Soul Emperor Martial God Chapter 3: The Five Excellences of Xingyi

With an Orange-rank Plant Martial Soul, the Fire Burning Vine, Xiao Jie had achieved cultivation at the Mortal Realm Fourth Layer.

Xiao Shi, who wielded the Fire Wolf Martial Soul, possessed an Orange-rank Beast Martial Soul. Despite his cultivation only reaching the Mortal Realm Third Layer, the formidable strength of the Fire Wolf meant his combat prowess was by no means inferior to Xiao Jie’s at the Fourth Layer.

While both were Martial Artists, Yiyi remained an ordinary person, not even comparable to the First Layer of the Mortal Realm.

Her fragile form appeared utterly insignificant when faced with Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi.

The stick she wielded in her panic seemed almost laughable.

With a sharp *snap*, Xiao Jie easily disarmed her, seizing the stick.

"Ugly monster, get lost if you know what's good for you."

"Damn it, a lowly maid, always getting in the way. Be careful, or I'll beat you up too."

Yiyi clutched the stick tightly, gritting her teeth. "Yiyi's life belongs to Young Master Xiao Yi; I won't let you hurt the young master."

"Hmph, you're asking for death." Xiao Jie snatched the stick and swung it with all his might towards Yiyi's arm.

Had it connected, Yiyi’s arm could have been broken.

In the past, whenever Xiao Yi faced bullying, Yiyi would instinctively shield him. Yet, every attempt she made to intervene proved futile, invariably leading to the pitiful Xiao Yi having his cultivation resources plundered. Afterward, Xiao Yi would vent his frustration on her, beating her. "Yiyi, remember, you're just a lowly maid; it's not your place to meddle in this young master's affairs," he would always berate her furiously.

Yiyi had grown accustomed to his scolding, yet never once voiced a complaint against Xiao Yi.

This time was no different. Facing the descending stick, she closed her eyes in apprehension, remaining perfectly still.

There was a soft *snap*.

Yiyi braced for the impact on her shoulder, but the expected pain never came, leaving her bewildered.

As she opened her eyes in confusion, her usually bright eyes widened in sheer astonishment.

For there, standing before her, was Xiao Yi, who had miraculously intercepted the stick with his bare palm. "Young... Young Master..." Yiyi stammered, disbelief coloring her words.

The Xiao Yi of the past was weak and ineffective. However, the current Xiao Yi was a Xingyi Fist grandmaster from planet Earth, none other than the legendary King of Assassins who had once operated with impunity across the globe. He was certainly not someone who would idly stand by while Yiyi was harmed.

Ignoring Yiyi’s stunned address, Xiao Yi’s gaze turned icy as he fixed it upon Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi. "Who gave you the right to strike my maid?"

Both Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi froze, witnessing Xiao Yi’s unprecedented defiance.

"Wow, the little trash has finally grown a spine."

"Why waste words on him? Just beat him until he learns his place."

Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi sneered.

"Little trash, have you forgotten the lesson the Fire Burning Vine taught you?" Xiao Jie taunted.

Suddenly, a crimson vine, approximately two meters in length and crackling with vibrant flames, materialized in Xiao Jie’s hand, pulsating with raw energy.

"Fire Burning Vine, attack!"

Xiao Jie thrust his arm forward, and the Fire Burning Vine lashed out towards Xiao Yi as if possessed by a life of its own.

Xiao Yi remained utterly unfazed. Though his cultivation was merely at the Mortal Realm First Layer, vastly inferior to Xiao Jie’s power, his combat experience was something a hundred Xiao Jies couldn’t match.

With a swift movement, Xiao Yi advanced, twisting his body in an unorthodox evasion to narrowly dodge the Fire Burning Vine. His hands then transformed into claw-like grips, aiming directly for Xiao Jie’s head.

"He dodged it? How is that even possible?" Xiao Jie exclaimed, his shock evident.

"Tiger Form," Xiao Yi declared in a low, chilling shout.

Just as Xiao Jie attempted to retract the Fire Burning Vine to defend himself, he was assailed by the sound of a ferocious tiger's

roar.

*Roar!* Xiao Yi’s hands unleashed a guttural tiger's roar, echoing as if the king of beasts was bellowing through the primal forest.

Xiao Jie recoiled instinctively, an intense tremor coursing through him. He felt as though he had become the target of a predatory beast, his very life hanging precariously in the balance.

