Chapter 259: Sheng Qi

Previously, Xiao Xie had absorbed the internal energy of Wushuang Ghost and the Cangsheng Wolf King, along with that of various other hostile martial artists. Coupled with his recent trip back to the Escalating Heaven Tower to absorb the internal energy of those captured martial artists, his total cultivation had reached an immensely pure level equivalent to twenty-seven hundred years.

However, although his internal energy had attained this two-thousand-seven-hundred-year milestone, Xiao Xie's actual combat prowess remained largely indistinguishable from when he possessed two thousand years of energy. At best, the only difference was that he could sustain battles for a much longer duration.

To describe it simply: one's cultivation realm was equivalent to a pistol, while internal energy was akin to bullets. Although bullets were certainly important, the practical difference between having two thousand bullets and twenty-seven hundred bullets was negligible, as the firepower ultimately remained that of a pistol—it merely meant the engagement could be prolonged. If one's cultivation realm were to elevate, however, it would be equivalent to transforming the pistol into artillery, and the resulting destructive power would be vastly different.

During these past few days, Xiao Xie had transmitted fifty years' worth of pure internal energy to Shilan. While she could not yet be considered an innate martial artist, her internal force was now comparable to one. Once she mastered the Loneliness Nine Swords and the Lightning Swift Steps that Xiao Xie had imparted to her to a competent degree, her cultivation realm would naturally break through to the innate level.

"Go back and cultivate diligently for now, and strive to achieve the innate breakthrough as soon as possible. That way, even if you encounter top-tier experts whom you cannot defeat, you will at least be able to escape safely," Xiao Xie said to Shilan.

"Mn," Shilan nodded obediently and went off to practice. Having received fifty years of pure internal energy from Xiao Xie, she had no intention of letting down his painstaking efforts.

Watching Shilan's departing figure, Xiao Xie smiled knowingly and turned around with a joyful expression to find Old Man Ban and the others.

The affection between him and Shilan had escalated rapidly over the past few days. In particular, the fact that Xiao Xie had unhesitatingly expended his own internal energy to bestow fifty years of pure cultivation upon her had moved Shilan deeply, lodging her entire heart firmly with him. If Xiao Xie were to consume her now, Shilan would likely accept it with shy compliance.

"Grand Master, you're back!" As soon as Xiao Xie stepped into the courtyard where Old Man Ban and the others resided, he heard Big Hammer's pleasantly surprised voice.

"Where is Master Ban? I have something to discuss with him," Xiao Xie asked Big Hammer.

"Grand Master, you've finally returned," Big Hammer was just about to reply when he was interrupted by a melodious voice.

"Xue Nu, Lady Rong, where is Master Ban?" Following the sound, Xiao Xie saw Duanmu Rong and Xue Nu emerging from Xue Nu's room. He nodded at them and asked his question.

"Master Ban came back earlier and said that when he went to rendezvous with Tianming, the Vermilion Bird they were riding was attacked by the Black Swordsman. Master Ganie and Xiao Gao have already gone with him to rescue Tianming," Xue Nu said with a hint of anxiety in her voice.

"I'm a bit uneasy, so I'll go take a look myself. Which direction did they leave in?" Xiao Xie asked Xue Nu.

"That way!" Xue Nu quickly pointed out a direction for him.

Xiao Xie formed hand seals, and a cluster of leaves materialized out of thin air beneath his feet, condensing into a gigantic green sword. The giant sword then bore Xiao Xie aloft, transforming into a streak of green light that shot off toward the direction Xue Nu had indicated, vanishing into the distant sky in the blink of an eye.

"Every time I see the Grand Master flying on his sword, it feels completely unbelievable!" Big Hammer scratched his head and sighed in admiration.

"Mn," Duanmu Rong and Xue Nu agreed, nodding at Big Hammer's remark.

Meanwhile, inside the General's Mansion, Li Si was alone in his room when a series of chaotic noises drifted in from outside, followed by a guard coming to report.

"Reporting to Your Excellency the Prime Minister, the Thousand-Mechanisms Tower has been infiltrated by intruders, and the Thousand-Mechanisms Bronze Disk has been stolen," the guard reported respectfully.

Upon hearing that the Thousand-Mechanisms Bronze Disk had been stolen, Li Si's first thought was the safety of the Empire's primary heir. It mattered little if the bronze disk was gone, but if anything were to happen to Fusu, even he would inevitably be implicated.

"Was the Young Master disturbed?" the guard was asked immediately.

