I Can Devour Spirits

Duan Rong’s mind was equally shocked.

Only when he reached the Great Success Realm did he truly understand the terrifying strangeness of Ximen Kankan’s Thunder Smoke Saber. Before, he was just playing around with him.

This time, seeing he couldn’t defeat him, he unleashed his full realm!

With the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber at the Great Success Realm and Xiao Zongting’s three-style remnants, Duan Rong could barely fight Ximen Kankan to a draw.

Both of their saber lights glistened like water, and their figures moved as fast as ghosts for almost half an hour, sweating profusely, yet still unable to determine the winner.

Ximen Kankan suddenly jumped back, gasping, ”I’m exhausted! Not playing anymore, not playing anymore!”

Duan Rong smiled, sheathed his saber, and wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling very refreshed after half an hour of opening his full realm!

Ximen Kankan glanced at Duan Rong, surprised at how he had become so formidable in just two or three days apart. In terms of saber technique, he was no longer inferior to him.

”Your saber technique has changed?” Ximen Kankan asked.

”Yes. I had a big realization yesterday,” Duan Rong replied with a casual smile.

”Really?” Ximen Kankan squinted at Duan Rong. Yesterday? ... Unexpectedly?

The two walked back to the carriage, wiped away their sweat, and ate some fruit.

The scene of Duan Rong and Ximen Kankan’s confrontation was witnessed by the two beautiful maids and those servants, who now looked at Duan Rong with eyes of astonishment.

Ximen Kankan was already in the Great Success Realm, which they were aware of, but this young master’s resources and talent were well-known. Yet, this young man, who appeared not much older, could fight their young master evenly.

Duan Rong and Ximen Kankan fought for half an hour and were somewhat exhausted, so they lay on the grass to rest for a while.

Duan Rong suddenly glanced at the Moon Blade Scimitar at Ximen Kankan’s waist and said, ”Kankan, can I see your saber?”

”Why do you want to see my saber?”

”Your weapon’s style is peculiar; I’m just a bit curious,” Duan Rong said nonchalantly.

A martial artist’s weapon is typically not easily handed over to others unless he and Ximen Kankan had recently become more amiable and close, Duan Rong wouldn’t dare ask such a presumptuous request.

Lying on the grass, Ximen Kankan drew out his weapon, waved it, and slapped the weapon onto Duan Rong’s belly, saying, ”Take a look! This weapon was custom-made based on the Thunder Smoke Saber’s technique.”

Duan Rong grasped the Moon Blade Scimitar, noticing its unique shape and a dull, not bright, color.

Duan Rong’s eyes shifted, thinking to himself, ”Read the Artifact Spirit!”

Artifact: Moon Blade Scimitar

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Three

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level 3 (Satisfied)

Devouring Effect: Thunder Smoke Saber Great Success

Duan Rong hesitated for a moment as he looked at the floating data in front of him but couldn’t resist the temptation. He desperately wanted to understand the terrifying and strange Thunder Smoke Saber, which seemed completely different from other saber techniques he had realized!

Holding Ximen Kankan’s Moon Blade Scimitar, Duan Rong thought to himself, ”Devour!”

Just as Duan Rong mentally chanted ’devour,’ the data panel before him blurred and dissipated. He handed the Moon Blade Scimitar back to Ximen Kankan, casually praising it as a good saber.

Ximen Kankan did not mind, sheathing the saber.

Ximen Kankan was about to chat casually with Duan Rong when Duan Rong suddenly said, ”Kankan, I’m sleepy, going to doze off.”

After speaking, Duan Rong turned over and unexpectedly fell asleep...

Duan Rong slept for a full half-hour. When he awoke, he discovered a blanket over him, while Ximen Kankan was nearby, squatting on the ground, using a tree branch to play with two small turtles caught from who knows where...

Duan Rong stood up, stretched, his eyes flickering.

The Thunder Smoke Saber Artifact Spirit at the Great Success Realm had been fully absorbed. He instantly understood how Ximen Kankan executed those ethereal and ghostly moves.

The predecessor who created the Thunder Smoke Saber evidently possessed an outstanding comprehension of martial arts’ feints and real moves, distinct from common understanding.

Hence, the most formidable aspect of the Thunder Smoke Saber lies within the interplay between illusion and reality...

