Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 16

In the western courtyard, two figures raced in a frantic chase—one fleeing, the other in pursuit.

Now that there were no bystanders around, Lu Xuan held nothing back. His body radiated terrifying Qi and Blood energy, blazing like a scorching sun in the pitch-black night.

A crimson aura enveloped him, coiling upward like a dragon soaring through the sky.

Ahead, the shadowy figure wrapped in eerie white cloth seemed to falter under the overwhelming pressure of Lu Xuan’s energy.

Even from a hundred meters away, the humanoid shadow continuously emitted tendrils of black mist, which dissipated midair as if forcibly dissolved by an unseen force.

As Lu Xuan closed the distance, the shadow’s form grew increasingly indistinct, as though it were on the verge of being completely vaporized by his searing Qi and Blood energy.

“Still trying to run?”

Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes. The shadow was nearing the dense mountains bordering Liugou Village—if it escaped into the wilderness, hunting it down would become far more troublesome.

Gripping his broadsword tightly, he focused on the fleeing figure.

Whoosh!

In an instant, his blade ignited with a sinister crimson flame, blazing violently.

The eerie red glow illuminated the surrounding area for hundreds of meters, casting an unsettling aura.

Then—

A slash of fiery energy tore through the air like a twisting serpent, striking the shadow with pinpoint accuracy.

The crimson flames engulfed the figure, reducing its ghastly white shroud to ashes in seconds.

The remnants of the fabric drifted in the air before the shadow itself—utterly silent—was consumed by the unnatural fire.

Black mist seeped out, evaporating into nothingness.

Crunch… crunch…

Lu Xuan stepped forward cautiously, his boots crushing dry grass underfoot. His grip on the blade remained firm as he scanned the surroundings.

With a thought, his system panel materialized before him:

Host: Lu Xuan
Realm: Blood Refinement (Peak)
Technique: Flameblade Art (1/9) (Can be upgraded)
Points: 50
Confirm expenditure of 30 points to upgrade Flameblade Art?

Seeing this, Lu Xuan relaxed slightly—but then frowned.

Something’s off.

While 50 points was a substantial gain, it didn’t add up.

Previously, eliminating five Yin-possessed corpses had netted him 10 points—2 per kill.

Yet this shadow, the source of the Yin energy, was only worth 50?

Was it not truly destroyed?

Or was this thing fundamentally unkillable, its real origin still hidden elsewhere?

His gaze lingered on the scorched grass and lingering embers where the shadow had been.

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought—overanalyzing wouldn’t help.

BOOM!

With a powerful stomp, Lu Xuan cratered the ground, sending dirt flying to smother the remaining flames.

“Starting forest fires lands you in prison for life.”

That was one lesson he remembered well.

A breeze rustled the trees. Lu Xuan’s ears twitched—he caught faint noises in the distance.

Rustle… rustle…

The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder.

Hundreds of meters away, dozens of figures emerged, their torches cutting through the darkness as they rushed toward him.

At the front, Liang Cheng spotted Lu Xuan and shouted in relief:

“Cousin!”
“Brother Xuan! Are you alright?”
“Over here! Hurry!”

Soon, the group reached him—constables, Li San, and even villagers from Liugou, all clutching torches that bathed the area in flickering light.

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected them to follow—let alone find him.

Then again, the Flameblade Art’s display was hardly subtle.

“Subtle” was an understatement. From afar, the unnatural crimson flames had looked like ghost fire, nearly scaring the group out of their wits.

Only Liang Cheng’s forced composure had kept them moving forward.

“I’m fine. Li San—catch.”

Expressionless, Lu Xuan tossed his blade to Li San.

The weapon was ruined.

The Flameblade Art’s heat had proven far more intense than anticipated—even his custom-made broadsword, forged specifically for fire-based techniques, had warped and blackened after just a few uses.

Li San stared at the deformed blade in shock, struggling to comprehend what could’ve caused such damage.

“Honored guest, are you unharmed?”

The village elder, supported by several villagers, approached with visible concern.

After Liang Cheng had seen Lu Xuan chase the shadow, he’d immediately rallied the villagers to search for him.

“Just investigating something unusual,” Lu Xuan replied casually.

The elder exhaled in relief. “Thank goodness.”

Meanwhile, Liang Cheng surveyed the devastation—charred earth, upturned soil—and felt a mix of awe and disbelief.

Just how powerful has Brother Xuan become?

Satisfied that his cousin was safe, Liang Cheng turned to the crowd. “Everyone, return and rest. The night isn’t over yet.”