What was Xu Qi An’s weapon?
This question stumped everyone present, at least the people from Dragon’s Lair City were momentarily unable to answer.
It wasn’t due to gaps in intelligence, nor was it because Ji Xuan and the others didn’t know. The intelligence reports on Xu Qi An recorded that he used a sword-shaped blade. But what kind of blade it was, no one had researched deeply.
The reason was simple: a warrior’s combat power comes from within. The higher the rank of the warrior, the less they need weapons—their physical body becomes their strongest weapon. More often than not, weapons were merely symbolic.
Few people paid attention to warriors’ weapons or magical artifacts unless they had special effects that warranted extra vigilance. Like the Nation-Stabilizing Sword that even Third Rank warriors feared, or the Buddhist Pagoda…
Therefore, even Ji Xuan hadn’t specifically researched what weapon Xu Qi An used.
Xu Yuan Shuang gazed ahead and said coolly, “It’s a dark golden blade of exceptional quality, ranking just below Divine Spirit Weapons.”
Worth noting, magical items were classified as:
Mortal Weapons, Magical Artifacts, Divine Spirit Weapons, and Treasured Tools.
Mortal Weapons were ordinary arms, while Magical Artifacts possessed special abilities. Besides warriors, practitioners of various systems could nurture Magical Artifacts, but only Artificers could mass-produce them.
Divine Spirit Weapons were Magical Artifacts that had developed self-awareness.
As for Treasured Tools, they were Divine Spirit Weapons that had transformed after obtaining certain opportunities.
For example, the Great Ming’s Nation-Stabilizing Sword was originally a Divine Spirit Weapon, but after being empowered by national fortune for six hundred years, it transformed into a Treasured Tool. It specialized in breaking through warriors’ physical defenses.
Ji Xuan looked at his cousin with surprise. “You seem quite knowledgeable about this.”
Xu Yuan Shuang felt his words carried a mocking tone and turned away with furrowed brows.
At this moment, she heard Master Plantain let out a puzzled “Oh?” and quickly turned back to watch the battlefield.
Looking closely, she immediately understood Master Plantain’s confusion. Xu Qi An had thrown his blade into the air.
Even more incredibly, the blade automatically left its scabbard, as if possessed of life, actively meeting the descending spear tip.
The dark golden blade light swept upward, clashing head-on with the arc-shaped energy field at the spear’s tip.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In the spectators’ view, they saw Xu Yuan Huai, who had been diving down, watching as his black spear first shattered at the tip, then broke apart section by section.
This weapon, reportedly crafted by Dragon’s Lair City’s Second Rank Artificer himself for his offspring’s protection, was destroyed just like that.
Throughout all this, Xu Qi An hadn’t moved an inch.
Xu Yuan Huai let out a dragon’s screech from his throat as if heavily struck. Streaks of black light shot out from his body in all directions.
That was the spirit of the Fourth Rank Flood Dragon—it had been scattered by the Taiping Blade.
Completely obliterated.
As the “host,” Xu Yuan Huai suffered severe injuries from this, falling from mid-air with blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, his meridians burning like fire.
The Taiping Blade hummed and buzzed while circling through the air, seemingly celebrating its successful debut, while also appearing to show off and mock.
The blade spirit’s personality largely matched its master’s. The difference was that its master had internalized his swagger, no longer displaying it outwardly. But the blade spirit was still young and easily got carried away.
After ascending to Divine Spirit Weapon status and being nurtured by Xu Qi An, the Taiping Blade’s power had increased dramatically, advancing by leaps and bounds.
Compared to when its consciousness first awakened, it was now a mature blade capable of fighting enemies on its own.
“A Divine Spirit Weapon?”
Xu Yuan Shuang couldn’t help but cry out.
As an Artificer, she knew better than anyone how precious and rare Divine Spirit Weapons were.
It could be said with certainty that even the Overseer and her father Xu Ping Feng could only forge the “embryo” of a Divine Spirit Weapon, giving a Magical Artifact the foundation to become one.
But whether it could become a true Divine Spirit Weapon depended on chance or painstaking nurturing.
