Systemless Villain

Chapter 51  Unveiling Secrets and Seeking Revenge

Liu Qian arched an eyebrow, her smartphone lighting up with message notifications. They were all coming from one person: Ye Chen.

"Long Tian, I need to reach someone. Mind if I excuse myself for a moment?" Liu Qian said.

"No problem, take your time," Long Tian nodded.

With that, Liu Qian went to the back, while Long Tian made his way to the living room.

*************

Meanwhile, in another location...

Bam!

A single strike shattered three trees standing in a row.

A young man was seen practicing, sweat pouring down his body.

"Good, Qin Chen, you've mastered that technique quite well. It's even stronger than I anticipated," Han Yuan remarked, a smile gracing on his lips.

"It's also thanks to your guidance. I'm truly grateful to have met you, Elder Han," Qin Chen said sincerely.

"Don't mention it. My debt to the Qin family is much greater than what I've given you, Qin Chen," Han Yuan responded, smiled.

"Well, I have to train hard to avange them," Qin Chen said, turning around and resuming his practice.

Han Yuan smiled, observing Qin Chen's determination. It had been over two weeks since Qin Chen was allowed to train at the Wudang sect, thanks to Shi Huang's support.

While there were still many Elders and disciples who didn't like him, Qin Chen faced them calmly. He had never seen Qin Chen get angry at those disciples, which left quite an impression on him.

Qin Chen wasn't a genius, but he possessed extraordinary perseverance. Han Yuan was confident that in the future, Qin Chen would become one of the strongest cultivators.

At this moment, Qin Chen suddenly turned, "Oh right, Elder Han, I have a question. Do you know about the Heartblade of Guo Jian?" he asked.

"Heartblade of Guo Jian? I don't know about Guo Jian, but a Heartblade is an inner power of a sword that can be possessed by any individual," Han Yuan answered.

"Could you explain it in more detail?" Qin Chen requested.

"Sure, every individual can awaken a martial spirit, and also a Heartblade. The difference is that it's divided into several colors," Han Yuan explained.

"I'll show you," he added, taking out a sword from his spatial ring.

It was a typical ancient Chinese longsword.

"This is my primary weapon that has awakened the Heartblade," he said.

"In its base mode, it's just an ordinary sword, as you can see," he added, swinging it through the air without any special effects.

"But when the Heartblade is activated, its effects are different. I'll show you," he added, and the surface of his sword glowed with blue light, forming runes etched on its surface, accompanied by a blue aura that appeared like smoke but flowed smoothly.

He slashed forward.

Slash!

The blue-colored sword slash effect appeared, cleaving a large tree and toppling it.

"That's the Heartblade," Han Yuan said, returning his sword to its normal state.

Qin Chen watched the scene with awe. It was new knowledge to him; he had just learned that besides awakening martial spirits, humans could also awaken Heartblades. It ignited a fresh sense of spirit within him.

But he was also thinking at the same time. Long Tian wanted the Heartblade of Guo Jian, clearly he desired that power, but he was still puzzled by the meaning of Guo Jian.

"That's impressive, Elder Han. This is the first time I've seen a Heartblade. But are all Heartblades blue?" he asked with curiosity.

"Actually, Heartblades come in different colors," he clarified. "In a nutshell, the Blue Heartblade is all about combat control and precision, with calculated strikes and heightened perception. The Green one leans into a connection with nature, plant manipulation, and healing skills. As for the Yellow Heartblade, it's more about tactical thinking, strategy, and outsmarting opponents. Lastly, the Purple Heartblade is versatile, tapping into various energies like elemental attacks and illusions."

Qin Chen absorbed every word Han Yuan spoke, and he could understand immediately. Essentially, each color had different meanings and strengths.

"Are there only blue, green, yellow, and purple?" he asked.

"No, there are many more colors of Heartblades, each with its own unique powers and meanings. Unfortunately, I only know about these four colors. You might be able to learn more in the sect's library," Han Yuan answered.

"I understand, thanks Elder Han," Qin Chen nodded, smiling.

"Now that you know a bit more about how the world works, there are so many powers and opportunities you can develop. Anyway, when does the martial spirit awakening begin?" Han Yuan asked.

"Tomorrow," Qin Chen replied.

"Tomorrow? Well, I'll come to the school to accompany you," Han Yuan said, smiling.

"Thanks, Elder Han," Qin Chen smiled back.

"Alright, I have something to attend to. Train on your own, Qin Chen," Han Yuan said.

Qin Chen nodded, and with that, Han Yuan left the area.

It was a forest outside the Wudang sect's area. The reason he trained here was that he felt more at peace. The forest had thin Reiki, but it was beneficial for his cultivation.

**************

Time passed quickly, the scorching sun of the daytime gradually transitioned into an orange hue, signaling the arrival of evening.

In the forest outside the Wudang sect, Qin Chen continued his martial arts training. He had acquired a potent technique, the Slender Fist, which prioritized precision and inner strength.

Bam!

One punch sent a powerful gust of wind whirling around. Qin Chen panted, exhausted but satisfied; his training had not been in vain, as he had now mastered the Slender Fist technique.

He glanced at the sky, where the evening sky hung above. "It seems I've trained enough for today. I should return to Tianzhou," he said.

With that, he walked calmly away from the Wudang sect's premises.

