Chapter 600 - 171: Shadow Divine Techniques, Path of Deceitful Killing; Sky-High Resentment, Becoming a Demon in a Single Thought
Fourth, this was a true Spatial Shift, not just extremely fast movement.
Even extreme speed would cause changes in airflow, making its trajectory easy for a powerful Divine Sense to track.
However, Shadow Step was completely different. It concealed one’s form as if in a mustard seed, crossing the boundary between the tangible and the intangible. It was completely untraceable. No matter how strong one’s Divine Sense, it would be impossible to track its path!
’Although it has many restrictions, it’s just as profound as the notes described.’
Chu Fan looked down at his hands. His fingers slowly curled into a fist as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
’This is a technique for assassination, the Path of Deceitful Killing!’
’In the heat of battle, if an enemy thinks I’m a hundred feet away, the next instant I’ll already be behind them, swinging my blade... It’s only a single step, but it can decide the fate of the world and determine life or death!’
At that thought, Chu Fan turned and walked to the center of the Martial Arts Arena, where he sat down cross-legged.
He sat like an old monk deep in meditation, eyes closed and spirit focused. In his mind, he replayed the wondrous sensation of traversing the void over and over, frantically analyzing how Shadow Step could be applied in various combat scenarios.
How to integrate it with his Sword Technique.
How to gather Force with his Combined Fist Technique.
How to use the Step Technique to break through an encirclement...
Not far away, Mo Yunzi stood frozen in place, staring at the young man’s straight back. The shock in her heart was still reeling.
’Such a bizarre Body Technique... Instantaneous movement, without the slightest fluctuation of Primordial Qi...’
She had heard legends of great masters capable of Shrinking Inches.
But for someone like Chu Fan, at his current Realm, to have mastered such a purely uncanny Instant Body Skill... it was something she had never seen or even heard of!
’This technique... if paired with the Young Master’s Netherworld Array for long-distance teleportation, then followed by a close-range surprise attack using Shadow Step...’
Mo Yunzi subconsciously swallowed. A heart-pounding scene flashed through her mind...
Even a powerful foe several Realms higher than the Young Master would likely be decapitated in an instant, dying full of regret on the spot. They wouldn’t even have a chance to react against such an absurd combination of Body Techniques.
’This is truly a supreme Divine Technique born for slaughter!’
The night grew deeper, and the air grew colder.
Chu Fan slowly rose to his feet. The sharp aura surrounding him completely receded, and he returned to his calm, reserved state.
With a flick of his wrist, a large bow appeared out of thin air. It was simple and unadorned, yet it radiated a scorching aura. It was none other than the Sunset Bow.
’Next, it’s time to achieve Breaking Limit with the Moon Eclipse Arrow...’
Chu Fan raised his hand, nocked an arrow, and drew the bowstring.
TWANG!
The crisp, sharp sound of the vibrating bowstring suddenly shattered the silent night sky, tearing through the darkness.
...
「Qing Province, Zhang Family Estate.」
In the Martial Arts Arena, the air was as condensed as ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing, even more frigid than the dead of winter. The passing wind was sharp enough to pierce skin and bone.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Three sharp sounds cut through the air as a graceful figure darted across the arena like a bolt of lightning.
She was dressed in white that outshone the snow, her skirt fluttering as she moved. The longsword in her hand was translucent and lustrous, as if forged from ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing. A faint, cold light swirled along its blade.
With every swing, the wind from her blade howled. A stark white Cold Qi swept out like a bolt of silk, instantly forming frost where it landed. The sound of the sword edge cutting the air was as shrill as a banshee’s wail.
This woman was none other than the eldest young mistress of the Zhang Family’s main line, Zhang Ling’Er.
Zhang Ling’Er’s features were cold and sharp, as if carved from ice and jade. Deep within her eyes, however, a furious flame blazed, threatening to erupt at any moment.
’Too slow! Still too slow!’
She roared endlessly in her mind. Her Sword Techniques grew faster and more vicious, with strands of Sword Qi weaving together to form a dense, inescapable Cold Ice Sword Net that enveloped the area dozens of feet around her.
At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena stood four personal maids. Their lips had already turned a dark purple, and they were trembling uncontrollably.
Though they had studied rudimentary Martial Arts for several years and had some small measure of Cultivation, how could they possibly withstand this bone-chilling cold, thick with overwhelming malice?
The four women’s feet seemed nailed to the ground. They didn’t dare to move in the slightest, keeping their heads bowed and eyes lowered, lacking even the courage to sneak a glance.
Abruptly, Zhang Ling’Er’s movements came to a sharp halt, like a spinning top stopping dead. The malice in her eyes surged, almost becoming tangible.
"Break!"
Her furious roar made the tiles on the pavilion corner tremble. Gripping the hilt with both hands, she twisted at the waist to generate force, bringing the longsword down with the weight of a mountain upon the house-sized Sword Testing Stone before her.
RUMBLE!
After the earth-shattering boom, dust filled the air and broken stones shot in every direction.
The Lapis Lazuli Sword Testing Stone—harder than refined steel and impervious to ordinary blades—had been cleaved clean in two by that incomparably sharp, icy Sword Qi!
The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror and covered in a thick layer of frost. Even the stone fragments carried a bone-piercing chill.
Yet, this astonishing strike did nothing to vent the frustration in her heart. Instead, it only made Zhang Ling’Er’s stifled anger grow even more intense.
WHOOSH!
With a casual flick of her wrist, Zhang Ling’Er sent the treasured sword named "Frost" flying like a dragon emerging from the sea. With a crisp CLANG, it landed perfectly in its simple Sword Scabbard inside the pavilion, hundreds of feet away, without the slightest deviation.
Her beautiful face was as dark as ink. She strode into the pavilion and sat down heavily on a stone bench, the chilling aura around her growing even more intense.
"Young... Young Mistress..."
A slightly braver maidservant stepped forward, trembling, her hands shaking as she poured a cup of hot tea.
Steam was still rising from the tea, but before it could reach her lips, most of the heat was dispersed by the cold aura emanating from Zhang Ling’Er. The tea was already lukewarm.
Just then, a strange, grey-black mist suddenly rose from the shadows in a corner of the pavilion.
The mist roiled and twisted, coalescing in an instant into a woman in tight-fitting black clothes with a mask covering her face. Her posture was ramrod straight, revealing only a pair of eyes as cold and sharp as daggers.
It was Tang Yu, a Shadow Guard the Zhang Family had trained for many years.
Zhang Ling’Er didn’t even look up, simply giving a careless wave of her hand.
As if granted a great pardon, the maids quickly bowed their heads and scurried away with mincing steps, leaving the master and servant alone in the small pavilion.
Once everyone else had withdrawn, Zhang Ling’Er slowly picked up her teacup. Her fingertips traced the rim as she asked coldly, "What have you found?"
Tang Yu took a step forward and said softly, "Reporting to the Young Mistress, I traveled day and night to Cyan Yang Ancient City. I met with multiple informants and repeatedly verified the intelligence. I have thoroughly investigated Chu Fan’s background, leaving no stone unturned."
As Tang Yu gave her unhurried report, Zhang Ling’Er’s face grew increasingly grim. The cold aura around her body became so intense it nearly froze the teacup in her hand.