Just like the Overseer’s Treasured Tool, the Celestial Mechanism Plate, was initially just an ordinary Magical Artifact. The Overseer used it frequently to divine heavenly patterns, carrying it with him always, and only after years of accumulation did it become a Divine Spirit Weapon.
Later, it transformed into a Treasured Tool.
The Buddhist Pagoda went through a similar process.
A Divine Spirit Weapon… Everyone was visibly moved, unable to control the greed, passion, desire, and jealousy in their eyes.
Warriors didn’t need weapons—but that didn’t include Divine Spirit Weapons.
At the same level, whoever possessed a Divine Spirit Weapon held the advantage of victory.
The inexperienced Miao You Fang didn’t recognize Divine Spirit Weapons, but seeing a weapon with its consciousness left him both amazed and envious.
Xu Yuan Huai’s face turned ashen. The dispersal of the Flood Dragon soul hadn’t caused him too much injury, but seeing his strongest attack, which he had been charging up for so long, easily neutralized.
No, the opponent hadn’t even moved—he had merely sent out a blade to face him, and that had been enough to break his spear.
For a proud young genius like Xu Yuan Huai, this was a crushing blow, a resounding slap to the face.
“Little children should go play in the mud elsewhere. This isn’t a place for you to fool around,” said Xu Qi An as he recalled the Taiping Blade, gripped it, and then pointed toward some mud in the distance.
Xu Yuan Huai’s already ashen face instantly turned blood red. Humiliation, anger, shame… his masseter muscles bulged at his cheeks.
The injury wasn’t severe, but the insult was extreme.
Young people were at an age where “face was worth more than life.” Hot-blooded, he let out an angry roar and charged at Xu Qi An empty-handed.
He ran like the wind, his qi tearing through the air, unstoppable like a wild bull.
Xu Yuan Huai took three steps in two, suddenly leaping high, and throwing a punch at Xu Qi An.
Pak!
The force of his fist tore through the air.
This punch was thrown at his peak, brilliantly executed.
Xu Qi An nodded slightly in appreciation, then reached out to grip his neck and slammed him hard into the ground.
Puh!
Along with the violent tremor of the ground, Xu Yuan Huai spat out a mouthful of blood. The impact on his head left him momentarily dizzy.
“You don’t know your place!”
Xu Qi An gripped the Taiping Blade, pointing its edge at Xu Yuan Huai’s chest. A gentle thrust would end the young man’s life.
“Xu Qi An…”
A scream rang out as Xu Yuan Shuang rushed forward with an anxious expression, stopping between the two groups. She didn’t speak, just bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes, staring at him defiantly.
Xu Qi An frowned, glancing at her, then looked down at Xu Yuan Huai, whose face was half-covered in blood, eyes full of anger and defiance.
His wrist turned, using the blade’s back to break Xu Yuan Huai’s kneecaps and elbows, then lightly kicked him up.
Xu Yuan Huai flew like a ball in an arc, landing precisely at his sister’s feet.
The beautiful young woman pressed her lips together, giving Xu Qi An a deep look before bending down to help her brother up, saying coolly, “We will not participate in this matter further.”
With that, she supported Xu Yuan Huai away to the other side, distancing themselves from Ji Xuan and the others, making their stance clear.
As they walked away, she glanced at her brother’s dim expression and lifeless pupils, her tone carrying a rare gentleness: “Don’t be discouraged. He’s someone even Father finds troublesome—it’s only natural you’re not his match yet. If you’re not convinced, then make him your goal. Having such an enemy standing before you will drive you to advance fiercely on the martial path.”
Xu Yuan Huai’s empty eyes flickered. “Do you also see him as an enemy?”
Xu Yuan Shuang’s lovely red lips pressed together slightly, leaving the question unanswered.
After retreating to a distance, the siblings stood side by side to observe the battle.
Xu Yuan Shuang was only a Sixth Rank Artificer, not counted as combat strength. Xu Yuan Huai himself was merely Fifth Rank, just additional support—their loss wouldn’t matter much. The siblings’ withdrawal wouldn’t significantly impact the fighting power of Ji Xuan’s team and the Buddhist monks.
