Chapter 29: Fate

[Starless Secret Technique]!?

Nan Xi’s pupils shrank suddenly, finding it difficult to believe the scene before his eyes.

The [Starless Secret Technique] was the basic cultivation method that only Wuxing Sect disciples practiced.

How did it end up in Xia Xia’s body?

“Stop!”

“Hmm? What is it, Master?”

Xia Xia stopped her cultivation and trotted over to him.

“Tell me again, where did you learn this technique?”

“It… it was when an Elder was lecturing. I eavesdropped from outside the hall.”

Xia Xia reached out and scratched her cheek.

“Did you hear it from beginning to end? Are you sure it was a lecture?”

Nan Xi suddenly had an ominous premonition.

In fact, Nan Xi had been suspicious for a while—the [Starless Secret Technique] Xia Xia displayed was incomplete, even mixed with some principles of the [Tianhe Profound Arts].

To some extent, it was a mixture of the two, though the proportion of the [Starless Secret Technique] was slightly larger.

“I… I…”

Xia Xia was startled, and her whole body slowly shrank back. Her slender fingertips retreated into her sleeves like a kitten that had made a mistake.

“Be… because I was afraid of being caught by the Elder, I only listened to a small part.”

Slap!

Nan Xi smacked his forehead. He could guess ninety percent of what had happened.

In the Wuxing Sect, there were Elders specifically assigned to teach the characteristics of techniques from major sects.

If other sects fell into the category of general knowledge, the Tianhe Sect was different.

As the arch-rival of the Wuxing Sect, the Elders lectured extensively on the characteristics of the [Tianhe Profound Arts] and its derivative techniques.

The goal was to ensure that when disciples encountered someone from the Tianhe Sect while traveling, they would recognize them immediately and give them a sound thrashing.

[The people of the Tianhe Sect are all up to no good.]

This was the first rule of the Wuxing Sect’s code.

If the Wuxing Sect was like this, the Tianhe Sect, which also viewed them as mortal enemies, would certainly be no different.

This girl, Xia Xia, had likely walked into the wrong lecture hall and accidentally learned the [Starless Secret Technique] as it was being taught by the Tianhe Sect Elders for identification purposes.

She definitely hadn’t heard the final sentence—”If you encounter someone using this technique outside, beat them to death.”

“Ma… Master, is there something wrong?”

Seeing Nan Xi so distressed, Xia Xia became a bit timid.

“There’s a huge problem,” Nan Xi rolled his eyes. He raised his hands and placed them solemnly on Xia Xia’s shoulders, giving the young girl quite a fright.

However, Nan Xi’s strength was far superior to hers. His hands pinned her firmly in place, making her unable to move.

“Ma… Master…”

“Xia Xia, remember this. From this day forward, do not show your basic cultivation technique to anyone.”

“Eh?”

“Don’t ask why. If you must know, it’s because I won’t allow it.”

As he spoke, Nan Xi glanced back at Lord Tiansi.

Good, Lord Tiansi seemed to be reading a picture book and wasn’t paying attention to them.

Furthermore, Lord Tiansi didn’t even care about him, a legitimate successor of the Wuxing Sect.

As for Xia Xia, who had only accidentally learned a secret technique… she probably wouldn’t care about her either.

“Mhm, Xia Xia understands.”

Xia Xia nodded vigorously. Since it was her Master’s instruction, it had to be right to follow it.

Seeing that Xia Xia seemed to have taken it to heart, Nan Xi breathed a temporary sigh of relief, stood up, and reconsidered the previous problem.

What sword skill should he teach his little trash?

Learning the [Sword Arts] of the Tianhe Sect was naturally the most suitable.

With her status as a disciple of the Tianhe Sect, no one would doubt the source of her sword skills.

Although this would conflict with the cultivation technique she practiced, it didn’t matter.

Conflicts in techniques could be resolved by piling up resources and wealth.

Or… should she learn the sword techniques of the Wuxing Sect?

That wasn’t appropriate. If she accidentally used it in front of the Tianhe Sect Elders one day, the suspicion would eventually fall on him.

“Master, Master! What sword technique are we going to learn next?”

In front of Nan Xi, Xia Xia was tugging at the corner of his clothes, her eyes sparkling.

It was a familiar look. Once upon a time, it seemed there was also a young girl who looked at him with those same eyes.

Her crystal-clear eyes flickered with hope. So lively, so full of expectation.

Nan Xi’s vision blurred for a brief moment, but he recovered quickly.

He looked down at the cheerful girl before him. He had to admit, he and Xia Xia were truly fated.

Accidentally meeting him.

Accidentally having terrible cultivation talent.

Accidentally learning the exclusive cultivation technique of the Wuxing Sect.

Most importantly…

Accidentally becoming master and disciple.

As her makeshift Master, he should at least give his makeshift disciple some benefits, right?

A faint smile played at the corners of Nan Xi’s lips. He bent down to eye level with Xia Xia.

“I’ll teach you a very powerful sword technique, Xia Xia.”

“Ooh! What sword technique is it!”

“That is a sword technique I created myself. It’s one of a kind, no other branch exists.”

Nan Xi showed off his strength just a little bit.

This was his answer. Not the [Sword Arts] of the Tianhe Sect, nor the secret arts of the Wuxing Sect.

He chose to pass on his unique sword moves to Xia Xia.

Nan Xi slowly raised his fingertip. A pure black ring appeared silently at the base of his finger.

Then, as if melted by high heat, the ring gradually turned into pitch-black liquid droplets, dripping from his fingertip.

As the last drop of ink fell, Nan Xi suddenly clenched his palm.

Whoosh—

A sharp longsword appeared instantly in his palm.

“Whoa!”

Xia Xia’s jaw dropped, and her exclamation echoed in the small courtyard.

Not only Xia Xia, but the moment the longsword appeared, even Lord Tiansi, who was immersed in her picture book, couldn’t help but look up.

She stared at the longsword in Nan Xi’s hand, a faint light shimmering in her beautiful aqua-blue eyes.

It was an exceptionally unique sword. The blade was over three feet long, entirely pitch-black like ink, matte and without an edge.

Amidst the white snow falling from the sky, it reflected a mysterious and profound light.

Looking closely, complicated raindrop-shaped patterns seemed to be engraved on the blade.

“What a beautiful sword,” Xia Xia praised sincerely.

Although she had once worked as a helper in the Sword Repository of Tianquan Peak, she had never seen a longsword as deep and mysterious as the one in Nan Xi’s hand.

“Are you ready?”

Nan Xi smiled faintly, preparing to demonstrate his sword moves.

Since no outsiders were present, using his personal sword was not an issue.

Just then, the young girl in front of him suddenly raised her small hand. Xia Xia had something to say!

“What is it?” Nan Xi frowned slightly.

“Master, I don’t think I have a [Spirit Sword] yet?”

“…”

“…”

“Eh?”

Nan Xi realized the problem. How could he have forgotten that Xia Xia didn’t have her own [Spirit Sword]?

Even if he demonstrated it, she wouldn’t be able to learn.

Nan Xi’s personal sword had special restrictions and could not be used by Xia Xia.

Lord Tiansi… didn’t seem quite right either.

‘Then what the hell was the point of my demonstration!?’

Nan Xi’s brow furrowed. After a long moment, his gaze suddenly shot toward Xia Xia.

He stared at the girl with burning eyes, causing her delicate body to tremble.

“Ma… Master?”

“I’ve thought of a way.”

Nan Xi smiled slightly. He already had a brand-new, wicked plan.