Chapter 4: The Bloodburst Nine Lives Technique

The elders pretended to ignore Xia Jiuxuan, chatting and laughing as they walked out of the main hall. Yet, as soon as they stepped out into the courtyard, their expressions darkened.

“This is most peculiar. That boy was clearly a useless cripple—how could he suddenly become so terrifying?”

“I exchanged a single palm strike with him just now, and whatever force he used shook my very organs. I think we ought to be more careful, lest we stumble into disaster.”

“You’re all overthinking this. I believe he’s merely taken some costly pill to raise his strength for a short while. There’s no need to keep him in mind.”

“We should still be cautious. I suggest that, before Zhong returns, we gather all the elders together. That way, if the boy goes mad and attacks, he won’t be able to pick us off one by one.”

“All of us together? And what if something unexpected happens and we’re wiped out in one go...”

“Elder Huiyang, shut your filthy mouth! Are you really so frightened by a cripple? Even if he harbors some murderous intent, he’s no match for our legitimized Zhong.”

“Elder Huiwu is right. As far as I know, Zhong is greatly favored by the old master and has already inherited something extraordinary. Even you and I are like ants before him, let alone that worthless wretch.”

The elders debated amongst themselves. Outwardly, many appeared unconcerned by Xia Jiuxuan’s verdict, but deep down, each nursed a sense of unease, a feeling that sat uncomfortably in their chests.

...

Xia Jiuxuan did not stop these treacherous elders. The reason was simple: it wasn’t worth using the reckless tactic of “hurting oneself to destroy the enemy.” Given a little time, dealing with them would be as easy as crushing ants.

When he returned to his courtyard, Xia Ran was already asleep, cared for by the maid.

Xia Jiuxuan went to the room where his brother and sister-in-law had once lived, lighting several sticks of incense before their memorial tablets. An Emperor of Killing ought not to have emotions, but after living two lives, his feelings for his brother and sister-in-law had been indelibly etched into his soul through the fusion of memories—something he could never forget.

“Brother, Sister-in-law, rest assured. From this day forward, I will never let Ranran suffer even the slightest harm.

And in another half month, I’ll personally behead Xia Zhong and bring his dog head as an offering to you.”

Staring at the memorial tablets, Xia Jiuxuan felt a deep bitterness in his heart.

Three years ago, he had already suspected that his brother and sister-in-law were murdered by villains, but when he told his father his suspicions, his father had paid him no heed.

Now that he knew the truth, Xia Jiuxuan wished he could tear Xia Zhong to pieces with his bare hands!

After a few more words from his heart, he left, preparing to strengthen himself for the battle with Xia Zhong in half a month.

Cautious and never underestimating an enemy—this was the lesson he had learned as the Emperor of Killing. It was precisely his overwhelming killing power and prudent mind that had allowed him to survive countless perils and ascend to the pinnacle.

So, by nature and conviction, he would not take Xia Zhong lightly. After all, he was no longer the invincible Emperor of his previous life.

“My techniques are all too advanced for my current level. I should find some lower-tier skills for now.”

In Xia Jiuxuan’s memory, even the lowest-ranked techniques in this world were beyond the ability of those at the Saint Entry Realm to truly master.

His real cultivation was only at the Second Layer of Innate, so he certainly couldn’t wield high-level martial arts freely; forcing it could very well result in instant death.

Just like before—using only the first move of the Supreme Profound Nine Palms had already ruptured his internal organs.

Fortunately, his body was still weak and could be easily repaired through breathing techniques; he was already recovered.

Moreover, even if he created a new technique himself, it would be no lower than Saint Entry level—so it was better to simply fetch a suitable low-tier skill from the family’s Martial Repository.

Soon, Xia Jiuxuan arrived before the Martial Repository.

“Halt! Orders from above—neither you nor your dog are allowed in—”

The gatekeeper, a disciple of a collateral line, hadn’t finished his sentence before receiving a palm to the chest.

That strike caved in his chest. Eyes wide, he tried to speak further.

Bang.

A single punch shattered his skull.

“Trying to mock me? I won’t even give you the chance.”

Xia Jiuxuan acted decisively and arrogantly, never giving his enemies a chance.

“Soul Capture!”

Even a mosquito is still meat; besides, the Killing Arena could imprison souls without limit.

Along with the three he’d slain earlier, there were now four puppet cultivators imprisoned in the Killing Arena.

Xia Jiuxuan immediately absorbed a profound crystal, feeding it into the bodies of the four puppets, setting them to ceaseless cultivation.

He strode directly to the fifth floor of the Martial Repository. Before he could even start selecting a technique, a pressure quietly descended upon him.

