Chapter 1713: Pure Yang Child Technique

Guan Chouhai, as the Sect Master of Lihentian, was a renowned figure throughout the land. Normally, with his immense pride, such words from anyone else would provoke his fury, compelling him to challenge them. However, when Zhao Hao spoke them today, his expression remained uncharacteristically calm.

He slowly replied, "Your Majesty is right to admonish me; I am certainly not fit to be your enemy. My task today is merely to clear out some small fry. As for Your Majesty, there are others who will deal with you."

Zhao Hao's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew there were others behind them, but he wasn't sure who exactly.

At this moment, Zhuxie Chixin flew into a rage. "Why are you staring at me?" he demanded.

Guan Chouhai smiled faintly. "I've long heard that the Grand Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is His Majesty's most loyal hound, known for his cruelty, bloodlust, and unparalleled cultivation, striking fear into the hearts of all. Today, I've specifically come to experience it firsthand."

Zhuxie Chixin instinctively glanced at Zhao Hao. Seeing no intention from him to intervene, and realizing Zhao Hao wanted him to test the opponent's strength, he turned back to Guan Chouhai, his expression turning cold. "Guan Chouhai, how dare you commit treason? Today, I will tear you into a thousand pieces."

No sooner had he spoken than he swung out a long iron chain, at the end of which a scythe shimmered into view.

For years, Zhuxie Chixin had harvested countless lives with this weapon. "When the Soul-Reaping Chain emerges, both men and ghosts tremble" was a common saying in official circles, striking terror into innumerable hearts.

However, Guan Chouhai showed no fear. He raised his hands, and two golden lights shot from his wrists. His Vajra Bracelets struck the Reaper's Scythe, sending it flying.

Both men recoiled from the impact. Zhuxie Chixin inwardly marvelled that the Sect Master of Lihentian, renowned for many years, truly possessed an exceptionally profound cultivation.

Guan Chouhai was equally startled. According to intelligence, Zhuxie Chixin, despite his high cultivation, was only a half-step Grandmaster and had not yet crossed the threshold into true Grandmastery. Therefore, he had initially believed he could easily handle his opponent. To his surprise, their clash revealed a shocking display of strength.

What half-step Grandmaster? This was clearly a genuine Grandmaster!

Nevertheless, being a figure renowned for many years, he remained composed despite his surprise and seized the opportunity to launch an attack on Zhuxie Chixin.

The Soul-Reaping Chain was a long-range weapon; close combat would certainly be its weakness.

Zhuxie Chixin showed no panic. With a flick of his wrist, the Soul-Reaping Chain quickly retracted, transforming into a long-handled scythe. He then swept it diagonally, as if cleaving the entire space in front of him.

Guan Chouhai blocked with both arms, and a shimmering stone wall materialized in the air before him.

However, that incredibly strong defensive stone wall was directly cleaved in two by Zhuxie Chixin's scythe.

The scythe then struck the Vajra Bracelets on his arms, emitting a dazzling light.

Both were thrown back several feet by the immense force of the impact. Guan Chouhai's heart chilled. What was with the exceedingly dense death aura emanating from Zhuxie Chixin?

Although it was rumoured that many officials had died by his hand over the years, it shouldn't have been enough to cultivate such a potent death aura.

"Interesting!" Guan Chouhai laughed heartily. With a flick of his hands, his Vajra Bracelets created countless afterimages, attacking his opponent from all directions.

Zhuxie Chixin wielded his long-handled scythe, parrying each of the Vajra Bracelets coming from all sides.

With each block, his face grew a shade paler. Everyone claimed Guan Chouhai was a top-tier earth element master, and today's encounter proved it. These Vajra Bracelets, though small in appearance, delivered impacts like crushing mountains. Had he not already advanced to Grandmaster, he would likely have been incapacitated after just two blows.

Yet now, he was forced into a purely defensive stance by the deluge of Vajra Bracelets, unable to mount any offence.

Seeing this, many loyal Embroidered Uniform Guards under his command brandished their Soul-Reaping Ropes, aiming to entangle Guan Chouhai. As the Emperor's loyalists, personally promoted by Zhuxie Chixin, they naturally wouldn't adhere to the one-on-one combat etiquette of martial artists.

