elder Su guessed correctly. I do indeed have a Stabilizing Needle in my possession."

Ling Zhongxing joked.

"From the very beginning of my scheme, I had already prepared for the worst-case scenario: betraying the Cyan Cloud Sect and even being hunted down by them. But, just as you guessed, I encountered the Cyan Cloud Sword Immortal."

...