Volume One, Chapter 10: The Black Guard Who Died Midway

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Inside Xu Que's room.

He used the "Soul Refining Heart" technique to assimilate the remnant soul of the dragon clan into one of his finger bones, forming a dragon bone.

However, this technique was originally created by an ancient supreme emperor of heaven specifically for refining the Heavenly Gourd, making it incredibly profound and requiring extremely advanced energy.

Xu Que could only consume the pure energy from the Heavenly Gourd to refine the dragon soul.

Each activation was like a chain of soul shackles—countless shackles branded onto the dragon soul’s remnant, leaving it stunned and speechless.

He had assumed that a mortal’s refining method wouldn’t be too sophisticated.

But the truth was terrifyingly impressive.

Each shackle pierced straight through its feeble remnant soul, yet there were thousands upon thousands of them.

In truth, the dragon soul wanted to say that it couldn’t escape even one shackle.

As if it were some precious treasure.

Fearful, the dragon soul thought, “This refining secret technique could only have been created by a top-tier supreme emperor. It could probably even refine an entire small world. Could he be a reincarnation of a great power? Thankfully, he accepted me as his subordinate.”

Eventually, the dragon clan’s remnant soul condensed upon one of Xu Que’s finger bones.

With just a thought, he could summon it at will, releasing the dragon head to bite and tear.

Moreover, during the refining process, the dragon soul absorbed a large amount of pure energy fed back from the Heavenly Gourd, causing its strength to leap forward.

It reached the same level as Xu Que—Seventh Tier of the Martial Sect Realm.

This was roughly equivalent to having a dragon-headed assistant with equal destructive power.

“Master, your physique is very special. This bone seems to nourish my remnant soul.”

That went without saying—Xu Que’s invincible divine body was the best nourishment.

“What benefit does this give you?”

“I can recover my strength faster. For example, my fission ability feels ready to use.”

“Use it, let me see.”

With a thought, three black dragon heads surged forth from his finger.

Roar!

The dragon heads let out fierce roars, tearing at the air.

“Attack me,” Xu Que commanded.

The black dragons, unable to act on their own will, were completely controlled by Xu Que’s mind, biting toward him.

Xu Que immediately used body movement to dodge, suddenly punching.

Bang, bang, bang.

His three fists struck the air.

The black dragon soul was indeed immune to pure physical attacks.

His arm was bitten with several wounds.

Keep in mind, Xu Que possessed an invincible divine body, and for a peer to injure him meant they were no ordinary opponent.

This meant the black dragon soul could be considered a legitimate combat force.

“Master! I didn’t—I don’t want to hurt you! Spare me, please! I’m completely controlled by your will, I’m innocent!”

Yet, the black dragon soul looked at Xu Que’s hand and pleaded desperately.

Xu Que scolded, “Noisy. Keep coming.”

He again commanded the black dragons to attack.

This time, his fists condensed with the strange fire of the martial veins, successfully blocking the dragon soul’s attacks.

In this way, Xu Que gained a deeper understanding of the dragon soul fused into his finger bone.

The key was that this thing had wide-ranging uses.

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After fighting for a while, Xu Que stopped.

He was very satisfied with his new weapon—the finger bone dragon soul.

The black dragon soul was also satisfied, spared from being completely refined by the Heavenly Gourd.

Xu Que took out a large amount of spirit stones, ready to continue refining.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.

He hurried out to see what was happening.

“Master, there’s bad news. Miss Qian Ge and Young Master Wu Ji were bullied in the Xuantian Sacred Land. I heard they were severely injured and their martial veins were destroyed.”

“What? Who’s so bold as to harm my son!”

Xu Clan’s patriarch’s scalp tingled upon hearing this.

Xu Wu Ji was his son—also Xu Que’s cousin.

The servant delivering the news continued, “It was some disciples affiliated with the Duanmu family’s sacred land. Duanmu family didn’t intervene directly, but those people are running errands for them, found a random excuse to provoke, and then… well…”

Xu patriarch ground his teeth in hatred. “They’re courting death.”

The Duanmu family was trying to escalate the matter while hiding behind the scenes, pushing their subordinates out to cause trouble.

Xu Que, who had been eavesdropping, frowned deeply. He had thought the Duanmu family was sensible but didn’t expect such foolishness.

It was the arrogance unique to a top-tier noble family.

The messenger asked, “Master, what should we do now?”

Xu patriarch immediately said, “Seal off the news. The young master must not be disturbed. He just closed himself off to cultivate. Besides, this is clearly an attack aimed at him.”

“As for the Xuantian Sacred Land, I will go personally. We now have seven elders who have broken through to the Martial Lord Realm. Our Xu family is no longer what it used to be.”

