Chapter Fifty-Nine: What Is Xu Xing?

Xu Xing carried Zi Yan in his arms, flying on his sword toward Lantern City. This battle had brought him countless gains. From the bodies of the Nine Swordmasters, he had scavenged nine sword banners, along with a vast fortune and cultivation resources. Yet, he felt a heavy weight pressing upon him, for he knew nothing of the power behind the Nine Swordmasters, and so he was constantly plagued by anxiety and fear.

He had not even glimpsed the shadow of the Divine Physician, yet had already fallen into a crisis. But what could he do? It was the Nine Swordmasters who struck first; had he not acted, Zi Yan would have been taken from him, and perhaps he himself would have perished as well.

Through this battle, Xu Xing stabilized his cultivation. Having broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm two days earlier, he now firmly held the early stage, his liquid dantian more solid, able to draw ever richer spiritual energy from the world.

For now, he could only enter Lantern City, acquaint himself with the situation, and plan his next move. Finding the Divine Physician mentioned by Zhang Sanqing was his long-term goal, but this figure would be hard to find; he needed to search for clues.

And to seek these clues, he would have to immerse himself in the life and chaos of Lantern City for a time.

Long after Xu Xing departed, the fireworks launched by the Nine Swordmasters gradually faded in the sky, dissolving into ashes and losing all brilliance.

Only then did a middle-aged man arrive at the scene. Seeing the Nine Swordmasters kneeling and subdued, he was furious, roaring skyward, “Whoever dared this, I will flay your skin and strip your bones!”

Entering the battlefield, he frowned in astonishment: a ravine three hundred feet long had been cleaved into the earth, shocking him. “Such a formidable opponent must be nearly my equal, stepping into the Golden Core stage. But my master will not let you escape.”

As he searched the area, he uncovered many secrets—the place was saturated with a terrifying and bone-chilling sword intent.

“How strange, such powerful sword intent, yet not a trace of spiritual energy fluctuations. Could it be... someone cultivating the path of the sword? But in Lantern City...”

The man stood lost in thought, gazing at the vast ravine beneath his feet. After a long contemplation, he stared incredulously toward the east.

“There is only one explanation—the Northern Sea Sect, home of that sorceress. Only the Northern Sea Sect specializes in sword cultivation.”

“This Sword Lock Formation... Damn it, at least you left something useful behind!”

...

Xu Xing brought Zi Yan to rest at an inn.

The inn was adjacent to a bustling tavern. Outside the tavern stood a withered tree, beneath which someone played chess, while ants moved their colony beneath the chessboard.

“Looks like it’s going to rain,” Xu Xing mused, gazing at the gathering storm clouds beyond the window.

Unluckily, only one room remained in the inn. Forced to share it with Zi Yan, who was still unconscious, Xu Xing’s heart burned with worry. He infused her with his own blood, poured spiritual energy into her, and refined the Nine Swordmasters’ various treasures into spiritual energy to transfer to her.

Yet none of it seemed effective, not the slightest improvement. His anxiety grew; he could only wait in agony.

In his idle moments, Xu Xing turned his attention to the nine sword banners seized from the Nine Swordmasters.

The banners were small, each about half the length of a finger, made of black-gold, evidently valuable magical treasures.

From the techniques used by the Nine Swordmasters, he guessed these banners each contained one of nine moves—of which only two had been unleashed in battle. Seven remained. Had they used the third, he might truly have been no match for them.

He channeled spiritual energy bit by bit into a banner. One banner floated, circling him. Following this, he infused the others in turn.

Gradually, Xu Xing realized the terrible power hidden in the banners. When he activated the fourth, his body felt as if it were being torn apart, his breathing grew labored, and the drain on his spiritual energy was frightening.

Upon the sixth banner, his body felt as though it would explode, breath short, his mind stabbed with persistent pain, and all furniture in the room trembled violently.

Shutting his eyes, he swallowed a Foundation Establishment-stage divine rune pill taken from the Nine Swordmasters. His spiritual energy surged, filling him until it overflowed.

He gazed at the seventh banner, still unused, eyes gleaming—what power would it reveal if activated?

As the seventh banner slowly rose, Xu Xing’s mind felt bound by a spell, growing ever tighter. He cried out, “Ah! Rise!”

In the room, the vase, chairs, even the unconscious Zi Yan, all began to float. The pain from his brain and body pushed him to the edge of collapse.

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted his spellcasting.

“Hero, perhaps you should take a break. At this pace, your lady is bound to suffer as well.”

Interrupted by the knock and the greeting, Xu Xing halted. The floating vase, chairs, and Zi Yan dropped, landing with a clatter—and, astonishingly, the unconscious Zi Yan let out a soft, coquettish cry.

Outside the door.

“Hero, perhaps you should slow down. The whole attic can hear you. Do you know how many people envy you...”

Xu Xing wished he could crawl into a hole. Though he hadn’t seen who was outside, it was not as they imagined. As he stood silent, the voice sounded again.

“Hero, carry on if you must, but keep it down; don’t make such a spectacle—it disturbs others.”

Overwhelmed, Xu Xing stood frozen. His excessive spiritual energy expenditure, combined with triggering seven banners, had left him exhausted. Panting, he replied, “It’s not what you think...”

“No worries, you’re young—I understand. But even so, there should be some moderation.”

Footsteps echoed on the spiral staircase, fading away—the visitor had left. Xu Xing, drenched in sweat, sat by the window, sighing softly:

“It’s over—no matter what I say, I’ll never wash away this misunderstanding.”

Clouds piled up in the sky; since arriving, half a day had passed, and the world seemed transformed. Where once the sky was clear, now darkness and wind pressed down upon Lantern City.

“Ah, when will Senior Sister Zi Yan awaken…”

He stared vacantly outside, when suddenly a warm sensation traced across his back. He shivered; it was soft and smooth. Turning, he was stunned.

Zi Yan was awake!

Before Xu Xing could speak, Zi Yan looked troubled, sighing softly: “Junior Brother, do you hold me in your heart?”

The abrupt question left Xu Xing speechless. What did she mean? His mind raced. Seeing him dazed, Zi Yan lay back on the bed, gazing at the shattered vase on the floor.

After a long silence, Xu Xing looked at Zi Yan and gently said:

“Do you know why I am called Xu Xing? Why my eldest brother is Xu Hai?”

Zi Yan shook her head, offering tentatively, “Why? Because your father’s surname is Xu? You live by the sea?”

Xu Xing smiled, resting his chin on his hand, gazing at her:

“No. I’ve thought it over—my heart is entirely yours. That’s why I am Xu Xing.”

“As for my eldest brother, in my understanding, it’s the same: I’ve thought it over—it’s still you, because my heart is wholly yours.”

“Ah, you’re terrible, Junior Brother—your words are coated with honey.”