Chapter 020: On the Brink of Life and Death

In the early morning, with dew still clinging to the earth, Xu Xuan stepped lightly from his home, heading into the depths of the mountains. Ever since mastering the fourth level of the Breathing Technique, he had begun practicing the fourth transformation of the Dragon-Serpent Nine Transformations.

The fourth transformation, the “Entwine” technique, demanded extraordinary physical prowess, with many movements and stances surpassing the limits of the human body.

Passing through the area of the Xu family, Xu Xuan keenly sensed that the villagers now looked at him with awe and envy, a sharp contrast to their former pity and disdain.

At fifteen, he had achieved the third tier of Body Refinement—a feat that, aside from the sons and daughters of the three major families, was unmatched among any other youth in Yangmu Village.

After leaving the village, Xu Xuan quickened his pace, expertly deploying the “Drift” technique of the third transformation. Since mastering the third transformation, the Dragon-Serpent Nine Transformations could no longer be practiced at home; any attempt in the village would surely attract attention. Thus, in recent days, he had climbed the mountains to train, where the complex terrain of the deep forest suited his needs perfectly.

Just as he vaulted to the mountainside, immersed in the Breathing Technique, Xu Xuan suddenly sensed a faint aura of murderous intent. The chill pierced his spine—familiar, yet sinister. Holding his breath, he heard the subtle sounds from behind.

Could it be…?

Xu Xuan paused, casting a quick glance behind him.

A shadow flickered by, as fleeting as an illusion.

Not good!

A cold sweat broke out on Xu Xuan’s back. He had ascended halfway up the mountain, and the only path down was blocked. There was no retreat.

He already had a good guess about the pursuer. Cold sweat trickled down his body.

Run!

Xu Xuan drew a deep breath, executed the “Drift” technique, and leapt swiftly into the depths of the mountain. He moved quickly, but the pursuer behind him was even faster, each stride covering two or three meters with powerful force.

The footsteps drew nearer, growing louder.

“Xu Da Hu, what are you up to?” Xu Xuan suddenly stopped and stared coldly at Xu Da Hu.

With a heavy thud, Xu Da Hu's towering figure landed, stirring a cloud of dust.

“What am I up to?” Xu Da Hu’s eyes flashed with mocking coldness. “I hear you’ve been taught some cultivation secrets by a master. I, Xu Da Hu, may not be talented, but I naturally wish to learn a thing or two from you.”

“Learn?” Xu Xuan sneered, clearly unconvinced. If he truly wanted to learn, why stalk him all the way here, and why radiate such murderous intent?

Before Xu Xuan could contemplate further, Xu Da Hu’s gaze sharpened like a blade. His tiger-like form lunged at him with blazing speed.

He rose, leapt, and struck with his palm.

Every angle, speed, and force far surpassed that of ordinary villagers.

Whoosh—

Xu Xuan felt a dull wind whistle toward him, accompanied by a strong sense of danger. He inhaled deeply, activating the Breathing Technique, his body twisting into a strange, flexible posture. His arms curved protectively before him, shielding all vital points.

Almost instantly, the force struck, a heavy fist smashing against his defensive posture.

Bang!

Xu Xuan felt immense force crash down on him, pain shooting through his arms. He quickly bent to absorb the impact, but was still forced back two or three steps, his feet carving grooves in the earth.

What terrifying strength!

A third-tier Body Refiner could strike with three hundred pounds of force, but the fourth tier could unleash four to five hundred!

“Hah!” Before he could recover, Xu Da Hu’s cold, wind-laden body attacked again.

Xu Xuan retreated repeatedly. Against Xu Da Hu’s stone-splitting power, each block left his arms aching faintly. Were it not for the Dragon-Serpent Nine Transformations, which granted his body great flexibility and allowed him to dissipate much of the force, any ordinary third-tier Body Refiner would have been crippled after just one or two exchanges.

Every three tiers of Body Refinement marked a threshold, and Xu Da Hu, now at the fourth tier, was monstrously powerful.

Judging by this, even four or five third-tier Body Refiners could not subdue him.

In his shock, Xu Xuan did his utmost to defend, but could only focus on defense. Every clash forced him back several steps.

Yet Xu Da Hu’s strength and speed exceeded his own, his steps seasoned and relentless, tightly pressing him.

If this continues, I’ll be overwhelmed sooner or later, Xu Xuan thought grimly.

Seizing a brief opening, he gathered his strength and leapt into the air as he retreated.

As Xu Da Hu approached, Xu Xuan dropped abruptly, launching a fierce kick.

With the “Drift” technique and his full body's power, this kick's force surpassed any ordinary third-tier strike.

“Courting death!”

Xu Da Hu sneered, crouched slightly, inhaled deeply, and his arms trembled.

When Xu Xuan’s kick came, Xu Da Hu’s trembling arms swelled with muscle, bones cracking, his hand glowing red as he struck.

Smack!

From below, Xu Da Hu met Xu Xuan’s powerful kick head-on, despite the disadvantage in position.

This very kick had previously floored Xu Xiao Hu, his peer.

Thud!

Xu Da Hu’s towering figure was forced back several steps by the flying kick, surprise etched across his face.

But Xu Xuan, still airborne, grunted as numbness shot through his leg, nearly paralyzing it.

At the moment their blows collided, Xu Xuan felt an extraordinary force erupt from Xu Da Hu’s palm, seeping instantly into his leg.

He fell heavily, his leg aching and numb.

Internal force!

Xu Xuan’s face turned pale. He finally realized he’d overlooked a crucial difference between fourth-tier Body Refiners and ordinary fighters.

