Chapter 97: Inner Gate Assessment (Part 1)

  Xuantian's sword lifted the black veil off the Ghost Shadow Swordsman's face, revealing a slightly astonished expression. The Ghost Shadow Swordsman was surprisingly young, with a pale complexion, appearing to be less than twenty years old.

  Before the age of twenty, his cultivation had already reached the third level of the Innate Realm. As long as no accidents occurred in the future, he would at least become a top-notch expert in the late stage of the Innate Realm, and even have hope to reach the Great Perfection of the Innate Realm and break through to the Earthly Realm.

  Such a disciple is extremely rare in the four major sects of the Divine Blade Dynasty and absolutely belongs to the genius level.

  However, a fallen genius will no longer be a genius, and like ordinary warriors, they will eventually turn to dust.

  Blue light flashed, Xuantian broke open the Ghost Shadow Swordsman's chest-front shirt, two secret books, a blood-red bead, and two dan medicine bottles fell out.

  Ghostly Shadow!

  The sunlight of Xuantian was attracted by the four characters on the cover of the secret book at first glance.

  Just by the name, it's clear that "Ghost Shadow Divine Movement" is a lightness skill manual. The Ghost Shadow Swordsman's lightness skills are even more exceptional than those of the Mystic Heaven level. This "Ghost Shadow Divine Movement" is either a mid-grade or top-notch lower Mystic Heaven level lightness skill.

  Apart from "Ghost Shadow, Secret Book", Xuan Tian's gaze also fell on the blood-red bead. With his Ironsmith Sect Master's eyesight, he could see that this blood bead was extraordinary and not like any ordinary object.

  Another secret book, looks very simple, dull color, no words on it.

  As for those two medicine bottles, one is a low-grade True Qi Pill, and the other is a healing injury medicine called Hua Yuan Dan.

  Huayuan Dan is also a Xuan-level elixir, which is a relatively ordinary healing elixir. However, it is more than ten times more expensive than the lower-grade True Qi Elixir used for cultivation. One Huayuan Dan is worth at least 400,000 to 500,000 silver coins and can only treat general injuries.

  If it were a healing pill that could cure mortal wounds, the price would be much higher than the Huayuan Pill, at least 2-3 million taels of silver.

  Xuantian's first reaction was to grab the "Ghost Shadow Divine Movement" and take a look at it. What he cared about most was still this lightness skill manual, so he opened it up to take a look.

  Ghost Shadow Divine Movement: Xuanjie Upper Grade Light Skill, divided into six levels. The first and second levels are Xuanjie Lower Grade; the third and fourth levels are Xuanjie Middle Grade; the fifth and sixth levels are Xuanjie Upper Grade.

  The Phantom Hero's first volume is divided into three parts: The First Part, The Second Part, and The Third Part.

  Xuantian found that "Ghost Shadow Divine Movement, flipped to the end, indeed, the first volume only recorded the front three heavy, although "Ghost Shadow Divine Movement" is a top-grade lightness skill of Xuan Stage, but only the front three heavy can only be equivalent to mid-grade Xuan Stage.

  Moreover, "Ghostly Shadow, Middle, records a combat footwork, precisely the Ghostly Shadow Swordsman's "Ghostly Soul-Confusing Step". The first move, one's shadow can split into two; the second move, one's shadow can split into four; the third move, one's shadow can split into eight.

  The Ghost Shadow Swordsman had cultivated the "Ghost Shadow Divine Movement" to the third level, and at least reached a realm above the Small Success Stage. No wonder it was slightly faster than the "Dragon Tiger Step" of the Profound Heaven Great Success Stage.

  "What a pity! Only the first volume, if I could get both volumes, that would be great. However, having the first volume is already quite good, it's a mid-grade light skill in the Mystic Realm. I should be content with that. Moreover, there's also the "Ghost Shadow Soul Step" which is extremely mysterious. If I hadn't grasped the sword intent, I wouldn't have been able to distinguish between reality and illusion when facing the third level of "Ghost Shadow Soul Step". It can both attack and retreat, indeed worthy of being a high-grade light skill in the Mystic Realm, very comprehensive."

