Chapter 17: Killing Move · The Power of a Sneak Attack
The mont she stepped into Luoxia Valley, Lin Xiaowan felt her entire body lighten.
Outside, the air was hot and dry, but within the valley, it was moist and cool. More importantly… the density of spiritual energy was clearly far greater than outside!
Even with Lin Xiaowan’s inferior spiritual roots, she could feel strands of spiritual energy seeping into her pores on their own, causing slight ripples in her Qi Sea.
“Luoxia Valley truly is a treasure land… no wonder it can nurture spiritual herbs…”
She understood inwardly and looked around.
Mist filled the valley. After walking barely a hundred steps, the fog thickened, reducing visibility to only a few ters.
At first, the large group that entered the valley moved forward along the mountain path.
But before long, people began choosing different routes—so branching onto other paths, others disappearing directly into the forest. Looking back, the once vast crowd had dwindled to only dozens in an instant.
Those who had entered in the sa direction as Lin Xiaowan gradually grew wary, spreading out and treating each other as competitors. Before long, they too chose their own paths and vanished into the mist.
In the end, only Lin Xiaowan remained, walking alone through the silent, primitive forest.
She did not rush deeper, instead wandering around the outskirts.
With the dicinal knowledge she had cramd recently, combined with her spiritual sense, Lin Xiaowan quickly made a discovery.
Stepping forward, she examined a plant with thick leaves—Golden Thread Orchid—rooted in shaded black soil.
Its usage was simple: grind it into powder and sprinkle it over wounds, and it would take effect almost imdiately.
The more golden threads on its leaves, the stronger its efficacy—roughly one additional thread every ten years.
Judging by its threads, it was nearly a hundred years old!
“This Golden Thread Orchid can actually absorb and exhale spiritual energy… the threads on its leaves are still faintly glowing. It’s only one step away from truly transforming into a spiritual herb.
Good stuff!”
Lin Xiaowan took out a small dicinal hoe. Since the roots also held dicinal properties, she crouched down, preparing to dig it out along with so of the surrounding soil.
Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded behind her. Then, as they drew close enough, ca the subtle tallic rasp of a blade being drawn—
A soft “clang.”
“So it’s already the classic scene of ambushing soone while they’re gathering herbs?”
Lin Xiaowan’s hands did not stop moving, her expression calm.
Monts later, the attacker reached the optimal distance. Thinking victory assured, they lunged out from behind a tree, a gleaming short blade thrusting straight toward Lin Xiaowan’s back.
Lin Xiaowan let out a soft snort. Beneath her veil, her eyes turned icy.
Several pale blue infant-like arms suddenly shot out from the shadows on the ground without warning!
——Killing Move · Sneak Attack!
The attacker’s vision blurred, as if sothing had stuck to their sight.
Imdiately after, sharp pain erupted in their chest, wrist, and abdon. Their entire body was blasted backward like a cannonball, slamming into a thick tree trunk before collapsing to the ground!
“Pfft!”
They couldn’t even fully scream before vomiting blood. Their bones felt shattered, and they had no strength to stand—only able to stare in terror at the black-clad figure still digging herbs.
“Done!”
Lin Xiaowan carefully extracted the hundred-year Golden Thread Orchid, wrapped it in special oiled paper, and stored it in her waist pouch.
Only then did she slowly turn around and walk toward the fallen attacker, casually picking up the short blade and weighing it in her hand.
“If you intended to kill and rob, you should have prepared yourself to die.”
Reaching the attacker, she bent down and tore off the black cloth covering their face, revealing a face twisted with pain and fear.
“What a pity. If you were a man, you could have lived a little longer.” Her voice, filtered through the veil, was calm and emotionless.
The woman seed to want to beg for rcy, her lips trembling.
Lin Xiaowan gave her no chance.
With a flash of cold light, the short blade plunged straight into her chest. She twisted it twice before pulling it out.
Blood gushed out. The woman no longer even had the strength to scream—her life rapidly fading, the light in her eyes dimming.
