Kill Me More Times, I’ll Become Invincible

Chapter 377:

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"Is his skill truly superb?" Qiao Mu asked in surprise.

"But that was already a story from thirty or forty years ago," Earth Sword Immortal said lightly.

"I heard that later on, he was on par with other superb martial artists before meeting his end at the hands of Martial Saint."

Thirty or forty years ago, he and Spear Saint were considered some of the strongest martial artists in the world.

They had one win and one loss in their battles, but they could still sit down peacefully and discuss martial arts afterwards.

The battle between Martial Saint and Spear Saint was a fight to the death, with the loser disappearing without a trace.

"It’s fascinating to imagine the top martial artists discussing martial arts while seated," Sword Demon Burning Sea commented.

She was once a human being, but lived three to four hundred years ago.

"Why dream when we have all the time in Peach Blossom Villa?" Lu Yanbei said with a smile.

The Spear Saint and Earth Sword Immortal sat together discussing martial arts, showing the camaraderie between top experts.

Though rare, it is not impossible.

Peach Blossom Villa was unlike any other place in the martial arts world.

"So, Spear Saint’s ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear’ and ‘Heavenly Slashing Swordsmanship’ are the results of your exploration on this path?" Qiao Mu asked, playing with the little Jingwei on his shoulder.

"That’s one way to put it," Earth Sword Immortal replied.

"But the path of martial arts is as deep as an ocean. Despite our exploration, we are just beachcombers by the sea," he added.

Qiao Mu was slightly surprised to see Earth Sword Immortal being so serious about a serious question.

"The way of skill is as deep as the ocean, perfect for a chat along the way, when we reach Peach Blossom Villa, we can keep chatting," Qiao Mu said.

He also had a flesh clone named Qiao Xin in this mountain villa, so he could easily manage things in two places at once. The flesh clone would practice martial arts at Peach Blossom Villa, while Qiao Mu handled his tasks.

…………………………………..

Inside the lobby of the Guihai Inn by the roadside in Baichuan City, Southeast Province.

The owner of this Guihai Inn was a former martial artist who had turned over a new leaf, so the inn often welcomed martial artists passing through. The guests were almost all skilled martial artists.

"Have you heard about the recent big event at Sword Tomb?"

"Sword Tomb? Such a dangerous place. Are there really people daring to go there… I heard there are spirits from the past dynasty wielding swords…"

"Why wouldn’t they go? Those who don’t are missing out. It’s a rare chance to broaden their horizons!"

"I was there at the time. Not only did the young master Xue Changhe from the Xue family go, but even the immortal leader from the Soul Predicting Path and a member of the Qiao family went…" 𝑅ãΝΟ𝔟Ë𝓢

"Xue Changhe? From the Xue family in Dong Province? I heard their family leader is only twenty years old?"

"That’s true, but even though Xue Changhe is strong and considered one of the top martial artists today, he pales in comparison to the others in Sword Tomb…"

As the crowd’s discussions grew louder, a mysterious figure in a straw hat stood up quietly in the corner and left a silver piece before walking out quickly.

This person was none other than Xue Changhe, who everyone was talking about.

Xue Changhe, at just twenty years old, had a handsome face and stood out with his striking appearance. He usually wore a blood-red robe, portraying a flamboyant and eye-catching image of a young noble.

However, at this moment, he was dressed in simple clothes and wore a straw hat, seemingly trying to avoid being recognized.

"This trip to Sword Tomb has truly become a decoration in the legends of the Qiao family members."

Xue Changhe sighed softly.

Sighing aside, he naturally accepted Qiao Mu’s Excalibur sword from that day.

He felt convinced, but whenever he thought about that day, he couldn’t help but repeatedly remember the scene where he joined forces with Qiao Pianxin to deal with Soul Predicting Pathinhuman.

Thinking about this made his face flush and his steps quicken unconsciously.

"The Qiao family member, along with the swords in Sword Tomb, all went to Nan Province, but it’s a pity…"

"If only I had gone with them back then, it would have been so much better…"

Leaving the inn, Xue Changhe let out another sigh. Memories of their parting came flooding back once again.

When Qiao Mu and Earth Sword Immortal left Sword Tomb to head towards Nan Province, they had a brief chat with Xue Changhe before leaving, inviting him to Peach Blossom Villa.

Xue Changhe, whether viewed through the eyes of Sword Demon Burning Sea or Qiao Mu, was considered a talent in the contemporary martial arts world, though not as dazzling as Earth Sword Immortal and other geniuses.

