Chapter 033: Broken Sword

"Young friend Yang Tian, you are seriously injured. Would you like to come to the mansion to recuperate?" Kuang Lang quickly walked up, without any airs of a city lord, and said with a slight smile.

"Xiao Tian, go and tend to your injuries now. If you delay too long, there might be aftereffects." Lin Yuan agreed.

"Alright." Nodding, Yang Tian followed Kuang Lang toward the city lord's mansion.

Along the way, all eyes were on him. Today, Yang Tian had not only defeated a half-step martial artist but also seen a series of powerful figures emerge. No one in Kuangyun City dared to underestimate this gentle-faced youth.

In a secret chamber of the city lord's mansion, Yang Tian examined two items from his void ring: a jade bottle and a jade slip.

"This should be the invitation to the Martial Dao Mountain." Rubbing the jade slip in his hand, he noticed a five-clawed dragon claw pattern engraved on one corner, exuding a faint noble aura.

"What is so miraculous about this place that everyone flocks to it?" Yang Tian had heard of the Martial Dao Mountain in his childhood and felt some anticipation. Now he was about to break through to the ninth level of Blood Refining, but his foundation was shallow. Although advancement posed no problem, his roots were not yet solid enough.

Blood Refining was the most crucial stage, affecting all the acupoints in the body. The more solid the foundation of Blood Refining, the stronger the condensed acupoints, which would influence the path of martial arts later. Only by accumulating a formidable foundation could one go further on the martial path.

After pondering for a moment, Yang Tian picked up the jade bottle and uncorked it. A pill the size of a dragon's eye appeared in his palm. Its crystal-clear appearance instantly caught his attention. The medicinal power within made him gasp in surprise. A faint fragrance entered his nostrils, causing his withered qi sea to tremble.

"This is... the Heavenly King Heart-Nourishing Pill." Looking at the ten pills in the bottle, Yang Tian drew a cold breath. The Heavenly King Heart-Nourishing Pill was a fourth-grade high-level pill, a holy remedy for injuries. Using it on Yang Tian was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Yang Tian did not stand on ceremony and swallowed it directly. As soon as the medicinal power dissolved, dozens of waves of fire surged from his body toward his wounds, and the cracked skin quickly scabbed over.

Most of the bones in his body were broken. The sharp energy that had given Yang Tian such a headache was completely dispelled by the power of the Heavenly King Heart-Nourishing Pill. His entire body was steaming, and his internal organs were all vibrating.

"Such a powerful pill." Smacking his lips, this pill could not only heal injuries but also temper the body.

Rumble! His withered qi sea quickly filled up, and the river of blood essence began to solidify. The newly solidified blood essence was even clearer than before, rolling like crystal-clear jade.

The immense medicinal power continuously refined his body. Yang Tian could feel his body transforming, his foundation becoming more solid than before. Every bone that was tempered was stronger than before.

Rumble! His heart beat like a drum, a sign of strong vitality. Some people with exceptionally strong vitality could even produce extraordinary phenomena, but such people were rare—usually monstrous disciples from great families who had tempered their bodies with countless heavenly treasures, making their combat power terrifying.

Time flew by. After a night of meditation, Yang Tian had only absorbed a small portion of the medicinal power. Most of it had been lost, with only a tiny fraction dormant within his body.

"Break!" Suddenly, Yang Tian let out a low roar. The river of blood essence floated above his head, seemingly shaking heaven and earth. As the river of blood essence vibrated continuously, Yang Tian absorbed the essence of heaven and earth at an increasingly rapid pace.

"Chi chi." A red aura filled the void. The river of blood essence trembled violently, expanding rapidly within. As the momentum grew, even the surrounding vacuum rippled.

"Eighth level of Blood Refining." Sensing the changes in his body, Yang Tian looked up, a smile curling on his lips. With this level of strength, he wouldn't have been so狼狈 when facing Wang Long.

"No wonder it's the Heavenly King Heart-Nourishing Pill. My physical strength is three-tenths stronger than before, and my blood essence is more condensed."

Yang Tian slowly stood up, patted his somewhat stiff arms, then picked up the clean clothes beside him and walked toward the door.

"Creak!"

The door opened, and Yang Tian's gaze fell on a green-clad girl at the entrance.

