Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Duan Muxiao’s eyes gleamed with a hint of brilliance, and within his pupils, Chen Fei’s figure was reflected.

At this moment, Duan Muxiao was less than twenty miles away from Chen Fei, and he had been following Chen Fei for a full hour.

And from half an hour ago, Duan Muxiao had maintained this distance, continuously observing Chen Fei.

Eye techniques and concealing one’s aura, these were all essential techniques for the assassins of the Death Shadow Sect. A killer of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm level, like Duan Muxiao, sometimes, by observing the target’s aura and movements, one could gather a lot of information.

Just like Duan Muxiao at this moment, even though he was twenty miles away from Chen Fei, he had already begun to integrate a lot of information about Chen Fei and correspond it with the data from his sources, confirming his own information about the target.

Listening is uncertain, seeing is believing; Duan Muxiao’s habit had always been to derive the final results through his own observations.

The information provided by the Death Shadow Sect was useful but not entirely reliable. It had to be judged based on the actual circumstances.

“The physical body has been specially cultivated, and the level is not low. The control of elemental energy is extremely refined, and the cultivation technique has reached a profound realm. The spiritual energy cannot be detected, but based on the information obtained, it’s very strong!”

In Duan Muxiao’s eyes, a faint glimmer flickered as he re-evaluated Chen Fei’s combat strength.

There was no doubt at all that he was at the mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm. From Duan Muxiao’s perspective, Chen Fei’s physical body, elemental power, and mental strength were all perfectly balanced, with no weaknesses.

It was hard to imagine that this was a warrior who had only broken through to the Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm two years ago.

Duan Muxiao had seen some geniuses from major sects, but compared to Chen Fei, they all seemed inferior.

As for his future growth, it was uncertain, but for the present moment, Chen Fei had already surpassed those individuals. Even Zuo Tianying of the Fengwu Pavilion was no exception.

Duan Muxiao narrowed his eyes slightly, considering various assassination methods in his mind, but he rejected each one. Either the timing was lacking, or the plan was too simple and could easily be discovered.

If he were exposed, it would turn from assassination into a direct confrontation.

Duan Muxiao had never considered a head-on battle with Chen Fei, even if he could win, he would inevitably be injured in the end.

Duan Muxiao wasn’t in a hurry, keeping his distance from Chen Fei.

Chen Fei was heading alone to the outer sea, where demons frequently appeared. It was possible that he intended to hunt down these demons.

This can be easily deduced. The Primordial Sword Sect had arrived in the Sea Peak City not long ago. Although they had many resource points around their sect and even a city of their own to provide resources, these resources were mainly for Combined Aperture Tempering realm and Body Tempering realm cultivators. For those in the Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm, these resources were of little help.

As for the Third Grade Secret Realm, it was too early to make use of it.

In this regard, hunting down demons was actually the most suitable path, and it was a choice many Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators would make.

After all, in the Boundless Sea, while other resources might be scarce, demons were abundant.

Judging from Duan Muxiao’s estimation of Chen Fei’s cultivation, as long as he was careful, he was more than capable of hunting down early Third Grade demons. Selling one such demon would yield a considerable amount of Elemental Stones.

Duan Muxiao himself used to obtain resources by hunting down demons a long time ago. However, since becoming an assassin in the Death Shadow Sect, he had realized that the quickest way to make money was actually through killing people.

For each person he killed, aside from the commission retained by the Death Shadow Sect, the rest went straight into his own pocket.

A monstrous demon of the same level was worth a certain number of Elemental Stones, but killing a human warrior of the same cultivation level yielded several times more profit, and it was even simpler and more convenient.

If Chen Fei was indeed here to hunt demons, then Duan Muxiao could take advantage of the opportunity when Chen Fei fought with the demon.

A single decisive strike!

Duan Muxiao had killed targets several times in such an environment.

A slight smile appeared at the corner of Duan Muxiao’s mouth. Suddenly, Chen Fei ahead plunged into the seawater, and faintly, a wave of battle fluctuations emanated from below the sea.

Duan Muxiao’s expression twitched slightly. Had he found a monstrous demon?

Duan Muxiao glanced around. This place was already considered deep within the outer sea, and normally, apart from those in the Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm, there would be no humans here.

The battle fluctuations gradually moved away because of the seawater, and the natural elemental energy became somewhat chaotic due to the battle. Duan Muxiao’s perception of Chen Fei started to blur.

Duan Muxiao waited for a moment but didn’t sense anything unusual, so he continued to follow.

However, it seemed that Chen Fei was chasing after the monstrous demon, and his speed was increasing.

Duan Muxiao furrowed his brow slightly, feeling a hint of strangeness in his heart. His eyes scanned the surroundings, but he didn’t detect anything unusual.

But as Duan Muxiao continued to fly forward, that feeling of unease became even stronger, and there was a ripple in his mental state.

“No, something’s wrong!”

Duan Muxiao’s figure suddenly stopped, and his expression turned serious.

Although Duan Muxiao couldn’t pinpoint the source of this unease, his body instinctively started flying backward. It was a habit he had developed over many years.

Whenever he sensed something amiss, he immediately aborted the mission, no matter how tempting the commission for that task might be. Duan Muxiao wouldn’t hesitate.

It was precisely because of this cautious nature that Duan Muxiao had reached his current level of cultivation. Many of his peers who had joined the Death Shadow Sect with him were either dead or severely injured.