Duan Rong recalled the moves exchanged with Ximen Kankan...

Previously, he had devoured the Yellow Springs Saber Technique and the Wild Bull Saber Technique. Before devouring, he found certain standout aspects within these techniques, but upon devouring them, he felt disappointment similar to discovering the tricks behind a magic show. ”That’s it?”

But, the Thunder Smoke Saber was completely different. After devouring it, once he grasped the principle and execution method, he marveled at the cleverness and subtlety of this saber technique.

Purely in terms of the Great Success Realm, the Thunder Smoke Saber surpassed the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber he cultivated.

However, Duan Rong also remembered Xiao Zongting’s words: the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber must be practiced to Perfection to truly unleash its power.

Duan Rong, leveraging the ability to devour Artifact Spirits, comprehended the realm of various saber techniques, yet undoubtedly, the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber and the Thunder Smoke Saber were the most formidable among them.

The creators evidently possessed profound martial arts insight and unique understanding. The Five Tigers and Sheep Saber displayed comprehensive balance, whereas the Thunder Smoke Saber elevated attack and defense to a brand-new level through the clever use of illusion and reality...

”These two saber techniques...” Duan Rong’s eyes suddenly sharpened, glancing at Ximen Kankan playing with turtles, he said, ”Come, let’s spar a few moves!”

Once Duan Rong understood the Thunder Smoke Saber and some unresolved aspects of sparring with Ximen Kankan, clarity broke through, and he immediately had many new ideas echoing in his mind, eager to validate them with Ximen Kankan again.

”No more fighting. I’m on an outing, engaging in bouts feels like coming out to practice.” Ximen Kankan joyfully continued playing with the turtles, not interested in wielding the saber.

Duan Rong noticed the laziness in Ximen Kankan’s eyes and said, ”Then, consider it a Spring Palace painting!”

Ximen Kankan instantly bounced up like a ball, eyes bright, ”Let’s go!”

For his Spring Palace collection grand ambition, outings and turtles became trivial...

Duan Rong chuckled silently, drawing his saber and sparring with Ximen Kankan, the saber light flashing like water, shifting left and right...

After just ten moves, Duan Rong unexpectedly dodged, his saber edge cutting through Ximen Kankan’s smoke-like saber net from the right, tapping Ximen Kankan’s shoulder with the saber’s back, then darting away.

Ximen Kankan was taken aback, looking at Duan Rong with a peculiar gaze, this was his first time losing in a spar with Duan Rong.

Ximen Kankan’s eyes gleamed, calling out, ”Again!”

Three moves later, Duan Rong leaped back; this time, he swiped the saber back across Ximen Kankan’s throat.

Ximen Kankan touched his throat, quite surprised how Duan Rong managed to defeat him by just taking a nap.

This was too uncanny.

Previously, it was surprising that you could get stronger just by thinking, but now, sleeping could make you stronger?

”How did sleeping suddenly make you so formidable?” Ximen Kankan truly felt helpless because Duan Rong seemed to see through his Thunder Smoke Saber.

Duan Rong smiled, saying, ”Because I’m the Sleep God!”

Seeing Duan Rong’s smile illuminated by the afternoon sun, Ximen Kankan ceased his probing; after all, Duan Rong had surprised him many times before, and it was not his first.

Ximen Kankan sighed, sheathing his saber, feeling somewhat disheartened as he sat on the grass.

He wasn’t concerned about losing to Duan Rong but worried that Duan Rong wouldn’t look to spar with him anymore after winning, thus hindering his Spring Palace collection grand ambition.

Seeing Ximen Kankan’s somewhat dejected face, Duan Rong felt a twinge of guilt. He had devoured Ximen Kankan’s Weapon Spirit, obtaining the Thunder Smoke Saber Great Success Realm, enabling him to see through Ximen Kankan’s feints and exploit them, defeating Ximen Kankan twice, which, truth be told, felt somewhat unsporting.

Duan Rong plopped down next to Ximen Kankan, putting an arm around his shoulder, saying, ”What, upset because you lost!”

”No, it’s because I’m lamenting my Spring Palace.” Ximen Kankan replied.

Duan Rong was taken aback, grinning inwardly: this guy!

In the Nine Provinces, martial pursuits are clearly the norm, yet you prefer Spring Palace over Martial Arts!