  "The ghostly figure moved swiftly, retracting the mysterious sky and revealing a satisfied smile."

  The Ghost Shadow Swordsman is not a disciple of the other major sects, although he may have some background, but he is not a person from the Divine Blade Dynasty. Xuan Tian took his belongings without hesitation, killing him would be just killing him, and he was not afraid of being known by others.

  The ghostly figure moved stealthily and stored the secret manual in the spatial ring. He picked up that book with no words on it and flipped through it.

  Xuanxuan Secret Art: Xuanjie Secret Technique, can seal the pre-heavenly boundary of a martial artist's cultivation realm, and also seal the fluctuations of their aura. Only strong practitioners above the mid-term of the Earth Boundary Realm can see through it.

  The cultivation of the Ghost Shadow Swordsman sealed a realm, it seems that he has cultivated this "Sealing Mysterious Art", which is not a cultivation method or a combat martial skill, but has some special effects and is a very rare martial art, usually with significant effects.

  Seal cultivation, every martial artist will, but wanting not to be discovered by other martial artists is a bit difficult.

  An ordinary martial artist's seal of cultivation, if their cultivation is higher than that of another martial artist, can be seen at a glance. Martial artists of the same realm have a high probability of seeing it too. Even martial artists with cultivation one realm lower can sense something. Only those with cultivation two realms or more below them can be deceived.

  As for the Huang family's warriors, they were originally strong in the ground stage, cultivating to suppress their injuries and seal them up. The congenital stage warriors couldn't see even a bit of it, but if they encountered stronger warriors with higher cultivation than theirs, they would be exposed. That's why the Huang family warriors chose this remote place, Beidao County.

  "This 'Seal of Mystical Arts' can help me hide my strength even better in the Pre-Heaven Realm, to the point where even early-stage Earth Stage cultivators won't be able to see through it. In the entire North Marsh County, no one will be able to discern my true abilities, which has a huge impact on my safety." Xuan Tian's mouth curled up as he stored the 'Seal of Mystical Arts' into his spatial ring as well.

  Xuantian immediately picked up the crimson bead again and was about to examine it when his ears perked up, and he heard three people rushing towards this place.

  He immediately stored the Blood Bead in his Spatial Ring, stood up and looked around, only to see that Feng Buqi, Gu Qianrou and Sun Yiqiu were shouting at him from afar: "Huang Shidi!"

  Soon, Feng Bu Zhi and the other two arrived beside Xuan Tian, looking at the corpse of Gui Ying Jian Ke on the ground, pierced through the heart by a single sword. The three people's eyes all showed a shocked expression.

  "Huang Shidi, did you really kill Guiying Sword Guest?" Sun Yiqiu asked in surprise.

  Although the corpse of Guiying Sword Guest was right in front of them, the three people still couldn't believe it and were extremely shocked.

  First Heaven Stage one layer, killing First Heaven Stage two layers, although only surpassed one boundary, however, among 10,000 martial artists, it's also difficult to produce a genius who can fight beyond their level.

  The number of warriors in the Xiantian realm of the Divine Sword Dynasty is over 100,000, but geniuses who can challenge across levels are few and far between.

  It's easy to talk about skipping levels, but it's hard to do. Now that one has appeared before their eyes, how can the three of them not be surprised?

  If three people knew that Guiying Sword Guest sealed his cultivation, his actual cultivation was Xiantian Realm Triple Heavy, and he didn't know what kind of shocking appearance it would be.

  Three people's eyes widened in surprise, Xuan Tian smiled and said: "The strength of the Ghost Shadow Swordsman lies in his agility, with a speed that is extremely fast. It just so happens that my junior brother's agility skills are not low, and he can just counter him."

  Three people knew that it was a humble remark of Xuan Tian, Feng Bu Zhi Dao said: "The potential of Huang Shidi is the first among the inner door disciples. Among the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, only Chu Feng Shixiong, who has been promoted to the core disciple, has such potential. In the future, the position of the first inner door disciple will be unshakeable for Huang Shidi."