“Hmm?” Xia Jiuxuan frowned.

This aura was much stronger than those elders from before.

By his estimation, it was at least at the Second Layer of Palace Entry.

This must be the strongest member of the Xia family.

“Stop skulking—show yourself.”

Xia Jiuxuan stood firm under the pressure, shouting loudly.

“I saw everything you did in the main hall,” came an aged voice, and the figure of a white-haired elder appeared.

“So what? Are you here to kill me?”

Xia Jiuxuan replied lightly, though his mind was already calculating his options—the likeliest being escape. He had no choice; his body was too weak and his cultivation too low to fight head-on.

The old man gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“Why would I want to kill you? My advice is to run—run as far as you can, and never come back.”

Xia Jiuxuan finally relaxed. In this world, no one was more sensitive to murderous intent than he was, and clearly, the old man harbored none toward him.

“And why should I run?”

His brother and sister-in-law murdered, his seven-year-old sister thrown into a well, his kindly uncle executed by torture. Now that scoundrel Xia Zhong even intended to sell Xia Ran to a vicious alchemist.

Such deep hatred could not go unavenged!

The white-haired elder sighed. “I understand how you feel, but if you don’t flee, you’re doomed.”

Xia Jiuxuan looked on indifferently, ignoring the advice and instead asked, “If I’m not mistaken, you must be the Guardian Elder of the repository—senior to those traitorous old men, am I right?”

Previously, Xia Jiuxuan had not been qualified to enter the Martial Repository, and had only heard of the Guardian Elder, never seen him.

The old man nodded without denial. “Yes, I am the Guardian Elder, Xia Kongming.”

Xia Jiuxuan’s pupils contracted, and he spoke sharply: “Xia Kongming, are you aware of your crime?”

Xia Kongming looked surprised. “What crime have I committed?”

Xia Jiuxuan’s tone grew harsher: “As an elder, you turned a blind eye while Xia Zhong committed evil and harmed the future heir. And you claim you are blameless?”

At this, Xia Kongming shook his head helplessly. “Young man, the world is not as simple as you imagine. Don’t try to bind me with your own morality—I’m not interested in such things.

You blame me for not intervening, but even if I had, nothing would have changed. I might have lost my own life. Do you think I would act so foolishly?”

“Hahaha, well then. You, a dignified Second Layer of Palace Entry, can say something so shameless—your fear of death is truly impressive.

Get out of my sight, and don’t ever let me see you again.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, Xia Jiuxuan turned to leave.

“Xia Jiuxuan! Don’t be so foolish. Do you even know Xia Zhong’s current cultivation?”

“His cultivation? Is he some great emperor, or a deity, perhaps?”

Xia Kongming was thoroughly baffled—what was an emperor, or a deity supposed to be?

At that moment, he met Xia Jiuxuan’s gaze.

Ha!

Good heavens!

Xia Kongming staggered, nearly collapsing. In Xia Jiuxuan’s eyes, he seemed to glimpse a blood-red void, within which stood a peerless youth. A single glance was enough to shatter the soul and make one’s guts burst from terror.

That sensation was so horrifying it defied description.

When he came to his senses, Xia Jiuxuan had already turned away, wandering among the bookshelves.

“This boy...”

Xia Kongming’s heart pounded, his throat dry; he was struck dumb.

After a dozen breaths, Xia Jiuxuan casually picked three manuals.

Xia Kongming, finally recovering, hurried over to see what he had taken, and his expression changed yet again.

One was “Profound Dragon Spear Intent.”

This technique was utterly extraordinary. Without the legendary Dragon Vein, anyone who dared cultivate it would surely die.

Another was the “Eight Desolations Spirit Lock Formation.”

This was a spell formation—only a formation master with immense spiritual power could practice it; otherwise, it would drive the practitioner insane, turning them into a living corpse.

But the last manual shocked Xia Kongming even more.

The “Nine Lives Bloodburst Sutra.”

This technique was never meant for humans. It was created long ago by a bloodline mutant—a monster—and only demons or powerful beastfolk could cultivate it.

And yet Xia Jiuxuan had taken it without hesitation. Xia Kongming was utterly confounded.

After pondering for a moment, Xia Kongming could only give a wry smile. “The boy’s changed a little, but in the end, he’s still a fool—grasping at straws, thinking that randomly choosing powerful techniques will let him contend with that little monster.

He doesn’t realize this will only make his death all the more miserable.”

Thus, Xia Kongming’s opinion was no different from the others: in his eyes, Xia Jiuxuan was already as good as dead.