The upcoming clash of dragons and tigers would be the key.
Xu Yuan Huai had accomplished his task—he had preliminarily probed Xu Qi An’s combat power. During the siblings’ slow retreat, this force considered a pillar of both the Buddhist sect and Dragon’s Lair City, formulated their initial battle strategy.
“Master Jing Yuan, your Golden Buddha Technique is the only thing here that can withstand a Divine Spirit Weapon’s edge, so you’ll need to take the lead. Master Jing Xin, you lead the other monks in support, using the Precepts to assist us. White Tiger, you’re the fastest—handle harassment and rescue. Qi Huan Dan Xiang, you’re responsible for sneak attacks. Red Cotton and I will handle the main engagement.”
Ji Xuan issued orders methodically, arranging everything in perfect order.
Master Plantain watched with satisfaction. He hadn’t backed the wrong person—Ji Xuan possessed leadership ability and knew how to be patient, with outstanding cultivation talent. Such a person could soar high given the opportunity. This dragon qi gathering trial was exactly such an opportunity provided by Dragon’s Lair City.
“Daoist Master, you just need to watch over Miao You Fang,” Ji Xuan said, turning to him.
Master Plantain smiled. “This poor Daoist’s cultivation is shallow—I won’t interfere. Watching over youth with sealed cultivation is still within my capabilities.”
After their discussion, everyone slowly turned to face that young man of legendary fame.
Ji Xuan noticed the surnamed Xu observing him, their gazes meeting.
This noble who had hidden his light for over a decade gradually shed his gentle demeanor, his eyes revealing true sharpness.
He took a deep breath and said word by word: “Attack!”
As his words fell, the group of Fourth Rank experts rushed at Xu Qi An together, their momentum like a rainbow.
Anyone witnessing this scene would surely feel their blood boiling.
At least Miao You Fang, watching from afar, felt an inexplicable empathy with their coordinated resistance, even though these people were his enemies.
The act of the weak uniting to resist the strong naturally resonated with people.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Master Jing Yuan ran at full speed, causing slight tremors in the ground.
As he ran, golden light spilled from between his brows, quickly suffusing his entire body.
Jing Yuan transformed into a golden streak of light, charging recklessly toward Xu Qi An with a fearless stance that abandoned all defense.
“Amitabha lay down your blade!” Master Jing Xin called out, palms pressed together.
“Amitabha lay down your blade.” Over twenty monks behind him simultaneously pressed their palms together.
The monks’ power converged, an immense yet invisible force descending to envelope Xu Qi An.
Qi Huan Dan Xiang darted out from the flank, activating her life-bound heart parasite to generate invisible waves targeting the spirit.
Under this dual assault, Jing Yuan successfully closed in on Xu Qi An, delivering a vicious headbutt with gritted teeth.
“Dong!”
A sound like a great bell suddenly burst through the world.
With Xu Qi An and Jing Yuan at its center, waves of qi scattered, transforming into fierce winds that whipped up layers of snow spray.
Jing Xin groaned and stumbled backward, feeling dizzy and nearly vomiting.
Xu Qi An stood unmoved, golden lacquer covering his surface, transforming him into a brilliant golden figure.
The second wave—Ji Xuan, Liu Hong Mian, White Tiger, and behind them Jing Xin, further back Master Plantain, and even the Xu siblings watching from afar—all felt their hearts sink.
The Golden Buddha Technique!
His cultivation had recovered enough to use the Golden Buddha Technique.
Ji Xuan shouted: “Grind him down!”
Taking advantage of the opening from Jing Yuan’s headbutt, he and Liu Hong Mian quickly moved to position, making their attacks flow seamlessly, giving Xu Qi An no chance to catch his breath.
From Ji Xuan’s sleeve shot out a sword that seemed carved from ice, its blade nearly transparent but emanating faint moonlight.
The Moon Shadow Sword!
This sword was originally Ji Qian’s weapon, possessing the foundation of a Divine Spirit Weapon—a pinnacle creation among Magical Artifacts.
After Xu Ping Feng retrieved it from Xu Qi An, he gifted it to Ji Xuan.