"General Meng has personally led troops to guard the Young Master's courtyard, and the General has also issued orders to reinforce the garrison around Your Excellency's quarters," the guard replied hastily upon hearing this.

"My thanks to General Meng. Tell him to focus solely on protecting the Young Master; there is no need for concern here. You may withdraw," Li Si instructed.

"Understood!" The reporting guard bowed respectfully and retired.

Li Si walked slowly toward the window, though the worry between his brows never dissipated. Though unversed in martial arts, he had floated through the treacherous tides of officialdom for many years and possessed an extremely high level of vigilance. Tonight, he felt a lingering sense of unease—not because the Thousand-Mechanisms Bronze Disk had been stolen, but as if he were being targeted by a ferocious tiger. This precise intuition had saved his life on numerous occasions in the past.

Li Si stood by the window for a moment, confirming that absolute tranquility reigned outside. Pushing down the anxiety in his heart, he was about to turn back to rest in the inner chamber when the oil lamp extinguished without the slightest warning.

Suddenly, a chilling wind rose, causing the doors and windows to creak loudly as the cold currents of the autumn night poured forcefully into the room. In that instant, Li Si's gaze sharpened like lightning. Remaining calm and unfazed in the face of crisis was essential for anyone wishing to reach the pinnacle along an official path paved with blood and bones.

Slowly, a tall figure clad in black robes materialized within Li Si's field of vision, causing the Prime Minister to involuntarily take half a step backward and tighten his hands slightly. For Wei Zhuang to visit him in such a manner at this hour made Li Si feel profoundly uneasy.

"Lord Li, you don't seem very pleased to see me." Wei Zhuang slowly raised his head, revealing his cold and haughty visage, and looked mockingly at the guarded Li Si.

A sensation of goosebumps rising across his skin slowly welled up in the depths of Li Si's heart. As his eyes flickered continuously, locking gazes with Wei Zhuang for a long while, Li Si forced himself to put on a composed expression and smiled. "The Empire and Quicksand are cooperating to eradicate the Mohist rebels, and Mr. Wei is an ally. As the saying goes: 'Is it not a delight to have friends coming from afar?'"

"There is another saying. I wonder if Lord Li has ever heard it?" Wei Zhuang asked indifferently.

Hearing Wei Zhuang's question, Li Si countered, "Oh? Which saying is that?"

"Sometimes, friends are often far more dangerous than enemies." Wei Zhuang's seemingly bland statement caused Li Si's previously slightly relaxed brow to furrow once more.

Pausing briefly, Wei Zhuang continued, "Because you never know when one might betray you!"

At that moment, Li Si sensed a heavy, murderous intent radiating from Wei Zhuang's piercing eyes.

"Indeed quite true. Li Si has been instructed." At this, Li Si inexplicably grew calm instead, knowing that if Wei Zhuang truly wanted him dead at such close range, virtually no one could block him. Thus, remaining composed offered him the greatest hope of survival.

"I hear that Lord Li has summoned the Net to gather in Sanguhai?" Seeing that Li Si had calmed down, Wei Zhuang flashed a hint of approval before speaking again.

"Quite right!"

"Your Excellency has a subordinate within the Net who wields a massive sword named Profound Heavy!"

"Quicksand's intelligence network is truly formidable, Mr. Wei; no news escapes your notice." Hearing Wei Zhuang demonstrate such detailed knowledge regarding the Net deepened Li Si's wariness toward him.

"Profound Heavy, the eleventh-ranked sword." Wei Zhuang had always retained a vivid memory of such a formidable opponent. Although he had suffered heavy injuries and came out at a disadvantage during his previous battle with the Black Swordsman, the latter's strength remained impossible to underestimate.

"His ranking was established over a decade ago, and his position has not shifted since."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Wei Zhuang felt a flicker of curiosity. What could possibly have stopped such a formidable and warlike individual from advancing further?

"Because he was cast into the deepest tier of the Empire's death row. Prior to that, his tracks traversed all seven states, challenging all manner of adversaries and frequently being captured and thrown into various state prisons. Yet every single time, he managed to break out and escape. That is why the pugilistic world refers to him as Sheng Qi!" Li Si explained.

"Sheng Qi..." Wei Zhuang murmured thoughtfully, his appreciation for this formidable rival growing even stronger.

"Every time he emerged from death row, he returned stronger than before. Thus, in the brief span of three years before he was finally cast into the Imperial death row, he defeated numerous opponents, rocketing his ranking from beyond the two-hundredth spot all the way up to eleventh," Li Si said with a solemn tone.