The combined assault of seventeen students, one of them a True Immortal, generated enough pressure to crush any ordinary fourth-level High Immortal.

Yet Liu Wuxie remained completely unruffled. The Bloodthirst Blade swept out horizontally in a dazzling flash, and when paired with his strange footwork, the strike became virtually impossible to defend against.

He resembled a tiger charging headlong into a flock of sheep as he launched his counterattack. Although it appeared to be a single slash, the true essence of Instant Flash lay in its speed. Hidden within that speed were countless variations, all compressed into a single moment.

Instant Flash demanded that one unleash every variation within an unimaginably brief span of time. At the same time, it placed severe demands on both the user's physique and immortal energy. That single strike alone had consumed nearly thirty percent of Liu Wuxie's immortal energy, a result that shocked even him. With his current cultivation, mastering the second form remained completely out of reach.

The seventeen students froze where they stood, as if they had been turned into stone. Not a single one could move. A faint cut had appeared across each of their necks, so fine that it was nearly impossible to notice. Even so, an icy chill crept down their spines. Before they realized it, cold sweat had already soaked their backs.

Terror filled Xiang Rulong's and the others' eyes as they trembled involuntarily. The strength they had always taken pride in seemed utterly meaningless before Liu Wuxie.

Everything Mentor Jiang had taught them was of no use. Whether it was attack trajectories, speed, combat awareness, or martial techniques, he stood on an entirely different level from them. There was simply no basis for comparison.

Before their attacks could even reach him, he had already completed his drawblade strike. Against such speed, how were they supposed to fight when they couldn't even perceive his movements clearly?

"We actually lost so thoroughly!" Zhang Dashan said with a self-deprecating laugh. Guilt and frustration surfaced across his face.

The others looked no better. Dejection clouded their expressions. After investing so much time and so many resources into cultivation, they couldn't even defeat a fourth-level High Immortal. The irony stung deeply.

"Is your confidence crushed? Liu Wuxie asked, his gaze sweeping across the students. A faint smile lingered on his lips. "Then, you will accompany me in sword practice starting from tomorrow, and the training will end when you can dodge my attack."

The moment they heard that Liu Wuxie intended to guide them personally, the gloom vanished from their faces. Nothing improved combat ability more effectively than actual battle. Only through combat could they truly uncover their weaknesses.

As darkness gradually swallowed the sky, everyone departed one after another. In the end, only Shi Wa and Xiao Qian remained in the courtyard. Shi Wa retreated to a secluded corner to continue cultivating his assassination art, while Xiao Qian busied herself preparing dinner.

"Xiao Qian, come here," Liu Wuxie called out.

"Mentor, do you need something?" Xiao Qian asked nervously as she walked over and stood respectfully beside him.

"You have a unique constitution, and your right arm will possess mysterious power at the later stages of your cultivation. I can't teach you any martial techniques for the time being. I'll teach you once I find a martial technique suitable for you," Liu Wuxie said.

Among the seventeen students, even Shi Wa now had techniques to cultivate. Xiao Qian alone had nothing to practice, and Liu Wuxie feared that the matter might weigh heavily on her heart.

Ye Linghan had originally planned to teach Xiao Qian swordsmanship, but Liu Wuxie had firmly advised against it. The Heavenly Sacred Blood was extraordinarily unique. If Xiao Qian cultivated ordinary martial techniques, she would only waste her talent and could even damage her meridians in the process.

Because of that, they had to find martial techniques specifically suited to the Heavenly Sacred Blood if they wished to unlock Xiao Qian's potential fully. Until then, their priority was to help her awaken the Heavenly Sacred Blood and steadily raise her cultivation.

The Azure Flame Dao Hall didn't provide martial techniques free of charge. Any student who wished to learn one had to spend resources to purchase it. Fortunately, most students came from influential clans and lacked neither techniques nor inheritances. What they truly lacked was guidance from exceptional teachers.

"Thank you, Mentor. I'm fine, and I'm already content that I can cultivate," Xiao Qian replied with a bright smile.

Afterward, she happily left alongside Ye Linghan.

Once he finished giving Shi Wa additional guidance, Liu Wuxie resumed his own cultivation. Standing alone in the courtyard, he repeatedly practiced Instant Flash.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. During that entire time, Liu Wuxie never taught Shi Wa a single thing related to talisman art, leaving Ye Linghan increasingly anxious.

