Chapter 269: A Test of Skills

Next, the warship set sail back to a small town on the edge of the continent. Upon arrival, it would drop off Qian Ye and Zhuji, then arrange for an airship to take them back to the neutral lands. Throughout the journey, Eunuch Yang seemed truly relieved that his mission was complete, not showing his face once.

Qian Ye, though enjoying the peace, could not help but feel puzzled. Why did Empress Li say he had “done a good job”? What exactly had he done? Was it killing the six-armed giant? But that was Nightrise’s doing. Moreover, no one in the Empire likely knew about this yet.

These high-ranking figures loved to be mysterious, never speaking clearly, especially those who dabbled in the ways of the Heavens.

As Qian Ye grumbled internally, he took out the long box.

Since he couldn’t understand Empress Li’s intentions, he might as well see what she had given him. Given her esteemed position, she wouldn’t be stingy with her gifts.

The long box felt heavy in his hand. When he opened it, a bright red glow soared up, casting a crimson light across the room.

In the center of the long box lay a short sword, its blade like water ripples with layers of serrated edges. The blade itself had a pattern of alternating light and dark lines, seemingly natural but actually a complex and enigmatic formation. The blade was held in the mouth of a monster, its long horns serving as a natural guard, its body as the hilt, and its tail forming a small blade at the rear.

This short sword was extremely ornate and intricate, with meticulous details, and many parts imbued with a profound aura, far surpassing any of Qian Ye’s previous bloodswords.

Empress Li had given him a bloodsword, and it was of the eighth-grade rank!

Qian Ye’s previous bloodsword had been destroyed in the vortex, and this one perfectly filled the void. As Qian Ye picked up the bloodsword, an ancient, distant roar echoed in his mind, as if an ancient vampire was roaring at the heavens and earth.

With a brief attempt, Qian Ye understood its functions. Besides the basic ability to absorb the essence of living beings, this sword also possessed extraordinary sharpness and durability. Even when pitted against the old Eastern Peak, it would not be outmatched. Additionally, the sword could store a portion of the essence, which could be burned for a powerful strike when necessary.

When Qian Ye channeled his dark golden blood energy into the bloodsword, a faint blood flame ignited on the blade. After testing it, Qian Ye estimated that a blood wheel slash from this bloodsword, when fully charged, would have the power of a marquis’s attack.

For most vampires, a bloodsword was a tool to end their opponents’ lives, not a primary weapon. However, this bloodsword was capable enough to serve as a primary weapon, making it exceptionally valuable.

Inside the long box was also its scabbard, inscribed with the words “Blood Moon,” likely the name of the bloodsword. Under the scabbard was a piece of paper, written in elegant script, detailing the sword’s history.

Blood Moon was originally a bloodsword owned by a vampiric duke. In a great battle, he fell at the hands of the Martial Ancestor, and the bloodsword came into the imperial family’s possession, becoming part of their treasure collection. Besides its inherent value, Blood Moon had a thousand-year history, adding to its worth. It was also crafted using ancient techniques, unlike the semi-industrial methods used for modern vampiric bloodswords.

This Blood Moon was both fitting for Qian Ye’s status and highly practical, showing that Empress Li had put considerable thought into it. But what had Qian Ye done to make her so generous?

Qian Ye was still puzzled. After some thought, he decided to stop worrying and stored the bloodsword in Andua’s space.

At this moment, the ship’s cabin trembled slightly, and someone outside the door said, “We will be landing soon. General, you should prepare your belongings.”

Apart from a small bag, Qian Ye had nothing much to pack, as most of his items were in Andua’s space. He left the cabin and followed the attendant to the deck. The airship had already landed, and several unmarked off-road vehicles were waiting on the ground.

Qian Ye, carrying young Zhuji, boarded one of the vehicles and entered the small town, settling in a secluded inn. Once Qian Ye was settled, the attendant handed him a waist token, saying, “This is your pass for moving around in the town. You can go anywhere within the town. My master has already made arrangements, and all matters are taken care of. It will take another day or two to arrange the transfer airship, please be patient.”

“Who is your master?”

The attendant pointed to the sky, saying, “My master is related to that person. I cannot say anything more.”

That person was most likely Empress Li, certainly not the Emperor. If related to Empress Li, it must be Li Kuanglan. She and Ji Tianqing had come out earlier, so it was normal for them to make arrangements.

Reassured, Qian Ye dismissed the attendant and returned to his small courtyard to examine the waist token.

The waist token was engraved with an origin force array, functioning as a key to access certain restricted areas. Other than that, there was nothing special about it.

This small town was specifically built for the use of a special Imperial force guarding the vortex exit. It was usually isolated, accessible only through specific channels. There were no idle people in the town, as it served as a garrison, with various armories and weapon depots.

