Singing with a Sword

The following is the main text of the novel "{?$article_title?}" ({?$jieqi_title?}) provided by {?$jieqi_sitename?}. Please enjoy! On this vast alien continent, it is divided into five major parts: the Eastern Lands, the Southern Frontier, the Northern Regions, the Western Realm, and the Mediterranean Sea. Each territory has its own imperial clans and cultivation sects, some large and some small, some strong and some weak.

In the Eastern Lands, three great empires stand tall: the Sheng Tang Kingdom in the east, the Tian Yu Kingdom in the north, and the Great Song Kingdom in the south, along with various smaller states and tribes. The Feng Yu Sect is a cultivation sect of the Sheng Tang Kingdom, located in Sizhou, with its headquarters in Su Shui City. Within Sizhou, the Feng Yu Sect is undoubtedly a powerful and influential sect. Its leader, Luo Rong, is a prominent figure in the Sizhou cultivation world, and his outwardly upright and humble demeanor gives him the air of a leader in the Sizhou cultivation community.

Although Hanshan was also within Sizhou, it was quite far from Sushui City. Furthermore, Luo Rong and his group hadn't traveled quickly, so they only arrived in Sushui City today. Seeing their hometown brought a sense of relief, a feeling that overshadowed the disappointment of their failed tomb raiding attempt.

Luo Rong entered the bustling city of Su Shui, where many people recognized him as a kind and virtuous man and bowed to him. Luo Rong humbly returned their greetings, showing no airs of a sect leader. This demeanor only enhanced their admiration for him.

Four elders followed behind him, one of whom immediately said, "Our sect leader has an excellent reputation among the people of Sizhou City. Even Lin Fengxia, the current sect leader of the Great Luo Pill Path, would not be so beloved by the local people."

Luo Rong smiled slightly and said, "Sishui, Sect Leader Lin's character and manners are renowned throughout the world. How could I, Luo Rong, possibly compare?"

The elder, named Li Sishui, was naturally fond of flattering his superiors. He then said, "Hehe, Senior Brother Sect Leader, I'm speaking from the heart! Even Xiang Tiannan, the sect leader of the number one sect in our Sheng Tang Kingdom, may not have the same prestige as you, Senior Brother Sect Leader."

Indeed, the number one sect in the prosperous Tang Dynasty that Li Sishui mentioned is called Zongmen! There isn't a single other proper noun; it's just a common noun! Because it's the most powerful sect in the empire, it doesn't need a name. Mentioning Zongmen will naturally bring it to mind!

Upon hearing the sect's name, Luo Rong smiled slightly and said modestly, "Sect Master Xiang's strength is extraordinary; how can I, Luo Rong, compare to him?"

The passersby, hearing Luo Rong's humble words, thought to themselves, "Sect Leader Luo truly is a model of a refined gentleman! He is neither arrogant nor impatient, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor at all times!" But at that very moment—

Luo Rong's usually calm and collected face suddenly froze, revealing an expression of extreme surprise and indignation! His teeth even clenched tightly, making a grinding sound. At this moment, Luo Rong was practically a man-eating demon! Everyone who saw this was stunned! They wondered what could have caused their sect leader to lose his composure like this?

Li Sishui immediately asked, "Sect Leader, what's wrong?" At some point, Luo Rong's eyes were filled with terrifying bloodshot veins as he said, word by word, "Yunxiao's soul jade tube is shattered!" As he spoke, he took out a jade tube from his personal storage magic item—his storage bag. Several large cracks had appeared on the body of this jade tube!

The Soul Jade Scroll is an incomparably precious magical artifact. Wealthy and powerful families typically equip their direct descendants with one, using it to imprint the child's soul mark onto the scroll. If this young master or lady is murdered, the Soul Jade Scroll will shatter, and the parents will immediately learn of the news.

"Wh...what? The young sect leader was actually...actually killed?!" Li Sishui was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth. In Sizhou, someone actually dared to kill the young sect leader?!

Luo Rong roared, "That's right! We'll head back to Hanshan City right now!" Luo Yunxiao had stayed in Hanshan City, and now that he was dead, it was only natural that they had to return! Perhaps the murderer was still in Hanshan City! Now, Luo Rong was filled with thoughts of revenge, so he moved swiftly, leading the four elders back to Hanshan City at breakneck speed.

Although Luo Yunxiao was a typical good-for-nothing playboy, ignorant, lecherous, and greedy, he was Luo Rong's only son! What father wouldn't love his son? Even if the murderer was a god from heaven, Luo Rong would still seek revenge for his son's murder!

……

……

The moment Luo Yunxiao died, Yi Ranxiao knew something was wrong! He knew that Luo Rong had Luo Yunxiao's soul jade tube. As soon as Luo Yunxiao died, Luo Rong would definitely find out about it immediately. When he rushed back to Hanshan City, he would definitely see the words on that sleeve, and then he would be hunted down by Luo Rong!

