Chapter 123: The Methods of a Heart Nurturer

Chapter 123: The Methods of a Heart Nurturer

The morning sun rose in the east, casting golden rays over the Madaro Desert, making the yellow sand glitter like gold.

All the disciples had already gathered outside the Martial Arena, awaiting today’s decisive battle. The victor would become the Champion of this term, earning the right to cultivate in the Heavenly Palace for seven days.

This was a battle watched by countless eyes, a clash eagerly anticipated by many.

Instructors and Deputy Headmasters of the Emperor's Martial Palace had arrived early, and the second-term disciples stood outside the Martial Arena, waiting for the two protagonists of the day to appear.

"Li Lata, why not just have Ning Xiaochuan admit defeat? After all, it’s not easy for your Three Masters Martial Academy to produce a talent like him. It’d be a shame if he were killed by Ming Yang," the Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy said.

Li Lata was the nickname of the Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy, and only those of equal status dared to address him so casually.

The Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy replied, "Ning Xiaochuan has a resilient character. If he truly feared death, he would have surrendered already. But if he isn’t afraid of Ming Yang, then even if I personally tried to persuade him, he would still fight. Geniuses have their own pride."

In truth, the Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy felt regret. Ning Xiaochuan was indeed a rare talent with immense potential. If he were to die under Ming Yang’s sword today, it would be a true loss.

"Do you think Ning Xiaochuan can withstand even a single strike from Ming Yang?"

"Ming Yang’s Sword Qi is terrifying. Once his sword is drawn, no one survives. Ning Xiaochuan’s fate today was sealed long ago."

Outside the Martial Arena, the crowd suddenly stirred. "He’s here! Ming Yang is here!"

Ming Yang walked slowly into the Martial Arena, carrying a black sword on his back and wearing an immaculate cloth robe. He stood straight on the yellow sand, motionless.

Yu Qianqian stared at Ming Yang, her fingers tightening inside her sleeves. Since Ming Yang had arrived on time, it was clear that last night’s assassination attempt had failed. Five second-term disciples couldn’t even kill him—just how strong was his cultivation?

Ning Xiaochuan was about to step into the Martial Arena when Yu Qianqian tightly grabbed his hand and shook her head.

If five second-term disciples couldn’t defeat Ming Yang, then Ning Xiaochuan facing him was practically suicide. Her heart was filled with fear—fear that Ning Xiaochuan would die under Ming Yang’s sword.

"It’s fine," Ning Xiaochuan said with a faint smile, then resolutely walked into the Martial Arena, standing opposite Ming Yang.

"Boom!"

Another wave of commotion erupted outside the Martial Arena.

Only by standing directly before Ming Yang could one truly sense the overwhelming power of his sword intent. It felt as though it had already enveloped the entire Martial Arena. He was like an unshakable mountain.

Ming Yang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "I thought you would admit defeat."

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Even if I surrendered, you would still kill me, right?"

"Correct," Ming Yang answered decisively.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I didn’t surrender. Does that surprise you?"

"It was also within expectations," Ming Yang responded.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "How confident are you that you can kill me?"

"One hundred percent."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Then do you know how confident I am that I can kill you?"

Ming Yang's eyelids lifted slightly, not expecting Ning Xiaochuan to ask this question. He took a deep breath and said, "I don't know."

"I also have tenfold confidence," Ning Xiaochuan replied.

Ming Yang had never smiled before, but now the corners of his lips curled slightly. He untied the heavy sword from his back and held it in his hands, saying, "Since you're so arrogant, I'll let you have three moves first."

"Why let me?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Ming Yang said, "Because once I draw my sword, you will undoubtedly die."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Are you really going to let me?"

"This is my mercy to you. Three moves—so you can unleash the last brilliance of your life. I hope you won’t disappoint me." Ming Yang was equally confident. Even if he let Ning Xiaochuan have three hundred moves, the outcome would still be Ning Xiaochuan’s death.