In the very next instant, Xiao Yi lunged, forcefully overthrowing Xiao Jie.

It was as if Xiao Jie had been violently subdued by a ferocious tiger.

"What’s happening? Am I dreaming?" Xiao Shi questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Xiao Jie is at the Mortal Realm Fourth Layer; how could he be taken down by a mere nobody?"

The Tiger Form, embodying the relentless force and power of a descending tiger, represented the apex of offensive capability within the Xingyi Fists.

At this critical juncture, Xiao Yi’s claws were clamped firmly around Xiao Jie’s neck, precisely at the throat.

With a minimal twitch of his fingers, he possessed the lethal power to crush Xiao Jie’s neck and extinguish his life.

Remember, Xiao Yi was not merely a master of Xingyi Fist; he was also a skilled Assassin, proficient in many deadly techniques.

"Xiao Shi, why are you standing there? Save me!" Xiao Jie cried out in panic, immediately begging Xiao Shi for help without considering why he was no match for Xiao Yi.

"I'm coming," Xiao Shi replied instantly.

"Fire Wolf, appear," Xiao Shi commanded.

A Fire Wolf Illusion materialized around him.

The Fire Wolf, an Orange-rank Martial Soul, granted its wielder exceptional speed and the devastating power of flame.

"Little waste, die now."

Xiao Shi's actions clearly demonstrated his intent to kill Xiao Yi.

Despite being from the same Xiao Family, he possessed the cruelty to end Xiao Yi's life.

"Hmph," Xiao Yi's expression turned frigid as he released Xiao Jie's neck.

"Leopard Form," Xiao Yi moved with astonishing speed, striking like a leopard hunting its prey, its lightning-fast pounce designed to seize the victim in a single, decisive move.

"So fast!" Xiao Shi's eyes widened in surprise, having only just begun his own attack.

Before Xiao Shi could even react, Xiao Yi's claws had already raked across his chest, leaving a deep, bloody gash.

Leopard Form, an offensive technique mimicking a swift and silent leopard, was perfectly suited for unleashing explosive, close-range power. It was one of the velocity-focused techniques within the Xingyi Fist.

Xingyi Fist is a martial art that cultivates both the inner self and the physical body.

It is categorized into the Five Elements and Twelve Forms, including Splitting Fist, Drilling Fist, Beng Fist, Cannon Fist, Horizontal Fist, Dragon Form, Tiger Form, Eagle Form, and Snake Formation.

These forms can be integrated or separated, weaving together in complex patterns. The art is incredibly intricate, capable of evolving into thousands of combat techniques, a truly vast and profound discipline.

As a grandmaster of Xingyi Fist, Xiao Yi had not only mastered all its techniques but had also refined them into five distinct, powerful forms.

These five styles, born from the countless techniques, were hailed by Xiao Yi as the Xingyi Five Extremes.

They were the Tiger Form, Leopard Form, Snake Formation, Crane Form, and the most formidable of all, Rising Dragon.

With these Five Extremes, he had been virtually unparalleled across the world, seldom encountering an equal.

Even though he only possessed the modest cultivation of the Mortal Realm First Layer, Xiao Yi, by leveraging the Xingyi Five Extremes, easily vanquished both Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi.

"Do you wish to die?" Xiao Yi snarled, tearing with both claws, widening the already grievous wound on Xiao Shi's chest.

Blood immediately erupted from Xiao Shi's body.

"Ah... Ah..." Xiao Shi screamed in agony, watching the lifeblood continuously pour from his chest, feeling his strength ebb away, gripped by a terrifying premonition of death.

"Am I... going to die? Ah... Ah..."

"Shut your mouth and stop screaming like you're begging for spring," Xiao Yi snapped, glaring at Xiao Shi.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jie, witnessing Xiao Shi's dire state, trembled uncontrollably.

Ultimately, these two were merely like flowers bloomed in a greenhouse, unaccustomed to such grim, bloody spectacles.

Yiyi, standing nearby, looked pale, but her deepest concern was for Xiao Yi's well-being.

"Humph." Xiao Yi retracted his claws and, with a forceful punch, sent Xiao Shi crashing down beside Xiao Jie on the ground.

"Don't... don't kill us." Xiao Jie was already so petrified his legs felt like jelly, lacking the strength to even stand.

