Chapter Eighty-Five: The Strange Art

Even a lion going all out to hunt a rabbit is common sense he remembered vividly. In his previous life, there were several times when he tried to hide his strength and bide his time, only to come close to dying at the hands of his opponents. If not for his undying system, he would have died over and over again long ago. So in this life, he was determined never to let such a thing happen again.

At the Xue residence, the main hall was packed with people. Seeing Xue Gui lying on the floor like a dead dog, the middle-aged man seated in the center clenched his teeth in fury. No one in the room dared make a sound, for fear of angering this irascible man.

"Damn it! Who did this? I want him to pay in blood! To think they beat Gui'er into this state, and even dared to strike at my Xue family. Has our family’s prestige really fallen so far these past years?"

The middle-aged man roared, his voice chilling to the bone. The true energy radiating from him made everyone tremble.

"Report to the family head: it was a man named Chu Han, the son of Tang Hao. Yesterday Tang Hao received imperial favor in court and was granted the title of viscount, along with the commission to oversee the forging of all armor and weapons for the army. Chu Han also obtained the chance to cultivate at the One Origin Sect this year."

A kneeling man below shouted the report. He was the one who had brought Xue Gui back, a sort of intelligence runner for the Xue family. He had personally witnessed Chu Han take action, though he did not fear Chu Han’s strength all that much, believing it was all because Xue Gui had underestimated his foe.

Xue Gui had indeed been careless, but even if he had attacked with all his strength, he would not have been Chu Han’s match. Such things, however, were beyond what a small fry like him could discern.

"A mere viscount is not enough to make my Xue family hesitate. Heh, so there’s a slot at the One Origin Sect? Whoever goes and breaks his legs so he cannot go there, and then avenges my Xue family, will be richly rewarded."

Xue Ren, the head of the Xue family, held the rank of marquis and naturally did not place Tang Hao, a viscount, in his eyes. After learning this news, he became even more brazen in preparing to deal with Chu Han.

As the saying goes, heavy rewards breed brave men. Once Xue Ren gave his approval, nearly all the experts wanted the job. After all, though Xue Ren had a fiery temper, he was generous to his own people, and his rewards were usually precious beyond measure.

"Stop arguing. I’ll go. This Chu Han is no ordinary man. I heard Tang Feng nearly died in his hands, and even the Tang Prince's Residence was ruined. Tang Tianchi didn’t even dare say a word. Sending anyone else would be useless. I’ll do it."

This time, the man seated below did not rise to join the quarrel, but spoke calmly instead. Hearing his words, the others fell silent.

This man was named Xue Ming, a general in the army and one of the Xue family’s experts. His strength was formidable, having already reached the peak of the Dao Palace realm and standing only one step away from the Yin realm.

Moreover, the technique he cultivated was exceedingly strange; he could fight experts of the Yin realm without falling into a disadvantage. His temperament was also volatile and unpredictable. Even among family members, he might strike without warning, so none of them dared offend him.

"Good. Then you go. Break both his legs, drag him here like a dead dog, and let me make sure he cannot live or die in peace."

Xue Ren nodded. Xue Ming taking action gave him the greatest peace of mind. At this point, Chu Han was surely doomed.

Xue Ming accepted the order and departed at once. Everyone in the Xue family began to mourn for Chu Han. After all, even this monster had made a move; Chu Han was definitely finished.

Meanwhile, Chu Han was lying in his inn room, completely unaware of what had happened at the Xue residence. Even if he had known, he would only have sneered. He did not take the Xue family seriously at all, his thoughts entirely fixed on the One Origin Sect.

He had some understanding of the sect. In his previous life, he had fought experts from the One Origin Sect, and they were indeed very strong. The sect also possessed a unique cultivation art of its own, formidable beyond measure, on par with the incomplete scroll of his Thunder Emperor Art. Of course, if it were the complete Thunder Emperor Art, the matter would be entirely different.

That technique was bizarre and extremely troublesome to deal with. Thinking of it now, the secret method Duanmu Meng'er had mentioned, one capable of pushing the Yin-Yang realm to its limits, must have been that very art. This time, once he entered the One Origin Sect, he would have to find a way to obtain it.

That night, Chu Han was sleeping soundly in bed when he suddenly felt a trace of cold, sinister aura. He opened his eyes and sensed a presence faintly lingering outside the window. He smiled slightly and made no sound, continuing to feign sleep as he wished to see exactly who it was.

Sure enough, after a short while, a shadow slipped quietly into his room, like a prowling night cat, making not the slightest sound. Yet beneath the moonlight, the dagger in its hand gleamed with a sharp, cold brilliance.

"Asleep like a dead pig. Nothing much."

Xue Ming gave a cruel smile and stepped up to the bedside, driving the dagger down with all his might.

Just as he thought the kill was certain, Chu Han suddenly opened his eyes. With his right hand, he tapped Xue Ming’s wrist. Xue Ming cried out in pain and reflexively loosened his grip, causing the dagger to fall.

In the same motion, Chu Han rolled over, caught the falling dagger, and pressed it against Xue Ming’s throat. He looked at him with icy eyes.

"Speak. Who are you? Why are you assassinating me?"

Chu Han was also speechless. He had somehow provoked an assassin. If he had not broken through into the Dao Palace realm, he probably would have had a hard time detecting the man’s presence. And looking at it, this fellow seemed highly skilled at such work, leaving no trace at all.

"Haha, as expected of Chu Han. I said a man who could defeat Xue Gui and Tang Feng would not be easy to deal with."

Xue Ming laughed heartily, as if the dagger at his throat did not exist. Just as Chu Han was about to strike, Xue Ming’s body slowly became transparent, and then vanished entirely.

This bizarre movement technique shocked Chu Han. He had never seen anything like it before; to disappear outright was really something.

Yet he could still catch Xue Ming’s scent. Chu Han smiled faintly. Interesting. This person would make a good opponent. Then he vaulted out through the window and chased after the trace of Xue Ming’s aura.

The pursuit carried him all the way beyond the city, finally stopping in a remote woodland, where the opponent’s aura had vanished.

Chu Han surveyed the surroundings with a grave expression, not daring to be careless in the slightest, and assumed a defensive stance.

At that very moment, Xue Ming appeared behind him, his fist crashing violently toward the back of Chu Han’s head.

The instant Xue Ming appeared, Chu Han sensed his aura as well. He turned at once, dodging the punch, while his own strike landed on Xue Ming’s abdomen. Yet once again, Xue Ming turned transparent and disappeared.

A faint curve touched Chu Han’s lips. This technique was indeed strange, but it was not unbeatable. No matter what, the opponent had to remain within his vicinity, and the technique must have a cooldown between uses; otherwise it would be far too monstrous.

At the same time, blue lightning coiled around Chu Han’s body as he unleashed his perception to the utmost. As expected, he could sense the other’s faint aura. The man was now circling him, waiting for another chance to strike.

"Heh, found you. Thunderous Might."

Chu Han gave a wicked smile, extended his right hand, and blasted toward an empty stretch of ground. Lightning converged upon his palm and surged out in a fierce attack. Sure enough, before long, Xue Ming’s figure gradually began to reappear.

"How is this possible? How could you break my technique, find my position, and strike so accurately and so fast? Impossible."