Surprisingly, Duan Muxiao, who had not stood out particularly in the beginning, had managed to survive to this day.

“Shing!”

Suddenly, a surge of sword energy appeared behind Duan Muxiao, intercepting his figure directly.

The sword energy came incredibly fast, and the aura contained within it was extremely sharp. Even with just a slight perception, Duan Muxiao felt as if his mental state was being sliced.

Duan Muxiao didn’t attempt to directly confront the sword energy. His figure swayed slightly as he moved to the side. As a killer, the most crucial aspect was to ensure that his body movements were not disrupted by any means.

“Hum!”

The natural elemental energy in the surroundings trembled slightly, and a dozen illusory sword lights, formed by Chen Fei’s mental projections, appeared from all directions, enclosing Duan Muxiao layer by layer.

Mirror Image Profound Slaying Sword!

Chen Fei’s figure appeared not far from Duan Muxiao, looking at him calmly.

Duan Muxiao could observe Chen Fei from a distance, but with his knowledge of the Star Gazing Art, Chen Fei had long noticed someone following him.

Finding the right opportunity, he created a disturbance with his concealed body double and then retreated after concealing his aura.

Duan Muxiao’s pupils involuntarily contracted. These sword lights came too quickly, and the proximity was too close. He had no time to dodge.

Clang!

Duan Muxiao roared violently, and the mental energy in his sea of consciousness transformed into a blood-red blade, slashing towards the approaching sword lights.

As a killer, Duan Muxiao had learned a variety of techniques, but among them, there were a few that he had devoted all his efforts to master, and one of them was his mental technique, the Blood Demon Blade!

Using blood as a blade, infused with a touch of demonic essence.

The Blood Demon Blade swept through Duan Muxiao’s sea of consciousness, quickly obliterating the surrounding sword lights. However, before Duan Muxiao could breathe a sigh of relief, another dozen sword lights pierced into his sea of consciousness.

Not only that, due to the collision of mental techniques, Duan Muxiao’s figure was uncontrollably halted for a moment. In just that instant, Chen Fei had already arrived in front of him.

“We are strangers to each other. What is your intention?”

Duan Muxiao shouted loudly, trying to delay Chen Fei for a moment to gain some time for himself.

In this unexpected confrontation, Duan Muxiao had just sensed something was amiss and was preparing to leave when Chen Fei had already attacked, putting Duan Muxiao at a disadvantage.

In the past, it had always been Duan Muxiao who surprised others in this manner. He never expected that today, Chen Fei would be the one to spring such a surprise on him.

“Yes, we are strangers!”

Chen Fei nodded, and the Qianyuan Sword in his hand thrust towards Duan Muxiao.

With the Primordial Profound Art in Great Completion in full operation, a hint of black radiance appeared on the blade of the Qianyuan Sword. Amidst the roar of a dragon and elephant, as the sword’s edge passed, the air was gradually pierced and then directly shattered.

A cluster of sonic booms exploded in mid-air, and the tip of the Qianyuan Sword had already reached Duan Muxiao’s face.

Sensing the power on the Qianyuan Sword, Duan Muxiao’s entire body tightened abruptly. Compared to other Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators, Duan Muxiao’s perception was undoubtedly superior.

It was because of this heightened perception that Duan Muxiao hadn’t even fully accepted Chen Fei’s strike yet, but he could already sense the immense power behind it.

Moreover, at close range, Duan Muxiao made a remarkable discovery. Chen Fei’s cultivation had reached the First Combined Aperture Tempering realm at some point, and the refinement of his elemental energy was just a step away from Duan Muxiao’s level.

He had broken through to the initial Combined Aperture Tempering realm in just two years since reaching the Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm?

Even Zuo Tianying of the Fengwu Pavilion and Teng Daoxuan of the Tianya Sect wouldn’t dare to be so exaggerated. How could Chen Fei have elevated his cultivation to such a level so quickly?

All these thoughts flashed through Duan Muxiao’s mind, but he didn’t have time to dwell on them any longer. His slender sword had transformed into a soft ribbon, entwining the Qianyuan Sword.

Coiling Sword Technique!

The name sounded similar to a common martial art technique practiced by worldly warriors, but it was indeed a heritage of the Mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm within the Death Shadow Sect. This sword art even held a prominent position among their techniques.

Defense and power absorption, ensuring self-preservation.

When it came to killing, Duan Muxiao had never assumed he would never make a mistake. Therefore, how to safeguard his own life was always his top concern.

Being a killer in the Death Shadow Sect was a trade for Duan Muxiao, meant to facilitate his own cultivation rather than fulfilling any special penchant for killing.

There were many such individuals within the Death Shadow Sect, but Duan Muxiao wasn’t one of them.

“Clang!”

The grating sound of metal striking metal reverberated in all directions. The seawater beneath the two combatants was directly forced down dozens of meters due to the force, and countless water droplets were shaken into mist, only to be further cut by the dense sword energy.

Duan Muxiao’s figure trembled violently, his entire body going numb. When he looked at Chen Fei, his eyes were filled with astonishment.

This was the first time Duan Muxiao had used the Coiling Sword Technique for defense and had to withstand such residual force. However, in the end, he managed to block it.

“Indeed, one should never underestimate others!”

Chen Fei chuckled softly, took a step forward, and thrust his sword again. Simultaneously, the sword essence within the spatial domain also attached itself to the Qianyuan Sword..