Only Liu Wuxie and Shi Wa remained completely unconcerned about the approaching challenge. Day after day, they immersed themselves in cultivation, practicing their martial techniques and sparring against one another without interruption.

As time passed, Liu Wuxie's blade grew increasingly swift, each strike becoming more elusive and deadly than the last. At the same time, Shi Wa's mastery of the assassination art advanced at an astonishing pace.

After returning home and recounting the previous battle to his second uncle, Xiang Rulong left Xiang Zicheng deeply skeptical. The latter eventually realized that he had still underestimated Liu Wuxie far more than he thought.

On this particular day, an unexpected visitor arrived at the courtyard.

"Linghan, I brought your favorite lotus cake!"

A man in his thirties stepped into the courtyard carrying a basket in his right hand.

Liu Wuxie had just finished training Xiang Rulong and the others. Over the past few days, Xiang Rulong had progressed to the point where he could evade three of Liu Wuxie's attacks. As for the others, merely dodging Instant Flash had already become a difficult achievement.

Everyone's combat abilities had improved by leaps and bounds. Through Liu Wuxie's guidance, they had gained a wealth of practical combat experience in only a few days. Since Liu Wuxie wasn't much older than they were, their relationship often felt less like that of mentor and student and more like friends interacting as equals.

While Xiang Rulong and the others learned combat techniques from Liu Wuxie, Liu Wuxie used them to temper and refine his own blade art. Both sides benefited, each obtaining exactly what they needed.

"Greetings, Mentor Che!" Xiang Rulong and the others immediately bowed.

When Liu Wuxie's gaze settled on the newcomer, he realized he didn't recognize him. This was their first meeting.

Che Yangrong nodded toward Xiang Rulong and the others in greeting before shifting his attention to Liu Wuxie.

"You must be Assistant Liu! I've heard of your name, and it's an honor to meet you!" Che Yangrong said enthusiastically as he strode toward Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie's recent exploits had spread throughout the Azure Flame Dao Hall, and countless mentors had already become familiar with his name.

"Do you need something?" Liu Wuxie asked with a slight frown. He found Che Yangrong's enthusiasm somewhat excessive.

They had only just met, yet Che Yangrong greeted him with the warmth of an old friend. Anyone unaware of the truth might have assumed they had known each other for years.

"Linghan invited me over," Che Yangrong replied as he glanced toward the interior of the courtyard.

Everyone had just finished training, and their clothes were soaked with sweat. Ye Linghan had deliberately returned to her room to change into a fresh set of clothes.

Since Ye Linghan had invited him, Liu Wuxie said nothing further. He stepped aside and resumed guiding Shi Wa through the subtleties of the assassination art.

Meanwhile, Xiang Rulong and the others silently reflected on the previous sparring session. To their dismay, they discovered that the gap between them and Liu Wuxie hadn't narrowed at all. Instead, it had only widened.

Liu Wuxie's blade technique continued evolving at an astonishing rate. Each passing day made his attacks faster, while their trajectories became increasingly unpredictable and difficult to decipher.

After changing into a fresh outfit, Ye Linghan emerged from her room. The moment she appeared, everyone's eyes brightened. It was obvious that she had taken special care with her appearance.

The instant Che Yangrong saw her, a smile spread across his face as he stepped forward.

"Linghan, I heard that lotus cakes have always been your favorite," Che Yangrong said with a smile as he handed her the basket. "I especially had these delivered all the way from Fourfold City."

Ye Linghan accepted it and immediately passed it to Xiao Qian.

Xiang Rulong and the others quietly retreated toward the courtyard wall, whispering among themselves while occasionally stealing glances in their direction.

Ye Linghan pointed toward Liu Wuxie and said, "Let me introduce you two. This is my assistant, Liu Wuxie, and I believe you've heard of him before."

Liu Wuxie merely nodded in greeting and said nothing else.

"Wuxie, Mentor Che Yangrong is the talisman mentor who is rather famous in the Azure Flame Dao Hall. I've invited him to teach Shi Wa. What do you think?" Ye Linghan asked. Her tone carried none of the authority expected from a mentor. Instead, she spoke as though seeking Liu Wuxie's opinion.

The way she addressed him stood in stark contrast to other mentors, who typically treated their assistants as subordinates and issued orders without discussion.

When Che Yangrong heard Ye Linghan speaking to her assistant in such a consultative manner, his brows knitted together. He couldn't understand why a woman as proud as Ye Linghan had changed so much.