However, as he walked, he spotted a figure stumbling from a distance. Without hesitation, he approached.

Up close, he saw a young man covered in blood, each step leaving traces of it on the ground. The most striking aspect was that he wore the distinctive attire of the Wudang sect.

"Hey, are you okay?" Qin Chen said, standing in front of the young man.

"Golden Star sect... I... Found out," the young man struggled to speak, forcing himself to walk.

In the end, he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. He had lost a lot of blood, and his eyes were growing dim.

"Hang in there, I'll help you," Qin Chen said earnestly, trying to lift the young man's body.

But the young man seemed to have given up hope. "I... Can't," his voice trailed off, and he closed his eyes, taking his last breath.

Qin Chen checked for his heartbeat. Unfortunately, he felt none.

"No way, he's dead..." He said in disbelief.

An unfamiliar figure, dead in his arms. Swiftly, Qin Chen carried the body, rushing towards the sect's interior.

As he ran, guards spotted him and let him in. However, once inside, the disciples noticed him and their expressions drastically changed upon seeing the body in Qin Chen's arms.

No one dared to stop him; everyone allowed him to run while carrying the lifeless figure.

After a rather long sprint, he arrived in front of a building, one of the Elder's residences.

"Elder Hui, emergency! Someone's dead!" Qin Chen yelled.

With that cry, an old man emerged from the building.

"Who?" he asked gravely.

Upon seeing the body, his expression changed drastically. "Impossible... He's Master Shi Huang's son," he said in disbelief.

"What?" Qin Chen was shocked. He hadn't expected this person to be Master Shi's son.

"How could he be dead? Were you involved?" Fu Hui asked seriously, gripping both of Qin Chen's shoulders.

"I don't know, Elder Hui. While I was training outside, I saw him covered in blood. In the end, he died from blood loss," Qin Chen explained.

"Ugh, damn it, who dared to kill Master Shi's son? That person is really seeking death!" Fu Hui exclaimed.

"Let's take him to the sect master," he added.

Qin Chen nodded and immediately carried the body, rushing towards the peak of the temple.

**************

In the aftermath of this somber entry, the air within the peak temple seemed to hold its breath, as if the very walls bore witness to the heartrending scene.

Several Elders stood with bowed heads, but Shi Huang stood there with a mixture of anger and sadness, his aura emanating a strong sense of intimidation.

He couldn't bear to see his son's lifeless body on the floor.

Amid the charged silence, his voice broke through, a voice edged with anger, "Who dared to kill my son?!"

No one dared to respond; all eyes converged on Qin Chen, the bearer of the fallen figure.

Realizing this, Qin Chen stepped  forward and immediatelly explained, "Before he died, I overheard him mention the Golden Star sect. And he was found out."

Shi Huang's eyes flared with a fiery intensity,"Golden Star sect?" he noticed, his anger intensifying.

Seizing this moment, an Elder dared to share insights, "Sect master, young lord Feng was indeed on a mission to spy on the Golden Star sect. It seems he was found out. However, just a while ago, a messenger owl arrived with information from his surveillance."

The words seemed to stoke the fire within Shi Huang, his anger consuming his sorrow as he vowed, "The Golden Star sect... their reckoning is upon them, my son. And the Golden Star sect... their end is imminent!"

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone present became serious. The Golden Star sect wasn't an ordinary sect; its power was unknown.

But that wasn't the issue. The Golden Star sect had forged alliances with many other powerful sects, which could be considered mutually beneficial.

If the Wudang sect attacked and managed to destroy the Golden Star sect, it was certain that the other sects would seek revenge. It would be troublesome for the Wudang sect.

Sensing the weight of their doubts, a voice emerged from the shadows,"Sect master, calm down, don't let anger cloud your judgment. You know very well that the Golden Star sect has many alliances; warfare will only  bring disaster."

"I'm not foolish enough to jeopardize my sect. We will initiate an attack, but at the right time. But one thing's for sure, the Golden Star sect must be annihilated!" Shi Huang said ruthlessly.

Gu Huanzong's expression grew even more serious upon hearing this. He was about to respond, but another Elder suddenly spoke, "It seems that if we attack the Golden Star sect, there's a chance their alliances won't retaliate against us."

Hearing this, everyone's attention turned to the Elder whos speaking.

He added, "According to the information, the Golden Star sect stole several imperial treasures and items from the Xuantian Academy. Among them are the Nine Lives Sword, Life-Forming Elixir, Anti-Gravity Technique, Heartblade of Guo Jian, and many more. So, if we destroy the Golden Star sect and return these items to the empire and the Xuantian Academy, we will surely be safe. We might even receive rewards."

Hearing this, the present Elders nodded, finding the plan sensible. Even Gu Huanzong didn't comment; upon reflection, it seemed like a good idea.

Qin Chen, on the other hand, was surprised when he heard the name "Heartblade of Guo Jian." It was what Long Tian desired.

An opportunity now presented itself for him to acquire it and present it to Long Tian, a chance that would lead him to reunite with Li Yue'er once more.

"Is what you're saying true?" Shi Huang asked.

"I've read Young Lord Feng's report, so yes, the information is accurate," the Elder confirmed.

"Very well, then it's decided. Gather all the Elders and dignitaries; we shall discuss the plan to destroy the Golden Star sect!"