The Art of Aura and the Spirit Brush’s Defiance

“The art of discerning aura…”

“Could there truly be a secret art in this world that allows one to perceive cultivation levels beyond their own?”

If the disparities between cultivation realms could be discerned simply by ‘gazing’, imagine how much trouble one could avoid while navigating the martial world.

Shangwu’s curiosity about Zhuang Xun deepened with each passing moment.

“Ah, brother, you really don’t understand, do you? The Great Dao holds ten thousand paths!”

“You understand, then? Tell me, what other secret arts are there like that!”

“Uh… let me think.”

“You little brat… ever since we left the sect, you just love to argue with me, don’t you?”

Shangwen stroked his chin in contemplation for a moment, when a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. He recalled a secret transmission from a book.

It documented various obscure and profound secret arts within the cultivation world.

Each one was either on the brink of being lost, or had already vanished, buried deep within the annals of history.

“Ahem, don’t you dare say it, but I actually do know a few.”

“Then speak up! If you can’t, you’ll be footing the bill for our next three rounds of drinks.”

Shangwen adopted the air of a storyteller, his hands sweeping outwards as he shook his head. “For the first one, we simply must mention our Great Elder…”

“Proficient in a myriad of martial arts, he wields an Asura Heaven secret technique of unknown origin.”

“When this technique is unleashed, an area spanning hundreds of thousands of miles transforms into an Asura Purgatory, a true pinnacle of destructive power recorded in the ‘Tai Xuan Secret Transmission’.”

“Even our Grand Elder has expressed boundless admiration for its profound mysteries.”

“However, this Great Elder also possesses a stubborn nature.”

“He refuses to take on any disciples, preventing this secret technique from being passed down.”

“That truly is an extraordinary skill.” Shangwu nodded slightly in agreement.

“Secondly, there’s the Heavenly Spirit Sword Sect’s Sect Master Xuan Yao, known as True Person Mingdao.”

“By virtue of the Grand Profound Heart inherited from the Immortal Ascension Road, he has held the position of Sect Master for over nine millennia, walking the Human Dao without a single defeat.”

“Alright, alright, I think I have a good idea of the rest.”

Shangwu waved his hand dismissively.

He, too, had read the ‘Tai Xuan Secret Transmission’; how could he not be familiar with these tales?

“You’re just going to recount the deeds of the figures from Qingyu’s one Sacred Land, two Dao Sects, and three Great Palaces, aren’t you?”

“What can I do?”

“We haven’t ventured into the outer regions or anything, so our horizons are naturally limited to Qingyu’s top forces.”

“Hah~”

Zhuang Xun yawned, then raised an eyebrow to glance at the suddenly surging crimson-gold flames. They had transformed into a sky-filling Fire Phoenix, shattering the light barrier and soaring into the heavens.

Two dark figures descended from the sky, while a third had vanished without a trace.

“It’s about time. We should go.” Zhuang Xun stood up and clapped both men on their shoulders.

“Where are you off to, fellow Daoist? Weren’t you just watching the show?”

“To claim bounties and eliminate evil cultivators.”

Waving his hand, Zhuang Xun stepped into a nearby dark alley. His figure vanished instantly.

Even his aura dissipated in that moment.

****

Along a dark, deserted forest path.

A blood-stained, mottled figure stumbled unsteadily towards a stone gate ahead, breathing shallowly as if on the verge of collapse.

“Hah…”

“Hah…”

“Damn it…”

“That woman actually possessed such a trump card with her exotic flames…”

“A miscalculation indeed…”

He propped himself against the stone gate with a hand covered in his own blood, muttering a spell under his breath.

Rumble~

Creak~

The stone gate groaned with a dull friction, slowly beginning to open.

A frantic Qian You quickly scurried out from within, rushing to support the blood-stained black-robed Daoist.

He asked with concern, “My lord, are you alright?”

“Isn’t that obvious nonsense? Can’t you see…?”

“Then, should I close the city’s protective array now?”

“No need… I’ll reverse the formation, sacrifice a few people to recover some strength…”

“Then report to the Sixth Elder.”

Beneath his black robe, his eyes glinted with ferocity and venom, as if he wished to tear apart the silver-masked woman who had fought him to a standstill just moments ago.