At that time, Xue Changhe was very tempted, but ultimately declined.

Declining didn’t mean he wasn’t tempted.

The Qiao family’s invitation made Xue Changhe feel a bit surprised and grateful, knowing it was a great opportunity.

Just as he was about to accept, he saw the glances from the martial artists around him and couldn’t help blushing…

Go to Nan Province with Qiao Mu?

Feeling ashamed in public, Xue Changhe wished he could leave Jiu Province and start a new life overseas, wandering the rivers and seas forever…

So he declined.

But after declining, in the days that followed he kept thinking back to that moment, wondering if his life would have been different if he had said yes…

Lost in thought, Xue Changhe arrived at the harbor of Baichuan City, where he saw ships coming and going, the vast sea merging with the blue sky, under the open sky.

Xue Changhe felt a bit calmer in his heart:

"Well, since it’s all over now, I’ll just leave it at that."

Just as he was about to walk outside, he heard the voice of a middle-aged man behind his ear.

"Master, you’ve arrived in Baichuan City early, why didn’t you inform me?"

Turning around, he saw a slightly chubby middle-aged man with a round face standing not far behind him, around forty years old, but with a hint of premature aging as his temples were already turning gray.

The middle-aged man’s face was filled with a friendly smile, looking like a typical businessman.

"Is that Third Uncle?" Xue Changhe was surprised.

This person also had the last name Xue, a member of the Xue family branch, and a seafood merchant in Baichuan City.

The Xue family, like many families, had different branches within it.

The distinction between the main and branch families was not based on bloodline, but on talent.

Those who could inherit the skills of the older generation of the Xue family were considered part of the main family; those who couldn’t inherit them or had no interest in martial arts were part of the branch family.

The seafood merchant and Xue Changhe were close relatives, but Third Uncle’s martial arts skills were average, as he was only at the 9th rank at over forty years old.

When the uncle and nephew met, the middle-aged man with a round face took Xue Changhe to a nearby seafood restaurant near the tea house for a chat.

"The head of the family arrived early in Baichuan City, without even telling me, isn’t that too rude?"

"Isn’t it Third Uncle who’s being rude? Just call me ‘Changhe’, there’s no one else here, it sounds awkward to hear." Xue Changhe smiled.

Their Third Uncle was already forty-five years old, the oldest of the older generation in the Xue family where the life expectancy was only fifty.

Xue Changhe was only twenty years old, already the current head of the family, not just a "young master", but being called this way by the elders still felt strange.

But as soon as these words were spoken, the smile on the round-faced middle-aged man’s face gradually faded, and he spoke seriously:

"No, this is a rule in our Xue family, we can’t break it."

Speaking of this, the round-faced middle-aged man’s expression became somewhat sentimental:

"Everyone says that the head of our Xue family is like a lucky star, inheriting vast skills from ancestors at a young age."

"As the head of the family, you are only twenty years old, with great inner strength like an endless ocean, once topping the Strength List, it’s like a dream come true!"

The round-faced middle-aged man raised his glass and took a sip, squinting his eyes slightly.

"Outsiders may not know the whole story, but us Xue family members, especially those of us with average talents like me, must not forget the heavy burden on the shoulders of the clan leader."

Branch members of the Xue family, like the round-faced middle-aged man’s Third Uncle, seldom practice martial arts, living their lives like ordinary people. However, their lifespan is shorter, with a limit of fifty years.

In these chaotic times, many people die young, so the fifty-year limit does not affect branch members who do not practice martial arts as much.

The duties of branch members are few, mainly earning money outside and giving a portion to the main family as a tribute.

This money is usually used to support the martial arts training of the main family members.

The Xue family’s main branch, especially the previous clan leaders, have different responsibilities.

You should know that practicing martial arts is a tough job, it takes a lot of time and effort.

Training in martial arts requires practicing in the hottest and coldest days of the year, and it emphasizes the importance of practicing diligently for ten years or even decades.

It not only requires determination and money, but also a lot of time and effort, it’s impossible to succeed overnight.

However, Xue family members have limited lifespans, once they choose to practice martial arts, it means dedicating their short lives to the family legacy, even though they may never see the hope of success in thousands of years…

The so-called family legacy is about resisting the curse of bloodline, seeking revenge on the Long Life Gate in Dong Province, breaking the fifty-year lifespan limit of the Xue family, and ending the thousand-year destiny of the Xue family.

Once their skills reach their peak, the older martial artists will deplete their internal strength, energy, and spirit, often not living much longer, essentially cutting short their fifty-year lifespan limit.