Lin Xiaowan casually tossed aside the blade, searched her briefly, found nothing, and turned to leave the bloodstained ground.
Continuing deeper into the valley, the mist thickened, and the trees grew older and more imposing. Along the way, Lin Xiaowan casually gathered several decent dicinal herbs.
After about an hour, she faintly heard the sound of flowing water ahead. Her waterskin was empty, so she followed the sound, pushing aside dense bushes—
Her view suddenly opened up.
A clear spring bubbled silently from underground, forming a small jade-green pool about several ters wide.
The water overflowed, forming a thin silver stream that wound its way into the distance.
By the stream near Lin Xiaowan, there stood a single peculiar herb.
“This is…”
Its stem and leaves were translucent like carved jade, layered like a miniature lotus platform.
At its center, a pearl-sized fruit had ford, emitting a milky white glow that infused the surrounding moisture with faint spiritual energy.
“Jade Marrow Grass! It’s already glowing—it’s a true spiritual dicine!” Lin Xiaowan thought, surprise appearing on her face.
This herb could stabilize one’s foundation and nourish the body—exactly what she needed.
Just as she was about to step forward—
Her sharp spiritual sense caught movent in the forest. Sothing was approaching quickly… definitely not an ordinary herb gatherer—a cultivator!
“They haven’t noticed yet. Strike first and kill!”
A cold glint flashed in Lin Xiaowan’s eyes. Just as she was about to act, she detected another set of footsteps nearby.
More than one person!
She retreated silently into nearby bushes, concealing her aura completely, leaving only her eyes peering through the foliage as she observed coldly.
Monts later, a figure dashed out of the forest and landed by the stream.
The man appeared about forty years old, with a sturdy face, dressed in coarse gray clothing. His thick arms bore several abnormal scorch marks.
His gaze fell upon the Jade Marrow Grass, and his face instantly lit up with wild joy.
“A blessing in disguise! A blessing in disguise! I didn’t expect to encounter a spiritual dicine again—this is wonderful!”
He took out tools, preparing to harvest it.
“Hm? A spiritual dicine!”
Before the person arrived, their voice ca first.
A green-clad figure shot forward, landing on the opposite side of the stream. Pointing at the middle-aged man, he shouted, “Stop at once, you rustic brute!!”
The newcor was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in green attire, with a sword at his waist and the arrogance typical of a noble family disciple.
His gaze fell on the Jade Marrow Grass, and his eyes imdiately lit up.
The two confronted each other, tension instantly filling the air.
“I discovered this spiritual dicine first. Do you intend to seize it by force?” the middle-aged man said in a deep voice, discarding his herb shovel and gripping the long blade at his waist.
He did not hide his aura—perfected first layer of Qi Refinent.
The young man was unafraid, instead sneering. “Heavenly treasures belong to those fated to obtain them. Besides, since when does seeing sothing first make it yours? If we’re being precise, half of everything in Luoxia Valley belongs to our Lin Family. Know your place and leave! You’ve only just stepped into Qi Refinent—don’t throw your life away!”
His words revealed both his Lin Family identity and a tone full of superiority and threat.
The middle-aged man’s expression flickered.
The Lin Family, as the strongest of Luoyang City’s three great cultivation families, was undeniably powerful.
Who would dare offend them?
But… as a wandering cultivator, he had struggled for years just to step into Qi Refinent, yet remained stuck at the first layer due to lack of resources.
This Jade Marrow Grass ant everything to him—how could he give it up?
Though the opponent was a Lin Family disciple, this was Luoxia Valley—far from authority. Alone and equally at Qi Refinent, with his combat experience, he might not lose.
Worse case, he could flee to Fangcun Mountain and never return to Luoyang City!
Greed ultimately overpowered caution.
“Enough talk—let’s settle this with strength!” the middle-aged man roared, drawing his blade in a flash, fierce and swift!
The Lin Family youth lacked so combat experience but had superior techniques and weaponry.