Guan Chouhai's expression shifted slightly. Ordinarily, while these Embroidered Uniform Guards would be troublesome for ordinary masters, he wouldn't have given them a second thought. But now, with his intense battle against Zhuxie Chixin, the addition of these elite guards and their combined attack formation, which originated from the same source as Zhuxie Chixin's techniques, truly put him in a difficult spot.

Just then, eight flying swords, shimmering with lightning, shot forth. They pierced through the center of the group of Embroidered Uniform Guards almost instantly. Before the guards could even form their coordinated array, bursts of bloody mist erupted, and they collapsed unwillingly to the ground.

Seeing his trusted subordinates slaughtered in such a manner, Zhuxie Chixin's eyes nearly burst with fury. However, being fully engaged, he could only suppress his anger and continue to resist Guan Chouhai's assault.

"Xuan Bajing?" Zhao Hao watched everything silently, his face expressionless. The deaths of these low-ranking guards did not stir his emotions. He was only curious now about who else was involved in this conspiracy.

A flash of lightning, and the Sect Master of Kunlunxu appeared out of thin air, with eight sword scabbards fanning out behind him like a peacock's tail. He cupped his hands to Zhao Hao. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhao Hao's expression was cold. "You have all rebelled. I presume you are dissatisfied with your declining status over the years."

Xuan Bajing smiled faintly. "Naturally, we long for the old days. Though we may be unworthy, we do not wish for the Daoist sects to be extinguished in our hands a hundred years from now."

At the current rate, the Daoist sects would likely only see the Zhengyang Sect remain prominent in the future, while the other eight factions would gradually decline and eventually become insignificant.

Zhao Hao looked at him coldly. "If you did nothing, perhaps you might be extinguished a century from now. But by committing such a heinous act of rebellion today, it is far more likely that you will all vanish completely today."

Xuan Bajing sighed. "If destruction is inevitable, it's better to make a gamble while we still have the strength."

Zhao Hao frowned. "Just the two of you aren't strong enough to make such a gamble."

Xuan Bajing smiled slightly. "Your Majesty is indeed a brilliant strategist. You will know soon enough."

At this point, Eunuch Wen said sinisterly, "I've long heard that Sect Master Xuan's Eight Swords Flying Together are truly divine. This old servant also wishes to witness them."

He had seen His Majesty first wounded by explosives, then ambushed by Wang Wuxie. Although outwardly he seemed fine, Eunuch Wen was unsure of his true condition and wanted to buy him time to recover.

Zhao Hao did not object, standing with his hands behind his back, calmly surveying everything in the arena.

Xuan Bajing said, "In earlier years, before the Emperor's cultivation reached its peak, many attempted assassinations in the palace, but all were slain by a master within. After much consideration, Eunuch Wen is the most likely candidate. Today, I truly wish to experience your skill."

No sooner had he finished speaking than eight flying swords shot rapidly towards Eunuch Wen. Mid-flight, they vanished from sight, with only faint flashes of lightning occasionally revealing their continued presence in the air.

Eunuch Wen roared and thrust his hands outwards, a blue light shield instantly appearing around him. Almost simultaneously, the eight flying swords attacked his vital points from all directions, but they were all blocked by the shield.

Xuan Bajing was astonished. "The Pure Yang Virgin Cultivation? Is there truly someone in this world who has mastered this art?"

This cultivation art possessed immense power, but few had ever mastered it. The fundamental reason was its stringent requirements: it had to be cultivated from a state of virginity. Once one's primal yang energy was lost, no matter how profound one's cultivation became, the technique would be rendered useless.

Who would want peerless martial arts if it meant remaining a virgin for life?

Even monks in temples, who never marry, might inadvertently lose their primal yang energy at times. To awaken one day after years of cultivation only to find one's skills ruined—that would truly be cause for tears of despair.

Yet, Eunuch Wen had managed to master it!

Thinking about it now, perhaps only someone like him was truly suited for this cultivation art.