Therefore, in the eyes of family members like the round-faced middle-aged man, Xue Changhe, who belong to the main branch, are considered brave warriors who knowingly make sacrifices.

Among them, the ancestors of the Xue family are the most outstanding.

Each generation of ancestors receives teachings and transfers of power from many older members of the main branch, and every time the power is transferred, the older members often pass away within a few days due to the depletion of their internal strength.

At only twenty years old, Xue Changhe already carried the lives of many older Xue family members on his shoulders.

Both familiar and unfamiliar older relatives passed away after passing on their skills, entrusting their lives to him.

This includes the former head of the Xue family, who was Xue Changhe’s own father.

"You became the head of the family at twenty, that’s quite an achievement. You have walked the path that previous family heads took for thirty or forty years, all at the young age of twenty."

"Daring to fulfill our Xue family’s thousand-year-old aspiration, we naturally respect you and must address you as the family head. It doesn’t matter your age or seniority," said the middle-aged man with a round face solemnly.

In his view, branch family members only needed to contribute money, while main family members had to sacrifice immeasurable energy, time, and heavy responsibilities.

As for him, he had no desire to become the family head.

The weight of a thousand years of power was too heavy; he did not want to bear it.

When the family’s destiny was mentioned, Xue Changhe had no arguments left, just quietly drinking.

"Master. Actually, I came to find you this time not by chance. I heard that after you left the mountain, you were heading to Baichuan City, and I also have something important to discuss with you."

The middle-aged man with a round face smiled slightly and said:

"Actually, I’m already forty-five this year, with only five years left until the age limit of fifty. I’ve lived long enough."

"Third Uncle is not very talented, and he wasn’t diligent in practicing martial arts in his early years. He is currently only at the 9th rank in martial arts. But coming to see you, Master, he also wants to do his best to help in any way he can."

"Hmm?" Xue Changhe’s face changed slightly:

"Is Third Uncle suggesting to pass on his 9th rank skills to me?"

"To be honest, compared to the thousand-year-old internal strength of the Xue family master, the 9th rank power is just a drop in the bucket. Even if you pass on the skills to me, it won’t benefit me much, I will just lose a few years of life for no reason."

The middle-aged man with a round face kept a smiling expression on his face:

"I know, my little help is indeed not modest. It’s just a tiny, insignificant bit of help."

"But these past few years have been chaotic. Your cousin died in a flood a while back, and that flood… let’s not talk about it."

Xue Changhe hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something.

"Oh, come on. Third Uncle is old, he’s not looking for comfort from a young kid like you," the middle-aged man with a round face smiled.

"I know all about this matter, I have already made up my mind."

Speaking of this, the middle-aged man with a round face took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket.

"This contains a drop of my blood, the family head should keep it safe."

"Third Uncle, why go to such lengths?" Xue Changhe asked in a strained voice.

"Even more difficult is you, this younger generation. Third Uncle is just doing his little bit…" the middle-aged man with a round face continued to smile faintly.

The martial arts of the Xue family have been passed down for thousands of years. It looks like a long-standing river of blood, and it’s only when you get close enough to see and smell it that you can detect the hint of blood.

Xue Changhe stood up and took the small porcelain bottle with both hands.

The Xue family’s unique martial arts technique can be practiced through the consumption of blood, in addition to the traditional initiation ceremony.

Since Third Uncle had already taken the blood essence voluntarily, it meant that his health was in irreversible decline and his life was nearing its end, refusing further consumption would be meaningless.

"Take care, Third Uncle." Xue Changhe took the small porcelain bottle and drank the blood essence in front of Third Uncle.

With his martial arts skills, it would only take a few breaths to digest the power contained in the blood essence, but the effects would be almost negligible.

"It is the duty of the family head to take care of oneself." The middle-aged man with a round face smiled slightly, stood up, and prepared to leave:

"I am feeling a bit tired, so I will take my leave."

Xue Changhe stood at the entrance of the eatery, silently watching as his Third Uncle walked away, only looking away after he disappeared from view.

He glanced at the messy dishes and cups on the table, shaking his head.

He left a few pieces of broken silver and quickly got up to leave, his movements were swift and neat.

He walked away, suddenly remembering a scene he had witnessed at the Sword Tomb.

"Qiao family member… Could it be the legendary sword of immortality…"

"Let’s pay a visit to Nan Province."

Xue Changhe, who was now the strongest member of the Xue family, had no peers in martial arts.

Possibly even further, perhaps in the vast world beyond.