"Little... little trash, no, Xiao Yi, we are of the same family," Xiao Shi pleaded, clutching his wound.

It was evident they had perceived the potent killing intent glinting in Xiao Yi's eyes.

In that moment, they felt Xiao Yi was not like the crippled individual they knew, but rather an executioner whose hands were stained with blood, sending a chill through their very hearts.

"Not kill you?" Xiao Yi scoffed. "For years, you've pilfered my cultivation resources, and now you expect me to show mercy?"

"No... it's not like that," Xiao Jie stammered, his body shaking. "Xiao Yi, truthfully, we are your elder cousins. How could we steal from you? We were just eager to cultivate, and only 'borrowed' some from you."

"That's right, we borrowed, not stole," Xiao Shi quickly chimed in.

"Fine, borrowed," Xiao Yi conceded with a nod. "So, all those things you've 'borrowed' over the years, it's time to return them, isn't it?"

"We'll return everything, just spare our lives," Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi exclaimed in unison, as if a great reprieve had been granted.

"Ten thousand Silver Taels each. Pay up now," Xiao Yi sneered.

"Ten thousand Silver Taels?" The eyes of both men widened in disbelief.

"How... how can it be so much?" Xiao Jie spluttered, his voice filled with shock.

"Indeed, we only receive twenty Silver Taels a month, and the Elixir Elixir itself is valued at roughly thirty Silver Taels.

at most fifty Silver Taels a month including everything.

"That's six hundred Silver Taels a year..."

Xiao Yi glared fiercely, interrupting, "Since you were borrowing, don't you have to pay interest? Never heard of compound interest? You've been stealing my things since I was eight years old, for a full eight years now."

"Merely ten thousand Silver Taels each, I'm letting you off cheap," Xiao Yi said coldly.

"Uh... but..." Xiao Shi and Xiao Jie muttered curses under their breath, clearly being tricked, yet it felt like they were getting the better end of the deal.

"But we don't have ten thousand Silver Taels," Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi thought to themselves wishfully that since they couldn't produce so much money, Xiao Yi wouldn't be able to do anything to them.

"If you can't pay, then go to hell," Xiao Yi's palms turned into claws, murderous intent surging as he struck toward their vitals.

"No... don't..."

Realizing the bloodthirsty look in Xiao Yi's eyes was no joke, Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi immediately begged for mercy.

"Can we owe it for now?"

"Fine," Xiao Yi drew back his hands, smiling, "Yiyi, bring some paper and a pen, we don't want these two gentlemen to deny their debts."

"Yes, Young Master Xiao Yi," Yiyi nodded and quickly prepared the paper and pen.

Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi reluctantly wrote down the IOUs.

Xiao Yi picked up the IOUS, looking as they smeared ink on their fingers, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Leave," Xiao Yi said, "I remind you, the IOUS are written, to owe money and repay it is the way of heaven and earth. Even if you go to the Clan Leader, it won't do any good."

"Remember well, gather the money quickly. I don't care if you have to steal or rob, if the money isn't gathered, prepare for me to take your lives," Xiao Yi coldly instructed them before letting them leave.

In fact, from the start, Xiao Yi hadn't planned to kill them; it was merely to ensure they would repay the debt, allowing him to reap better benefits.

From his regained memories, he knew that the cultivation for a martial artist was an extremely resource-intensive affair. The more money one had, the richer the cultivation resources one could acquire, enabling smoother and faster cultivation.

...

After Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi left, they circled around Xiao Yi's courtyard before finally stopping in front of a young man. The youth had an attractive appearance, yet his eyes exuded a chill, sinister coldness.

"Ruohan cousin, we have failed. That little cripple somehow became so powerful..."

Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi shared some details but omitted the part about writing the IOUS.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Xiao Yi was watching these three from a corner, his gaze cold.

With his ability to hide, unless someone came straight up to him, he would remain undetected.

He had anticipated that Xiao Jie and Xiao Shi's visit that day was unusual, so he discreetly followed them after they had left. "Indeed, it's this bastard making trouble again," Xiao Yi sneered inwardly.

"It's better not to provoke me, or else I won't mind sending you to hell ahead of time," Xiao Yi murmured to himself, then left the corner.

Throughout, Xiao Ruohan and his company never noticed his presence.