Chapter One Hundred: Settling the Matter of Su Li

Since leaving the wasteland of thunder, Yang Xiao had gained a new understanding of the realm of sword essence. Thus, he could now readily unleash the thousand flying swords transformed from the Dragon and Serpent Sword, and the power of this sword art had also risen greatly compared with before. Under the enveloping pressure of the thousand swords, Su Li’s defensive shield began to falter, and together with Cang Yuan’s qi attack, cracks soon appeared across its surface.

At last, Su Li’s defensive shield split cleanly in two, and he was thrown into the joint assault of Yang Xiao and Cang Yuan.

Although Su Li tried another formidable defensive art, he could by no means withstand the combined attack of the two men.

At that point, he could only beg Yang Xiao for mercy. “Brother, show leniency. Following you this time was indeed because I wanted to get the intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone, but I bear no ill will toward you. I beg you, spare my life.”

“You speak so pleasantly now. If Brother Cang Yuan had not discovered that you were tailing me, then even if you had tried to kill me, I would have had no defense against it. So why should I let you go so easily?” Yang Xiao naturally had no intention of releasing Su Li so readily, and his tone remained relentless.

“Whatever I say now is useless. I don’t know what other conditions you may have, but as long as I can do it, I will agree to anything. I only ask that you leave me a way to live.” Su Li pleaded bitterly.

“You intended to do me harm from the start. Even if I killed you, I would have ample reason. But since you have not yet laid a hand on me, I can spare your life this time. Still, though death may be avoided, punishment cannot. Since you wanted to obtain the intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone from me, then you must have such things on your own person as well, yes? Hand them over, and I will let you leave.” Yang Xiao said sternly.

“I truly do not have any intermediate spatial stones or shapeshifting stone on me. How am I supposed to give them to you? Brother, why not choose another condition? I have many spirit stones as well, and I can give you all of them.” Su Li begged desperately.

“I see you are still not being honest. Who does not know that to refine a spirit treasure, two sets of intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone are far from enough? The success rate of refining a spirit treasure is often only around one in ten. Since you want so badly to get the two sets of intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone from me, that means you must still have several sets on you, enough to meet the requirements for refining a spirit treasure. If you still refuse to cooperate honestly today, then I have no choice but to kill you. By then, once you are dead, everything on you will belong to me.” Yang Xiao threatened again.

“Brother, I truly do not have any intermediate spatial stones or shapeshifting stone on me. How am I supposed to hand them over to you?” Su Li said somewhat aggrievedly.

“In that case, I will have to show you what I am capable of. Do not think you can truly resist in my hands.” As Yang Xiao spoke, he once again launched a fierce assault on Su Li. In an instant, the myriad flying swords tore through Su Li’s surrounding defenses, riddling them with holes and leaving him to feel the threat of death in full.

At this moment, Su Li was finally seized with true fear of Yang Xiao. He had originally thought he was no match for him, but that Yang Xiao would not be able to kill him so easily. Yet now, seeing Yang Xiao’s killing blow, he was utterly despairing. If this continued, he really would be killed by Yang Xiao, and there would be no chance of escape.

“Brother, stop! I still have three more sets of intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone here. I obtained them only after untold hardship. Since you want them, take them all. I only beg you to spare my life.” Su Li pleaded with Yang Xiao.

“If you had taken them out sooner, none of this would have happened.” Yang Xiao said. It seemed his guess had been correct: since Su Li wanted to refine a spirit treasure, he must still have other intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone on him. These materials could now be taken into Yang Xiao’s own possession, saving him the trouble of gathering them elsewhere when the time came for him to refine a spirit treasure himself.

With some reluctance, Su Li handed over the three sets of intermediate spatial stones and shapeshifting stone to Yang Xiao and said, “Brother, these materials were obtained after much hardship. I had originally intended to use the old refining method of our Weapon Sun Society to forge a spirit treasure, but since I have now fallen into your hands, there is nothing to resent. I only hope that Brother will make good use of these materials.”

“There is no need for the guild master to worry about that. A promise is a promise. You may leave now.” Yang Xiao said, and then withdrew the flying sword blockade around Su Li, restoring his freedom.

Though Su Li was still unwilling, he was indeed no match for Yang Xiao. If he did not leave now, and Yang Xiao changed his mind later, he might not even have the chance to go. Thus, while thanking Yang Xiao repeatedly, he still slunk away in defeat.

“Brother Yang, you are quite merciful indeed. You actually let Su Li go. Are you not afraid he will come looking for trouble with you later?” After Su Li had left, Cang Yuan said with a smile.

“Enemies are best resolved, not deepened. Su Li never caused me any real harm, so letting him bleed a little and then go on his way is enough. If I were truly to tangle with him endlessly, who knows whether I could kill him so easily after all? As an expert at the Condensed Qi stage, who does not have a few desperate tricks up his sleeve? Once a man fights for his life, it is hardly worth risking injury to myself over it. Better this outcome than another. Besides, after this lesson, I believe Su Li will not dare to provoke me again. And even if he does, next time I certainly will not mind ending him for good.” Yang Xiao analyzed.

“Good. Brother Yang Xiao truly speaks with refreshing frankness. I very much like your character. Since Su Li’s matter has been fully resolved, we can continue discussing the matter of the Condensing Qi Pill.” Cang Yuan changed the subject.

“Indeed. Earlier, Brother Cang Yuan said that the materials for this Condensing Qi Pill were not easy to obtain. I wonder where exactly these materials are found? As long as Brother Cang Yuan is willing to tell me where to look, I will naturally go and search for them, because I am very interested in this pill formula and would like to refine it.” Yang Xiao asked tentatively.

“To gather the materials listed in the Condensing Qi Pill formula in full, one would ordinarily have to search many places. However, I recently learned of a location that contains quite a number of ancient spirit herb materials. So long as we go there to search, we should be able to find all the ingredients.” Cang Yuan said to Yang Xiao with a somewhat mysterious air.