Chapter 708: Shadowless Step!

After several hours of travel, the familiar territory of the Bai Clan finally appeared in the distance.

The moment they landed—

"Xueqing!"

A familiar figure immediately rushed toward them.

Chu Ziyan’s face was filled with both relief and worry.

The moment she saw Bai Xueqing standing there, she immediately ran over and hugged her best friend tightly.

"Xueqing, you scared me! I was so worried about you!"

Bai Xueqing smiled helplessly and gently patted her back.

"I’m fine, Ziyan."

Chu Ziyan finally relaxed after confirming that Bai Xueqing was truly unharmed.

Only then did she release her.

"What happened?"

...

Meanwhile, Bai Zihan’s gaze shifted toward the figure standing nearby.

Chu Xing!

His father-in-law.

Bai Zihan walked over.

"Uncle Chu!"

Chu Xing nodded.

Bai Zihan looked at him.

"Did you take care of the matter I assigned to you?"

A faint smile appeared on Chu Xing’s face.

"It’s already done!"

Bai Zihan nodded.

The destruction of the Shen Clan had never been the only matter that needed to be dealt with.

The Shen Clan also had several allies and accomplices.

Some had allied with them because they feared the Bai Clan’s retaliation.

Others had been persuaded by the Gu Master and had chosen to support the Shen Clan after being promised benefits or protection.

Regardless of their reasons, they had still chosen to stand against the Bai Clan.

Leaving them alone would only create trouble in the future.

And they might have even come to help the Shen Clan.

Therefore, Bai Zihan had already made arrangements before leaving.

Chu Xing, together with the Chu Clan and the other allied forces, had dealt with those factions.

Bai Zihan nodded with satisfaction.

Chu Xing smiled.

"They were not particularly difficult to deal with in the first place."

Their forces were already much more powerful than those factions. Not to mention, the Bai Clan had also rewarded their loyal allies with pills from the Mu Clan.

Now, their strength, especially that of the Chu Clan, had increased by several times.

The current Chu Clan might even be comparable to the Li Clan or Zhao Clan.

With the Shen Clan and its allies dealt with, the Bai Clan’s immediate troubles had finally been resolved.

Now it was time to prepare for much tougher foes!

The moment the Bai Clan returned, the entire clan immediately became busy.

The destruction of the Shen Clan had been a major event.

There were countless matters that needed to be dealt with.

Now that the Shen Clan and its allies had been destroyed, it was time to shallow their businesses and whatever territory and resources they possessed.

Normally, for an event as big as eliminating one of the Top 10 forces of the Desolate Heaven Empire, one would have to give a reasonable explanation to the Emperor.

But considering it was the Bai Clan who had done this, there was no one who thought that the current Empress would go against them.

Other clans also wouldn’t demand that the current Bai Clan be condemned.

If one did, they could only imagine the consequences.

Not to mention, with the Heaven Sword Sect backing them and hard evidence of the Shen Clan kidnapping Bai Xueqing and provoking the Bai Clan in the first place, not many would think it was unjustifiable.

With King Zhanhong and his subordinates spreading the rumors, it was even more impossible for the Bai Clan to bear any blame.

The only one getting blamed and accused was the Shen Clan.

And with them destroyed, who would be foolish enough to go against the Bai Clan.

Bai Zihan looked toward the clan members around him.

"Handle the aftermath."

His voice was calm.

"Count our losses, organize the resources we obtained from the Shen Clan, and deal with the matters concerning the destroyed clans."

The Bai Clan members immediately nodded.

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Bai Zihan did not say anything else.

"There is something important I need to deal with."

With that, he turned around and headed toward his residence.

He had been thinking about one thing throughout the journey back.

The Martial Art Upgrade Card!

Now that he had finally returned, it was time to use it.

Back inside his residence, Bai Zihan immediately entered his cultivation chamber.

After ensuring that no one would disturb him, he sat down.

"System."

A familiar interface appeared before him.

Bai Zihan’s gaze immediately landed on the Martial Art Upgrade Card.

Without hesitation, he selected it.

"Use!"

The moment his command fell—

Buzz!