Xu Da Hu’s whole body radiated fiery energy, his palm glowing red, thicker than usual.

With internal force augmenting his attacks, Xu Da Hu’s destructive power, especially against the body, nearly doubled!

“Boy, prepare to die!”

Xu Da Hu’s eyes gleamed with murderous light, his killing intent undisguised.

In this critical moment, Xu Xuan activated the Breathing Technique, channeling his energy swiftly to his injured leg.

“Xu Da Hu, why do you want to kill me? Is it all because of the feud with my father?”

Xu Xuan gritted his teeth, propping himself up with one hand and the ball of his uninjured foot.

“Hmph, your father bested me in youth, but now he’s a cripple—not enough reason to kill you.” Xu Da Hu’s eyes flashed coldly. “Blame yourself for cultivating so quickly, blocking my son’s path to the Town Academy.”

“The Town Academy?” Xu Xuan’s eyes brightened with understanding.

The village had only six spots for the Town Academy; three were already reserved. Of the remaining three, there were a few youths who slightly outperformed Xu Xiao Hu.

Without Xu Xuan, who had recently advanced to the third tier, Xu Xiao Hu would have had a good chance at the academy. But now, Xu Xuan blocked his path to greater heights.

“As long as I, Xu Da Hu, live, your Xu family will never rise again!”

Xu Da Hu roared, pouncing like a wolf or tiger, internal force surging, his strength and speed increasing.

Xu Xuan rolled abruptly, dodging the attack, then sprang up like a nimble cat, turning to flee.

What!

Xu Da Hu was astonished. That internal force-laden blow should have broken Xu Xuan’s leg, yet he’d recovered so quickly.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Xu Da Hu, murderous intent blazing, leapt three or four meters with each stride, quickly closing the distance.

Whoosh!

Feeling the wind behind him, Xu Xuan cursed under his breath, dropping to the ground like a serpent.

He unleashed all his skill, his body twisting and bending like an eel, narrowly evading Xu Da Hu’s attacks again and again—a perilous dance.

“Let’s see how long you can struggle…” Xu Da Hu paused, resting a hand at his waist, and abruptly drew a dark iron whip.

This was no miner’s tool.

Xu Xuan looked closely and gasped—it was a Dark Iron Whip forged from mysterious iron and silver.

“Before you… two fools who opposed me died under this whip.”

Whoosh—crack!

A cold gleam sliced through the air, carried by a fierce wind.

Xu Xuan rolled with all his might, barely avoiding the whip that could shatter stone.

Crack!

Where he had just landed, a half-inch-deep furrow was left in the ground—a chilling sight.

Xu Xuan shuddered, drenched in sweat. One strike from that whip would break bones and sever tendons.

Even a single blow would mean death today.

With Xu Da Hu’s fourth-tier strength and internal force channeled into the Dark Iron Whip, its power was astounding—even a visiting Immortal would be shaken.

“Hahaha… die!”

The sharp whistling swept toward him again.

Xu Xuan pressed his good foot to the ground, sliding backward as the whip’s wind grazed his skin, leaving a bloody mark.

He prepared to retreat further, but found his back to a cliff.

No!

—He was cornered.

“Let’s see where you run now!”

Xu Da Hu’s face twisted in a savage grin, pouring all his strength into the Dark Iron Whip.

Whoosh—

The resounding whip sealed all escape, save for retreating into the abyss.

In this life-or-death moment, Xu Xuan’s heart pounded wildly. He barely had time to glimpse the bottomless chasm before leaping into the air, soaring above the cliff.

Crack!

The Dark Iron Whip swept past his brow by a hair’s breadth, but Xu Xuan, too, fell into the ravine.

If he hadn’t jumped, he would have died—there was no other choice.

“Hahaha… No one who opposes Xu Da Hu has a good end! No matter your talent, I’ll crush you in the cradle, never to rise again!”

Xu Da Hu watched Xu Xuan plummet, howling triumphantly, his face twisted in cruel delight.

That wicked expression, as Xu Xuan fell from the cliff, was seared into his memory—never to be forgotten.

Whoosh…

As he plummeted, Xu Xuan’s heart filled with bitter regret and unwillingness.

Is this how I die…?

Unwillingness surged within him, his body instinctively activating the Breathing Technique.

Merging memories from two lifetimes, in this deadly crisis, a strange calm settled within him.

Suddenly, scenes flashed in his mind—his leap on the cliff, the moment he found the Blue Star Wisdom Lotus.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh…

The Breathing Technique abruptly advanced to the third tier, his energy flowing evenly through limbs and bones. Xu Xuan spread his arms and legs in a bird-like posture, exerting force into the air.

In that instant, all three thousand six hundred pores opened, energy rising to his skin.

This was the subtle fusion between the third and fourth tiers of the Breathing Technique.

In the blink of an eye, his body felt lighter, descent slowed, gliding like a great bird.

At the critical moment, his skin flushed red, energy rippling outward, forming a mysterious connection with the wind and air.

Xu Xuan’s spirit entered a state of selfless clarity, his pores open, merging with the wind and currents around him.

For a moment, he truly felt he had become a bird, forgetting life and death, forgetting himself.

Even Xu Xuan himself did not realize that, in this instant, he transcended his limits, perfectly blending the third and fourth tiers of the Breathing Technique, elevating the “Drift” technique to new heights.

Whoosh—

His descent slowed greatly; from afar, he seemed to glide down the cliff like a great bird.

The ground below drew closer and closer.

Just before he was about to hit the earth—

“Hah!”

Xu Xuan broke out of the gliding state, his energy, distributed through his body, suddenly concentrated and exploded forth like a mountain torrent.