Chapter 086: No Room for Opportunity

The existence of spirit weapons can be traced back to ancient times. In the beginning, all spirit weapons were born of the natural forces of heaven and earth. Like the Heaven-Treading Demon Elephant, they belonged to the category of rare treasures—beasts or artifacts of legend. Each spirit weapon possessed its own intelligence and unique abilities: burning mountains and rivers, freezing heaven and earth, instantaneous movement, life transference, death consumption, perpetual shrouds of light...

To possess any one of these spirit weapons was to gain unparalleled power. Naturally, this also meant becoming the target of countless covetous eyes. Yet spirit weapons were even harder to tame than rare beasts; to master one required a certain quality or trait that resonated with the weapon’s own power. Once such a trait was present, the spirit weapon would recognize its master of its own accord!

These so-called “Ancient Spirit Weapons” were exceedingly rare; throughout history, only a handful had ever been found. The spirit weapons wielded by warriors today were all “Blood Spirit Weapons,” forged by master craftsmen over the span of decades, pouring their life’s work into each creation. The name “Blood Spirit Weapon” was earned because, at the moment of its birth from the forge, the weapon had to be anointed with a warrior’s essence blood to awaken its spirit.

The weapon thus obtained would automatically recognize the donor of the blood as its master. Only upon that warrior’s death would it seek out another. Because “Ancient Spirit Weapons” were so few, almost no one could say for certain whether they were stronger than “Blood Spirit Weapons,” or vice versa.

As the small wooden sword absorbed the blood of the Three Yin Candle, Su Jingxing could not tell if this was a blessing or a curse. For decades, the sword had shown no change—perhaps it had suffered grave injury. Spirit weapons, when damaged, could also be diminished or even shattered. The wooden sword’s absorption of the candle’s blood was, in all likelihood, an act of restoration.

Su Jingxing could sense this by taking out the small wooden sword, focusing his spiritual energy, and attentively feeling its aura: the sword’s presence was growing stronger! It was awakening.

While its revival was undoubtedly a good thing, the real question was: after restoring itself by consuming the Three Yin Candle’s blood, whom would the wooden sword ultimately serve? Spirit weapons recognized their masters instinctively. If the wooden sword was a “Blood Spirit Weapon,” would it, after absorbing the Three Yin Candle’s blood, end up recognizing someone from the Shi family as its master?

The possibility left Su Jingxing troubled. “After all this effort, am I just making a wedding dress for the Shi family?” he thought grimly. Impossible!

He would never allow such an outcome. He would rather hide the small wooden sword away forever. Of course, another possibility existed: the sword was simply using the Three Yin Candle’s blood as restorative fuel, nothing more. In that case, the Shi family’s blood was merely its nourishment. Other special bloodlines might also restore the sword.

If that were so, Su Jingxing would have a chance to claim the sword as his own. With that in mind, he squeezed out a drop of his own essence blood and let it fall onto the wooden sword.

Nothing happened...

His blood landed on the sword, but it showed no reaction.

“No chance for me?” Su Jingxing chuckled softly. “Very well, I’ll wait until I’ve uncovered your true nature before I try to master you again.”

As for the sword recognizing a master on its own, he held out little hope. It was true that spirit weapons were difficult to subdue, but there were cases of them being forcibly claimed. The best chance was before the wooden sword had fully recovered.

With this in mind, Su Jingxing resolved to return to the valley in the Azure Cloud Mountains where the great white goose lived. To unravel the wooden sword’s secrets, he would have to rely on Brother Goose’s help.

As for today, he still had to go to work.

...

At the Shi family residence.

Early in the morning, in the family compound near the western district’s foothills, the entire neighborhood was home to Shi family members. At the heart of the compound stood the main residence, where the family head lived.

Now, in the morning sunlight, nine corpses were laid out in neat rows on the training ground. Shi Yanfeng, Elder Zhu, and seven family guards—all arranged in a line. The heads of Shi Yanfeng and Elder Zhu had been sewn back onto their necks, and the shattered limbs of the seven guards had been put back together as one.

Around the open space, more than a hundred Shi family members stood, their faces dark with fury, murderous intent radiating from their eyes.

“How bold! To dare kill members of our Shi family—whoever did this must be found, skinned alive, and ground to dust!”

“That goes without saying. Anyone who kills our kin must die, no matter who they are!”

“Hmph, talk is cheap. The problem is, who did this? We have no clue. Who are we supposed to take revenge on?”

“Isn’t Du Liangjing the prime suspect? He fled the city overnight—if we catch him, we’ll know who’s behind this!”

“And the people from White River Martial Hall—they all have to die! If it weren’t for them, Xiaofeng would never have gone there and gotten himself killed!”

“You think the Town Defense Office is just for show? Destroying the White River Martial Hall is one thing, but killing everyone there? Are you out of your mind?”

“Bastard! What did you just say? Are you even a member of the Shi family?”

“I don’t need your approval to belong here—you’re not the patriarch, and you’re not my father!”

“Say that again!”

“...”

Shouts, curses, and heated arguments mingled together, making the training ground a scene of chaos. At the very front of the corpses, a few individuals stood at the edge, ignoring the clamor around them.

“How is it, Elder Tang?”

The current head of the Shi family, Shi Jinnian, gazed at the bodies of Shi Yanfeng and Elder Zhu, and addressed the elderly man examining them.

“I’ve determined the cause,” Elder Tang replied, still squatting beside the corpses. “Elder Zhu put up a fierce resistance before dying, expending a great deal of inner energy. The fatal blow was a single strike that took his head off—so swift that Elder Zhu couldn’t dodge. The moment his protective aura shattered, his head was severed.”

“It was much the same for Young Master Shi. His limbs, bones, and organs all show signs of violent struggle. The fatal blow was likewise a single decapitating strike.”

“As for the seven guards, their deaths were more straightforward—no resistance at all. They were torn apart instantaneously by a powerful force—perhaps an explosive arrow, perhaps an artillery shell. To know for certain, we’d have to examine the scene of the attack.”

“The crime scene has already been destroyed. Knowing the cause of death is enough,” Shi Jinnian said, gesturing for a young man behind him to step forward. “Thank you, Elder Tang, for your appraisal. We have prepared your payment—please follow Xiao Lu to collect it.”

“I regret that I could only determine this much,” the old man said apologetically, rising to his feet.

“No, this is more than sufficient,” Shi Jinnian replied quietly, signaling the young man to lead Elder Tang away.

The old man bowed slightly and left with the youth. Only after Elder Tang had disappeared around the corner did Shi Jinnian’s expression darken. In a low, commanding voice, he said, “The killer used lightning-fast swordplay and powerful explosive weaponry. Their cultivation is about sixth rank—perhaps even born with supernatural strength. Send word for all warriors to be screened according to these criteria. I want every possible suspect found!”

“Yes, sir,” a sturdy middle-aged man behind him replied, then turned and departed swiftly.

“Seventh Brother, how much of Xiaofeng’s source blood have you recovered?”