Chapter 0119: The Life Aperture – Sword Tongue

These Xiongnu warriors had been tracking the footprints of humans all along the way.

Of course, the cost was not small. Had most of the ferocious beasts not been lured away in pursuit of the humans ahead, the price would've been even higher. Unknowingly, they had chased them all the way to the valley now before them—just in time to witness the intense battle raging within it.

Almost all of them were archers, and their eyesight was extraordinary. A single glance was enough to tell that those standing atop the city walls were of the Central Plains—Han people. It was immediately clear: this was a village built by the Han. And judging by its size, it was not a small one.

"It looks like those slaves have fled into this village."

"They'll surely expose everything about our military camp. We need to return immediately and report to the Zuoxian King while they're still busy fighting the gnoll beasts."

"Also, this valley looks a lot like the one the Zuoxian King ordered us to search for. This might be it! If we bring this news back, we're bound for glory."

The few Xiongnu exchanged glances, then quickly turned and left the valley, racing back along the route they came.

This discovery was too significant. They knew that the Zuoxian King had long been searching for a particular valley—one that would be ideal for the Xiongnu to settle and thrive in. This valley, if secured, could become their foundation for generations, turning them into the strongest race in the world.

"Intruders! Foreigners!!"

Though the Xiongnu had retreated as soon as they appeared, they hadn't escaped Yi Tianxing's notice. With a single glance, he had seen enough—their clothing, appearance, and aura all betrayed them as non-Han. Foreigners.

Their appearance here was no trivial matter. It meant that somewhere nearby, there could be an entire settlement or power of foreign origin.

Whatever the case, this was no good news.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on that—the gnolls before them were the real threat.

These gnolls were clearly battle-hardened. Their claws sank into the city walls as they climbed, one hand still free to slash with steel talons, clashing violently with the defending soldiers. Their claws were so sharp they could even sever spears.

They climbed rapidly, using both hands and feet. Their savage eyes sent chills down spines.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

On the wall, when some soldiers saw their spears getting sliced, they decisively turned the broken shafts into throwing spears, hurling them with all their might.

At close range, with enough force, throwing spears could be even more lethal than arrows.

Training with spears often included learning to hurl them as a lethal skill.

The gnolls hadn't expected the broken spears to become projectiles. With little room to dodge while climbing, many were instantly pierced through and fell, their bones shattered even if they weren't killed outright.

Boom!

A gnoll ripped open a gap in the wall and charged into the village.

"Die!!"

Waiting for it was a cold gleam of a blade.

With a flash, a muscular gnoll was cleanly dismembered—flesh and bone separated in an instant. The slash was both precise and devastating.

Lai He stood grimly at the breach.

His bone-deep mastery of blade arts gave him terrifying burst strength. That single slash had been brutal and efficient.

Boom!

A squad of soldiers, led by Yang Yanping, rushed to the breach. Forming a Three Talents Formation, they stood firm like a mountain, exuding overwhelming killing intent.

Just as another gnoll burst through—

"Thrust!!"

Yang Yanping shouted, and the front-line spearmen stabbed forward without hesitation.

Their spears gleamed coldly, slicing the air with terrifying force. Though the gnoll reacted swiftly, slashing through several spears, there were too many thrusts. Some inevitably pierced through, creating bloody holes in its body.

"Advance! Rotate! Anyone with a broken spear, switch weapons!!"

They had backups—sharpened bamboo poles. Though simple, they were deadly. Once stabbed in, blood gushed like from an opened artery.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Gnolls poured in through the gap.

But they were always greeted first by Yang Yanping's squad.

Raise spear. Thrust!

Withdraw. Rotate. Replace!

Their triangular Three Talents Formation ensured constant pressure at the breach. Each group struck once, then rotated out to reload or rest. Anyone wounded was instantly swapped out.

Clearly, they had practiced this formation extensively. Their execution was swift and deadly—strikes were like lightning.

Owoooo!

Elsewhere, the Frost Gnolls howled as their icy blue eyes observed the battlefield.

Upon seeing their kin breach the walls, they began charging toward the village.

Their assault was terrifying.

With every step, ice crystals formed underfoot. Frost spread into a glowing mist. They moved as if sprinting across a glacier, their bodies encased in shimmering ice armor, flashing with a bone-chilling luster.

They drew closer and closer to the wall.

Ting!

Arrows bounced harmlessly off their armor. Even the god-sea realm archers couldn't penetrate it. The ice armor's defense was monstrous.

"You beasts dare to be so arrogant—prepare to die!!"

Suddenly, Huang Chengyan stepped forward, a gleam of righteous energy flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth and roared—

Clang!!

From his mouth shot a streak of white light, accompanied by a clear sword cry.

The white light streaked through the air like lightning, cleaving toward an approaching Frost Gnoll.

Owoooo!!

The beast, sensing mortal danger, swung its claw, unleashing a shimmering ice blade to intercept.

But the blade was sliced clean in two. The white light revealed itself as a pure white ancient sword, which hacked straight through the ice armor and cleaved the gnoll's head from its body.

Crack!!

The head hit the ground, blood spraying three meters high.

One sword. One kill!

Life Aperture – Sword Tongue!!(命窍——舌剑)

This was a top-tier life aperture that could be awakened only by cultivating Confucian Dao techniques. It was on par with the "Lip Gun" aperture, and the divine ability it produced was terrifying—born for killing.

The Confucian art of "talking people to death" was no joke. Cultivators of the literary path could kill with words alone. Once such talent was transformed into a life aperture divine power, it became an unstoppable weapon.

The power of that sword strike had shown just how deadly Huang Chengyan's divine ability was—cutting down an armored Frost Gnoll in a single blow.

Truly, a sword from the mouth that draws blood.

"Such a fearsome sword light… He spat out an ancient sword! That's the Sword Tongue life aperture from the Confucian Dao! Old Huang may have cultivated The Crimson Loyalty Codex, transforming his scholarly energy into cultivation, but he clearly hasn't surpassed the god-sea realm. This life aperture—he awakened it himself! With this divine power, he's easily among the strongest in our village. He might even surpass me…"

Yi Tianxing's pupils contracted as he processed what he had just seen.

He had read The Crimson Loyalty Codex, and knew about the rare apertures of the literary path. Sword Tongue was one of them. Once awakened, a Confucian scholar's power could rival any martial cultivator.

"Kill!!"

Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate, turning to another Frost Gnoll.

His eyes instantly turned black and white.

A black-and-white pair of strange scissors appeared midair—

Innate Yin-Yang Eyes – Yin-Yang Shears!!(先天阴阳眼——阴阳剪)

The scissors transformed into twin black-and-white serpents and streaked through the air, charging at the Frost Gnoll.

Owoooo!!

The gnoll sensed danger, its armor glowing, and slashed its ice blade at the serpents...