“Why abandon the righteous path of the Great Dao for such perverse, heretical methods? What is the point?” A voice, as serene as a gentle breeze, drifted leisurely from the small path.

Following it, an elegant young man in a dark Daoist robe emerged, causing the black-robed Daoist’s expression to shift.

However, upon sensing the newcomer’s cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, his expression twisted into one of avarice.

To him, a hundred mortal sacrifices couldn’t compare to the value of a single cultivator.

“A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet you dare to boast so brazenly…”

“Watch as I refine you into my nourishment!”

The black-robed Daoist abruptly reached out and clenched his hand. A pitch-black ghostly claw materialized from the void, intending to crush the person before him.

Yet, what he perceived as an unavoidable strike merely grasped at an afterimage.

Swoosh!

A silent, chilling gleam flashed past him in an instant. A thousand silent sword lights, not one missing its mark, struck his body.

He instantly transformed into chunks of flesh, his Golden Core shattered into fragments by several of the sword lights.

Scattered across the ground, the pieces exuded a pungent, bloody stench.

As for Qian You, he had long since collapsed onto the ground, paralyzed with terror.

He repeatedly kowtowed, begging for his life.

“Hero, spare me! Hero, spare me!”

“Though I, Qian You, am greedy for wealth and women, I have never committed any heinous acts!”

“Sigh… killing someone like you, I’d consider it staining my sword.”

“Yes, yes, yes! A scoundrel like me doesn’t deserve to be personally dealt with by a hero!”

Qian You was utterly terrified, fearing only that the immortal-like handsome man before him would make a move.

“You’re right, though. I truly don’t need to do it myself.”

“Ah?”

The moment Qian You raised his head, his vision blurred to black, and he fainted.

Zhuang Xun, a hint of mischief playing on his lips, reached into the void. From his storage space, he retrieved what appeared to be an ordinary spirit brush.

With a casual flick of his sword tip, Qian You’s official robes disintegrated into fragments on the ground.

“Since he’s an official meant to serve the people, let the people decide his fate, whether life or death.”

As Zhuang Xun channeled spiritual energy into the brush tip, preparing to inscribe a few words on Qian You’s body, the spirit brush hummed.

Buzz~

The spirit brush shimmered with spiritual light, stirring a ripple in the void, as if resisting Zhuang Xun’s intention.

“Lingyi, are you trying to defy my will again?”

From within the spirit brush, a streak of spiritual light shot forth, gradually coalescing beside them into a graceful, enchanting figure.

She possessed pale blue, starry eyes, exposed delicate feet, and a dark ink-colored robe, exuding an elegant demeanor.

She resembled a tranquil woman from the Jiangnan region, stepping out of an ethereal painting, her dark hair flowing like willow branches.

The divine brush possessed a spirit, named Lingyi.

She bowed slightly towards Zhuang Xun, performing a respectful salute. “Lingyi would not dare to defy her Master’s will. However, using a Heavenly Artifact for such a task seems rather overkill.”

“It’s just writing a few words, what’s the big deal?”

“It is improper. Please, Master, choose another method.”

“What if I insist on writing it?”

“…”

Lingyi’s beautiful eyes lifted subtly, and she spoke with a gentle, flowing tone. “Then Lingyi will unite with the other three Dao Spirits of the artifact and, day and night, drain your soul’s origin essence, Master.”

“You will know no sleep, find no peace in food, and grow steadily thinner.”

“…”

“You’re all ruthless, fine, I won’t use it then.”

With a thought, Zhuang Xun tossed the spirit brush into his storage space, and Lingyi’s figure slowly dissipated.

“This Divine Realm Forbidden Curse is truly stifling. Even the Dao Spirits of artifacts dare to talk back to me now.”

“Sigh…”

With a soft sigh, Zhuang Xun glanced at the residual blood on the ground.

He beckoned with an empty hand, and a sentence appeared on Qian You’s naked body.

‘Such corrupt officials, their fate of life or death should be decided by the people –逍遥乐 (Carefree Joy)’

“That should suffice.”

In the human world, simply enjoying oneself was enough; who cared what those hidden figures thought?

After completing all of this, Zhuang Xun summoned a spiritual flame, incinerating the scattered flesh and blood.

Not a single speck of ash remained.