He drew his sword to block, sword light flowing as he deflected every strike, then unleashed a refined sword technique imbued with frost, enveloping the man.
The two instantly clashed.
The clash of tal rang continuously, spiritual energy collisions stirring the surrounding mist.
The middle-aged man fought ruthlessly, often trading injuries to drain the youth’s energy, forcing the latter to grow colder and more aggressive, seeking a quick resolution.
The battle lasted about a quarter of an hour.
Both were wounded—the man’s shoulder split open, blood staining his clothes; the youth’s chest bore a shallow cut, his face grim.
“Your Qi Sea must be nearly depleted, right?” the man sneered. “Give up now, and I might spare you!”
He assud a stance, moisture gathering around him.
“Hmph! Do you think a Lin Family disciple is comparable to a wandering cultivator like you?”
The youth laughed, eyes filled with killing intent. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a jade bottle, popped the stopper, and gulped it down.
“Replenishing Qi Pills—this is bad!”
The man’s expression changed drastically.
The final chance for retreat vanished.
The battle turned instantly.
The youth held on, stalling until the pill took effect.
After several exchanges, both were breathing heavily. With the pill’s support, the youth gradually gained the upper hand.
“I’ll fight you to the death!”
The middle-aged man roared, unleashing the fierce desperation of a wandering cultivator.
“Boom!”
They began exchanging techniques without restraint. After several rounds, both slowed—on the verge of collapse.
“Now!”
From her hidden position, Lin Xiaowan’s eyes flashed coldly.
Path of Theft Killing Move · Sneak Attack!
From the bushes, several pale blue infant arms shot out silently toward both of them!
“What?!”
“How is this possible!”
The eerie arms moved too fast. Before they could even finish shouting, both were struck.
Their vision went black. Pain exploded in their chests, and the remaining spiritual energy in their Qi Seas shattered!
“Pfft!”
Both spat blood and were blasted backward, crashing onto the muddy ground by the spring. Their weapons flew from their hands, and despite struggling, they couldn’t stand.
Lin Xiaowan slowly stepped out from the bushes, dressed in black, her face veiled, only her cold eyes visible.
The two stared at her in shock and fury.
“You… who are you?! How dare you ambush us!” the man growled.
“I watched you fight from beginning to end. You’ve used all your thods—no hidden cards left, right?”
Her cold words made the man’s pupils shrink in terror.
She first harvested the Jade Marrow Grass carefully, storing it properly.
Only then did she walk over to the two fallen n.
Standing between them, she glanced back and forth, chuckling softly. “Not bad… both genuine Qi Refinent cultivators.”
The middle-aged man’s instincts scread danger.
“Fellow cultivator! Spare ! The herb is yours! Everything I have is yours! Also—on the other side of the mountain, there’s a Fire Grass—I’ve seen it! I can lead you there! Just spare my life!”
The Lin Family youth, however, shouted, “I am a disciple of the Lin Family of Luoyang City! If you dare kill , the Lin Family will never let you go!”
Lin Xiaowan’s eyes turned cold with mockery.
Lin Family?
She said nothing more.
Stepping forward, she exhaled a strand of Mirage Qi.
Instantly, the youth fell silent, his eyes unfocused, face flushed, breathing quickened.
The Mirage Qi, now enhanced by her Qi Refinent cultivation, was far more potent—inducing both hallucination and overwhelming desire.
The middle-aged man, witnessing this, was terrified.
Lin Xiaowan dragged the youth over, then approached the man.
“Mirage Qi is colorless and odorless, yet you figured it out so quickly?”
Smiling, she pinched his nose. “If you can, then don’t breathe for the rest of your life.”
Half a mont later, he finally gasped—
And fell under its effects.
“Let see… how rich a Qi Refinent cultivator’s Yang essence truly is.”
Without hesitation, Lin Xiaowan began circulating the Profound Essence Scripture.
The stream flowed gently.
Soon, the man’s essence was completely drained—his body withered, lifeless.
“Already gone?”
Unsatisfied, she turned to the Lin Family youth…
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