64: Chapter 64 is too powerful.

By noon, a green carriage was moving slowly along the main road.

Inside the carriage, Cai Rujin was still sitting cross-legged, cultivating. She seemed to feel a sense of urgency now, seizing every moment to improve her strength. Hunchbacked Aunt Li sat on the side.

Su Jiuchuan, however, was on high alert. According to his memories from the simulator, that man in black could appear at any moment.

That was a Half-Step Innate expert. His True Qi had been tempered to the extreme; as long as he took one step further and liquefied his True Qi, he would undoubtedly be a Xiantian Martial Artist.

Su Jiuchuan's True Qi had only just begun to be tempered. Even after so many simulations, the total time added up to less than a year. He had no chance of winning this battle. His only hope was that short sword, which he suspected was overcharged.

The carriage suddenly lurched to a halt, followed by a neigh from the horse. The carriage cabin shook violently.

Su Jiuchuan stood up abruptly and shot out from the carriage, his black blade protecting his entire body.

On the main road, a man in black stood in the middle of the path, cradling an ancient longsword. The horse pulling the carriage had its legs severed and was falling to the ground, wailing incessantly. The coachman had rolled onto the ground, trembling in fear.

Hunchbacked Aunt Li had already grabbed Cai Rujin and jumped out of the carriage, standing on the other side of the road.

"Who are you?" Su Jiuchuan asked coldly. Although he had been killed by this person many times in the simulator, he didn't actually know who the person was.

The man in black did not answer, but asked indifferently: "You killed Lan Guping, didn't you?"

Upon hearing this, Su Jiuchuan understood. This must be the legendary Lan Heguang, who had been studying under an Innate expert.

"Heh, that's right. I was just ridding the people of a scourge!"

Lan Heguang was furious and shouted: "Die, you dog!"

After speaking, he drew his longsword. A simple, straightforward thrust seemed to stir the surrounding air, firmly locking onto his opponent. This sword strike was the Wind Thunder Sword Technique. Once Lan Heguang advanced to the Innate Realm, this technique could evolve into an Innate Martial Skill, adding a wind-attribute attack method—Wind Blade.

Su Jiuchuan had long been on guard. At this moment, the short sword gripped tightly in his palm was suddenly activated by his True Qi. The sword body vibrated violently and then shot out.

He felt his True Qi instantly drain. He hadn't expected that with his First Grade cultivation, activating this talisman weapon would be so taxing. It was no wonder that when Shen Xiuru used it back then, she had collapsed to the ground, exhausted and depleted.

After the short sword was activated, it emitted a red light, unlike the white light from that day—perhaps it was because it had absorbed the energy of the soul crystal.

"Clang!"

With a crisp metallic clashing sound, the longsword that had been thrust forward was shattered to pieces, but the short sword showed no signs of stopping. Lan Heguang only saw a red light rushing straight toward his face, incomparably swift. He was terrified, thinking his life was over.

Just as Lan Heguang was about to die on the spot, an object in his bosom suddenly bloomed with a clear light, enveloping his entire body. It was the jade pendant given by Nan Ruotian before they set off, which was said to be able to withstand one strike from an Innate expert.

"Puff!"

This clear light flickered for a while before shattering like a soap bubble. However, this did hinder the momentum of the short sword. Lan Heguang barely avoided his vital chest area, but the short sword severed his right arm directly before burying itself into a large tree behind him.

The intensity of this attack was clearly far beyond a single strike from an Innate expert, and it was completely incomparable to Shen Xiuru's attack that day.

"Ah!" Lan Heguang wailed, not daring to stay any longer. He clutched his severed arm and fled into the distance.

"I will tear you into a thousand pieces!" A roar came from afar, carried by the wind.

Su Jiuchuan wanted to catch up and cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, but Lan Heguang's escape speed was extremely fast. By the time he reacted, it was already too late.

However, with one of Lan Heguang's arms ruined, he would not be a threat in the short term. Su Jiuchuan was not afraid of future trouble from him; after all, with the simulator in hand, the longer the time, the less of a problem it would be.

He walked over and retrieved the short sword, only to find that it was now dim and lusterless, with cracks appearing on the blade. It was likely ruined.

...

In a secret cave in the northern wasteland, a middle-aged man sat upright with a cold expression, quietly looking at Young Master Lin Yanyi who was kneeling before him. He said indifferently: "Since your Sword Intent is broken, then go stay in the Mysterious Ice Cave for three months!"

"Great-uncle, have mercy!" Young Master Lin Yanyi was so shocked that his face turned pale.

"I know I was wrong. Please, Great-uncle, for the sake of us both being Lin family descendants, spare my life!"

"..."

The Great-uncle he addressed was Great-uncle Lin Tianqi, the only Genius in the Lin family to have cultivated the Sacred Heart Art to the Destiny Realm. He was actually over a hundred years old, but after entering the Innate Realm, his appearance changed very slowly, so he now looked only about forty years old.

This so-called Mysterious Ice Cave was discovered by Great-uncle Lin Tianqi in the wasteland thirty years ago. A piece of ten-thousand-year black ice was found in the cave, making it extremely cold. Not to mention Young Master Lin Yanyi, whose Sword Intent was shattered, even if he were at his Peak, he wouldn't be able to stand staying in the Mysterious Ice Cave for a single day.

Great-uncle Lin Tianqi did not reply, slowly closing his eyes as if the person before him wasn't even worth a glance.

Elder Servant Lin En, who was standing behind him, heard this and walked up.

"Uncle En, have mercy!" Young Master Lin Yanyi was somewhat desperate.

Elder Servant Lin En did not respond. He stepped forward quickly, reached out, and picked up Young Master Lin Yanyi as if he were a chick, completely ignoring his pleas, and walked straight out of the cave.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, Elder Servant Lin En walked back in and bowed, reporting: "He has been sealed in the Mysterious Ice Cave."

After finishing, Elder Servant Lin En stood to the side again, but his expression was hesitant, as if he had something to say.

"Speak!" Great-uncle Lin Tianqi's cultivation was heaven-defying; he was fully aware of the movements outside the cave and spoke directly.

"Master, he is only at the First Grade Realm. In that Mysterious Ice Cave, I fear he will die after staying for just fifteen or sixteen days. How can he last for three months?"

"Sword Intent is condensed from a person's essence and Qi. Look at his unfocused eyes; this is a severe mental injury! He must be made to live toward death. Only by tempering his will between life and death might he have a glimmer of opportunity."

"If he can cast aside life and death within ten days and re-condense his Sword Intent, I naturally won't let him die. If, by chance, he cannot... within ten days... heh!"

"Master, should we notify the family head? After all, among the Lin family's current generation of descendants, Young Master Lin Yanyi can be considered to have outstanding Aptitude!"

"Hmph!" Great-uncle Lin Tianqi sneered, continuing: "Does my Lin family lack such people? What the Lin family lacks are people who can Cultivate the Sacred Heart Art and open up new territories for my Lin family in this upcoming new era."

"A piece of trash with shattered Sword Intent—if he cannot realize his own value, then let him die in there!" After finishing, he refused to speak any further and closed his eyes.