In Si Xiang, the tier of one’s martial techniques meant the difference between life and death. In a battle of two opposing forces, with almost the same strength, in order to break the equilibrium a higher tier technique and skill is necessary.
Martial techniques are numerous and varied. But not everyone can learn these death defying arts. High tier techniques are usually passed through apprenticeship while secret techniques could only be learned by possessing certain qualifications and fulfilling strict conditions.
Ye Xiao Lan had seen most of Zhou Xue Xian’s matches. Although she showed undeniable fighting prowess, Ye Xiao Lan couldn’t help but notice certain flaws with her techniques. These were miniscule details that not many would notice, even seasoned experts would find it hard to perceive them. But Ye Xiao Lan is cultivating a strong eye technique that allows him to glean and peer through the weaknesses of others through observing and dissecting their skills.
Though Zhou Xue Xian has been dominating her previous fights, her technique execution was flawed and full of weak spots that should not appear when one is familiar with the technique being used. To make up for the weakness of executing unfamiliar techniques, Zhou Xue Xian utilizes her speed and intricate understanding of martial arts. This way of battling was all right if Zhou Xue Xian was facing opponents who cannot see her true form. But for someone like Ye Xiao Lan, who has a higher cultivation realm and could easily pinpoint her weakness, this little trick would not work.
Zhou Xue Xian’s undisturbed gaze met Ye Xiao Lan’s and said, “Young Master is truly skilled. But I’m not the only one holding back, am I?”
Ye Xiao Lan was not surprised about Zhou Xue Xian’s remark. If he could deduce that she’s using an unfamiliar technique then surely Zhou Xue Xian could guess that he’s been holding back.
In truth, Ye Xiao Lan never thought of revealing his full strength during the Conclave of Immortals. The conclave is merely a tournament to hone one’s skills and exchange pointers with those who possess abilities equal to one’s own. There was no need to be so harried. Besides, Ye Xiao Lan hasn't met an opponent that he should be wary of or made him feel like going all out, until Zhou Xue Xian.
Since he stepped on the arena and exchanged moves with Zhou Xue Xian, Ye Xiao Lan’s battle instinct was greatly stimulated. This caused him to be more cautious and more excited, at the same time. Of all the opponents he faced, only Zhou Xue Xian gave him a distinct feeling. This feeling is akin to having a vicious beast closely watching him, waiting to pounce at the slightest hint of weakness. This is a first for Ye Xiao Lan and he couldn’t wait to see if he would be devoured by this vicious creature or overpower her.
Without a word, Ye Xiao Lan summoned his soul avatar and to the astonishment of the crowd, flawlessly executed a series of hand seals that would allow him to fuse with it.
Soul Fusion is a high tier secret technique that allows a practitioner to merge with a soul avatar and tap to their latent potential without suffering a backlash. But before the technique could be cultivated there are certain conditions that have to be fulfilled.
First, only high ranked soul avatars with elemental attributes could be used in Soul Fusion. Some soul avatars are not endowed with elemental affinity while others are of lower rank. It is important for a soul avatar to possess the necessary soul force to cope with its wielder’s surge in strength and to ensure the perfection of the technique.
Second, the wielder and the avatar must possess the same elemental affinity. Most practitioners are blessed with spiritual roots at birth but only a select few are able to awaken a soul avatar that matches their elemental affinity. No matter how strong the cultivator or his/her avatar, if their elemental attributes are not the same, the technique cannot be learned.
This is true for the late Young Master Song and his soul avatar, black jade spider. Although Song Ye’s personal strength was nothing to sneer at and his black jade spider was a high ranked soul avatar, Song Ye was not able to cultivate Soul Fusion.
Song Ye’s spiritual root was not inclined towards that of his soul avatar. If he was born with another type spiritual root or if he consumed a divine beast’s core to awaken another spiritual root, with the same attribute as his black jade spider, he could have met the preconditions of the secret technique.
But this was not the case for Ye Xiao Lan.
Ye Xiao Lan was born with a fire spiritual root and when he awakened the Purple Winged Fire Qilin, as his soul avatar, his elemental affinity towards fire grew stronger and unparalleled.
Soul Fusion is a technique that Ye Xiao Lan has never used in combat before. Although he only refined the technique to its secondary stage, Soul Fusion easily became one of his hidden cards. This skill was not meant to be displayed unless Ye Xiao Lan encountered a strong opponent or if his life was threatened. He hasn't encountered an opponent strong enough to make him want to utilize the technique. But with Zhou Xue Xian he does not need to hold back, he cannot.
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Purple flames surged and covered Ye Xiao Lan’s body. A projection of a giant beast manifested on his back. The projection might be indistinct but it was unmistakably the shape of a Fire Qilin.
Although not much could be gleaned from his expression, Ye Xiao Lan was exhilarated. Zhou Xue Xian has awakened his desire to battle. He never had such an intense urge to face an opponent until today and he will not disappoint her expectations.
Once the fusion stabilized, Ye Xiao Lan carefully sheathed his sword and resumed his initial stance, ready to restart the battle.
Witnessing Ye Xiao Lan’s minute changes and feeling the intense aura emanating from his body, Zhou Xue Xian unconsciously smiled in anticipation. She gently flicked wrists and in a blink, a black saber appeared on her right hand while a silver sword materialized on her left.