The girl outside was startled, shrinking her head back, then lifting her eyelids to look at Yang Tian's gentle face, she said timidly, "Young master, you're awake."

Scratching his head, Yang Tian looked at the nervous girl and couldn't help but laugh: "Who are you?"

"Reporting to the young master, I am Xiao Die, a maid in the city lord's mansion. I am here to attend to you today." A timid voice came. The girl's gaze occasionally swept over Yang Tian's face, unable to believe that the earth-shattering events of yesterday were the work of this gentle-faced youth before her.

Yesterday, the Star Martial Arts Hall was uprooted, and the hall was gifted to Lin Yuan by Kuang Lang. The Dragon Star Martial Arts Hall would henceforth be the top power in Kuangyun City, one that even the city lord's mansion dared not offend.

"Oh." Nodding, Yang Tian touched his nose and smiled: "I don't need attendance. By the way, where is the city lord? Take me to see him."

"Oh, young master, this way please." Xiao Die moved lightly, and the two slowly walked toward the main hall of the city lord's mansion.

Along the way, Yang Tian learned about what had happened yesterday. The boulder that had been pressing on his heart was finally lifted. He would leave in two days. Though reluctant, there were many things ahead waiting for him, and he could not afford any delay.

"Hehe, Brother Yang, your injuries are healed?" As soon as he entered the main hall, Kuang Lang greeted him, looking in surprise at Yang Tian's recovered appearance. Yesterday, Yang Tian had been severely injured, and Kuang Lang hadn't expected him to be fully recovered in just one night.

"I've troubled the city lord with your concern. My injuries are healed." Cupping his hands, Yang Tian smiled.

"Brother Yang is truly a genius. Such serious injuries healed so quickly." Staring incredulously at Yang Tian's body, Kuang Lang couldn't help but smack his lips.

"Oh, right." Slapping his forehead, Kuang Lang took out a void ring and smiled: "This is the prize for first place in yesterday's competition. Brother Yang, take it."

"First place?" Yang Tian looked puzzled.

"Hehe, yesterday Brother Yang defeated Wang Long. No one dared to contend for the title of first place." Touching his nose, Kuang Lang teased.

"Then I thank the city lord." Yang Tian didn't stand on ceremony and directly accepted the void ring, saying with a faint smile.

"Brother Yang, there's still a top-grade blood weapon to pick. Do you want to go now?"

"Mm." Nodding, Yang Tian followed Kuang Lang to the treasure pavilion.

The treasure pavilion was the foundation of Kuangyun City's wealth, divided into three floors: the first for techniques and martial skills, the second for pills and spiritual herbs, and the third for a large collection of blood weapons.

His gaze swept over the hundred-zhang-wide hall. In the hall, four rows of shelves were placed around, containing over a hundred blood weapons.

Yang Tian picked up a purple copper broadsword under his nose, weighed it, and put it back. These blood weapons, though valuable in Kuangyun City, were of little use to him.

"The city lord's mansion is indeed wealthy. There are dozens of top-grade blood weapons, but unfortunately, no profound weapons." Scratching his head, if Kuang Lang knew Yang Tian had such thoughts, he would be shocked.

"Why is there a broken longsword here?" His gaze fell on a pitch-black longsword, but it was broken in the middle. Yang Tian frowned slightly. Kuang Lang wouldn't have collected this broken sword for no reason.

Walking over to the sword, Yang Tian reached out and grabbed the hilt, intending to lift it.

"Such a heavy sword!" Yang Tian's mind shook. With his strength of ten thousand jin, he couldn't even lift a broken sword.

"Rise!" With a deep shout, the muscles on Yang Tian's arms rapidly writhed, and the blood essence in his body surged into his arms. As his strength continuously increased, he slowly lifted the broken sword.

"Rise!" He roared, his bones resonating within, crackling and popping. The broken sword was slowly raised to chest level.

"What material is this thing made of? Why is it so heavy?" Swinging it a few times, beads of sweat dripped from Yang Tian's forehead, showing the weight of the broken sword.

"Forget it, I'll take this. There's nothing good here anyway."

Hoisting the broken sword onto his shoulder, Yang Tian walked down the stairs of the pavilion.