But letting him have three hundred moves would just be a waste of time.

And Ming Yang hated people who wasted time.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Then, thank you."

"You're welcome," Ming Yang replied.

Dong!

A bell tolled, signaling the start of the duel.

Everyone knew Ming Yang would let Ning Xiaochuan have three moves, and they all wondered what divine technique Ning Xiaochuan would use to turn the tables.

A small pellet appeared between Ning Xiaochuan’s fingers, wrapped in crackling lightning, which he hurled toward Ming Yang.

The pellet crackled with electricity—if it struck a person, it would surely shatter bones.

Boom!

Ming Yang stood motionless, the Sword Qi radiating from his body shattering the pellet into dust.

"You’ve wasted one move," Ming Yang said.

"Have I?"

Ning Xiaochuan’s body became enveloped in lightning, his speed like a flash of light as he struck a palm toward Ming Yang’s chest.

In Ming Yang’s pupils, Ning Xiaochuan’s palm imprint grew larger and larger, but he merely shook his head slightly—this level of attack was something he could dodge effortlessly.

But just as he intended to sidestep, he felt the Martial Arts Profound Qi in his body slow to a snail’s pace.

Boom!

Ning Xiaochuan’s palm struck Ming Yang’s chest, sending his body flying. The sound of cracking ribs echoed through the air.

Before Ming Yang could even hit the ground, Ning Xiaochuan kicked him in the face, leaving a bloody shoe imprint and sending him flying again.

Rage burned in Ming Yang’s heart—he wanted to draw his sword and kill Ning Xiaochuan—but the Martial Arts Profound Qi inside him was like stagnant water, utterly unresponsive.

Boom!

Ning Xiaochuan kicked Ming Yang in the back, shattering a segment of his spine. He then stomped Ming Yang beneath his foot as they landed on the ground.

A Profound Qi Sword materialized in Ning Xiaochuan’s hand, his eyes filled with killing intent as he thrust it toward Ming Yang’s skull, aiming to eliminate this formidable enemy once and for all.

"You dare?!"

A gust of Fierce Winds swept in, blasting Ning Xiaochuan away.

The Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy stood amidst the raging winds, lifting Ming Yang from the ground. He saw the bloody shoe print on Ming Yang’s face, three broken ribs in his chest, and a shattered segment of his spine.

The Deputy Headmaster glared fiercely at Ning Xiaochuan. "What did you do to him? Why is his Martial Arts Profound Qi completely suppressed?"

Ning Xiaochuan calmly said, "This is a battle between students. I hope the Deputy Headmaster will not interfere."

Just moments ago, Ning Xiaochuan had nearly killed Ming Yang, eliminating a future threat, but he hadn’t expected a Deputy Headmaster to intervene at the last moment.

The Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy demanded, "What exactly did you do to him? With Ming Yang’s cultivation, how could he possibly lose to you?"

The martial artists outside the Martial Arena were stunned, their expressions frozen in shock. The turn of events was far too dramatic.

Ming Yang, who had been utterly defenseless against Ning Xiaochuan’s attacks, was now severely injured and on the brink of death. Had the Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy not intervened, Ming Yang would have already died by Ning Xiaochuan’s hand.

How could Ming Yang be so easily defeated?

Jin Quexi, Yue Mingsong, and the other second-year students exchanged bewildered glances, completely unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Everyone had assumed Ming Yang would kill Ning Xiaochuan with a single sword strike, yet the outcome had defied all expectations.

Though the pressure radiating from the Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy was immense, Ning Xiaochuan remained unfazed. "I am a Heart Nurturer," he stated. "Naturally, I employ the methods of a Heart Nurturer. Ming Yang inhaled the medicinal qi of the Millennium Slumber, which will suppress his Martial Arts Profound Qi for an hour."

The pellet Ning Xiaochuan had launched earlier was not a hidden weapon—it was the Millennium Slumber Elixir.

