Vol. 1 - Ch. 184 - Reason

Words : 1325 Updated : Oct 12th, 2025

While the two discussed when to strike, Chen Qingyu's gaze slowly dropped to the iron sword in his hand. He was not the kind of person who acted recklessly. However, to use the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Sword, he had to stir the enemy's emotions—only then could this martial art reach its true potential. The more intense the opponent’s feelings, the more devastating the sword’s power became. There were only two enemies in front of him, but even so, the emotions of Innate Realm martial artists were far more potent than those of ordinary people. In this moment, unseen by the others, several crimson threads of emotion seeped from their bodies and flowed into the sword. It was anger—one of the Seven Emotions. As the red threads were absorbed, the plain iron sword in Chen Qingyu’s hand gained an edge—something sharp and subtly different. Shi Potian and Shi Po Di were the first to sense something was wrong. From the sword in Chen Qingyu’s hand, they felt a deep, inexplicable sense of dread. According to their prior investigation, Chen Qingyu wasn’t known for wielding a sword. On the contrary, he was a practitioner of close-quarters martial arts. "Attack!" Feeling an increasing sense of unease, the two didn’t dare hesitate any longer and lunged at Chen Qingyu. As Innate Realm martial artists of the Shi family, their martial training was well-rounded. The moment they moved, a fierce gust of wind surged forward. They each unleashed their signature techniques, striking at Chen Qingyu with deadly intent. Shi Potian's hand chopped sideways like a blade, blood-red energy condensing into the shape of a great broadsword—its overwhelming pressure bearing down like a mountain. Meanwhile, Shi Po Di formed a claw with his hand, aiming straight for Chen Qingyu's head. Above him, a phantom tiger came crashing down from the sky. These were no ordinary techniques. Both were lower-tier Xuan-grade martial skills that the two had trained diligently for over a decade. With the added support of their clan's totem, they had finally achieved mastery. With such coordination, even a mid-stage Innate Realm martial artist would find it difficult to survive. Seeing that Chen Qingyu remained calm and indifferent in the face of imminent death, the fury in their hearts surged again. They wanted to see—what would he use to block this? Just as the attacks were about to land, Chen Qingyu finally moved. He raised the iron sword before his chest, eyes sharp with an icy glint. One hand held the sword, while the other gently brushed along the blade. Where his finger passed, the sword suddenly emitted a blinding red light. Bathed in the glow, Shi Potian and Shi Po Di felt their fury ignite anew. Their expressions twisted with rage. It was as if they could not rest until Chen Qingyu was reduced to ashes. But the more enraged they became, the brighter the red light on the sword shone. The moment it grew so dazzling they had to squint, Chen Qingyu finally swung his sword. There was no ornate sword energy, no dramatic flare—only that crimson radiance. And then, the moment their attacks collided, a shockwave of dense blood energy burst forth in all directions. In an instant, even the night sky above was dyed with the deep red hue of a fleeting twilight. From within the blood-red twilight came the mournful roar of a phantom tiger and the sharp crack of a shattered broadsword. When the eerie glow faded, the three figures had already separated. "How is this possible?" "What kind of martial technique is that?!" Shi Potian and Shi Po Di, who had not only failed to land a single hit but were now severely wounded, stared at Chen Qingyu with shock and disbelief. Though only early-stage Innate Realm cultivators, their mastery of Xuan-level techniques made them formidable opponents, even among peers of the same realm. That was why they hadn’t feared Chen Qingyu, even knowing he had reached the mid-stage Innate Realm. Normally, such techniques required a cultivator to reach the Internal Force Realm to achieve mastery. Yet even with the aid of their clan's totem, their decades of training had paid off. No one at their level should have been able to break their techniques with a single strike. Yet that was exactly what happened. Their strongest attacks had been shattered, and their bodies seriously injured. Meanwhile, Chen Qingyu stood calmly across from them, his face pale from qi and blood loss, but otherwise perfectly unharmed. Not even a strand of hair seemed out of place. As the wounds in their bodies worsened, the anger that had surged in their hearts gradually subsided. Rational thought returned, and only then did they realize something had been off about their state just moments ago. Looking at the clearly exhausted Chen Qingyu, and recalling the terrifying force behind that sword strike, a thought suddenly flashed through Shi Potian’s mind. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Could that be… a Heaven-rank martial technique?" But as soon as he spoke, Shi Potian shook his head and dismissed the idea. "No... that's impossible. Heaven-rank techniques carry immense power and always manifest cosmic phenomena when used. You're only in the Innate Realm—how could you possibly comprehend such a thing?" "Even if it’s not Heaven-rank, it’s at least Earth-rank—and a high-grade one at that!" He suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha, am I right?" Despite his injuries, Shi Potian seemed overjoyed at the realization. A dark grin crept across his face. "Perhaps your Chen family has some background, but an Earth-grade technique? That’s not something a small clan like yours should possess. If I spread the word... I wonder how your family will survive the fallout?" "If word gets out, it won’t just be the clans in Yong’an City that come knocking. I imagine other powerful families will be interested too." That was what he said aloud. In his heart, however, Shi Potian had no intention of telling anyone else. This kind of information was too valuable. Only his family needed to know. Once he returned and delivered the news, his clan would surely take action. Listening to Shi Potian’s scheming analysis, Chen Qingyu couldn’t help but admire his insight. These clan disciples truly had a knack for observation. Just from that one exchange, Shi Potian had already deduced so much. That level of perception was something Chen Qingyu himself could not yet match. Still, there was no trace of panic on his face. Silently, he activated the Six Transformations of the Profound Art within his body. At the same time, his hand behind his back produced a handful of blood-red jade coins. In the blink of an eye, the coins shattered one after another, their internal blood qi dissipating into nothingness. As Shi Potian muttered to himself, a faint yellow thread slowly leaked from his body. It was Joy—another of the Seven Emotions. In that moment, joy bloomed in Shi Potian’s heart. Bringing back such valuable information to his clan would surely earn him a generous reward. But Shi Po Di, also wounded and standing nearby, couldn’t ignore the foolish grin spreading across his brother’s face. He couldn’t help but warn him: "Brother, be rational!" "Rational? How am I supposed to—" Shi Potian replied instinctively, but halfway through his words, his expression froze. Looking up, he met Chen Qingyu’s calm, unruffled gaze. There was no sign of panic or anger in those eyes, only quiet stillness. And that sword—the iron sword—was once again glowing with a strange, dangerous light. It wasn't blinding, but it stirred a deep unease in the heart. Hello readers! Read up to 12 advance chapters by joining us on Patreon! Support us and read ahead[Join Patreon]Enjoying the story? Help more readers discover it by leaving a rating and reviews on NovelUpdate! Every review counts. [Rate on NovelUpdate]Thanks for your support and happy reading!

Vol. 1 - Ch. 184 - Reason

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