Chapter Fifty: Stalling for Time

The disruption of their positioning was undoubtedly a good thing for Li Liao. Yet, precisely because it was a good thing, Li Liao felt a certain unease. As for Liu Kuang, though his aura suggested he was only a Martial Disciple, he had previously unleashed a blade light—a feat many would deem impossible.

Li Liao, too, believed it impossible, unless Liu Kuang was deliberately concealing his true cultivation or wielded a high-grade spirit weapon. Though Li Liao had seen spirit weapons before, he knew well that none existed in the remote borderlands of the Southern County. The fundamental requirement for a spirit weapon was the inscription of a spiritual array upon it. In these borderlands, the number of array masters could be counted on one hand, and not a single one among them could engrave arrays onto weapons. Thus, no one here could forge a true spirit weapon.

As for the possibility of someone bringing a spirit weapon from elsewhere, Li Liao found it unlikely—those who possessed such treasures would hardly deign to visit these "wild and desolate mountains" of the borderlands.

For this reason, Li Liao concluded that Liu Kuang's ability to unleash a blade light must stem from a concealed cultivation. Within the myriad cultivation methods of the world, techniques for hiding one's true level were not uncommon; even the Sunbright Sect's library held such a manual. Yet, clearly, no disciple of the sect would ever choose to learn such a method—here in the borderlands, hiding one's cultivation was of little practical use.

Having decided Liu Kuang was concealing his strength, Li Liao felt the situation had become thorny. The power of Liu Kuang’s blade light had surpassed anything he himself could produce, which indirectly suggested that Liu Kuang's cultivation was indeed higher than his own.

Still, though he suspected Liu Kuang’s cultivation exceeded his, Li Liao had no intention of backing down immediately. After all, besides his own cultivation, he was also an array master. If Liu Kuang's strength was not vastly greater, he had little to fear.

Yet, just as Li Liao prepared to test Liu Kuang’s limits, Liu Kuang suddenly stepped forward, quelling the impulse to attack. Having clawed his way up from the bottom to become a third-rank Martial Master, Li Liao was no stranger to combat experience. He understood keenly the tactical implications of the three men’s positions; should Liu Pan and Liu Kuang join forces, even if he ultimately prevailed, the price would be steep.

It was this awareness of his precarious situation—coupled with the irresistible lure of the pills on Liu Pan—that drove Li Liao to consider probing Liu Kuang’s depths. If Liu Kuang proved overwhelming, he would simply admit defeat and withdraw. But if Liu Kuang’s strength was not much higher, then even at the cost of grave injury, he would seize those precious pills from Liu Pan.

But just as he resolved to test Liu Pan, Liu Kuang stepped forward, shattering their delicate positioning in a few strides.

What was this? Had Liu Kuang abandoned his advantageous position? Li Liao was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Why would Liu Kuang forfeit such a tactical edge? Was it ignorance of the advantage, or did he simply disdain it?

The former seemed unlikely—anyone with the faintest combat experience would have noticed the triangle of positions among the three.

Could it truly be disdain? Did Liu Kuang look down on teaming with Liu Pan, or perhaps on Li Liao’s own strength? Li Liao’s uncertainty deepened, for if Liu Kuang had broken their formation out of disdain, it meant he did not even consider Li Liao a threat!

With his mind in turmoil, Li Liao suppressed his urge to test Liu Kuang. After all, should Liu Kuang truly disregard him, any rash attack would almost certainly mean death.

Seeing that Li Liao made no move against Liu Kuang, Liu Pan let out a quiet sigh of relief. Liu Pan knew exactly how strong Liu Kuang was, and so he decided to gamble, for he needed time.

He chose to gamble because he understood that, even if he and Liu Kuang joined forces in perfect harmony, they stood no chance. The gap between Martial Masters and Martial Disciples was something others could only estimate, but Liu Pan understood it intimately. Two peak Martial Disciples working together could never defeat a Martial Master—unless the latter had not yet awakened spiritual sense. In fact, because of spiritual sense, a Martial Master could dispatch a dozen Martial Disciples with ease.

Knowing this gulf, Liu Pan resolved to gamble for time.

Yan, too, knew that Liu Kuang and Liu Pan together stood no chance against a Martial Master, but still allowed Liu Pan to enter the fray with the Wild Desolation Blade. Partly out of affection for Liu Pan, but also because of Liu Pan’s uncanny knowledge.

In truth, it was little more than a feeling—Yan believed Liu Pan would not lose.

He agreed to let Liu Kuang help because he hoped Liu Kuang would build a good relationship with Liu Pan. Someone with Liu Pan's breadth of knowledge would be a nightmare as an enemy, but a priceless friend.