  Gu Qianrou said: "Huang Shidi hasn't gone to the Sword Pavilion to leave his name and become an inner door disciple, it seems that the elders of the inner door, as well as our fellow disciples, still don't know that our sect has another genius with potential comparable to Chu Feng Shixiong. The three of us are indeed very fortunate to be the first to know, Huang Shidi, it seems we have a deep affinity."

  Xuantian's potential shocked them, they knew that Xuantian would be a key figure in the Tianjian Guest House, and getting close to him would bring great benefits.

  "It's an honor for me as a junior brother to get to know three senior brothers and sisters on the way back to the sect!"

  Although it was their first meeting, Feng Bu Zhi and the three Xuan Tian had a good impression of him. At least, unlike some of his fellow disciples, they didn't have any ulterior motives towards him and were quite concerned about him. Xuan Tian said: "Feng Shixiong, Gu Shijie, Sun Shixiong, your sect's mission is to hunt down the Ghost Shadow Swordsman. His corpse will be left for you three seniors to handle."

  Feng Buzhi's face froze for a moment, and he shook his head decisively: "The Ghost Shadow Swordsman was killed by Huang Shidi, the three of us, how could we steal your credit."

  Gu Qianrou and Sun Yiqiu took a glance at the corpse of Guiying Xiangke, and Xuantian's proposal made them very happy in their hearts. However, Feng Buzhi refused, and the two also shook their heads.

  Xuantian Dao said: "Even if I bring back the head of Guiying Sword Guest, others won't believe it. Moreover, Brother doesn't want to cause a stir by returning to the sect. So, Brothers and Sisters, you're doing me a favor by taking care of killing Guiying Sword Guest for me. However, Guiying Sword Guest may not be an ordinary Jianghu rogue, he might have some background. The three of you brothers and sisters will take on the responsibility of killing Guiying Sword Guest, which may bring some trouble."

  Sun Yiqiu patted his chest and said, "No matter what his background is, being wanted by our sect means certain death. Could his background be more important than the Tianjian Sect?"

  "This..."

  Xuan Tianyi said, and also saw Sun Yiqiu's enthusiasm was high, Feng Bu Zhi said somewhat awkwardly: "Since Master Huang has said so, then Master will only have to thank him. If there is anything that needs Master's help in the future, just speak up. This favor, I will remember it in my heart and return it to you."

  Jian Feng didn't refuse and answered, Gu Qian Rou and Sun Yi Qiu exclaimed in unison: "Thank you, Huang Shidi."

  Feng Buzhi beheaded the Ghost Shadow Swordsman with a single swing of his sword, wrapping the head in the torn clothes. However, the Ghost Shadow Swordsman's waist was also slashed open, revealing a large stack of silver notes.

  The silver tickets were all one thousand taels each, with over a hundred sheets, no less than one million taels. Feng Zhili picked up the silver tickets and two bottles of elixir, handed them to Xuan Tian, and said: "Huang Shidi, the Ghost Shadow Swordsman's head belongs to us, the gains on his body belong to you."

  Xuantian didn't decline, took it over, and put it in his bosom. He said: "Junior Brother continues to return to the sect, Feng Shixiong, what about you?"

  "Mission accomplished, we should also return to the sect and report back. Huang Shidi, why don't we go together?"

  A few days later, Xuan Tian, Feng Bu Zhi, Gu Qian Rou and Sun Yi Qiu returned to the foot of the Tian Jian Sect mountain.

  Xuantian bid farewell to the three of them and headed towards the outer peak of the Tianjian Sect.

  Looking at the background of Xuan Tian, Feng Bu Zhi sighed: "Huang Shidi is a talented person with exceptional talent, he is a top-notch genius and will be a pillar of our sect in the future. What's rare is that he doesn't seem like other top-notch geniuses."

  "With eyes above the top, able to treat people with equanimity, it's really rare and precious."