The Martial Art Upgrade Card suddenly transformed into a stream of mysterious energy.

The energy entered Bai Zihan’s mind.

Boom!

His consciousness trembled.

In an instant, countless insights about the Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword emerged within his mind.

The technique he had cultivated for so long began changing.

Its fundamental principles remained the same. However, its essence was completely different.

Bai Zihan’s eyes gradually widened.

"Interesting..."

The original Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword focused on creating nine shadows.

Quantity.

Speed.

Confusion.

Those had always been the core principles of the technique.

However, the upgraded version completely abandoned the concept of creating shadows.

There was no deception.

No illusions.

No attempt to confuse the opponent with multiple figures.

Instead, Bai Zihan’s understanding of the technique underwent a fundamental transformation.

It focused on one thing alone.

Pure speed!

The nine shadows that once existed within the technique gradually disappeared from Bai Zihan’s understanding.

The Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword had already possessed terrifying speed.

The Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword had once relied on creating multiple shadows to confuse an opponent while attacking from different directions.

But the upgraded technique no longer needed such tricks.

It would simply make the user’s speed so terrifying that even the naked eye could no longer follow their movements.

Rather than creating nine shadows—

The user themselves would become a fleeting shadow.

One moment they could be standing directly in front of their opponent.

The next, they would already be behind them.

And before the opponent could even react, they could appear somewhere else entirely.

There was no need for illusions.

No need for deception.

The speed itself became a deception.

Once used, the user could move through the battlefield like a fleeting shadow.

Come and Go as one pleases.

An opponent might clearly see Bai Zihan rushing toward them, only to discover that he had already passed through their defensive range.

They might turn around to attack him, only to find empty air.

By the time they realized where Bai Zihan had gone, he would have already appeared somewhere else.

The technique did not create nine shadows.

Instead, every movement was so fast that it naturally left behind the illusion of a shadow.

Bai Zihan slowly clenched his fist.

"This is much better technique, at least in terms of speed."

Bai Zihan slowly stood up.

A faint spatial fluctuation suddenly spread from beneath his feet.

Whoosh!

His figure vanished.

A moment later, he appeared several meters away.

Then vanished again.

Whoosh!

This time, he appeared behind the opposite wall.

Another instant passed. His figure flashed across the cultivation chamber.

Left.

Right.

Above.

Behind.

Every movement was so fast that even the faintest afterimage disappeared almost immediately.

Bai Zihan’s eyes shone with excitement.

He looked at the place where he had been standing moments ago.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Then I’ll call it..."

He paused briefly.

"Shadowless Step!"

Bai Zihan smiled.

"Come and go like a fleeting shadow..."

He looked toward the empty space before him.

"No one can catch me."

There was only speed.

With this technique, Bai Zihan could freely enter and leave the battlefield.

He could approach an enemy before they could react.

Retreat before they could counterattack.

Appear from any direction.

And disappear before the opponent could even determine his location.

Most importantly, if he encounters an enemy he can’t defeat, he can run away.

Bai Zihan used the technique a couple more times and he found it as easy as breathing.

Because it had evolved from the Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword, using it was not particularly difficult.

But Bai Zihan knew very well, he had only begun to touch its true potential.

As his comprehension deepened and his cultivation continued to rise, the speed of the Shadowless Step would become increasingly terrifying.

One day, he might truly become like a fleeting shadow.

Coming and going without a trace.

Uncatchable.

Untouchable.

"System!"

*************************

[ Host Info ]

Host: Bai Zihan

Age: 20

Cultivation Realm: Great Ascension (Late)

Constitution: Primordial Chaos Body

Supreme Dao Bone

Martial Arts:

Shadowless Step (Minor Mastery)

Eternal Flowing Water Sword (Greater Mastery)

Fate Severing Slash (Greater Mastery)

Heaven’s Mandate Reversal (Minor Mastery)

*************************

The Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword (Major Mastery) on the info panel had been replaced by the Shadowless Step, and its mastery was already at Minor Mastery.

That meant he could already start using this technique in battle, though he still needed more practice to fully unleash its potential.

"Now then, shall I train for a bit!"