Azure flames covered the blade of the sword on her left hand while bolts of black lightning flashed, covering the saber held on her right hand. The piercing cry of a phoenix echoed through the arena and the deafening roar of a dragon followed.
Zhou Xue Xian momentarily closed her eyes and allowed the spirit of the two blades to wash over her senses. She breathed in deeply and exhaled in a relaxed manner as her body slowly adjusted to accommodate the sudden surge of spiritual energy. “It has been a while…” She sighed contentedly.
Seeing Zhou Xue Xian take out two spiritual blades shocked the spectating crowd. But the ones who were more astounded at the sudden display were the people sitting on the high viewing platform.
“Azure Phoenix Sword… Black Dragon Saber...” The Emperor of Wuxing was shocked to see both blades in full view.
The Black Dragon Saber once belonged to his good friend, Zhou Chen. While the Azure Phoenix Sword was his late sister’s spiritual weapon. The flame sword and lightning saber originated from the mystical realm of the Tengliu Domain. The last time these weapons appeared they shook the foundation of the empire to its core. These spiritual blades shaped the Empire of Wuxing to what it is today.
The Azure Phoenix Sword was once kept within the Imperial Family’s vault. Following Imperial Princess Yao’s marriage, she decided to leave the sword to the Emperor in hopes that it could guard and protect the Imperial Household. Although many of the Imperial descendants desired to acquire this famous spiritual weapon, the Emperor was adamant that no one, except Zhou Xue Xian, would inherit the Azure Phoenix Sword.
As Imperial Princess Yao’s only child, it was Zhou Xue Xian’s right to receive her mother’s legacy. And after Zhou Xue Xian broke through the bottleneck of Foundation Building Stage, the Emperor immediately sent the sword together with an accompanying secret technique, and hoped that Zhou Xue Xian would refine and cultivate them to perfection. Just like her mother.
But the Emperor of Wuxing did not expect Zhou Chen to bestow the Black Dragon Saber to the child as well. To be able to wield both blades, at the same time, it is apparent that Zhou Xue Xian is stronger and more talented than her revered parents.
In truth, Zhou Xue Xian used to agonize over her parent’s legacies.
Growing up in the Zhou Manor, Zhou Xue Xian was meticulously trained in the secret saber arts of the Zhou Clan. She was gifted with fire and lightning spiritual roots and the Zhou Clan’s Heaven Cleaving Saber Technique is perfect for a lightning attribute cultivator.
Zhou Xue Xian took to the technique like a fish on the water. With due diligence and proper guidance, it didn’t take her a long time to grasp the fundamentals of the saber arts and refine it as her own. Her rapid growth both alarmed and delighted the Zhou Clan elders. And after cultivating the Heaven Cleaving Saber Technique to perfection, Zhou Xue Xian’s strength, while wielding the Black Dragon Saber, could only be compared to Zhou Chen.
The complication arose when the Azure Phoenix Sword was delivered to Zhou Xue Xian along with the Imperial Family’s secret sword arts, Heaven Defying Sword Technique. Zhou Xue Xian knew she would eventually inherit her mother’s spiritual weapon but she did not realize it would come to her at an early time. She believed that since it's been kept with the Imperial Family since her mother’s marriage, she could only pass it on as a symbolic legacy. By that time, Zhou Xue Xian was already refining the Black Dragon Saber and the sudden arrival of the Azure Phoenix Sword was unprecedented.
Although both blades were only spiritual tier weapons and Zhou Xue Xian would eventually outgrow them as she climbed to a higher realm, she felt it was her duty to showcase their strengths. She did not want for the blades’ stellar reputations to suffer and be lost in obscurity while in her possession.
But in cultivation, greed could potentially lead to undesirable outcomes. Still, Zhou Xue Xian was not resigned to compromise. Maybe it was ego or pure stubbornness but she wanted to find a way to utilize both of the blades without favoring one over the other.
Zhou Xue Xian’s obstinate attitude and dogged determination led to a fruitful accident. By combining the essential parts of the Heaven Cleaving Saber Technique and Heaven Defying Sword Technique, Zhou Xue Xian managed to create a new form of double blade wielding technique that she could refine and strengthen as she advanced in her cultivation. This new form was stronger and more profound than either of the secret techniques it originated from.
But the first time she utilized this fearsome technique, Zhou Xue Xian suffered a fierce backlash. Wielding both the spiritual blades, at the same time, was too taxing for the body, not to mention the fierce requirement of the new technique, Zhou Xue Xian’s cultivation realm proved to be too shallow to support the technique.
Although the new double blade wielding technique is quite powerful and could stand on par with other high tier secret arts, Zhou Xue Xian was forbidden to use it. She was cautioned not to attempt to use the technique until she condensed a Nascent Soul and completely refined the Black Dragon Saber and Azure Phoenix Sword.
But though she hasn't condensed a Nascent Soul and has yet to fully refine both of the spiritual blades, after learning how to summon her soul avatar, Zhou Xue Xian is confident she had enough strength to utilize the double blade wielding technique. And because she has a strong enough opponent to test the skill on, it’s time to unleash and make its form known to the world!