Chapter 39: Li Xingyao’s Shock

Great Void Sect,

Wenxuan Peak.

Two girls of similar age sat facing each other, and before them lay a board with a game of Go in progress.

The intensity was such that the board was nearly filled with pieces.

Li Xingyao held a black stone between her slender fingers, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly as her gaze fixed on the board.

A bead of sweat rolled down her smooth forehead, her expression tense as if facing a formidable enemy, though her breath remained steady.

The black stone in her hand had yet to be placed. She took a long moment to consider her move. After a short while, it seemed she had realized something; the corner of her mouth curved into a faint smile as she looked up at Xia Xiaochan.

“I have to admit, you’re really strong.”

“You’re not bad either…”

Xia Xiaochan glanced at her in return, her tone acknowledging.

Evenly matched opponents…

“But… this round belongs to Miss Li Xing Yao! Watch closely!”

Li Xingyao pinched the black stone between her index and middle fingers, and with a sharp click, slammed it onto the board, the force almost driving through the surface!

At the spot where the stone landed, two lines—one diagonal, one vertical—each formed a four-stone pattern.

No matter which side Xia Xiaochan tried to block, Li Xingyao could secure victory along the other line.

“Take this—Miss Li’s Two Yi Dragon Trapping Formation!”

Li Xingyao declared confidently. After placing her stone, she reached for the nearby tea, elegantly flicking the floating leaves on the surface with the lid, then took a delicate sip.

She watched her opponent.

Xia Xiaochan, how will you break this formation?

Xia Xiaochan’s expression turned serious, her determined eyes meeting Li Xingyao’s.

“Indeed, your Two Yi Dragon Trapping Formation is strong, but… it’s far from invincible.”

“Behold my next move: One Sword Shatters the Starry Universe. Break!”

With a crisp snap, Xia Xiaochan placed a white stone in a seemingly inconspicuous spot at the edge of the board.

But there, a perfect alignment of five stars in a row had already formed…

Li Xingyao’s face instantly twisted in shock, unable to believe what she saw on the board.

“Im-impossible! My Two Yi Dragon Trapping Formation actually…”

“Hmph~”

Xia Xiaochan crossed her arms proudly. “That makes the score four to three. Overall, I still win!”

“I don’t accept that. Let’s play best of nine, five wins. Do you dare?”

“Enough, enough, we’ve already played best of three, best of two.”

“Damn it! Just one more game and I would’ve won. How can I swallow this bitterness…”

Li Xingyao clenched her fist tightly, frustrated.

“But I really can’t continue. It’s already midday, and I still have things to do.”

“What things? I’ll help you, then we can continue battling!”

Xia Xiaochan shook her head.

“I want to keep refining my Escape Technique. How could you help with that?”

“Escape Technique?”

Li Xingyao was momentarily surprised. “Miss Li knows Escape Techniques too. What don’t you understand? Just ask me.”

“No, no, no. The Escape Technique that Senior Brother taught me is different from what you learned. You can’t teach me.”

Xia Xiaochan waved her hand dismissively.

“What Escape Technique don’t I know? Escape Techniques are mostly similar; is there really one I can’t do?”

“Of course there is. Don’t believe me? I’ll—”

Xia Xiaochan stopped herself mid-sentence, suddenly remembering something.

“Uh, Senior Brother said this Escape Technique can’t be shown to outsiders, so I can’t show you.”

The more she tried to hide it, the more curious Li Xingyao became.

“How am I an outsider? Your Senior Brother is also my teacher. If he taught you something, what harm is there if I take a look?”

Xia Xiaochan was stunned. “What did you say? Senior Brother is your teacher?”

“Huh? Did I say that?”

“You did…”

“…”

Li Xingyao was silent for a moment, then bit her lip, cheeks flushing faintly. “Alright, Lin Ci is my teacher, okay?”

“Ah?”

This time it was Xia Xiaochan’s turn to be surprised. She froze for a moment, lost in thought, then took a breath.

“Although Senior Brother has indeed taught you cultivation, isn’t calling him that a bit… intimate?”

“Hmph, it’s not like I wanted to call him that…”

Li Xingyao pouted, muttering softly. Then she looked up again.

“So, about the Escape Technique, can I take a look, Little Martial Uncle?”

“Hmm…”

Suddenly being called that, for some reason Xia Xiaochan felt her tension ease significantly.

“Alright, since you’re Senior Brother’s student, it wouldn’t hurt to show you.”

She emphasized the word student.

Then she pulled out the written Escape Technique incantation she had copied down.

“This is the Escape Technique Senior Brother taught me. It’s called One Thought Tramples a Thousand Mountains!”

Li Xingyao took it and began silently reciting.

“Spirit condenses Jiezi, footsteps tread Sumeru.”

“Thought rises, mountain falls, intention settles dust… hmm?”

At first, she only wanted to see what was different about this Escape Technique.

But as she read on, her expression grew serious, and she involuntarily straightened her back.

Halfway through,

Li Xingyao suddenly stood from the floor, eyes trembling in shock.

What a world-shattering Escape Technique this is!

It was absolutely unlike any Five Elements Escape Technique. Instead, it was a new path—seizing the creative power of Heaven and Earth, profound and unfathomable beyond measure…

Every line of the incantation was so unexpected to Li Xingyao.

Ordinary Escape Techniques relied on special spiritual energy circulation methods to traverse the Five Elements.

So as long as one memorized the incantation, any cultivator could perform them successfully.

But One Thought Tramples a Thousand Mountains was completely different.

Not a single line explained the spiritual energy usage; the first phrase was: Spirit condenses Jiezi, footsteps tread Sumeru!

Jiezi, Sumeru… Heavenly Dao Laws!

This incantation already touched upon the realm of Immortal techniques, as if standing in the heavens, overlooking all living beings!

Li Xingyao couldn’t imagine the origin of this Escape Technique.

Who could its creator be? Such a mysterious and profound Escape Technique might not yet reach the level of an Immortal, but it was far beyond that of any human.

“Can this really be comprehended?”

Li Xingyao asked incredulously.

“Of course. Senior Brother even performed it right before me.”

Xia Xiaochan replied immediately.

Just now, seeing Li Xingyao’s shocked expression, she felt a little pride swell within.

Scared you, huh?

How’s that for powerful, my Senior Brother?

“Is that true?!”

Li Xingyao wanted to confirm that Lin Ci could perform this Escape Technique.

“Why would I lie? And I’ll tell you—before you came here, I had already condensed a Jiezi Seal!”

After saying that,

Xia Xiaochan raised her hand in the air and clenched it.

With practiced ease, a golden glowing talisman formed in her palm.

Li Xingyao’s mouth fell open in astonishment, unable to contain her surprise.

With her eyes, she naturally recognized the Jiezi Seal’s significance…

This Escape Technique could truly be cultivated!

“Wait a moment!”

Li Xingyao lowered her head again and silently reread the Escape Technique incantation. This time, she worked hard to memorize every word.

If Xia Xiaochan could learn it, maybe she could too…

But after reading through it once more,

Li Xingyao frowned lightly.

“This incantation…”

“What’s wrong?”

Xia Xiaochan asked, puzzled.

“This incantation seems a bit off. Let me take a closer look…”

She said, then focused deeply, staring at the Escape Technique in her hands.

As she did so, a dark red glow slowly emerged deep within her pupils, spreading through her clear eyes.

All-Form Spirit Coffin Eye…

With her eye technique activated, the world in Li Xingyao’s sight changed completely.