The Moon Shadow Sword’s tip erupted in dazzling light, giving people a sense of both lightness and weight, a belief that nothing could resist it.
Ji Xuan’s Fourth Rank Sword Intent—where the sword light reaches, nothing remains unbroken.
Ding!
This sharp sword force struck Xu Qi An’s chest. The golden lacquer rapidly dissipated, the brilliant golden body dimming by at least half, no longer dazzling.
This single strike from Ji Xuan could break through the physical defense of a fourth-rank warrior of the same level.
But against Xu Qi An’s Golden Buddha Technique, it could only wear away half the defense.
After delivering this strike, Ji Xuan’s strongest burst was spent. He didn’t follow up with combinations but instead withdrew his sword and retreated, knowing that no matter how fierce his subsequent attacks might be, they couldn’t surpass this all-out burst.
But that was fine—Liu Hong Mian’s full-power burst would connect seamlessly.
Liu Hong Mian, the fallen disciple of the Ten Thousand Flowers Palace, leaped over Ji Xuan’s head, her skirts flying and hair dancing, pressing her fair palms against this monster’s armored chest, exploding with force.
Dong!
Amidst the bell-like boom, qi waves exploded outward, sending Xu Qi An flying, his golden body dimming further.
This sight made everyone’s eyes brighten.
“Roar!”
Suddenly, an ear-splitting howl.
White Tiger crouched, its spine elongating, white beast fur bursting through its skin, nose broadening, eyes turning amber, face sprouting layer after layer of fur.
In an instant, it revealed its true form.
It transformed into a gust of wind, its speed exceeding what the experts present could track with their naked eyes, ghostlike as it “ran” to Xu Qi An’s front.
It raised its coldly gleaming claws, grabbing for his chest.
Its claws were wrapped in green wind, converting ultimate speed into ultimate force. With this strike, its claws might break.
But Xu Qi An’s Golden Buddha Technique might also be broken, exposing the heart within.
Ji Xuan and the others held their breath.
Xu Yuan Shuang couldn’t help but walk several quick steps forward as if wanting to see more clearly.
Xu Yuan Huai’s eyes widened, staring intently at this scene.
Just then, a brilliant golden light leaped into White Tiger’s pupils.
The previously dimmed golden body suddenly burst with “vitality,” instantly returning to its peak.
“Did you overlook something?” Xu Qi An’s mouth curved in a sneer. “Though I’m not at my peak, Third Rank is still Third Rank.”
Dong!
He took the claw strike head-on, completely unharmed, while White Tiger’s claws shattered.
Xu Qi An’s wrist turned, counter-sweeping with Taiping, aiming to cut off White Tiger’s paw.
Jing Xin immediately activated the Precepts: “Amitabha, lay down—”
“Roar!”
What answered him was an ear-splitting lion’s roar that made everyone’s blood surge and their vision darken.
Xu Qi An used the Buddhist Lion’s Roar to break the rhythm of the Precepts.
Puh!
The Taiping Blade successfully severed White Tiger’s forepaw, bright red blood spraying forth, staining Xu Qi An’s golden body.
At this moment, White Tiger sensed the crisis of death, survival instinct overriding pain as it rode the fierce wind to flee quickly.
Xu Qi An ran several steps and forcefully threw the Taiping Blade.
The Taiping Blade automatically locked onto its target. No matter how White Tiger twisted and turned, it pursued relentlessly.
Ding!
Ji Xuan swung the Moon Shadow Sword, deflecting the Taiping Blade. Liu Hong Mian, Jing Yuan, and the others rushed over together to protect the White Tiger.
Seeing this, the Taiping Blade ceased its pursuit, returning reluctantly to place itself in Xu Qi An’s hand.
Gripping the blade, Xu Qi An grinned: “Warm-up’s over!”
Ji Xuan, Liu Hong Mian, Qi Huan Dan Xiang, Jing Yuan, Jing Xin, White Tiger, and even Xu Yuan Huai in the distance, all felt their hearts sink.
An inexplicable chill rose in their hearts.
“Hehe, this doesn’t look good,” Miao You Fang said with schadenfreude.
Master Plantain’s face was as still as water.