"No," Liu Wuxie replied without the slightest hesitation.

Shi Wa's life-and-death battle with Bai Jingye already had a set outcome. Liu Wuxie had no intention of allowing anyone else to interfere.

Ye Linghan felt a trace of embarrassment at the blunt rejection. Although she held the title of mentor, Liu Wuxie's standing among the students had already surpassed her own.

His answer stunned everyone, including Xiang Rulong and the other students.

The Dead Talisman Pool was notoriously dangerous. Even Bai Jingye himself wouldn't dare claim with absolute certainty that he could emerge safely. As for Shi Wa, who knew virtually nothing about talismans, entering the pool was no different from stepping into the jaws of death.

Although it was already somewhat late for Shi Wa to begin learning talisman art, learning something was still better than learning nothing at all. Many of them couldn't help wondering whether Liu Wuxie truly intended to watch Shi Wa throw away his life.

Yet based on everything they knew about Liu Wuxie, he wasn't the type of person who would recklessly send Shi Wa to his death. Since he had been the one to issue the challenge in the first place, he had likely prepared a plan in advance.

"I know what Assistant Liu is worried about. You don't have to worry about it, and I won't steal your student," Che Yangrong said in an indifferent tone.

Within the Azure Flame Dao Hall, his attainments in talisman art surpassed Bai Jingye's by an entire level. If he personally guided Shi Wa, the latter's chances of victory would naturally increase considerably.

More importantly, no one could master talisman art overnight. Trying to acquire profound talisman techniques within a single month was nothing more than wishful thinking.

The previous day, Ye Linghan had sought out Che Yangrong and requested him to guide Shi Wa for a period of time. In exchange, she promised to accompany him to a meal if he agreed.

For Shi Wa's sake, she had already gone to great lengths. Yet Liu Wuxie dismissed her goodwill without hesitation. The thought alone caused her eyes to redden slightly. Since childhood, she had lived like a princess, accustomed to having others accommodate her wishes. Ever since meeting Liu Wuxie, however, she seemed to encounter one obstacle after another.

"You? Steal my students?" Liu Wuxie said with a laugh.

The laughter carried neither anger nor ridicule, only complete disbelief. Not just anyone could take away his students. At the very least, someone like Che Yangrong wasn't qualified.

"Isn't that what you're worried about? Otherwise, why won't you let me teach him the talisman art?" Che Yangrong asked.

The moment he noticed the grievance in Ye Linghan's expression, his voice turned noticeably colder.

Every word dripped with mockery. In his view, Liu Wuxie was afraid that Shi Wa would switch allegiance after receiving guidance from a superior mentor. Che Yangrong had pursued Ye Linghan for a long time without making any progress. Now that such an opportunity had finally appeared before him, there was no way he intended to let it slip away.

As long as he taught Shi Wa talisman art, Ye Linghan would fulfill her promise.

"You can think however you want." Liu Wuxie casually waved his hand. "Shi Wa doesn't need your guidance. You can leave now."

Che Yangrong carried himself as though he were bestowing a great favor by teaching Shi Wa. More importantly, his motives weren't pure from the start. Even if he truly taught Shi Wa, he wouldn't do so wholeheartedly.

Others might've failed to notice it, but Liu Wuxie saw through it immediately.

Without giving him any room to continue, Liu Wuxie dismissed him.

"Linghan, this is the assistant you've recruited? He doesn't even take you seriously. According to the rules, assistants must follow the will of mentors," Che Yangrong retorted.

Realizing that arguing with Liu Wuxie would get him nowhere, he immediately shifted his attention toward Ye Linghan. Since reason had failed, he intended to use her authority as a mentor to pressure Liu Wuxie into agreeing.

"I need a reason why you're refusing to let him teach Shi Wa," Ye Linghan asked after drawing in a deep breath. Her gaze remained fixed on Liu Wuxie as she waited for an explanation.

"He's unworthy," Liu Wuxie replied flatly, not even sparing the two another glance.

The two simple words struck like a hammer.

Che Yangrong's expression instantly darkened.

Liu Wuxie no longer paid any attention to either of them, as though he had already settled the matter in his mind.

If Che Yangrong had genuinely come to guide Shi Wa, Liu Wuxie would have welcomed him without hesitation.

However, Liu Wuxie saw through his hidden motives. And since Che Yangrong had arrived with ulterior motives, Liu Wuxie had asked him to leave.