“If I cannot return safely, then inform the young master.”

Xu Que’s heart stirred.

Such a big matter, yet the patriarch wanted to keep it from him.

He had no choice—after all, the patriarch was in charge.

But clearly, this mess was because Xu Que had killed Duanmu Xiong. Xu Que felt he had to settle this matter once and for all.

“Although the patriarch and elders say to be bold and confident, they still worry when trouble arises.”

“I must grow stronger quickly and prove my worth.”

“As long as I can win the championship in the sacred land, the Duanmu family will be powerless against me.”

Xu Que recalled that the Xuantian Sacred Land’s championship contest was in just half a month.

That contest chose the strongest disciple among the younger generation.

The winner would receive focused training with the potential to become a sacred land elder in the future.

Although the Duanmu family was one of the three great families in the sacred land, they only had many people working and cultivating there.

Their control over the sacred land was limited.

The true ruler of the sacred land was the Sacred Lord.

Rather than letting his family bear the responsibility for his actions, Xu Que felt as if the Duanmu family wanted to kill him but lacked the power to do so.

Xu Que quickly found his aunt, Si Yuan.

“Aunt, I’m going back to the sacred land. You must accompany me secretly. I’m worried about ambushes on the way.”

Si Yuan was stunned, unaware of the latest news about the Xu family disciples being humiliated in the sacred land, but still agreed.

The two hurried back to the Xuantian Sacred Land, not far from Shengjing.

Along the way, they saw eighteen warriors in black armor hanging from trees, lifeless.

This was the only route to the sacred land.

Such an obvious display of corpses was clearly a provocation.

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Merchants passing by pointed and whispered curiously about who had done this.

“Those are Duanmu family’s Black Guards, undefeated.”

“Because the losers are dead, like those hanging corpses.”

“Who dares do this? Isn’t that inviting enmity with the Duanmu family?”

“That must be the Xu family. Recently, the two families have been feuding over a woman named Zhu Yanran.”

“Does the Xu family have the strength? Duanmu family wouldn’t recklessly mess with them.”

“I heard the Xu family’s seventh elder recently broke through to Martial Lord Realm. It’s entirely possible.”

Xu Que and Si Yuan, just arriving, exchanged looks—they hadn’t done this.

“Heh, looks like the Duanmu family wants to intercept me on the way,” Xu Que thought. “But who killed all the Black Guards? This situation seems like someone is secretly helping me. Could it be master?”

Xu Que looked around but saw no clues.

Si Yuan whispered, “Que’er, there are too many complicated people here. Let’s leave quickly.”

As they started to walk away, a woman appeared from the crowd wearing a cloak and hood, hiding her entire body except half her face.

“That’s Xu Que. Hmph, so easily baited by the Duanmu family. Returning to the sacred land now is just asking for trouble.”

Two guards dressed identically stood behind her. One said, “Miss, he brought along Xu family’s seventh elder, so he’s not that dumb. Also, his spiritual pressure seems to have reached Martial Sect Realm Tier Seven. Coming back from the Xianmie Forbidden Land, not only unharmed but progressing faster.”

The woman sneered, “Ha, let’s see what he can do. If he’s not useful, he’s just wasting my time.”

…

Unaware of who had helped him from behind, Xu Que had already arrived ahead at the floating main hall of the Xuantian Sacred Land.

Just stepping among the clustered buildings, he saw a Xu family disciple being chased and beaten by several sacred land disciples.

“Xu Ziling, where do you think you’re running!”

“Don’t blame us. Blame your young master for competing with the Seventh Young Master over a woman! Pathetic loser. You don’t even have the face to look in a mirror. How can your Xu family compete with the Duanmu family?”

“The Duanmu family’s wrath will make every Xu regret. Regret so much they wish to kill Xu Que with their own hands, then grovel before the Duanmu family, wagging their tails and begging for mercy. Hahaha!”

After the scolding, Xu Que saw his cousin Xu Ziling slammed away by eight consecutive palm strikes, rolling right in front of him.

“Cough, cough… pfft.” Xu Ziling spat out a mouthful of blood.

He couldn’t cry out in pain but struggled to get up, knowing that if he delayed he would be crippled like Xu Wu Ji.

Suddenly, a man leapt forward behind him, his wrist condensing a spiritual blade and striking heavily toward Xu Ziling’s dantian.

“No!” Xu Ziling panicked, unable to imagine becoming a mere mortal.

Ding.

At that moment, Xu Que acted, blocking the strike aimed at his kinsman’s dantian with a treasured sword.

“Huh?”

Both men turned in surprise and spoke in unison.

“Xu Que? You’re back?”