But would Liu Pan truly never lose? Of course not. Though he was the author, had Liu Kuang not rushed forth at the critical moment, he would likely have lost—or even died.

Liu Pan was thankful for this. He had even contemplated taking another Burst Origin Pill, but fortunately, Liu Kuang’s intervention saved him from such a desperate act.

At the instant Liu Kuang charged forward, Liu Pan realized that, thanks to Yan’s presence, his life was likely secured.

Yet, though Yan was present, he would not intervene lightly. The Wild Desolation Blade was no ordinary weapon; the more it was revealed, the more trouble would come. Liu Pan had no wish to expose its secrets, so he could only continue taking risks, gambling on survival.

Because he had already bonded with the blade by blood, and because Liu Kuang had drawn it from his core and now held it, Yan was able to observe everything around them.

When he saw that Liu Pan’s entire arm was broken, Yan was startled—he had never imagined Liu Pan would be so gravely injured. And noticing the dent in Li Liao’s chest, as well as the hand clutching it, Yan’s eyes flashed with a curious gleam.

With his veteran’s insight, Yan could tell all Li Liao’s wounds were inflicted by the Sevenfold Origin Seal. This realization surprised him. He remembered Liu Pan possessed the Extreme Cold Physique, and thus assumed he cultivated the Sevenfold Water Origin Seal.

For reasons he could not name, Yan suddenly found himself looking forward to seeing the Sevenfold Water Origin Seal in action.

When Liu Pan gestured for Liu Kuang to approach, Yan was momentarily taken aback, but soon understood Liu Pan’s intent and could not help but sigh inwardly, “Just as I thought.”

He could guess that Liu Pan was stalling for time, and sitting on the ground to do so was hardly for show—he must be preparing something, something that might very well spell Li Liao’s doom.

With this suspicion, Yan found Liu Pan ever more mysterious. Little did he know, had he not permitted Liu Kuang to intervene, Liu Pan would have swallowed another Burst Origin Pill and perished from its backlash.

Yan also noticed the dozen or so white jade bottles scattered at Liu Pan’s feet. He was a bit surprised, but due to his own circumstances, he did not pay them undue attention. After a quick glance, he refocused on Li Liao.

Though he felt Liu Pan would not lose, Liu Kuang was not Liu Pan. Yan’s main concern was to protect Liu Kuang, so he remained vigilant against Li Liao—any mishap would bring bitter regret.

As Liu Kuang drew nearer to Liu Pan, the distance between them shrinking to about six meters, Li Liao’s brows knit ever tighter. His gaze flickered repeatedly to the jade bottles lying on the ground, his eyes gleaming with unreadable thoughts.

Gradually, Liu Kuang was only about six meters from Liu Pan. Watching Liu Kuang, Li Liao’s hands unconsciously clenched. At that moment, Liu Kuang suddenly stopped.

Liu Kuang’s abrupt halt caught Li Liao off guard. As Liu Kuang neared within six meters of Liu Pan, Li Liao had been on the verge of disregarding everything to test him.

Now that Liu Kuang was so close to Liu Pan, if his aim was the pills, all Li Liao’s efforts—and his injured right hand—would have been for naught.

Liu Pan could guess at Li Liao’s thoughts. Thanks to his locked spiritual sense, every movement and subtle change in Li Liao’s body was under his control. Noticing Li Liao’s growing impatience, Liu Pan quickly darted a look at Liu Kuang, signaling him to stop.

Liu Kuang halted about six meters from Liu Pan, and at once the air between the three grew subtly tense.

Liu Pan’s hope was that Li Liao would delay his attack. Liu Kuang, faintly comprehending Liu Pan’s intention, frowned slightly, pondering Liu Pan’s plan.

As for Li Liao, he was utterly torn—should he attack or not? If he did, and Liu Kuang was truly formidable, it would be suicide. If he didn’t, should he simply wait to see what Liu Kuang intended?

With the fighting paused, the watching disciples began to recover from their daze, and soon murmurs of discussion rippled through the crowd. Most of the talk centered around Liu Pan and Liu Kuang—their actions had been simply too astonishing.

As the discussions grew louder, Li Liao finally caught wind of them.

In that instant, a flash of realization crossed Li Liao’s eyes. Without hesitation, he hurled a faint golden fist projection at Liu Kuang.

He had suddenly realized that wasting time staring at Liu Kuang was pointless! The longer the delay, the more likely other elders or even Sect Leader Yang Jiangshui would notice the disturbance—if that happened, all he could expect was “failure.”

Better to risk it all than to wait for defeat!

And just as Li Liao unleashed his fist projection, Liu Pan snatched up a jade bottle and tossed it to Liu Kuang’s left, shouting, “Swallow one—hold on for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense!”