"Xuan Tianzhan is dead?"
Xue Yi appeared and spoke dispassionately the moment she saw Yang Xiao.
She showed no emotion.
It made her bloodless face seem even colder.
However, when Yang Xiao saw her again, he noticed something very interesting.
'Interesting. An Innate Sword Body. No wonder she could use a Desolate Divine Fruit to stay alive even when her life force was extinguished. And that sword inside her is interesting too. Is that the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan?'
A glint flashed in Yang Xiao's eyes.
Originally, he had only planned to recruit a decent, capable subordinate. After all, the things he planned to do next would require many people to have any chance of success.
But now, thanks to the improvement in his Spiritual Power, Yang Xiao's understanding of Xue Yi was much deeper, and he valued her all the more.
"What? Is there something on my face?"
Seeing Yang Xiao staring at her, Xue Yi spoke as if she were joking. But her expression was so cold that even her attempt at a joke held no warmth, and the effect was chilling.
'This woman can actually make a joke?' Yang Xiao was rather surprised.
"No."
Still, he quickly shook his head and said, "Xuan Tianzhan is dead. Do you want to avenge him?"
Xue Yi's reply surprised him yet again.
"Why would I avenge him?"
"Er..."
Yang Xiao was stunned for a moment.
Xue Yi continued, "I owed the Profound Celestial Sect a favor and promised Xuan Tianxin I would act on Xuan Tianzhan's behalf once. I have now acted, so the debt is cleared. Why would I still need to avenge him?"
"That... is true."
Yang Xiao thought about it. 'She's right. But shouldn't a normal person get angry when someone they were protectingāor at least helpingādies?'
'Wouldn't they at least feel like they've lost face and want revenge?'
'I see. Judging by her demeanor, it was a pure transaction, devoid of any emotion. But even so, she did her utmost.'
He thought of how Xue Yi had repeatedly blocked him from killing Xuan Tianzhan.
Yang Xiao had to admit, he respected her integrity.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
'If I could get her to promise to help me, wouldn't she also do her utmost?'
Yang Xiao smiled.
A mere promise from anyone else wouldn't be enough to put him at ease.
But Xue Yi.
She was different.
So, he said, "Regardless, you helped Xuan Tianzhan fight me. Right now, I have you suppressed, your life and death in my hands. I'm giving you one choice: submit to me!"
Yang Xiao's face grew cold as he spoke.
Xue Yi, however, just frowned slightly.
After a moment of thought, she said, "What you say makes a lot of sense. However, getting me to submit to you won't be that simple. Unless you can agree to one condition and, at the same time, defeat me once with your true strength, I will not submit, even if you kill me."
Xue Yi's tone was as indifferent as ever.
Devoid of any emotion.
It was as if she were a being of promises alone, without feelings.
"Defeat you with my own strength? Fine. It seems you're not completely devoid of emotion after all. Isn't this just a display of unwillingness to accept defeat?"
Yang Xiao smiled.
Xue Yi's expression stiffened slightly.
But she quickly regained her composure.
"Actually, the Divine Artifact I used to suppress you was something I obtained myself, so it also counts as my own strength. But since you've made the request, a fight is no big deal. However, will you keep your promise?"
Yang Xiao said this deliberately, seeking confirmation.
"Naturally. As long as you defeat me, I will submit to you."
Xue Yi stated calmly.
"Good. Then face my attack."
With a slight smile, Yang Xiao raised his hand and struck out with his palm.
He was using the very same Palm Technique he had used against Xuan Tianzhan, completely infusing his Palm Power with the move Meteor Fall. If it landed, even a decorative rockery would be blasted to dust.
But Xue Yi simply raised her palm lightly and met Yang Xiao's strike head-on.
She blocked it. They both took a step back, evenly matched.
This level of strength was far more than just a notch above Xuan Tianzhan's.
The difference was like heaven and earth.
"Good. Worthy of an Innate Sword Body. Whether you use your palm or a sword, it's infused with Sword Qi. It's sharp and domineering. Not bad. Not bad at all."
Yang Xiao was very satisfied.
Back then, when Yang Ziling comprehended the Path of the Sword Body, he had already thought her comprehension was extraordinary.
And yet, Xue Yi was born with a Sword Body.
In terms of raw talent, she was definitely far superior to Yang Ziling.
If he could recruit her, she would be a great help to his plans.
"You actually know about the Innate Sword Body?"
Xue Yi seemed a little surprised.
But she quickly added calmly, "From the looks of it, you seem to want me to submit. However, your strength appears to be a little insufficient."
"Is that so?"
Yang Xiao gave a strange smile.
When he moved again, he vanished.
Even Xue Yi couldn't sense Yang Xiao's presence for a moment. She frowned slightly, feeling the space around her thrown into chaos.
It was as if she couldn't sense anything at all.
'I have an Innate Sword Body and an Innate Sword Heart. My perception of danger is exquisitely sharp. I'm even better than some who have cultivated their Spirit Will past the Observing Micro level. But now...'
Xue Yi was bewildered.
The next moment, a chill ran through her entire body. A hand rested on her cold shoulder.
Very close to her neck.
"Now, I've won."
Yang Xiao's voice drifted over.
He removed his hand.
Xue Yi's expression immediately became extremely complicated. She seemed to want to ask Yang Xiao how he did it, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.
Seeing such a rich variety of expressions on her face, Yang Xiao smiled smugly to himself.
'And here I thought she was completely emotionless. This is much better. Otherwise, the future would be far too boring.'
Yang Xiao smiled faintly.
His Spiritual Power had reached the Void Observation Middle Stage. Although Xue Yi's Innate Sword Heart was formidable, he could easily block her perception, allowing him to appear at her side completely undetected.
If he wanted to kill someone like that, it would be incredibly easy.
In fact, anyone whose Spiritual Level had not reached the Peak of the Initial Stage of Void Observation would be affected by Yang Xiao's block. And once one's perception was blocked, it was like losing one's eyes and ears.
Yang Xiao could kill them with ease.
Just like with Xue Yi moments ago. Her strength was clearly not much less than his own, but once her senses were interfered with by his Spiritual Power, she couldn't even tell when he was right beside her.
If he had truly wanted to kill her, one strike would have been all it took.
"Although you won, I'm still not fully convinced. If you can take one sword strike from me, I will submit to you wholeheartedly! How about it?"
At that moment, Xue Yi bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.
Her face was slightly flushed, and she was clearly a little embarrassed.
But her eyes were resolute.
"Take one sword strike from you?"
Yang Xiao's expression flickered, and he nodded.
"Fine. I agree. You may begin."
Seeing him agree, Xue Yi nodded, and the aura around her instantly turned sharp.
Then, in a move no one could have possibly expected, her chest began to heave, and a blood-red sword slowly emerged from within her body.
The moment the Blood Sword appeared,
an evil aura permeated the entire area.
Even Yang Xiao was momentarily stunned.
His expression turned grim.
But there was also a hint of understanding, and even a trace of anticipation deep in his eyes.
'The Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan. So it really is this!'