Since the town was designed for temporary stays of those emerging from the vortex, it naturally had institutions for acquiring resources brought out from the vortex. Being an Imperial acquisition, the prices were not very favorable. Typically, anyone emerging from the vortex had to turn over a certain amount of resources. The specifics of how much and how to value different resources had long been established.

But since Qian Ye had received rewards from Empress Li, he was exempted from the obligation to turn over resources. This was, in fact, part of the reward.

The attendant also mentioned that there were several shops in the town, operated by various aristocratic families, specializing in acquiring resources from the vortex at good prices. One of them was even run by the Song family, known for buying anything. Qian Ye could exchange some of his resources for origin crystals if he wished.

Qian Ye simply said that he had fled hastily and had almost nothing with him, effectively blocking the attendant’s probing.

Inside Andua’s space, he had the Sea Lotus, with even the Bai Guo and Bai Guo wine crammed in. Other precious minerals and rare herbs were stuffed wherever there was space. Bringing out any of these items would surely cause a stir. With such immense value, some people might entertain other thoughts. Given his sensitive identity, if someone found a way to use this against him, he would have no place to appeal.

This was Qin Continent, and to reach the neutral lands, Qian Ye would need to transfer via Yue Continent or the Western Continent. According to the attendant, he was only responsible for getting Qian Ye to the transfer point. What Qian Ye did afterward was his own business.

After quietly waiting in the town for a day, the airship to the Western Continent arrived. This arrangement was quite thoughtful. After all, the Western Continent was the stronghold of the Zhao family. Even if someone wanted to harm Qian Ye there, they would have to consider the Zhao family’s reaction. It was said that the Zhao family had secretly provided substantial assistance during Qian Ye’s escape from the Empire, nearly coming to blows with the military.

During this day, Qian Ye did not remain idle, constantly focusing on his cultivation. Between practicing the Xuan Chapter and Yao Chapter, he read the Book of Darkness. The latest chapter, despite demonstrating the changes in the universe, conveyed a sense of the passage of countless eons. Each time he read it, Qian Ye felt a profound impact, gradually altering his perception of origin force, making his aura deeper and more obscure.

At midday, there was a knock on the door. The attendant appeared again, saying, “General, the airship is ready. If there’s nothing else, you can board now.”

Qian Ye nodded, carrying the still-sleeping young Zhuji, and followed the attendant out of the courtyard.

“General, there is someone else who wants to see you. Whether you meet them is up to you,” the attendant said hesitantly.

“Who wants to see me?” Qian Ye was curious. The attendant’s attitude clearly indicated something was amiss.

Before the attendant could answer, a strong, resounding voice, like the sound of a sword, rang out, “It’s me, Li Qingyun of the Li Clan of Jing Tang.”

Qian Ye had heard of Li Qingyun before. During the time of tension with the Li family, he had inquired about their strong and talented members. Li Qingyun was the strongest of the Li family’s younger generation, having gained fame some time ago. According to rumors, Li Qingyun’s talent was clearly above Zhao Junhong and perhaps even Zhao Yuying, making him one of the top young talents in the Empire.

However, with Zhao Jundu of the Zhao family at his peak, other talents paled in comparison.

Li Qingyun and Qian Ye had never crossed paths, so why was he seeking him out now? Qian Ye had only been out of the vortex for a day, and for Li Qingyun to arrive so quickly, he must have been nearby. Was it a coincidence, or had he been waiting for Qian Ye?

Qian Ye slowly stepped out of the courtyard, looking at the young man before him.

Li Qingyun wore a green robe, appearing scholarly, but his eyes flashed with a sharp, sword-like light. Standing there, he was like a drawn sword.

Seeing Qian Ye, Li Qingyun wasted no words, drawing his sword with a clang and declaring, “I’ve long heard that General Qian Ye is a prodigy, rivaling Zhao Jundu, and is said to be invincible below the level of a divine general. I, Li Qingyun, wish to test these claims and see if they are true.”

His words were direct and impolite, and Li Qingyun did not hide the hatred and disgust in his eyes. This made Qian Ye even more puzzled, wondering where he had offended him. However, he had offended the Li family in many ways, and perhaps one of them involved Li Qingyun personally.

Qian Ye did not refuse, placing young Zhuji aside, and said, “Brother Li, if you wish to spar, I have no objections.”

“Good, let’s see what you’re capable of!” Li Qingyun clenched his teeth, his sword flashing like lightning as it thrust towards Qian Ye.

Qian Ye did not dodge, his body subtly exuding the timeless aura of eons. He met the sword with a fist.

A short while later, Qian Ye, carrying young Zhuji, walked towards the airship. The attendant followed closely, smiling widely, occasionally glancing back with a look of ambiguity.

Li Qingyun, in tattered green robes, stood staring at the broken pieces of his sword, his hand holding the hilt trembling slightly.

As the airship ascended, Qian Ye’s view expanded, and he looked down at the receding land, feeling a faint sense of disappointment: indeed, there was no worthy opponent below the level of a divine general.