To save Murong Wushuang’s grandfather, Ning Xiaochuan had refined three of these elixirs. One had been consumed by Murong Wushuang’s grandfather, leaving Ning Xiaochuan with two. He had just used one of them on Ming Yang.

The realization dawned on everyone, finally understanding why Ming Yang had lost to Ning Xiaochuan.

The Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy flew into a rage. "This is an underhanded method! How dare you use such tricks in a competition at the Emperor’s Martial Palace? I will report this to the Headmaster and have you expelled!"

Ning Xiaochuan replied calmly, "Alchemy is part of a Heart Nurturer’s strength. Ming Yang can train in swordsmanship and wield his blade to kill me. I refine elixirs—why shouldn’t I use them to kill him?"

Ning Xiaochuan remained composed, but someone else was far from it.

"Who? Who the hell dares to say that heart-nurturing and alchemy are underhanded methods?" The Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy was furious, his anger barely restrained as he glared coldly at the Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy. With biting sarcasm, he said, "Yan Benjue, you called Heart Nurturers practitioners of underhanded methods? Are you sure? Are you absolutely fucking sure?"

The Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy immediately regretted his words.

Heart Nurturers held a status even more revered than martial artists. Without them, martial arts would never have flourished as they had today. If his words were to spread, the consequences wouldn’t just be opposition from Heart Nurturers across the land—it could very well cost him his life.

Yan Benjue’s expression turned awkward. He quickly backtracked, "I never said Heart Nurturers use underhanded methods. I merely meant… this is a freshman competition at the Emperor’s Martial Palace. Winning through such deceitful means tarnishes the academy’s scholarly integrity. The path of martial arts pursues the pinnacle of strength, not these… these opportunistic tricks."

The Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy laughed mockingly. "So, by your logic, a Heart Nurturer’s alchemy is deceitful? The very existence of Heart Nurturers sullies the Emperor’s Martial Palace’s scholarly integrity?"

All the Heart Nurturers present, including the Heart Nurturer Instructors, became indignant.

One of the Heart Nurturer Instructors said, "I’ll announce Deputy Headmaster Yan’s words to the world. Let’s stop humiliating ourselves by appearing in public. The Three Great Heart Nurturing Halls might as well close their doors for good."

"If we Heart Nurturers stay in the Emperor’s Ruins, we’ll only corrupt the atmosphere of the Emperor’s Martial Palace. Fine, let’s all leave. I’ll go notify Great Heart Nurturer Fu Yao right away and ask the venerable elder to pack up and leave too, lest he be driven out by Deputy Headmaster Yan."

The Deputy Headmasters of the other two great martial academies also feared the situation would escalate. If word truly reached Great Heart Nurturer Fu Yao, this matter would likely spiral out of control.

Great Heart Nurturer Fu Yao was one of the few renowned Great Heart Nurturers in the Yulan Empire. It was only after the Master of the Martial Palace personally invited him that he agreed to oversee the Emperor’s Ruins.

Fu Yao was infamous for his eccentric temper. If he learned of this incident, he would undoubtedly clash with the entire Emperor’s Martial Palace.

The Deputy Headmaster of the Five Elements Martial Academy and the Deputy Headmaster of the Heavenly Phenomenon Martial Academy both stepped forward to mediate.

The Deputy Headmaster of the Three Masters Martial Academy raised his voice and declared, "We are Heart Nurturers! Must we really engage in brute force against pure martial practitioners? Can’t we use our own signature techniques? Are we inherently weaker? Are we truly practitioners of Underhanded Methods?"

"No! We are strong too. We have our own methods. Others can refine their swords to perfection—we can refine our elixirs to perfection. Using a perfected elixir to defeat a perfected sword—I say Ning Xiaochuan won brilliantly! He showcased the style of our Three Masters Martial Academy and the essence of us Heart Nurturers!"

The other two Deputy Headmasters hurriedly tried to calm him down, believing he was deliberately fanning the flames, as if he wanted chaos to reign.