Chapter 90: Aurora Sword Technique

As a direct descendant of the Xu clan, Xu Shaodong naturally possessed numerous ways to preserve his own life.

Xu Shaodong pressed his two fingers together, weaving complex incantations, and unleashed sword lights brimming with murderous intent. Even with Ye Yun’s physique, now comparable to a low-grade magical treasure, he was unable to withstand the assault.

“Unlike the basic spells wielded by ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, Xu Shaodong has actually cultivated a formidable technique,” Ye Yun thought grimly.

With the opening of the Infinite Divine Eyes, and the successive activation of the Crimson Flame Demon Body and the secret Totem Arts to amplify his strength, Ye Yun’s true energy was rapidly depleted. If he didn’t win swiftly, once his reserves were exhausted, his life would be in grave danger.

With the Infinite Divine Eyes, Ye Yun could see through the trajectory of Xu Shaodong’s sword lights. Employing various totem combat techniques, he soon managed to close in on Xu Shaodong.

“What kind of strange movement technique is this?” Xu Shaodong’s expression changed dramatically, his pupils shrinking.

Although his sword lights were exceptionally powerful, their consumption was likewise substantial. Even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, under such an onslaught, would be hard-pressed to survive without some extraordinary means.

Yet he discovered this youth from the Ye clan had a peculiar footwork, dodging each sword light with uncanny precision, as if foreseeing their path in advance.

“How could a mere Ye clan from a remote borderland possess such exquisite movement techniques?” Xu Shaodong’s face darkened, convinced that Ye Yun’s cultivation method was simply superior.

“Die!”

In a flash, Ye Yun pushed his speed to the limit, activating his divine movement, and instantly appeared before Xu Shaodong. His hands formed seals and thrust forward, summoning a blaze of flames that erupted explosively.

Xu Shaodong knew the power of Ye Yun’s attack, fear flashing in his eyes. He retreated swiftly, flipping his hand to retrieve a series of talismans—life-saving treasures crafted by Golden Core stage talisman masters.

At such close range, Ye Yun would not allow him the chance to activate them. With a swift strike, crimson flame true energy transformed into a dragon, smashing into Xu Shaodong’s arm, scattering the talismans into the distance.

Despair overtook Xu Shaodong’s face. Fixing a cold gaze on Ye Yun, he said, “If I die, your entire Ye clan will pay the price!”

“Even if I spared you, your vengeful nature would surely bring harm to my clan. Better to kill you now and end the threat once and for all.”

Ye Yun’s crimson pupils were icy and merciless. The power of the Heaven-Scorching Seal crashed onto Xu Shaodong, engulfing him in roaring flames.

The Heaven-Scorching Seal was a martial divine art recorded in the Crimson Flame chapter. Even peak Foundation Establishment martial cultivators dared not face it head-on, let alone Xu Shaodong, who was no martial cultivator. His body could not withstand the seal.

A thunderous sound echoed.

Xu Shaodong’s body shattered on the spot, leaving only a single ring, while all else was reduced to ashes by the Heaven-Scorching Seal.

Ye Yun descended gently to the ground, letting out a long breath. His wild, crimson hair faded back to black, falling loosely, and his red eyes returned to normal.

Although Xu Shaodong was only a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ye Yun had been forced to use all his tricks and hidden cards. Had Xu Shaodong been quicker in unleashing the power of those talismans, the final Heaven-Scorching Seal might not have harmed him, and the outcome would have been uncertain.

Yet in mortal combat, there are no ifs.

Ye Yun flipped his hand, produced a True Energy Pill to restore his depleted cultivation, then reached out to seize the ring that had fallen from Xu Shaodong.

It was a storage artifact, a ring containing a small space. Ye Yun probed it with his divine sense and discovered many precious items within.

Xu Fa was not dead, merely unconscious. Ye Yun, unwilling to leave loose ends, cast a fireball to end her life.

Though the battle had been perilous, after slaying Xu Shaodong and the three experts he brought, Ye Yun gained much.

He used fireball techniques to destroy the bodies of Xu Zhou and Xu Long as well, then departed in silence.

There were more than a thousand low-grade spirit stones, and a hundred middle-grade ones. If he exchanged all the middle-grade stones, Ye Yun would be a wealthy man with three thousand spirit stones to his name.

Moreover, after Xu Shaodong’s death, several jade talismans were left behind, all crafted by Golden Core stage talisman masters. Within Xu Shaodong’s storage ring was a jade slip, containing instructions for activating talismans and introductory talisman theory.

When Ye Yun had killed Wu Lie, he obtained a mysterious talisman. Now, referencing the jade slip, he identified it as an Armor-Breaking Talisman.

The Armor-Breaking Talisman was a powerful weapon enhancement, allowing a cultivator to break through the protective arts of Golden Core stage opponents.

“If only I had known how to use this Armor-Breaking Talisman, my battle with Xu Shaodong wouldn’t have been so arduous,” Ye Yun mused bitterly.

With his swift movement and refined totem arts, a weapon enhanced with the Armor-Breaking Talisman would have made it easy to end Xu Shaodong.

But among Xu Shaodong’s treasures, Ye Yun found one thing most precious—a spell.

“Aurora Sword Technique.”

When he discovered this spell sealed within an ancient jade slip, Ye Yun could not help but feel elated.

He cultivated both martial and magical arts. In martial arts, he had the totem techniques—varied, versatile, and potent—but spellcraft had always been his weakness.

Whether martial or magical, most arts were divided into five grades: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal. Each grade was further subdivided into inferior, medium, superior, and ultimate.

The Aurora Sword Technique was an ultimate-grade Yellow spell, with four realms: Entry, Minor Mastery, Major Mastery, and Perfection.

If one mastered the sword technique to Perfection, sword lights could be summoned and unleashed at a mere thought, distinguished by their speed and unpredictability.

“Master once said that in the world of the Sacred Dragon Dynasty, techniques above the Profound grade are exceedingly rare, and ultimate Yellow grade already counts as a top-tier secret art,” Ye Yun recalled.

As for the nine totem combat arts taught by his master Ye Yu, these were special techniques whose power grew alongside the cultivator’s strength.

In other words, at Ye Yun’s Foundation Establishment stage, the totem arts were equivalent to Yellow-grade techniques. If he advanced to the Divine Transformation stage—the second step of cultivation—the totem arts would ascend to Profound-grade; if he became an immortal, they might reach Immortal-grade.

However, techniques like the Aurora Sword Technique had a fixed limit. Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage and mastering the technique, its power could no longer be increased.

The higher the grade of a technique, the greater its potential for improvement. In battles between cultivators of the same realm, this advantage could be decisive.

Ye Yun did not hurry to depart, but remained in Sunset Mountain to begin cultivating the Aurora Sword Technique.

Seven days later, Ye Yun leapt and dashed through the forests of Sunset Mountain, his speed like lightning. With a single-handed sword seal, two fingers pressed together, he unleashed a sword light condensed from crimson flames. The sword light howled as it pierced the air, boring through dozens of ancient trees before its power finally waned.

“I’ve mastered the Aurora Sword Technique, though my cultivation is still low—only at the entry level. If I become a Golden Core cultivator in the future, I can reach Minor Mastery.”

Ye Yun was very satisfied with the power of the Aurora Sword Technique. Even at entry level, the sword light rivaled the strength of a low-grade magical treasure.

“I’ve heard that traveling south through Sunset Mountain leads to Luzhou City, home to a powerful clan—the Guo family, whose influence far surpasses that of the Ye and Wu clans.”

Casting a final glance toward Cloudwater City, Ye Yun felt no further attachment. With a swift movement, he plunged deeper into the forest…