Originally, Yi Ranxiao's plan was to use Manman to make Luo Yunxiao lose his mind and drastically reduce his combat power, then severely injure him without killing him, so that Luo Rong wouldn't know he was seeking revenge. Then, he would continue refining Bo Batian's Yuan Power until he had completely refined it, becoming a master of the eighth level of the Qi Condensation Realm. At that point, he would kill Luo Yunxiao and then wait for Luo Rong to arrive in Hanshan City. After all, Luo Rong was only at the sixth level of the Qi Condensation Realm; if he encountered him at that point, he would surely die!

But man proposes, God disposes. That unlucky Luo Yunxiao just happened to be channeling his Yuan energy into his dantian, only to be killed by the recoil! Now, Luo Rong has arrived, and he's only a fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivator—how can he possibly defeat him? Besides, Luo Rong has four elders with him; the difference in their fighting strength is enormous, like heaven and earth!

So now, all they can do is run! Yi Ranxiao tried to stand up, but the injury to her shoulder was too severe! She couldn't even stand up!

If someone were pierced through the shoulder by an ordinary sword, it wouldn't affect their ability to walk. But Luo Yunxiao's sword was infused with Yuan energy! Being stabbed by that sword caused severe damage to the entire body!

So, Yi Ranxiao is now disabled! She can't even stand up!

What to do? Luo Rong is definitely rushing here in a great hurry, and he might even use some precious speed-up talismans, so he could very well arrive here within a day! As for my injuries, how can I walk without resting for two or three days?

Calm down, you must calm down!

In his previous life, Yi Ranxiao had lived a solitary life since childhood, possessing exceptional abilities and a far more mature mindset than his peers. Having also experienced rebirth, he had become even more composed and experienced. Taking a deep breath, Yi Ranxiao forced himself to calm down, and then noticed the unconscious Manman—she had just been caught in the fighting and had passed out.

Could he pretend he wasn't injured and intimidate her into leading him away? No, Manman was a weak woman with no cultivation. How could she possibly escape far or quickly with a burly man? Besides, she had just been caught in the crossfire of the fight and struck by the Yuan energy fluctuations; her injuries must be quite severe, making it even more impossible for her to move.

What should he do? Yiran Xiao calmly pondered a solution. What he didn't notice was that, after the battle, a portion of the Yuan energy in his dantian seemed to have been subtly refined by him!

Currently, Yi Ranxiao's Yuan Power level has firmly entered the early stage of the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm! When he fought Luo Yunxiao, his realm was still unstable; to put it bluntly, he could only be considered to have one foot in the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm. But now, his Yuan Power level has completely reached the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm!

Just then, the system's voice rang in Yi Ranxiao's mind: "Host has refined half of the Yuan Power. Do you wish to accept the system reward?"

Yi Ranxiao was startled. This ultimate positioning system even had rewards? My god! Was there really such a good thing? He hurriedly echoed in his mind, "Of course! Of course! I accept the reward!"

The system's voice continued: "The host has successfully obtained the Yuan Power of a powerful being and has already refined half of it. The system rewards the host with three Great Rejuvenation Pills. Please check them."

As the words fell, three unassuming, dark-colored Great Rejuvenation Pills appeared in Yi Ranxiao's hand. Looking at the three pills, Yi Ranxiao was overjoyed! It was truly a case of getting exactly what she wanted!

Although the name of this Great Rejuvenation Pill sounds very ordinary, it is a miraculous medicine in the cultivation world. As long as the injury is not fatal, the cultivator can recover quickly after taking the Great Rejuvenation Pill!

Just moments ago, he was worried about being injured and unable to move, and now the system rewarded him with a Great Restoration Pill! Without hesitation, Yi Ranxiao swallowed the pill whole, and immediately a refreshing current flowed through his body, rapidly healing his injuries...healing...

"Hmm!" In less than three minutes, Yi Ranxiao was completely unharmed, as good as new! Excited, she stood up and jumped up and down a few times. Then she wondered if the system might provide her with a reward to solve her current difficulties based on her needs?

"System brother, is this how it is?" Yi Ranxiao tried to ask the system in his sea of ​​consciousness, but he did not receive any response.

Yi Ranxiao never believed in free lunches; there's no such thing as a free lunch! Regardless of whether the system could provide timely rewards according to Yi Ranxiao's needs, he didn't believe the system would help him completely free of charge! Who knows, sometime later, he might be tasked with some dangerous or difficult missions!

But the most important thing right now is to get out of here quickly! We can think about these problems later! Luo Rong is coming soon, so let's escape!

Just as Xiao Fu took a step, he heard Manman's soft cry. It seemed she was about to wake up. What should he do with this woman? Leave her here alone? No, a woman alone in the wilderness, she would either be eaten by monsters or scared to death. He should get her out of this old forest first.

So Yiran Xiao took Manman with him, left the Hanshan Old Forest, found an old hunter, gave the head of the household some money, and settled Manman in. Afterwards, Yiran Xiao left. Originally, he wanted to find a respectable family for the poor girl Manman to marry into, but he was now in dire straits himself, how could he have the mind or ability to care for others? He should focus on avoiding Luo Rong's search while diligently cultivating his skills!